Summer/Autumn 2009
Color and Controversy Prendergast in Italy
Capturing Sunshine The Artists of Old Lyme
Artist, Thief, Villain Unveiling the Life of a Folk Artist
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance $6.95 US/C AN 05
Historic Hotel, Kennebunkport, Maine Marblehead Mansion
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56698 28524
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Major Expansion at Two Museums
thomas hicks (1823–1890), (detail) The Sisters, 1874. Oil on canvas, 27⅛ x 20⅛ in. Signed and dated (at lower center): T. Hicks / 1874 21 East 70th Street Tel: 212.535.8810 Fax: 212.772.7237
New York, NY 10021 Email: gallery@hirschlandadler.com www.HirschlAndAdler.com
C. L. PRICKETT Fine Authenticated American Antiques
Untouched Condition! Outstanding Chippendale Mahogany and Gilt Looking Glass ass having a phoenix silhouetted in the he crest, a gilded inside mirror border er and beautifully executed scrollwork rk throughout. In an outstanding state of preservation being completely original and retaining a beautiful ul original ďŹ nish. Circa 1775. Height 41½", width 25".
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 Prickettt Located just 25 minutes north of Philadelphia and 75 minutes south of NYC at the Newtown Exit, #49, e. off I-95. Hours: By appointment or by chance.
Peter H. Tillou - Works of Art 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, and Native American Art.
Frederick William MacMonnies (American, 1861–1939) Self Portrait, c. 1925 Oil on canvas, 21½ x 15 inches Signed
109 Prospect Street, Litchfield, CT 06759 ♦ 860.567.5706 Sanibel Island, Florida 33957 www.antiquesandfineart.com/ptillou ♦ Established 1953 ♦ By chance or appointment suggested
Peter H. Tillou - Works of Art 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, and Native American Art.
Chippendale Curly Cherry Bonnet Top Chest on Chest With an oxbow lower case, shell carved center drawer with shaped side drawers conforming to the bonnet design. Probably Massachusetts, c. 1770–90. Period brasses and pine secondary wood. Height: 6'10"; upper case: 37", lower case: 39"; depth: 19½"
109 Prospect Street, Litchfield, CT 06759 ♦ 860.567.5706 Sanibel Island, Florida 33957 www.antiquesandfineart.com/ptillou ♦ Established 1953 ♦ By chance or appointment suggested
John Singer Sargent the pavement of san cataldo, palermo, c. , oil on canvas, ½ x inches, . x . cm
ADELSON
GALLERIES
east nd street new york, new york .. adelsongalleries.com
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122 72
features furniture{iq
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124
Cabinetmaking for Collectors Chairs by Allan Breed
museum{focus
122
New Mexico Museum of Art
124
Prendergast in Italy Painting in the Present in the Land of the Past by Nancy Mowll Mathews
132
The Colby Museum of Art at Fifty by Catherine Bindman
140
Lyme in Mind The Clement C. Moore Collection and the Florence Griswold Museum By Amy Kurtz Lansing
146
Samuel Jordan: Artist, Thief, Villain by Deborah M. Child
Table of Contents Summer 2009
recent{acquisitions
154
A Crowing Achievement The Newbury Church Weathercock by Gerald W. R. Ward
Antiques & Fine Art (ISSN:1535-5500), Vol. IX, Issue 5, is published six times a year (Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Autumn, Autumn/Winter, and Anniversary) 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 ©2009 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 is pending at Boston, MA, and additional offices. Postmaster, send address changes to Antiques & Fine Art, P.O. Box 9723, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33310-9922. Subscription price is $24.95 for 1 year or $39.95 for 2 years. Printed in the USA.
