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Society’s traditions come and go, oftentimes for the better as our understanding of the world evolves, but I find it sad that one tradition in particular has faded away: that of the Grand Tour. While today we associate the idea of the Grand Tour with the late 19th century, in reality the custom began as early as the 17th century, rooted in the idea of religious pilgrim to Rome. In fact, it was during this time that travel began to be seen not just as a means to end, but as a worthwhile process in and of itself, as something done for pleasure, enrichment and intellectual curiosity.

At the same time, everything about travel was expensive and inconvenient. The process was lengthy and costly and one had to have not only the means to pay for the venture and accommodations, but also the ability to be gone for an extended period of time. Thus, as is so often the case when something is difficult and expensive, it will often gain cachet with the upper classes as a visible means of displaying wealth and privilege, and travel was no different as the Grand Tour experience flourished among the aristocracy of England and northern Europe.

While the Grand Tour was a very individualized experience, throughout the 18th century a generally accepted route was formalized, with English travelers crossing the English Channel from Dover, traveling to Paris, then to Switzerland, over the Alps into northern Italy, and then journeying south through Turin and Florence, tacking back and forth as much as possible to visit places like Bologna or Venice, before arriving in Rome. Some tourists would venture as far south as Naples and Pompeii, or as travel later improved, visitors sometimes went to Sicily or made tentative explorations around the Mediterranean, but usually from Rome or Naples, they turned north again, bearing west for the return trip across the Alps in order to visit the Germanic part of Europe: Vienna, Berlin, Munich – before looping back through Holland and crossing the Channel home.

The idea was that this experience would polish the skills a young man (later young women took the Grand Tour as well and the opportunity expanded beyond the aristocracy as rail travel presented a more affordable option) would need as an aristocrat and as one who would likely serve in some official capacity. Many traveled in the company of a tutor as well as entered into lessons along the way, with the expectation that they would return home with courtly manners, strong language skills, and an increased appreciation of world affairs, the history of western civilization, and cultural awareness.

Of course, as has ever been the case, tourists beget tourism, and travelers returned home with all manner of souvenirs: scale models of buildings, paintings and sculptures, ancient artifacts, trinkets decorated with European landscapes, objects designed to keep memories of their trip alive. A collection of such objects is being offered for sale at Skinner Auctions. Nearly 100 lots of terrific artifacts of dozens of Grand Tour trips including column models, paperweights, miniature landscapes, micromosaic scenes, and much more will be starting a new journey this weekend as they cross the auction block, so be sure to “take a tour” of the sale!

We’re so excited about the second Midwest Antiques Forum, to be held in Cincinnati, Ohio May 4-6, 2012! We have a great lineup of speakers, including Wes Cowan, who will be talking about the amazing sand bottles of Andrew Clemens, and Ian Simmonds, who will speak on the wonders of Midwestern glass. I can’t even begin to do the slate of speakers justice here, so visit www.midwestantiquesforum.com and see what we have planned. You can also find our complete schedule there with speakers and panelists, along with information about accommodations at Cincinnati’s Airport Marriott, which is the forum’s home base this year. More importantly, you’ll find registration forms and you’ll want to register now to save – $245 for early registration!

Also, if you’re an appraiser, remember that we’re offering continuing education credits to members of ISA, ASA, and AAA. It will be a great time to connect and learn along with your colleagues.

If you’ve got questions send an e-mail to info@midwestantiquesforum.com or give us a call at the Prices4Antiques office at 937.426.7573. Can’t wait to have so many wonderful scholars in the same room discussing Midwestern decorative arts, so please make sure you join us!

-Hollie Davis, Senior Editor, p4A.com

1756 John Townsend highboy

1756 John Townsend high chest of drawers

Normally, I don’t use this space to write extensively about “traditional” antiques, preferring instead to steer away from the stereotype of expensive old furniture, which people can and do safely assume that we have, in order to highlight the diversity of the objects we cover, which aren’t nearly as obvious. But every now and then a piece of furniture that is so quintessentially representative of the modern antiques market comes along and I would be remiss not to share it. That’s the case with the 1756 Newport, Rhode Island high chest of drawers by John Townsend that sold last month at Sotheby’s New York. It fetched a staggering $3.5 million, which, by the way, is not the world record price for a piece of American furniture sold at auction, although that distinction belongs to the Townsend-Goddard school of craftsmen as well.

