No turkeys in Jasper52’s Nov. 24 Thanksgiving Americana & Folk Art sale

North Carolina walnut Chippendale desk, est. $156,000-$187,000
North Carolina walnut Chippendale desk, est. $156,000-$187,000
North Carolina walnut Chippendale desk, est. $156,000-$187,000

NEW YORK – You’re tired, you’re full, perhaps uncomfortably so, and you do not want to watch football. That’s the alternative on Thanksgiving Day? Jasper52 will treat you to holiday entertainment that is far more exciting than broadcast sports. On Thursday, November 25, starting at 6 pm Eastern time, Jasper52 will present a 660-lot lineup that has been curated by Clifford Wallach, an expert in tramp art, folk art, and Americana. And while there might be images and representations of turkeys in the sale, not one of the lots on offer is a loser. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Antique carved American furniture: A cut above the rest

A pair of Philadelphia Queen Anne side chairs earned $46,000 plus the buyer’s premium in February 2020 at Westport Auction. Image courtesy of Westport Auction and LiveAuctioneers.
A pair of Philadelphia Queen Anne side chairs earned $46,000 plus the buyer’s premium in February 2020 at Westport Auction. Image courtesy of Westport Auction and LiveAuctioneers.
A pair of Philadelphia Queen Anne side chairs earned $46,000 plus the buyer’s premium in February 2020 at Westport Auction. Image courtesy of Westport Auction and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — While heavily carved furniture is not in vogue today, carved embellishments on American furniture of the 18th and 19th centuries elevated mundane household fittings to fine art. Their motifs can range from simple carved cabriole legs and relatively plain ornamentation to enthusiastic carving on nearly every inch of the available wood surface. Commonly seen imagery ranges from seashells and foliate scrolling to patriotic motifs characteristic of the American Empire era. Other forms of carving become progressively more intricate and include mythological, figural and animal elements in relief.

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