The sale grossed an impressive $2.4 million and was attended by a record number of bidders with more than 700 registered. Bidders were ready to vie for an extraordinary selection of materials from several prestigious estates and collections including a prime assortment consigned from direct descendants of Captain John Green, Sr, of Philadelphia, who sailed the first ship once trade formally opened with China.

The top lot of the auction came from the Captain Green materials with a Philadelphia Chippendale mahogany tall-case clock with an elaborate bonnet with swan-neck pediment decorated with foliate carved rosettes and frieze and flame and suppressed ball finials.

The brass works were inscribed “David Patterson, Sunderland” and the clock carried a presale estimate of $40/70,000. Bidding on the lot was brisk with it selling at $159,000.

Other top lots included a Delaware Valley Queen Anne tiger maple highboy with carved Spanish feet that sold at $142,500, a Shaker cupboard soared past estimates at $63,250, a Philadelphia pie-crust Chippendale tea table $63,250, and a massive Philadelphia carved and gilded mirror realized $41,400.

A complete review of the sale will appear in a future issue.