Date: Fri 09-Jul-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: MARYG

Quick Words:

Harris-estate-Sotheby's

Full Text:

Estate of Chicagoan Kenneth S. Harris

CHICAGO, ILL. -- The sale of the estate of Kenneth S. Harris, proprietor of

Taskey's Antiques, took place at Sotheby's in Chicago on June 20 and was a

great success. The auction brought $930,856 -- a fitting tribute to a man who

had a passion for antiques and was inextricably linked with his beloved store

until the day he died.

Larry Sirolli, managing director, commented, "There was primarily local

interest from dealers who have done business with Ken over the years, as well

as acquaintances who were making purchases for sentimental reasons. The

majority of objects of high quality did exceedingly well with competitive

bidding from the London and New York trade. The Thomas Hope overmantle sold to

the trade in London, and my suspicion is that it was a commission bid for a

client." The fine and rare Regency mahogany hanging shelf, 1805-1810, (est

$15/20,000) fetched $68,500.

A fine and rare reverse painting on glass and matching print, late Eighteenth

Century, both depicting Adam in the Garden of Eden (est $3/5,000) sold for

$10,925 to the trade. Two Italian white marble busts of Vespian and Cicero,

late Eighteenth/early Nineteenth Century (est $20/30,000) brought $25,300.

Most Regency furniture and the French ormolu decorations exceeded presale

estimates, including a fine Regency brass-mounted and ebonized calamander wood

side cabinet, circa 1820 (est $12/15,000), for $27,600.