Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ auction May 30-31

Tue, 05/19/2015 - 12:30pm

Story Location:
51 Atlantic Highway
Thomaston, ME 04861
United States

Heralding the arrival of warmer weather, Maine’s Thomaston Place Auction Galleries will offer a dazzling collection of art, estate jewelry and antiques at its spring 2015 auction on May 30 and 31. The auction gallery is in full bloom with many outstanding paintings and sculptures, folk art, antique and midcentury furniture, decorative accessories, plus a group of vintage boats and vehicles.

The auction will begin at 11 a.m. on both days. A complete, full color catalog, with detailed descriptions and photographs, is available, and all lots can be viewed at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ website, www.thomastonauction.com.

The offerings of oil paintings include pair of oil on canvas paintings depicting scenes of peasant life by 17th century artist Adrien Jansz Van Ostade (Netherlands/Germany, 1610-1685) and “Storm near Tahiti, 1978”, a watercolor seascape painting executed in shades of blue and grey by Millard Owen Sheets (CA, 1907-1989); a watercolor on paper by Jack Lorimer Gray (NY/Canada, 1927-1981) depicting schooners on high seas passing a dory man; a portrait of coastal schooner “Charlotte T. Sibley” passing the Boston Light by William Pierce Stubbs (ME/MA, 1842-1909), and “Hickory Trees,” an oil on canvas painting by Emile Albert Gruppe (MA, 1896-1978).

The sale will also offer Old Master works, such as an oil on panel attributed to Gilles Mostaert (Flemish, c. 1528-1598) depicting the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and a signed and dated etching and drypoint on paper, “Portrait of Cornelius Claesz, Anslo, Minister”, by Rembrandt Van Rijn (Netherlands, 1606-1669) (est. $1,500-2,000).

Representing the sculpture category are “Notch View,” a 1978 soldered bronze maquette by Herbert Ferber (NY/MA, 1906-1991); a 12th century French carved stone fragment depicting Christ holding the Chalice of Life; and “Marina”, a 1979 bronze sculpture by Sergio Capellini (Italy, 1942 - ).

Highlighted items of American folk art will include a rare set of 23 carved and painted wood miniature duck decoys by A. E. Crowell, East Harwich, Mass.; a circa 1880s 59” high wooden advertising cigar store Indian titled “Nicketti, Daughter of Algonquin Chieftan Openchancanough (Brother of Chief Powhatan);” and a schoolgirl silverwork painting depicting Liberty offering peace to ships in Boston Harbor by Miss H. Belcher at Wrentham Academy, 1811.

The extensive collection of estate jewelry and watches will include: a diamond dome form ring set with a 6.23 carat old European cut round stone; a circa 1910 single strand of 115 graduated natural saltwater pearls with a diamond clasp; and a French 18K gold bracelet set with diamonds and 13 carats total weight of sapphires. From the estate watch collection will be a men’s 18K gold manual wind Lemania wristwatch stamped “Olga Tritt” with 17 jewels and a Cartier ladies tri-color gold wristwatch with octagonal shape dial in original box.

Nautical items include 25 handcrafted ship models such as a circa 1960s model of the warship “Le Bonhomme Richard” by Maurice Besgneux of LaDesirade, French West Indies, and a cased model of the California Clipper Ship “Coeur de Lion,” designed and built by George Raynes. The marine collection will also offer a circa 1905-30 deep sea diving suit by Siebe-Gorman & Co., London and several Maine crafted canoes and small boats.

Vintage vehicles offered include a variety of vehicles will be offered, including a restored canary yellow 1953 Chevy 3100 pick-up truck, a 2004 Mini-Cooper S hatchback, 1975 Mercedes-Benz 280s sedan, and two Vespa Italian motor scooters.

Designer and custom furniture include a signed and dated “South Yuba” designer rocking chair by Robert Erickson of Nevada City, CA in fiddleback maple; two vintage Eames chair and ottoman sets with black leather upholstery, and a 1930s Maine Art Deco split reed convertible lounge chair with pull-out foot rest with “Ebbtide Maine” spelled out on the back panel.

From the large antique furniture collection: an 18th century Chippendale figured Caribbean mahogany chest with Beverly, MA provenance; a Pennsylvania Revolutionary War era walnut dowry chest with star and fan inlay, and a 19th century Canadian diamond point pine country cupboard with remnants of grey paint.

Asian antiques offered include a pair of 19th century Chinese porcelain octagonal garden seats with polychrome glaze decoration; Chinese Ming Dynasty bronze censer with Xuande mark and elephant lid, legs and handles; and a 17th-18th century Indian bronze sculpture of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.

The sale will also present a selection of late 19th century Chinese embroidered silk robes that have been stored in a trunk since 1935.

Noteworthy pieces include four vintage Hermes handbags, a WWI Prussian Order of “Pour le Merite” or “Blue Max” gilt silver and enamel medal, a rare 39-star American flag, a 72-piece partial set of Cactus pattern sterling silver flatware by Georg Jensen; plus antique clocks, estate silver, oriental carpets, and fine porcelain.

Bidding info

In addition to live bidding in the auction hall, Thomaston Place accepts bids via absentee, telephone, and on www.thomastonlive.com. The buyer’s premium is 15 percent.

Call 207-354-8141 for more information, or to reserve seats in the auction hall.

The gallery will be open for previews Monday, May 25 through Friday, May 29 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.; and from 9 to 11 a.m. the days of the auction, Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31.

Thomaston Place Auction Galleries is Maine’s premier auction and appraisal company located at 51 Atlantic Highway/U.S. Route 1 in Thomaston.