Eldred’s
P.O. Box 796, 1483 Route 6A, East Dennis, Massachusetts 2641
508-385-3116
About Auction House
For more than 60 years, Eldred's auction gallery has been a New England tradition. Located on historic Route 6A in East Dennis, Massachusetts, Eldred's attracts a wide variety of collectors, dealers and private buyers from the United States, Europe and the Far East. Eldred's reputation for excellence has grown steadily as a result of a strong commitment to personalized, expert service. At Eldred's you will find the individualized attention often lacking in a larger auction house.Auction Previews & News
13 Results
Auction IndustryTiny Treasures: Eldred’s October 10, 2024 Netsuke Sale
Netsuke are tiny, carved toggles designed to secure an individual’s sagemono– or traditional purse– to their kimono's obi (belt sash). These small-scale works of art have been part of Japanese culture since the 17th century. Regardless of age, materials, or form, netsuke by definition have two holes artfully integrated into their design to hold the cords joining these two accessories together. The earliest netsuke were purely functional and were made from found materials, including wood and roots. Starting in the Edo era (1615 - 1868), they became more sophisticated in design, themes, and materials. Over time, netsuke have been produced from animal products, including ivory, bone, tusk, horn, and shells; clay and porcelain; metals including gold, copper, and silver; and even semi-precious and precious stones. Traditional forms have included people, animals, plants, fruits, vegetables, gods and spirits, household items, and even erotica. Eldred's, of East Dennis, MA, is offering its 268-lot netsuke sale on October 10, 2024. The sale includes a spectrum of antique to modern examples across material and subject categories. Here are some eye-catching highlights of this netsuke sale. Lot #0638, a wood and ivory netsuke attributed to Kyokusei, is estimated at $12,000 to $15,000. Image courtesy of Eldred’s. Carved Wood and Ivory Netsuke The top lot in this netsuke sale is #0638, a carved wood and ivory netsuke attributed to Kyokusei. This unsigned example is estimated at USD 12,000 to $15,000. It is 6.75 inches tall and in the form of a tall, thin South Seas islander. He has well-rendered, oversized feet and toes which allow him to stand on his own. He comes to life with inlaid eyes, full hair above his shoulders, and a pleasant, open smile. His outfit consists of a well-carved ivory neckerchief and matching shorts, and his accessories include metal arm bracelets and green anklets. He holds a long, narrow piece of coral in his right hand. The Japanese artist Kyokusei, who was active in the late 19th century, was especially known for his quirky, playful interpretation of native islanders. His work often included dark ebony wood and a variety of other…
Artists, Auction IndustryArtist to Know: Jessica Dismorr
Eldred’s to Present Two Paintings by Pioneering Abstract Artist Jessica Dismorr, Jessica Dismorr (self-portrait), c. 1929. Image © National Portrait Gallery, London. Amid the mayhem of avant-garde London in the 1910s, a group of artists gathered to offer an English alternative to Cubism and Expressionism. Using Ezra Pound’s modernist view of the ‘vortex,’ the rising Vorticists placed themselves at the center of a bustling art scene. English painter Jessica Dismorr was one of two women who joined the group. Her male counterparts derided her work despite including her in exhibitions. That did not deter Dismorr. She participated in almost every major avant-garde art movement in early 20th-century Britain. Dismorr later situated herself as a pioneer of abstraction. Two paintings by Jessica Dismorr will hit the auction block in late October. Eldred’s Women in the Arts auction will begin at 4:00 PM EDT on October 28th, 2021. Learn more about Dismorr before placing a bid. Jessica Dismorr, In the Alpes Maritimes, France, c. 1910. Image from Eldred’s. Raised in a wealthy household, Jessica Dismorr had extraordinary access to education from an early age. She studied at the Slade School of Fine Art starting in 1903. The School encouraged its women pupils to live as equals to men. Dismorr nurtured an interest in drawing that only grew when she studied at the Académie de la Palette in Paris. The city was a passageway into the avant-garde world. Dismorr experimented with Fauvism and radical politics while there. She would need both to enter the Vorticist group. The Vorticists were small in number but determined to place London on the modern art map. Dismorr signed the movement’s manifesto in 1914. The group printed its ideals alongside calls for women’s suffrage and English innovation. However, the outbreak of World War I halted the Vorticists’ efforts before they gained much traction. Dismorr served as a nurse during the war years and experienced the strain of an unstable world. In her pre-war paintings, abstraction and geometric shapes were the dominant themes. Dismorr closely followed the nearly Cubist style adopted and modified by the Vorticists. After the war,…
