Freeman's | Hindman Magazine, The Spring 2025 Edition
THE SPRING 2025 EDITION
THE SPRING 2025 EDITION
WORDS
Dianne Batista, Monica Brown, Leslie Calero, Aaron Cator, Courtney Chapel, Raphaël Chatroux, Sarah Duncan, Ben Fisher, Timothy Long, Tim Luke, Joy McCall, Marisa Palmer, Emily Payne, Tim Prince, Barrett Sharpnack, Philip Smith, Gemma Sudlow, Adam Veil, Annie Wu
EDITOR
Courtney Chapel
DESIGN
Jennifer Castle
PHOTOGRAPHY
Zoë Bare, Violet Christian, Carmen Colome, Adam Donnelly, Jared Hefel, Richard Hogan, Troy Holleman, Kristen Hudson, David Jackson, Deo Lerma, Roberto Martinez, Libby Moore, Ola Piatkowska, Mike Reinders, Bill Ross, Rachel Smith, Dallas Tolentino
PATEK PHILIPPE, REF. 5131R 18K ROSE GOLD WORLD TIME WATCH WITH CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL DIAL, BOX & PAPERS
TO BE OFFERED APRIL 30,
04 17 19 20 40 44
LOOKING BACK
SNAPSHOTS FROM THE PAST SEASON LATEST
NEWS
COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPDATES
AUCTION CALENDAR
UPCOMING LIVE AUCTIONS
LOOKING FORWARD
A FOCUS ON THE SIGNIFICANT AND NOTEWORTHY PROPERTY COMING UP FOR AUCTION THIS SEASON
APPRAISALS CORNER
UPDATES, HAPPENINGS, AND ADVICE FROM THE FREEMAN’S | HINDMAN APPRAISALS TEAM
A TRANSATLANTIC VIEW
A VIEW EXTENDING BEYOND THE SHORES OF THE UNITED STATES TO INCLUDE OUR SISTER AUCTION HOUSE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, LYON & TURNBULL
FALL 2024 – WINTER 2025 IN REVIEW
PHILADELPHIA SOLD FOR $381,500
George] Printed Broadside of Washington’s First Inaugural Speech
Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987) Grace Kelly, 1984 screenprint on Lenox Museum Board NEW YORK SOLD FOR $139,700
[Washington,
Rare German Silver Two-Tier Tea Table with Matching Five-Piece Tea Service and Two Trays Bernstein, Circa 1890 Property from The Private Collection of Ms. Darla Moore, Charleston, South Carolina
ALETTO BROTHERS, 9.01 CARAT DIAMOND RING Jewelry from The Shawver Art Collection Trust
CINCINNATI SOLD FOR $25,400 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT
CHICAGO SOLD FOR $120,650
CINCINNATI SOLD FOR $9,600
CINCINNATI SOLD FOR $10,160
Navajo Second Phase Concha Belt, Collected by Hoffman Birney (1891-1958) late 19th century
Martina Vigil and Florentino Montoya, Attributed (San Ildefonso, 1856-1916 / 1858-1918) Polychrome Pottery Olla, with Parrots Property from the Estate of Shirley Mann, Chicago, Illinois
An Attic Red-Figured Kylix Attributed to the Colmar Painter, Circa 490 B.C.
First Year Production Pre-War Colt Super 38 Pistol in French Fit Case
George Landseer (British, 1834-1878)
The Golden Temple, Benares, 1861 World Auction Record for the Artist CHICAGO SOLD FOR $234,950
William J. Velvet Hat & Hat Box Designed by famed photojournalist Bill Cunningham World Auction Record for William J. Hat CHICAGO SOLD FOR $15,360
NEW YORK SOLD FOR $44,450
A Georg Jensen Silver Covered Wine Cooler Copenhagen, 1921
PHILADELPHIA
SOLD FOR $107,950
A Rare Needlework Sampler by Rachel Richards, Attributed to Ann Marsh School, Philadelphia, PA, Dated “1792” Property from the Buck Family Collection, Philadelphia CHICAGO SOLD FOR $152,400
A Trio of Gold-mounted Sardonyx Cameos featuring Nero Roman, Circa 1st-3rd Century A.D.
Thomas Hart Benton (American, 1889-1975)
The Doctor, 1952 Property from a Private Kansas Collection
A Rare Chinese Yixing ‘Peach and Pomegranate’ Coupe Inscribed ‘Chen Minyuan Zuo’ and Carved Wood Stand Attributed to Chen Mingyuan Property from the Estate of Betty Eisler, New York, New York
SOLD FOR $165,100
Marc Chagall (Belarusian/French, 1887–1985)
Dans La Nature (Danseur Vert), 1955
Property Sold to Benefit Northwestern University PHILADELPHIA
NEW YORK
SOLD FOR $647,700
Mark Grotjahn (American, b. 1968)
Untitled (Violet and Canary Yellow Butterfly 43.78), 2012
CHICAGO SOLD FOR $174,300
Jasper Johns (American, b. 1930)
Target, 1974
Property from the Collection of Velma Engels, Denver, Colorado
CEYLON SAPPHIRE, YELLOW SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND PENDANT
Property from the Collection of Audre Deckmann Carlin CHICAGO SOLD FOR $114,800
DEBUT AT ASIA WEEK NEW YORK RECEIVES RAVE REVIEWS WITH $1.7M AUCTION
BY ANNIE WU, VICE PRESIDENT, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT, ASIAN ART
Our March 21st Asian Art auction, held during Asia Week in New York City, included many notable works from private and institutional collections. Highlights included three rare Chinese Yixing coupes bearing seals of the celebrated 17th/18th century artisan Chen Mingyuan, acquired by Mr. Jay Butterman from his friends (and clients), Edith and Joel Frankel, well-known dealers of Chinese works of art. Comprising a rare “puzzle cup” depicting Shoulao in a peach, a delicate “Eggplant” coupe with inscribed dedication, and an elegant facetted small wine cup, these pieces came to Freeman’s | Hindman after the highly successful sale of two related Yixing coupes from the Estate of Betty Eisler, sold in our September 2024 Asia Week auction. All five of these pieces were formerly in the extraordinary collection of Yixing wares assembled by Shanghai connoisseur Pang Yuanji (1864-1947). Pang, with the artist Lu Hui (1851-1920), compiled a very rare twovolume set of rubbings and descriptions, probably between 1910-1920, recording these scholar’s objects in Pang’s collection.
In addition, the sale featured a collection of Chinese jewelry, spanning two millennia in date, from the RenLu Collection. Assembled over two decades by renowned Los Angeles-based designer Robert Kuo, the collection included exquisitely crafted gold and silver hair ornaments, earrings, bangles, and garment hooks, once reserved for China’s
“It was truly an honor for us to be in such esteemed company as an official auction house partner of Asia Week New York. We were thrilled not only by the overall auction result, but by the overwhelmingly positive response to our events and previews, not to mention the attendance of the auction itself. It was so good to see a crowded saleroom filled with enthusiastic bidders.”
-Annie Wu, Vice President and Head of the Asian Art Department
aristocratic elite. Lot 80, a pair of Liao dynasty gold rings with turquoise insets, stand out as a prime example. Each shield-shaped ring, crafted from hammered gold sheets, with a circular turquoise centering a ring of chased, raised beads showcases the classic craftsmanship of the Liao dynasty. Unlike traditional circular gold rings, Liao dynasty rings often take on a wider, sleeve-like shape. Made from thin gold sheets, cut and embossed with intricate decorative patterns, these rings are typically oval at the front and may be set with gemstones, with strip-like bands extending outward on both sides. When found in an archaeological context, they were commonly worn in multiples, often over gloves.
NEW YORK
Sold for $5,120
A Pair of Chinese Turquoise Inset Gold Rings, Liao Dynasty Property from the RenLu Collection, Los Angeles, California
NEW YORK
Sold for $254,500
A Rare Yixing ‘Eggplant’ Coupe with Impressed Seal ‘Yuan’ and Wood Stand
Sold for $241,800
A Rare Yixing Zisha Pottery Octagonal Cup with Impressed Seal ‘Chen Mingyuan’
Sold for $140,200
A Rare Yixing Peach-Form ‘Figure’ Puzzle Cup with Impressed Seals ‘Chen’, ‘Mingyuan’ and Wood Stand
Historic
The Destruction of the Bastille Drawing, Once Owned by President George Washington, Skyrockets Past Expectations with a Nearly $2 Million Sale
Arare ink-wash drawing, The Destruction of the Bastille, created just weeks after the fall of the Bastille at the onset of the French Revolution, soared past expectations during Freeman’s | Hindman’s September 10, 2024 Books and Manuscripts auction, nearly quadrupling its pre-sale estimate of $500,000 - 800,000. Following an intense tenminute bidding war in Freeman’s | Hindman’s Philadelphia saleroom, the historic piece was sold via phone for an extraordinary $1,996,000. The drawing was originally gifted to George Washington, the first President of the United States, by the Marquis de Lafayette, a key figure in both the French and American Revolutions. It became one of the President’s most treasured possessions, hanging prominently in the presidential house during his two terms and then in the entryway of his Mount Vernon home.
In its over 200-year history, the drawing had rarely been exhibited to the public. However, in the lead up to the auction, the drawing retraced its original steps during an international tour beginning with a stop in Paris, France. Its appearance at Didier Aaron & Cie gallery marked the first
time the drawing was on French soil since it departed for the newly created United States in 1790. The drawing then returned stateside where it was exhibited in New York at Freeman’s | Hindman’s Upper East Side gallery, followed by Philadelphia. Marking the impending 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s 1824-25 tour of America, the drawing was prominently displayed at the Museum of the American Revolution for the month of August, four blocks from where it once hung in Washington’s Philadelphia home, and only blocks away from where Freeman’s first set up shop only 15 years later, in 1805.
In 1858, John A. Washington III, the last member of the Washington family to live at Mount Vernon, sold the estate to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, gifting several of George Washington’s personal belongings including the key to the Bastille—though not The Destruction of the Bastille drawing. The Washington family held onto the drawing until 1891, when it was auctioned in Philadelphia as part of “The Final Sale of the Relics of George Washington.” Prominent autograph dealer Walter E. Benjamin purchased it, later selling it to media mogul William Randolph Hearst. After World War II, Connecticut resident Alan Carswell acquired the piece and passed it on to his wife, who bequeathed it to the Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Masonic Charity Foundation. As a result, the proceeds from the sale of The Destruction of the Bastille at Freeman’s | Hindman will directly support these two charitable organizations.
ABOVE, PHILADELPHIA
Sold for $1,996,000
[Washington, George, and Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette] Cathala, Étienne-Louis-Denis. The Destruction of the Bastille
GILDED AGE GLAMOUR: A Cartier Jewel from the Frelinghuysen Family
BY DIANNE BATISTA, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, JEWELRY AND WATCHES
The Belle Epoque (1871-1914), Edwardian (19011910), and the Gilded Age (1870-1900) overlap in time, but are distinguished by their three locations: France, England, and the United States of America. Despite the varied names, they share common threads, especially in the world of jewelry design. Society women who wore these jewels were fortunate to travel between Paris, London, and New York. Fashion underwent a momentous transformation, as voluminous petticoat skirts of the Victorian era gave way to more slender, form-fitting silhouettes. As society’s wealth rapidly grew, women were eager to flaunt it. In France they coined the term “Belle Epoque” translating as the “Beautiful Era.”
The Cartier ‘Plaque de Cou,’ sold in Important Jewelry on March 20, is a textbook example of the period and epitomizes Belle Epoque design. Originally the plaque would have been worn on a black velvet ribbon as a dog collar necklace. The ‘Garland Style’ is so elegantly defined in this necklace with diamond wreaths, foliage, and swags set in platinum. Unique to this piece and telling of early Cartier—the necklace dates to 1905—is the use of white enamel along the border.
With an influx of diamonds and the advent of platinum, jewelers were now able to craft pieces that resembled delicate lace. With emphasis on lightness and intricacy, jewelry designs also featured garland, swag, and bow motifs. One of the era’s defining metalwork techniques was knife-edge metalwork, where the back of the piece was wider and structured, while the front, as narrow as a knife blade, was fine and thin. Another new and innovative crafting technique was millegrain edging on these platinum settings. Millegrain, which translates as “thousand grains” was a technique of creating a textured beaded edge pattern to the fine platinum edges. In all three countries, white was a favored dress color and this preference flowed into jewelry design set with diamonds, white enamel, and platinum. While diamonds reigned as the crown jewels
CHICAGO
Sold for $102,100 CARTIER, BELLE ÉPOQUE, DIAMOND, ENAMEL, AND PLATINUM ‘PLAQUE DE COU’, CIRCA 1905
Property from the Collection of Sarah Helen Frelinghuysen Davis McCawley, thence by descent
of the periods, aquamarines and pearls also became highly sought after, completing the period’s elegant aesthetic.
Provenance played to the success of this necklace, which hammered at $80,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $15,000 – 25,000. This necklace has pedigree provenance, from the Collection of Sarah Helen Frelinghuysen Davis McCawley, thence by descent.
The Frelinghuysen family traveled in the elite circles of Gilded Age society with the Vanderbilts, Astors, and, in this case, even Edith Wharton. Sarah Helen Frelinghuysen Davis McCawley was the daughter of Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State, and Matilda Elizabeth Frelinghuysen. Sarah’s daughter, also named Mathilda, married George Cabot Lodge in August of 1900. Mr. Lodge was a poet and the two frequented in the circle of Edith Wharton. After the death of her first husband, Sarah married Major McCawley in 1906. This rare and fine necklace frontispiece would have been acquired during this period of family history.
DOES A MASTERPIECE LURK IN YOUR CLOSET?
BY TIMOTHY LONG, VICE PRESIDENT, MUSEUMS, CORPORATE CLIENTS & THIRD PARTY PARTNERSHIPS
Afascinating part of our work in the auction industry is to find exciting property to bring to market. From treasures inherited from family, or antiques found in the attic, the “hunt” for this material is exhilarating. Interestingly, sometimes the clues that we use to decipher the history and importance of an item are blurred and difficult to disentangle. In these situations, we rely on our years of experience and expertise to discover something “hidden,” a clue to unlock the real story. However, sometimes even the experts need some extra help when the clues are no longer visible to the naked eye.
A discovery of this kind was recently made when a client brought a vintage silk satin dress into Freeman’s | Hindman. Due to the beautiful design, compelling pattern, and sewing techniques used in the construction of the dress, the owner brought it to us for review, in the hope that there might be something more to this piece. And there is!
Throughout the history of fashion, there are designers that stand out for their unique contributions to the field, such as Gabrielle Chanel with her little black dress, and Christian Dior’s “New Look” after years of wartime rationing. The work created by these designers is almost always immediately recognizable as they created something new, something identifiable as theirs. Charles James, although less known than Chanel or Dior, is one such designer whose creations are immediately recognizable, even without a label.
Interestingly, this dress has a label, but the designer’s handwritten signature has faded away and vanished to the naked eye. Although the unique shape of the collar and shoulder of the dress could be matched to known designs by Charles James, a dress without a label (or a label without a name), often means the auction results will be less than if there were a label.
To solve this mystery and prove the important history of this dress, we applied scientific investigation to the label
in the form of visible-induced luminescence imaging in the infrared range, which forces the ink in James’ signature (whatever is left) to react differently than its surroundings. This difference allows for the outline of the signature of Charles James to become visible. To our surprise, we even found the date of the dress after the signature, proving this dress was made by the Anglo-American fashion designer Charles James in 1945.
Presented with an auction estimate of $2,000 - 3,000, we are delighted to report that this Charles James dress sold for $12,500.
Excitingly, after years of being lost in the world, this rediscovered Charles James dress has found its way back into the public sphere to the important archive of Francesca Galloway London. The dress was conserved, beautifully photographed, and features in a new book: An Eye For Couture: A Collector’s Exploration of 20th Century Fashion (ed. Christine Ramphal), Prestel Publishing, 2024.
What’s in your closet?
ABOVE Charles James Satin Evening Dress, 1945 as seen in An Eye For Couture: A Collector’s Exploration of 20th Century Fashion Images courtesy of Francesca Galloway London
An Eye For Couture: A Collector’s Exploration of 20th Century Fashion (ed. Christine Ramphal), Prestel Publishing, 2024 Images courtesy of Francesca Galloway London
FRESH FACES AT FREEMAN’S | HINDMAN
JULIA FITZGERALD, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
The firm was pleased to welcome Julia Fitzgerald as Chief Marketing Officer in January 2025. With over 20 years of leadership in branding and digital marketing—most recently as CMO of Build-A-Bear with key roles at the American Lung Association, Sears Holdings, Vtech, and Hallmark—Julia brings a track record of innovation and transformation. She will focus on expanding the auction house’s national presence, enhancing digital engagement, and elevating storytelling around its remarkable collections.
SAMANTHA MINSHULL, SPECIALIST, FURNITURE AND DECORATIVE ARTS
Samantha Minshull joined Freeman’s | Hindman as a Specialist in the Furniture and Decorative Arts department, bringing a wealth of experience from her previous roles at Christie’s, where she specialized in 18th-century European Decorative Arts, managing auction valuations, research, and cataloging. She has also held positions at Gurr Johns, Skinner, and Winston Art Group, further honing her expertise in fine furniture and porcelain.
FREEMAN’S | HINDMAN AT EXPO CHICAGO
Freeman’s | Hindman is honored to be a premier sponsor of EXPO Chicago 2025, taking place from April 24–27. As part of the fair, we are excited to host “Collecting Gertrude Abercrombie,” a panel discussion on April 26th from 1:00–2:00pm CT. Moderated by Zack Wirsum (Senior Vice President of Post-War and Contemporary Art, Freeman’s | Hindman), the panel will feature John Corbett (Corbett vs. Dempsey; Contributor, Gertrude Abercrombie: The Whole World Is a Mystery), Robert Cozzolino (Independent Curator), Erica Meyer (Collector and Lender to Gertrude Abercrombie: The Whole World Is a Mystery, Carnegie Museum of Art), and
Susan Weininger (Professor Emerita, Roosevelt University). Introduced by Allegra Biery (Group Managing Director, Northern Trust), the discussion will explore Abercrombie’s artistic legacy, symbolic language, and growing market appeal. Join us as we delve into the resurgence of interest in her work and its presence in our upcoming Post War and Contemporary Art sale.
TEFAF CURATOR’S LOUNGE
During TEFAF in May, Freeman’s | Hindman will transform one of their New York gallery spaces into an inviting Curator’s Lounge, offering museum professionals a dedicated space to connect and unwind. Open from May 7–13, the lounge will feature stylish seating and refreshments, with highlights from the upcoming Post War and Contemporary Art sale on view. Designed as a relaxed retreat during the bustling art fair, it provides a unique opportunity for curators to engage with colleagues just a block away from the Armory.
ABOVE, TO BE OFFERED MAY 13, NEW YORK
Gertrude Abercrombie (American, 1909-1977)
Landscape with Giraffe, c. 1950-55
$60,000 - 80,000
Property from the Collection of Dr. and Mrs. Roger Parr
AUCTION LIKE A PRO
Your Guide to Consigning with Style
BY LESLIE C. CALERO, DIRECTOR, TRUSTS, ESTATES & PRIVATE CLIENTS, NAPLES
Welcome, readers, to the enchanting realm of auctions! Whether you’re downsizing, settling an estate, or simply curious about the value of a unique item, navigating the auction process can be both thrilling and rewarding. As a representative from the Trusts, Estates & Private Clients team at Freeman’s | Hindman, I’m here to walk you through how to consign with confidence. This article is part of our ongoing series, “Auction Like a Pro,” created to empower you to make the most of your consigning journey, regardless of the item you wish to sell.
What Exactly Is an Auction?
At its core, an auction is a public sale in which goods are sold to the highest bidder—either in person or online. Auction houses serve as skilled intermediaries between sellers and buyers, handling everything from valuation and marketing to logistics and settlement. This not only saves you time and stress, but ensures your item receives the expert attention it deserves.
At Freeman’s | Hindman, we take pride in our team of more than 80 in-house specialists across 52 collecting categories. From fine art and jewelry to historical artifacts and couture, our experts provide customized guidance for each item and consignor. ABOVE
Alasdair Nichol, Chairman, taking an auction in Philadelphia
Start with the Right Auction House
Success begins with selecting an auction house that aligns with your goals and your items. The best partnerships are built on trust, transparency, and expertise. A reputable auction house will offer insight into market trends, authentication, and pricing strategies—ensuring you’re well-prepared every step of the way.
While it’s natural to hope for the highest hammer price, it’s also important to have informed expectations. Our specialists are here to help you understand the true market potential of your pieces and advise on the optimal sale format—whether that’s a marquee, live auction or a timed online sale.
Timing is Everything
When is the right moment to sell? That depends on several factors, including market demand, seasonality, and your own financial timeline. Every auction has submission deadlines, so be sure to review the auction calendar early. Ideally, begin preparing at least three months ahead of your preferred sale date. Payments are typically issued 31 days after the auction, so plan accordingly. Researching similar items and their recent sale results can also help you calibrate your expectations and set yourself up for success.
Know the Terms
Understanding the consignment agreement is essential. Auction houses may charge for services such as photography, insurance, handling, storage, and shipping. Many of these fees are negotiable. You’ll also have the option to place a reserve price—a minimum amount you’re willing to accept for your item. And if the item doesn’t sell? You’ll have the opportunity to retrieve it or explore other sale avenues based on our specialists’ recommendations.
Your Partner in the Process
Consigning can be an exciting and empowering experience—especially when you understand the value of what you own. With the right guidance, knowledge, and preparation, you can transform treasured possessions into exceptional opportunities. At Freeman’s | Hindman, we’re proud to offer personalized service backed by decades of expertise and a national presence. Our specialists are here to answer your questions, guide you through every step, and ensure your experience is seamless from start to finish.
Visit us at hindmanauctions.com to learn more—and let us help you turn your treasures into triumphs.
29 PHILADELPHIA
American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts
29 CHICAGO
Old Masters and 19th Century European Art
30 CINCINNATI
Arms, Armor and Militaria 30 PHILADELPHIA
Impressionist and Modern Art MAY
1 CINCINNATI
American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography
7 CHICAGO
Prints and Multiples
8 CHICAGO
Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana
Post War and Contemporary Art
Western and Contemporary Native American Art
20 CHICAGO
Early 20th Century Design
20 CHICAGO
Modern Design 21 CHICAGO
Lincoln’s Legacy: Historic Americana from the Life of Abraham Lincoln
22 CHICAGO
Antiquities and Ancient Art JUNE 8 PHILADELPHIA
American Art and Pennsylvania Impressionists
LOOKING FORWARD
$100,000 - 150,000 A FOCUS ON THE SIGNIFICANT AND NOTEWORTHY PROPERTY COMING UP FOR AUCTION THIS SEASON 22 26 27 28 31 32 34 36 37 38 24
LINCOLN’S LEGACY: HISTORIC AMERICANA FROM THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
WARHOL & THE WEST
LM APRIL 7, 1859 / DAVE: A RARE DAVID DRAKE CROCK A MOMENT CAPTURED: NICOLAI FECHIN’S MESMERIZING PORTRAIT OF XENIA
THE COLLECTION OF DR. PERCIVAL J. EATON
LIVING GRACEFULLY: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ESTATE OF HELEN ELLIOT SCOTT OF PHILADELPHIA
LOIS DODD HIGHLIGHTS POST WAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART SALE
MASTER OF CEREMONIES: THE JOEL GREY COLLECTION
AN UNDYING PASSION: THE BILL BEARD COLLECTION
THE ART OF GUNSMITHING: THE COLLECTION OF JEFFREY W. SANNER
REDFIELD, GARBER, AND COPPEDGE: A TRIO OF PENNSYLVANIA IMPRESSIONIST PAINTINGS
OPPOSITE TO BE OFFERED MAY 21, CHICAGO HESLER, Alexander (1823-1895), photographer. An oval bust portrait, signed (“A. Lincoln”), ca. 3 June 1860.
