John and Ruth Page Collection Sold at Auction
February 27th, 2016
William A. Smith, Inc., Plainfield, New Hampshire
Photos courtesy William A. Smith, Inc.
It was nearly impossible to find a seat in the salesroom of William A. Smith, Inc. for the February 27 midwinter auction. Customers were lined up and leaning against the wall. It is an interesting phenomenon that the gray-haired folk art collectors (some of them, at least) have an aversion to doing things on the Internet, especially buying antiques. William Smith doesn’t use the Internet at his sales, and, for this sale at least, it seemed to be working in his favor.
This auction featured the collection and house of John F. Page (1935-2012), who had been the executive director of the New Hampshire Historical Society from 1969 to 1984 and later was president of the Haverhill Historical Society for many years. An avid collector of Americana, he focused on things made in New England, especially New Hampshire.
The Page home, an elegant 1810 Colonial in Haverhill, New Hampshire, was a 9500-square-foot brick mansion, which the Pages filled with mostly American antiques. Smith offered the house itself early in the auction, asking for an opening bid of $250,000. When no bid was forthcoming, the auction of antique furnishings continued.
This smallish oil painting—a depiction of two figures in a desert landscape—is faintly signed on the lower right “A Bierstadt.” Measuring 8" x 13", it had an opening bid of $3000 and was the top lot of the sale, selling for $15,525. Sideli photo.
The top lot of the sale was an 8" x 13" oil painting by Albert Bierstadt, faintly signed on the lower right. The painting opened with a $3000 bid and quickly reached the selling price of $15,525 (includes buyer’s premium). A pair of 19th-century Vermont portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Isa Raymond of Pomfret, Vermont, painted by Benjamin Franklin Mason included the 1845 receipt on the reverse of the paintings. Measuring 34" x 29" each, the paintings sold for $2990. A 19th-century marine watercolor depicting the Barque “Vernon”: Thomas Slaye Commander, Leaving Port of Venice 1853 measured 12½" x 22" and sold for $2760.
This was a very healthy sale with a full house throughout the day. The Page collection was outstanding, with notable examples of clean surfaces, good old paint, and textiles and paintings. Also represented was some wonderful mochaware. Smith seemed pleased with his auction, as did his staff.
For more information, contact William A. Smith, Inc. at (603) 675-2549 or check the website at (www.wsmithauction.com).
A pair of 19th-century miniature portraits, 2½" x 2" each, sold for $3450. The portrait of the gentleman is signed “W.H. Miller, New York, 1842.” On the reverse is a calling card for “William H. Miller.”
An early linsey-woolsey bed covering, measuring 90" x 100", opened at $1000 and brought $2300.
There was lots of interest in this fancy New Hampshire Federal mahogany sideboard with oval and banded bird’s-eye maple veneers and on tapered legs. Dated 1800-20, it sold for $8050. Sideli photo.
This Federal New Hampshire birch, bird’s-eye maple, and mahogany-banded inlaid tall-case clock was presented early in the auction. The brass works are signed by Elisha Smith of Sanbornton, New Hampshire. Measuring 91" tall, the clock saw lots of action from bidders before selling for $5462.50. Sideli photo.
There was a huge amount of interest in the 19th-century English 4" pearlware pitcher and the striking 2" cat’s-eye master salt. There were bidders from the phones and the floor, and the price for the two pieces rose quickly to $3220.
There was lots of interest from bidders on the floor and the phones for this extraordinary New Hampshire Federal banjo wall clock with old tablets and retaining its original finish. The dial is signed by B. Morrill (1794-1857) of Boscawen (New Hampshire). The 33" high clock sold for $6037.50.
This beautiful two-part Chippendale cherry chest-on-chest retains its original brasses and red stain. The 70" x 38" chest has secondary wood of chestnut. The circa 1780 chest sold quickly for $2587.50. Sideli photo.
An unusually large Federal églomisé wall mirror with old gilt surface, carved swags, Corinthian columns, waterleaf carving, and reverse painting on glass brought $2587.50.
This folk portrait of a gentleman in oil on board, with a receipt from Americana dealers Frank and Barbara Pollack, is attributed to Thomas Ware of Pomfret, Vermont. The painting brought $3450 and went to a buyer on the phone. Not shown, another oil on board attributed to Ware, measuring 26" x 22", brought $1725, also from the phone bidder.
Originally published in the May 2016 issue of Maine Antique Digest. © 2016 Maine Antique Digest
