The Results from Very Expensive English Furniture... for your country home.

The results are in, and yes these were very expensive pieces. Again, quality retains its value and improves.

I can't believe that it is close to twenty five years ago that the great..great..exhibition,"Treasure Houses of Great Britain" opened here in Washington to thundering crowds. I well remember how it was such a must see and what a wonderful a job the National Gallery did. I will never forget as a young man, yes I was young then, what an impression the exhibition made on me. It was all about art, furniture, rooms, fabric, floors. To those who did not have a chance to see it, I can only say I don't think anything since has made such an impression in my mind of a different culture and lifestyle.

In my memory, and I could be a few years off, it was the time of the American broadcast of the original "Brideshead Revisited." Though as I think about it, it must have been a few years apart as I know I watched the series in New York City and that I was here in DC for the exhibition. None the less, both events solidified a love of this culture, art and taste that lasts to this day. For a nice article remembering the event click here.

The reason for all this blabbering above is about an auction of course. On April 9th, 2009, Southebys is having an auction in New York entitled, " A celebration of the English Country House." The catalogue which you can view here runs through 280 lots and most everything is very expensive. So this is a dreamers auction.

I have picked a dozen pieces, of which none would fit in my small Washington apartment. Well, perhaps I could squeeze in one piece should I win the lottery, that being the "PIG"..hint. Homer collects pigs and to my older readers they know why. Still, its great fun to look at these pieces and to see in the aftermath what they went for. So again my loyal readers lets take a look at what I picked out for this, a fantasy auction.



LOT 200
A LARGE SILVER FIGURE OF A PIG, MAKER'S MARK J.L.W., 20TH CENTURY
20,000—30,000 USD
SOLD FOR $28,750.00. That's some expensive bacon. I hope he found a fine home.



LOT 169
A REGENCY PAPIER-MÂCHÉ BLACK-JAPANNED AND PARCEL-GILT TRAY BY HENRY CLAY ON LATER STAND
CIRCA 1810
5,000—7,000 USD
SOLD FOR $3,750.00. A great deal and very Michael Smith. Do you think it might end up in DC? Naw.




LOT 157
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION
A GEORGE IV MAHOGANY LARGE CANTERBURY
CIRCA 1820
12,000—18,000 USD
SOLD FOR $17,500.00. You better have a large magazine subscription. I thought it was a great piece and so unusual.



LOT 144
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION, MEXICO
AN IMPORTANT REGENCY BLUE JOHN KRATER-FORM VASE ATTRIBUTED TO JAMES SHORE
CIRCA 1815
60,000—80,000 USD
SOLD FOR $152,000.00. Obviously a very important piece.Probably headed for a hot sandy home.



LOT 123
A HIGHLY IMPORTANT GEORGE II CARVED WALNUT AND VENEERED WALNUT CONCERTINA-ACTION GAMES TABLE POSSIBLY FROM THE WORKSHOP OF WHITTLE AND NORMAN AND AFTER DESIGNS BY MATTHIAS LOCK
CIRCA 1755
150,000—250,000 USD
SOLD FOR $170,500.00. Can you imagine rolling dice on it???



LOT 121
A FINE GEORGE III MAHOGANY CIRCULAR TRIPOD TABLE
CIRCA 1765
50,000—70,000 USD
DID NOT SELL


LOT 117
A GEORGE III MAHOGANY MARBLE TOP SIDE TABLE
15,000—20,000 USD
DID NOT SELL



LOT 48
PROPERTY FROM AN AMERICAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
AN IMPORTANT GEORGE II STRIPPED PINE LARGE FIREPLACE SURROUND
CIRCA 1735
100,000—150,000 USD
DID NOT SELL. That was for my dream library. It would have looked so great.



LOT 33
PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF JANICE BOOTH ABBOTT
A GEORGE I BLACK-JAPANNED AND PARCEL-GILT BUREAU CABINET IN THE MANNER OF JOHN BELCHIER
CIRCA 1725
50,000—70,000 USD
SOLD FOR $104,500.00. I'll bet this was still a great buy.



LOT 20
PROPERTY OF ANOTHER OWNER
A PAIR OF ENGLISH TERRESTRIAL AND CELESTIAL TABLE GLOBES BY G.F. CRUCHLEY
THE TERRESTRIAL GLOBE DATED 1858
12,000—18,000 USD
SOLD FOR $12,500.00. They also would have looked wonderful next to that hearth.



LOT 3
A SET OF NINE 18TH CENTURY ITALIAN ENGRAVINGS OF SHELLS BY NICOLO GUALTIERI FROM 'TESTARUM CONCHYLORUM'
DATED 1742
5,000—7,000 USD
SOLD FOR $4,375.00. Now they were within the realm of possible ownership.