Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Maritime Paintings and Decorative Arts for Bonhams New York Auction

On January 26th Bonhams will hold the first Maritime Sale to be presented at its New York galleries. Highly anticipated amongst collectors, this inaugural sale will focus solely on maritime related paintings and decorative arts. Featured in the nearly 200 lot sale will be an exceptional group of 19th century paintings, 19th and 20th century ship fittings, and early navigational devices spanning from the 18th to 20th centuries.

Anthony D. BlakeAmid the many desirable contemporary paintings to be offered are works by Terry Bailey, Anthony D. Blake, and Rodney John Charman. Without doubt one of the most highly sought after of these lots will be a Blake work titled “COLUMBIA leads SHAMROCK I” (pictured). Depicting Race 3 of the 1899 America’s Cup, the dramatic lot carries an estimate of $40,000-60,000. A Terry Bailey America’s Cup painting is also certain to attract notice. Estimated at $35,000-45,000, the painting features the yachts RESOLUTE and SHAMROCKIV during the 1920 America’s Cup race. Contemporary collectors will also be drawn by a Rodney John Charman rendering of the U.S.F. CONSTITUTION and H.M.S. GUERRIERE at close quarters during the War of 1812. This realistic and commanding work carries an estimate of $30,000-40,000.

The sale’s 19th century paintings are highlighted with work by Robert Salmon, Antonio Jacobsen, and Frédéric Roux. Of particular interest will be an 1847, Roux watercolor (pictured, left). Depicting the CHERENCE, headed into Marseilles with Capt. V. Bouisson flying all colors the painting is inscribed along the bottom “Cherence, Capt.. V.. Bouisson” and signed, “Frédéric Roux au harve 1847”. Expected to bring $10,000-15,000 it represents an excellent collecting opportunity.

A spectacular, 1830 scrimshaw whale’s tooth (pictured, right) is cause for excitement. Attributed to the circle of Edward Burdett, the work depicts the battle between the H.M.S SHANNONM & U.S.S. CHESAPEAKE. Decorated on the verso, with a dramatic and close battle between the two ships accented by billowing smoke, cannon holes in the sails, and a typically patterned sea; the recto is decorated with a frigate crashing through a wave in a large sea. Exquisitely rendered, the lot carries an estimate of $30,000 – 50,000.

Also of particular interest will be an 18th century Napoleonic Prisoner of War bone ship model of an 18-gun Sloop of War (pictured, left). Meticulously detailed, the model features such fine points as a hull and deck planked in bone with copper pins, a tortoise shell waist and cap rail, a female figure head, quarter galleries with mica windows, ships boat lashed amidships, and eighteen cannons on bone carriages. The model is rigged with a bow sprit and three masts, spars, standing and running rigging, turning blocks and deadeyes in bone. Displayed on a pair of bone and polychrome “tiger” fish pedestals on its original four poster bone and marquetry base, the impressive piece is expected to bring $10,000-15,000.

Another historically important lot is a large, late 19th century ship’s wheel from the U.S. Army Transport SLOCUM (pictured, right). The ten spoke wheel features an outer wheel made up of alternating laminates of mahogany and spruce and a mahogany hub reinforced with brass plates. The attached brass plaque is inscribed “U.S.A.T. SLOCUM/Built, Bath, Maine, 1898/Spanish American War World War I (France) World War II (Sunk in Alaskan Waters)/Commander Albert T. Berry”. Estimated at $8,000-12,000, this extraordinary lot is displayed on a custom teak stand, along with the ship’s bell, a brass name plate, a photographic image of the ship, and a framed history.

Amongst the navigational devices, collectors will be offered the opportunity to bid on a 1748 American Nocturnal. In boxwood, with a brass siting hole, its main dial is divided into 12 months and 5 day intervals. The second disk is divided into 24 hours with 15 degree intervals. The inner disk is fitted with two “teeth” which are engraved “LB” (Lesser Bear) for Ursa Minor and references the star Kochab; and “GB” (Great Bear), for Ursa Major and references the “pointer” stars. Also marked “For Both Bears”, and signed and dated on the back, this fascinating lot is estimated at $4,000 – 6,000.

Certainly not to be overlooked is an 1855 print featuring the private signals of the Merchants of Boston. Printed by Boston lithographers, Kramer & Co., it depicts 112 different Boston merchant flags with the names of each printed below, and is signed: “Respectfully Dedicated to the/Merchants and Underwriters of Boston,/By Their Obedient Servant John T. Smith”. Carrying an estimate of $6,000 – 8,000, this nostalgic lot will be of great interest to maritime collectors.

www.bonhams.com/marine