Welcome to Willis Henry Auctions!
With 45 years of experience and an active role in the current market, we have the knowledge to attract buyers and consignors from across the country and throughout the world. Willis Henry Auctions has an international reputation for successful antique auctions and is recognized as the “premier auctioneer of Shaker antiques in the country”.
(Kathleen Howley, The Boston Globe)
UPCOMING AUCTIONS
Military Weapons
AmericanaSaturday, February 22nd
Lot 18 19TH C. PAIR OF MINIATURE WATERCOLORS
Very fine pair of miniatures, of a young gentleman in a black top hat, holding what appears to be a silver spoon, and his wife holding an infant, red curtain background (some color missing on corners of gentleman, as is the floral hanger), 2 3/4″ x 2 1/8″ (sight).
Lot 19 19TH C. MINIATURE WATERCOLOR
Framed watercolor on paper of a theatrically dramatic scene of a young gentleman and lady, in front of an arched window of a building covered in grapes and vines, signed on the back in pencil “Mary A. Ingersoll”, small tear across his coat from the left, and another small tear upper left, 4 1/2″ x 3 3/4″ (sight).
Lot 20 TWO FRAMED WATERCOLORS
19th c. watercolors on paper, song bird on a branch, and a rooster, both very colorful, both originally sold at the Hillary Underwood sale at Sotheby’s on October 9, 1983, and a later Skinners auction, bird – 4 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ (sight), rooster – 3 1/2″ x 3 3/8″ (sight).
Lot 22 FRAMED 19TH C. WATERCOLOR
“Hollis Institute”, shows two young ladies standing between two Grecian columns, and a church with a gilded weathervane, signed in ink on reverse “Miss Kittridge, New Hampshire”, small tear at top left, some toning, 8″ x 11″ (sight).
Lot 57 EXCEPTIONAL LIFT LID SEWING BOX
Pine, rectangular, completely painted in many colors, in geometric designs and florals on top, sides and inside, sectioned interior, edge of lid is raised so needles and pins will not roll off, found in coastal Maine, 2″ h, 11 3/4″ w, 8 3/4″ d.
Lot 37 19th CENTURY BLANKET CHEST
Pine, original grain painted in reds and black, two drawers, finely formed cutout bracket base, molded lift lid, dovetailed and lipped (on the sides), turned walnut pulls, 42″ h, 36″ w, 19″ d.
Lot 73 19TH C. OPTOMETRIST TRADE SIGN
Oval green glass, gilded cast iron with old original surface patina, from a New York State collection, 7 3/4″ h, 31″ l, 9″ dia (oval glass).
Lot 81 EXCEPTIONAL SCALE MODEL FARM IMPLEMENT
Hay cutter, brass and cast iron in original paint, yellow and red with black and yellow coach style painted lines, in workable condition (note: possibly salesman sample), 7 1/2″ h, 14 1/2″ w, 12″ (front to back).
Lot 106 RARE IMPORTANT HINGHAM SAMPLER
Large 19th c. Hingham, Mass. needlework sampler, “Executed by Priscilla Lane in Hingham 1816, Aged 11 yrs.”, silk leaf and floral border, with two alphabets, numbers and vowels, and birth records of Josiah and wife Priscilla, with a center entrance colonial home at bottom, with trees and flowering bushes at either side, black painted, groove molded frame, glazed, 27 1/2″ x 21″ (sight).
Lot 108B NEEDLEWORK AND WATERCOLOR MEMORIAL
Exceptional picture memorial, oak and willow flanking a large urn on plinth, “Sacred to the Memory of Elizabeth Hicks”, with gentleman in long green coat, and lady in full gold dress, eglomise frame with carved wood, gilded ogee frame, small tear at top of willow tree, 18 3/4″ x 24″ (sight).
Lot 117A SAILOR MADE ROLLING PINS
Two 19th c. rolling pins, each end with carved whale’s tooth attached to mahogany rollers, 15″ and 13 1/2″ l (ex. estate of Justin Cobb).
Lot 117B SAILOR MADE COCONUT DIPPER
Very fine, early 19th c. (c. 1830-1840) long handled dipper, with inset decorative pewter and whalebone handle, with carved sailor’s knot at end, initialed “H A” in pewter on coconut, 13 1/2″ l (ex. estate of Justin Cobb).
Lot 130 SMALL 18TH CENTURY TAVERN TABLE
New England, maple, pegged on top, slightly splayed legs, pad feet (two show chips), cutout bowed skirt, 26″ h, 26 1/2″ l, 19 1/2″ w.
Lot 135 ANTIQUE BLACK FOREST BEAR BENCH
Walnut carved bear bench, purchased at the museum in Brienz, Switzerland in the 1960’s, two glass eyed bears supporting the bench, with a carved small bear in profile on back, good condition, 19 1/2″ seat h, 35 1/2″ overall h, 43″ w, 15″ d.
Lot 142 19TH CENTURY BRONZE OF STALLION
Horse with head turned, on an oval black marble base, signed on bronze base, “P.J. Mene” (Pierre-Jules Mene, French 1810-1879), very fine color, 14″ l (bronze base), 17″ l (marble base).
Lot 177 STACK OF OVAL PANTRY BOXES
Six graduated early 19th c. boxes, maple and pine, original red painted finishes, smallest (1″ h, 3″ l) to largest (2 1/2″ h, 7″ l), largest box has a list of spoons and sugar tongs under lid in pencil.
Lot 198 18TH/EARLY 19TH CENTURY TAVERN SIGN
American, pine and red cedar sign, original paint, “French’s Inn”, depicting a barefoot man, orange coat, brown pants, walking with a large bowl on his back on the front side, the back shows same gent drinking from the bowl (note: wonderful sign in as-found condition), 38″ x 22″ (sight), 48″ x 31 1/2″ (frame).
Lot 229 EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE ROOSTER WEATHERVANE
American, late 19th/early 20th c. rooster weathervane, standing on a large feathered arrow (36″), copper with rich gilded surface, originally found in southeastern Connecticut, excellent condition, mounted on a contemporary iron base for indoor display (note: very fine vane with exceptional detail), 36″ h, 25″ l (rooster).
Lot 230 AUDUBON PRINT
Large folio, Plate 288, “Fish Hawk or Osprey, falco Haliaetus, Male, Weak Fish”, “Drawn from Nature by JJ Audubon, FRS, ELS”, “Chromolith by J. Bien, New York 18..”, framed and glazed, 39 1/4″ x 26″ (sight).
Lot 255 CHROMOLITHOGRAPH OF STEAMSHIP COLUMBIA
Early chromolithograph of the “Columbia” paddlewheel steamship, “For Rockaway Beach”, flying American flag and “R.C.W.”, fine decorative gilded frame, very good condition, 19″ x 34″ (sight).
Lot 273 MAP OF THE UNITED STATES
“The United States of America”, “with the British Possessions…and the Spanish Territories of Louisiana and Florida…as of 1783, London, Laurie & Whittle, May 1794″ (note: said to be one of the earliest representations of the American flag ever shown on a map), bird’s-eye maple frame, matted, 17″ x 19 1/2” (sight).
Lot 290 19TH C. STONEWARE CROCK
Six-gallon, large impressive cobalt design of ribbed leaves and a flower, “N.A. White & Son, Utica, N.Y.”, 13 1/2″ h.
