Date: Fri 15-Jan-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

William-Smith-Easton

Full Text:

Pennsylvania Chest A Bargain At William Smith

By Rita Easton

PLAINFIELD, N.H. -- The Plainfield Auction Gallery was the site of a holiday

estate auction held by William A. Smith, Inc. on November 28, following two

pre-auction previews. A crowd holding approximately 180 bidding numbers was in

attendance, competing for the 400 lots offered.

Several fine estates were represented, including the Bellows estate, the

Laramie estate of Connecticut, and other estate possessions including those of

Helen Myers; Victor Wolcho; and the family of Moses Hartz of Morgantown, Pa.

Headlining the event was a quarter column Pennsylvania Chippendale nine drawer

chest with ogee feet, in walnut, fetching $4,000.

"I believe it had the original brass, too, the right brass," said Smith, "and

it was very clean."

"Pennsylvania furniture tends to be reasonable up here in the Northeast," he

continued, "People tend to like the cherry and pine over the walnut and

mahogany. That chest would be a $10,000 chest in Pennsylvania."

A pair of Oriental painted screens, each one with four panels, approximately

six fee wide, late Nineteenth Century, went to a dealer at $350 each. The

artwork had been done on silk screens and then laid down on the panels.

A typical classical style Empire sofa was an equally good buy at $400.

A New Hampshire Chippendale tall chest with a blanket drawer, in cherry, went

out at $3,000 to a dealer.

"The original brasses were on, and the piece was right," Smith noted. "On the

other hand, another Pennsylvania cherry chest had an entirely new base, but

went retail for $3,750.

Four-drawer chests were plentiful, with a small Chippendale example bringing

$1,600; a fine Hepplewhite example reaching $1,800; and a Sheraton example,

with old finish, fetching only $300. A one drawer Hepplewhite stand with

slender, tapered legs sold at $400; and a fine, carved Federal two-drawer

example, with rope turned legs, was purchased at $2,100.

A small Sheraton drop leaf dining table was purchased at $200; a par of Queen

Anne style drop leaf tables went out at $500; and a lift top grain painted

chest standing on small ball feet achieved $800.

American Indian-made splint baskets ranged from $100 to $250; a diamond and

platinum brooch fetched $700; an oil on canvas depicting people in a courtyard

scene garnered $900; and a pair of elegant dueling pistols in a fitted case

sold at $1,500.

Prices quoted do not reflect a required 12 percent buyers premium (ten percent

with cash or check).