On Friday and Saturday, October 24 and 25, Wilson’s will be selling the Estate of Alexandra Mellon Grange Hawkins. The sale will be held on the premises of the beautiful 106-acre Main Line estate at 1035 Sugartown Road, Berwyn, Pennsylvania.
“This auction has all the ingredients to be one of the best on-site auctions we have ever had,” says Michael T. Wilson, owner.
Mrs. Hawkins, a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, was the granddaughter of Mr. James Ross Mellon, the second son of Mr. Thomas Mellon (1813-1908) a well respected judge, attorney and entrepreneur, best known as the founder of Mellon Bank. Mrs. Hawkins was also married to Kathryn Hepburn’s cousin. The auction crowd may be pleasantly surprised if materials related to the famous Hollywood actress should surface.
Day One, Friday, October 24 (10 a.m.), will feature: a Mercedes Benz ML320 SUV with only 21,000 miles (estimate $10,000 to $12,000), 200 plus lots of exquisite silver, including an impressive Grogan, 331 piece silver flatware service with 21 large serving pieces (estimate $12,000 to $15,000), eight sterling silver dinner plates (estimate $3,000 to $5,000), Gorham “Martele” center bowl (estimate $3,000 to $5,000), George III silver dessert service (estimate $3,000 to $5,000), assorted sterling silver equestrian trophies, ornate bureau and desk sets; plus an art glass signed Louis Comfort Tiffany; antique porcelain; fine decorative objects such as a beautiful ivory and bronze figurine by Henryk Kossowski II (1855-1921); Egyptian inspired bookends by Theodore B. Starr, New York; bronze floor lamp by Tiffany Studios, New York; a library of fine leather-bound books; as well as valuable commercial grade lawn equipment and tractors.
Day Two, Saturday, October 25 (10 a.m.), will feature valuable 18th- and 19th-century period furniture, much of which is New England and Empire. Examples include: a Pennsylvania tall chest (estimate $4,000 to $6,000); Federal bird’s-eye maple bow front chest (estimate $2,000 to $3,000); Federal curly maple chest on chest (estimate $2,000 to $3,000); Federal bird’s-eye maple poster bed (estimate $2,000 to $3,000); New England maple Chippendale desk (estimate $2,500 to $3,500); J.E. Caldwell mahogany tall case clock 8-foot, 9 inches (estimate $3,000 to $4,000); Pennsylvania Queen Anne corner cupboard (estimate $7,000 to $10,000); Federal mahogany sideboard (estimate $3,000 to $5,000); Eli Terry New England pillar & scroll clock (estimate $1,200 to $1,500); and a Windsor hall settee (estimate $1,000 to $1,500).
The fine art collection includes works by Christopher H. Shearer (1840-1926), Alson Skinner Clark (1876-1949), Savely Abramovich Sorine (1878-1953), Hugo Fisher: A 40-inch by 52-inch landscape by Hogarth (estimate $2,000 to $3,000); 30-inch by 60-inch landscape by Christopher H. Shearer (estimate $2,000 to $3,000); 13-1/2-inch by 12-inch portrait of boy with dog by J. Dowman ARA (estimate $2,500 to $4,000); and 9-inch by 7-inch seated figure by Alson Skinner Clark, 1909 (estimate $3,000 to $5,000).
Oriental carpets consist of several Persian room size, hall runners and throws to include Bidjar, Kerman, Tabriz, Sarouk plus a 12-foot by 20-foot cobalt & gold Chinese carpet.
Mrs. Hawkins’ social endeavors are depicted by some of the elaborate ballroom gowns and other vintage attire or by unique accessories, including a Tiffany & Company silver frame mesh purse, beaded shawl, fine emerald and diamond jewelry, and Cartier 14K gold check book holder.
The 106-acre site features unlimited parking. The auction will be held under tent, rain or shine. Food concessions will be available. A 20 percent Buyer’s Premium for this auction includes a complimentary detailed catalog. A catalog can be printed, in advance, from the Wilson’s Auction Web site at www.wbauction.com.
Preview date is Thursday, October 23, noon to 7 p.m. or by appointment. Wilson’s Auction would like to advise its customers to place their absentee bids well in advance; since last minute absentee bids might be difficult to accommodate on a significant on-site auction such as this. Bidders can also make arrangements for phone bidding. Delivery will be available for a fee.
In addition, Wilson’s Auction will follow this fine on-site auction with a noteworthy auction at their gallery in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, November 5, starting at noon.
This auction will highlight a rare lot of four 3/4 size decorative decoys by renowned decoy artist and master carver Anthony Elmer Crowell (1862-1952), of East Harwich, Massachusetts. Crowell’s decoys have set world records. A sleeping Canadian goose decoy, circa 1917, and a pintail drake presently share the world record in decoy sales for $1.13 million!
The decoys to be sold in this particular auction include a wood duck estimated to be worth between $7,000 and $9,000, a black duck estimated between $4,000 and $5,000, a pintail estimated between $5,000 and $6,000 and bluebill estimated between $3,000 to $4,000. These decoys come from a private estate and various other decoys will be incorporated in the sale.
In the Fine Art department, Wilson’s Auction will offer a 26-inch by 30-inch oil on canvas painting of a wooden farmhouse, by local artist Elizabeth Fisher Washington (1871-1953).
Elizabeth Fisher Washington (1871-1953), a great, great grandniece of President George Washington, was a well exhibited impressionistic landscape painter, and one of the “Philadelphia Ten”. The work of art to be sold on November 5 was painted long ago, when Ms. Washington visited the farm located on Rosemont Road, Drexel Hill. Her paintings of this size and format usually sell between $8,000 and $12,000.
Another intriguing work of art in this sale is an oil painting on board by Robert William Kane (1910) largely known as the creator of Batman.
This auction will also feature antique firearms, including a Colt Model 1860, .44 caliber percussion revolver with 8-inch barrel (serial# 103874). These Civil War Colts are very rare and desirable. Other firearms to be sold include early United States flint lock and percussion rifles, a 1891 United States percussion pistol, 1864 United States Springfield, and 1845 Allen & Thurber pepper box pistol. And, as if that wasn’t enough, Wilson’s Auction will be auctioning off an assortment of Civil War collectibles including military hats, letters, photographs, United States and Confederate States belts and buckles; U.S. Navy cartridge box; Civil War and G. A. R. buttons.
Additional auction items: Leica cameras and accessories, fine Empire furniture including a wine cabinet and carved pedestal game table, and much more.
The Buyer’s Premium for this auction is 15 percent, discounted to 10 percent for cash or check. Check out the Wilson’s auction Web site www.wbauction for more updates on these auctions.
