PHILADELPHIA, PA.- Freeman’s November 10 American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts auction was characterized by competitive bidding over American national flags, rare silver, early American furniture, and 19th-century paintings. The sale achieved an impressive $1.64M.

“The auction was a panoply of rare and historic Americana that appealed to a broad range of collectors and dealers,” says Lynda Cain, Head of Sale. “From extraordinary folk art and American Flags, to a fine selection of 18th-century silver by renowned makers, to historic Philadelphia landscapes, portraits, and furniture, fine representative examples garnered considerable attention and achieved strong prices. We are delighted with the results.”

Key to Freeman’s successes in Wednesday’s auction and beyond is a market return to regionalism; as we witness a growing appreciation for American-made objects, quintessentially American items are maintaining and growing strength in the market. Positioned in the birthplace of the nation with a long-standing reputation for excellence, Freeman’s consistently delivers strong results for significant American items.

MARKET STRENGTH IN RARE SILVER

Freeman’s November 10 auction featured a strong grouping of American silver throughout the ages, from Pilgrim-era items to Classical presentation pieces and late-19th-century tea and flatware services. Silver pieces made in Philadelphia elicited much buyer interest, including a silver coffeepot made by William Hollingshead circa 1770, which achieved $37,800 (Lot 88; estimate: $20,000-30,000), and a silver covered tankard by Philip Syng, Jr. circa 1750, which sold for $30,240 (Lot 85; estimate: $12,00-18,000). A silver caudle cup (Lot 56; estimate: $6,000-8,000) and a silver covered tankard (Lot 77; estimate: $15,000-25,000) both achieved $27,720.

COLLECTION OF AMERICAN NATIONAL FLAGS OUTPERFORMS ESTIMATES

Wednesday’s sale was led by The American National Flag Collection of Jeffrey Kenneth Kohn, MD, consisting of rare examples amassed by a preeminent national flag expert. A rare 44-star flag commemorating Wyoming statehood more than doubled its pre-sale high estimate to achieve $63,000 (Lot 36; estimate: $15,00-25,000), and a rare 13-star flag with 21 “scattered stars” sold for $59,850 (Lot 4; estimate: $25,000-50,000). Civil War-era flags performed well, including a 34-star “Union and Liberty Forever” flag commemorating Kansas statehood, which far exceeded its estimates to achieve $35,280 (Lot 13; estimate: $10,000-20,000); overall, the results confirmed Freeman’s pride of place in presenting fine, focused single-owner collections at auction.

FREEMAN’S DELIVERS STRONG RESULTS FOR AMERICAN FURNITURE

Several results in American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts confirm market strength for fine works of early American furniture making. Two pieces from the 18th and 19th century in Philadelphia shattered estimates: a Chippendale carved mahogany side chair (Lot 96), which exceeded its pre-sale high estimate of $5,000 by a remarkable nearly 13 times to achieve $63,000, and a Federal inlaid and figured mahogany pier table, which doubled its pre-sale high estimate to sell for $50,400 (Lot 137; estimate: $15,000-25,000). Two New England works sparked competitive bidding, both a William & Mary carved oak “Hadley” chest with drawer (Lot 51; estimate: $10,000-20,000), which achieved $20,160, and the Kellogg/Belden Family Queen Anne carved cherry high chest (Lot 68; estimate: $10,000-15,000), which sold for $18,900.

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: PHILADELPHIA VIEWS AND U.S. HISTORY

A historic Philadelphia landscape, View of Fairmount Water-Works with Schuylkill in Distance, circa 1840 achieved $69,300 (Lot 164; estimate: $15,000-25,000), and Thomas Sully’s Portrait of a Young Girl Holding Pet Terrier outperformed its pre-sale high estimate by nearly 12 times to achieve $59,850 (Lot 191; estimate: $3,000-5,000). Historic American works generated much buyer interest, from the 1833 Eagle Map of the United States Engraved for the Rudiments of National Knowledge that achieved $44,100 (Lot 206; estimate: $20,000-30,000) to a copper-plate printed handkerchief, “First Built Line of Battle Ship in the Western World,” circa 1814, that surpassed its pre-sale estimate by nearly 14 times to sell for $40,950 (Lot 120; estimate: $2,000-3,000).