By Luke Newbold, Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.

“Antiquarian, connoisseur, historian, kind friend; words that come to mind when describing Arthur Danielson, a man whose prominent presence dominated the Raleigh antiques scene for 40 years. Arthur conducted his antiques business from his elegant downtown home, where clients were always welcomed as honored guests.

If your host excused himself for a few minutes, the lucky visitor was likely to find himself served with a silver tray of fresh madeleines and home brewed coffee with thick cream, served by Arthur smiling and saying, “Let’s sit a spell and I’ll tell you all about that Carolean table.” And they did!” – Pam Briggs

Arthur’s collection dominates the sale being offered February 25, 2012. His collection ranges from hand tied carpets to antique engravings and paintings, leather bound books, antique pewter and brass to 18th century furnishings, staffordshire and export Chinese porcelains.

Some of the pieces of interest include, photo 72, a 19th century black hard-stone Chinese brush washer in the form of a resting ram. The art being offered features a multitude of ranges from folk, early English to mid century modern.

One particularly peculiar lot is photo 191, a vintage oil on canvas in the manor of Piet Mondrian. Another intriguing work of art is photo 173, a 19th century folk assemblage of feathers and painting showcasing a variety of birds among a landscape, all housed in a wonderfully pierce carved folk art frame.

The sale of Arthur Danielson antiques is a rare opportunity to gather from a prestigious local collector. We are proud and privileged to offer this quality collection Saturday, February 25, 2012. Call now to reserve your seat!

By Nancy Blount, Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.

The allure of diamonds to the classic sophistication of pearls, the fire of rubies and calm of sapphires, the craftsmanship of sterling combined with the textures of turquoise and coral, and the delightful fantasy of costume…are all represented in the jewelry collection being sold in the Estate Catalogued Auction of Dr. Clyde Nolan on February 18, 2012. This is a collection that speaks to the versatility and individuality of a collector who had great appreciation for a diversity of styles, periods, and materials.

The collection includes the prestige and tradition of Tiffany and Richard Krementz and the flair of English designer Kiki McDonough, whose work was favored by the late Princess Diana and worn by Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, on Christmas Day. Additionally represented in the collection are many pieces by regional artists and pieces retailed by local galleries, many of the pieces still in their original retailers’ gift boxes. A pair of Mabe pearl earrings set in 22KT gold, purchased from Somerhill Gallery, and an Art Deco style diamond and sapphire bracelet from Schiffman’s of Greensboro join the company of a pair of Tahitian pearl and diamond ear pendants, still with a Sotheby’s auction tag. Strands of pearls and multi-strand necklaces of turquoise and coral accented with sterling are in the midst of earrings, rings, and pendants set with peridot, tourmaline, and topaz gemstones. The focus of this collector went toward color, and the greens and blues of these stones deftly dominate the collection.

Adding dimension to and completing the jewel chest are the selections representative of the Victorian period, such as a diamond and ruby ring with the maker’s mark for Cornelius Saunder and Frank Shepard Silversmiths of London, 1910, and the whimsical costume jewelry of the Post WWII era from Mariam Haskell, Schiaparelli, Hattie Carnegie, and others. It is a collection of jewelry for all seasons for its diversity and for its depth.

By Claire Fraser, Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. – (Photograph by Alex Harris)

A shock of red first catches your eye as you walk into the gallery displaying the collection of Dr. Clyde Nolan, Jr. It is impossible to miss with its bold color and geometric composition – a photograph by Durham resident and co-founder of Duke’s founder of the Center for Documentary Studies, Alex Harris.

Harris studied under Walker Evans while attending Yale. He credits Evans’ notion “that photography is essentially a matter of collecting and editing images” as being influential in the development of his own style. This sentiment is evident in many of Harris’ photographs – including the one offered in Dr. Nolan’s collection – “Sol and Cuba, Old Havana, Looking North from Alberto Roja’s 1951 Plymouth, Havana.” Harris even literally followed in his mentor’s footsteps; like Evans in 1933, Harris traveled to Cuba between 1998 and 2003 – documenting his experience and viewpoint on film.

In an interview with CNN, Harris speaks of using the windshields of what may at first seem to be behemoths of western capitalism as “lenses” for the viewer of the photograph, as well as Cubans themselves. In the interview he describes these classic cars from the 1950s as reinvented vehicles, completely rebuilt and lacking original parts, testaments to the ingenuity and perseverance of the Cuban people.

