Property from a Commonwealth Avenue Mansion 2025-12-12 Auction - 281 Price Results - DOYLE Auctioneers & Appraisers in MA
French Sterling Silver Tea and Coffee ServiceWilliam Lester StevensSet of Twelve Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Plates
Done
Boston, MA, United States
Auction Details

Property from a Commonwealth Avenue Mansion

Property from a Commonwealth Avenue Mansion: The Estate of Anthony J. Sinskey

-Boston Auction of Property from a Commonwealth Avenue Mansion: The Estate of Anthony J. Sinskey on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 11am
-Held in Doyle Boston's Newly Expanded Location at The Vendome in Boston's Back Bay
-Showcasing European & American Art, Furniture, Asian Art, Silver, Porcelain, Jewelry and More

BOSTON, MA -- Doyle Boston is honored to present Property of a Commonwealth Avenue Mansion: The Estate of Anthony J. Sinskey, to be auctioned on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 11am. The sale will be held at Doyle Boston’s new location in The Vendome at 290 Dartmouth Street and livestreamed on Doyle.com.

This single-owner auction features an exceptional and diverse selection of American and European fine art, elegant furniture and decorations, Asian works of art, silver, porcelain and jewelry—a collection assembled over decades and reflecting the opulent Gilded Age interiors of 285 Commonwealth Avenue.

Anthony J. Sinskey, ScD, was a renowned MIT professor and pioneering figure in metabolic engineering, biotechnology, and biomanufacturing. Over his impressive career, he published extensively, held 31 issued patents, and co-founded several biotechnology companies that bridged academic innovation and industry. His wife, the late Professor ChoKyun Rha, was also a longtime MIT professor and the first woman of Asian descent to receive tenure at MIT.

