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| Is Her Modigliani the Real McCoy? |
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| Plums From England |
| - as published in NY Times on Sunday, January 28, 1979 |
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Periodically the question arises among antiques collectors of anglophile persuasion : Whither English – can the styles that emerged between Elizabeth I and Victoria find a following in the late 20th century?
Actually, most collectors and dealers are optimistic each January, and for good reason. For, in recent years, there is always an impressive invasion of antiques dealers from London and collectors from throughout the united states to shop at the east side House settlement’s Winter Antiques Show, the nation’s most esteemed bazaar for second-hand treasures. The show, which opened yesterday and remains on view through next Sunday at the Seventh Regiment Armory , Park Avenue at 67th Street, once again boasts an impressive contingent of six English antiques dealers: Stair & Co. and Vernay & Jussel are from New York ; M.Darling from Washington ; Alfred Bullard from Philadelphia: M alclom Franklin from Chicago, and Bedford Green from Bedford, N.Y.
The show this year is to be a bit more glamorous than in the past, in part because the dealers have every intention of making the most of this anniversary year – it is the 25th annual presentation. Take for example , the plums that Alastair stair has on view : a gilt encrusted Adam-style console table ($25,000) and an Angio- Indian mahogany cabinet embellished with zebra-like cross banding of ivory and ebony ($60,000). Both confirm the growing interest in lavishly decorated furniture that can be used in rooms as sculpture rather than as merely functional furnishings. And Williams Bertolet of Bullard agrees. He has among other Georgain offerings, a gilded Chippendal mirror embellished with phoenixes ($15,000) and a pair of wheel back Adam chairs carved so that the “spokes “ simulate the petals of a flowers ($7,500).
Away from the antiques fair, Gotham’s English antiques scene is moving at a faster pace these days, both at auction and in the shops. There will be, for example, an auction on Saturday of moderate-quality English antiques at Christle, Manson & Woods, Park Avenue at 59th Street. The stars ot the sale are a George III musical bracket clock (the estimate is up to $18,000). And a writing table crafted in 1797 for the Duke of Clarence (up to $20,000). But far more arresting in every way is the Gothic-Style Restraining Throne, a vehemently carved Victorian enclosure that is equipped with an iron lever and leg restraints designed to lock the sitter in place. It bears an inscription that could spark an uproar in feminist circles: “If you have a wife who scolds, in this chair youed better sit her.”
The most impressive auction of English antiques to be held in New York in many years is many months away, but collectors are already talking. The sale of the Benjamin Sonnenberg collection , and it will be held at Sotheby parke Bernet , Madison Avenue at 76th street, June 6 to 9. The importance of this sale increased substantially in December after an even more remarks able collection assembled by Gerald hochschild, the Chilean mining millionaire, was sold at Sotheby’s in London.
That sale established a new high for English furniture when a weighty wonder of a Chippendale desk sold for $196,000; it is now owened by Ronald lauder, vice president of easte lauder, the cosmetic concern.
In addition, in recent months there have been several changes in the merchandising of the work of 17th through 19th-century british cabinet makers, which indicates that stateside the English antiques market is stirring from slumber and may make some dramatic advances in the months ahead.
The first major change came in june when J.J.Wolff Antiques Ltd.,825 Madison Avenue (at 69th Street) changed hands. Joel J.Wolff, then 82, accepted The offer of Christian Jussel, the 28-year –old of Vernay & Jussel, formerly at 124 East 55th Street. And Mr.Jussel merged the two antiques establishments on the premises where Mr.Wolff, who died in October had reigned for decades. The stock in that shop is now 50 percent Wolff and 50 percent Jussel , and includes such choice offerings as a Daniel Quare early 18th – Century clock ($65,000), a tripod-based table with an octagonal gallery top ($15,000) and a modestly scaled Chinese Chippendale bookcase with writing drawer ($38,000), Mr. Jussel will have most of these design on hand in his booth at the Winter Antiques Show.
The second development was the more public stand taken by Nell and June Sellin, collectors and part-time dealers, in field. The Sellins, who have been buying and selling English antiques for more than a decade – at smaller and larger auction, in partnerships with dealers here and in London, operating mostly from their East Side neo-Georgian townhouse- have now formalized their activities in a corporation called Wellington Antiques, of which Mr.Sellin is president, and Mrs.sellin is vice president and secretary, The announcement of the venture was made in an advertisement in the January issue of Antiques magazine. The first of a high-powered series prepared by wells, Rich &Greene, it stated: “A chair is an investment when it’s this notable.”
The Sellins are in no danger of becoming bored with the antiques that fill their home. That’s because everything, it seems, is available to visitors at a price (not exactly bargains either ) and the scene changes frequently. “I’m always moving furniture ,” protested Mrs. Sellin during a visit the other day. That may be a relief. At the moment, for example, the walls of their bed room are hung with nine 18th century English gilt-encrusted , lacquered and elaborately carved mirrors. The couple rattle off an imposing list of collections that figure in the pedigree of their antiques, most of which are indeed memorable.
The Sellins see customers in their home or a nearby warehouse by appointment, made by telephoning (area code 212) 794-2545. Mr. Sellin, who is a vice president of L.F. Rothschild, Unterberg , Towbin , stock brokers insists antiques are a sideline in his life.
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