“The Last Drop” by Charles Schreyvogel (American, 1861-1912), patinated bronze, 12 inches tall by 18⅝ inches long by 5 inches wide, won top-lot honors, selling to a private collector for $93,750 ($50/100,000).
Review by Carly Timpson
BLOOMFIELD, N.J. — To begin 2026, Nye & Company celebrated America’s semiquincentennial with its 346-lot American Spirit: Celebrating 250 Years of Freedom, Independence and Craftsmanship auction on January 22. The firm’s president Andrew Holter commented, “Looks like Western won the day in our American Spirit sale…Continuing on the success of the Christie’s and Sotheby’s Western art sales, the Charles Schreyvogel ‘The Last Drop’ bronze sculpture was the top selling lot for $93,750. This was one of three being offered this week, and it sold for the same price as one of the ones Christie’s offered, showing that the regional auction houses can compete with the top-tier houses when they have great works of art.”
He continued, “The sale was 78 percent sold and fell within the estimate range. The previous day’s single-owner collection, Property from the Collection of Leslie and Peter Warwick, Middletown, N.J., was a white glove sale, meaning it was 100 percent sold and that too sold within the estimate range and just under the high estimate. We were very pleased with the sales and the strength of the market. Following on the success of the Delaware Antiques Show, Pook & Pook, New Haven Auctions, Christie’s and Sotheby’s, traditional works appear to be gaining some strength and momentum. I love to see that and I’m optimistic that 2026 will be a great year for us all.”
Schreyvogel’s “The Last Drop” was originally modeled in clay as a study for his 1899 oil painting of the same name. This bronze casting was one of the earliest examples, numbered “35” of 150 and bearing the desirable inscribed “Copyright 1900 by / Chas Schreyvogel” in addition to its number and “Roman Bronze Works N-Y-.” According to the catalog, “Most castings known bare the later copyright date of 1903, with only a handful with the 1900 date.” Another compelling note was that this example had been in the same Hudson County, N.J., home since the 1930s. Holter shared, “The piece was heavily competed for both online and on several phone lines. The successful purchaser was on the phone and is a private collector with West Coast ties.”
With its original bill of sale from James Atkinson, this 1773 Chippendale mahogany tea table by John Goddard (Newport, R.I., 1724-1785), 24¼ inches tall with a diameter of 33 inches, brought $31,250 ($20/40,000).
The next highest price was achieved by a Chippendale-style mahogany tea table by Newport, R.I., cabinetmaker John Goddard. This historic piece was well documented and included its original bill of sale from December 9, 1773, indicating it was purchased, alongside a mahogany dining table and 6 black birch chairs, by Newport resident James Atkinson. The tea table descended through the Atkinson family until 1930, when it was acquired by George E. Vernon, a Newport dealer, then, in 1936, it was owned by John Nicholas Brown, former assistant secretary of the Navy, and descended through his family until it sold at Sotheby’s in 2005, remaining in a private collection since then. Along with its provenance, extensive references in publications and several exhibitions aided in its desirability, ultimately leading to its $31,250 result in this sale.
An American sale would not be complete without items by Tiffany, and this auction was no exception. In fact, two of the top five results were achieved by Tiffany Studios table lamps. Earning $23,750 and nearly tripling its high estimate was a bronze and Favrile glass Pomegranate lamp. The domed, iridescent Favrile glass shade featured drop prisms hanging from the rim. Though some of these prisms had cracks and repairs, and one was missing, the lamp was otherwise in good condition and in working order. The other lamp, which was bid to $16,250, was a Zodiac Turtleback bronze desk lamp. The bronze base of this lamp featured impressions of the zodiac signs and other decorative details. The two large iridescent Turtleback tiles were covered with white translucent glass inside for a warm orange glow.
Lighting up for $16,250 was this 15-inch-tall Tiffany Studios Zodiac Turtleback bronze desk lamp, 6½ inches wide ($4/6,000).
Other notable furniture results included a set of eight Federal carved mahogany shield-back dining chairs. Of the set, two were later reproductions, but the other six were original, made in Hartford, Conn., circa 1790-1810. They had provenance to Israel Sack, Mr and Mrs Mitchel Taradash of New York City and later went back to Israel Sack. In January of 1953, the chairs were featured in The Magazine Antiques, and a closely related example was illustrated in American Furniture, The Federal Period in the H.F. du Pont Winterthur Museum by Charles F. Montgomery (Atglen, Penn.: Schiffer, 2001). This set, with floral banded upholstery, brought $20,480. A Chippendale carved mahogany slant-front desk made in either Rhode Island or Massachusetts circa 1760-80, also with Israel Sack provenance, reached $10,000, and a circa 1780 New Hampshire Chippendale carved maple high chest of drawers with provenance to Gary F. Yeaton Antiques (Concord, N.H.) realized $3,750.
Several paintings reached impressive results, including an oil on canvas view of “Trenton Bridge from Morrisville” by Harry Leith Ross. The canvas, signed to the lower right, was laid to Masonite and hung in a gilded frame. With provenance to Gratz Gallery in Doylestown, Penn., the urban landscape was taken to $10,625, exceeding its $6,000 high estimate. A watercolor miniature made a big impression on bidders as well. Measuring just 2½ inches tall (sight), a portrait of George Washington in the manner of John Trumbull more than doubled its high estimate to also earn $10,625. Following closely behind at $10,312 was a pair of Italian cityscapes by Louis I. Kahn. These watercolors were both signed and the largest had a sight measurement of 9 by 11¾ inches.
Nye & Company has two auctions scheduled for early March. The Gentleman Collector: The Art of the Grand Tour will be on March 11, and they will conduct a Chic & Antique Auction on March 12. Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house. For information, www.nyeandcompany.com or 973-984-6900.
