Our next auction scheduled for October 23rd in Knoxville will feature fine art, Southern furniture and decorative arts, silver, Native American, Mid-Century modern, Asian, jewelry, and historical ephemera from several Southern estates and fine collections. A few items from the upcoming auction are below. Watch for more items to be added to this page in the coming weeks and our full catalog in late September. Join our email list and we’ll notify you when the catalog is live.
Coin Silver mint julep cup with incuse stamp BLANCHARD for Asa Blanchard, working Lexington, KY, 1808-1838. Tapering cylindrical sides and reeded rim and foot ring, no monogram. 3 1/4″H, 4.95 oz troy. Provenance: The Estate of Cora Jane Spiller, Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Two (2) coin silver mugs or handled cups marked for Richard Ewing Smith of Louisville (working c. 1821-1839) and Henry Fletcher of Lexington and Louisville (working Lexington 1818-1829 and Louisville 1830-1866). Smith mug is marked R.E. SMITH in rectangle and features reeded rims, flat C scroll handle and slightly tapering plain sides, monogrammed JAMES F. PREWITT. 3″H including handle. Fletcher mug is marked H. FLETCHER in rectangle with small dart or arrow shaped incision or scratch, and features beaded rims, hollow C scroll handle and plain sides, monogrammed MARY MCCHEW / AUG. 17 1852. 3 1/2″H including handle. 6.7 oz troy.
Coin silver mint julep cup with beaded rims and slightly tapering sides, marked on underside S.B. HALL in rectangle, attributed to S.B. Hall, working Nicholasville, Kentucky, circa 1837-1850 and after 1850 as S.B. Hall & Son. 3 3/4″H. 4.81 oz troy. Note: Boultinghouse lists S.B. Hall as appearing in the 1850 census in Jessamine County, KY, with his occupation listed as a silversmith in the 1850 and his place of birth as Virginia. His eight children were all born in Kentucky, suggesting he was in the state by 1837. Kovel’s states that his business became known as S.B. Hall & Son by 1850. Reference: Boultinghouse, Marquis. Silversmiths, Jewelers, Clock and Watch Makers of Kentucky, 1785-1900. p.148.
Anna Peale (Pennsylvania, 1791-1878) miniature portrait of a dark haired gentleman attired in a black 19th century style suit coat and necktie. Signed and dated along the lower left edge “Mrs. Staughton 1832”. Housed under glass in a repousse foliate bordered 14K gold frame (tested) with rose gold accents. Miniature 2 5/8″ H x 2 1/4″ W. Overall: 3 3/8″ H x 2 1/2″ W. Gross weight 74.5 grams. Note: This portrait was signed after Anna Peale’s first marriage to William Staughton.
Large American School portrait of General George Washington, after the original by John Faed (Scottish, 1819-1902) titled “Washington Receiving a Salute on the Field of Trenton”. Depicting Washington atop his horse holding his sword forward in his right hand with a British flag beneath a drum left foreground, with American troops and artillery in the background. Unsigned. Housed in a gilt and painted wood frame.
Edwin Cooper (United Kingdom, 1785-1833) oil on canvas painting titled “A Gentleman with a Hunter Beside a Stable,” depicting a man in a brown overcoat and top hat, leading a white, grey, and light brown “show hunter” horse out of a stable, a body of water beneath a cloudy grey sky. Faintly signed and dated “Eh Cooper pinx/1814″ in red, lower right. Arthur Ackerman & Son, Ltd., London, paper label en verso. Gilt metal placard with artist’s name and approximate dates affixed lower center of frame. Housed in a giltwood frame with a lamb’s tongue running pattern. Sight: 23 1/2″ H x 30 1/4″ W. Framed: 28 1/4″ H x 35” W. Provenance: Purchased by the consignor from Doyle Auction House, New York, in May 2011.
George (Smith) Armfield (United Kingdom, 1808-1893) oil on canvas landscape painting depicting three terriers gathered expectantly around an animal burrow mound below a fern, a mountain range beneath a cloudy grey sky in the background. Signed “G Armfield” lower right. Traces of an old paper label, en verso. Housed in a wooden frame with gilt filet. Sight: 19 1/4″ H x 29″ W. Framed: 24″ H x 33 3/4″ W.
John Kelly Fitzpatrick (American/Alabama, 1888 -1953) impressionist watercolor on paper landscape titled “Springtime on the Coosa”. Depicting a river landscape in bright colors of blue and green. Pencil signed and dated “1942” lower right. Housed in a simple painted wood frame. Titled and additionally dated and signed en verso. Sight: 10 7/8″ H x 15″ W. Framed: 17″ H x 21″ W. Biography (Courtesy Askart: The Artists’ Bluebook): Alabama-born John Kelly Fitzpatrick studied at the Art Institute of Chicago before enlisting in the Army in 1918. He was wounded and severely scarred during the war and returned to painting, attending the Academie Julian in Paris. Once back in the South, he made numerous contributions to the arts in Alabama. He was the first director of the Montgomery Museum of Art School and taught at the Dixie Art Colony at Lake Jordan. In 1930 he became a founding member of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and was active in many organizations.