Auction PreviewLandscapes by Fidelia Bridges and Abstract Works of Eda Sterchi Come to Auction at Eldred’s
Painter Fidelia Bridges was known for her elaborate and detailed landscapes. She was a seminal woman artist who worked with both watercolor and oil paints. Bridges painted “as if the year were all springtime,” explained critics. Her paintings of birds and flowers in meadows and marshes created lyrical happiness. The upcoming Eldred’s auction presents Birds In A Marsh Landscape by Fidelia Bridges. It shows a small bird diving under a patch of grass near the water. This sale exclusively highlights the work of women artists. An oil painting titled Interior Scene With Two Women by Eda Elisabeth Sterchi is of particularly interest. A bold and independent artist, Sterchi created paintings that were famous for their European Modernist influence. The featured artwork portrays her signature abstract style and bold colors. Bidders will also find paintings by avant-garde artist Jessica Dismorr. Notable is Dismorr’s In the Alpes Maritimes, France oil on board painting depicting a white hill town among trees and mountains. With its thick and bold application of colors, this piece is an example of Dismorr’s abstract austerity. The auction also features works of Impressionist artist Martha Walter, a bronze by Agnes McGuire McCahill, and hand-crafted designer jewelry by Etta Jane. Interested collectors can explore the entire catalog and register to bid online on Eldred’s.
Artists, Auction IndustryArtist to Know: Andrew Clemens
Skinner Brings Bottle of Sand Art from 19th-Century Master Craftsman Andrew Clemens, a self-taught folk artist, did not live long enough to enjoy fame. His works were executed in sand and contained in small apothecary bottles. Despite their delicate craftsmanship, the mid-19th-century public would have considered them curiosities, not monumental pieces of fine art. To prove their authenticity and to entertain the working-class attendees of dime museums, these pieces of sand art were often smashed to pieces. “It’s a curiously sad story, like an episode in a Dickensian novel,” writes Ken Johnson for The New York Times. Though Clemens likely created hundreds of sand art pieces in his lifetime, only a few have survived. One of them will come to auction with Skinner this November in a timed online sale. The bidding will close at 7:00 PM EST on November 23rd, 2020. Learn more about Andrew Clemens before the auction ends. Andrew Clemens (1857 - 1894). Image from Wikipedia/ public domain. Clemens was born to German and Prussian immigrants who followed a gold rush to McGregor, Iowa. At five years old, Clemens contracted encephalitis. Though he survived the swelling of his brain, the artist lost his hearing and much of his speech. That early illness later brought him to the Iowa Institute for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. During his student days, Clemens started to follow his interest in art. His summer vacations were spent exploring the bluffs of the Mississippi River, collecting bits of multicolored sandstone and quartz. Clemens carefully built a palette from the grains of these stones. He found shades of pure white, ochre, red, yellow, blue, and green. Once Clemens got home, the real work began. His first projects involved layering the colored sand in rounded apothecary bottles using simple herringbone or diamond patterns. Gradually, though, Clemens’ skill increased and he took on more ambitious subjects. Clemens used hand-crafted tools to manipulate the sand. He never secured his works with glue, instead relying on careful packing and pressure to hold all the grains in place. Each bottle was completed upside-down before being permanently sealed.…
Auction IndustryKelton Collection Leads Eldred’s Annual Marine Sale August 13
East Dennis, Mass. – Eldred’s annual summer Marine Sale is highlighted this year by the Kelton Collection of Marine Art and Artifacts, a wide cross-section of paintings, ship models and rare navigational instruments amassed by California businessman Richard Kelton over a 30-year period. The annual auction, believed to be the only dedicated marine art auction in the U.S., will be held Thursday, August 13 at the firm’s headquarters on Cape Cod, and will also include an extensive selection of scrimshaw, prisoner-of-war ship models and other nautical antiques. William Bradford's portrait of the clipper ship Golden West, part of Eldred's annual Marine Salewww.eldreds.com Kelton, who died 2019, was an avid yachtsman and explorer, and a prolific collector, much of it focused on marine art and the Pacific Ocean. In 1982, he established the Kelton Foundation to sponsor archaeological and ethnographic expeditions, and to exhibit, loan and research his