BY EMILY PAYNE, SPECIALIST, AMERICAN HISTORIC EPHEMERA AND EARLY PHOTOGRAPHY
More than 150 years after his untimely death, Abraham Lincoln remains a towering figure in our nation’s collective memory. His purpose, to save the Union, was never in doubt. His legacy, likewise, remains assured. Other than George Washington, there is perhaps no president whose leadership proved as pivotal to American history. Lincoln’s integrity of character, determination to ensure the success of the American experiment, and hope for our nation’s future endure as guiding principles for our country. He represents, in many ways, the very promise of America: that a man, with no family connections but possessing a keen intellect and a willingness to work, could rise to hold the most important office in the country.
This spring, Freeman’s | Hindman will have the great honor to offer selections from the Lincoln Presidential Foundation’s collection of Lincolniana, one of the most important Lincoln collections ever brought to market. Auction houses often use words like “honored” or “thrilled” as a prelude to a statement about offering a collection, but seldom have those words been truer than in the case of the upcoming sale, Lincoln’s Legacy: Historic Americana from the Life of Abraham Lincoln. Christopher Brink, Senior Specialist, Books & Manuscripts, comments: “This sale presents a rare opportunity to own a piece of American history coming directly from Lincoln descendants, with most items fresh
to the market. This category has never seen a sale of American presidential material this important in the history of collecting.”
Presented chronologically, every era of Lincoln’s journey to the presidency is represented in the Foundation’s collection. Frontiersman. Lawyer. Husband. Father. Politician. President. Martyr. Lincoln’s Legacy will explore the evolution of Abraham Lincoln’s personal and political life via 144 lots of historic Americana ranging from manuscripts, to books from Lincoln’s Illinois law office, to campaign ephemera, early photography, and relics associated with Lincoln’s assassination. Highlights include: a leaf from Lincoln’s childhood sum book bearing the earliest surviving example of his handwriting; a large oval portrait photograph,
– ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO J.R. GIDDINGS. SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. 26 JUNE 1860 –
inscribed and signed: “Yours truly / A. Lincoln”; a very rare first printing of Lincoln’s celebrated Second Inaugural Address; a pair of blood-stained white kid-leather gloves carried by President Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre the night of his assassination; and a printed broadside with three cartes de visite bearing the likenesses of John Wilkes Booth and his accomplices.
Rarely do collections of such historic significance come to auction. Preview exhibitions of lots from Lincoln’s Legacy: Historic Americana from the Life of Abraham Lincoln will be held in Freeman’s | Hindman’s New York, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Chicago galleries prior to the sale in Chicago on May 21.
INQUIRIES: lincolnslegacy@hindmanauctions.com
OPPOSITE, TO BE OFFERED MAY 21, CHICAGO
A cuff button worn by Lincoln on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.
$200,000 - 300,000
THIS PAGE, LEFT TO RIGHT, TO BE OFFERED MAY 21, CHICAGO
A pair of blood-stained white kid-leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.
$800,000 - 1,200,000
Autograph sum book leaf signed three times (“Abraham Lincoln”), Pigeon Creek, Spencer County, Indiana, ca 1824-1826.
$300,000 - 400,000
PHILADELPHIA VIEWING: April 23–26
2400 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
CINCINNATI VIEWING: April 29–May 2
5030 Oaklawn Drive, Cincinnati, OH
CHICAGO VIEWING: May 12–21
1550 West Carroll Avenue, Chicago, IL
Museum of the American Indian, various nineteenth-century photographs, and film stills, the portfolio of ten screenprints culminated in the images we are delighted to present here— an arresting mix of legendary Western figures like Theodore Roosevelt, General Custer, and Geronimo alongside traditional Native American artifacts and commercialized depictions of the West like the Buffalo Nickel.
BY MONICA BROWN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, FINE ART, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT, PRINTS AND MULTIPLES
Cowboys and Indians, one of Andy Warhol’s final projects before his death, offers an iconic study of the American West situated between perception and history. After two years of work, sourcing images from the collection of the
By blending mythologized symbols of the American West with his signature Pop Art aesthetic, Warhol adeptly critiques the way media and consumerism have shaped public perception of Indigenous cultures and historical figures. The vibrant colors, bold outlines, and layered imagery underscore Warhol’s ability to transform serious cultural subjects into striking visual commentary. This portfolio stands as a powerful exploration of America’s historical myths and their lasting impact on contemporary cultures.
Particularly interesting in the idea of perception in this portfolio is the original drive of its creation, where publishers Edmund Gaultney and Kent Klineman specifically approached Warhol in 1984 with the request that he take on a project with this theme. Warhol’s exploration of which scenes would resonate most with the public—and his contemplation of why the American West so powerfully reflects national identity—was central to the creation of the portfolio and remains key to its enduring resonance. This exploration of American identity and the West has only become more meaningful over time, as the West continues to shape popular culture and discourse, including through popular media such as the recent Paramount series Yellowstone. Simultaneously, art historians have increased their investigation into this previously undervalued area of Warhol’s oeuvre.
In 2019, the exhibition Warhol and the West traveled across the country, bringing familiarity with the imagery and a new
TO BE OFFERED MAY 7, CHICAGO
Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987)
Cowboys and Indians (the complete portfolio of ten), 1986
$600,000 - 800,000
Property from the David R. Smith Revocable Trust
appreciation for the subject matter within the traditional Western Art canon. This juxtaposition of the romanticization of the West, Warhol’s intentional use of imagery, and the art historical rediscovery of this critical theme in Warhol’s artistic output has thus allowed for a greater understanding and relevance of this portfolio today.
We are thrilled to offer this complete portfolio in our May 7th Prints and Multiples auction as part of the Property from the David R. Smith Revocable Trust. The portfolio was acquired by the family in 1986, shortly following its publication. As one of the rare complete sets with the unique John Wayne screenprint—featuring yellow accents that differentiate it from other impressions—the full set’s pristine condition and provenance present an opportunity for the most discerning collector to add a prime example of Pop Art and American history to their collection.
INQUIRIES: monicabrown@hindmanauctions.com
VIEWING: April 24–27; 1550 West Carroll Ave., Chicago, IL
Lm April 7, 1859 / Dave: A Rare David Drake Crock
BY BEN FISHER, MANAGING DIRECTOR, DECORATIVE ARTS
An important figure in recent American ceramics scholarship is the prolific, enslaved potter, David Drake (about 1800-1870) of South Carolina. Rare among enslaved people, Drake was literate and inscribed his utilitarian alkaline-glazed vessels with dates, commentary on daily life, religion, poetry, and most importantly, his name. Examples of Drake’s work were given context and featured in the landmark 2022 exhibition, Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina, which opened at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and traveled to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the High Museum of Art; and the University of Michigan, Museum of Fine Arts. His work is actively sought by collectors and institutions.
Freeman’s | Hindman is honored to offer a large two-handled, incised crock by David Drake in our April 29th American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts auction. The inscription along the vessel’s shoulder reads, Lm April 7, 1859 / Dave. The reverse of the vessel bears three incised hashmarks, indicating the large storage capabilities of the crock. While the three marks suggest that the crock could store 30-gallons, further rudimentary testing suggests that the maximum storage capacity is closer to 22-gallons.
The crock descended in the family of farmer Ralph Jones (1821-1890) and his wife, Susan Elizabeth Morton Jones (1847-1939), Eatonton, Putnam County, Georgia to the present owners.
Provenance
TO BE OFFERED APRIL 29, PHILADELPHIA
A Rare and Large Dave Drake Alkaline Glazed Two-Handled Stoneware Crock
David Drake (c. 1800-c.1870), Edgefield, South Carolina, 1859
$150,000 - 250,000
Ralph Jones (1821-1890) and Susan Elizabeth Morton Jones (1847-1939), of Eatonton, Georgia; to their daughter, Elizabeth Jones Gooch (1875-1969), and her husband Benjamin Erasmus Gooch (1869-1944); to their daughter, Susan Gooch Cone (1903-1950), and her husband Aaron Asberry Cone (1899-1967); thence my descent to the present owner, Eatonton, Georgia.
