Clarke Auction Unearths Treasure Buried Thirty Years

    LARCHMONT, NY, March 19, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On Sunday, March 28th at 2:00 pm, Clarke Auction will sell 460 lots including hundreds of items stored in a locked and darkened warehouse since the late 1970's.

Ronan Clarke, founder and owner of Clarke Auction, wasn't sure what he would find when he finally unlocked the door of the decaying warehouse. He had quickly viewed the estate in 2005 and remembered tripping over great things in the dark. But then the estate vanished. Five years later, as he finally got a second chance, spectacular pieces from an untouched collection emerged from the gloom. An immense 19th C. French commode initialed BY (Beurdeley), a Russian gilt bronze and marquetry parlor set, architectural elements in bronze and marble, 19th C. signed American cast iron garden benchs, and other pieces being uncovered as this goes to press.

Antique Furniture Highlights start with the seven foot Beurdeley marble-topped commode, with gilt bronze mounts incised BY. Other lots include a gilt-bronze and inlaid parlor set, possibly Russian; an immense French Cabinet and Rack, a French Black Lacquer Serpentine Front Boulle Cabinet with black marble top, an Italian Olivewood Bombe Commode and similar Glazed Cabinet; a Giltwood Gothic Revival Center Table, a highly carved Victorian Center Table and other Victorian pieces.

Fine art features a Cossack bronze by EA Lanceray, an early Barbedienne Bronze Lion by Barye, an animalier bronze by Edwin Bucher and smaller works. Paintings include Old Masters, Russian oils, works by Ferdinand Roybet, Arthur Kampf, Ira Moskowitz WPA-era, HE Bowman, William Homer Leavitt, William Barnett, a rare 19th work by the American Sarah E Davis, large older classical and allegorical scenes, Avian Color Prints by Carroll Tyson, and paintings still being catalogued.

Unusual Metalwork includes a collection of signed Antique American Wrought Iron Garden Pieces by Timmes and North American Iron Works; Antique and Decorative Iron and Brass Architectural Elements, Bronze Clocks, signed French Neoclassical Planters, Brass Ship's Compass, Immense Bronze Sconces, and many Bronze and Chrome over Bronze Chandeliers.

Mirrors include three antique Trumeau mirrors, an attributed Caldwell mirror; midcentury and Deco Mirrors, Williamsburg Chinoiserie mirrors, and eagle-finialed convex and neoclassical mirrors .

Silver examples are a Large Tiffany Jug, a Tiffany flatware service, a Buccellati silver vase, a William B Meyers Judaic spout, a Sterling Menorah, Wallace and Reed and Barton Sterling Flatware, an Austrian .800 Silver Tea Service and other lots.

Decorative Arts include a large Moorcraft Vase, Eighteen Spectacular Limoges Chargers, Fish Plates, Crystal Stemware, Antique Chinese Export Collection, Baccarat Crystal and a large Gucci umbrella stand.

Midcentury Modern Design is highlighted by a Charles Eames "La Chaise" by VITRA, Danish desk, Paul McCobb pieces, large decorative abalone veneered candlesticks, and other pieces being catalogued.

Carpets include palace-sized semi-antique Sarouks and Kirmans, runners, and room-sized rugs.

Unique items include La Gerusalemme Liberato by Tasso in the 1745 edition with original engravings described as "...one of the most magnificent books of the eighteenth century..." , contrasted with a pair of Everlast Boxing Gloves, one signed by Mohammed Ali and the second by Madonna, with full provenance and receipts. Clarke will also be selling an 1869 edition of Mark Twain's The Celebrated Jumping Frog.

This is one of the greatest discoveries I've come across in over twenty years in the business, said Ronan Clarke, 'it was like opening Tut's tomb with all the cobwebs, but to this point , we've yet to find the mummies.

Clarke will be auctioning the partial contents of the estate Sunday March 28 at 2:00 pm. Full onsite previews are available Friday and Saturday, March 26th-27th, 12:00 Noon to 6:00 pm and Sunday, March 28th, 10:00 am to Auction Start. For more details, see its website at www.ClarkeNY.com or call 914-833-8336.

Clarke Auction, Westchester's Premier Auction, conducts catalogued sales monthly featuring distinctive fine and decorative arts, antiques, exceptional furniture, oriental rugs, sterling silver and mid-century modern. For further information, please contact us at (914)833-8336 or [email protected]

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