|
About Us | Sales Policy & Shipping | Consignment | Brokerage Process | Arithmetic Page
Dealer Space | Guidelines for Consignors And Customers | Brokerage Programs | Main House Gallery
MAR 23, 2007
Antiques and The Arts Weekly
AAWT Pull-out Section
<-- Previous Page
Miniature Portrait Of Two Sisters With Red Shoes
Unidentified
Probably Western Massachusetts
Circa 1815-1820
Watercolor on paper with gold foil appliqués and pinpricked detail mounted in an appropriate and period frame, painted red, that is not original to the work. This is the only recorded example by this yet to be identified artist of full length subjects; the others are half-length portraits of subjects in landscapes. In addition to modeling and technical details in this group are the use of foil appliqués and pinpricked details. See American Folk Portraits, Paintings and Drawings from the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center (Number 223.) for related examples. In fine condition with minor repairs to edges. Height: 10 7/8-inches; width: 8 7/8-inches.
Price: $6,400
Portrait of Mary Ann J. Hodgedon
Lee, New Hampshire
Circa 1833
By Joseph H. Davis - SOLD
This work is an early example of portraiture within an interior scene by Joseph H. Davis. The cat, flowerpot, and purse are quite loose when compared with his later examples. It is established that in 1833 Davis did paint in Lee, New Hampshire. His early works are charming and rather hesitant when compared to those produced later in his career; this desirable effort foreshadows the body of work that followed. The grain painted worktable is a standard J. H. Davis tradition as is the chair with its peculiar cat’s feet on the rear legs. The paintings style as well as the way the quills and the purse are drawn closely matches an undated portrait of a man and woman in the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection (Three New England Watercolor Painters, pp. 40 - 41.) An inscription on the bottom of the painting, done in script rather than the better known Italianate calligraphy reads “Mary Ann J. Hodgdon Lee NH 1833.” The painting is in a period 14 1/8-inch x 11.25-inch gilt and gesso frame that has some chips but is in overall good condition. The painting has not been examined out of the frame. The paper is toned and does have what appear to be two repaired tears, one on the left side and another that extends from the top through the upper corner of the painting on the wall. The view area of the painting is approximately 12 1/8-inches x 9.25-inches.
Eunice P. Mathews
Full length...watercolor and pencil on paper
By Joseph H. Davis (Working 1832-1837), Dated May 6th 1837 - SOLD
Inscription: Eunice p. Mathews, Aged 19 and 5 months 1834
Eunice was from Berwick, Maine, she married Horatio Mathews, had two sons, Charles and James and died at a young age.
Listed: Three New England Watercolor Painters, The Art Institute of Chicago; catalog by Gail and Norbert Savage, page 61.
Joseph H. Davis was active circa 1832-1837 in Dover, New Hampshire and nearby Maine towns. A folk artist that combined drawing with watercolor producing approximately one hundred fifty surviving small-scale portraits.
Full length
Eunice Mathews stands on a carpet decorated with pink and yellow roundels. She wears a puffy-sleeved black dress with a lace collar tied with a blue bow, an apron, long gold necklace and gold drop earrings. She holds a red, white, and blue purse in one hand and an open book the other. Inscribed below the carpet in Davis’ unique calligraphy is “Eunice P. Mathews Aged 19 years & 5 months 1834.” The painting, with a view area of 9.5 by 7-inches, is in a gilded period frame. There is a thin mat between the painting and the glass. The painting shows some loss of pigment in the hair, possibly from adhering to the original glass and then being pulled loose. The paper is toned and shows some light foxing; else very good. This painting is included in the 1974 “Three New England Watercolor Painters” exhibition catalog, p. 61; item 55.
The Wiswall Brothers...of Roxbury, Massachusetts
By Isaac Augustus Wetherby
An outstanding example of the work of Isaac Augustus Wetherby
Wetherby recorded in his daybook that the painting-“...gave good satisfaction”
Circa 1842 - SOLD
Isaac Augustus Wetherby painted this portrait of Samuel Granwill Wiswall and Romanro Norton Wiswall in January 1842. Photographs of the reverse, taken before the painting was relined, show an inscription, apparently in the artist’s hand, reading “Samuel Granwill Wiswall / aged 3 yrs // Romanro Norton Wiswall / aged 4 yrs 8 mos / died Jan 2d 42 / Painted Jan / 1842 / By I. Augustus Wetherby.” In his daybook, Wetherby noted that he was called upon a number of times to include deceased relatives in portraits of the living. Although after 1841 Wetherby often painted these portraits using daguerreotypes of the deceased, it is likely that he was able to have access to Romanro himself since internments of those who died in the coldest months were usually postponed until Spring had warmed the ground.
