New York – Christie’s presents Americana Week 2021, a series of three live and online sales comprised of Outsider Art on January 21, In Praise of America: Important American Furniture, Folk Art, Silver, Prints and Broadsides on January 21-22, and an online-only sale of Chinese Export Art Featuring Property from the Tibor Collection open between January 7-20.

Standout objects across the week of sales include a 1776 broadside edition of the Declaration of Independence (estimate: $600,000-800,000) as well as a fine copy of Paul Revere’s iconic engraving of the Boston Massacre (estimate: $200,000-300,000) from the Collection of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II; a Newport card table made by John Townsend (estimate: $150,000-250,000); a selection of works by Bill Traylor from The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation and from the Collection of Jerry and Susan Lauren; and a pair of goose tureens and covers from the Tibor Collection (estimate: $125,000-175,000).

AMERICANA WEEK 2021 | SALE OVERVIEW

OUTSIDER AND VERNACULAR ART | JANUARY 21

Christie’s Outsider and Vernacular Art auction features masterpieces by the category’s top artists as well as significant works by up-and-coming names in the field. The sale is led by nine drawings by iconic artist Bill Traylor, Untitled (Tunnels and Train) by Martín Ramírez, and a number of important constructions by Thornton Dial. Highlights also include a selection of works by European and Asian artists such as Carlo Zinelli and Hiroyuki Doi, as well as remarkable pieces by American artists including Minnie Evans, Clementine Hunter, Elijah Pierce, AG Rizzoli, Nellie Mae Rowe and Judith Scott.

The sale will include a selection of important works from The William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation. As a passionate patron of the arts, conscientious collector, published poet and philanthropist, William Louis-Dreyfus assembled a standout collection that highlights the conversation between the works of trained and untrained artists. The auction features poignant works by the artists that inspired Louis-Dreyfus’ passions for art and justice; namely, Bill Traylor, Thornton Dial, Raymond Materson, Purvis Young and more. Proceeds from the sale will support the Harlem Children’s Zone to foster the growth of under-served children, and the Foundation. Highlights from the collection can be viewed in the online viewing room here.

In Praise of America: Important American Furniture, Folk Art, Silver, Prints and Broadsides | JANUARY 21-22

On January 21-22, In Praise of America: Important American Furniture, Folk Art, Silver, Prints and Broadsides features several distinguished collections including 35 lots from the singular collection of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II, which includes some of the most important documents and images documenting the history of the United States from its 17th century colonial origins through the American Revolution and the Founding Era. Highlighting the selection is a rare contemporary 1776 broadside edition of the Declaration of Independence (estimate: $600,000 – 800,000) as well as a fine copy of Paul Revere’s iconic engraving of the Boston Massacre (estimate: $200,000 – 300,000). These historical pillars—documents that helped fundamentally alter the course of history—are supported by a rich array of period broadsides and prints, objects that informed the world of their intended audience, while at times moving them to action. The objects in this selection not only help tell the rich and complex story of colonial and revolutionary America, they also help tell the story of those who produced them: the printers, engravers, painters, and writers on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Siegmund Collection of American Folk Art features 94 lots lovingly collected over a lifetime. All of Joanne and Fred Siegmund’s purchases were joint decisions except one surprise gift for Joanne’s 40th birthday: a pair of green Windsor chairs (estimate: $5,000-7,000). Joanne’s passion and commitment to the genre was recognized with her appointment to serve on the Board of Trustees at the American Folk Art Museum in New York. The Siegmund collection shows an appreciation of self-taught artistry and includes A Pair of Portraits: A Sea Captain and His Wife, Samuel Addison Shute, possibly in collaboration with his wife, Ruth (estimate: $30,000-50,000) and A Pair of Portraits: Mr. and Mrs. Moffet by John Usher Parsons (estimate: $15,000-30,000), as well as painted furniture, weathervanes and carved objects.

The important furniture offerings include a Newport card table made by John Townsend (estimate: $150,000-250,000), a set of six rosewood nesting tables by Duncan Phyfe from 1841 (estimate: $50,000-80,000), and a carved oak box attributed to the shop of Thomas Dennis (estimate: $15,000-30,000).

The robust Folk Art section includes portraits by Joshua Johnson and significant baskets by Dat So La Lee (estimates: $100,000 and $40,000-60,000). Also featured are thirty lots of early English ceramics from the Longridge Collection, including an important dated and initialed dish with a portrait of Charles II (estimate: $50,000-70,000).

The silver section encompasses works from the late 17th century through the 20th century, highlighted by The Governor Gurdon Saltonstall Basin, an Important American Silver Basin by Jeremiah Dummer (estimate: $30,000-50,000) and an 1876 Philadelphia Centennial International Exhibition: A Monumental American Silver-Plated Centerpiece Epergne (estimate: $10,000-20,000). A selection of Tiffany is led by a set of 12 American 18-Karat after dinner coffee cups, saucers and spoons and an American silver and mixed-metal vase (estimate: $10,000-15,000). The section is further anchored by the collection of Mary M. and Robert M. Montgomery Jr. which includes eight lots of Gorham silver from their Art Nouveau Martelé line. 

Chinese Export Art Featuring Property from the Tibor Collection | JANUARY 7-20

The Chinese Export Art online-only sale will be led by the third tranche of the famed Tibor Collection, with a particularly notable selection of classic pairs of porcelain birds as well as large famille rose tibores, blue and white, armorial and outstanding forms like an oxhead tureen and cover (estimate: $40,000-60,000), and a pair of goose tureens and covers (estimate: $125,000-175,000).  Part II of the Eckenhoff Collection of Chinese Porcelain Mugs will also be offered, with rare European subject mugs and armorial examples as well as famille verte and famille rose. Other notable offerings include private collections of ‘Pronk’ porcelain and of European subject rarities and a small selection of China trade paintings. The sale also includes works with Illustrious Provenance from the Rockefeller Family: Property from the Collection of Abby and George O’Neill featuring a pair of Famille Verte Biscuit-Glazed Piggyback Boys from the Kangxi period (estimate: $5,000-8,000), and a rare pair of Partridge Sauce Tureens and Covers from the Qianlong period (estimate: $6,000-10,000).

SALE SCHEDULE

ONLINE | Thursday, January 7 – Wednesday, January 20:

Chinese Export Art Featuring Property from the Tibor Collection

Thursday, January 21 at 10am:

Outsider and Vernacular Art

Thursday, January 21 at 2pm:

Important American Furniture, selected Folk Art, English Ceramics from the Longridge Collection, Historical Portraits and Marine Paintings

Friday, January 22 at 10am:

Exceptional Prints and Broadsides from the Collection of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II and Important American Silver

Friday, January 22 at 2pm:

Important American Folk Art including the Siegmund Collection