INQUIRIES: benfisher@hindmanauctions.com
VIEWING: April 23–28
2400 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
A FLEETING MOMENT NICOLAI FECHIN’S MESMERIZING PORTRAIT OF XENIA
BY RAPHAËL CHATROUX, VICE PRESIDENT, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT, IMPRESSIONIST AND MODERN ART
In the April 30th Impressionist and Modern Art auction, Freeman’s | Hindman will proudly present a mesmerizing portrait by Russian-born artist Nicolai Fechin, making its first appearance on the open market. This captivating work has remained in the family of the sitter for generations, adding to its historical significance.
Although Fechin received classical training at the Saint Petersburg Academy, he distinguished himself after moving to the United States in 1923 by developing a unique, instantly recognizable style. This distinct approach soon earned him a reputation as one of the most gifted portraitists of the 20th century.
The gem-sized portrait features Xenia, a young woman Fechin met in New York in the mid-1920s and to whom he provided art lessons at Grand Central until his departure for Taos in 1926. The piece is a striking example of Fechin’s signature broad, spontaneous brushstrokes and vibrant, free-spirited palette. Xenia’s alluring gaze and elegant, elongated fingers exude a sense of movement, seamlessly
TO BE OFFERED APRIL 30, PHILADELPHIA
(Russian, 1881-1955)
Portrait of Ksenia Pankratova
$80,000 - 120,000
blending with the expressive background—a dynamic composition of bold, contrasting yet harmonious colors that reflect her fiery temperament and exuberant personality. Fechin’s masterful interplay between the figurative and abstract, achieved through flickering, sweeping, and ephemeral strokes, makes this portrait truly exceptional. Rather than striving for mere likeness, he captures a fleeting moment—an expression full of life and energy.
Despite its small size, the portrait radiates joy and vitality, serving as a testament to the close bond between artist and sitter. Both Fechin and Xenia hailed from Kazan, Russia, and shared a deep appreciation for art. Their connection is evident not only in this portrait but also in archival photographs from the mid-1950s, where Xenia’s family can be seen in Fechin’s Taos studio—where he also painted a portrait of her dashing son.
INQUIRIES: rchatroux@freemansauction.com
VIEWING: April 21–26, 28-29
32 East 67th Street, New York, NY
Nicolai Fechin
THE COLLECTION OF DR. PERCIVAL J. EATON
BY RAPHAËL CHATROUX, VICE PRESIDENT, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT, IMPRESSIONIST AND MODERN ART
This Spring, Freeman’s | Hindman will have the privilege to present, across three sales, the historic fine art collection of Dr. Percival Eaton, Jr.—a founder of the Provincetown Art Association and Museum.
A LEADING PHYSICIAN
Born in Malden, MA, in 1862, Dr. Eaton was a true pioneer in pediatrics. Following his graduation from Harvard University Medical School in 1888, he became resident physician and surgeon at the Children’s Hospital in Boston before concluding his studies in Vienna, London, Edinburgh, and Dublin for another two years.
For many years, Dr. Eaton was one of the leading pediatricians in Pittsburgh, where he established himself in 1891 following his marriage to Emily Craft of Crafton, PA. There, he helped found the local Children’s Hospital as well as the department of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh.
Throughout his busy career, Dr. Eaton acted as an important civic figure, namely through his involvement with the Associated Harvard Clubs. He was also interested in the arts, serving for nearly 40 years as a director and, later, president of the Pittsburgh Art Society. This strong appreciation lasted through his retirement. In his sixties, Dr. Eaton and his wife relocated to Provincetown, where he became a fixture in the community, serving as chairman of the town library trustees, and most importantly as director and treasurer of the local Art Association, which still exists today.
LIFE ON CAPE COD
When he relocated to Provincetown, Dr. Eaton commissioned a stately waterfront house on Commercial Street, which remains one of the few brick houses in Provincetown to this day. After Dr. Eaton sold the house it maintained its prominence as it later became the house of mayor John Collins, artist Lily Harmon (first wife of Joseph Hirshhorn), art critic B.H. “Bob” Friedman, Norman Mailer, and now Diane von Furstenberg’s daughter, Tatiana.
In this house, Dr. Eaton assembled a beautiful and very personal collection, mostly composed of small-sized oils, which spoke to his own history and tastes. Mostly landscapes and portraits, but alternatively oils, pastels,
gouaches, or prints, the approximately fifty works in the collection—all fresh to the market and never before seen at auction or in galleries—act as a wonderful time capsule and provide an enlightening lesson of 1920s and 1930s art collecting.
A PERSONAL COLLECTION
Reflecting Eaton’s Pennsylvania years, specifically his long time spent in Pittsburgh, are works by George Sotter and Nancy M. Ferguson. Sotter is well represented in the collection through a quintessential, early and large nocturne scene depicting a solitary barn nestled in the quiet and tranquil snowy hills of Bucks County, where the Pittsburgh-born artist relocated at the turn of the 20th century (A Winter Night, $50,000 - 80,000). Featuring the artist’s distinctive pearly blues, and early stacked signature,
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ABOVE, TO BE OFFERED JUNE 8, PHILADELPHIA
Richard Edward Miller (American, 1875–1943)
Seated Lady
$10,000 - 15,000
OPPOSITE, TO BE OFFERED JUNE 25, ONLINE
Frank H. Desch (MILFORD) (American, 1873–1934)
Portrait of Percival Eaton
$1,000 - 1,500
the piece was an important one for Sotter, who entered it for exhibition at the renowned Carnegie Institute.
Most of the collection, of course, pays tribute to the incredible fertile group that Provincetown, and Cape Cod in general, represented for local and foreign artists in the 1920s and 1930s. As such, in the collection are works by local art celebrities and respected figures, such as Richard E. Miller, the famed Giverny American painter who permanently relocated to the Provincetown art colony. Dr. Eaton owned a very seductive squared gem by Miller depicting a fashionable lady, seated at her dressing table, a rose pinned in her hair (In the Sunroom, $10,00015,000). Likely a morning scene, the scene is replete with fresh pastel hues, ranging from soft blues to peachy pinks resulting in a fresh and riveting interior scene that boasts all the hallmarks of Miller’s larger canvases. Other names in the Collection speak to Eaton’s personal connection with artists in Provincetown, such as Gerrit A. Beneker, Frank H. Desch, and Henri Hensche, who were not only family friends but also responsible for many portraits of several members of the Eaton family, including Dr. Eaton himself (one such portrait, executed by Desch depicts Eaton in a ceremonial manner, elegantly draped in a black cloak with dashing red lapels, will be offered at auction this
season). The collection also includes several beautiful and sentimental portraits of Mary Eaton Groves, Eaton’s daughter who studied under Hensche, in addition to her husband, the Very Reverend Joseph Groves, their daughter Patricia, and son Jeff.
A stunning winter scene by Canadian artist Clarence Alphonse Gagnon (Sunday Morning, Québec $30,000 - 50,000) and a charming floral piece by French PostImpressionist Victor Charreton (Jardin à Ploare, $10,00015,000) reveal Dr. Eaton’s wide ranging artistic interest. Of their great grandfather and his collection, Josh and Ned Groves say:
“Growing
up with this collection was such a privilege. Our grandparents, parents, and aunt all cherished the paintings and treated them as members of the family. After the Provincetown house was sold, these works became a lasting connection to the Provincetown arts community. We are happy that they will find new, appreciative homes.”
AUCTIONS
Impressionist and Modern Art, April 30
American Art and Pennsylvania Impressionists, June 8
Collect: American Art Featuring the Collection of Dr. Percival Eaton, June 10
INQUIRIES: rchatroux@freemansauction.com
TOP LEFT, TO BE OFFERED JUNE 8, PHILADELPHIA
George William Sotter (American, 1879-1953)
The Barn
$50,000 - 80,000
LIVING GRACEFULLY Highlights from the Estate of Helen Elliot Scott of Philadelphia
BY GEMMA SUDLOW, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, MANAGING DIRECTOR, NEW YORK REGION
Freeman’s I Hindman is proud to present highlights from the estate of Helen Elliot Scott this spring season. The suite of sales is led by a group of works in our Impressionist and Modern Art auction on the 30th April, Philadelphia, including two works by Spanish female surrealist, Olga Sacharoff (La Chasse, $20,000 - 30,000 and Nature Morte, $6,000 - 8,000). Jewelry, including a sapphire and diamond ring and Tiffany & Co., mother-of-pearl, black onyx and gold bangle bracelet will be offered in the New York Important Jewelry auction on 18 June.
