PHILADELPHIA, PA.- It was an exciting weekend for
Freeman's American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts auction and the 5th Anniversary Pennsylvania Sale. Freeman's experienced a crowded room all weekend, with dramatic bidding for Sunday's Philadelphia and Pennsylvania heritage items.
The highest price achieved was from an Edward Duffield Tall Case clock, which after extensive in-room and phone bidding, realized $193,000 to an in-room buyer. Duffield's clock was emblematic of the success of the sale: as both a significant historical item and a outstanding example of Philadelphian craftsmanship. Duffield was a friend of Benjamin Franklin, and created the first public clock in America. He also helped found the Philosophical Society.
The clock shares the spotlight with a miniature portrait of Revolutionary General Daniel Morgan, purchased by an institution at $85,000 - more than tripling the low-estimate. Another highlight was a rare pair of Classical carved gilt wood cornucopia wall brackets, with a variety of fruits, leafage and curled wire above coiled cornucopia. The pair, which were illustrated in Hornor's Blue Book, Philadelphia Furniture 1682-1807, rallied to double the high estimate, realizing $52,000.
Saturday had a number of highlights as well, with A Walnut Federal Tall Case Clock taking the headline for the American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts auction. The clock, which was a very rare Goldsmith Chandlee piece, descended in the Cook family of Front Royal and Richmond, Virginia. The piece realized $58,000, five times the low estimate.
A lovely Joseph Alexander Ames portrait of Abraham Lincoln in a stunning frame was sold for $17,500; and a maple Shaker trestle table sold for $12,500.
Needlework samplers fared well, with the top seller at $16,250. Special interest was shown for regional samplers from the Burlington County Historical Society, the proceeds from which will benefit their collection.
The success of the auction is a reminder of Freeman's dedication to providing the best in craftsmanship and quality, with a specialty in Philadelphian work.
