Maine Antique Digest, April 2017

30-A Maine Antique Digest, April 2017

AUCTION -

30-A

This outstanding Philadelphia circa

1760 Queen Anne chair was carved

from walnut. The open armchair is

42¾" high and retains a dark rich

surface; its proper left upper scroll

on the splat was replaced. Erik

Gronning called it “among the most

rare and magnificent

surviving examples of

Philadelphia seating

furniture.” It sold

to a collector on the

phone for $187,500

(est. $250,000/350,000).

In 1928 it was in the

Philadelphia Museum

of Art.

The Bunting family Chippendale carved and figured

mahogany piecrust tilt-top tea table, Philadelphia,

circa 1770, bears on its top’s underside an old label

with the following ink inscription: “Property of

Estate of Susanna / Lloyd Bunting. Fine example / of

Chippendale cabinet ware / obtained by appraisement from

/ home of G-- Ann Bunting / by her nephew, Saml Bunting.” The 28¼"

x 35

" x 35¼" table with an Israel Sack provenance sold for $106,250

(est. $40,000/60,000) to Skip Chalfant of H.L Chalfant, West Chester,

Pennsylvania, who said he thought it was his best buy of the week. The

catalog noted, “Philadelphia Rococo tilt-top tea tables of this quality

with a piecrust top, a carved standard, and claw feet are among

the greatest achievements of American furniture design. The 1786

Philadelphia book of prices indicates that the form was a significant

expense, costing £5-15-0 for a mahogany table like this one with a

‘Scollop’d Top & Carv’d Pillar’ and ‘claw feet.’ Fluting the pillar

added an additional five shillings to the cost.” The carving

on the knees is attributed to the Garvan carver. It was

refinished, has minor edge repairs, was formerly fitted with

casters, and has a later Y brace.

Racing in New York Harbor (Fetching the Mark)

by James

Edward Buttersworth (1817-1894) is signed “J. E. Buttersworth”

(lower right). The 24" x 32" oil on canvas, circa 1875, sold for

$300,000 (est. $250,000/350,000) to an absentee bidder.

This Philadelphia circa 1750 Queen Anne

carved mahogany side chair, seat marked

I, slip seat marked VI, crest rail with

repairs, is rare. The 41¾" tall chair sold

for $47,500 (est. $20,000/30,000) to advisor

William Stahl of Millbrook, New York, in

the salesroom. There are a number of chairs

in this pattern with paired volutes defining

the upper section of the splat, but they are

relatively uncommon with the stiles with

an incised edge, blocked front seat rail,

and carved shells on its knees

and crest rail, which has some

repairs. Peggy Smith inherited

the chair from her mother,

Margaret Wilson Lewis du

Pont. Two chairs from the

set are at the Metropolitan

Museum of Art.

The Benjamin family Queen Anne

carved cherrywood slant-front desk-

on-frame, Stratford, Connecticut, circa

1760, bears a label inscribed “This

desk belonged to Philip Benjamin /

son of John & Mary (Smith) Benjamin

of Stratford Conn. m. Prudence

dau[ghter] / of Rev. Richardson

Minor June 1752 / He was born May

1729 died — 1775 / Reference Orcutt

Vol II History of / Stratford and

Bridgeport.” The 42" x 25½" x 16¼"

desk sold on the phone for $16,250 (est.

$10,000/20,000).

The catalog states: “Marked

SL / 1746, this rare box with

a false back panel and secret

compartment probably

stored medicinal spices in

the front and jewelry in

the back. A decorative household furnishing and an important one for the

housekeeper, who kept the keys to such a treasure-trove box on her chatelaine,

this box probably went along on family trips or seasonal moves between the

town house and country plantation.” This William and Mary inlaid walnut box,

Chester County, Pennsylvania, has a panel inlaid with the initials “SL” and the

date 1746. With an Israel Sack provenance, the 20" x 16" x 11" box sold on the

phone for $43,750 (est. $15,000/25,000).

Miniature furniture sold well. This

circa 1790 New England Chippendale

mahogany child’s armchair, 23"

high, sold for $6875 (est. $300/500).

In two immediately subsequent lots

sold (not shown) a miniature slant-lid

William and Mary desk, 22½" x 20¼"

x 12¾", made in New

England, brought $8125

(est. $2000/3000), and

a William and Mary

miniature walnut chest,

made in Pennsylvania

circa 1725, sold on the

phone for $27,500 (est.

$8000/12,000).

This fine Chippendale carved

mahogany dish-top tilt-

top candlestand, made in

Pennsylvania circa 1770, 28"

x 21½" x 21

", with an H.L.

Chalfant provenance, sold to

James Kilvington for $11,875.

It is a Philadelphia form of

classic proportions and firm

stance.

Golden Rays on the Labrador

Coast

by William Bradford

(1823-1892), signed “W

Bradford” and dated 1863

(lower right), is a luminous

28" x 44" oil on canvas

that sold for $106,250 (est.

$80,000/120,000).