Dynamic Museum Deaccessions at Brunk Auctions

A very rare American Pilgrim Century court cupboard that was made in the late 17th century in Guilford, Connecticut, rounded out the leaderboard with a $118,750 finish to beat its $60,000/90,000 estimate. The cupboard was one of a small group of a half dozen examples, relating most closely to one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

A statuesque fan-carved figured mahogany high chest from New England realized $27,500, a Federal inlaid mahogany artist’s cabinet that was once owned by American artist Thomas Sully and included traces of old pigments in its drawers brought $23,750, and a fine American folk art blue-painted blanket chest that had been given to the museum in 1951 from Colonel and Mrs. Edgar Garbisch, surpassed expectations with a $15,000 finish.

Another significant category of the auction were samplers and needleworks, with more than 50 lots of American, English, and European examples from the 18th and 19th centuries. A price of $11,250 was realized for a monumental (24 by 22 inch) American signed needlework sampler, worked by Eliza Ann Edwards, that featured cats prominently within its composition. Two late 18th century samplers made by girls related to locally-prominent families both topped their estimates: one made in Scituate, Massachusetts, by Polly Otis earned $2,750 while another made by Frances Lee of Philadelphia achieved $2,375.

Continental works of art were a smaller but equally fine selection and many lots were bid beyond expectation. A circa 1930 Art Deco three-panel room screen by Gaston Priou (French, 1913-1982) depicting a Spanish tropical mountain landscape in polychrome lacquer, crushed egg shells (coquille d’oeuf), gold leaf/powder, and gesso on plywood support brought $27,500, nearly ten times its high estimate and sold to an international buyer. Another foreign bidder paid $22,500 for an imposing and rare French Art Nouveau carved rosewood bookcase, made in Nancy, France, in 1904 by Jacques Gruber that featured amethyst acid etched glass panels. 

A very rare American Pilgrim Century court cupboard that was made in the late 17th century in Guilford, Connecticut, rounded out the leaderboard with a $118,750 finish to beat its $60,000/90,000 estimate. The cupboard was one of a small group of a half dozen examples, relating most closely to one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

A fine Dutch inlaid and carved burlwood musical tall case clock received considerable interest prior to the sale so hopes were high for a strong result and it did not disappoint, nearly tripling its high estimate and selling for $8,750. 

Collectors of Mid 20th century modern design had several lots to pursue. A rosewood stereo cabinet by George Nelson for Herman Miller sold for $3,750 and two birch cabinet pieces by Florence Knoll for Knoll Associates brought $1,500 and $1,000, respectively. Five pieces by Hammond Kroll that had been owned by his family and given to the Museum in 1965 all sold, for prices ranging from $250 to $688, to buyers throughout the United States. 

Fine art was one of the smallest categories of the day but also saw robust results, particularly for landscapes. A new world auction record was set for Owen Merton’s (New Zealand/America, 1887-1931) 1922 watercolor over pencil and charcoal Bermuda Scene when it realized $15,000. A view of Notre Dame, rendered in oil on canvas by George Oberteuffer (American, 1878-1940), gaveled down for $8,125 while Murray Hoffman’s (American, 1891-1945) View of St. Phillips, Church Street, Charleston, South Carolina, brought $1,500. 

Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house.

For information, 828-254-6846, info@brunkauctions.com or brunkauctions.com.