Highlights from our September 15th, 2007 Southern Antiques Auction in Nashville are listed below:
(prices realized include a 10% buyer’s premium)
If you are interested in consigning items of this quality for future auctions, please contact us at info@caseantiques.com.
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Lot#182 – Rare portrait on ivory of young boy, attributed to John Wood Dodge (1807-1893, working in Nashville, 1840-1861). Miniature depicts a young boy wearing a black hat and tartan plaid jacket, possibly a posthumous portrait. An enclosure on the back shows a braided lock of hair under glass. The pink-tinged clouds in the background and position of the sitter are typical of Dodge’s work. Dodge worked as a portrait painter in Nashville from 1840-1861, painting many of the city’s most prominent citizens. Recent research has revealed Dodge painted a miniature of Mary House Thompson, the first mistress of Glen Leven and John Thompson’s wife. Mary had a young son, Jimmy House, from a previous marriage who is believed to have died in childhood. It is very possible this is a posthumous portrait of him. Very good condition with light foxing and a minor brown spot to right side of the background, one hasp missing on the back of the oval case. Dimensions of oval portrait 1 7/8″ x 2 1/4″. Circa 1845. Glen Leven estate. Est. $3000-$4000. Realized $22,000, an auction record for the artist. |
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Lot#54 – Tennessee classical dressing stand with mirror, walnut, poplar secondary. Probably Nashville or Davidson County. Tilting rectangular molded mirror supported on two turned tapered uprights terminating in acorn shaped finials. Rectangular plain overhanging surface over single long drawer with round wood pulls, on four turned and tapering legs terminating in disk feet. Provenance – Susan West’s notes state that the shaving stand was among the “Harris furniture from Glen Leven” given to her by “Aunt Margaret” in 1967. Condition – original finish, original pulls. Dimensions – 76″ height x 41″ width x 22″ depth. Circa 1840. Glen Leven estate. Est. $3000-$4000. Realized $9,900. |
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Lot#48 – Rare Tennessee miniature chest of drawers, cherry primary, poplar secondary. Single board top with one dovetailed drawer above two smaller dovetailed drawers. Square nails visible on drawer supports. Shaped protruding apron over two turned incised ball feet; plain block rear feet with chamfered corners. Provenance – Susan West’s notes referred to this chest as a “salesman sample”. Probably Davidson Co., TN. Condition – older refinish, stress crack to back of chest, rear right block foot old replacement. Dimensions – 16″ height x 15″ width x 9 1/4″ depth. Circa 1835. Glen Leven estate. Est. $2500-$3000. Realized $3,630. |
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Lot #12 – Important and rare Confederate Civil War officer’s sash of woven crimson silk, terminating in tassels at each end. Provenance – Susan West describes this Confederate sash as a family heirloom, and thought it was probably from the Wilson side of the family. According to family records and oral history, Thomas B. Wilson (brother of Fanny, son of John Robert Wilson and Eliza Pitts Wilson), fought for the Confederacy. Also, Fanny Wilson Harris’ husband, Albert Harris, served as a doctor during the Civil War. Condition – a couple of small black stains on one tassel, minor snags, overall very good condition with bright color. Length 106″. Circa 1860. Glen Leven estate. Est. $900-$1100. Realized $2,420. |
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Lot#8 – Signed Book of Common Prayer by Confederate Chaplain, Charles Todd Quintard. Inscribed inside cover, “Miss (or Mrs?) Wilson with regards of her friend C. T. Quintard”. Additional inscription, “Hold fast the form of sound words. 2 Timothy I.13 23rd June 1864.” Prayer written by Quintard inside cover, “O Almighty God, who hast built Thy Church upon a foundation of the Apostles + Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head cornerstone; grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple acceptable unto thee through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” “Miss Wilson” probably refers to Fanny Wilson. C. T. Quintard was a trained surgeon who later became an ordained Episcopal Chaplain to the 1st Tennessee Regiment of the Confederate Army. He accompanied General Braxton Bragg at Chattanooga and General Hood at the Battle of Franklin. Quintard was elected as the Episcopal Bishop of Tennessee in September, 1865. He had an integral role in re-establishing Sewanee after the Civil War and served as the school’s first Vice-Chancellor. Glen Leven estate. Est. $200-$300. Realized $1,980. |
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Lot#43 – Tennessee rectangular biscuit rock/table with limestone surface and poplar base, round legs with ring turning at top, remnants of old gray paint. According to Susan West’s notes, the biscuit rock has always been at Glen Leven to the best of her knowledge. Condition – legs cut down and partially decayed, paint mostly worn away, wood worn especially near one top corner near stone, also a large area of repair in that area. Stone with minor chips and stains but overall good condition. 24″ height x 30″ width x 36″ depth. Second quarter of the 19th century. Glen Leven estate. Est. $250-$350. Realized $4,400. |
