COMPLIMENTARY COPY
Rare And Unique Kingfisher Feather Headdress Fetches Extraordinary Result FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2017 • VOL. 48, NO. 45
Significant Piece Of Kentucky Furniture Shatters Records At Cowan’s Chippendale Desk And Bookcase Of Capt. John Cowan Brings $498,750 The Chippendale desk and bookcase of Captain John Cowan, widely considered to be the most significant piece of Kentucky furniture to ever come to market, shattered the auction record for furniture made in the Bluegrass State when it sold for $498,750 at Cowan’s Auctions on Saturday, Oct. 21. It was the top lot of an exciting two days at Cowan’s Fall Fine and Decorative Arts that saw prices soar across most categories, propelling the sale to a $1.8 million total (including buyer’s premium). In addition to setting the new standard for Kentucky furniture, it was also the second most expensive piece of Southern furniture ever sold at auction. This was the first time the desk had been available to the public in over 220 years after remaining in the family of Kentucky pioneer Capt. John Cowan for six generations. “We’re thrilled,” said Wes Cowan, Cowan’s principal auctioneer and executive chairman (no relation to Capt. John Cowan). “But more importantly, the piece demonstrates conclusively that the market recognized this as an incomparable rarity. For scholars of Kentucky furniture it is validation for what some have said for years that great high-style furniture was being made in the 18th century Bluegrass region.” A capacity crowd packed Cowan’s Cincinnati, Ohio, salesroom as the desk came to the auction block. Conservatively estimated to sell between $50,000 and $75,000, bidding opened with five phone bidders at $30,000. Perhaps knowing that the desk would ultimately fetch far more, one phone
bidder immediately jumped the bidding to $100,000. Three phone bidders went back and forth for several minutes before the same phone bidder once again jumped the bidding to $250,000. When action finally began to slow down at $300,000, a floor bidder (private collector) who had been patiently biding his time entered the fray. After exchanging bids for two minutes, the floor bidder finally won out, winning the coveted piece of history for $425,000. The addition of a buyer’s premium made the grand total $498,750. Capt. John Cowan (17481823) was one of the first settlers of Kentucky in 1773, arriving with Thomas Bullit at the Falls of Ohio, where he helped survey the land that is now Louisville. A year later, he was one of the founders of Harrod’s Town, the first perm a n e n t European settlement in Kentucky. By 1784, Cowan was a prominent enough citizen that his plantation was labeled on John Filson’s map of Kentucky, one of the first maps of the territory. At the top of that first map, Cowan, alongside Daniel Boone and four others, was acknowledged for his assistance in constructing what was said to be the most accurate Kentucky map of its time. A full report on this sale will appear in an upcoming issue of Antiques & Auction News. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auction.
From iconic designs to rare and unique collectibles, there have been some extraordinary items and results at auction so far this fall. One standout lot was a Kingfisher feather headdress and four hairpins dating from the 19th century. There’s always excitement during auctions, and more often than not, no one really knows when an estimate will be ignored and blown out of the water. The Kingfisher feather headdress and four hairpins were in Skinner’s September Asian Works of The Kingfisher feather headdress and four hairpins sold in Art Sale and generated a Skinner’s September Asian Works of Art Auction online bidding war. With a conser- through Bidsquare.com for $110,700. vative estimate of $3,000$4,000, the lot sold through kingfisher feather, pearl beads, and Bidsquare.com for over 35 times precious gems. In addition, this lot also included four kingfisher the low estimate at $110,700. This type of headdress would feather hairpins. The month of September saw have been worn by a high-ranking lady of the Chinese Qing court. It an astonishing number of Asian contains many details such as the art pieces offered through gilded filigree phoenixes and large Bidsquare.com with many excepblossoming peony mounted on top tional results. To read more about of the black cap. All of these ele- these unique items and top sellers, ments are decorated with pieces of visit www.bidsquare.com/blog.
Witman Sells Fahnestock Farm Black Pearl Oyster Tin Brings $4,600
AAN Current News
Finest InvestmentGrade Star Wars Collection Of Past 40 Years At Heart Of Hake’s on page 2
Online-Only Coins And Jewelry At Pook & Pook Set For Nov. 17 on page 4
Discover The Rich Heritage Of Pennsylvania German Folk Art: From Fraktur To Scherenschnitte on page 11
Roosevelt House Opens “World War I And The Roosevelts: Franklin And Eleanor, Family And Friends” on page 12
This brick farmhouse situated on 43 acres on Fruitville Pike in Manheim, Lancaster County, Pa., sold for $1 million. Witman Auctioneers Inc. of Manheim, Pa., conducted a public auction on Oct. 14 on behalf of Ella Jane Fahnestock at 246 Fruitville Pike in Manheim. A 43-acre farm with buildings, including a brick farmhouse, sold for $1 million to William M. Hess of Lititz. An interesting barn find included a rare Waterloo tractor (parts missing), which realized $32,000. An early Landis four-wheel metal cart brought $4,500, and a Black Pearl
Oyster tin sold for $4,600. For more information, readers may call 717-665-5735 or visit www.witmanauctioneers.com. More photos on page 2
Large Cycladic Marble Head From 2500 B.C. Soars To $188,800 At Cottone on page 14
In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . . . . starting on page 3 This early Waterloo tractor sold for $32,000.
The Black Pearl Oyster tin sold for $4,600.
SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . on page 5 EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR . on page 7 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . starting on page 7
FEATURED AUCTION: Woody Auctions - November 18 in Kansas City, Missouri - Page 16
AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . . on page 8 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 19