Dedham, MA –The residents of Dedham, Massachusetts hardly knew what hit them, when an overwhelming number of International bidders descended on the historic town to compete for the more than 500 lots of Asian Decorative Works of Art from the Estate of Frederick Innes. On Sunday, October 4th, a standing room only crowd spent the morning previewing the single owner before auctioneer, Michael Grogan, opened the bidding at 12:00 noon. The collection drew International attention and exceeded 1.5 million net.
The most highly sought after items in the sale included Fine Porcelains from the Qianlong period (1736-1795) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The top lot, a Chinese Qianlong Imperial Kundika, which, despite missing it’s top, sparked competitive bidding from the floor and phones before it sold to a Hong Kong buyer in the room for $189,750. The second highest priced lot was a Chinese Qianlong Blue and White Ewer, which sold for $161,000 to a New York Chinese collector, also in the room. “The enthusiasm for the collection was palpable in the auction room as bidders from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan and the United States all competed for the top lots,” commented Nancy Grogan.
A Pair of Chinese Tea Bowls bearing Yongzheng (1723-1735) marks, surprised the crowd when they soared beyond their $300-500 estimate to sell for $86,250 to the same buyer of the Kundika. Later, a Chinese Qianlong Period Gilt Bronze and Cloisonne Covered Tripod Censer sold to a phone bidder from New York for $80,500 and a Collection of Snuff Bottles, containing an early white jade example, soared from $300 to $40,250.
Other notable prices included Two Ming Dynasty (1368-1643) Cinnabar Lacquer Screens, which sold for $31,625 and a Chinese Peach Bloom Lidded Brush Washer from the Kangxi Period (1662-1722), which brought $24,150. A Kangxi Period Tall Beaker Form Vase sold for $13,800 and a Chinese Carved Bamboo Form Inkstone, sold for $12,650. Textiles included a Finely Embroidered Chinese Silk Panel, which far exceeded it’s $400-600 estimate, selling for $9,200 and Fine Chinese Silk and Metallic Thread Dragon Embroidered Robe, which sold for $8,050.
“I’ve been an auctioneer for over 30 years and I’ve never seen an auction of this size where only three items failed to sell,” observed auctioneer Michael Grogan, “Seeing the comprehensive Innes collection displayed in it’s entirety for the first time ever was amazing.”
Frederick Rush Innes was a Theoretical Physicist from Cambridge, Massachusetts who was passionate about collecting Asian Works of Art. Born in 1916, the eldest of five children, Innes studied at MIT and the University of Pennsylvania. In 1940, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy and was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked. He later became part of the occupying forces in Japan, where he first developed his love of the Asian style.
Innes moved to Boston after the service and finishing his graduate degree, where he became acquainted with two of the most important and influential galleries of Asian antiquities at the time: The Yamanaka and The Yatsuhashi Galleries. After honing his eye, Innes spent the next three decades frequenting both galleries and auctions, collecting items from major New England estates with ties to the China Trade and the Japanese market. His collection spanned the Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties and touched on the many regions, styles and periods of Chinese and Japanese Decorative Arts.
All prices include a 15% buyer’s premium. A fully illustrated on-line catalogue with results is available at www.groganco.com. For more information, please contact Grogan & Company at 781-461-9500.
Image: Top Lot was a Chinese Qianglong Imperial Kundika, which brought $189,750.
