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24-C Maine Antique Digest, May 2015
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“In olden days a glimpse of stocking / Was looked on
as something shocking, / But now, God knows, / Any-
thing goes.” Those words from Cole Porter’s 1934
classic song “Anything Goes” were the first thing I
thought of when I entered Ken Kelleher’s booth and
saw this striking portrait. Kelleher Fine Art, Turlock,
California, showed this painting by Josef Loukota
(Czechoslovakian, 1879-1967) titled
Portrait of Julia
.
The 46" x 30" painting predates Porter’s lyrics. The
thoroughly modern Julia appears to be dressed for an
evening out and gives us a glimpse of her stockings as
she strikes a forcefully nonchalant pose while seated
atop a writing desk and surrounded by a colorful
array of decorative objects. The painting is signed
lower left and was priced at $22,000.
James Kochan was a first-time exhibitor at the Washington Win-
ter Show. Kochan trades under his own name and is in the pro-
cess of moving from Frederick, Maryland, farther to the Northeast,
according to his website. This ship’s portrait is by John Jenkinson
(English, fl. 1790-1820). Jenkinson, a native of Liverpool, is espe-
cially noted for his portraits of vessels entering and leaving the
city’s harbor. His work is well regarded for accurate portrayal of
the Liverpudlian skyline as seen from the waterfront. This 34" x
52" example depicts an unidentified heavily armed private mer-
chant or cargo vessel arriving in port. The ship is flying a variation
of the Union Jack. The painting’s price was $65,000.
Jay Gates of Gates Antiques, Ltd., Midlothian, Vir-
ginia, stated that this corner cupboard is English but
crafted in the Dutch style with extremely complex
moldings, geometric string inlay, and an abundance
of floral marquetry. There are urns overflowing
with flowers on the lower door panels and a bird on
a limb on the center panel below the 14-piece cor-
nice. The cupboard dates 1780-1800 and was priced
at $12,900.
David White of White’s Nau-
tical Antiques, North Yar-
mouth, Maine, featured this
19th-century bone swift on an
intricately turned base spin-
dle. Its price was $2200. The
circa 1900 diorama features
a gaff-rigged Chesapeake
Bay sloop and was priced at
$4800. The maritime theme
weathervane/whirligig dates
from the late 19th century
and was tagged $1250. White
showed us a sailmaker’s nee-
dle kit. The needles made by
W. Smith & Son, Redditch,
England date 1825-40. The
kit, along with other sail-
maker’s tools, was part of a
sailmaker’s bench offered by
White. The price of the lot
was $2200.
This colorful hooked rug was a focal point in the booth of Michael
Newsom and Betty Berdan Newsom of Newsom& BerdanAntiques,
Thomasville, Pennsylvania. The circa 1860 rug is attributed to the
Spofford family of Berlin, Massachusetts. The rug is sheared wool
on finely woven hemp and features a central vase of flowers with
hearts in the corners, all surrounded by a multicolored border. The
rug was marked $9500. The reverse-painted Federal mirror fea-
tures a memorial watercolor in tribute to Amos Barton, dated 1827,
and was $3800. The circa 1810 walnut Bible box from Pennsylvania
was tagged $3600. The carved cane is from the early 20th century
and was $2800.
This corner of the booth set up by Scott R. Ferris of J & R Ferris Antiques, LLC,
Boonville, New York, features an array of items with a broad association to military,
maritime, and patriotic themes. The diorama of a ship under full sail is labeled “Home-
ward Bound” on the frame. It was priced at $995. Below it is a framed etching of the
Portsmouth Grove [Rhode Island] Civil War hospital. It was tagged $1295. The Revo-
lutionary War pattern coat dates from the first half of the 19th century and was priced
at $2500. The mirror dates from the 19th century and is decorated with a spread-wing
eagle and swags of bellflowers. It was $775. Partially showing at the left is an original
Rockwell Kent landscape that descended through the Kent family. Ferris stated that he
would be happy to discuss the price with those who have a serious interest.