Louis Edward Jones (Tennessee, 1878-1958) impressionistic oil on canvas board painting depicting a group of trees with early autumn foliage before a mountain, likely part of the Great Smoky Mountains range, beneath a grey sky. Signed “LE Jones” lower right. Housed in a grey painted wooden frame with a gilt trim and an off white painted fillet. Sight: 9 5/8″ H x 11 5/8″ W. Framed: 13 1/2″ H x 15 1/2″ W. Note: Jones was an Impressionist painter from Woodstock, New York and established the Cliff Dwellers studio in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Carl Sublett (Tennessee, 1919-2008) watercolor on paper landscape painting titled “Mountain Range” depicting a mountain range rendered in shades of red, green, and blue beneath a brown sky. Dated and signed “65 Sublett” lower right. The Collector’s Gallery, Nashville, TN label en verso. Housed and matted under glass in a giltwood frame. Sight: 17 1/2″ H x 22 3/4″ W. Framed: 25 1/2″ H x 29″ W. Biography: Carl Sublett studied Art History at the American Academy in Florence, Italy, after serving as a sergeant in World War II. He moved to Knoxville in 1954 where he studied with Kermit Ewing and eventually became a Professor of Fine Art at the University of Tennessee. Sublett was a founding member of the art group, The Knoxville Seven, a progressive group working from 1955-1965, which produced some of the first abstract expressionist art in Tennessee. In 1982 he retired from teaching and in 1984, he opened the Sublett Gallery in Knoxville. In 1991, “The Unseen Carl Sublett” was the first exhibit at the new Knoxville Museum of Art (built on the site of the 1982 World’s Fair). Sublett won numerous awards for his paintings and was a member of the National Academy of Design. His works are in the collections of the National Academy of Design, The Tennessee State Museum, and Cheekwood, Nashville. (Source: The Tennessee Arts Commission).
Large Charles Kermit “Buck” Ewing (Tennessee, 1910-1976) oil on canvas marine painting depicting a nocturnal ocean scene with waves crashing against a rock beneath a tumultuous sky. Signed and dated “Ewing 1946″ lower right. Housed in a wooden frame with traces of gilt paint. Sight: 23 1/4″ H x 29 1/2″ W. Framed: 30 1/4″ H x 36 1/4” W.
Helen La France (American/Kentucky, 1919-2020) oil on canvasboard painting depicting a country road flanked by a farmhouse and a barn, surrounded by trees with autumn foliage beneath a cloudy blue sky. Signed “Helen La France” lower right. Housed in a black wooden frame. Sight: 12 1/2″ H x 22 3/4″ W. Framed: 14 1/4″ H x 24 1/2″ W. Helen Lafrance died November 22, 2020, in a Mayfield, Kentucky nursing home at the age of 101. Provenance: Private Kentucky collection, acquired directly from the artist.
Helen La France (American/Kentucky, 1919-2020) oil on canvasboard panoramic painting depicting an African village, with human and animal figures bustling among various tents under palm trees, with foliage in the foreground. Signed lower right, “Helen LaFrance”. Housed in a molded giltwood frame with green mat. Sight – 23″ x 47″. Framed – 28″ x 52″. Biography: Self-taught African American artist Helen LaFrance was born on a Kentucky farm and began painting in her 40s. She is known for her “memory paintings”, drawn from her recollections of life growing up in the rural South. Several museums and private collectors, including Oprah Winfrey, own examples of her work.” (Source: “Helen LaFrance Folk Art Memories” by Kathy Moses). Helen Lafrance died November 22, 2020, in a Mayfield, Kentucky nursing home at the age of 101. Note: while most of La France’s paintings depicted scenes from her own life, this painting seems to present a rare, imagined view of the land of her ancestors. It was acquired by the consignor directly from the artist, who was a personal friend, and appears to be one of LaFrance’s early works.
Large Sterling Strauser (Pennsylvania, 1907-1995) abstract oil on board painting depicting three monkeys playing in tree branches in a jungle setting, rendered in a heavy impasto technique. Signed and dated “Strauser 76″ lower right. Board approximately 35 3/4″ H x 48 3/4” W.
Large Southern walnut sugar chest, pine secondary. Comprised of a rectangular dovetailed case with a two-third depth hinged molded top, upper well with one interior divider, lower dovetailed drawer with left interior having four divided compartments, wooden pulls, all resting turned Sheraton feet. Retains the old surface and original locks. 34 1/8″ H x 36″ W x 20 5/8″ D. Southeast Tennessee or Northern Alabama/Georgia, circa 1830.
Southern beaten biscuit sideboard or biscuit board, attributed to Kentucky, cherry primary and poplar secondary. Thick dovetailed hinged top opening to reveal a divided interior with marble square to one side and a covered bin or storage compartment to the other. One side fitted with one dovetailed drawer above one paneled door enclosing two shelves and the other with faux drawer and lower paneled door. Front and back of chest are also paneled. The whole resting on round tapered feet. 38″ H x 39 3/4″ W x 20 1/2″ D. Mid 19th century. Provenance: by descent in a Southern Kentucky family.