It is through this “lens” that Harris captures and incorporates multiple generations of Cuban experience – the streets of old colonial Havana, pre-1959 Revolution, and present day. These generations are revealed in the hardscape, while close inspection reveal ghostly apparitions of passersby. People inhabited the past and continue to live in the present, molding their surroundings and adapting to constant, and often difficult, changes.

This photograph is a powerful image from a preeminent North Carolina photographer. It was included in his 2007 book, The Idea of Cuba, and was included in “A Revolutionary Project: Cuba from Walker Evans to Now” at the J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles, CA, May 17-October 2, 2011).

References:
http://www.alex-harris.com
http://www.getty.edu/news/press/center/revolutionary_project.html
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2007/10/17/cha.alex.harris.cnn
http://mbabramgalleries.com/video_alex_harris.html
blog.rosegallery.net/2011/05/27/la-times-review-of-a-revolutionary-project-cuba-from-walker-evans-to-now-by-reed-johnson/

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales (LLAES), Ltd. wrapped up 2011 with a surge in fine wine consignments and sales. Over the last 4 quarterly Fine Wine auctions, LLAES, Ltd. grossed approximately US $347,000.

Top hammer prices (prices include the 15% buyers premium) included the following:

- 9 bottles of 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild that sold for US $25,960

- 11 bottles of 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild that earned US $10,620

- 11 bottles of 1969 Romanee Conti Richebourg that went for US $9,775

Other highlights were two stellar cases of 1982 Chateau Haut Brion that sold for US $7,820 per case. Many top growth wines exceeded international expectations and auction estimates. Online bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com.

LLAES, Ltd. will hold their next Fine Wine Auction on March 16th, 2012, at 6:00 P.M., with the strongest collection of sought-after California wines to date, including 5 individual lots of Opus One.

LLAES, Ltd. is always accepting quality wine consignments for future sales. All consignments are stored in our newly constructed 5,000 bottle climate-controlled wine cellar. To consign, you may email the fine wine director, Mark Solomon (mark@llauctions.com). Or you can call him at (919) 225-5916. For more information, please visit LLAES, Ltd.’s Fine Wine Department.

Sale Location:
Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. Auction Gallery
Hillsborough, NC

Sale Dates & Times:
Fine Wine Auction
Friday, June 15, 2012, 6:00 P.M.

Fine & Decorative Arts Auction
Saturday, June 16, 2012, 9:00 A.M.

Sale Previews:
Saturday, June 9, 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Thursday, June 14, 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Friday, June 15, 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.

Consigning:
Consignments are currently being considered for this sale. Please contact us for more information.

Additional Amenities:
-Catering provided by The Wooden Nickel in Hillsborough, NC.
-Public Wi-Fi is provided for your convenience.

Terms:
No Reserves. All sales subject to the terms & conditions of sale. Cash, check, Visa, MC, AX, and Discover. There is an 18% buyer’s premium and live internet bidding is available on LiveAuctioneers with a 20% buyer’s premium. 6.75% NC tax. NCFL#7452

Photos and Additional Lot Information:
Photos and additional lot information to be posted soon.

By Luke Newbold, Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.

When Leland told me we had to make room in storage for a large estate to be sold in February, I had no idea what we were in for! The Dr. Nolan estate, a court ordered sale, I imagined would be one tightly packed lane of furniture, art and smalls, like most “large” estates in our storage facility… Four truck loads later and without a square inch to spare, storage met its capacity. Our freshly poured concrete floor now hosts hundreds of plastic totes and bins full of mysterious merchandise, piles of fine furnishings, a mountain of hand tied rugs, a pile of art and racks of clothing and shoes, all to be unpacked, inventoried and sold in the Estate Collection Catalogued Auction of Dr. Clyde Nolan, Jr. on February 18th, 2012!

Three days into unpacking boxes, we discovered an assortment of fine antiques including a hoard of fine sterling silver objects, dating from the 18th-20th century. The silver varies from a monumental sterling trumpet vase to Victorian gilt silver mugs by Tiffany & Co. There are several fine English antiquities such as: silver and gold tipped riding crops, tea caddies, perfume bottles, a Chinoiserie perfume box, paperweights, enameled pill boxes, antique and decorative table lamps, toleware and the list goes on and on.

Today the final truck delivered an assorted collection of ultra fine fashion clothing; with such names as: Chanel, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, Manolo Blahnik, Saks Fifth Avenue, etc. The items range from chinchilla, mink and fox coats to leather dresses, custom outfits and size 6-7.5 heels all in their original boxes, all in like new condition, some even with tags still remaining. Several of these handbags are the exact designs once owned by Elizabeth Taylor.