Born in Boston in 1928, Helen (Gay) Scott, nee Elliot, was a pianist, piano teacher, mother of three, grandmother of seven, and a shining example of how to live gracefully. She studied piano as a child at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA, and resumed her piano studies as an adult at the Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music while living in London from 1969 to 1973 where her husband was special assistant to the American ambassador to the Court of St. James, Walter Annenberg. Married for 42 years to Robert Montgomery Scott of Wayne, PA, who served as President and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art from 1982-1996, Helen also served on the board of the Curtis Institute of Music, taught for several decades at the Settlement Music School, and continued to teach privately into her nineties. She was a loyal alumna of the Shady Hill School and a graduate of the Foxcroft School and Radcliffe College.
Works of art, Americana, and furnishings from her home in Wayne, PA, will feature in our Americana auctions in Philadelphia this fall season
JEWELRY VIEWING: June 12 - 17 32 East 67th Street, New York, NY
ABOVE, Helen (Gay) Scott (nee Elliot) (1928-2024)
TOP RIGHT, TO BE OFFERED APRIL 30, PHILADELPHIA
Olga Sacharoff (Russian, 1889-1967)
La Chasse
$20,000 - 30,000
LOIS DODD HIGHLIGHTS
BY AARON CATOR, SENIOR SPECIALIST, POST WAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART
“I am not a travel painter. It just doesn’t work for me, though I enjoy it. I work best going back to the same places. I change, they change, or the weather changes. I used to think the subject would dry up, and I would have to make a move. But that never happened; it is the reverse.”
–LOIS DODD–
The 97-year-old painter Lois Dodd has been creating intensely observed and quietly influential paintings for over seven decades. In her intimately scaled works, Dodd focuses on familiar places, often executed in one plein-air sitting: Cushing, Maine, the Delaware Water Gap, Blairstown, New Jersey, or New York’s Lower East Side. Her subjects—both natural and architectural—include bucolic summer gardens, dried leafless plants, nocturnal moonlit skies, and myriad views through interior windows.
Drawing from fundamental principles of observed natural light and repeated looking that characterize the work of artists like Paul Cézanne and Edward Hopper, Dodd adopts an understated palette, and a shorthand of lyrical, rhythmic brushstrokes, with an intentional use of paint applications. Indeed, the suite of superlative works by Dodd included our May 13 Post War and Contemporary Sale in New York—October Barn & Trees Afternoon, Bush + Tree, Artichokes in Midnight, and Moon + Tree—encompass the range and deft skill that typify these principles and formal qualities throughout her oeuvre. Dodd’s 1997 October Barn & Trees Afternoon depicts a calm, seemingly mundane, autumn scene while Bush + Tree, completed years later, captures the serenity and starkness of a snow scene, all becoming an ode to the natural world’s shortterm flux and long-term rhythms. In these works, Dodd affirms she is not striving for illusion, but rather keenly engaged in the material, concrete reality of the world as seen through paint.
INQUIRIES: aaroncator@hindmanauctions.com
VIEWING: May 5–12
32 East 67th Street, New York, NY
October Barn & Trees Afternoon, 1997
$15,000 - 25,000
OPPOSITE, TO BE OFFERED MAY 13, NEW YORK
Lois Dodd (American, b. 1927)
Bush + Tree, 2009
$15,000 - 25,000
ABOVE, TO BE OFFERED MAY 13, NEW YORK
Lois Dodd (American, b. 1927)
“Throughout my many happy decades in Manhattan, I was lucky enough to amass an art collection that speaks to the many friendships and artistic milieu that defined this era of my life and career. I’ve always thought of myself as custodian of these beautiful things and I’m excited for a new generation to find joy and inspiration in them through this auction.”
–JOEL GREY–
MASTER OF CEREMONIES THE JOEL GREY COLLECTION
By Gemma Sudlow, Executive Vice President and Managing Director
of the New York Region, who reflects on her experience viewing the Joel Grey Collection in his downtown loft—his home since the 1990s, recently sold—ahead of the upcoming auction of his treasured pieces this spring.
The sun was just dipping below the Palisades and the skyline of Northern New Jersey in the expansive loft space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Hudson. It was one of those singularly dark and grey New York days in January, but the space was suffused with light. The center table as you entered was piled with photography monographs, and the walls that greet you were lined with Joel Grey’s own art photography—the Statue of Liberty in the morning fog, a variegated tulip that recalls all at once both Dutch Old Master still-life painting in its subject matter and Mapplethorpe with its focus on form. Then comes the work of Grey’s lifelong friend and fellow artist, prints and drawings by Jim Dine—with almost all examples lovingly inscribed and dedicated.
This most immediate sense, of Grey as an artist, is then augmented with his black lacquer piano (bedecked with an Academy Award) as you enter the living space that brings to the fore the aspects of the collection for which Grey is best known—as a master (not only of ceremonies) but of stage and screen. The apartment continues in this vein—of
contemporary art, with a thread of muted hues and subtle contrasts and an emphasis on the ephemeral—with works on paper by Claes Oldenburg, R. B. Kitaj, and led by a portrait of Grey by David Hockney. Sculpture by Bruce Robbins and Betty Parsons and an extraordinary portrait of author Michael Arlen by Ray Johnson lead the auction this spring season, launching with a preview and celebration of Joel Grey at 32 East 67th Street.
The New York exhibition will run during the Tony Awards from June 3–18, with the sale on June 20.
INQUIRIES: lcolavita@freemansauction.com
OPPOSITE
Joel Grey, photo by Henry Leutwyler
THIS PAGE, ABOVE, TO BE OFFERED JUNE 20
Three 16MM Film Reels from Cabaret with Original Shipping Case Container vintage film reel shipping case containing three reels fully spooled around metal, each inscribed Motion Pictures Enterprises
$1,000 - 2,000
THIS PAGE, RIGHT, TO BE OFFERED JUNE 20
Jim Dine (American, b. 1935)
Heart, 1982
$8,000 - 12,000
AN UNDYING PASSION
The Bill Beard Collection
BY TIM PRINCE, SENIOR CONSULTING SPECIALIST, ARMS, ARMOR & MILITARIA
William L “Bill” Beard (1941-2024) was born in Columbus, MS. He attended Mississippi State University, served in the 2nd Battalion of the 20th Special Forces Mississippi Army Reserve and spent most of his life in the Nashville, TN area, working for Nashville Electric Company. Bill had an undying passion for Civil War history and particularly for the military material culture of that war that was produced in Nashville and Memphis, TN and Columbus, MS. He focused decades of research and collecting efforts on the Memphis Novelty Works, an early war Memphis-based maker of Confederate edged weapons, including swords, bayonets, and knives, as well as brass accouterments like belt buckles and spurs. Bill worked tirelessly to establish the historical timeline of the firm’s production, contracts, and evolution, as the owner Thomas Leech joined forces with Charles H. Rigdon to establish Leech & Rigdon in 1862. At that time the firm expanded into firearms production as well. With the fall of Memphis in summer of 1862, the firm relocated to Columbus, MS where Bill was born. As the war progressed, and the Union Army made inroads into the south, Leech & Rigdon relocated to Selma, AL and finally to Goldsboro, GA. The products produced by the firm are scarce and desirable to collectors of Civil War military artifacts, and Bill’s collection is a fine grouping of Memphis Novelty Works / Leech &
TO BE OFFERED IN 2025
Rigdon material. It is further rounded out by the addition of other Tennessee-made swords that were the products of the College Hill Arsenal of Nashville, and some Cook & Brother items made in New Orleans and Columbus, MS and Selma, AL, as that company was also forced to relocate several times during the war.
We are proud to offer Part I of the Bill Beard Collection of Confederate Arms on April 30 in our Premier Arms, Armor & Militaria Sale and will be offering Part II on October 22.
INQUIRIES: timprince@hindmanauctions.com
VIEWING: By Appointment Only 5030 Oaklawn Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45227
A selection of Confederate arms from The Bill Beard Collection
Part of the joy in handling artifacts is the sensation of the lingering power that even the departed still have. The patents and design work of gunsmiths, engineers, and stockmakers linger on in the work they inspired, and in the objects left behind. This quiet legacy lives on in the collection of Jeffrey W. Sanner, a collector with a taste for firearms built by gunsmiths, and by some of the world’s most bespoke gunmakers. Each object conveys in some way the personality and talents of its creator and its collector.
