NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle will hold an auction of English and Continental Furniture and Decorative Arts, and Old Master Paintings and Drawings on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 10am. The sale will present a broad selection of furniture and decorative arts, including Georgian silver, porcelain, mirrors, clocks, chandeliers, tapestries and rugs. Old Master paintings and drawings will offer landscapes, still lifes, portraits and religious subjects by European artists from the Renaissance to the 19th century.
The Estate of Wendy Vanderbilt Lehman
A special section of the sale is devoted to property from the Estate of Wendy Vanderbilt Lehman. Wendy was born in California to Manuela Hudson and Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II, a pioneer in thoroughbred racing, whose father had gone down on the Lusitania. She grew up between Palm Beach and Manhattan and was featured in one of Lilly Pulitzer’s first advertising campaigns. Although she enjoyed the social circuit, Wendy chose to devote her time to her loving children and her remarkable art. Her artistic expression spanned several mediums, including extraordinary sculptures in wood and aluminum, evocative paintings in acrylic and watercolor, and her bold eclectic fashion. After attending Sarah Lawrence College, Wendy married Orin Lehman, New York State’s longest-serving commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and a great-grandson of Mayer Lehman, a founder of the Lehman Brothers investment firm.
Property from the Estate of Wendy Vanderbilt Lehman offers furniture and decorations from Wendy’s elegant Manhattan apartment and her country house in Water Mill, New York, in addition to her collection of colorful fashion jewelry by Kenneth J. Lane and Iradj Moini. The Estate of Wendy Vanderbilt Lehman comprises lots 91-271. View Lots
Property of Alfred G. Vanderbilt
Property of Alfred G. Vanderbilt features several objects with provenance of his grandfather, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt (1877-1915), and father, Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Jr. (1912-1999). Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Jr. is one of the great figures of 20th century thoroughbred racing and was the owner of Pimlico Race Course, the home of the Preakness Stakes. Featured in the sale is the original silver trophy won at the 1953 Preakness Stakes by Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Jr.’s legendary horse, Native Dancer, who won 21 of his 22 races and sired numerous later champions. The trophy is truly one of the most compelling treasures of thoroughbred racing (est. $20,000-30,000).
From the collection of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt is a large scale painting by British artist James Lynwood Palmer depicting Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Arriving At Brighton, Driving his Coach "Venture" from 1909 (est. $15,000-25,000). An enthusiastic coacher, Vanderbilt often drove the vehicle himself, perfectly turned out in coachman's attire. The Venture, which was made by the Brewster Company of New York in 1903, can still be seen in the carriage house at The Breakers, the Vanderbilt mansion in Newport, Rhode Island. A luxurious Edward VII sterling silver-mounted glass traveling bar with the Mark of Albert Barker, London, 1907, bears the same provenance (est. $15,000-25,000). Property of Alfred G. Vanderbilt comprises lots 272-276. View Lots
The Estates of Lili and Norman Israel
Property from the Estates of Lili and Norman Israel features an extensive collection of elegant Continental furniture and decorations. Highlighting the furniture is a Napoleon III gilt-bronze-mounted and cut brass-inlaid tortoiseshell and ebony 'Boulle' marquetry bureau plat in the Louis XIV Style by Mathieu Befort (1813-1880), dit Befort Jeune (est. $15,000-25,000). Decorations feature a pair of gilt-bronze mounted Chinese turquoise glazed porcelain Fu Lions (est. $7,000-10,000). Certain to attract attention is a Northern European Neoclassical gilt-metal, blue and clear glass ten-light chandelier (est. $10,000-15,000). Property from the Estates of Lili and Norman Israel comprises lots 435-530.
Old Master Paintings
Featured among the Old Master paintings are two exceptional 18th century views of the Thames inspired by the work of Canatetto. Two works from the Circle of Thomas Scott (1702-1772) depict London: The Thames from Somerset House Terrace towards Westminster and The Thames at Lambeth (est. each $7,000-10,000).
A large-scale work by William Pratt and dated 1750 is a close replica of a 1747 painting in the collection of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England, entitled The ‘St. Albans’ Floated out at Deptford by John Cleveley the Elder. Unusual for copies, it is larger than the original, which was painted in 1747. William Pratt's style and technique here are so close to Cleveley's that it seems likely that he learned his art in that master's studio (est. $8,000-12,000).
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for the Fall auction of English & Continental Furniture & Decorative Arts and Old Master Paintings & Drawings. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction appraisal. Our specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
For information, please contact:
Peter Lang, Furniture & Decorations, 212-427-4141, ext 274, Furniture@Doyle.com
Elaine Stainton, Paintings, 212-427-4141, ext 249, Paintings@Doyle.com
Todd Sell, Silver, 212-427-4141, ext 269, Silver@Doyle.com
Mark Moehrke, Russian Works of Art, 212-427-4141, ext 272, Russian@Doyle.com
