American School (New England) about 1845. Portrait of a Writing Master. Oil on canvas, 36 x 29½ in.
21 East 70th Street New York, NY 10021 Tel: 212.535.8810 Fax: 212.772.7237
www.HirschlAndAdler.com email: gallery@hirschlandadler.com www.antiquesandfineart.com/hirschlandadler
Participating in The Philadelphia Antiques Show, Philadelphia, PA, April 12‒15
This secretary represents the ultimate expression of conspicuous expense and luxury in urban style centers such as Salem, Boston, Providence and Newport. It would have been the most expensive furniture available for purchase and normally displayed in the best parlor for all to admire, perhaps envy. Three other closely related block-front examples are known. All four have so many identical features of design, construction, profiling, carving and minutiae of workmanship that their origin in a single cabinetmaking shop is clear. The related example at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, now familiar as a virtual icon, has been described by Morrison Heckscher as “one of the supreme manifestations of the characteristic Massachusetts block-front desk with scroll-pediment bookcase and round-arched doors.� (See Heckscher, American Furniture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art [1985], No. 181. According to family tradition, this desk has always been in the Cabot-Paine-Metcalf family of Salem, Massachusetts.
C. L. PRICKETT Fine Authenticated American Antiques
THE R ARE AND IMPORTANT CABOT-PAINE-METCALF BOMBÉ DESK-AND-BOOKCASE Workshop of Nathaniel Gould
Salem, Massachusetts, circa 1780 Height: 96⅛" In brilliance of overall design, wood selection, balance of proportion, maturity and quality of carving and joinery, and rarity of form, this recently discovered bombé secretary is unparalleled and stands alone as the only known example of bombé furniture in the secretarial bookcase form to come from Salem, Massachusetts.
930 Stony Hill Road Yardley, Bucks Co., PA 19067 Telephone: (215) 493-4284 Website: www.clprickett.com Email: info@clprickett.com
Clarence, Craig, and Todd Prickett Located just 25 minutes north of Philadelphia and 75 minutes south of NYC at the Newtown Exit, #49, off I-95. Hours: 10 to 5 daily, closed Sunday.
17th- and 18th-century American and European Furniture, Antique Carpets, American Folk Art, Arms and Armor, Early African Sculpture, Chinese Han and Tang Dynasty Pottery, Pre-Columbian Art, European Old Master Paintings, American Paintings and Sculpture, Classic Cars 1928‒1934, Rare Coins and Medals, Early American Blown Glass, Native American Art, and Natural History Cabinet of Curiosities.
Important American folk portrait of James Brown Jr., age 17 months painted by M. Burroughs, ca. 1838, Oswego, New York. Signed and inscribed on the reverse side of the popular wood panel. Panel size: 35⅝ x 23⅞ inches. Original maple and mahogany frame. 2
www.antiquesandfineart.com
Spring
109 Prospect Street, Litchfield, CT 06759 Tel: 860.567.5706 7 West Street on the Green, Litchfield, CT 06759 Tel: 860.567.8608 Sanibel Island, Florida 33957 Tel: 239.472.6794 www.antiquesandfineart.com /ptillou Established 1953 By chance or appointment suggested
Important Nautical Shop Figure of a Jack Tar (Sailor) with an octant. Carved and painted wood, full size with the original marble painted wood base. English, ca. 1850. Attributed to the Newcastle carver Thomas Hall Tweedy. Originally from the shop of nautical instrument maker and dealer John Cail, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Excellent condition retaining most of the original painted surface except for minor chips and paint losses. The painted surface of the face and hands is of a later date. Height of figure: 5' 6" Overall Height with stand: 6' 6" Stand: 19" h x 17½" w Provenance: New England museum, Private collection. First time this major figure has been offered for public sale in America.
2008
Antiques & Fine Art
3
Ralph M. Chait Galleries, INC . CHINESE ART Specializing in Chinese porcelain and works of art.
Established 1910.
724 Fifth Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10019 Tel: 212.758.0937 Fax: 212.319.0471 www.antiquesandfineart.com/chait www.rmchait.com email: info@rmchaitgal.net
RARE CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE RUBY BACK CANTON ENAMEL DISH Yongzheng/early Qianlong period, cica 1730s Diameter: 8˙ inches
March 14 - Ap ril 18, 20 08
A D E L S O N
G A L L E R I E S
19 East 82nd Street Ne w York, NY 10028 (212) 439-6800 adelsongalleries.com Mon - Fri 9:30 - 5:30 Sat 10 -5
A RARE CHIPPENDALE MAHOGANY SIDEBOARD TABLE Boston, circa 1765 Sideboard tables retaining their original mahogany tops are extremely rare. This elegant example is distinguished by refined proportions, a bulged apron with graceful scalloping on three sides, and cabriole legs with peaked knees ending in well-articulated claw-and-ball feet with retracted talons. 29¾" x 47¾" x 19½"
Exhibiting at the Philadelphia Antiques Show, April 12–15, 2008 (opening night April 11, 2008)
127 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10021
(212) 734-2381
leigh@leighkeno.com
Mary Cassatt prints and drawings from the collection of
Ambroise Vollard
Presented by Marc Rosen Fine Art, Ltd.
