THE MARCH AUCTION TO FEATURE ESTATE OF REVEREND PETER GOMES Grogan and Company is pleased to announce Property from the Estate of the Reverend Peter J. Gomes will be auctioned on Saturday, March 24th at their historic Dedham gallery.
News-Antique.com - Mar 11,2012 - Grogan and Company's March auction will be held in two sessions. Session one, held on Saturday, March 24th will begin at 12 noon and will be comprised of property from the Estate of the Reverend Peter J. Gomes, including fine art, antiques and books from two residences: Sparks House, Cambridge and Oceanside, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
On Sunday, March 25th, Session two will begin at 12 noon and will be comprised of Fine Art, Furniture and Decorations, Silver, Jewelry and Rugs from various estates and collections.
The Reverend Peter J. Gomes (1942 – 2011) was Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister of the Memorial Church at Harvard University, and has been described as one of the most distinguished Christian preachers in the history of the English-speaking pulpit. Born in Boston and raised in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Reverend Gomes was a man of many hats: pastor, professor, humanitarian, scholar, biblical interpreter, writer, collector, advisor and friend. An avid reader and scholar, Gomes received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Bates College and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Harvard Divinity School, as well as being the recipient of thirty-nine honorary degrees. He participated in the presidential inaugurations of Ronald Reagan and George H. Bush, has authored many books including the New York Times bestseller The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart (1996); The Good Life: Truths that Last in Times of Need (2002), and The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus: What’s so Good about the Good News? (2007). The Reverend Gomes was profiled by Robert Boynton in The New Yorker in November of 1996; described by Morley Safer in a 60 Minutes spot as “amongst one of the most important ecclesiastical voices in the country.”; included in the premiere issue of Talk magazine as part of its feature article, "The Best Talkers in America: Fifty Big Mouths We Hope Will Never Shut Up”; and listed by Time Magazine in 1979 as “one of the seven most distinguished preachers in America.”
Reverend Gomes enjoyed a well rounded circle of friends including British Royalty, Politicians, Writers, Artists, Students and Intellectuals. “He loved antiques, long, multi-course dinner parties with sparkling conversation, and rich old ladies,” recounted Governor Deval Patrick, in Gomes eulogy, “We listened to the music of his voice, his beautiful choice of words. We listened and we learned about life, faith, love and loss, but mostly about how to be better people.”
Highlights from Reverend Gomes Sparks house collection include a Scottish Tall Case Clock, circa 1820, that he acquired in 1970 for $500, now estimated at $2,000-4,000 and an American Silver Chalice monogrammed PJG and inscribed Good Life December 2002, estimated at $800-1,200. A silver tipped baton with a 1914 inscription that Gome’s used to lead every commencement over the last ten years, along with one of his masters robes and graduation cap will be just one of the memorabilia available. Property from his Oceanside Plymouth residence includes a George III Inlaid Mahogany Secretary Bookcase, estimated at $3,000-5,000; a 19th