Over 160 works of art were included in the final truck load as well. The works include 19th century oil on canvas landscapes, still lives and portraits; also with contemporary paintings, prints and photography. All of the pristine works are presented in fine period frames. I imagine you won’t see a bit of the yellow paint of the gallery walls once all the art is hung for this sale!

How could I forget the jewels? Yes, there will be a fine selection of jewelry offered at this auction including: a platinum, diamond and sapphire bracelet, an art deco style platinum ruby and diamond bracelet, a large diamond tennis bracelet, pearl and diamond earrings, multiple lots of gold jewelry and boxes upon boxes of sterling and semi-precious stone necklaces, bracelets and earrings! Most of the jewelry is in excellent condition, having records of being purchased at Sothebys and other high end jewelers.

The rugs and furniture have yet to been vetted, but just from a glance I can tell it will be equally as powerful. Two of the rugs I’ve encountered for this sale are of the highest quality I have seen at auction; their extremely high knot count and quality are superb. Also a 19th century mahogany sleigh bed will be offered and a custom fancy inlaid corner cupboard.

If this wets your appetite, as it has mine, that’s just the beginning of this enormous collection, as we have yet another week’s worth of unpacking ahead of us. It is anyone’s guess what fine jewels, hand bags, and antiquities will be pulled out and offered for auction. There will be a catalog listing online for this auction; however, due to the nature of this sale, it is an exciting and rare opportunity at owning parts of a fresh-to-market prestigious collection. Keep checking our website for updates, listings and photos for this sale and be sure to reserve a seat for this all-day gala event, on February 18th.

By Luke Newbold, Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.

As our parents or grandparents “modern tastes” become rediscovered, the term “Danish Modern” is often used; the term has come to symbolize a high style of Mid-20th century furnishings for the modern home. But how and why was Danish furniture introduced to the United States?

How: Danish Modern design is classified by organic shape and seemingly light construction, many pieces appearing to float from the floor. Woods used vary from light European Oak to the more exotic and rich Brazilian Rosewood, often used in the solid. Many of the furnishings, such as chairs, tables and cabinets can easily be disassembled; therefore, allowing for easy and lower cost import into the U.S. Architect/Designers Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wagner and Finn Juhl are some of the hailed Danish/American designers who directly introduced strong Danish design into the American home. Their avant-garde designs would later become streamlined and produced by such manufacturers as Haywood Wakefield, Lane, Knoll etc., including several Highpoint, NC vendors.

Why: Fashion trends are much of the cause for design, whether it be in art, clothing, architecture and the same is true for furniture. Noted author Andrew Hollingsworth states, “(Danish Modern furniture)…is still only beginning to be appreciated in the homes of twenty-first-century America.” He also states that much of what is known of the Danish-Modern style is infused with ancient designs from Greece, Egypt and Asia. Designers and craftsmen incorporated the best designs of foreign antiquities and made it their own by using native woods and reduced form construction, thus creating a design that is said to transcend time.

Aside from fashion, industrialization played a key role in the formation of Danish modern design. Production lines formed to create affordable furnishings to the public, and with that came the first step towards modernism: the Arts and Crafts movement of 1880. Styles drastically changed and revolted against the heavy ornamentation of high Victorian furniture. Makers such as Gustav Stickley replaced carved floral crest-rails and Rococo-style armoires with bold, simple lines and lighter tone oaks. Fifty years later the designs were reduced and improved upon, creating “Danish-Modern”; preempting “Mid-Century Modern” by a decade.

This influence of design is noted in the January 14th auction gallery. Objects include a set of three matching long dressers manufactured by Columbia and Myers of Boston; two “Contemporary” tambour cabinets of Brookline, Massachusetts; pair of Rosewood candlesticks by Jacaranda, Jac-arte, Made in Brasil S. Paulo; two wooden floor lamps and a fantastic Danish-Modern Wooten desk.

The Wooten Desk (likely designed by Leif Elvestad), photo 141, is a classic example of Danish modern design reaching back to antique designs. William S. Wooton patented his design for the “Wooten Desk” in 1870 and had the basic form and function as the Danish Modern Wooten Desk up for auction this Saturday. However, the original designs were in high Victorian fashion with dark mahogany and walnut used as primary woods with ebonized and gilt decoration atop carved mountings. Elvestad’s design for the Wooten Desk reduces it down to its basic form, a rectangle, supported by an ‘H’ bracket base; opening to reveal useful pigeon holes, folding desk top, files and even a locked compartment with key. Instead of the dark woods used at its origination, the Danish Modern desk is made of a light stained teak wood, deceptively altering its mass.

