AMESBURY, MASS.- John McInnis Auctioneers will burst into 2025 with three important auctions set for January 3rd, 4th and 5th, online and live in the Amesbury gallery at 76 Main Street. “We’re kicking off New Year’s week with three exhibitions and auction sales,” said John McInnis of John McInnis Auctioneers. “Collectors and decorators should mark their calendars.”

The Friday, January 3rd Fine Art Collections auction, starting at 2pm Eastern time, features over 200 lots of collections from private estates, to include 19th and 20th century American and European artwork, with lots to discover, together with 60 original paintings by the noted mid-century artist Carl Ivar Gilbert (1882-1959).

The star lot of Day 1, and the undisputed headliner of the three days, is a large oil on canvas abstract painting by Edward Clark (American, 1926-2019), one of the early African American pioneers of abstract painting in the post-war era who placed his large canvases on the floor and painted with a push broom. The work, 72 inches by 48 inches, should bring $75,000-$150,000.

The Saturday, January 4th Important Estates Collections auction, starting at 12 o’clock noon Eastern time, is loaded with 473 lots of period furnishings, fine art, Mid-Century, maritime, clocks, Oriental carpets, folk art, Americana, bronzes and a nice selection of 60 weathervanes locally handcrafted, mostly from the original E.G. Washburne molds and patterns.


Northern Essex County (Mass.) one-drawer oak dowry chest dated 1685, 27 inches tall by 47 inches wide, descended through at least seven single-family generations (est. $30,000-$60,000).


An expected Day 2 top performer is the spectacular Northern Essex County (Mass.) one-drawer oak dowry chest dated 1685, embellished with applied, chip-carved moldings, half columns, spindles and bosses. The chest, 27 inches tall by 47 inches wide, has descended by direct lineal descent through at least seven generations of one family and should sell for $30,000-$60,000.

The Sunday, January 5th Oklahoma Collection of Decorative Arts auction, also starting at 12 o’clock noon Eastern time, contains 227 lots of decorative arts, paintings, bronzes, sculptures, Asian art and objects, porcelains, clocks, furniture, lamps and chandeliers from a prominent and well-known Oklahoma collector.


Extraordinary 19th century French Rococo gilt clock garniture set with a rare double-sided porcelain dial signed “Ws. Masse” and a nine-light candelabrum (est. $10,000-$30,000).


Certain to attract keen bidder interest on Day 3 is an extraordinary 19th century French Rococo gilt clock garniture set of monumental proportions, with a rare double-sided porcelain dial signed “Ws. Masse” and a nine-light candelabrum supported by a nude female being uplifted by a merman. The garniture, with the gilt professionally restored, has an estimate of $10,000-$30,000.


Graphite on paper Portrait of a Girl by the American Impressionist painter Lilian Westcott Hale (1880-1963), 30 ½ inches by 25 inches (overall) and signed lower right (est. $10,000-$25,000).


Returning to Day 1 on January 3rd, a graphite on paper Portrait of a Girl by the American Impressionist painter Lilian Westcott Hale (1880-1963), 30 ½ inches by 25 inches (overall) and signed lower right, is expected to fetch $10,000-$25,000; while an oil on Masonite painting by the Naïve figure-market genre painter and puppet maker Hope Shipee Bunin (N.Y., 1908-1970), titled Dusk (Planes Over the Philippines), signed and dated 1941, should finish at $2,000-$4,000.

An oil on board painting by the prominent New England landscape artist John Joseph Enneking (1841-1916), titled Twilight (1887), 12 inches by 8 ¼ inches, should change hands for $2,000-$3,000. Also, lots 1-60 will be dedicated entirely to paintings by Carl Iver Gilbert, whose work depicted landscapes, still lifes, urban scenes, Indian genres and marine paintings. Lot #1 is a striking and colorful work titled Two Men in a Canoe, signed and framed (est. $1,000-$2,000).


Rare, carved and painted wood piece by John Haley Bellamy (1836-1914), titled Don’t Give Up the Ship, untouched, in white, is 9 inches tall by 26 inches wide (est. $10,000-$20,000).


Back to Day 2 (Jan. 4), where a rare, carved and painted wood piece by John Haley Bellamy (1836-1914), titled Don’t Give Up the Ship, has an estimate of $10,000-$20,000. The untouched piece, in white, is 9 inches tall by 26 inches wide. Also, a mahogany tall case clock by Nathanial Monroe (Concord, Mass.), having a pierced gallery crest with the original faceted ball finials and painted dial, plus brass inset fluted pilasters, 94 ½ inches tall, should command $6,000-$12,000.

A scarce and large Shaker sewing box in chrome yellow boasting five-finger construction, pulled directly from a home in southwestern New Hampshire, having the original silk lined interior, 5 ½ inches by 13 ½ inches by 9 ½ inches, is estimated to reach $5,000-$10,000; while a classic pair of circa 1880 Salem side chairs, delicately carved, with a strong attribution to Samuel McIntyre and impeccable provenance stated on the attached engraved plate, should rise to $3,000-$6,000.

Finally, Day 3 (Jan. 5) will feature a classic Art Deco bronze sculpture of a nude woman seated and holding a shawl above her head by Maurice Guirard Riviere (French, 1881-1947), 18 inches tall and on a black marble base, signed twice. It should make $5,000-$15,000. An exquisite pair of female form French cast-iron torchieres of Val d’Onse quality, each one 60 inches tall, both torchieres having been painted over in brick red paint, carries an estimate of $4,000-$8,000.


This pair of 19th century Chinese famille rose temple urns with applied handles, 35 inches tall and each one depicting fabulous palace and battle scenes, is expected to garner $7,000-$14,000.

A pair of 19th century Chinese famille rose temple urns with applied handles, 35 inches tall and each one depicting fabulous palace and battle scenes, is expected to garner $7,000-$14,000. Also, an immense 19th century cast zinc urn in white paint with full figured putti handles by J. W. Fiske & Co. (N.Y.), marked on the base and 47 inches tall, should go for $6,000-$12,000.

Internet bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

John McInnis Auctioneers invites the public to join them for live previews in the Amesbury gallery from New Year’s Day on Wednesday, January 1st, through Sunday, January 5th, from 10am to 6pm Eastern time each day. The previews will be open throughout the auction sales.


Mahogany tall case clock by Nathanial Monroe (Concord, Mass.), having a pierced gallery crest with the original faceted ball finials and painted dial, 94 ½ inches tall (est. $6,000-$12,000).


John McInnis Auctioneers, LLC is an estate appraisal and auction company with the largest full-service auction house on Boston’s North Shore. The galleries, located in historic Amesbury, are licensed, bonded and insured for the sale of antiques, fine art and real estate. Estate appraisal, consulting, marketing and liquidation services are carried out confidentially and with courtesy.

John McInnis Auctioneers, LLC is always accepting quality merchandise for future auctions. To consign a single item, a collection or an estate, you may call them at 978-388-0400; or, you can email them at mcinnisauctions@yahoo.com. To learn more about John McInnis Auctioneers, LLC and the three auctions scheduled for January 3rd, 4th and 5th, being held online and live in the Amesbury, Mass. gallery, visit www.mcinnisauctions.com. Updates are posted frequently.