John & Rico's Antique Furnishings
From
Their Drawing Room Antiques
Located in Newport Rhode Island
__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________
Our first real introduction to "The Greek Revival Style" was in 1977 when we purchased Carr-Osborn House in Fall River Mass. The architect was Russell Warren. The home came furnished with the original circa 1843 furniture. Much of the furniture was from the firm of Meeks.
# 5138. An American Empire Center Table. Circa 1830-40. Rosewood / Egyptian Marble / Black Marble. Size: 31" tall / 35" across. This tri foot base table has an Egyptian Marble center support with bronze upper and lower caps; The marble top was probably replaced at one time and the surface is glass like. This design is uncommon with most centertables of this era usually having a wood center post or support. The marble column unbolts for more easy transportation. { We have located a similar item: offered by Christies on Thursday June 2, 1983 -Quervelle 5370 - lot # 185 "An Empire Mahogany Veneer Marble top Center Table - New York, 1830-40" The estimate was then $3,000.00 - $3,500.00.}Price on request.
# 5053. A fine cut glass Regency Era Argand Lamp. Circa 1825-35. Size: 27" tall and 17" across. Composed of a cut glass pedestal base; brass arms with burner and shade holders and a matching cut glass oil font. Condition: fitted for electricity some time ago {we suspect in the 1930's); considerable wear to the metalwork with no gilt surface surviving. No chips or cracks to the cut glass sections; Some of the prisms may or may not be period to the lamp. The shade holders may or may not be period to this lamp. The cut glass oil font has had the oil shut off removed. The burner assembly has been removed when electrified. The prism ring at the top rests on the cut glass font and appears to be period and original. The shades appear to be 20th century. There is a brass label that states: "Johnston Brooks & Co. / Manufactuers London". {The firm of brass founders was active under that name from 1814 to at least 1824 at 32 New Street in London }This was a very expensive top of the market Argand lamp that was available to only the best homes. Few have survived. Price on Request. {we do know of a mate to this argand lamp: located on the East Coast of the United States}
# 5144. A period American Greek Revival Pier Table. Circa 1840. Mahogany and mahogany veneer. Size: 44" x 22" x 34" tall. The marble top is 45" x 23.5" and is just over 1" thick. The white marble top with gray/black veining is period to the table. Condition: 'plateau' restoration: there was a hole which was filled and grain painted; minor surface restorations to wood losses; original French polish finish. Matched grain veneer decoration. Substantial carved paw front feet with Ionic capitols. The flat columns on the back also have matching Ionic capitols. There was never a mirror installed in this pier table. P.O.R.
# 4472. A dated 1830 Portrait Bust. Signed on the bust in large script: "R. Trentanove Fece Roma 1830". Size: 26 1/2" tall and 16" wide. Material: Carrara Marble. Condition: minor edge flakes to the toga; multiple tiny paint splatters to the surface; the sockel was neatly broken into and reglued. Please see detailed images below. This handsome classical portrait bust in typical of the era (1830's). Probably commissioned as a portrait bust by the sitter. In storage in a Newport warehouse since about 1925. Raimondo Trentanove, Italian 1792-1832; Initially a pupil of De Maria and Bartolini, Trentanove worked in Rome in close partnership with Canova. There he was involved in the execution of numerous works in his master's style, including direct copies after Canova, antique sculpture and portrait busts. Amongst the latter there exists a fine marble of Canova himself, now in the Galleria d'arte Moderna, Milan. Another version of the present impressive memorial bust of Napoleon may be found in the Museo del Risorgimento, Faenza. This portrait bust was completed two years before Trentanove's death in 1832. In the exhibition catalogue: " Art and the Empire New York 1825, 1861 " Edited by Catherine Hoover Voorsanger and John K. Howat ( ISBN 0-87099-957-5 ) on page 137 is mentioned: "Also in 1824 the (American) Academy elected as honorary member the Italian Raimondo Trentanove, a favored pupil of Canova . . . an act calculated to emphasize the institution's connections to Europe and to counter criticism of American cultural provincialism." This bust weighs 103 lbs. {It is possible that this may be a portrait bust of Charles Lucien (Carlo) Jules Laurent Bonaparte, 2nd Prince of Canino and Musignano (May 24, 1803 – July 29, 1857) was a French naturalist and ornithologist. He was the son of Lucien Bonaparte and nephew of Emperor Napoleon.}Price on Request.
# 3998. An American Carved Mahogany "Sleigh" Bed. c. 1825. Probably Boston. Size: 39" wide x 97" long. This bed was extended about 6" some time around the turn of the century. The head board is 39" tall and the footboard is 34 1/2" tall. The Flame Mahogany is exceptional and the workmanship of the bed is of the highest quality.This bed is carved on all sides and could be used in the middle of a room . Original finish with minor losses. P.O.R.
# 4474. A Pair (2) of 19th century Charles X Column Lamps. Fitted for electricity. Bronze (dark and gold patinations). Size: 22" tall to the base of the contemporary electrical shaft. Condition: electrified and missing the clock work mechanism, the burner collar and the shade holder ring. This pair is unusually high style because of the four baccus heads joining around the center of the lamp. Price for the Pair is $11,000.00.
