Skinner to Host Auction of European Furniture and Decorative Arts The Michael Howard Theater Collection is featured in the October 6, 2012 auction in Boston along with fine silver, European furniture, and decorative arts.
Tempest, and Hamlet (lots 531-533, each $3,000 to $5,000).
19th century English actors and actresses are represented in paintings, needlework samplers, porcelain and pottery objects, and tinsel prints. And the Commedia dell'Arte is represented in several lots including a collection highlight: a large needlework piece portraying an early stage production, complete with the characters Harlequin, Il Dottore, and Scaramouche (lot 544, $4,000 to $6,000).
Furniture and Decorative Arts
English pieces of note include a William IV amboyna and yew wood writing table (lot 746, $8,000 to $12,000), a Regency mahogany drum table (lot 792, $2,000 to $4,000), and a George III parcel-gilt and caned bergere (lot 829, $4,000 to $6,000).
The variety of Continental furniture is demonstrated by two case pieces. The first, a fine 18th century Dutch walnut armoire (lot 574, $15,000 to $25,000) is marquetry-inlaid throughout; the second, a brass- and alabaster-mounted mahogany veneer secretaire abattant (lot 606, $5,000 to $7,000) features burl- and string-inlaid fronts, a tambour door and other exquisite details. An important circular marble table top (lot 811, $6,000 to $8,000) inlaid with micromosaics and bordered by a rouge marble band depicts St. Peter’s Square and ruins in the Roman Forum.
American Victorian furniture is represented by a Renaissance Revival walnut cabinet secretary Wooten desk (lot 852, $6,000 to $8,000), and two Aesthetic Movement ebonized cherry side chairs attributed to Herter Brothers (lot 908, $4,000 to $6,000).
Highlights from the wide variety of Continental porcelain include several well-painted KPM plaques. One depicts the Tyrolean Rebellion of 1809 after the painting Vor Dem Aufstand 1809 in Tirol by Franz Defregger (lot 698, $1,200 to $1,800) and another, a portrait of Christopher Columbus in chains, after Gustave Wappers (lot 877, $600 to $800).
Notable decorative pieces also include an assortment of bronze sculptures highlighted by a Georges Gardet (French, 1863-1939) parcel-gilded casting entitled Lioness Discovering a Foo Dog with a Barbedienne foundry mark (lot 550, $3,000 to $5,000).
Previews, Events, Catalogue, and Bidding
Previews for the auction will be held on Thursday, October 4, 2012, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. and Friday, October 5, 2012, 12 p.m.-8 p.m.
Skinner is rolling out a new look-and-feel for print catalogues. The illustrated catalogue for this European Furniture and Decorative Arts sale, #2615B will be the first to sport this new livery, and is available by mail from the subscription department at #508-970-3240. It is also available at the gallery. Prices realized will be available at www.skinnerinc.com during and after the sale. Skinner's site also allows users to view all lots in the auctions, leave bids, order catalogues, and bid live in real-time through SkinnerLive!
About Skinner
Skinner, Inc. is one of the world’s leading auction houses for antiques and fine art. With expertise in over 20 specialty collecting areas, Skinner draws the interest of buyers from all over the world and its auctions regularly achieve world record prices. Skinner provides a broad range of auction and appraisal services, and it is widely regarded as one of the most trusted names in