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discoveries{from{the{field
158
Joseph Pynchon Rossiter A Miniature Profile Portraitist by Leslie and Peter Warwick
161
A New England Legacy Objects of the Early American Republic in the Old Sturbridge Village Collection
Peter Finer SPECIALISTS IN ANTIQUE ARMS, ARMOUR AND RELATED OBJECTS
by Rebecca Beall
168
Historic Wallpapers in the Jeremiah Lee Mansion by Judy Anderson
174
The New Sarah and Landon Rowland American Art Galleries at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art by Margaret C. Conrads and Catherine Futter
winterthur{primer
182
Decoding A Historic Map by Catharine Dann Roeber
departments 8
Advertiser Index
11
Editor’s Letter
12
Contributors
14
Discoveries
16
Noteworthy Sales
20
Historic Hotel
Captain Lord House, Kennebunkport, Maine 22
A RARE COMPOSITE NORTH ITALIAN HALF-ARMOUR, MILANESE, circa 1590
Highlights
Including special reports on Hermitage Amsterdam and The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 80
Events!
116
Destination: Santa Fe, New Mexico
We are always interested in purchasing single items or complete collections of antique guns, pistols, swords, armour and cannon in any quantity. We travel the world in our search for fine examples.
184 Back Room on{the{cover Detail, John Singer Sargent (1856–1925), Mrs. Cecil Wade, 1886. Oil on canvas, 66 x 54¼ in. Gift of the Enid and Crosby Kemper Foundation (F86–23). From The New Sarah and Landon Rowland American Art Gallery at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, p. 174.
2009
38 & 39 DUKE STREET, ST. JAMES’S, LONDON SW1Y 6DF TELEPHONE: +44 (0)20 7839 5666 FAX: +44 (0)20 7839 5777 FROM USA & CANADA TEL/FAX: 1 800 270 7951 E-MAIL: gallery@peterfiner.com www.peterfiner.com
Antiques & Fine Art
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INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
Adelson Galleries, Inc. . . . . . .4–5 Alexander Ltd., John . . . . . . . .28 Americana Antiques . . . . . . . . .92 American Spirit Antiques . . . . .58 Andersen & Stauffer Furniture Makers, LLC . . . . .84 Anderson, Marna . . . . . . . . . .89 Arader Galleries . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Archibald Portrait Miniatures, Christine . . . .108 Arons at The Gilded Lion, Leo . .66 Artfact, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 Asiantiques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Avery Galleries . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Bertoia Auctions . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Brock & Co.
19
DuMouchelles Fine Art Appraisers & Auctioneers . .101
Kinzle Antiques, Kelly . . . . . . .77
Tillou Works of Art, Peter . . .2–3
Lloyd, Inc., Robert . . . . . .70–71
Vareika Fine Arts, Ltd., William .69
Eaton Antiques, Inc., Peter H. 64
Madron LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Weiss Collection, Stanley . . . .33
Eldred’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Manko American Folk Art . . .103
Weissman Antiquarian, Ed . . .63
The Englishman . . . . . . . . . . . .81
McCarty Gallery . . . . . . . . . . .86
Willauer Antiques, Lynda . . . .67
Equinox Antiques . . . . . . . . . . .94
Mellin’s Antiques . . . . . . . . . . .78
Willin Specialized Services, Inc. .102
Evans, Jeffrey S. . . . . . . . . . . .105
MME Fine Art, LLC . . . . . . . .21
Finer, Peter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Nichols American Antiques, Thurston . . . . . . .43
Woodbury Antiques Dealers Association . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Finkel & Daughter, M. . . . . . .65 Flather & Perkins, Inc. . . . . . . .78 Fontaine's Auction Gallery . . .107 Freitas, Roberto . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Glass International . . . . . . . . .108 Glazer, James & Nancy . . . . . .31 Godel & Co. Fine Art, Inc. . . .13
Jeffrey Tillou Antiques
38
