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Consignments are currently being accepted

To have your property evaluated for possible consignment in the next auction, please contact:

Chris Barber
917-543-3967
american@Doyle.com

Todd Sell
212-427-4141, ext 269
silver@Doyle.com

MEDIA CONTACT

Louis LeB. Webre
212-427-4141, ext 232
Louis.Webre@Doyle.com

American Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts

• Successful Auction of American Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts on April 10, 2024

• Featuring an Aaron Willard Shelf Clock, Gorham Martelé Silver and Rare Circus Figures from "The Greatest Show on Earth"

• We Invite You to Contact Us for Complimentary Auction Estimates of Your Collection

NEW YORK, NY -- Competitive bidding drove strong results at Doyle's auction of American Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts on April 10, 2024, sending the sale total over expectations. Showcased were American furniture and decorative arts spanning the Queen Anne and Chippendale through Federal and Classical styles, as well as silver, ceramics, Folk art, samplers, quilts, mirrors, Chinese export porcelain and rugs.

Aaron Willard Shelf Clock
The top lot of the day was a desirable and rare example of a Federal Massachusetts shelf clock, made by Aaron Willard, a member of Massachusetts’s pre-eminent clockmaking family. The clock was in very nice condition overall: its white-painted “kidney” dial with embossed gilding was largely untouched, and the well-preserved case was understated but elegantly designed. Determined bidders sent the clock soaring over its $2,000-3,000 estimate to achieve $19,200.

Gorham Martelé Silver
Highlighting the American silver offerings were several rare pieces of Gorham Martelé silver. Useful and beautiful, the Gorham Manufacturing Company’s Martelé line adhered to the Arts and Crafts movement’s important guiding principles of making things well and making them completely by hand. The name Martelé is translated from the French word for hammered. The line was introduced commercially in 1900 and was made until 1912. Offered in the sale were a covered terrapin soup tureen on stand from 1912 that realized $16,640; a set of twelve terrapin soup plates, also from 1912, that sold for $14,080; and a pair of candlesticks from 1905 that fetched $5,120.

“The Greatest Show on Earth” Diorama Circus Figures
Featured among the Folk art offerings was an extensive group of colorful, hand-carved diorama figures portraying in exquisite detail various aspects of circus life, that sold for $15,360, more than tripling its $3,000-5,000 estimate. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, heralded as "The Greatest Show on Earth," captivated audiences for over a century with its dazzling array of entertaining performances, daring acrobatics, and fascinating animal acts. Established in the late 19th century by P.T. Barnum and the Ringling Brothers, it became an iconic symbol of American entertainment from coast to coast.

American Paintings & Prints
A section of the April 10 sale showcased American Paintings & Prints spanning the 19th and 20th centuries. Read More

We Invite You to Auction!

Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.

For information, please contact:
Furniture and Decorative Arts: Chris Barber, 917-543-3967, american@Doyle.com
Silver: Todd Sell, 212-427-4141, ext. 269, silver@Doyle.com 

A SELECTION OF AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS