PHILADELPHIA, PA.- Freeman's January 26th and 27th English & Continental Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts sale concluded with exceptional prices achieved for some exceptional items. Most notable was a Charles II Joseph Knibb bracket clock which soared to a final price of $103,000, exceeding its presale estimate of $60,000-80,000. The other highlight of the first day was a fine George II Chinese Chippendale silver table from a private estate, which sold to a bidder on the phone. The hammer came down at $46,000 (including premium), more than five times it's $5,000-7,000 estimate. "Very few examples of this form survive from this period, and its strong provenance played an important role in its eventual hammer price", commented Robert Waterhouse, Vice President and Head of the English & Continental Furniture Department.

The second day saw strong results for early Italian furniture and decorative arts and items of Russian interest, including a Faberge gold mounted spinach jade page turner by workmaster Michael Perchin which sold for $20,000 and a Faberge silver frame containing a photograph of Queen Alexandra which sold for $16,250. Other highlights included a Regence japanned commode selling for $22,500; a large KPM porcelain plaque painted with a scene after Rubens for $18,750; and a South Italian walnut bombe commode for $13,750. "This sale shows a vast improvement on the last twelve months and its results show a clear resurgence in buyer confidence in the market", says Waterhouse.

Freeman's success with English period furniture has allowed the department to secure a consignment of some of the best English furniture outside of New York City, to be sold in the May English & Continental Furniture and Decorative Arts sale. The department is now taking other consignments for this sale