Of course, people often wonder why anyone would pay such a price for a piece. A look at the auction cataloguing on the record helps explain. (I really encourage anyone reading to just take a moment to click through and look at the breadth and depth of the description – it highlights not only the extensive research that is done by auction houses when an object warrants it, but also how much information is mined from careful examination of an object.) This piece is special for a number of reasons. First, it’s from the workshops of the Townsend-Goddard families, an 18th-century furniture-making dynasty that is widely considered to be the makers of the finest furniture ever made in America, and possibly of some of the finest furniture ever made in the world, in terms of craftsmanship, attention to details, and proportions.

A detailed view of the two proper right cabriole legs on this high chest terminating in carved ball and claw feet with open talons

A detailed view of the two proper right cabriole legs on this high chest terminating in carved ball and claw feet with open talons

Also, it’s one of only five pieces known that is signed by John Townsend. Then there’s the fact that we have the provenance, the chain of ownership, all the way back to 1756, which is an incredible history in its own right. The high chest also exhibits a number of the key features associated with the Townsend-Goddard school, including the carved shell and “open talons” on the ball-and-claw feet, pictured above. (“Open talons” mean that the foot, carved from a solid piece of wood, has toes that are so delineated that they have openings or gaps between them and the ball of the foot – it’s a delicate detail that shows an incredible level of attention to decoration and skill.) For these reasons, among others, this piece truly is an American masterpiece, an American treasure.

-Hollie Davis, Senior Editor, p4A.com

Reference & Further Recommended Reading:


To search the Prices4Antiques antiques reference database for valuation information on hundreds of thousands of antiques and fine art visit our homepage www.prices4antiques.com


Greentown Glass Co, chocolate Fighting Cocks covered dish

Greentown Glass Co, chocolate Fighting Cocks covered dish

A handful of desirable pieces were mixed with a fair assortment of affordable items during an auction held in Greentown, Indiana, on June 10, 2011, and sponsored by the National Greentown Glass Association (NGGA).

The cataloged sale of 213 lots was held as part of the annual convention of the NGGA. Although only association members could consign glassware to the sale, the event was open to the public. About 100 people attended. There were no reserves and no buyer’s premium.

With a few exceptions, all the glassware offered was made by the Indiana Tumbler & Goblet Co., which operated in Greentown between 1894 and 1903. The wares are now commonly referred to as Greentown glass.

Interest in low-end and mid-level glass remained soft, with more than 100 lots selling for $50 or less. However, the upper tier was energetically pursued, with the top lot being a Fighting Cocks covered dish in Chocolate glass. Having a flake on the tail. (pictured above, p4A item E8994243).

Dan Otto of Otto’s Auction Service in Kokomo, Ind., called the sale. “The high end was high, and the middle market was soft,” he said.

It isn’t just the economy hurting the value of average pieces of Greentown glass. “We need more people involved in order to get the middle better,” Otto said.

-Don Johnson, Editor, p4A.com

To search the Prices4Antiques antiques reference database for valuation information on hundreds of thousands of antiques and fine art visit our homepage www.prices4antiques.com

On June 25, 2011 Arader Galleries will hold it’s 3rd Charity Auction at Neal Auction in New Orleans. Included in the sale are 65 of John James Audubon elephant folio aquatints from Birds Of America published in London by Robert Havell between 1826 and 1838. For each lot sold Arader Galleries will donate 20% of the hammer price to a charity of the buyer’s choice.

John James Audubon, Black Backed Gull from Birds of America, Havell edition

John James Audubon, Black Backed Gull from Birds of America, Havell edition

John James Audubon, Sanderling from Birds of America, Havell edition

John James Audubon, Sanderling from Birds of America, Havell edition

John James Audubon, Pine Finch from Birds of America, Havell edition

John James Audubon, Pine Finch from Birds of America, Havell edition

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