Take, for example, the custom-built Baby Luger pistols by John V. Martz. During his life, he established a reputation for breathing new life into battered handguns with a fit and finish that rivaled even the finest examples of DWM production. Moreover, anyone who would go through the trouble of rechambering a Luger in .45 ACP must have a sense of humor, a fact attested to by the touching memorials written by his family.
The Art of Gunsmithing The Collection of Jeffrey W. Sanner
BY BARRETT SHARPNACK, ASSOCIATE SPECIALIST, ARMS, ARMOR & MILITARIA
Beyond these, an array of Farquharson action rifles by such bespoke gunsmakers as George Gibbs, Holland & Holland, and W.J. Jeffrey each provide their wielder with sumptuous engraving upon actions sturdy enough to endure the roughest African hunting expedition. Beauty and brawn crafted all in one in steel, and showing the progression of the action from its early George Gibbs days and beyond.
The list of fine gunmakers within this collection, offered throughout our 2025 Arms, Armor & Militaria premier and online auctions, abounds: Bob Loveless, Stephan Heilmann, Schmidt & Habermann, and Armand Swenson. Together, these items collectively convey their collector’s love and appreciation for the work of craftsmen in an age of manufacturing. It is a gallery of art best appreciated with a glass of scotch and a fine cigar in the fashion of Jeffrey Sanner.
INQUIRIES: barrettsharpnack@hindmanauctions.com
VIEWING: By Appointment Only 5030 Oaklawn Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45227
A selection of firearms from The Collection of Jeffrey W. Sanner
REDFIELD, GARBER, AND COPPEDGE:
A TRIO OF PENNSYLVANIA IMPRESSIONIST PAINTINGS
BY ADAM VEIL, VICE PRESIDENT, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT, AMERICAN ART AND PENNSYLVANIA IMPRESSIONISTS
Atrio of Pennsylvania Impressionist canvases leads Freeman’s | Hindman’s June 8 American Art and Pennsylvania Impressionists sale in Philadelphia. Presented at auction for the first time, the group, centerpieces of an important private collection, includes significant works by Edward Redfield, Daniel Garber, and Fern Coppedge—icons of the New Hope School and early-20th century American painting.
In Redfield’s First Snow, the artist captures the quiet grandeur of a narrow stream, a recurring motif within his oeuvre. Here, the water acts as a compositional guide— an invitation to explore the depths of a snow-laden forest. Rendered in thick, muscular brushstrokes, Redfield accords the landscape a kind of noble simplicity, recasting the starkness of winter as a full-throated celebration of rural beauty. Though devoid of figures, the scene brims with life; the meandering stream and subtle animations of sunlight and shadow suggest the potential for movement, change, renewal. Executed en plein air, First Snow attests to the visual and emotional complexities—indeed, the spirit—of site and season.
Garber’s Grey November Day offers an atmospheric, lateautumn depiction of the Delaware River, the beating heart
of Bucks County and Pennsylvania Impressionism. Painted from River Road above Lumberville, Pennsylvania, the water gleams with reflected light, while distant hills and houses—the Berger Farm in New Jersey—all but dissolve in delicate strokes. Garber, who both studied and taught at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, brought sophistication and refinement to New Hope. His technique relied on subtle gradations and blended tones—here, culminating in an illusion of depth and dimension. Grey November Day, deemed by Garber “one of [his] very best,” demonstrates that Pennsylvania Impressionism was simultaneously grounded and transcendent, familiar and sublime.
Coppedge settled in Lumberville, near Garber, in 1920 and for the next 30 years trained her eye on the region’s picturesque villages and idyllic landscapes—many of them nestled under a blanket of downy snow. Winter, Bucks County, one of three works by Coppedge in the collection, includes all of the hallmarks of her broadly appealing, if idiosyncratic style: simplified, mosaic-like forms, a vibrant palette, and a deliberate flattening of perspective. The present view was a favorite of the artist’s: the road to Lumberville, quaint and unpeopled. Eschewing the grand vistas of Garber and George Sotter—the latter represented
in the collection by Winter Nocturne—Coppedge celebrates the intimate and the everyday. She celebrates Bucks County life writ small
The collection, then, is no mere group of paintings; it represents the collective vision of three artists, each of whom played a vital role in shaping the identity and legacy of Impressionist painting in southeastern Pennsylvania. Viewed together, the works offer a glimpse into the farreaching manifestations of Pennsylvania Impressionism— and into the ability of Redfield, Garber, and Coppedge to interpret the same region in a way that is at once vastly different and uniquely beautiful.
INQUIRIES: aveil@freemansauction.com
VIEWING: June 2–7
2400 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT, TO BE OFFERED JUNE 8, PHILADELPHIA
Fern Isabel Coppedge (American, 1888-1951)
Winter, Bucks County
$60,000 - 100,000
Daniel Garber (American, 1880-1958)
Grey November Day
$60,000 - 100,000
Edward Willis Redfield (American, 1869-1965)
First Snow, 1928
$100,000 - 150,000
APPRAISALS CORNER
UPDATES, HAPPENINGS, AND ADVICE FROM THE FREEMAN’S | HINDMAN APPRAISALS TEAM
Spring Cleaning, Fairy Dust, and the Magic of Appraisals
BY TIM LUKE, CAI, BAS, MPPA, ISA-AM
Ah, spring! The season of sunshine, blooming flowers, and the sudden, overwhelming urge to purge your home of everything dusty and cluttered. It’s a time for fresh starts, open windows, and discovering treasures (and maybe a few dust bunnies the size of small pets) lurking in the forgotten corners of your attic.
But a curious thing often happens amidst the joyful chaos of sorting through old sweaters and forgotten knick-knacks. You stumble upon something…special. Grandma’s antique brooch, perhaps, or that painting you inherited hanging in the spare bedroom for years. Suddenly, the spring cleaning project takes a turn. Is this just a pretty trinket, or could it be something more?
This, my friends, is where the magic of appraisals comes in. Think of appraisers as the fairy godparents of your possessions. They possess the knowledge and expertise to transform the mundane into the magnificent (or sometimes confirm that your “priceless” porcelain cat collection is, in fact, just a collection of porcelain cats).
Imagine this: you’re wielding a feather duster like a valiant knight battling dust dragons, and you unearth a dusty old box. Inside is a peculiar-looking vase, nestled amongst faded photographs and love letters. Is it a priceless Ming Dynasty heirloom or something you picked up at a garage sale for five bucks? Only a qualified appraiser can tell you for sure!
through time, and the craftsmanship that went into its creation. Suddenly, that dusty vase isn’t just an object; it’s a piece of history, a connection to the past.
And let’s be honest: knowing the value of your possessions is also incredibly practical. Whether insuring your valuables, planning your estate, or satisfying your curiosity, an appraisal provides the information needed to make informed decisions. No more guessing games! No more wondering if that “art” your child created with finger paints and glitter is worth millions (spoiler alert: probably not, but it’s priceless to you, and that’s what truly matters).
So, as you embark on your decluttering adventure this spring, remember the magic of appraisals. They can add a touch of wonder to your spring cleaning, transforming ordinary objects into extraordinary stories. And who knows, maybe you’ll discover that the real treasure wasn’t the stuff you were getting rid of but the hidden gems you already owned.
An appraisal isn’t just about putting a price tag on your stuff; it’s about uncovering the story behind it. It’s like a mini-history lesson, revealing the object’s origins, journey INQUIRIES: timluke@hindmanappraisals.com
Beyond Insurance Appraisals
BY MARISA PALMER, GIA GG, ASA AM
The Freeman’s | Hindman Appraisals team offers a range of specialized services beyond traditional appraisals. In addition to comprehensive reports for insurance replacement value and estate tax fair market value, we provide niche solutions to help manage and plan for your collection’s future. One of these options is a Fair Market Value Appraisal for Financial Planning purposes.
