SOTHEBY’S TO OFFER IMPORTANT FRENCH & ENGLISH FURNITURE AND OLD MASTER PAINTINGS SINGLE OWNER SALE WILL BE HELD ON MAY 24, 2007 IN NEW YORK OLD MASTER PAINTINGS FROM THE HILBERT COLLECTION WILL BE INCLUDED IN SOTHEBY’S JUNE 8, 2007 SALE OF OLD MASTER PAINTINGS
News-Antique.com - Nov 30,-0001 - [Photo - Louis XVI Parquetry Commode by Martin Carlin, Est. $700,000/1 million]
In May and June of 2007 Sotheby’s New York will offer for sale Important French and English Furniture and Old Master Paintings from The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen C. Hilbert. The furniture and decorations will be offered in a single owner sale on May 24, 2007 and the paintings will be included in a sale of Old Master Paintings on June 8, 2007. In total, the collection is estimated to bring in the region of $8/12 million.
Alistair Clarke, Worldwide Head of French, Continental and English Furniture for Sotheby’s commented, “The works in this collection were purchased from the best dealers in the field and with an incredible
amount of care and attention. Mirroring the collections formed in the 18th and 19th centuries in the great English country house tradition, this offering represents a wonderful range of material of the finest quality. The sale presents a rare opportunity for new and seasoned collectors alike.”
The Hilbert Collection is rich in fine examples of French Furniture and decorations. Among the highlights to be offered is a splendid early Louis XVI Parquetry Commode by Martin Carlin, probably originally purchased by the 7th Viscount Stormont while he was Ambassador to Paris in the early 1770s (est. $700,000/1 million). It remained in his descendant’s house, Scone Palace in Scotland, until being sold at Sotheby’s in 1967. The commode bears an ink inscription from the greatest dealer and tastemaker of his time, Simon-Philippe Poirier, who commissioned the piece from Carlin and who pioneered furniture in the early neoclassical taste, which he sold from his renowned luxury emporium, “A la Couronne d’Or.” Also included is a very Fine Pair of Louis XVI Patinated Bronze Candelabra attributed to the great bronzier François Rémond (est. $150/250,000) and a Rare Pair of Louis XIV Marquetry Pedestals by André-Charles Boulle (est. $200/300,000).
The offering of English Furniture includes an Important Pair of George III Giltwood armchairs attributed to John Linnell and designed by Robert Adam, possibly for the 6th Duke of Bolton (est. $100/150,000). An impressively carved and large Pair of George III Giltwood Mirrors are probably also by John Linnell and, in their use of both Rococo and Neo-Classical ornament, they represent the transitional phase of the mid 1760s (est. $400/600,000). Other important English pieces include a Regency Rosewood Writing Table in the manner of George Smith (est. $200/300,000).
A rare Pair of Silver-Gilt Sideboard Dishes bearing the mark of Philip Rundell, senior partner of the Royal Goldsmiths Rundell, Bridge and Rundell, is an important document of Regency craftsmanship and patronage (est. $250/350,000). The design is attributed to the painter Thomas Stothard (1755-1834), one of the most popular, prolific and successful artists of his time. These particular dishes probably belonged to Philip Rundell himself; they later formed part of the collection of Joseph Neeld of Grittleton Hall, Rundell’s 2
great-nephew. Together with the ewer and basin in the collection, they represent the 19th century’s continuation
