Skinner’s American Antiques Auction to Be Rescheduled for Saturday, Due to an unexpected storm, the American Furniture and Decorative Arts Sale no. 2567B, originally scheduled for October 30th at 11 AM has been postponed until Saturday, November 5th, 2011 at 10AM.
News-Antique.com - Oct 06,2011 - Skinner Inc. today announced its fall auction of American Furniture and Decorative Arts will be held in its Boston gallery on November 5th, 2011, rescheduled from the original date of October 30th due to an unexpected storm in the Northeast. The sale features the early photography collection of Rod MacKenzie as well as American lighting, fine American furniture – both formal and paint-decorated – folk art, marine paintings, textiles and needlework, early pottery and stoneware, and much more.
The Rod MacKenzie Collection of Early Photography
The sale kicks off with the Rod MacKenzie collection of early photography. Many of the 150 lots of daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes are housed in rare hard plastic cases. As a collector, MacKenzie has a sophisticated taste for images that speak to the viewer emotionally, historically, and artistically. MacKenzie's extensive knowledge of American history, particularly of the Civil War, is represented by dozens of extraordinary images of military officers and soldiers.
MacKenzie collects images that tell stories. This collection contains many images that convey a strong sense of narrative: portraits of beautiful, stylishly dressed women; prosperous, optimistic young couples and large family groups; children at school; and men shown at their daily occupations. The group of "occupationals" includes an architect, a blacksmith, a mailman, farmers, musicians, carpenters, and firemen. Also represented are rare daguerreotypes of mid-19th century houses and a parade.
Fine New England Furniture
While the sale features many examples of fine American furniture, one of the more noteworthy offerings is a rare Chippendale mahogany serpentine bureau, made in Boston or Charlestown, MA, c. 1760-70. The bureau is characterized by a dramatic molded overhanging top that conforms to the compact chest below with a serpentine front and rare half-serpentine sides. Skinner had sold the bureau to a collector more than twenty years ago. According the Stephen Fletcher, Department Director, “Lot 265 is an extremely rare piece, with its sophisticated shape and rococo fire-gilt brasses not often seen in the Boston area.” The bureau is estimated between $75,000 and $150,000.
From the same collection, is a Queen Anne walnut carved and upholstered easy chair made in Boston in the last half of the 18th century. This beautifully proportioned chair retains its original surface, and is estimated between $40,000 and $60,000.
Fine American Paintings
18th century American portraiture is very rare and this sale is highlighted by an impressive work from 1786, The portrait of Abigail Rose, of North Branford, Connecticut, at the age of fourteen. Abigail is seen seated in a Queen Anne chair next to a table on which rests a group of books and a Battersea patchbox. Well-preserved, in original condition, and not seen publicly since the 1930s, the portrait has descended through the family of the sitter. The portrait, lot 293, is estimated to sell between $150,000 and $250,000. The portrait is being sold with the floral enameled Battersea patchbox portrayed in the painting, Abigail’s prayer book, an early 20th century handwritten label identifying Abigail in the portrait, which states the portrait
