Nye & Co. major auction Jan. 23 has eye on Americana

Americana

Chippendale cherrywood dressing table made in Colchester, Connecticut, circa 1760-1775. Nye & Company Auctioneers image

BLOOMFIELD, N.J. – A major auction focusing on Americana and timed to coincide with Americana Week in New York is planned for Wednesday, Jan. 23, by Nye & Company Auctioneers starting at 10 a.m. Eastern time. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

“This auction is sure to delight all collectors, dealers and institutions alike,” said John Nye, the president of Nye & Company Auctioneers. “The depth and breadth of the merchandise provide opportunities for bidders at a wide range of price points.”

“We encourage enthusiasts to cross the river, bridges and tunnels while in New York for Americana Week to come see our diverse sale,” said Andrew Holter of Nye & Company Auctioneers. “It will be led by the private collection of Dr. Andrew and Ziva Dahl.”

Dr. Dahl, an ophthalmologist, and his wife Ziva, are avid travelers and antique collectors. Over a period of decades they have compiled a diverse group of objects acquired from top dealers, as well as numerous auction houses. These items exemplify various geographic regions, forms and periods. Their fine collection is certain to spark spirited bidding.

Highlights will include New England case furniture, such as a Chippendale mahogany slant-front desk attributed to John Townsend (Newport, Rhode Island, circa 1780-1790); a Chippendale cherrywood dressing table (below; Colchester, Connecticut, circa 1760-1775); a Chippendale inlaid cherrywood chest of drawers (circa 1705); and a Federal McIntire-School recamier couch (Salem, Massachusetts, circa 1800).

English furniture from the Dahl collection will feature a mid-18th century George III mahogany kneehole desk and an early 18th century Queen Anne walnut corner chair. Artwork from the Dahls will include a painting of Kosciusko’s Monument at West Point in New York attributed to Samuel Lancaster Gerry and an unsigned 19th century Hudson River School landscape painting.

The auction will also feature a nice selection of folk art from various prominent collectors, such as a late 19th or early 20th century miniature folk art chest of drawers, signed Hanson B. Young (Pennsylvania), an early table-top cigar store figure and a selection of chalkware and portraits. Property deaccessioned from the NAMITS Collection will include a strong selection of self-taught and outsider art by artists such as Purvis Young, Harriet Wiseman, Sybil Gibson, Justin McCarthy and Jon Serl, whose 1966 oil on board is titled Stilts (below).

Americana

Framed oil on board painting by Jon Serl (American, 1894-1993), titled ‘Stilts,’ dated 1966. Nye & Company Auctioneers image

The sale also features property from the Tuscaloosa, Alabama-based Westervelt Co. Many of the items were collected by former company head Jack Warner and include an oil on canvas painting by Edward Lamson Henry (American, 1841-1919), titled Figures on Path, signed lower left; and a watercolor work by Maurice Prendergast (American, 1858-1924), titled Central Park (below).

Americana

Original watercolor painting by Maurice Pendergast (American, 1858-1924), titled ‘Central Park.’ Nye & Company Auctioneers image

Additional artworks from the Westervelt Co. will include American paintings and sculptures by artists such as Charles Carl Wimar, George Luks, Charles Schreyvogel and Leonard Baskin. Also being sold is a Model 1875 Gatling Gun and a larger-than-life cast bronze sculpture of a Native American titled Walks with Iron by Dave McGary (American, 1958-2013).

Americana

Colt Manufacturing Co. Model 1875 Gatling Gun, .45 caliber and marked ‘NJ.’ Nye & Company Auctioneers image

Speaking of Native American material, descendants of Maj. Gen. Charles F. Roe, the commanding officer of the 2nd Cavalry whose account of the Battle of Little Big Horn is widely regarded as the first and most accurate of the historic encounter, are selling important treasures handed down in the family for generations. Some of the more important ones include:

– A Northern Plains ceremonial war drum, possibly Sioux (circa 1870-1875).

– A late 19th or early 20th century Northern Plains/Plateau beaded blanket strip, attributed to Cayuse.

– Crow moccasins and a Northern Plains pipe bag.

– A Northern Plains/Crow Buffalo hide rifle scabbard with seed and pony beads, body and fringe buffalo hide (below).

Americana

Northern Plains/Crow buffalo hide rifle scabbard. Nye & Company Auctioneers image

One lot worthy of special mention is a monumental, Gorham sterling silver presentation trophy, retailed by Theodore Starr and dated 1898. The trophy, mounted on a mahogany silver mounted matching base with three decorative panels, was presented to Maj. Gen. Charles Francis Roe, from his Squadron A (Nation Guard, N.Y.) in 1898. Included is an inscribed, fitted box.

Typical of classic Americana collections, this sale will also feature a nice selection of Chinese Export and Asian ceramics.