December 2007 - More from the Markets

The following auction snippets about American miniatures may be of interest.

Bonhams and Butterfields
On 29 Oct 2007 Bonhams and Butterfields offered this James Peale as lot 1026. It was described as "James Peale (1749-1831, American) Portrait miniature on ivory. Unidentified member of Bealle-Johnson-Bullein-Kelsall family dated 1785. Depicted facing right, wearing a powdered wig, black coat, vest and white cravat, signed IP 1785, within a 14k gold glazed pendant frame with glazed reverse on a 14k gold chain. Height of image 1 3/4in (4.5cm) Includes copy of letter of authentication from the Peale Family Papers, The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Lillian B. Miller editor of 'The Peal Family Papers' attributes this miniature to James Peal for several reasons. Firstly the signature, IP with the date below matches his other known portraits. Secondly the tentative handling suggests an earlier work. Some of these early characteristics include an angularity of the face and the handling of the hair. By 1786 his brother Charles Willson Peale felt that James had sufficiently mastered his craft to leave the field of miniature portraiture solely to his brother."

Estimate: $8,000/12,000 - Auction result: Unsold

Bonhams
Sales by the major UK auction houses rarely include American miniatures, which is the major focus of this collection. However, in November, Bonhams of London offered a group of American miniatures and some of those are shown here.



Bonham's Lot 297 Two children and a dog by John Carlin, sold for GBP2700

Lot 298 Man, circle of John Wood Dodge, not sold

Lot 299 Four children, circle of John Carlin, not sold


Bonham's Lot 300 George Washington by Edward Savage, sold for GBP13,000

Lot 301 Man in dark coat, circle of James Peale, not sold. (subsequent advice by a kind visitor is that this is actually by Pierre Henri)

Lot 302 Man in grey coat by James Peale, sold for GBP7000


Bonham's Lot 303 Elias Vanderhorst by unknown artist, sold for GBP1100

Lot 304 John Brooks after Gilbert Stuart, not sold

Lot 305 English artillery officer by Archibald Robertson, not sold


Bonham's Lot 306 Young ensign by Anson Dickinson, sold for GBP2400

Lot 307 Young man, circle of Edward Greene Malbone, not sold

Lot 308 Young lady by Anson Dickinson, sold for GBP2000


Bonham's Lot 309 Man by Joseph Wood, sold for GBP2000

Lot 311 Man by Robert Field, sold for GBP5000

Lot 312 Lady, American school, not sold


Bonhams Lot 314 Man by Thomas Gimbrede, sold for GBP600

Lot 315 Man by Nathaniel Rogers, sold for GBP1600

Lot 316 Man by Thomas Seir Cummings, sold for GBP1800


Bonhams Lot 317 Man by George Catlin, sold for GBP1000

Lot 320 Man by Thomas Seir Cummings, sold for GBP3000

Lot 321 Young lady by Anson Dickinson, not sold

Lot 322 Young man by Thomas Badger, not sold

It is noticeable that most of those clearly attributed to artists were sold.

In all cases, buyer's commission and taxes need to be added to the hammer prices shown above.

None of the above miniatures were acquired for this collection.

Skinners
An unusual miniature sold by Skinners on 29 November with a hammer price of $750 was the one shown here.

It was described as "Portrait Miniature of a Two-Star General, possibly Massachusetts, 19th century, watercolor, gouache, and metallic pigments reverse-painted on oval glass, (paint losses to background), 2 1/2 x 2 in."