AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- MAY 12TH: ENGLISH & CONTINENTAL FURNITURE & DECORATIVE ARTS AT FREEMAN'S
by Kelly Keating on 05/12/14
Auction Finds of the Week returns with a selection of four items from the upcoming English & Continental Furniture & Decorative Arts Auction at Freeman's in Philadelphia. The sale will take place on 20 May 2014. Two lots are furniture- one period and the other a 20th century copy of an earlier style and two lots are decorative arts- one glass and the other pottery. I hope one or all of these four objects will inspire you in the design of your own space and demonstrate how adding an antique or vintage item(s) can add warmth and character to a space and elevate its design.
This week's first find is a set of 8 Empire style dining chairs, lot 323, with a pre-sale estimate of $800-1,200. The chairs have a gondola form back with a scrolled crest rail over a floriform and scroll-carved back splat above an overupholstered D-shaped seat. The whole is raised on round tapered legs. As you probably noticed, the description of the chairs states they are in the "Empire style" which means they are not from the actual Empire period of the early 19th century, but are copies made at a later date. These chairs were made sometime in the 20th century. However, they do have a "look" to them and they are a set of 8 which can be very desirable. Also, the price reflects their origins, so at an estimate of $800-1,200 they could be a good buy at the sale. Why not use them with a simple glass top dining table? And definitely with a better fabric. That could create an interesting look at a reasonable price.
The next discovery this week is a period piece of French furniture unlike the above dining chairs. Lot 325 with a pre-sale estimate of $800-1,200 is a Charles X (1824-1830) inlaid satinwood recamier or chaise lounge dated to the early 19th century. The piece is of typical form with a high rounded back. The luxurious satinwood frame has mahogany marquetry inlay of tapering flower heads and foliage in a neoclassical style. The whole is raised on ball feet.
I adore chaise lounges and think they can be an elegant addition to a living room or a bedroom. This Charles X recamier looks quite comfortable, but it needs a more dynamic fabric, maybe a cut velvet in black or charcoal, in order to give it more of a presence. It has good bones and with some tweaking it could be a showpiece.
This week's next treasure is a small, yet very stylish French Art Deco vase by designer Jean Luce (1895-1965) about 8" tall. The vase is of tapering circular form in a smokey glass with an acid-etched geometric decoration to the exterior expressing its Art Deco character. The vase is circa 1930 in date. Lot 431 has a pre-sale estimate of $600-800. I would love this vase as part of a grouping of coordinating objects and filled with yellow or purple flowers.
This week's last find, lot 478, is a pair of Wedgwood caneware "game pie" tureens from the mid-19th century with a pre-sale estimate of $1000-1,500. Caneware is a tan-colored, unglazed stoneware that was first developed by Josiah Wedgwood about 1770. In 1795, caneware game pie dishes were made to look like the pastry crust of a game pie. Caneware has been made by many companies since that time and is often used for cooking or serving utensils. This pair are of typical lidded oval form. One features a cauliflower finial with a body molded with grape vines. The other has a rabbit finial and the lid is decorated with clusters of ducks and rabbits over the body with groupings of game birds joined by grape vine swags. I love these well-decorated utilitarian cooking items and I think the tan color of the tureens is just dreamy. The pair of course would be lovely on an open cupboard in a "country" kitchen, but I could also see them used as part of the tablescape on our glass top dining table with the Empire style chairs mentioned above. It could be an appealing look.
I hope you enjoyed this week's auction finds and found something to inspire the design of your own interior. If you need help finding a particular item for your home from antique to modern, please check out my website www.theantiqueflaneur.com for details.
Also, now I am able to offer insurance and professional opinion of value appraisals to my clients. Check out the "Services" page on my website for details.
If you are on Facebook check out The Flâneur Page. I also post the auction results from the finds on Facebook.
Until next time,
Kelly T Keating
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