DEDHAM, MA.- Grogan and Company Fine Art Auctioneers and Appraisers announces their December Auction will be held on Sunday, December 11th, 2011 at 12:00 noon. The 400 lot auction will be comprised of a Fine Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture, Chinese Decorative Works of Art and Textiles; American and European Paintings, Drawings, Prints and Sculpture; and Oriental Rugs and Carpets.

The auction will begin with more than 200 lots of Chinese Furniture, Works of Art, Textiles and Scroll Paintings. Highlights of this varied collection of Chinese works of art include an important collection of classic Chinese furniture consigned by J. Malcolm Swenson of Hanover New Hampshire. Mr. Swenson developed a keen interest in Chinese culture and design in the 1970’s while serving as an advisor to the Chinese government on China’s construction and development. Following his work in supplying and installing the granite walls for China’s United Nations Mission Building, Swenson continued to consult as a “foreign expert” on the technical advancement of China’s building projects. While living in China, Swenson collected Chinese rugs, scholar’s objects and furniture with the assistance of Mr. Cui Wei Lian, a director of the Beijing Hardwood Furniture Factory.

Much of Mr. Swenson’s collection was exhibited at the Kimball-Jenkins Estate in Concord, New Hampshire in 2004. Highlights of the Swenson Collection of Classic Chinese Furniture includes a Pair of 17th century Huanghuali High Yoke-backed Armchairs with a presale estimate of $60,000-90,000; a Pair of 17th/18th century Huanghuali Woven Seat Folding Stools, estimated at $40,000-60,000; an 18th century Huanghuali Corner Leg Table, estimated at $40,000-60,000 and an “Official's Hat” Armchair, estimated to bring $20,000-30,000. In addition to these Fine Classic examples of Chinese furniture, the auction will include examples of “Vernacular” furniture from a Maine Collector. “Vernacular” furniture was made for and utilized by the general populace of China as opposed to “Fine Classic” furniture which was made for the more prosperous classes. Examples of “Vernacular” furniture include a Pair of Elmwood and Black Lacquer Armchairs, estimated at $2,500-3,500 and an Elmwood and Brown Lacquer Long table, estimate at $4,500-6,500. Both lots were exhibited at the Peabody-Essex Museum’s “Friends of the House: Furniture from China’s Towns and Villages” Exhibition held in 1996 and were formerly in the collection of the renowned 20th century Chinese artist, Zeng Xiaojun.

Chinese porcelain and pottery highlights include two Qing dynasty Hu form vases, both from private Massachusetts collections, estimated to fetch $2,000-4,000 and 3,000-5,000 respectively, a Qing dynasty Apple Green Brush Washer, estimated at $2,000-3,000 and a Peach Bloom Water Pot, both bearing Kangxi marks. Also included will be several pieces of Republic period porcelain from a Canadian collector and early pottery pieces, from a Maine collector include a Han dynasty Vessel, estimate at $1,000-1,500; a Tang dynasty Ewer, estimated at $500-700; and two circa 1500 BC Pottery Footed Vessels, bear a $1,000-1500 estimate.

Several jade lots from a Rhode Island collector include an exceptional Carved Dark Green Jade Covered Round Box with impressed reign marks, estimated at $5,000-10,000; a pale Green Jade Dragon and Pagoda Carving, $3,000-4,000 estimate; and a Carved White Jade Reticulated Bowl, estimate $2,000-3,000. Chinese textiles and embroidered silk robes will include an Imperial Dragon and Phoenix Bird Decorated Robe, estimate at $2,000-3,000 and a Rare 19th century Nine Dragon Embroidered Robe, estimated at $3,000-5,000. A rare and interesting late Qing dynasty red satin and metallic thread embroidered coverlet honoring the 60th birthday of Mrs. Hong of Xian Xi Province, China, with an extensive inscription is estimated to fetch $2,000-5,000.

The Chinese section of the sale will conclude with a varied collection of Chinese and Japanese scroll paintings, including an unusual Chinese Ancestral Scroll Painting, measuring 9 x 6 feet with a presale estimate of $500-1,000, several Japanese 19th century woodblock prints and a 16 foot long Chinese scroll painting attributed to Zhang Daqin (1899-1983) which is estimated to fetch $6,000-8,000.

Highlights of the Fine Art session will include Winter on Wall Street, a 16 x 12 inch oil on board by American artist, Guy Wiggins, estimated at $30,000-50,000 and Frederick Bosley’s Arrangement, a 36” x 34” oil on canvas of a woman in white leaning on Nike, estimated at $7,000-10,000. A charcoal drawing by venerated Dutch-American abstract expressionist Willem De Kooning titled Easter Cross, is estimated at $20,000-30,000. The drawing, created on Easter in 1968, was presented by De Kooning’s to his friends Xavier Fourcade and Eugene Taylor while guests at an Easter dinner. The sculpture offerings will include Farewell Kiss, a Russian bronze signed Grachev and bearing the foundry mark Fabr. Woeffel, $800-1,200.

The auction will conclude with over 100 rugs and carpets including several rare and collectible early 19th Chinese Ningxia mats from the J. Malcolm Swenson Collection. Other highlights include a circa 1920 Silk Souf Kashan Rug estimated at $4,000-5,000; a Kazak Rug with a figural border, $3,000-4,000 and a large collection of shawls and 19th century Turkomen Ensis, Chuvals and Tekkes.