AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- OCTOBER 7TH- ANTIQUE TREASURES AT FREEMAN'S IN PHILLY

by Kelly Keating on 10/06/13

This week's finds are all from Freeman's Auctioneers and Appraisers in Philadelphia.  The English & Continental Furniture & Decorative Arts sale will take place on October 8, 2013.  I have chosen 3 interesting pieces of furniture, 2 antique Japanese objects and a really wonderful clock.  I must admit this week's picks are all a bit of a personal choice as I would have any of these pieces in my own personal space.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do and find inspiration for the creation of your own interior.

This week's first find is an Austrian Biedermeier mahogany, maple and gilt wood secretaire a abatant circa 1840, lot 364 with a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-3,000.  The rectangular molded cornice sits above single long frieze drawer over a fall front writing surface flanked by twin carved and giltwood mermaid pilasters.  The fall front door opens to a beautiful sycamore and ebonized interior with an arrangement of drawers and pigeonholes that are above twin cupboard doors that open to one shelf.  The whole is supported on baluster turned feet. I always found this form of desk quite chic and stylish.  At a depth of only 19.25" closed, it is perfect for smaller urban living spaces and would work perfectly with a laptop.  Then when finished working or if company is coming over, just close the fall front door and everything is neat and tidy.  And who could resist a piece of furniture with mermaid pilasters!

The Biedermeier period refers to an era in Central Europe during which the middle-class grew and arts appealed to common sensibilities in the historical period between 1815, the year of the Congress of Vienna at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, and 1848, the year of the European revolutions. Although the term itself is a historical reference, it is predominantly used to denote the artistic styles that flourished in the fields of literature, music, the visual arts and interior design.  The Biedermeier style was a simplified interpretation of the influential French Empire Style of Napoleon I, which introduced the romance of ancient Roman Empire styles, adapting these to modern early 19th-century households. Biedermeier furniture used locally available materials such as cherry, ash and oak woods rather than the expensive timbers such as fully imported mahogany.

The next discovery this week is not now a functional piece of furniture, but it is certainly beautiful.  Lot 84 is an English Regency rosewood teapoy from the first quarter of the 19th century with a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-1,500.  "The Regency style was characterized by pronounced eclecticism using forms and decoration from ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian furniture, as known through archeology, along with various elements taken from contemporary French furniture."  The octagonal hinged top opens to reveal twin lidded tea boxes and pair of cut glass mixing bowls.  The whole is raised on a baluster turned column above platform which terminates in lovely scroll feet with brass castors. Treat this lot as a piece of sculpture for your living and enjoy the inky black streaks of its rosewood grain.

This week's next treasure is a pair of English oak hall chairs from the early 19th century, lot 111, with a pre-sale estimate of $800-1,200.  The S-scroll carved vasiform back of the chairs have a central painted lion's mask in a medallion shape.  The chairs have a molded circular seat sitting on ring turned baluster legs.  These chairs are pretty to look at and like the teapoy should probably be seen as a piece of sculpture for an entry way or on either side of a dining room sideboard.  With their wooden seat, hall chairs were not intended to be comfortable, but were used in the entrance hall of a great house and offered to those guests you did not want to stay too long.  I'd have them in a second.

The fourth find this week is our first Japanese lot.  Lot 142 is a 19th century 4 paneled Japanese screen with a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-1,500.  Against a shimmering gold background is depicted a serene landscape of a waterfall amongst a foliate tree and blossoming flowers.  The whole is set within a silk-embroidered border and ebonized wood frame.  The screen is unsigned. At 96" tall this screen would make a great room divider or the backdrop for a couch or to soften a corner of a room.  It would work in a variety of settings from traditional to modern.

The second Japanese object is an impressive Meiji Period reticulated bronze vase.  Lot 157  has a pre-sale estimate of $600-800 which seems like a steal to me.  With a mid-brown patina, the compressed ovoid form is modeled as a reticulated bamboo stalk with foliage.  The vase is signed. What makes this vase so appealing for me is the open work at the bottom part of the piece.  It elevates the vase out of the ordinary.  It stands at 11.5" which is a good size.  I'd like to see it filled with blossoming branches or just greenery or just empty.  It would work in a modern setting quite well and of course in a traditional space.

This week's final discovery is a gorgeous French Empire gilt and patinated bronze mantle clock from the early 19th century, lot 227, with a pre-sale estimate of $600-800 which seems like a bargain.  The case is in the manner of Feuchere and Fossey.  The clock has an arch form with an acanthus leaf and egg and dart molded border.  The top is centered by a circular cast bronze dial and brass ring with Roman numerals and breguet hands which is above a relief of Anacreon (Anacreon (582 BC – 485 BC) was a Greek lyric poet, notable for his drinking songs and hymns) and a child.  The whole is supported on a rectangular plinth with block feet.  What I like about this clock is that despite its Frenchiness, the gilt, the bronze relief it feels very modern in its clean silhouette and sparse decoration.  I think it could be a wonderful centerpiece for a living room on a mantel or a sideboard.  At 15.5" tall by 8" wide it has a good presence.

I hope one or more of these gorgeous objects provided inspiration for the design of your own space.  If you need help finding an antique piece for your home, please contact me at [email protected]. Or if you have a collection or a single object that you are looking to sell also contact me, I can help.

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Until next week,

Kelly T Keating
www.theantiqueflaneur.com