The sale of American furniture, folk art and decorative arts at Christie’s on September 28 achieved $4,488,750 and was 82 percent sold by lot and 76 percent by value. The top lot of the sale was a paint decorated oak, cedar and pine chamber table, Boston, 1690‱710, which went to CL Prickett Antiques of Yardley, Penn., for $986,500.
Prickett also took a Charles Thomson Chippendale carved mahogany side chair, with carving attributed to John Pollard, Philadelphia, 1765‱775, for $602,500, and a joined and painted oak and pine chest with drawer attributed to the Thomas Dennis (1638‱706) shop tradition, Ipswich, Mass., 1670‱700, for $506,500.
A Chippendale block and shell carved mahogany chest of drawers, Eastern Connecticut, 1780‱800, sold to an anonymous buyer for $362,500, while a Federal inlaid mahogany Pembroke table labeled by John Townsend (1733‱809), Newport, dated 1797, realized $242,000.
In folk art, Antonio Nicolo Gasparo Jacobsen’s “Racing Schooners,” oil on canvas, 1879, finished at $224,500.
Additional highlights included the Silsbee family Federal carved mahogany sofa, attributed to Samuel McIntire, Salem, Mass., 1790‱810, $170,500; a Federal inlaid mahogany shelf clock, dial signed by David Wood, Newburyport, Mass., 1795‱815, $122,500; a Chippendale carved and figured mahogany scalloped top tea table, Philadelphia, 1760‱780, $116,500; and a Queen Anne mahogany drop leaf dining table, attributed to John Goddard, Newport, R.I., 1750‱770, $110,500.
John Hays, Christie’s deputy chairman and auctioneer, commented, “The enthusiasm for important American furniture with original surfaces continues to result in extraordinary prices in this sale. We are thrilled with the exceptional price achieved for the Seventeenth Century chamber table consigned by the Wunsch Americana Foundation, continuing the trend of interest in America’s first furniture.”
Margot Rosenberg, head of department, added, “‘Racing Schooners,’ a magnificent painting of a Nineteenth Century yacht race by Antonio Jacobsen, may be one of his finest and most memorable of this subject, realizing a great price after competitive bidding. We are delighted with the solid results achieved across the board and look forward to Americana Week next January.”
Prices reported include the buyer’s premium.
For information, 212-636-2000 or www.Christies.com .
