Date: Fri 21-May-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: LIZAM

Quick Words:

Bohl-Jon-Lee-brownstone

Full Text:

Historic Albany Brownstone Yields Its Treasures

(with cuts)

By Rita Easton

GLENMONT, N.Y. -- Joan Bohl and Jon Lee of The Auction Gallery held an

important estates auction on Sunday, April 18. More than 400 lots were offered

to as many attendees for a gross of approximately $250,000.

The largest consignment came from one of the last untouched brownstone houses

in Albany built in the Nineteenth Century, with most pieces in excellent

condition.

Headlining the auction was an unframed 1842 oil on canvas, unframed and in

as-found condition with eight percent paint loss, generating many inquiries

from potential buyers. Signed "Horace Bundy," the work depicted a standing

little boy dressed in blue, holding a hat, with his spotted dog looking up at

him. The 22 by 32-inch work, which was found in a local attic, garnered

$35,000, going to a collector.

A pair of matching four-armed bronze and metal electrified chandeliers with

original frosted globes, six feet high and with an 84-inch circumference,

signed "APL NY," manufactured in the 1850s, went to the trade at $15,400; and

an original thee-arm bronze and metal chandelier with a figure of an Arab,

having original gas shades, six feet high and with an 88-inch circumference,

also signed "APL, NY," fetched $5,500 from a Natchez buyer.

A Royal Vienna vase with beehive mark, standing 18 inches high, with a

portrait of a woman in profile, achieved $5,750; an estate Sarouk rug, eight

by 15 feet, circa 1920s, in good condition, went to a dealer at $7,000; a

behatted bronze Napoleon bust, signed Colombo, 24 inches high, was purchased

at $2,400; an eight-piece rosewood Victorian parlor set with open arm settee,

upholstered in burgundy, sold at $5,750; and a Federal sofa upholstered in

green velvet reached $2,600.

One of the better buys of the day which generated a buzz of interest was a

tiger maple two-drawer stand fetching $1,500. A rare Albany pie safe labelled

"Michael Lepp, Albany, NY," sold to the Albany Institute for $800; a walnut

carved sideboard, having double cupboard doors beneath two drawers below a

high backboard with shelf and scrolled lines, reached $3,750; and an oak

English court cupboard, made in 1657, profusely carved, went out at $2,800.

An Empire marble-top center table, the round top 36 inches in diameter, having

three scrolled feet, brought $2,800; a mahogany Eighteenth Century round

tilt-top tea table, also 36 inches in diameter, garnered $1,000; 220 pieces of

matching Limoges dinnerware sold at $1,600; a large White's Utica jardiniere

on stand, approximately four feet high, with raised design, in bright shades

of predominantly blues, achieved $900; an inlaid bombe three-drawer chest,

Nineteenth Century, fetched $1,100; a mahogany Nineteenth Century Empire round

banquet table with five leaves, opening up to 12 feet, made $2,500; and a

period Hepplewhite three-piece inlaid banquet table went out at $1,600.

A period Hepplewhite chest with four drawers reached $1,000; an early oil on

board, unsigned, Sixteenth Century, possibly Spanish according to Lee,

depicting the Madonna and Child, realized $1,200; a custom tiger maple

grandmother clock reached $800; a Victorian period Tothe House two-door

bookcase, having double glass doors over two drawers, reached $3,100; and a

sterling silver tea set garnered $1,250.

Prices quoted do not reflect the ten percent buyer's premium.

The next Auction Gallery event will take place in Cohoes, New York, on June 5,

on site at the 1732 historic van Schaick Mansion where the contents will be

auctioned.