Thursday, January 21, 2016

Picking A Pocket...And A Quilt

Hopefully you've had a chance to visit the Schorsch estate auction currently hosted by Sotheby's.
Bidding has been going on for two days, in spite of the snowstorm. Last day's tomorrow.

One wonderful thing: if you're not in New York City, or can't fight your way in because of the storm, you can still bid -- or just watch -- the live auction. I have wasted all sorts of time dawdling about, just following general trends or checking on specific items. 

    Like this 1850s (or maybe later, to my mind) applique and embroidered quilt

At Lot #754, it sold for $3000. (Pre-auction estimate: $2000-3000)

Condition doesn't look that great...but it certainly is an unusual pattern. (Probably original design, I would guess.) And something I didn't notice, until getting info to show you -- two other quilts were included in the lot. No clue what those looked like.

PIECED APPLIQUÉ AND TRAPUNTO COTTON QUILT, AMERICAN, CIRCA 1850
Together with two pieced and appliqued cotton quilts, American, 19th century. 3 pieces.
80 in. by 80 in.





But Lot #755, this late 1600s "Fine And Rare" Needlework Housewife's Pocket, went for the same price: $3000.

It was valued pre-auction at $800-1200.

FINE AND RARE NEEDLEWORK SILK HANGING POCKET, ENGLAND, LATE 17TH CENTURY
Length 13 1/4 in.



(Greatly enlarged, so you can see the details.)


Which only proves what I've noticed during the auction's past two days: it's not the size that matters. It's how unusual the piece is...its connection to famous people, makers or events...and its age: the earlier, the better. 

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