Ulysses S. Grant family items in Kaminski’s March 27-28 auction
Japanese lacquered tea box with gilt carved dragon’s head feet. Inscribed "Grant" on top and "Mrs. U.S. Grant" on inside cover. Presented to the Grants by the Emperor of Japan. Estimate $10,000-$15,000. Image courtesy Kaminski Auctions.
BOSTON – Kaminski’s has announced details of its March 27-28 Estates Auction featuring fine art, antiques and a unique and important selection of historical items from the San Diego estate of the Grant family, descendants of United States President Ulysses S. Grant. Additional consignments to this sale have come from estates across the country. Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com.
Highlighting this exciting two-day auction is a circa-1860s Japanese lacquered tea box (est. $10,000-$15,000), originally owned by the Grant family. The box was presented to the First Family by the Emperor of Japan. It bears two inscriptions – “Grant” on the box’s top and “Mrs. U. S. Grant” on its interior. The piece boasts four gilt legs, carved to resemble dragons’ heads. Adorning the sides of the box is a scene depicting a number of servants carrying a wealthy individual in a golden litter (a popular form of transportation in ancient Japan).
A Tiffany & Co. carriage clock (est. $7,500-$12,500) is also part of the Grant family estate. According to an inscription on the clock, Ulysses S. Grant presented the stunning brass timepiece as a gift to his wife, Julia D. Grant, on June 1, 1881. It was then passed down through subsequent generations of the Grant family and makes its auction debut at Kaminski’s March sale. The clock is in fine condition, with only a light complementary patina in the crevices of its brass construction. It is encased on four sides by fine French beveled glass, through which its intricate clockwork mechanisms are visible.
Also offered is a painting by American artist Charles T. Webber (1825-1911) depicting the president’s father, Jesse Grant, with his young son Ulysses in uniform. The painting, housed in an ornate gilt frame, offers a rare glimpse in to the childhood of the 18th President. Webber was well known for his skillfully painted portraits and historical scenes. Webber’s most famous piece, The Underground Railroad, served as a tribute to abolitionists and is held at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
“These beautiful objects from the Grant estate are precious artifacts from a fascinating period of American history,” said Frank Kaminski, owner of Kaminski Auctions. “The pieces have stood the test of time, preserved with loving care by the descendants of one of America’s great leaders.”
For information on any lot in the sale, call Kaminski’s at 978-927-2223 or e-mail auctions@kaminskiauctions.com.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Tiffany & Co. brass carriage clock with French beveled glass. Inscribed "Presented by General Ulysses S. Grant to Julia D. Grant, June 1, 1881." Estimate $7,500-$12,500. Image courtesy Kaminski Auctions.
Charles T. Webber (American, 1825-1911), The Story of the Flag, 1877. Signed and dated. Estimate $5,000-$8,000. Image courtesy Kaminski Auctions.
