Rare Civil War Artifacts Span General’s Career

Samia Halaby abstract oil on canvas, signed, dated and titled on reverse, “#344, 1980,” was the top lot, selling at $75,000.

GLEN COVE, N.Y. — Roland Auctions NY., October 19 multi-estates auction turned out to be the house’s strongest sale since early this year with high bidding across the board. Topping the sale were several pieces of fine and Modern art, led by two Samia Halaby (Palestinian/American, b 1936) abstract oils on canvas.

Also coming in strong were select jewels from the collection of Baroness Gabriele von Langendorff that were not included in a previous auction of her collection a few months back, and many personal items from the archive of General David Sloane Stanley, spanning his entire military career from West Point cadet through the American Civil War, the “Indian Wars” and beyond.

In Roland’s always strong art arena, a Samia Halaby abstract oil on canvas, signed, dated and titled on reverse, “#344, 1980,” sold for $75,000. Another Halaby abstract oil on canvas, “#343, 1980,” sold for $56,250. Following were an Isaac Levitan (Russian, 1860-1900) framed oil on canvas painting of a stream in a forest setting, signed lower right; it sold for $31,250. A Jean Dufy (French, 1888-1964) oil on canvas painting titled “Bateaux et Voiles,” bearing a label to the reverse, with Hammer Galleries stamp, signed lower right, which sold for $12,500.

High bidding for jewels from the collection of New York socialite Baroness Gabriele von Langendorff took this 18K gold and simulated gemstone bracelet by Armand V. Carnevale to $20,000.

The selection of jewels from the collection of New York socialite Baroness Gabriele von Langendorff also inspired high bidding, with an 18K gold and simulated gemstone bracelet by Armand V. Carnevale, unsigned and weighing an all-inclusive 439.6 grams, with fitted signed box, going out at $20,000. A Carnevale 18K gold and simulated stone necklace, designed as a wide flexible, graduating V-shaped necklace composed of teardrop-shaped clusters and embellished with simulated stones, circa 1985, made $22,500. Von Langendorff’s 18K gold, red and colorless simulated stone necklace, designed as a flexible bib, 18 inches long, in a signed Harry Winston box, circa 1990s, earned $13,750.

It’s not very often that rare Civil War artifacts belonging to a Civil War general come up for auction at Roland, but the firm had a large collection of personal items from the archive of Civil War General David Sloane Stanley. These included the general’s Civil War commissions, partly printed on vellum and comprising commissions from 1864 to 1866, including a July 1, 1864, appointment to the rank of major in the Fifth Regiment of Calvary, signed at right “Abraham Lincoln” and counter-signed by Edwin Stanton as secretary of war. This sold for $10,625, while Stanley’s blood-stained, battle-worn, white linen, collared tunic with four buttons garnered $8,750. Stanley’s group of shoulder straps took $7,500, and his Civil War non-regulation Prussian Hussar-style black velvet shell jacket with gold cord accents and five toggle closures went for $1,625. From both the Civil War and Indian Wars, a cartes de visite album belonging to Stanley, featuring an ornately tooled and gilt-stamped spine and covers and produced by “The Photograph Album, New York” sold for $10,125.

From a large collection of personal items from the archive of Civil War General David Sloane Stanley, commissions, partly printed on vellum and comprising commissions from 1864 to 1866 including a July 1, 1864, appointment to the rank of major in the Fifth Regiment of Calvary, signed at right “Abraham Lincoln” and counter-signed by Edwin Stanton as secretary of war sold for $10,625.

Silver and decorative arts were represented by a rare Russian plique-a-jour silver centerpiece with very colorful enameling in flowers and eagle crests, the flare-top bowl mounted on an open font on a splayed base with eight ball feet, bearing mark on lower collar of Pavel Ovchinnikov. It realized $15,000. An Eighteenth/Nineteenth Century Continental ebony table cabinet with classical relief figures, lapis lazuli columns on drawers, decorated with intricate inlay, on bun feet crossed the block at $18,750. A Meissen allegorical ornate porcelain ewer decorated with a mermaid, cherub, fish and sailing vessels brought $8,750, while another Meissen allegorical ornate porcelain ewer, this one decorated with cherubs, a winged male figure and a peacock, went out at 8,750.

Prices given include the buyer’s premium as stated by the auction house. For additional information, 212-260-2000 or www.rolandantiques.com.