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Lot#58 – Wooden lounge or daybed, striped chenille upholstery with brass tacks, cross stretcher supports. Attributed to Tennessee. Good condition for age. 25″ height x 25″ width x 72″ length. Late 19th/Early 20th century. Glen Leven estate. Est. $150-$200. Realized $2,090. |
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Lot#65 – Wooden gameboard with alternating woods of oak and walnut, together with ebonized and lighter wooden chest figures. Paper label remnants on back and pencil inscription, “Presented to AWH (Albert Wynne Harris) 1897″ (1877?). Provenance – descended in Susan West’s family apparently belonged to Albert Wynne Harris or Albert Wynne Harris, Jr. Condition – overall very good condition with some minor wear/shrinkage. 10″ x 10″ gameboard, king figure 2 3/4” height. Late 19th century, Southern. Glen Leven estate. Est. $200-$250. Realized $2,640. |
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Lot #111 – Important Mississippi coin silver child’s mug, marked on bottom “Klein and Lampkin” for John Klein and John Lampkin, silversmiths/jewelers in Vicksburg, Mississippi. John Klein moved to Vicksburg, MS from Leesburg, VA and opened a shop in 1836. In the 1850 census, he is listed as a jeweler. John Lampkin, a jeweler born in Georgia, is also listed in Klein’s household in the 1850 census and was 20 years old. The mug is inscribed “Mary Lucy Harris” on front. Flared beaded rim over a raised bulbous bead border, concave waist, bottom with raised circular motif with geometric designs at base, round beaded base. C scroll handle with volute and spur. Condition – minor denting and scratching. 3 3/8″ height, 2.78 oz troy. Circa 1850. Glen Leven estate. Est. $3000-$3500. Realized $4,125. |
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Lot#107 – Silver water pitcher with Overton family provenance and inscriptions, inscribed “Bailey & Co./136 Chestnut St. Philadelphia,” figural lion, S, shield marks, and two lion passant marks; inscribed “M.M.O. to H.V.O”. Descended in Susan West’s family and referred to in her notes as “Flower Pitcher” that “came from Traveller’s Rest.” “M.M.O” is believed to refer to Mary McConnell White Overton (1782-1861, wife of Judge John Overton), and “H.V.O.” is believed to refer to Harriet Virginia Maxwell Overton (second wife of John Overton II). Mary McConnell White Overton was Harriet Virginia Maxwell Overton’s mother-in-law, and the dates would be consistent with the date of the pitcher’s manufacture. Also, according to Traveller’s Rest curator Rob DeHart, in Harriet Overton’s will (dated 2/7/1899) she leaves her “solid silver pitcher” to her daughter, Mrs. Thompson (Mary McConnell Overton Thompson). Condition – very good condition, scattered small areas of pitting. Dimensions 11 1/4″ height, 32.930 oz troy (Sterling 925/1000). Circa 1846-1859. Philadelphia, PA. Glen Leven estate. Est. $5000-$6000. Realized $7,150. |
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Lot #95 – Rare set of five Nashville coin silver spoons, marked “E. Raworth” (Edward Raworth, Nashville, Tennessee, working 1808-1820). Caldwell states Edward Raworth was one of Davidson County’s earliest silversmiths. His mark is illustrated in Caldwell’s Tennessee Silversmiths, p.141, figure 107 and 107b. Spoons are monogrammed “B”. Condition – tip of one handle bent (probably teeth marks), one spoon with slight crease to bowl. Monogram shows wear on handle tip. Overall good condition for age. 6 1/2″ length. Heir of Glen Leven estate. Est. $1000-1500. Realized $1,760. |
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Lot#105 – Coin Silver Serving Spoon, marked “J.Campbell” in rectangle. Monogram “J. Thompson” (believed to refer to John Thompson, builder of Glen Leven, 1793-1876). John Campbell is known to have worked in Nashville from 1836-1857. Plain tipt pattern with rounded fins. Minor dents, minor pitting to handle, overall good condition, 1.730 oz troy. 8 3/4″ length. Glen Leven estate. Est. $300-$400. Realized $1,100. |
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Lot#103 – Rare Tennessee coin silver coffee pot, marked “W. H. Calhoun Tenn.” with three pseudohallmarks (William H. Calhoun, Nashville, Tennessee, working 1839-1865). Engraved in one of the cartouche shields, “To Mrs H. Bruner 1865”. The engraving would be a later date, as Calhoun’s mark on the coffee pot is associated with his work in the 1850s. Elaborate floral and leaf repousse engraving, branch design handle, flower finial. Condition – excellent, missing ivory insulators for handle. 12 3/8″ height, approx. 35 oz troy. Circa 1855. Private collection. Comment – the coffee pot form marked by a Tennessee silversmith is very rare, as no other documented examples are presently known. Est. $5000-$5500. Realized $7,150. |
