Bonhams & Butterfields to Hold One of the Most Unique Fine Furniture Auctions Ever
SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- An extensive offering of European & American decorative arts includes property from noted estates and collectors
Fine arts auctioneers Bonhams & Butterfields will host the firm’s largest and most extensive auction of Fine European and American Furniture and Decorative Arts on Monday, June 14, 2010 in San Francisco. The late spring sale features American, English, French, Italian and Continental decorative arts, with an evening session devoted to furniture and decorations from the Ed Hardy San Francisco Collection.
A very fine and impressive Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted marquetry commode. Paul Sormani, fourth quarter 19th century. Estimate: $50,000 - 80,000
Highlights include property from private and institutional collections across North America – including property from: the Brinsmade Estate of Houston, Texas; the estate of Los Angeles philanthropist Nancy M. Daly; the Corinthian Studios Collection; and property of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco – sold to benefit future museum acquisitions.
Jeffrey Smith, Vice President and Director of the Bonhams & Butterfields Furniture & Decorative Arts Dept., said, “We have put together a sale spanning several centuries and continents ranging from 16th century Renaissance cabinets to 1960s Italian modernist furniture with a special evening session offering the collection of Ed Hardy San Francisco.”
One sale highlight is the important 18th century Harris family Boston Chippendale mahogany chest of drawers, expected to attract strong bids, estimated at $80/120,000. The current owner David Holmes is the co-founder of the Harry & David Company in Medford, Oregon.
Silver collectors will have the opportunity to bid on a rare silver flatware service of San Francisco historical provenance. The 84-piece set was presented to San Francisco Guards Brigadier General John Hewson in 1875 (est. $35/40,000).
From the Estate of Nancy M. Daly, one of Southern California’s most energetic activists on behalf of abused and neglected children and an avid arts supporter, come a pair of weathervanes: a late 19th century patinated gilt copper cow (est. $7/9,000) and a gilt copper rooster (est. $6/8,000), both expected to intrigue Americana collectors.
Bonhams is pleased to offer property from the Estate of Dr. and Mrs. Alan Brinsmade of Houston, TX. According to Jeffrey Smith, “Their collections represent decades of seeking out notable and fine decorative arts and paintings from around the world.” Highlights include an early 18th century Louis XIV boulle marquetry commode (est. $30/50,000) and a very rare Ming dynasty gilt bronze mounted celadon jar.
From a Pacific Northwest collector is a very fine and impressive Paul Sormani commode (est. $50/80,000). Another piece stamped Sormani is a fine Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted kingwood bureau plat, expected to bring $10/15,000. Paul Sormani is among the elite of the 19th century furniture makers, his superb craftsmanship is distinguished by exquisite gilt bronze decorations.
A highly important large mid-19th century Italian pietra dura and micromosaic table top is included in the auction’s Italian decorative arts section. This table top, possibly from the Vatican workshops, is inlaid with 25 micromosaic scenes of famous Roman sites (est. $80/120,000).
An interesting trio of Venetian Gothic Rosso di Verona window surrounds are each estimated at $20/30,000. These 10 to 12-foot high carved surrounds were imported from Italy at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect Addison Mizer, intended for installation in a Palm Beach, Florida project for John S. Phipps. The surrounds were discovered during a demolition of the estate after Mr. Phipps’ death in 1961.
The sale’s evening session features property from the Ed Hardy San Francisco Collection. Ed Hardy is one of the most important dealers of decorative arts internationally. His exquisite eye brought together 17th century Roman giltwood tables with mid-century design, including Italian and French art deco and modernism. The collection includes Hellenistic marble fountain masks (some with W.R. Hearst provenance), Murano chandeliers, Chinese ceramics, American modernist furnishings, carpets and unique objets d’art.
The auction previews open in San Francisco on Friday, June 11th at Noon and continue daily until the auction on Monday, June 14th at 10AM, the evening session, devoted to the Ed Hardy Collection, begins at 6PM.
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