According to an article by Suzanne Rudnick Payne and Michael Payne, The Business Of An American Folk Portrait Painter-Isaac Augustus Wetherby, Wetherby wrote that the painting “...gave good satisfaction / the one after death $20.00 the other picture $10.00.”
Romanro is seated holding a small whip with a goldfinch beside him while his younger brother Samuel holds a rose in his right hand and pulls a toy horse by a string in the same color as the rose. The boys are dressed in matching outfits of high-waist white pants, black velvet slippers, and pleated blue blouses with ruffles at the shoulder with white lace collars.
Isaac Augustus Wetherby (1819 - 1904) was born in Providence, Rhode Isalnd; the family moved to Massachusetts around 1823. He attended classes in Charlestown and later at Stow Academy. The family moved to Maine in 1832 and he attended Bridgton Academy. In 1834 he studied with an itinerant painter and quickly learned the trade and displayed more talent than his tutor. The family returned to Massachusetts and Wetherby began painting portraits from a room in his Roxbury home. The family moved again, this time to Milford, NH where, although he painted a number of portraits Isaac was unhappy and apparently returned to Massachusetts seeking more opportunity to ply his trade. Except for a trips out of state to paint or attend political conventions, and his honeymoon Wetherby remained in Massachusetts until 1854. During this time Wetherby, an ardent abolitionist was also involved in political movements and produced caricatures of politicians, selling them for .07 apiece. He also tried his hand at making daguerreotypes, failing the first time but taking lessons and applying himself, succeeding on the second attempt. In 1854 he moved his family to the Midwest, purchasing tracts of land in Illinois and Iowa. He set up a “Dagren Gallery” in Rockford, Illinois and another in Iowa City, Iowa where he met with great success. He also invested in a business venture selling a patent broom, which proved to be quite profitable. Wetherby made a number of copies of Gilbert Stuart’s iconic portrait of Washington and at least one full size portrait of Lincoln. At the outbreak of what he called “...the Great Slaveholder’s Rebellion...” Wetherby, then aged 42, enlisted and became a 1st Lieutenant in his local company. However when the regiment was re-organized Wetherby was left behind. He painted knapsacks and drums and made photographs of soldiers. Wetherby made the last entry into his account book in 1862. In 1874 his health “...gave out...” and he retired to his farm. Wetherby was a well-regarded citizen of Iowa City and there is still a Wetherby Park named after him in that city. Isaac Augustus Wetherby died in 1903.
The painting, with an overall size of 40.5-inches x 33.75-inches and a view area of 36-inches x 28-inches, has been relined. Visual examination under blacklight allows the viewer to see freckles with small areas of in-painting; the picture is very clean and is mounted in a gilt frame.
Literature: Folk Art-The Magazine Of The American Folk Art Museum; Winter 2007. The Business Of An American Folk Portrait Painter-Isaac Augustus Wetherby by Suzanne Rudnick Payne and Michael Payne. Page 59.
Portrait of Ann Porter
By Ruby Devol Finch (1804-1866)
Westport, Massachusetts
Circa 1830 - SOLD
Watercolor, gouache and ink on paper in the original red painted frame
Inscribed in ink under arch at top: “Ann Potter’s Profile Drawn by Ruby Devol”
Inscribed in ink at bottom: “Can love for me inspire your tender breast/Dare I to hope and with that hope to be best”; and, “Pursue’d [sic] we shall to us will bind/virtues paths and find fortune prove more”
The top of the compound molded frame is secured to double bridal-joint back-frame by wooden pins and is painted red...a work of art in itself.
Initial research on this artist was published in the Maine Antique Digest in June of 1978. “Out of Anonymity: Ruby Devol Finch (1804-1866 by Donald R. Walters) and subsequently in American Folk Portraits (1981) and American Folk Paintings (1988), Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center, Colonial Williamsburg, publications.
There are fewer than ten portraits recorded by this hand; this portrait until recently was unrecorded and is one of only two signed works known by Ruby Devol.