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Lot#185 – Large tin type of John Thompson, builder of Glen Leven and letter describing cost to build Glen Leven. Unusually large tin type of John Thompson, builder of Glen Leven and a prominent citizen of early Nashville. Very good condition. 4 1/2″ x 6″ case. Circa 1860. Additional item – letter (possibly copy) dated 1856 from A. E. Franklin to John Thompson on the proposal and cost to build Glen Leven. The letter reads, “Nashville March 15, 1856 Mr. J Thompson Sir I will build your house according to the plan and specifications gave me by your wife for $7,4,44 and give you round fluted columns in front and 9 white walnut doors without extry charge__ further I will bind myself to get your house done by the 10th of Sept next under a forfeit of $1000 dollars to give you all I agree to by you. A. E. Franklin”. Early type written transcription of this hand written letter accompanies lot. Glen Leven estate. Est. $300-400. Realized $3,300. |
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Lot#195 – Maurits Cornelis Escher (Dutch, 1898-1972) wood engraving, “Stars”, October 1948, signed “M C Escher” in pencil lower left margin and “eigen druk” (artist’s impression) in lower right margin. Uncut sheet of wove paper. Signature and date “MCE/X – “48” in block. Condition – very light foxing to right margin, lower right and upper left margin corners creased, not affecting image; straight crease from center of upper margin diagonally through margin, image and center right margin, but only faintly visible in image. Circa 1948. Glen Leven estate. Note – Author Bruno Ernst writes in his book, The Magic Mirror of M.C. Escher, “During this same period (1946-1956) Escher’s interest in straightforward geometrical spatial figures such as regular multisurfaces, spatial spirals, and Moebius strips came to the fore. The origin of this interest is to be found in Escher’s delight in natural crystal shapes…The first print was Crystal (1947). Stars (1948) is almost certainly the high point.” (p.23). Est. $5500-7500. Realized $12,100. |
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Lot#188 – Tennessee Impressionist mountain landscape by L.E. Jones (Louis Edward Jones, Tennessee, 1878-1958). Oil on canvas, signed lower right corner. Appears to be in the original frame. Jones was an Impressionist painter from Woodstock, New York and established the Cliff Dwellers studio in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Some minor losses to frame, painting overall in very good condition. 25″ x 30″, 31″ x 36″ frame. Early 20th century. Private collection. Est. $2000-$2400. Realized $13,750, an auction record for the artist. |
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Lot#187 – Tennessee Impressionist mountain landscape by L.E. Jones (Louis Edward Jones, Tennessee, 1878-1958). Oil on board, signed and dated lower right corner. Appears to be in the original frame. On back of painting in black script, “Mt Leconte Gatlinburg TN Smokey Mtns.” Jones was an Impressionist painter from Woodstock, New York and established the Cliff Dwellers studio in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Minor losses to frame, painting in very good condition overall. 20″ x 24″ painting, 26″ x 30″ frame. Early 20th century. Private collection. Est. $1400-1800. Realized $9,020. |
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Lot#238 – Rare pair of double overlay glass lusters, cobalt cut to white cut to clear, possibly Massachussetts Sandwich Glass Company. Enameled with gold and white accents, tops depicting scenes of churches and cottages. Clear cut and notched glass prisms. Provenance – according to family history, these belonged to Anna Green Hunter Young, Susan West’s great grandmother on her father’s side. Condition – some prisms chipped, one prism broken but pieces retained, some wear to gold accents. 13″ height. Mid 19th century. Glen Leven estate. Est. $500-$600. Realized $1,870. |
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Lot#239 – Old Paris porcelain service with scalloped rims trimmed in gold, framing a white ground with hand painted florals. Some impressed marks (W over W, illegible letters) and numbers. Descended through Susan West’s family. Total of 56 pieces. Circa 1860. Glen Leven estate and Heirs of Glen Leven. Est. $1800-$2200. Realized $2,420. |
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Lot#262 – Rare Zenith Stratosphere console radio with inscriptions “Zenith 16-A-63 N100346 N99745”, 16 tube console radio with main chassis and power pack chassis, multicolored “airplane” dial, shadowgraph tuning, two speakers. Retangular case with sliding doors over dial, flanked by marquetry inlaid panels. Lower section with inset rounded center panel with pierced wooden grillwork over the speakers, flanked by two flat panels with similar grillwork and marquetry inlay. Ogee bracket feet and open back. Condition – case good condition with expected wear and scratches. Right shutter doors over dials does not close easily, warped veneer. Inner workings appear original with some degradation to chrome plating. one vacuum tube broken. Functionality not examined. 43″ height x 28″ width x 17″ depth. Circa 1936. Illinois. Glen Leven estate. Est. $12000-$15000. Realized $23,100. |
