February 26, 2012 Auction News

FINE ART, SILVER, ANTIQUE GUNS, DOLLS, HISTORY & MORE

OFFERED AT WHITES WINTER SALE

MIDDLEBORO, MA: Sunday afternoon, February 26, 2012, Whites Auctions is pleased to hold its first sale of the New Year, offering a fine selection of antiques and fine art. Every auction is different at Whites, with no particular theme set in advance. This upcoming sale holds true with an exciting potpourri to include fine art, silver, jewelry, antique furniture, lighting, antique guns, Oriental pieces, pottery, porcelains and glass. Of historical interest is a group of hand written Revolutionary War letters and a collection of 19th Master and Seaman contracts for New Bedford whaling vessels.

It is always exciting and intriguing to see and hold actual pieces of history. Of historical interest coming up are six original hand written letters between Minuteman Captain Joshua Gray and his wife, Mary Gray (Yarmouthport, MA) during his absence fighting in the Revolutionary War. The letters are dated February and March of 1776. They are personal letters while stationed at Roxbury Camp. There is mention of long marches to Boston and other military references, as well as personal reports of the childrens well being thankfulness for their blessings. Joshua was 33 at the time of his service and died at the age of 47 in 1790. The couple had nine children, losing one in a drowning. These are the original letters which are reproduced in the Joshua Gray of Yarmouthport and His Descendents, compiled by Julia Edgar Thacher in 1914.

Sold $4,830 Six original Revolutionary War Letters between Jousha Gray & Mary Gray,1776 Roxbury Camp and Yarmouythport.

Further items of historical significance is a collection (approximately original 51 pieces in total) of Agreement Between Master and Seamen in the Merchant Service of the United States for schooners, brigs and barks from New Bedford and Boston, dated in the 1870s. One lot includes eleven documents signed by Master Henry C. Hathaway between May 1878 and January 1882 for the Bark Veronica out of the Port of New Bedford to the Western Islands and Madeira. The document records seamens, signatures, physical appearance, age, birth place, wages, capacities, etc. Built in 1878, the Bark Veronica last sailed in November and was lost off the coast of Madeira on December 16th, 1885. The crew was saved.

Master & Seamans Agreements, New Bedford ships late 19th c

Up for bid also is a collection of eight Agreements between Master and Seamen for the whaling schooner The Lottie Beard out of New Bedford. These documents date from 1878 to 1882; six signed by Master J. W. Perry and two by Master James Marquand. Voyages lasted for 6 to 8 months time and included ports in Africa, the North and South Atlantic, St. Helena, West Indies, South America and the Gulf of Mexico. This ship was built in Fairhaven, Ma in 1866 and was also lost at sea in October 1913. Her crew was rescued by the British steamer Sylvia. Other vessels documents include the Brig Rescue of New Bedford, Bark J.A. Brinne of Boston, Brig Bogota of New Bedford, Bark Syna, Schooner Adelia Chase of New Bedford, Ship Maringo, Barke Azor of Boston, Steamer Mississippi of Boston and the Barke Addison of Boston.

Paintings and art works are well represented in this sale with several listed artists and genres to include still life oils by 19th century American artists Bryant Chapin (Fall River School), Henry L. Sangler , John Clinton Spencer and Fannie Eliza Duvall, as well as, a finely executed signed French still life with a basket of plums. Watercolors to be sold include a Melbourne H. Hardwick painting, Fall River artist Pauline Coylar and two watercolors by 19th century Dutch artists Louis Van Staaten and Francis William Van Vreeland 1902 Rookwood Pottery artist). Five Roger Etienne oils, an early 19th Chinese School oil painting, Old master style Madonna oil by E Bianchini (Ital. 20th), a large 19thc Old Master School painting, two small Domenico Riccitelli oil paintings (Ital/Am.1894) and a Contemporary portrait of a seated woman by New Orleans artist, James Michalopoulos, will also be sold. Also of interest is a Russian bronze sculpture, Crawling Soldier by Eveni Alexandrovich Lansere (Lanceray), Russian (1848-1886). Very detailed figure of soldier crawling on the ground, with weapons. Signed with impressed signatures and dated 1871. Measures overall approximately 8 long. Executed at age 23. He died at age 38.

This sale offers a over thirty lots of sterling silver, coins and jewelry, including Towle King Richard, Frank & Smith Co. Winslow, Wallace Grand Baroque, Manchester Gadroonette, Lunt English Shell, as well as, several miscellaneous flatware and hollowware lots. A fine Georg Jensen #141 salad set and other Danish and Norwegian pieces will be offered, as well as, an ornate Gorham Cherub bon bon spoon, Mexican sterling bowl and a large ornate.

A good selection of fine jewelry round out this category with a custom uncut emerald and gold womans, ring, a Cresaux 14k white gold and diamond wrist watch, a white gold and diamond Deco era ring, a white and yellow diamond cluster ring in an 18th kt gold setting, 14kt gold and diamond mounted ancient coins earrings and several lots of mens and womens gold jewelry. Coin and currency lots are also part of this sale.

