Date: Fri 26-Jun-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Herron-50th-Anniversary

Full Text:

Herron Celebrates 50th Anniversary/EWM

(W/4 Cuts)

Rita Easton

AUSTERLITZ, N.Y. -- Auctioneer Robert Herron hosted a Memorial Day weekend

sale at his own home, but this year the annual event was in celebration of his

50th anniversary in the antiques business.

"It was anticipated by a loyal, longtime clientele," he noted, "with 259

registered bidders from a crowd of over 400. This quiet Columbia County

setting is ideal for a tent sale, and the weather was beautiful."

Of 25 different consignments, an Eastchester, N.Y., collection of formal and

country items was the largest, and according to Herron, "was assembled in the

1950s and 60s, some of it from Robert Herron Auctions of that period. It's

very noticeable that the uneven softness of the 90s is ending, and there is

strong money for good items. The pace of this sale was fast, not frantic, with

492 lots selling at about 100 lots an hour."

Headlining the event was a fine cherry tall-case clock made by Erastus Reade

in April 6, 1816, with wooden works. It sold for $67,500.

"I think it was made in the New Lebanon community," said Herron. "The owner

had talked to me 20 years ago, saying he had a Shaker clock and he'd like me

to see it in his house in Eastchester. After a gallery had done an inventory

of the house, I saw that the clock was not mentioned as being Shaker, and I

didn't spot it as being Shaker -- just a country clock."

"I realized how unusually well done the dovetailing was," he continued, "and

it was an unusually heavy cherry case. I thought I'd better pay some more

attention to it. On the inside of the bonnet was Erastus Reade's signature and

the date." The lot was purchased by a well-known dealer.

A mahogany Hepplewhite sideboard, circa 1790, thought by Herron to be from the

Philadelphia area, garnered $13,000, purchased by a private buyer from

Tenafly, N.J.. A Kittenger sideboard with similar design and detailing fetched

$4,000.

A pair of Irish 1775 mahogany open armchairs from Needham Antiques in New York

City generated a flurry of interest, with a London firm phoning Herron several

times and finally sending a buyer to see the chairs. A left bid was

unsuccessful, with the chairs crossing the block at $9,000. While the

upholstery was left intact, the papers accompanying the chairs noted that

there had been restoration to one frame.

A pair of 28 by 25 inch oils on canvas attributed to Erastus Salisbury Field

in replaced frames, circa 1835, depicting a man and a woman, reached $8,000;

135 pieces of a Royal Worcester porcelain dinner service in the "White

Imperial" pattern went to a dealer at $2,800; and a Lincoln autograph set down

on four pages from a book, dated Gettsyburg, November 19, 1863, including

additional signatures of William H. Seward, John Hay, Joseph Bertinatti, Major

General Vol, A.W. Bratton, Jms Nicolay, and George Sykes, sold at $4,500.

A Sarouk rug measuring 11 by 19 inches reached $5,500; a 9 by 12 inch Kashan

made $2,300; a banjo barometer sold at $850; a Pennsylvania hutch cupboard

achieved $3,100; a gilt Victorian casket of scent bottles was purchased at

$800; a spade-foot fire screen went out at $475; a pair of large oval Rose

Medallion platters brought $2,900; an early silver wine strainer sold at $350;

and a small Albany Empire marble-top table reached $1,500.

A group of Kittinger furniture held its own, with a tea table bringing $600;

11 dining chairs going out at $450 each, all to the same buyer; a breakfront

garnering $4,500; a dining table selling at $2,250; a sofa reaching $1,550;

and a wing chair bringing $1,200.

Prices quoted reflect a 10 percent premium.