Maine Antique Digest April 2015

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6-C Maine Antique Digest, April 2015
- AUCTION -
Quinn & Farmer Auctions held its end-of-
year furniture and decorative arts auc-
tion on December 13, 2014, at its gal-
lery in Charlottesville, Virginia. The sale was
rather small, consisting of 297 lots. More than
half of the lots were consigned from the estate
of Robert V. Hatcher Jr. of Manakin-Sabot,
Virginia. Hatcher was a native Virginian and
the chief executive officer of Johnson & Hig-
gins, Inc., an international insurance brokerage
firm.
The high lot of the sale came with a rather
interesting preamble. Ken Farmer told me that
when he was assessing a group of consign-
ments, the individual showing him the items
stated that there was a “really heavy metal desk
thingy” that they wanted to sell. In fact, it is
really heavy, metal, and without stretching the
imagination too much, perhaps a credenza, i.e.
a “desk thingy.”
The object in question was a signed and
dated Paul Evans Sculpture Front cabinet. It
does resemble a credenza but is outfitted as a
sideboard, with a heavy slate top, storage com-
partments, and a cutlery drawer. The Evans
torch-cut, welded steel cabinet performed
beyond expectations. It sold to a telephone
bidder for $118,000, against a presale estimate
of $60,000/80,000. (All prices include the buy-
er’s premium.)
The lot that followed the Evans cabinet was
not signed; however, there was strong attribu-
tion to Evans. The 16¼" x 48" x 15" copper,
bronze, and pewter box sold for $16,520, well
over the $1000/1500 estimate. The box was
constructed as a patchwork of metal pieces.
Having established the desirability of func-
tional metalwork, Quinn & Farmer went on
to sell one of the Hatcher estate pieces. A
Harry Bertoia sound sculpture consisting of an
array of tinkling copper rods brought $33,040
against an estimate of $8000/12,000.
Please refer to the photo section for addi-
tional information on the Evans and Bertoia
lots.
An Aaron Willard mahogany tall-case clock
was a standout among the traditional furniture
lots, bringing $16,520 (est. $3000/5000).
While there were quite a number of home-
run-grade lots, much of the sale consisted of
bargain hunting among very good quality
material. There seemed to be quite a few bar-
gains to be had. To mention a few, a 19th-cen-
tury Pennsylvania blanket chest with some
restoration sold at the low end of its estimate
for $306.80; a nice 19th-century English cor-
ner chair made $383.50, also at the low end of
its estimate; and an unmatched pair of Ming
Dynasty blue and white porcelain bowls sold
for $165.20, failing to meet the low estimate.
This is not to say that only the exceptional
lots were noteworthy. Most of the furniture
and fine arts lots sold solidly within or slightly
above estimates. Twenty-five lots of cast
bronze animal sculpture from members of the
Turner family all sold within or slightly above
their estimates.
For additional information, contact Quinn &
Farmer Auctions at (434) 293-2904 or visit the
Web site ).
Quinn & Farmer Auctions, Charlottesville, Virginia
Quinn & Farmer Sale Led By a “Really Heavy
Desk Thingy”
by Walter C. Newman
Photos courtesy Quinn & Farmer Auctions
This circa 1810 tall-case clock is by
Aaron Willard. The clock features
an arched hood with fretwork and
three brass ball and spire finials,
each resting on a reeded block.
The dial is iron, painted white,
with a scene of boys fishing. The
hours are marked with Roman
numerals, and the minutes are
marked with Arabic numbers.
“Aaron Willard Boston” is
painted above the dial. The span-
drels are painted and depict floral
and Federal shield designs. The
dial is framed by reeded columns,
and the waist section features
three-quarter-length reeded quar-
ter columns. The waist door and
the front of the base are decorated
with simple crossbanding veneer.
The timepiece features an eight-
day time-and-strike brass move-
ment. The clock stands 101½" in
overall height. There have been
several repairs to the clock. This
Aaron Willard tall clock sold for
$16,520 (est. $3000/5000).
This Sculpture Front cabinet by Paul Evans (1931-1987) is signed and dated 1968. The cabinet
is constructed of welded, torch-cut, and polychromed steel and brass, with a thick slate top. The
piece has three doors with external hinges. The pair of doors on the proper left open to reveal
two full-size storage compartments. The proper right door reveals a steel-front drawer that has
been partitioned as a cutlery storage drawer, with a single fixed shelf storage area below. The
doors are decorated with 40 individual decorative welded elements. According to Ken Farmer,
the piece weighs just over 700 pounds. The Paul Evans cabinet opened at $40,000 and was
actively sought after by at least three serious bidders. The piece was ultimately hammered
down at $118,000 (est. $60,000/80,000), selling to one of the telephone bidders.
An Aaron Willard
mahogany tall-case
clock was a standout
among the traditional
furniture lots.
The sterling silver George II mug
is attributed to London silversmith
Humphrey Payne. Payne was known
to be working in London during the
second quarter of the 18th century.
The mug stands 5" high and fea-
tures a scrolled handle and a stepped
foot. The mug brought $560.50 (est.
$400/600).
This Federal mirror exhibits very nice proportions
and measures only 25" x 25". The spreadwing eagle
crest is flanked by two elongated cornucopia that
wrap the sides and bottom of the oval mirror. The
decorative elements are gilt. One wing of the eagle is
repaired, and some gilt is worn away. The mirror sold
to an Internet buyer for $338.80 (est. $300/600).
For the eight years prior to his
presidency, James Madison served
as Thomas Jefferson’s secretary of
state. This letter, in Madison’s own
hand, was written while he served
the Jefferson administration. The
letter is dated “Washington Jan.
15, 1806” and was mailed to James
Lovell, Esq. in Boston. The letter
appears to address some misunder-
standing or clarification regarding a
piece of land. The letter was mailed
using Madison’s franking privileges
and is stamped “Free” over the
handwritten inscription “Dept. of
State/ James Madison.” The letter
sold to an Internet buyer for $1936
(est. $500/800).
This circa 1900 hooked rug is a
mystery of a design, with what
appears to be a Masonic compass
and square, several crosses, a
house, crossed keys, hearts, cres-
cents, and stars. The rug has been
mounted in a museum-quality frame and is in
very good overall condition. The rug sold for
$590 (est. $800/1200).
This 19th-century English Victorian paper-mâché inkstand and pen
tray appears to be complete, with two colorless ink bottles with stop-
pers and a covered nib compartment. The tray is decorated with
painted and gilt-floral designs, gilding at the edges, and mother-of-
pearl inlay. The set measures 14" in overall length and is 9½" wide. An
Internet buyer won this inkstand set for $121 (est. $200/400).