Fair Market Value (FMV) for Financial Planning appraisal reports provide clients and advisors with relevant information to make informed decisions about the collection. Common uses for FMV for Financial Planning appraisal reports are the distribution of assets between the heirs in an estate, calculating possible estate tax or capital gains tax on the collection, and providing an illustrated inventory with FMV of the collection. The latter becomes important when a life event such as in-home health care or assisted living becomes necessary. Other scenarios include aiding in decisions surrounding acquisitions or deaccessions from a collection by showing where abundances or deficits are located.
All our appraisers and appraisal reports comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). This is significant because the IRS, insurance companies, and financial institutions require that all appraisers and appraisal reports be USPAP-compliant. In short, this means that the appraiser and the appraisal report follow ethical guidelines and appraisal industry standards, and that the appraiser will provide an independent, impartial, and objective opinion of value.
Unsure which type of appraisal report will benefit you or your client most? We are happy to work with you to create one that aligns with your goals and needs. Our skilled appraisal team is available to review our services and suggest the best fit for your unique situation.
INQUIRIES: marisapalmer@hindmanappraisals.com
A TRANSATLANTIC VIEW
A VIEW EXTENDING BEYOND THE SHORES OF THE UNITED STATES TO INCLUDE OUR SISTER AUCTION HOUSE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, LYON & TURNBULL
TO BE OFFERED JUNE 26, LONDON
Rene Lalique (1860-1945)
Victoire Car Mascot, No. 1147
£6,000 - 8,000
CARTIER CURATED
Lyon & Turnbull London are delighted to be hosting a unique one-off auction this spring dedicated exclusively to the works of Cartier. London will play host to a global surge in interest in Cartier as the V&A Museum are holding the first exhibition dedicated to Cartier in the UK for nearly 30 years.
This boutique auction will include items dating from the 1910s all the way to contemporary designs reflecting the developing styles and focus of the brand. The auction will include high jewelry, rare watches, clocks, and handbags.
One highlight of the auction is this rare gold, diamond, and topaz necklace made in Paris by the highly collectible designer Georges Lenfant for Cartier and then retailed by Cartier London in 1960. The spacer on the necklace is detachable into a brooch allowing the owner to wear it either as a single magnificent necklace or as a separate necklace and a topaz brooch.
The collector’s market for works by Cartier, particularly from highly desirable periods, has been increasing significantly year on year. Lyon & Turnbull’s specialists are delighted to be offering this unique platform for buyers and sellers alike to access this desirable market.
AUCTION
Cartier Curated April 29 22 Connaught St, London
SPECIALIST
Sarah Duncan GG sarah.duncan@lyonandturnbull.com
TO BE OFFERED APRIL 29, LONDON
Cartier: A gold necklace by Georges Lenfant with a detachable Imperial topaz and diamond cluster, 1960
£30,000 - 40,000
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF ART DECO
This exciting one-off sale at Lyon & Turnbull London will celebrate 100 years since the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes and shine a spotlight on Art Deco as a style.
2025 marks the centenary of the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, the pivotal Paris exhibition that changed the history of design and architecture. The objective was to promote French design, but it also brought together the world’s most influential figures and arguably the agenda for the rest of the century with the rise of Modernism and the ascent of Scandinavian design. Women were very much brought to the fore as consumers following the Great War and this marked a significant moment with their becoming a target audience.
The era often described as the Roaring Twenties, the Machine Age, and the Golden Age of Travel, saw Art Deco emerge as a style rich in diversity. Besides being both international and national with its regional variations, it was a style paying homage to other cultures. While luxury and traditional craftsmanship were esteemed, modernity was also revered with soaring skyscrapers and new materials explored. Lyon & Turnbull’s dedicated auction will feature furniture, sculpture, lighting. metalwork, silver, ceramics, glass, carpets, posters, jewelry, and textiles.
AUCTION
1925: Celebrating Art Deco June 26
Noho Studios, 46 Great Titchfield Street, London
SPECIALIST
Joy McCall joy.mccall@lyonandturnbull.com
AN ART-WORLD TRAILBLAZER
THE GILLIAN RAFFLES COLLECTION
Gillian Raffles (née Posnansky) was a trailblazing gallerist in London’s male-dominated post-war art scene. Born in December 1930, she defied the norms of her era, proving that women could shape the art world. In 1964, she founded the Mercury Gallery, a space that championed figurative art and emerging British artists, breaking barriers in an industry controlled by men.
From the outset, the Mercury Gallery provided a vital platform for lesser-known British artists, giving them a crucial career foothold. However, Raffles quickly realized that focusing solely on emerging talent wasn’t financially viable on Cork Street. To sustain the gallery, she expanded its focus to established artists, particularly drawings and watercolors, and introduced works by 20th-century European greats like Egon Schiele, Emil Nolde, and Ernst Kirchner.
In an era dominated by abstraction and conceptual art, Raffles remained steadfast in her commitment to figurative work. She famously stated, “Figuration has always had both creative original exponents and collectors and will, I believe, continue to have, in spite of fashionable trends.”
Sarah Hargreaves, a fellow gallerist and friend, highlighted the Mercury Gallery’s significance: “If you wanted to show figurative work, the Mercury Gallery was the place. It wasn’t about trends; it was about respecting the artist’s voice and allowing them to grow. Gillian didn’t put up with nonsense, and that’s why artists trusted her.”
A typical year at the gallery consisted of ten shows, an impressive feat for what was essentially a “One Man Band.” This included a number of international art fairs, participating regularly in fairs in the US including the Chicago Art Fair.
Despite the financial risks, Raffles continued to support new artists. “We take them on with not a great hope of selling their work—no guarantees—but even if a whole show does sell, it is not going to make the gallery as much profit as selling one picture out of here,” she admitted. Her approach balanced artistic passion with business pragmatism.
Expanding to Edinburgh in 1982, Scotland’s capital city, Raffles further solidified her commitment to figurative art. The gallery played a key role in the Scottish art scene, showcasing artists like Elizabeth Blackadder, John Houston, and John Bellany.
After 37 years in 2001, Raffles retired and the Mercury Gallery shut its London location. She continued working from home, specializing in Henri Gaudier-Brzeska and collaborating with other galleries. Her legacy remained strong, with the Tate now holding the Mercury Gallery archive.
Gillian Raffles passed away on November 23, 2021, leaving behind an indelible mark on the British art world. Her vision, integrity, and dedication to figurative art paved the way for future generations of female gallerists.
Works from the estate of Gillian Raffles will be offered over a series of sales in the spring and autumn season at Lyon & Turnbull beginning with the initial selection taking place in the flagship Modern Made auction in London on May 1 and 2. Standout works include pieces by German Expressionists Emil Nolde and Ernst Kirchner, a beautiful portrait by William Nicholson of Nancy in a Feather Hat (The Artist’s Daughter) from 1910, and a selection of Modern British artworks, including works by Keith Vaughan and Edward Burra. Also featured is a significant collection of works on paper by Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, an artist with whom Raffles had a deep and enduring connection.
AUCTION
MODERN MADE ft. The Gillian Raffles Collection May 1–2
The Mall Galleries, London
SPECIALIST
Philip Smith: philip.smith@lyonandturnbull.com
OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT
Gillian Raffles, circa 1985
Sir William Nicholson (British 1872-1949)
Nancy in a Feather Hat (The Artist’s Daughter), 1910
£25,000 - 35,000
Gillian Raffles outside the Mercury Gallery on Cork Street, London, 1992
Henri Gaudier-Brzeska (French 1891-1915)
Woman with Side Buns, c. 1912-4
£10,000 - 15,000
Participants are raving about the Decorative Arts Trust’s Study Trips Abroad!
“We felt that we had insider access to each wonderful historic site.”
“You always have a great selection of private venues, and it’s fun to see the hosts enjoying our visits.”
“Very well thought out, planned, and orchestrated. Amazing attention to detail.”
“Such a nice trip with a friendly group of people. Thank you!”
Join us the Netherlands, Scotland, and the Balkans in 2026!
Learn more at decorativeartstrust.org/travel.
Clockwise from top left: Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Kasteel De Haar, Utrecht, The Netherlands, photo by Rafa Rivero; Dumfries House, Cumnock, Scotland; Newhailes, Musselburgh, Scotland; Montenegro; Pucisca, Croatia.
