Date: Fri 24-Jul-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Withington-Americana-Auction

Full Text:

Bascom Portrait Leads Withington Auction

(W/Cuts)

By Bob Jackman

HILLSBORO, N.H. -- On July 2, Richard Withington conducted another highly

successful Americana auction under a tent behind his barn in Hillsboro. The

firm's policy of not accepting absentee or telephone bids encouraged the crowd

of 300 buyers to linger late into the auction.

For a half-dozen years, Withington has headed south in November and returns

with the robins in April. The company conducts no auctions during that

interval, but it continues to aggressively search for estate merchandise and

to process lots in preparation for the coming season. Auction manager Dan

Hingston and assistant auctioneer Dick Withington, Jr, report that they have a

full workload throughout the winter.

Hingston has worked with Dick Withington since 1960. "The biggest reason for

not having winter auctions is snow, but if circumstances demanded, we could

rent a hall and run one," he stated. "The decision cost us three auctions --

January, February, and March -- but we added five or six more summer auctions.

We now have 40 auctions a year, and that's a bit more than we had before.

Sixteen of those are doll auctions, and the other 24 are Americana or

specialty auctions."

Dick Withington, Jr, has developed his own style of auctioning. "I feel

comfortable up there because I enjoy doing it. Of course, I was a runner as a

kid."

"After ten years as a dealer, I came back to the auction business [in 1988],"

he continued. "I began doing some of the auctioning five years ago. It's not

easy because we have so many bidders, and to seat everyone close we have the

tent extended very wide."

Dedham, Mass., television station WCVB filmed the July 2 sale. Producer Kathy

Bickimer interviewed Withington, his crew, and auction-goers during

Wednesday's preview, and cameraman David Skillicorn filmed both the preview

and auction. WCVB's Chronicle will feature the story on August 3.

The event's top lot was a Ruth Henshaw Bascom (American, 1772-1848) portrait

of a lady, which opened at a $5,000 and proceeded in $200 increments. Bidding

was aggressive, so the 101 subsequent advances moved quickly to a final price

of $29,920.

The Bascom sold without provenance, but, according to American Folk Portraits,

"Most of the large number of surviving profile portraits by Bascom have been

discovered in or near Franklin County, Massachusetts." The head in the

portrait was slightly larger than life. The profile of the sitter had been cut

around the edge in the manner of a silhouette. The image of the lady had been

drawn in crayon.

Other American paintings include three works by George Loring Brown

(1814-1889). Each was presented in its fine original frame and were purchased

by frames and paintings dealer Brian Feltus of Newburyport, Mass., for $5,940,

$2,970, and $1,760. The top European work in the sale depicted a boy with

goats and was signed either Lavetti or Lauetti. It sold for $2,750 to

Portsmouth, Mass., fine art dealer Phillip Thalmus.

Topping American furniture offerings was a Federal card table with extensive

band inlay and swelling reeded legs. It fetched $24,200. Another highlight was

a Chippendale slant-top desk with ball and claw feet that garnered $12,100.

The curve of the leg was extreme, while the case had a more modest oxbow

curve. A tall chest on an exceptionally high base sold for $10,560.

It was also a good day for the several tall clocks in the sale. A New

Hampshire tall clock, with oval inlays on the base and waist, brought $6,160,

while a more country example from the same state went for $3,960. A pregnant

style French tall clock with beautifully figured wood was won for $3,080.

Ceramic lots spanned the field. An 18-inch-tall majolica figure of squirrels

on a tree trunk sold for $1,870. A half-dozen mocha lots in various conditions

sold between $300 and $715.

The Chinese Export porcelain field was dominated by Canton. The top-selling

Canton lot was a large covered vegetable dish with boar's head handles that

sold for $880. A large Export polychrome bowl decorated with human figures in

the countryside brought $605.

Northeast baskets enjoyed aggressive bidding from different areas of the tent.

The six lots offered exhibited plenty of age, were in fine condition, and had

uncommon forms or sizes. Topping that field was a swing handle basket with a

12-inch diameter and brown paint. It fetched $1,760. The other lots went

between $330 and $770.

Dick Withington, the "Dean" of New England auctioneers, remains one of the

most entertaining, popular, and successful members in the field. If only his

golf game were as good.