If you are starting to take after your parents or grandparents taste for Danish Modern and Mid Century Modern, be sure to check out the sale on Saturday, January 14th at 12pm, with preview the day before. Also, take note that finer Mid-Century and Danish Modern items are sold at our catalog sales, all of which can be viewed through our website as the dates of the sales grow near.

By Claire Fraser, Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.

How often do you sit down to dinner? It’s likely not as often as you would choose. In today’s world we find the time too fleeting and tempers too short to truly sit down and enjoy a meal. This Saturday’s Estate Treasures Auction, to be held January 14th, 2012 at 12:00 P.M., shows us a glimpse of when dinner was fully relished and a true art was laid out on the table.

This auction’s featured estate of Dr. John and Mrs. Lorna Lamont of Boston includes a fine collection of hand-painted china and sterling silver flatware. Much of the china was hand-painted by “R. Epstein,” likely a personal friend or relative of the Lamonts. There are teacups, saucers, teapots, plates, and candlesticks galore! All different – but how pretty they would look set up for a spring shower! No need to be matchy – in fact, it could be the start of a new collection focused on a color, flower, or an artist’s name.

China painting was a popular pastime for woman during the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. Blanks (undecorated porcelain pieces) could be purchased from china producers and then painted at home or in studios. A woman in Wisconsin, Susan Frackelton, even developed her own gas-powered portable kiln, paints, and more, which she sold from a retail location. Her success grew and in 1886 she published a manual for artists titled Tried by Fire: A Work on China-Painting.

Another tabletop art form featured in this weekend’s sale is sterling silver. Up on the block is everything from an asparagus fork to a cheese scoop. But don’t get fixated on the object’s original purpose – these items can be put to all sorts of uses. Imagine a cheese scoop set in a bowl of candy to dole out the perfect portion. But a bit of warm brie with pesto scooped onto a plate does sound divine – just don’t forget the butter pick to elegantly extract the gooey goodness!

Silver is among the strongest collecting fields on the secondary market today. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a lot of work. Silver rarely needs polishing as long as it is used! I don’t advocate dumping it in the dishwasher, but a quick soapy soak in the sink will do the trick.

So here is a call to arms – in today’s hectic world, carve out an extra five minutes to set your table. Pull out the silver and the china; add another piece to your collection. Many of the silver patterns offered in the Lamont estate have been in production for over a hundred years and will never go out of style. They will be around for another hundred years, passed from one generation to the next, the epitome of green living!

Sources:
Wisconsin Historical Society (www.wisconsinhistory.com)

By Luke Newbold, Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.

North Carolina sports some fantastic estates, and one of its greatest is closing its doors. Chinqua Penn Plantation is making its way to the auction block after nearly fifty years of house tours, weddings and special events. Built in the roaring 1920s, the Penn’s collection rivals the Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate and its contents will soon be available for sale.

Twenty-three years ago my family moved to North Carolina and we were immediately, and kindly, forced to taste, try and visit everything this Tarheel State has to offer. In 2006 we visited the “big house” in Asheville, which everyone recommended to see. After catching a glimpse of the mansion through the tall pines of the estate I said, “I have to work here!” The sight of the house mounted on the hillside literally took my breath away, not to mention the fine art and objects inside. I did work there, for two years, and even interned with Museum Services for a summer.

About twenty-three days ago I had my first visit to Chinqua Penn Plantation. The estate is nestled in farm country with Black Angus roaming across the street, large red barns to the right and a classic Southern Baptist Church on the street corner. I tried to keep my cool as I entered the massive carved wood doors, but lost it as I recognized the quality, originality and vast collections of the estate.

Biltmore was completed in the winter of 1895 and modeled after European chateaus visited by George Vanderbilt. Many of the rooms are furnished with imported materials and furnishings from Europe. The exterior of the house, made of Indiana limestone, features carved statues and gargoyles much like those on a French cathedral. Edith Vanderbilt opened her home to the public in the 1930s, and with that, changes were made. In the butler’s log book he states that original tapestries were cut to upholster tattered chairs, draperies were altered to hide their wear and tear from the years, and several rooms were re-papered or re-painted; an exterior swimming pool was filled in during the 1970s. With loving intentions, the estate was altered to adjust to its needs. Today many of the rooms are decorated and on display just as they were during George Vanderbilt’s lifetime; however, some of the rooms were never completed during his life.

