Date: Fri 24-Apr-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDYC

Quick Words:

Eldred

Full Text:

Americana At Eldred's

w/4 cuts

EAST DENNIS, MASS. -- The daffodils and the buyers were out in strength for

the Robert C. Eldred Company Americana Auction on April 3-4 in East Dennis

when more than half of the sale's 750 lots sold above the high estimates. The

crowd on Friday was comprised mostly of dealers, while the Saturday session

was equally split between private buyers and dealers.

The strongest category was pottery and porcelain with Staffordshire opening

Session 1. Some lots attained four to six times the high estimates with an

antique blue and white coffee pot bringing $412, a fenestrated basket $522, a

figure group $440, an architectural decorated punch bowl $550, a historical

blue and white platter $1,155, and three small platters $660. Other pottery

items were a mocha wash pitcher for $1,265, and a polychrome ironstone

platter, $1,265.

More than 100 lots of furniture were sold including an antique American

mahogany tall case clock at $12,100; an antique Pennsylvania mahogany

chest-on-chest, $11,000; a late Eighteenth Century American Hepplewhite

serpentine-front sideboard in mahogany and mahogany veneers, $9,350; and a

circa 1740 American Queen Anne bonnet-top highboy in mahogany, $6,600. Other

significant pieces were a circa 1800 New York mahogany and cherry slant-lid

desk at $3,630, and two antique American pine corner cupboards each selling

for a little less than $3,000.

The painting section offered two works by Ralph E. Cahoon (1910-1982). "Home

Sweet Home," painted in 1978, sold for $26,400, and a snow scene, 1955,

brought $18,700. Other notable paintings were a large painting of Fairhaven in

the summer of 1894 by L.D. Eldred, Jr, (1848-1921) selling for $9,350; "A Ship

and a Woman Are Ever Repairing," by Elizabeth Mumford (contemporary, Cape Cod

artist), $3,850; a charming scene of a Cape windmill by C.D. Cahoon (Harwich,

Mass., artist, 1861-1951), $3,740; and a large Nineteenth Century unsigned

American still life of fruit and flowers, $2,750.

The star of the marine section on the second day was a painting titled "George

Hurlburt Passing Gloucester Fisherman," 1915, Antonio N.G. Jacobsen

(1850-1921). Although in need of extensive restoration, the painting, said to

be one of Jacobsen's finest, brought $9,350. A cased model of the Swedish tall

ship Vasa brought $3,300.

Other prominent items were a pair of Sandwich glass electric blue candlesticks

at $1,320; an antique American coin silver biscuit box, $1,320; a partial

sterling silver service by Gorham, $1,430; a pair of cast-iron andirons in the

form of Indian braves in feather head dresses, $1,870; and a life-size bird

carving by A.E. Crowell, $2,420.

Other miscellaneous items were an Eighteenth Century leather wallet from New

Hampshire marked "Sandown DM 1770 TC" which brought five times its high

estimate for $1,705, and a Gibson mandolin with mother-of-pearl inlay for

$1,265.

Some of the top prices for room-size Oriental rugs were $8,250 for a Heriz,

$3,300 for a Bidjar and $3,190 for another Heriz. Jeanne M. MacIver, who was a

consignor and maker of a large group of hooked rugs in the sale, was a

well-known Massachusetts rug hooker and teacher. Passing away just a week

before this sale, she missed seeing the tremendous interest her life's work

received. Highlights of her rugs were two depicting maps of Cape Cod bringing

$990 and $715, a bicentennial design with George Washington on horseback for

$715 and a floral design for $825.

Eldred's is currently accepting consignments for future spring and summer

sales. Call 508/385-3116 for an appointment or to receive our schedule for

future auctions.