BEVERLY, Mass. – Kaminski Auctions will conduct an on-site auction featuring the collection of Professor John J. and Linda Donovan on Sunday, July 22, beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern time. The auction will take place in the spectacular setting of Devon Glen Farm in Hamilton, Massachusetts. The auction features the contents of the couple’s six properties in New England and Bermuda. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.
The collection includes outstanding 18th and 19th-century English antiques and furnishings, sterling silver, sculpture, fine art, porcelain and a collection of antique carriages and automobiles.
John J. Donovan, a well-known figure in the world of academia, business circles and on the North Shore of Boston, received doctorate degrees from Yale University and Prague University as well as a post-doctorate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
His academic appointments include a tenured professor at MIT, a clinical professor of pediatrics at Tuft’s Medical School, a Harvard University scholar, and a Yale University fellow. He has also authored 16 books, 10 U.S. patents and 55 scholarly papers over his academic career. Donovan currently teaches at MIT in the Department of Economics.
Linda Donovan was also educated at Harvard in the Ph.D. program and served on the faculty of Harvard University, teaching Econometric’s before her retirement. She had previously served as chief financial officer of the Anderson Grain Co.
Their collection of antique horse-drawn carriages includes two fifth-wheel carriages, and a single-axle cart on two wheels with a tufted burgundy velvet seat. There are also two sleighs dating from turn of the last century.
The couple also collected Cape Ann seascape paintings by such noted artists as Donald Allen Mosher, Paul Strisik and John Caggiano. On offer are lovely seascapes of Rocky Neck, Rockport and scenes of Gloucester. There are also paintings by the Maine artists Roger Deering (1904-1980) and Ron Goyette (1941-2002.) Contemporary artists include works by Bruce Backman Turner and Marion Gray Traver (American, 1892-1964).
Antique Georgian and Federal furniture abound in the collection. Highlights include an impressive Georgian mahogany secretary bookcase with glazed mullioned cabinet doors and satinwood interior drawers, above a leather writing surface. There is an exquisite 19th century Federal mahogany secretary bookcase on bracket feet (below). The glass mullioned cabinet doors reveal shelves framed by fluted quarter columns. Other furniture highlights include a 19th-century English mahogany campaign chest with five drawers mounted with brass hardware and a circa 1870s Victorian pool table with elaborate inlay. It is labeled “J.E. Came Co., Boston.”
Several men’s watches are on offer including a Rolex Cellini and of particular importance, an 18K white gold Patek Philippe with moon phase dial, automatic day and month indicator and original strap and buckle.
Consistent with the elegance and refinement of the Donovan residences, the collection includes silver and silver services, important KPM porcelain and china from such names as Royal Crown Derby, Herend, Limoges and Coalport. Too numerous to mention are various oriental rugs, crystal chandeliers, gilt mirrors and ship models.
The auction will take place under tents at the Devon Glen Farm stable, 482 Bay Road, Hamilton Massachusetts.
[av_button label=’View the fully illustrated catalog and bid on LiveAuctioneers.’ link=’manually,http://bit.ly/2tJprvH’ link_target=’_blank’ size=’medium’ position=’center’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ admin_preview_bg=” av_uid=’av-idkg8v’]