West Tennessee Albany slip stoneware pottery pitcher, attributed to Weaver, possibly William Weaver (working in Henry County, TN around 1887). Pitcher with C-shaped handle and incised bands of sine waves around the upper rim, mid rim, and shoulder; applied banner and letters to midsection reading “ELLA COLLINS” and a smaller incised “Sep. 26, 1892” banner above the larger applied banner on the front of the pitcher below the spout. 9 1/2” H. Paris, Tennessee, circa 1892. Provenance: commissioned as a one-of-a-kind wedding gift from Will Collins to his bride Ella Hill for their December, 1892 wedding.
Pierre Paulin (French, 1927-2009) for Artifort mid-century modern two-seat sofa or settee from the F260 series also known as ABCD. Wood frame on castors with shaped foam seats and “wave” backs, with woven light beige upholstery. 24″ H x 29″ D x 64 1/2″ W. Circa 1979. Provenance: The Guardsmark Collection, Lipman Holdings International, Memphis, Tennessee.
Pair of Knoll International mid-century emerald green upholstered Suzanne Series armless lounge chairs, designed by Kazuhide Takamaha for Knoll in 1965. All chairs retain the original paper Knoll label. 26 1/2″ H x 29″ W x 34″ D. Circa 1980s. Provenance: The Guardsmark Collection, Lipman Holdings International, Memphis, Tennessee.
Large vintage Hermes tole tray, oval form in colors of orange and grey with handles, tall rim and integrated hook en verso for hanging. Horse and carriage logo with H to the center and HERMES letters to the outer rim. 2 3/4″ H X 27 1/4″ W X 22 1/4″ D. 20th century.
Continental powder flask, comprised of a curved and flattened cow horn with metal mounts. The front of the flask with elaborate engraved decoration depicting a soldier flanked by a lion with a central vignette of three fleurs-de-lis and the date 1608. The reverse side with engraved concentric circle decoration and the top and bottom sides with an engraved link or rope decoration. 14 3/4″ L. Possibly French, circa 1608.
Marvin Blackmore (American, 20th century) Southwest covered pottery jar. The interior and exterior with profusely etched Native American themed decoration including eagle feathers, stair step, circle of life, sun, rain and others. Figural bear finial to the lid. Signed “BLACKMORE” on the base. 3 1/4″ H x approx. 4″ dia.
Two (2) Native American Cherokee rivercane baskets with butternut and walnut dyed weavers. 1st item – Cherokee rivercane small waste basket form with unusually thin weavers, labeled in pencil “300” on the base. 11 1/8” H x 8 1/4” dia. 2nd item – Cherokee rectangular rivercane basket with wooden handle. 12” H x 11 1/2” W x 6 1/2” D. Late 19th/early 20th century.
Four (4) French glass newel posts or finials. Items 1 and 2 – two (2) spherical diamond cut clear crystal finials, ranging in size from 6 7/8” H x 3 7/8” dia. to 7 /8” H x 4” dia. Items 3 and 4 – two (2) spherical facet cut blown glass finials, ranging in size from 6” H x 3 1/8” dia. to 7 1/4” H x 3 3/4” dia. All mounted on round brass socles. French, late 19th/early 20th century.
Reed & Barton, pattern #675, sterling silver tea service, including a tea pot, coffee pot, creamer, sugar bowl, waste bowl, and hot water kettle. All pieces with urn form shaped bodies, squared handles (except waste bowl) and monogrammed, lidded pieces with urn finials. Coffee pot, tea pot and hot water kettle with partial wood handles. Waste bowl and creamer with gilt interiors. Undersides of all pieces stamped with Reed & Barton hallmarks, “Sterling” and “675”. Ranging in size from 3 5/8″ H to 11 3/4″ H. 86.93 total troy ounces.
English Regency octagonal mahogany rent table with gold leather top, eight molded drawer fronts with brass pulls, four dovetailed drawers and four faux drawers, a pedestal base, and splay legs with brass castors to feet. Iron bracing underside pedestal. 29 3/4″ H x 47 3/4″ x 47 3/4″. 19th century.
Large rectangular Chinese Chinoiserie lacquer table. 30 1/2″ H x 74″ W x 34 1/2″ D. Late 19th/Early 20th century. More information in the coming weeks.
Three (3) Scott County, Virginia Jesse Jones (b. 1907) white oak, rib-type split baskets in kidney forms with converging ribs, wrapped rims and arched handles secured by nails. All signed, “Jesse Jones,” in pencil on the handle. Smallest basket is labeled in pencil on the handle, “40 128(?).” Ranging in size from 7 3/4” H x 7 1/4” W x 7 3/4” D to 9 3/4” H x 8 1/4” W x 8 1/2” D. All items early 20th century. Biography: Jesse Jones was a mountain basket weaver who lived in isolated mountainous Scott County, VA. His work is featured in the book BASKETS AND BASKET MAKERS IN SOUTHERN APPALACHIA, written by John Rice Irwin (1982).