April 25 - June 6, 2008
A D E L S O N
G A L L E R I E S
19 East 82nd Street New York, NY 10028 (212) 439-6800 adelsongalleries.com Mon - Fri 9:30 - 5:30 Sat 10 -5
Spring 2008 departments Advertiser Index 10
Editor’s Letter
13
Contributors
15
Noteworthy Sales
16
142
The Tradition of Teaching
A Fabled Masterpiece
132
Highlights News, Events, & Trends
24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38, 40, 42, 49, 54, 111, 118
94
Joe Kindig III, 2008 Recipient of the ADA Award of Merit
features 172
Questions on the Quest — A Curator’s Collecting Profile: J. Thomas Savage
by laura layfer 132
by christopher storb 150
Christian Beschler: The “Sussel-Unicorn” Artist
by donald m. herr 158
Fore & Aft — Philadelphia Collects Maritime The 2008 Philadelphia Antiques Show Loan Exhibition
by craig bruns 164
A California Collection
by russell buskirk
by erik brockett
A Reviviscent Newport 202 En Plein Air: Colonial: The NicholsPainting and Wanton-Hunter House Photography in the Forest of Fontainebleau by ralph e. carpenter
188
El Greco to Velázquez: Art during the Reign of Philip III
The Tradition of Teaching
Conservation of a Fabled Masterpiece: The Fox and Grapes High Chest at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Influence of William Morris Hunt Art Focus
182
by monica zimmerman 142
196
by david krashes
by lauren byrne 122
An Appreciation of Nineteenth-Century Folk Portraits
by kimberly jones
211
by benjamin weiss
172 Folk Portraits
When Money Is No Object
by mark golodetz 218
MESDA’s Barber Family Desk and Bookcase Discoveries from the Field
by rebecca phillips
220 The MarshBillings-Rockefeller Mansion and National Historic Park Museum Focus
by frances j. folsom
Tribute 222 Allison Eckardt Ledes Tribute 223 Samuel C. Pennington
Antiques & Fine Art (ISSN: 1535-5500), Vol. VIII, Issue 4, is published bimonthly (Spring, Summer, Summer/Autumn, Autumn/Winter, Anniversary, and Early Spring) by AFA, 125 Walnut Street, Watertown, MA 02472. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. Contents copyright ©2008 AFA. All rights reserved. The advertiser seeking the services of Antiques & Fine Art will indemnify and save harmless Antiques & Fine Art and its agents from any liabilities, claims, lawsuits, damages, or expenses, including attorney’s fees and costs that may arise out of publication of the advertiser’s/agency ads or materials. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Antiques & Fine Art, nor any of its staff, is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Application to mail at periodical postage rate pending at Andover, MA and additional offices. Change of address should be sent to 125 Walnut Street, Watertown, MA 02472. PRINTED IN THE USA. ON THE COVER: Detail, Gustave Courbet (French, 1819–1877), The Desperate Man, 1844–45. Oil on canvas. Private Collection, courtesy of BNP Paribas Art Advisory. Photo: © Michel Nguyen. See Highlights, page 28.
Rockport Quarry
harry aiken vincent
(1864– 1931) Oil on canvas, 30 x 36 inches (76.2 x 91.4 cm), Signed lower left: H.A. Vincent
522 New Gulph Road, Haverford, Pennsylvania 19041 (610) 896-0680 info@averygalleries.com www.averygalleries.com
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
Adelson Galleries, Inc. ....................5, 7 Alexander Ltd., John ........................74 Allen, Mark & Marjorie ..................75 Andersen & Stauffer Furniture Makers, LLC. ........102–103 Antiquario Villas & Cottages ..........116 Antique American Wicker ..............114 Antiques Dealers’ Association of America, Inc. ..............................93 Arader Galleries ................................41 Archibald Portrait Miniatures, Christine ......................................100 Asiantiques ......................................114 Avery Galleries ....................................9 Bittel, Diana H. ................................76 Black Pearl Antiques & Fine Art LLC ............................117
Elle Shushan
22
Blum, Mr. & Mrs. Jerome ................36 Bradley Co. Antiques, Philip H. ......77 Brock & Co.................................20–21 Brownstein American Folk Paintings, Joan R. ..........................78 Burns American Indian Arts, Marcy ........................80 Cantor & Co., Lawrence J. ..............48 Chait Galleries, Ralph M. ..................4 Chalfant Antiques, H.L. ..................81 Cherry Brook Woodworks ..............100 Constant, Inc., Douglas ..................119 Cook, William ..................................43 Creech Antiques & Fine Art, M. Ford ........................................100 Cunha-St. John................................115 Dalton’s American Decorative Arts ....82 Davishire ........................................119 Dawn Hill Antiques ........................115 Dike Fine Art, David ........................45 Downshire House Ltd. ....................110 Eaton Antiques, Inc., Peter H. ..........79 Equinox Antiques ............................100 Fine Art Dealers Association..............44 10
www.antiquesandfineart.com