Ann Porter
- Born: 21, May 1809, Westport, Bristol County, Massachusetts
- Died: 20, May 1844
- Married: James Macomber 30-November 1828
James Macomber
- Born: 1806, Bristol, Bristol County, Massachusetts
- Died: 1, June 1844
Young Girl Holding ABC Book
Oil On Canvas
Attributed to George Hartwell
Circa 1840
Identified as one of the Darling sisters (Millie or Lottie) of West Auburn, Maine, the young girl is depicted in a brilliant red dress, seated in a painted chair, and holding a basket of cherries and a book titles ABC. The picture has been cleaned; extremely minor scattered retouch and is mounted in an appropriate old gilt frame. (27 by 22 inches.)
Price: $26,750
Early Looking Glass
Price: $4,500
Trade Sign
Dispensing Department
Late Nineteenth Century
In fine original condition including the blue ground against which is gold lettering with gray silhouette. Very good patina...80 by 44-inches. Shipping or delivery not a problem.
Price: $14,500
Important Liverpool Pitcher of American Historical Interest
One of the great rarities in historical creamware...
"The Gallant Defence [sic] of Stonington August 9th 1814...Stonington is free whilst her Heroes have one gun left". The reverse polychrome scene above "United States Frigate Guerriere, Com Macdonough, bound to Russia July 1818". Owners initials "CL" in cartouche under spout; transfers are crisp and bold - a great scene of ships attacking this small costal Connecticut town while the defenders fire a cannon from a fortress having an American flag flying overhead; overall condition appears to be perfect with exceptional professional restoration to a couple of cracks. (See Anglo-American Ceramics by David and Linda Arman, pages 44, 100, 188.)
Price: $27,000
Rare Hannaford Family 18th Century Record
From Newburyport, Massachusetts
This 18th century family record is a partial listing of the Hannaford family of New Hampshire. It is curious because the record denotes the births of three male members of the Hannaford family only. Our research has confirmed the birth of John Hannaford, October 20th, 1787; Merrimack, NH. We are still researching David and Jabez. The record is signed by Benjamin Newman of Newburyport, Ma. and we are currently looking for additional works by Newman. As new information is discovered we will post it with the family record. The colors and motifs of this well preserved gem are most desirable particularly the hearts withi hearts symbolism. The record measures 6.75-inches by 9-inches sight size and is in it's original, never opened painted frame.
Price: $6,850
Eighteenth Century Watercolor Calligraphy
Rarely do we encounter such works by boys...
Barnabas Crane (1781-1857)
Sandisfield, Massachusetts - HOLD-Please Inquire
Alphabet beneath triple dome on laid paper mounted in appropriate molded frame of the period that is stained red. The work is in good original condition with typical toning and a faint crease at center. The area at top is archival tape that has “bled through”. A quick genealogical search produced and exact match and location within the Berkshires...how many Barnabas Crane’s-Sandisfield can there be? This must be our boy! (10.5 by 13.75-inches.)
Price: ON HOLD
Family Record In Original Red Painted Frame
Whittier-Straw Family...first quarter nineteenth century
Rhode Island
A floral spray frames the wonderful basket of fruits, leaves and tendrils; vibrant basket is blue, red, yellow and green.
(Overall: 12 ¾ X 14 ¼ inches.)
Price: $3,495
Paint Decorated Miniature Blanket Chest
Early 19th Century
Pine with red graining on a yellow ground; well shaped bracket feet and applied lid molding. This fantastic object must be viewed in color to appreciate its success. (15 3/8 by 7.75 by 10 inches.)
Price: $18,000
Cow Weathervane
Probably By L.W. Cushing
Waltham, Massachusetts
Circa 1880
See L.W. Cushing Illustrated Catalog Of Copper Weathervanes, Circa 1883, page 11 for similar examples.
This example...flattened full body with sharply curved zinc horns and applied cast zinc ears, has a terrific encyclopedic surface; vestiges of gilt, strong verdigris and mustard color sizing-all dry and well oxidized. Competently soldered and filed seams, a fully formed udder, tail and well defined hocks and hoofs. The vane appears to have survived without any alteration to surface. The soldered joint of one horn, where attached to head may have been refreshed a hundred years ago else fine. Personality plus! (Height: 20.5-inches; length: 33-inches.)
Price: $28,750
A Very Good Mug With Pouring Spout
Drippy soft greens to deep green slip on oyster white...
Attributed to Lorenzo Johnson
Genesee New York, Circa 1840
Drippy soft greens to deep green slip on oyster white with a lots of red clay color showing through glaze. Glaze wear and a few “use” bites on the rim otherwise fine and quite beautiful. Height 4 5/8-inches.
Price: $2,100
<-- Previous Page
|
