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 (Christie's) Historic items: a powerful and enduring portrait by Charles Peale Polk that commemorates the General’s critical 1777 victory at the Battle of Princeton, an 18th century bombé chest-of-drawers crafted in Boston, and a soup ladle once owned by Paul Revere and his wife, engraved with their initials.
Christie’s Americana Week Celebrates Birth of the Nation
JANUARY 12, 2009Christie's Christie's New York is pleased to announce details of Americana Week 2009, a series of viewings and auctions devoted to American furniture, historic paintings, folk art, silver, and porcelain. This season’s sales are particularly strong in works that memorialize the birth of the nation and the first U.S. presidency and provide a fitting complement to the inauguration festivities taking place the same week.
The sales begin Wednesday, January 21 with Chinese Export Art, including Part III of The Hodroff Collection. On Friday, January 23 the sales continue with Important American Silver, followed by Important American Furniture and Folk Art. A special section of English and Dutch Delft is included in the Friday morning session.
A major highlight of the sales week is an outstanding 18th century bombé chest-of-drawers crafted in Boston in the years leading up to the American Revolution (estimate: $2,000,000–4,000,000). This rare and important example of the bombé form descended in the Quincy Family of Boston to Josiah Quincy III (1772–1864) and was most likely made for Josiah Quincy I (1710–1784) or William Phillips (1722–1804), both grandfathers of Josiah III and key figures in Revolutionary War era Boston. With its vigorously carved ball and claw feet and exquisite plum-pudding mahogany, this chest represents the best of the highly specialized bombé form.
Also featured in the Furniture and Folk Art sale on January 23rd is George Washington at Princeton, a powerful and enduring portrait by Charles Peale Polk (estimate: $300,000–500,000) that commemorates the General’s critical 1777 victory at the Battle of Princeton. Painted in the early 1790s during the first term of Washington’s presidency, Polk renders the first President in a bold, linear style and with an assured, steady gaze. The overall effect is of Washington as the embodiment of composure and heroism in the face of turbulent times, an ideal from the 18th century that remains a powerful image in today’s America.
Earlier in the week, the Chinese Export Art sale (separate release available) features a very rare reverse glass painting of George Washington from circa 1800 (estimate: $25,000–40,000). This intricately detailed and well-preserved painting on glass is loaded with patriotic symbolism and references to various significant events that transpired in the first years of the young country, including the toppling of King George’s statue in 1776, and the departure of the British fleet in 1783. The painting was created in China from a drawing on silk known as Sacred to Patriotism, now in the collection at Mount Vernon.
The legendary American patriot Paul Revere is widely hailed for his heroic “midnight ride” to warn of the approaching British army at the start of the American Revolution in 1775. Revere was also one of Boston’s leading silversmiths, known for his skilled craftsmanship and engraving work. The Important Silver sale on January 23 features a group of pieces from Revere’s long and prosperous career, including a soup ladle once owned by Revere and his wife and engraved with the initials “PRR” for Paul and Rachel Revere (estimate: $80,000–120,000). Also in the group is an extremely rare pair of silver salt cellars and shell-form spoons that bear Revere’s mark (estimate: $80,000–120,000).
A rare survival from the Philadelphia household of founding father Benjamin Franklin is a Chippendale walnut armchair (estimate: $20,000–30,000). Like most of the surviving artifacts once owned by Franklin, the armchair was inherited by his daughter Sally and passed down through several generations of descendents to the present owner. The chair, with its bold, outscrolling arms and trifid feet, was recently featured in a traveling exhibition celebrating the 300th anniversary of Franklin’s birth.
Highlighting the folk art section of the January 23 sale is an array of important antique weathervanes, lead by the Barott Family Molded Copper Indian Weathervane (estimate: $60,000– 90,000). The vane adorned the house of the prominent architect Ernest Barott (1881-1966) whose firm designed New York’s monumental Pennsylvania Station, among other major commissions. Both stately and highly individualized, the vane has remained in the Barott family for over 100 years.
Americana Week affords a rare opportunity to view an extraordinary historical document: the original manuscript of Abraham Lincoln’s 1864 Victory speech, delivered two days after he won reelection as President. Exhibited only once before – in 1976, for a single day – the four-page speech is estimated at $3,000,000 to $4,000,000 and will be sold on February 12, 2009.
About Christie’s
Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 600 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Christie’s has 85 offices in 43 countries and 14 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Hong Kong and Zurich. Most recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging and new markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai. www.christies.com
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