Nolan, Hilary & Paulette . . . .61 Olde Hope Antiques, Inc. . . . .25 Ophir Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Oriental Rugs, Ltd. . . . . . . . . .75 Outsider Folk Art Gallery . . . .88 Pantry & Hearth at the 1775 Barn . . . . . . . . .109
Hill Gallery
57
Worth Antiques, Inc., R.M. . .94 THE BACK ROOM
72 Objects Priced-to-Sell . . . .184–191 UPCOMING SHOWS
The ADA/Historic Deerfield Antiques Show . . . . . . . . . .111 Baltimore Summer Antiques Show . . . . . . . . . .IBC
William Vareika Fine Arts 69
Goldberg Fine Arts, LLC, Bernard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC
Pap Oriental Rugs, Inc., Peter .11
Blum, Mr. & Mrs. Jerome . . . .32 Bradley Co. Antiques, Philip H. . .12
Gordon, Elinor . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Pickwick Antiques . . . . . . . . .109
Brock & Co. . . . . . . . . . . .18–19
Hagan, John G. . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Pine Acres Realty . . . . . . . . . .115
Brownstein American Folk Paintings, Joan R. . . . . . . . . .64
Haradin Toys of Yesteryear, Ray . .95
Buscemi, Michael . . . . . . . . . .93
Heller Washam Antiques . . . . .50
Bush, Inc., G.K.S. . . . . . . . . . .29
The Herrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Chait Gallery/Auctioneers, I. M. 99
Hill Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Clark Point Gallery . . . . . . . . .86 Constant, Inc., Douglas . . . . .88
Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC
Creech Antiques & Fine Art, M. Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
Holland Antiques & Art, Raymond . . . . . . . . . . . .52–53
Sallea Antiques . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Crocker Farm, Inc. . . . . . . . . . .98
Huber, Stephen & Carol . .26–27
Shushan, Elle . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Czerny’s International Auction House . . . . . . . . . . .91
Jere’s Antiques . . . . . . . . . . . .104
Skinner, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Julia, Inc., James D. . . . . . . .112
Dail Fine Art, Catherine . . . . .35
Katz Americana, Allan . . . . . . .23
Sloans & Kenyon Auctioneers & Appraisers . . . . . . . . . . . .100
DeRu’s Fine Arts . . . . . . . . . . .37
Kendall Fine Art . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Sullivan Antiques, Gary . . . . . .36
Donovan Antiques, Colette . . .60
Kilvington, James M. . . . . . . .44
Thanas Fine Art . . . . . . . . . . .108
Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show . . . . . .40
Dowling Walsh Gallery . . . . . .55
King Gallery of Fine Art, Roger .51
Tillou Antiques, Jeffrey . . . . . .38
Princeton Fall Antiques Show . .113
Bittel, Diana H. . . . . . . . . . . .73
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Heller Gallery, Julie . . . . . . . . .83
Peabody Essex Museum . . . . . .90
Pollack, Frank & Barbara . . . .39 Prickett, C.L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Puckett, Charles Edwin . . . . . .74 Questroyal Fine Art, LLC . . . . .15 RGL Antiques . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Ryder Antiques . . . . . . . . . . . .109 Score, Inc., Stephen . . . . . . . . .59
California Country & Folk Art Antiques Show . . . . . . . . . .112 Dallas International Art, Antique & Jewelry Show . .192 The Delaware Antiques Show. . . . . . . . . . .110 Houston Antiques Dealers Association Antiques Show & Sale . . . . . . . . . . . .102 The Manchester Pickers Market Antiques Show . . . . .56 Mid-Week in Manchester Antiques Show . . . . . . . . . . .56 Nantucket Historical Society Antiques Show . . . . . . . . . . .68 New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association Show . . .62 The Newport Antiques Show . .68
Summer
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ELINOR GORDON CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN
P.O. BOX 211, VILLANOVA, PENNSYLVANIA 19085 • (610) 525-0981 FAX (610) 525-1451 BY APPOINTMENT
One of the finest selections of Chinese Export Porcelain in the country
Rare pair of Imari tea caddies. Circa 1720.
