Americana dealer Leigh Keno has announced the formation of Keno Auctions, a “full service” auction house that is scheduled to conduct its inaugural sale this coming May. A high profile dealer of American antiques, Keno also knows his way around the auction floor as he has been a regular player for major pieces of early American furniture that have come to auction over the past 25 years.
As a private dealer, Keno participates in the Winter Antiques Show and the Philadelphia Antiques Show. Leigh Keno Modern, established in 2007, expanded his inventory to include furniture and paintings from the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries.
While working as a private dealer for the past two decades, Keno is no fledgling when it comes to the behind-the-scenes operations of the auction world. After graduating from Hamilton College and completing postgraduate work at both Historic Deerfield and Winterthur, Keno went on to work as the director of the American furniture department at Doyle Galleries in New York City. Keno also served as vice president of appraisals and specialist in the American furniture department at Christie’s.
Along with his twin brother Leslie, the American furniture specialist at Sotheby’s, the Kenos are regulars on the PBS television series Antiques Roadshow .
Keno Auctions launched its website earlier this month and a wide variety of information is available there. A series of video clips show Leigh with the impressive stoneware collection that he and his brother amassed, and several clips of Leigh with various pieces of early American furniture and paintings. Video shorts featuring Leigh with Twentieth Century furnishings such as Arne Jacobsen’s “Egg Chair” and Gerrit Rietveld’s iconic “Red and Blue Chair” are also included.
According to the website, Keno will be assisted in the auction operation by Jack O’Brien and Sarah Sperling. Keno Auctions is actively seeking quality consignments of furniture, folk art, paintings and decorative arts, including ceramics, silver and jewelry.
Keno, who was unavailable to comment at press-time, has yet to announce the location of the salesroom, which is expected to be in either Westchester or Fairfield County.
For further information, contact Keno Auctions at 212-734-2381 or www.kenoauctions.com.