Finer, Peter ......................................13 Finnegan Gallery ............................115 Flather & Perkins, Inc. ......................48 Fletcher/Copenhaver Fine Art..........114 Force Fine Art, Inc., Debra ..............14 Frankel, Ltd., E & J ........................83 Freitas, Roberto ..............................105 Gemini Antiques, Ltd. ....................106 Godel & Co. Fine Art, Inc. ..............31 Goldberg Fine Art, Ltd, Bernard ..........................................Back Cover Gordon, Elinor ................................84 Graham & Sons, James ....................12 Hagan, John G. ................................54 Haradin Toys of Yesteryear, Ray ......120 Haverford Trust Company ................72 Heller Gallery, Julie ........................101 Heller Washam Antiques ................108
Franklin Riehlman
29
Hill Gallery ......................................85 Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc. ..............................Inside Front Cover House of Heydenryk ........................49 Huber, Stephen & Carol ..................39 Hyland Granby Antiques ..................87 Jorgensen Fine Period Antiques, R. ..................................56 Kandemir Antique Carpets ................68 Katz Americana, Allan ......................17 Keno American Antiques, Leigh ........6 King Gallery of Fine Art, Roger ......57 King-Thomasson ............................113 Kinzle Antiques, Kelly ......................86 Koman Fine Art ................................61 Kramer & Co., Greg K. ....................88 Lazare Gallery..............................98–99 Lindberg Antiques, Julie ..................66 Liverant & Son Antiques, Nathan ..113 Lloyd, Inc., Robert ..........................42 Lonergan, Gloria ............................110 Madeline West Antiques ..................116 Magruder, Malcolm ..........................64 Malcolm Franklin, Inc.......................12
Menconi & Schoelkopf Fine Art, LLC..................................11 Mexico Real Estate ..........................124 Meyer Fine Art ..................................97 Minor Antiques, Aileen ..................110 MME Fine Art, LLC ........................19 Nichols American Antiques, Thurston ......................................107 North River Fine Art ........................96 Northeast Auctions............................67 Olde Hope Antiques, Inc. ................89 Oriental Rugs, Ltd.............................53 Outsider Folk Art Gallery..................71 Overall Chinese Export Porcelain, David ............................62 Pantry & Hearth at the 1775 Barn..116 Pap Oriental Rugs, Inc., Peter ....15, 90 Pollack, Frank & Barbara ................37
Hill Gallery
85
Pook & Pook, Inc. ............................70 Prickett, C.L. ......................................1 Puckett, Charles Edwin ..................113 Purcell Inc., Francis J. ....................109 Questroyal Fine Art, LLC..................33 Raccoon Creek Antiques LLC at Oley Forge ..................................65 Rappaport, Eugene ........................121 Reeves Fine Art, Alexander ..............63 Rehs Galleries, Inc. ............................27 Ricco/Maresca Gallery ......................35 Riehlman Fine Art, Franklin ............29 Roughton Galleries, Inc...............46–47 Rubin, Stella ......................................91 Rufus Porter Museum........................66 Running Battle Antiques ........113, 115 Sack, Albert ......................................18 Sallea Antiques ..................................52 Schiller & Bodo ................................25 Shushan, Elle ..............................22–23 Slotin Folk Art Auctions..................111 Somerville Manning Gallery..............58 Stanley Weiss Collection....................60
Steele Tribal Fine Art, Alan ..............34 Stone Antiques, Ltd., Eve ..............114 Storey Antiques, Helen ..................123 The Antiques Store in Wayne ..........125 The Hanebergs Antiques ................118 The Herrs ........................................109 Tillou Antiques, Jeffrey ....................92 Tillou Fine Arts, Dana ......................62 Tillou Works of Art, Peter ..............2–3 Tucker Fine Arts, John ......................64 Vallarino Fine Art, Vincent................25 Vareika Fine Arts, Ltd., William ......50–51 Vintage Interiors II ............................59 Walker-Cunningham Fine Art ..........55 Wilhoit Antiques, James ..................68 Willauer Antiques, Lynda ................69 Woodbury Antiques Dealers Association ....................................116
Thurston Nichols
107
UPCOMING SHOWS
AD 20/21 ........................................128 Armacost Antiques Shows, Ltd. ......122 Art Chicago ....................................129 Baltimore Antiques Show ................................Inside Back Cover California Country Antique & Americana Show and Sale ........123 Charleston International Antiques Show ..............................126 Haughton International Fine Art Fair ..................................127 Litchfield County Antiques Show....112 Los Angeles Antiques Show ............131 Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair............130 New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association Show ..............112 Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show ....................224 Philadelphia Antiques Show ..............73 The Original 23rd Street Armory Antiques Show ................104 Spring