Their Commonwealth Avenue residence reflected both their refined aesthetic and intellectual curiosity. Designed in 1903/04 by the Boston firm Winslow and Bigelow, the mansion was meticulously restored by Dr. Sinskey and Professor Rha to recapture its original grandeur. Over many years, they curated a collection of art and furnishings thoughtfully chosen to complement the elegant architecture and timeless character of their Back Bay home.
Auction Curator:
Chris Barber
Chris Barber
VP/Director, American Furniture & Decorative Arts
Cuzco School: The Four Archangels Oil on canvas Three measure 30 x 22 inches One measures 28 x 21 inches Unframed
1001: Cuzco SchoolEst. US$1,000-US$2,000Lot Passed
Sold
Manner of Canaletto: The Grand Canal Venice Oil on unstretched canvas 15 1/4 x 24 1/4 inches Framed 20 3/4 x 29 3/4 inches
1002: Manner of CanalettoEst. US$800-US$1,200
Sold
Consalvo Carelli: Italian, 1818-1910 Napoli Signed C. Carelli and titled (ll) Oil on panel 10 x 16 1/8 inches Framed 13 1/4 x 19 1/4 inches
1003: Consalvo CarelliEst. US$800-US$1,200
Sold
Italian School: 19th Century Mother with Children and a Dog at a Wayside Shrine Signed (lr) Oil on canvas 39 1/2 x 31 3/4 inches (sight) Frame 52 1/2 x 45 inches
1004: Italian SchoolEst. US$1,000-US$1,500
Sold
Italian School: 19th Century Mother and Child Oil on canvas 23 x 17 1/4 inches Framed 29 1/4 x 23 1/2 inches
1005: Italian SchoolEst. US$600-US$800
Sold
Continental School: 19th Century Portrait of a Young Girl Oil on canvas 15 3/4 x 13 inches Framed 22 x 18 1/2 inches
1006: Continental SchoolEst. US$300-US$500
Manner of Rudolph Scheffler: Arminius Annihilating Three Roman Legions Inscribed Cor. V. Rr. Scheffler, 1899 (lr) Oil on canvas 42 x 69 inches Framed 46 1/2 x 73 1/2 inches
1007: Manner of Rudolph SchefflerEst. US$800-US$1,200Lot Passed
Sold
Hermann (Armin) Kern: Hungarian, 1838-1912 The Violinist in the Wine Cellar Signed Kern H (lr) and inscribed on reverse with initials Oil on board 18 1/2 x 12 1/4 inches Framed 20 1/2 x 14 1/4 inches
1008: Hermann (Armin) KernEst. US$1,000-US$1,500
Sold
Constant van de Wyngaert: Belgian, b. 1840 Difficult to Convince, 1877 Signed and dated C. V. D. Wyngaert 77 (ll) and inscribed on reverse I declare that I painted the picture on the opposite side [of this panel]
1009: Constant van de WyngaertEst. US$400-US$600
Sold
Dutch School: 19th Century A Quiet Smoke Oil on canvas 8 x 6 3/4 inches Framed 12 1/2 x 11 1/3 inches
1010: Dutch SchoolEst. US$400-US$600
Sold
Continental School: Probably 19th Century Portrait of a Young Woman in a Red Bonnet Oil on canvas 20 1/4 x 18 inches Framed 30 1/2 x 28 1/4 inches Relined, restretched.
1011: Continental SchoolEst. US$300-US$500
Sold
Willem Roelofs: Dutch, 1822-1897 Cows Watering Signed W. Roelofs (lr) Oil on canvas 27 x 40 inches Framed 33 x 45 3/4 inches Relined.
1012: Willem RoelofsEst. US$3,000-US$5,000
Sold
Wilhelm von Gegerfelt: Swedish, 1844-1920 Moored Boats at Sunrise, 1876 Signed and dated W de Gegerfelt 76 (lr) Oil on panel 19 x 29 inches Framed 24 1/2 x 34 inches
1013: Wilhelm von GegerfeltEst. US$600-US$800
Sold
Auguste Henri Musin: Belgian, 1852-1923 Harbor Sunrise Signed Auguste Musin (lr) Oil on canvas 26 1/2 x 48 3/4 inches Framed 32 x 54 1/2 inches Relined
1014: Auguste Henri MusinEst. US$800-US$1,200
Sold
Maurice Levis: French, 1860-1940 Bord a la Seine Signed (ll) Oil on canvas 20 x 29 inches Framed 24 1/4 x 33 1/4 inches
1015: Maurice LevisEst. US$700-US$1,000
Sold
After Sir Thomas Gainsborough: 19th Century The Market Gardener’s Cart Inscribed on reverse Etude Pour La Charrette du Maraicher Gainsborough Oil on panel 11 1/2 x 10 inches Framed 22 1/2 x 21 1/2 inchesThe original of this
1016: After Sir Thomas GainsboroughEst. US$400-US$600
British School: 19th Century Ice Skating Scene, 1867 Signed and dated J. Morris 1867 (ll) Watercolor and gouache on paper board Sight 14 x 22 inches Framed 21 1/2 x 29 inchesProvenance: Shreve, Crump & Low,
1017: British SchoolEst. US$300-US$500Lot Passed
Sold
British School: 19th Century Old Stone Bridge Oil on canvas 24 3/4 x 30 inches Framed 33 1/4 x 38 1/2 inches
1018: British SchoolEst. US$400-US$600
Sold
Thomas Creswick: British, 1811-1869 Ice Fishing Signed T. Creswick (ll) and inscribed indistinctly on the reverse Oil on canvas 20 x 26 1/4 inches Framed 22 1/2 x 29 inches
1019: Thomas CreswickEst. US$400-US$600
Sold
Attributed to Thomas Creswick: Summer Afternoon Identified and titled on a label affixed to frame Oil on canvas 24 x 29 inches Framed 30 x 35 inches
1020: Attributed to Thomas CreswickEst. US$800-US$1,200
Sold
John Frederick Herring, Jnr.: British, 1815-1907 Horses, Pigs, and Poultry Oil on board 10 x 12 inches Framed 15 x 17 1/2 inches Provenance: MacConnal-Mason & Son, London Vose Galleries, Boston, Massachusetts
1021: John Frederick Herring, Jnr.Est. US$700-US$1,000
Sold
John Frederick Herring, Snr.: British, 1795-1865 Horses, Pigs and Fowl Beside a Barn, 1852 Signed and dated J.F. Herring Sen. 1852 (lr) Oil on panel 14 5/8 x 24 inches Framed 21 1/2 x 31 inches Provenance: The Collection of Dr.
1022: John Frederick Herring, Snr.Est. US$800-US$1,200
Sold
Attributed to John Frederick Herring, Snr.: British, 1795-1865 Barnyard Interior with Horses, Poultry, and Vegetables Signed J.F. Herring (lr) Oil on canvas 19 3/4 x 30 inches Framed 28 1/2 x 38 1/2 inches Retains the London canvas preparers
1023: Attributed to John Frederick Herring, Snr.Est. US$1,000-US$1,500
Sold
Attributed to John Frederick Herring, Snr.: British, 1795-1865 Farm Scene Signed or inscribed J.F. Herring Sen (lr), titled on a typed gummed label affixed to the stretcher Oil on canvas 20 3/8 x 28 1/4 inches Framed 24 1/4 x 32 1/4 inches
1024: Attributed to John Frederick Herring, Snr.Est. US$2,000-US$3,000