Date: Fri 18-Sep-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDIR

Quick Words:

Osona

Full Text:

Historic Lots Generate Competition At Osona

w/cuts

By Rita Easton

NANTUCKET, MASS. -- Rafael Osona's August 8 auction drew a crowd that filled

the hall and necessitated opening the balcony area. The enthusiastic and

competitive group drove the gross to $1,040,000 for the 485 lots offered.

A pair of gilt overmantel mirrors, 98 by 73 inches each, formerly belonging to

Joseph Bonaparte, the brother of Napoleon, were won by a local collector at

the highest bid of the day, $29,000.

Osona related the background of one of the most historical lots offered, a

single side chair. It was one of six Chippendale chairs originally brought

from England in 1773 by Captain Hezekiah Coffin on board the ship Beaver of

Nantucket, to be given to his daughter on Nantucket as her wedding gift.

The ship was subsequently involved in the Boston Tea Party. Of the six chairs

that finally arrived on the island, one is now on display at the Nantucket

Historical Association. The whereabouts of four are unknown, and the single

chair auctioned remained in the family. It was sold to a private local buyer

at $6,500.

A covered basket by Nantucket maker Jose Reyes garnered $10,000 plus premium,

selling to local dealer Wayne Pratt. "Reyes is the maker who began to make

basket purses by putting covers on them," Osona explained, "and he's

previously sold at $4,000 to $6,000, so his work is now going up. This was a

new record for him."

Four oils by Antonio Jacobsen fetched healthy prices, with a 22 by 36 inch

rendering painted in 1890 commanding $19,000. The painting was unusual for the

artist as it featured a frontal view of a sailing ship rather than a profile.

A second work by the artist, "Portrait of the Marie Gilbert, 1907," an oil on

board of a many masted ship in full sail, measuring 22 by 36 inches, reached

$16,000; a "Portrait of the Steamer Valencia, 1890," a 22 by 36 inch oil on

canvas, made $11,000; and an unframed, restored Jacobsen executed in 1875, the

oil on canvas measuring 22 by 36 inches, sold at $7,000. It was the only

unframed painting offered.

"The Port of Hong Kong," a China trade oil on canvas with dimensions of 18 by

27 inches, was purchased at $19,000; while "Paddle Steamer Island City," a

James Bard oil on canvas, was passed.

Made for his sister in 1939, a dollhouse built by architect Dwight James Baum,

as large as a sofa at 38 by 68 by 28 inches, garnered $15,000, bought by a

local collector. The interior was devoid of furniture, but was decorated with

wallpaper and curtains.

Scrimshaw whale ivory, frequently found at Osona auctions, sold well, several

pieces going for what seemed a magic repeating number. A pie crimper in the

form of a horse with a wheel reached $13,000; a cane with handle in the shape

of a fist went out at $13,000; and a scrimshawed tooth achieved $13,000.

A set of 18 French dessert plates, made in 1854, each depicting a different

flower, fetched $7,500. Several pieces of Chinese export furniture ranged from

$4,000 to $6,000. Consisting of 133 pieces, a set of sterling silver flatware

by Hamilton and Diesienger of Philadelphia garnered $3,500. In its original

fitted case, the set was presented in 1809.

A nest of five Nantucket baskets, meant to be six but missing number three,

nevertheless reached $10,000. A rare 1880s Nantucket quilt in blue and brown

made $7,000. A two-part bird's-eye maple oval dining table brought $1,300, and

a pair of Old Paris vases standing 16 inches high sold at $4,500.

Also capturing bidder attention was an English barrel back chair, $1,500; a

pair of all original portraits done in 1732 of the Baron and Baroness von der

Streithorst Von Menzel, $11,500; and a pair of knife boxes made of beautifully

figured tiger maple, $5,000. Canton was sought after. The biggest surprise was

a six-inch-high tea caddy that reached $2,700.

"I would say that probably 50 percent of what I sell here stays on the

island," Osona said, "...and everyone goes ga-ga over quality."

Prices quoted above do not reflect the ten percent buyer's premium.