“We wanted to give the people who were coming in for Americana Week in New York City a first-hand view of some of the pieces we will have in our first auction,” Leigh Keno said while he was rushing about the exhibition area he had booked at the Regency Hotel, Park Avenue, for the January 22′3 advance preview.
It was less than a hour until this reception on Friday opened at 5:30 pm when Leigh announced to one of his staff, “Now all we need now is the description tags for the objects to be put in place, and I think we will be ready to go.”
He quickly checked the adjoining room to make sure the hotel staff was ready with drinks and refreshments, hid a few unnecessary things in a nearby closet, and straightened his tie.
With a few minutes left until the guests started arriving, he darted about the room, pointing out the nest of eight Nantucket baskets made by R. Folder, Nantucket, Mass.; seven out of 12 paintings to be offered by Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr, including the large “Balloons Over Boston” oil on canvas; and the 1743 portrait of Anna Broderick Oliver by the Gansevoort Limner.
Other items in the sale, all on view at the Keno website, www.kenoauctions.com, include a Daniel Monroe clock, a pair of silver sauce boats by Paul Revere Jr, portrait of Joseph Trumbull, American furniture, eleven portraits by Prior, and watercolors by Jasper Francis Cropsey, Frank Benson and Childe Hassam. A single owner collection of Pennsylvania items includes spatterware, redware, tole, fabrics and a Weber box.
The sale will take place at the Marriott Hotel in Stamford, Conn., May 1′, with preview dates to be announced.
