CINCINNATI, OH.- A striking selection of 18th and 19th century silver and furniture achieved exceptional prices during the March 30th American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts auction at Hindman. Queen Anne, Chippendale, and Federal furniture sold for strong prices, and music players also caught the attention of bidders.

Additional top lots included four Andrew Clemens sand bottles that displayed the development of the renowned artist’s craft. A painting by William B.T. Trego, depicting General Custer leading his men on horseback, from the collection of the Bloomington Public Library in Bloomington, Illinois, was another important lot. For years, the painting was believed to be completely lost.

Silver Standouts

Silver tableware saw excellent bidding activity, highlighted by two tea and coffee services: one by Gorham Mfg. Co. (lot 113), which realized $31,500 against a $12,000-15,000 estimate and one by Tiffany & Co. (lot 125), which realized $18,000 against an estimate of $10,000-15,000. An American Baroque style repousse silver pitcher (lot 112) soared past its $2,000-4,000 estimate to realized $11,970.

“With most of the items in this category selling for above their estimates, the auction underscored the fact that the market for silver is very strong,” commented Ben Fisher, Hindman Vice President & Senior Specialist of American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts.

Additional strong performers in the category included:

· Lot 127 | An American parcel gilt silver spoon in the Narragansett pattern by Gorham Mfg. Co., Providence, Rhode Island, Circa 1880s | Price Realized: $9,450 (estimate: $5,000-7,000)

· Lot 93 | A Pair of American Repousse silver presentation pitchers, Robert and William Wilson, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1825-46 | Price Realized: $6,930 (estimate: $3,000-5,000)

· Lot 123 | Three American silver centerpiece jardinieres, S. Kirk and Son Co., Baltimore, Maryland, First Quarter 20th Century | Price Realized: $8,820 (estimate: $3,000-5,000)

Bidding for Fine Furniture and Music Players

An impressive selection of furniture saw eager bidding. One highlight was a Federal inlaid bird’s eye maple and mahogany tambour writing desk (lot 40), which realized $8,820, more than double its high estimate. Horace Livingston, a Vermont cabinetmaker, clearly took pride in this work, displayed through his inscription in every drawer. A rare Baltimore Federal mahogany tall case clock (lot 31), discussed in a 1987 issue of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts’ (MESDA) Journal of Early Southern Decorative Arts achieved $11,970.

Queen Anne furniture was also highly sought-after. Examples included a Boston shell-carved walnut stretcher-base claw-and-ball foot compass-seat side chair (lot 10), which doubled its estimate, realizing $8,190. The mid-18th century chair had remained in the same family for more than 125 years and appears to be completely untouched.

A Renaissance revival marble mounted carved and laminated rosewood etagere attributed to John Henry Belter (lot 85) realized $22,80.

Music players also achieved outstanding prices. A Regina 'Rookwood' paint decorated drum music box (lot 89) sold for $13,860 and a Victrola XVI Circassian walnut phonograph (lot 91) doubled its estimate to sell for $4,410.

A renowned painting, The Charge of Custer at Winchester (lot 76) by military artist William B.T. Trego (1858-1909), the whereabouts of which were previously unknown, exceeded its estimate and sold for $14,490. The quintessential Trego work was discovered through a donation by the Bloomington Public Library in Bloomington, Illinois. Trego won an award for this work at the Michigan State Fair in Detroit in 1879, and the subsequent recognition helped launch his career as a preeminent American history painter.

Andrew Clemens Sand Bottles

As in past auctions at Hindman, sand bottles by the master of the art form, Andrew Clemens (1857-1894), were among top lots of the auction. A pair of Clemens ‘Sweetheart’ sand bottles from 1883 (lot 170) led the auction, realizing $151,200 compared to a $60,000-80,000 estimate. An 1886 Eagle sand bottle (lot 172) sold for $75,600, significantly above its estimate. A bottle dated 1876, featuring an American eagle, Clemens’ most famous motif (lot 171), realized $25,000. The bottle was created in advance of the Centennial, a period during which patriotic designs were particularly in-demand. Clemens had also developed a decent tourist trade at this point in his career. The four bottles, offered across three lots, are a beautiful display of Clemens’ development as an artist.