# 5149. An American Empire {Greek Revival} Secretary. Size: 46" wide, 94" tall and the deepest at the base/foot is 28". Age: 1840-45. Probably New York. Condition: many scuffs and some veneer loss and buckling. One broken glass. The shelves are intact. With some tender loving care, this Secretary can become a dominant focal point to the period room in a Greek Revival or Gothic home. The glass doors have Gothic elements. This Secretary comes apart in two sections. Price: $4,500.00.
# 2149. A Rare Charles X Column Lamp. Fitted for Electricity. 25.5" tall to the base of the electrical fitting. Retains its burner collar and shade ring. Good original patina with dark bronze and fire gilt surfaces. Probably French. Unmarked. The Column Lamp is a very elegant form of lighting, usually fitted with a mellon or ball glass shade. Price: $5,500.00.
# RS1. An American Gilt wood Empire / Greek Revival over mantle mirror. Size: 31.5" tall x 65" wide (at the base) and 70" wide at the top of the mirror. Age: 1845-50. Gilt wood with composition applied decorations; carved wood acorn finial decorations. Condition: original gilt surface; scuffs consistent with use and age; 4 of the acorn finials are missing; original glass mirror and back; notched cut into the top of the frame as shown in one of the detailed images. P.O.R.
# 4559. A Charles X single Carcel or Column Oil Lamp. Bronze patinated in gold and dark patina. Size: 21.5" tall. Condition: The lamp has it's mechanical works, the spring wound motor that pumps the oil to the burner; the burner is missing as is the burner cage and shade ring; it has been fitted for electricity by simply running the wire up the shaft without really hurting the integrity of the mechanism. Could be reconverted back to oil will little effort. This rare lamp is French and is so marked by the firm of Dardonville and Sons - Paris as incised on the mechanism along with numbers. Price: $4,500.00.
# 5056. Pictured is one of a pair (2) of an American Empire Arm Chairs. From a Episcopal Church. These chairs are Altarboy Chairs. This rare form was specially made for the Altar of an important New England Episcopal Church. Neither a child's chair (too large) nor an adult chair, but in between in size. This size, especially a pair, is seldom seen on the market. Mahogany and Oak and Mahogany veneer. Size: 18" wide x 18" deep x 34.5" tall to the top of the back. The seat is 19.5" tall. Condition: various old repairs, losses to carvings and some veneer loss. This pair of chairs are identical and have stayed together as a pair throughout their existence. The paw feet and carved back indicate an above average client. P.O.R.
# 5048. A pair (2) of single arm Argand lamps. Labeled: " Gardner New York " Gardner was a retail gallery in New York City. Size: 16" tall sitting on a square base that is 6". Condition: still oil, never fitted for electricity; very distressed finish: most of the gold gilt work is gone and the painted surface is in very poor condition; the prisms are not period to the set; there is a small interior thimble like wick holder missing from one of the two lamps as noted in the detailed images. This set is ready for restoration and will be a handsome addition to a period interior. Price on Request.
# 3081. A Single Carcel Lamp. Paris Porcelain with fire-gilt bronze metalwork. Fitted for electricity (mechanical innerworkings removed and burner/shade holder removed). Style: Neo-Grec. Manufactured between 1869-1880. Condition: the lower porcelain section has an apparent crack from the upper edge to the intermediate gold band. Minor surface wear consistent with use and age. We believe that the art work is part stenciled but for the most part hand painted. This is a rare lamp depicting Greek figures, four in all. The predominant ground colors are turquoise, terra-cotta with black and gold tracery. There are three separate porcelain section joined with fire gilt bronze elements. Unmarked. The main image depicts a soldier / warrior atop a winged horse / Pegasus / killing a mythological monster. This high quality lamp would have been used in a room of furnishings consistent with cabinet makers such as Pottier and Stymus, Leon Marcotte, Herter Brothers and Alexander Roux. Size: 20" tall to the bottom of the modern electrical socket and the base has a 6" footprint. Price: $3,000.00.
An American Greek Revival / Empire fire grate. Steel with brass finials. Size: gross dimensions 34.5" wide by 27" tall by 11" deep; fits against a fireplace opening 24" across. Condition: rusted metal, applied decoration in the lower left corner missing a final above the pineapple. Early 19th century. Probably originally painted. Price: $750.00.
We have had the privilege of owning three Duncan Phyfe items, inlcuding the above pictured Rosewood sideboard. Metal inlay and brass gallery. A similar form is pictured on page 173 (Dover), plate 155 in Nancy McClelland's Duncan Phyfe and the English Regency 1795-1830. In the 1920's through the 1940's this era furniture in Newport was considered just good used furniture and often time ended up in rooming houses where rooms were rented by the week. We sold this sideboard over 20 years ago.
ZSOLNAY //
FURNITURE
// GLASS
// PORCELAIN // POTTERY //
METAL
LIGHTING // PAINTINGS
// EPHEMERA // TEXTILES
// GOTHIC
// MISCELLANEOUS
THE DRAWING ROOM OF NEWPORT AND THE ZSOLNAY STORE HOME PAGE
The Drawing Room is located at 152-154 Spring Street, Newport, Rhode Island 02840.We are open daily from 11 am to 5 pm and by appointment. If you have an interest in an item listed in this document or wish to purchase an item, please call us at 1-401-841-5060 ( cell: 401-261-3980). The Partnership of Gacher and Santi has been in business for over 30 years. We have been located in Newport since 1985. All images copyright by F. Santi, 2007
Our Email address is: drawrm@hotmail.com
Visitors since 01-17-01
