Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Mourning At the Schorsch Auction at Sotheby's

Thought you'd enjoy some of the mourning-related items from the recent Schorsch estate auction at Sotheby's. 
     This couple really enjoyed this genre -- in fact, they had a 'mourning museum' in a cemetery for some years! Their taste was interesting AND eclectic. Sometimes buyers agreed with them -- sometimes they didn't. 

Poor Old Lord Nelson did terrible; apparently he's not missed much, anymore. His tribute (Lot #815) barely cleared $500, including buyer's premium. (And the auctioneer really had to work to get that.)




This piece did better.



At Lot #747, it sold for $38,000.

FINE SILK PAINTED MOURNING PICTURE: TO WASHINGTON, S. FOLWELL, PHILADELPHIA, DATED 1799

Estimate 8,000 - 12,000 USD
FINE SILK PAINTED MOURNING PICTURE: TO WASHINGTON, S. FOLWELL, PHILADELPHIA, DATED 1799
Signed S. Folwell / Philada Pinxt.
16 in. by 20 1/4 in.
But prices could vary all over. Though nearly all the George Washington-related items did well, this piece, Lot #744, only sold for  $3500. Poor baby.

RARE SILK EMBROIDERED MOURNING PICTURE: AMERICA AT THE TOMB OF WASHINGTON, ATTRIBUTED TO A MEMBER OF THE HUTCHINSON FAMILY, THE FOLWELL SCHOOL, PHILADELPHIA, CIRCA 1810

Estimate 4,000 - 6,000 USD
A tomb inset with printed reserves inscribed, THY LOSS EVER SHALL WE MOURN and SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS WASHINGTON, stamped American eagle grasping an olive vine in its talons, the whole within an eglomisé border inscribed: AMERICA AT THE TOMB OF WASHINGTON.
21 1/2 in. by 25 1/4 in.




Makes you want to weep, doesn't it...


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Figures...