Chinqua Penn Plantation, built in the 1920s, is based on Thomas Jefferson Penn (1875–1946) and Margaret Beatrice Shoellkopf Penn’s (1881–1965) travels and interests, including three world tours. Each room is fully decorated with priceless works from thirty different countries. The exterior of the house, made of stone and timbers, has the coziness of a mountain retreat with an interior of museum quality collections. “Betsy” Penn resided in the home until 1959. The Penn’s left the estate to the state and opened to the public for house tours. Each room retains its original wallpaper, gilding or paint and is decorated and furnished with original collections. For instance, the Chinese Bedroom is furnished from 1920s Shanghai with bamboo and silver leaf wall decoration which is unbelievably and beautifully untouched; while George Vanderbilt’s bedroom, at Biltmore, has recently been repainted and recovered with burlap and gold leaf.

Both Biltmore and Chinqua Penn hired craftsmen and artists to complete detailed elements of their estates. Local and outside artisans crafted the gargoyles and naturalistic stone carvings of Biltmore; however, most of the walls and ceilings have been recovered or repainted according to their original style. The Penns hired a European artist to stay at their estate for weeks on end to decorate and paint ceilings and walls of the interior of the home, which remain as freshly visible and as un-touched today as it did nearly a century ago. Not only did the Penns have custom designs and monograms incorporated in their estate, they imported and added classical and ancient elements to make their estate an enhanced work of art. Facing the house is a swimming pool with a “Bath House” Pagoda, built 1930, featuring imported Chinese sculpture dating 700 A.D. Renaissance and period tile-works are inset around the great room and old world carved columns flank entrances lit by 18th and 19th century chandeliers. Walking through Chinqua Penn is not “like” seeing early original décor, it IS.

Museums, estates and important collections offer de-acquisitions at auction from time to time; however, very rare are the opportunities to take part in an entire sale of fine original historical collections the size and importance of Chinqua Penn. April 25th and 26th mark the dates you can own original furnishings, works of art and priceless masterpieces collected by Thomas Jefferson Penn and Margaret Beatrice Shoellkopf Penn from their Plantation at the Greensboro Coliseum. While the last tour has walked through the house, the objects and furnishings will be re-born at auction.

By Luke Newbold, Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.

We at LLAES are privileged to work with great collections on a regular basis. Recently we located a fresh period estate in Greensboro, NC, that is everything deco. Upon entering the home one is greeted by a Chinese art deco rug of deep purples and cobalt that sets the stage for an array of prominently featured sculptures, lamps and flower frogs. We have sold parts of this collection in past auctions, and are pleased to be offering additional items during our New Year’s Eve Estate Auction, to be held December 31st at 1:00 P.M.

One lot of particular interest is a pair of art deco oil on board “dreamscapes” with nude silhouettes. Each of the paintings places the viewer in a seductive yet secluded location behind fantasized deco floral foliage. Both scenes are painted at dusk with a gilt full moon. One panel is focused on two female figures leaping through a grassy knoll with a bouncing bunny on their trail; the other with a female figure chasing a cherub atop a galloping goat. Both scenes with whimsical design and color choices as the flowers are sporting shades of turquoise, orange, and mauve with scrolled flower petals and coffee bean shaped leaves. Unfortunately these pieces are unsigned and the consignor doesn’t know much about their history other than her husband picked them up years ago to add to their collection.

Popular since the 18th century, silhouettes document fashion trends while capturing the subject’s profile. Our art deco silhouette panels were created in the same manner as their colonial predecessors but showcase styles of the 1920′s-30s with lithe nude female in whimsical settings. The silhouette was widely used throughout art deco décor from panel pictures to bookends to lamps. The silhouette has even remained a popular medium in modern and contemporary art. Kara Walker is one such major contemporary artist that comes to mind, who strongly uses the silhouette in her works. While Walker’s pieces have detailed ties to the harsh reality of the early African-American, the two panels being offered for auction New Year’s Eve may bring a slightly more fun and relaxed tone to any interior.

The art deco collection for the New Year’s Eve auction features an array of early Phoenix glass, figural globe lamps, Italian glass, bookends, ash stands, and an amazing adjustable figural magazine stand (photo 96). Other original works include a statue of a young stylish couple in the hard-edged deco design, signed “Harriet Dexter,” (photo 103). Unfortunately again, we are unable to discover and information regarding Harriet Dexter, but her sculpture is exquisitely done in the hand of the 1930’s.