Cherry New England secretary bookcase circa 1790
WASHINGTON, D.C. – At Sloans’ July 22 and 23 auction, the top seller, a cherry inlaid New England secretary bookcase, circa 1790, realized $24,150. A pierced swan neck pediment centered on a gilt metal eagle graces this piece, which was the cover lot. It generated competitive bidding from the gallery and phones, sailing past its pre-sale estimate of $10/15,000.
Additionally, a George III inlaid mahogany serpentine fronted sideboard, circa 1780, brought $12,650, and a George III carved mahogany and parcel gilt settee, circa 1775, fetched $9,775, exceeding its estimate of $6/8,000.
In the decorative arts category, a pair of Eighteenth Century Italian polychrome, parcel gilt altar figures depicting angels was the star lot, commanding $11,500 against its pre-sale estimate of $7/10,000. A Jacot and Son Swiss music box, circa 1890, sold for $5,060, and an agate snuff bottle with a silver trimmed lid brought 747.50. A Mahal carpet of the late Nineteenth Century reached $3,335, more than ten times its pre-sale estimate of $200/300.
American landscape paintings generated strong interest in the paintings segment of the sale. “Cows Grazing in a Landscape,” singed oil on canvas by F. Conllie (American, Nineteenth Century) sold for $1,150, nearly doubling its high estimate of $600. Karl Albert Buehr’s (American, 1866-1952), oil on canvas entitled “Spring Landscape” reached $1,265 against its pre-sale estimate of $600/800, and “The Coming Storm,” an oil on canvas by John Joseph Enneking (American, 1841-1916), brought $4,600.
Among European works, a lot of three hand colored engraving after Jacques Barraband (French, 1768-1809), sold for $1,092.50, exceeding its pre-sale estimate of $500/600. “A Bowl of Porridge,” an oil on canvas signed “Chamb 791” (Europe, Nineteenth Century), was a popular lot among gallery bidders, finally reaching $6,325 after spirited bidding against its pre-sale estimate of $600/800.
All prices quoted include a buyers premium of 15 to ten percent.