Porcelains, pottery and glass lots include an eight assorted German stein lot, Musterschutz figural "Happy Radish" stein, large Italian Majolica Cantagalli floor vase with winged angel handles, a wonderful Limoges soup tureen with under platter and five pieces Art Nouveau Pickard China, hand painted by Edith Arno around 1900 and a rare pair of Mt. Washington Lily vases in yellow and a Bavarian ruby cut to clear glass vanity box. Other lots consist of a 21" large Mettlach Regimental stein #2227, Mettlach stein Heinrich Schlitt #2764, Lalique Angel champagne flute set, Hampshire Pottery trumpet shaped lamp base, Blue & White transfer decorated Staffordshire platter "Gyrn Flintshire Wales", 43 piece lunch set Aynsley Orchard gold, 58 piece dinner set Lenox "Autumn" pattern,a Signed Hawkes cut glass pedestal vase, American Brilliant cut glass water pitcher, Group of 8 assorted glass paperweights, German 1896 Regimental lithopane stein and a Villeroy & Boch antique stein.

In addition, twenty 19th century Chinese snuff bottles in various materials and designs will tempt the collectors. Other Chinese lots consist of an early Chinese School oil on canvas, a 19th century ornately carved dragon motif scholars paperweight or seal, a mid 19th c Japanese Imari bowl, 19th c Rose Medallion covered vegetable dishes, Chinese Export Celadon Melon jar and covered bowl. Chinese Ming pottery glazed parrot and figure of Shou Lau (God of Immortality), three Seasons inlayed soapstone and hard stone panels and an early pair of monumental Chinese bronze Temple candlesticks (one with some loss). An early Kazak prayer rug will also be sold.

For the gun enthusiasts, fifteen rifles, pistols, revolvers and shot guns will cross the block. Of note is a pair of cased muff pistols, probably Belgian (ELG mark). Other weapons include a W.W. Marston & Knox 31 caliber pepperbox six shot, Antique Smith & Wesson 32 4th model type, Remington over/under 2 shot derringer type 2, 19th century converted Belgium musket to shotgun, Antique Colt 22 caliber revolver, Antique 1873 Remington-smoot revolver, 19th century Continental percussion pocket pistol,a rare 18th century American tinder pistol lighter/flint tester, 19th century Turkish flintlock pistol, 19th century flintlock wall hanging musket with bone inlay, 1863 Civil War Remington Zouabe rifle and a 1853 French Confederate type rifle. A documentationfrom the Cody Firearms Museum accompanies a custom made Winchester Model 21 skeet grade shotgun with inlayed gold monogram. It was made for a Mr. Otis McIntyre.

Other sporting lots to be sold, as well, are bamboo fly rods to include Orvis and Wright & McGill and an Orvis Damascus knife by Rob Carlson and other poles and reels. Finally, a pair of custom made cased Ricco Cervantes pool cues and an interesting 1920s/30 baseball signed by Heavyweight Champion fighter Jack Dempsey, Lightweight Champion Mikey Walker and pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander are offered for bid.

Antique furniture and clocks in the sale include two Le Coultre Atmos clocks, a late 19th c French mantle clock by S. Marti et Cie/Medaille dArgent. Offered as well will bee a New England sponge painted decorated chest, a four piece carved Victorian walnut parlor set, a Mission oak arm chair &, gold gilt Federal mantle mirror with three sections, Large Victorian carved gilt mantle mirror, large mahogany roll top desk with detailed fitted interior, Victorian walnut bookcase or gun cabinet, Massachusetts four drawer chest with red stain, antique mahogany roll top desk, triple door bookcase, oak filing cabinet, a two part Massachusetts period banquet table with drawer and rope-twist turn legs 1820's, French 19th boulle sewing stand (needs work),Federal carved tilt top stand and more.

Lighting lots are represented by a painted Bradley & Hubbard type table lamp, Salem Brothers type Art Nouveau slag glass/overlay table lamp, 19th century brass coach lantern, Millifoiri lamp base and a Hampshire Pottery two light trumpet shape lamp base in matte green, retaining its original paper label.

Antique dolls and toys and a collection of Shirley Temple dolls. Other lots of note include an 18th century wooden moulding plane by I Nicholson of Wrentham, Massachusetts (the first plane maker in the country), a Buckingham Plymouth cranberry scoop, Salesman's Sample "Relief Wringer" with tub, cast iron Black Cat with glass eyes doorstop, Leica DRP Ernst Leitz Wetzlar camera, 19th century Russian lacquer paper mache, Arts & crafts wrought iron log holder, FolkArt rooster weathervane, cobalt blue decorated crocksand G Bonner German silvered plaque.

AUCTION LOCATION: The auction to be held on Sunday February 26, 2012 at the Middleboro Lodge of Elks, 24 High Street, Middleboro, MA at 2:30 pm. Additional early preview on Saturday, February 25th, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Regular preview on Sunday from 12:00 pm to auction start. Please call John White (508-947-9281) or Kathryn Black (508-269-9275) with any questions. Please arrange your absentee and phone bid requests in advance with Kathryn (508) 269-9275. Phone bids will be accepted based on availability and timeliness.

John White, Auctioneer, MA Lic #1988

Massachusetts Auctioneer's Association Member

Kathryn Black, ManagerPartner

(508) 947-9281 or (508) 269-9275

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED 1 HOUR or LESS FROM CAPE COD, BOSTON, NEWPORT, PROVIDENCE, METRO WEST, ETC.

Exit 4 off 495--Rte 105 (South Main Street) toward Middleboro Center. Left of Courtland St, Right on Oak Str. Hall on corner of Oak & High Streets, across from the Ashley Funeral Home.