from the editor
“B
Enjoy,
Johanna McBrien Johanna@antiquesandfineart.com
Peter Pap Oriental Rugs, Inc. DISTINCTIVE ANTIQUE RUGS
470 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 415.956.3300 1225 Main Street, Dublin, NH 603.563.8717
V i ew over 800 rugs online
www.peterpap.com
Bidjar, Persia, Fourth Quarter 19th century, 6' 6" x 11' 7"
oston, slowly opened its eyes, stretched, and woke. The sun struck in horizontally…flashing upon weathervanes—brass cocks and arrows, here a glass-eyed Indian, there, a copper grasshopper—and the bells in the steeples cling-clanged, telling the people, it was time to be up and about.” In Johnny Tremain (1943), Esther Forbes’ narrative tale of the years leading up to the American Revolution, the author described the rooftop landscape of the City Upon a Hill. Though many of the characters are fictional, the tale was woven around historic figures and local landmarks. The grasshopper certainly describes the famous copper vane made for the cupola of Faneuil Hall, and the glass-eyed Indian weathervane seemingly describes the vane mounted on the now demolished 1679 Province House, seat of the Royal Governors. Both vanes were made by Deacon and tinplate worker Shem Drowne (1683–1774). The Indian vane, now in the collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society, is illustrated and discussed in Gerald Ward’s article “A Crowning Achievement, The Newbury Church Weathercock” (pages 154–157). Drowne’s son Thomas (1715–1796) was also a weathervane maker, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has recently acquired, with the help of Olde Hope Antiques, an important example of Thomas’ work. In Marblehead, Massachusetts, a colonial gilt codfish weathervane, said to be made by Paul Revere, sits atop the First Church, now Old North Congregational. The presence of a fish symbolizes both Christianity as well as the town’s principle colonial industry. Among those to prosper from the codfish trade was Colonial Jeremiah Lee (1721–1775), who soon after the erection of his opulent mansion in 1768 was recorded as the wealthiest man in Massachusetts. As a man of distinction, his home was a showplace. In her article (pages 168–173), Judy Anderson, curator of the Marblehead Museum & Historical Society, discusses the important scenic and block-printed wallpapers that comprise “the largest collection of mid-eighteenth-century English papers from a single American house.” An incredible survival, these papers provide insight into the range and combination of patterns and the aesthetics of the period. Colonel Lee was brother-in-law to Robert “King” Hooper, also of Marblehead and a leading Massachusetts fish merchant. Hooper’s drawing room, from his Danvers country estate, has recently been conserved, repainted, and reinstalled in the new Sarah and Landon Rowland American Art Galleries at the Nelson-Atkins Museum. Authors Margaret Conrads and Catherine Futter discuss the important interior and other key collections in their article on the galleries (pages 174–181), which display material from the colonial era to World War II.
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contributors Judy Anderson, Curator, Lee Mansion, Marblehead, Mass. Page 168. Rebecca E. Beall, Collections Manager, Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, Mass. Page 161. Catherine Bindman, Art critic, New York. Page 132.
Circa 1815. Ht. 102 in.
PHILIP H. BRADLEY CO. 1101 East Lancaster Avenue (Route 30) Downingtown, Pennsylvania 19335 Telephone (610) 269-0427 Email philipbradleyantiques@verizon.net Web site: www.antiquesandfineart.com/pbradley Summer Hours: Open Tuesday thru Friday 10:00AM – 5:00PM, or by appointment. Closed August 15th – 31st
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Amy Kurtz Lansing, Curator, Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme, Conn. Page 140.
Deborah M. Child, Independent art historian and museum consultant, Portsmouth, N.H. Page 146.
Nancy Mowll Mathews, Eugénie Prendergast Senior Curator of Nineteenth and Twentieth Century American and European Art, Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Mass. Page 124.
Frances J. Folsom, Freelance journalist, Cambridge, Mass. Page 20.
Chris Ohrstrom, Co-owner, Adelphi Paper Hangings, The Plains, Va. Page 48.
Margaret Conrads, Samuel Sosland Curator of American Art, Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City, MO. Page 174.
Gerald W. R. Ward, Katharine Lane Weems Senior Curator of Decorative Arts and Sculpture, Art of the Americas, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Page 154.
Allan Breed, Cabinetmaker, Rollinsford, N.H. Page 118.
A Cherry Scrolltop Corner Cupboard, Bethlehem, Pa.,
Catharine Dann Roeber, Lunger Project Associate, Winterthur Museum and Ph.D. candidate, William and Mary. Page 182.
Catherine Futter, Helen Jane and R. Hugh “Pat” Uhlmann Curator of Decorative Arts, NelsonAtkins Museum, Kansas City, MO. Page 174.
Leslie and Peter Warwick, Collectors and authors, New Jersey. Page 158.
Summer