Marion Antique Auction
August 6 at 10 am
13 Atlantis Drive, Marion, MA
www.marionantiqueauctions.com
frank@marionantiques.com
508-748-3606 or 508-498-7136
MARION, MASS. — More than 200 objects are coming to the auction block at Marion Antique Auctions on August 6 from the Marion waterfront estate of Dick and Anne Webb. Dick was an enthusiastic collector of marine paintings, items related to Lord Horatio Nelson, whaling, steamship memorabilia and ship models. Leading the way is a large oil painting on canvas by Antonio Jacobsen, which depicts the steamliner City of Rome. Additionally, there are three oil paintings on canvas depicting ships done in silk work by Thomas Willis. The Webb collection will also feature 11 cased ship models. The highlights include an English prisoner of war model of the HMS Desiree, circa 1794-1817, a grand-scale model of the HMS Victory, made by Dr William Dawson and a detailed diorama of the HMS Victory breaking the line at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Due to the size of the Webb estate’s Lord Nelson collection, large group lots have been assembled, including bronzes, china, remnants of the HMS Victory and more. Also in this collection are two letters written by Lord Horatio Nelson, dated 1799 and 1803, one of which was to his relative, the Honorable Horatio Walpole.
Another significant art collector, Edward Bradley, consigned two C.H. Gifford oil paintings. One is titled “Salt Marsh Haying” and is dated 1888. It depicts a coastal scene on the banks of the Acushnet River, looking towards Fairhaven, Mass., and is lit by rays of sunlight ($4/6,000). Another oil painting that should create interest is a White Mountain landscape by Robert Spear Dunning. The scene depicts three figures at the foot of a mountain, which include a man seated under an umbrella at an easel as two women look on. It is thought to be a self-portrait of Dunning. There are paintings by noted local artists, including Albert Van Beest, Lemuel Eldred, Louis Richardson, Arthur Quarterly, William F. Macy and John A. Chase and others. Found in another Marion home was a Nineteenth Century China trade painting of the bark Jacob Levy of Hamburg as it entered Hong Kong.
Ceramics are also well represented in this sale, with a collection of Liverpool and Sunderland pink lusterware pitchers and jugs, some of which commemorate the death of Lord Nelson. Perfect for the nautical enthusiast, who loves to entertain, is a 147-piece dinner set collection of Spode Trade Winds china.
Some other nautical items being offered include a mid-Nineteenth Century Nantucket lightship swing handled basket, three Chelsea ship’s bell clocks, sailor-made rope beckets, lignum vitae dead eyes, brass telescopes and scrimshaw. A scrimshaw piece is a Nineteenth Century whale’s tooth depicting a British ship under sail. Another sperm whale tooth, dated 1857, is engraved with a script that reads “Ship Alfred Gibbs, latitude 5°49N and longitude 40°23 W, North Atlantic, June 27, 1857.” A rare logbook from the bark Oak, which was the last Nantucket whaleship, will be featured in the sale. In addition, the sale will include early Nineteenth Century Sag Harbor, N.Y., whaling documents. Five Nineteenth Century whaling harpoons are highlighted by one marked Macy, circa 1870, from the bark Mary Frazier out of New Bedford, Mass. It retains its original wooden sheath and comes with provenance from Nina Hellman Marine Antiques, Nantucket. Frank McNamee, Marion Antique shop owner, rescued a rare and unusual pair of Nineteenth Century cast figural iron andirons from a truck headed for the local landfill. These andirons depict Polynesian figures in old paint.
This sale features works of art, both American and European. One of the more notable pieces is a watercolor of a French harbor scene by French artist Jean Dufy ($25/30,000). Coming with Vose Gallery provenance is a graphite drawing on paper by Maxfield Parrish, which is a 1957 layout for Freeman’s Farm. When the staff at Marion Antique Auctions removed the drawing from the frame, it revealed a note from the artist’s son, Maxfield Parrish Jr, on the back, guaranteeing the authenticity of the sketch.
Noted Provincetown artist John Whorf is well represented with a watercolor titled “The Beach at Barbados” and a portfolio containing 22 mixed media figure studies, mostly nudes. This period portfolio was signed on the front label by Whorf. Also represented is the Cuban artist Antonio Gattorno. The most exciting work offered is a mixed media drawing titled “Transcendente” depicting a man in mid-air. Other American artists with works for sale will be A. Lassell Ripley and Boston artists Thomas Dunlay and John Traynor.
An exciting find in the lead-up to this auction was an extensive group of sketches, pastel drawings, hand colored etchings and oil paintings by noted French artist Charles Maurin. They were discovered in a Marion home, locked in a closet. The artworks carry significant provenance. The works by Maurin were originally in the collection of Henry Laurent, who was a close patron of the artist. The artwork then passed by descent to Henry’s son, Charles, and subsequently to Charles’ daughter, Danielle Francis (nee. Laurent), of Marion. A highlight of this collection is a portrait of a young girl, Jeanne Laurent, sister of Charles and daughter to Henry. This collection, coming to market, will represent the most significant sale of Charles Maurin’s work in more than a century.
This sale will take place at the 13 Atlantis Drive (air-conditioned) facility in Marion. The viewing for the sale will take place on August 4-5, from 10 am to 5 pm, and a limited viewing on the morning of the sale from 8 to 9:30 am, or by advance appointment.
For additional information, 508-748-3606 or www.marionantiqueauctions.com.
Viewing: Thurs & Fri 10 am to 5 pm & Partial Viewing: Sat 8 am to 9:30 am
Featuring American and European paintings: Antonio Jacobsen, Thomas Willis, C H Gifford, Maxfield Parrish, Jean Dufy, Charles Maurin collection, and others. Rare prints and maps: Paris 1643, the Battle of Newport 1778. Whaling items: har- poon collection, journal for the bark Oak, the Last Nantucket Whaler. CW Spencer carbine rifle 1865. Silver: Tiffany and Gorham. Document signed by Abraham Lincoln, tin litho toy collection, great ship models, Liverpool jugs, Lord Nelson collec- tion, ocean liner memorabilia, San Francisco earthquake arcade machine. American furniture: Hadley chest, Federal bowfront chest attrib. to Alden Spooner, rocking ship movement tall clock by Langwell, mid-century furniture. Oriental rugs, Nantucket baskets, Native American jewelry, baskets, and pottery. 19th c. Qing dynasty textiles and clothing. Mid-century furniture: Gianfranco Frattini nesting tables for Cassina. Decoys, rare books, Kennebec rowing canoe ca. 1915, and much more.
Miniature redware tray
Signed by Abraham Lincoln
American Southwest Belt Buckles
Jean Dufy
19th c Chinese robe collection
Gianfranco Frattni nesting tables for Cassini
Curved enamel 19th c scrimshaw Barber Shop sign tooth
C. H. Gifford
Ornate 800 silver set
Toy collection
John Whorf, Barbados beach
Prisoner of War ship model
Charles Maurin collection
Handel boudoir lamp
Attributed to Alden Spooner
Antonio Jacobsen
18kt. Smith Patterson pocket watch, ruby & diamond
530 LOTS, MOSTLY UNRESERVED
5 Church Hill Road / Newtown, CT 06470
Mon - Fri / 8:00 am - 5:01 pm
(203) 426-8036