THOMASTON, ME:  The 2023 fall auction at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries on November 10, 11 & 12 will feature an abundance of fine art and decorative rarities gathered from collections and estates from throughout New England.   

Leading the large and diverse art inventory will be two works by important 19^th Century French artists -- a lovely oil on linen summer landscape by Alfred Sisley (1839-1899) and an impressionistic painting of a young girl with flowers in a waterside landscape by Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841-1919).  American artists will also be well represented with: a John Frederick Kensett (1816-1872) painting depicting a view of Mount Monadnock (New Hampshire); a riverbank scene at sunset by George Inness (1825-1894); and “Sunday Afternoon, Monhegan”, an oil on canvas rocky seascape by Andrew Winter (1893-1958).  The sale will also offer works by Dahlov Ipcar, Clare Ferriter, James Buttersworth, Childe Hassam, Alvan Fisher, Louis Moeller, Gerrit Dou, Waldo Peirce, Joan Savo, William Manning, Bill Traylor, and many others.

Among the many decorative items to be presented will be a rare 18^th Century Canadian diamond point step-back cupboard with red, blue and green painted surface; a Black Forest carved musical bench with bears; a sterling silver mounted granite toe fragment purportedly from a statue of Ramses II at Luxor Temple in Egypt (collected in 1899 by photographer, author, and adventurer Sigmund Krausz); a contemporary stoneware vase by Otto & Vivika Heino; and a rare circa 1910 Southern alkaline glazed ring flask by E.L. Stork of Orange, GA.

The sale will feature 53 lots of decoys and carved bird sculptures, including many pieces by celebrated Massachusetts carver Joseph W. Lincoln (1859-1938), plus several fine works by Maine artist Robert Melburn Doucette (1930-2023).  There will also be an extensive marine collection, led by a pair of circa 1840 polychrome scrimshaw figural decorated walrus tusks and a pair of 1930s era copper anchor lights from the RMS “Queen Mary”.  Additionally, an extensive offering of firearms, swords, cannons, and military memorabilia will be presented.  

The Asian collection will include: a Chinese Ming Dynasty period polychromed wooden standing Guanyin statue retaining most of her original painted surface; a pair of Western Jin Dynasty (266-316 BCE) carved bluestone Qilin guardian figures; and a Kangxi period gilt bronze fragment of a sculpture depicting warrior General Guan Yu (died 220 AD). 

In addition to a large collection of fine antique furniture, the auction will include a wonderful selection of Danish and American midcentury pieces, such as: a pair of “Irwin Collection” brass side tables by Paul McCobb; a oak loveseat and “Wave” chaise lounge chair by Milo Baughman; a pair of “Elephant Foot” wicker chairs by Eero Aarnio; a Peter Lovig Nielsen for Dansk teak desk with sliding top; and a Danish midcentury vanity, headboard and dresser by Arne Wahl Iversen for Vinde Mobelfabrik.  There will also be many contemporary custom pieces by John Hutton, Maitland-Smith, Thos. Moser, and others.

Other items of interest will include: a rare silk broadside of Thomas Jefferson’s first inaugural address to Congress on March 4, 1801; a ladies 18K gold tank form wristwatch set with diamonds by Cartier; a 1963 C.F. Martin & Co. 00-21NY acoustic guitar; and an assortment of fine estate automobiles.

Finally, the sale will present nice selections of fine estate jewelry, silver, sculptures, and oriental carpets.

The auction will begin at 11:00 a.m. EST each day.  The gallery will be open for previews on Saturday, November 4 from noon to 4:00 p.m., and on Monday, November 6 through Thursday, November 9 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. each day.  Previewing will also be available on auction days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 10, 11 & 12 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

All lots are available for viewing at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ website, www.thomastonauction.com.  Printed and virtual catalogs will be available; and live in-person bidding, telephone, absentee, and online bidding on three internet platforms will be available for this auction.

Thomaston Place Auction Galleries is Northern New England’s premier international auction company located on U.S. Route 1 in Thomaston, ME.  Thomaston Place is a leader in discovering antique and fine art treasures by offering Free Appraisals each Tuesday at the gallery, creating fundraiser events for civic and charitable organizations, and providing house call appraisal services.  Their expertise in researching and marketing antiques and fine art has earned Thomaston Place the respect of buyers, collectors and experts worldwide.