collection, estimated to number 5,000 items. Eldred’s will be offering more than 200 lots from his collection in a series of sales through 2021, although the bulk of the material is part of this particular Marine Sale. Highlights include four ship portraits by Samuel Walters (British, 1811-1882), ranging in estimated from $12,000/18,000 to $20,000/30,000, a circa 1742 Davis quadrant by John Dean II, estimated at $5,000/8,000, and a circa 1843 American builder’s plating hull model of the Canton packet Cahota by William H. Webb, estimated at $3,000/5,000. Gregg Dietrich, Senior Consultant at Eldred’s, has worked with Richard Kelton since the early 1990s and said, “It is an honor to be working with this collection again. Mr. Kelton loved the history behind marine art and antiques he purchased, which is evident by the amount of research that he put into each piece he collected. I will miss his perspective and dedication to researching and understanding the pieces he collected.” The anticipated top lot from the Collection is a portrait of the clipper Golden West of Boston by William Bradford (American, 1823-1892), estimated at $60,000/80,000. The ship is depicted outward bound, departing on her maiden voyage to San Francisco in 1852. The clipper was active in the Pacific and California trades, and…
Auction IndustryImportant New Hampshire Collection Headlines Eldred’s Summer Sale
East Dennis, Mass. – A Judkins and Senter Federal server, a William Fitz tall-case clock and a William & Mary gateleg table with possibly its original red-wash finish are three of the most notable lots from the New Hampshire Collection of Lawrence and Dorothy Perkins, a featured section of Eldred’s Summer Sale, slated for July 30-31 at the firm’s headquarters in East Dennis, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. “Evening, Cornish, N.H.” by Maxfield Parrish, part of Eldred's Summer Sale.www.eldreds.com The Perkins, residents of New Hampshire, carefully and thoughtfully acquired their collection over twenty years from New England’s leading antique dealers and auction houses. Like the Judkins and Senter sideboard, which carries a $35,000/50,000 pre-sale estimate, and the tall-case clock by William Fitz, estimated at $60,000/80,000, many of the pieces are from Portsmouth, New Hampshire-area makers, including four pieces by cabinetmaker Joseph Clark. Other highlights include the William & Mary gateleg table, estimated at $35,000/50,000, a William & Mary highboy, probably of Rhode Island origin, that descended in the Rogers family, estimated at $10,000/20,000, and a Federal work table with painted decoration by Sarah Eaton-Balch of Dedham, Massachusetts, estimated at $5,000/10,000. The collection also includes metalware, ceramics, Hannah Davis bandboxes and other fine art and Americana. Diminutive server attributed to Judkins & Senter of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.www.eldreds.com “The Perkins shared with me how they started to collect,” said Bill Bourne, vice president of Eldred’s and head of its Americana department. “They took courses at the MFA on American antiques and then proceeded to connect with some of the top dealers in their area. Obviously, between their eye and the dealers’, they chose wisely and formed a very select group of New England and Portsmouth-focused quality pieces. We’re very excited to bring this collection to market as it forms the nucleus of a very strong sale.” The sale’s anticipated top lot is N.C. Wyeth’s “The Bonaventure”, a scene of a sailboat at the foot of towering cliffs. The painting, illustrated in three volumes on Wyeth (Pennsylvania/Maine/Massachusetts, 1882-1945), is estimated at $250,000/350,000. It comes to auction from an important Newport, Rhode Island private collection but…
Auction PreviewThe July Auction
The Order of St. Olav is awarded by the King of Norway for outstanding service on behalf of the country. It is the highest civilian honor Norway confers. Available in the July Auction, presented by Eldred's, is an Order of St. Olav medal from the late 19th or early 20th century. This piece is made of 18-karat gold and comes in its original case. Embellishments on the medal include five gold and crowned letter "O"s for King Oscar I, who was the first king to award this order. The July Auction features watches, jewelry, and furniture, among other lot categories. Watch collectors can consider the Patek Philippe Calatrava wristwatch. This watch has a black crocodile band and a Patek Philippe gold buckle. Jewelry collectors will find a monkey brooch by New York jeweler David Webb. The monkey has ruby cabochon eyes and wears both a diamond necklace and two 18-karat gold earrings. Interested bidders can register on the auction house’s Eldred's website.
Auction IndustryDiverse Selection Of Fine Art In Eldred’s Spring Sale June 11-12
East Dennis, Mass. – Eldred’s Spring Sale will include a “solid, electric group of fine and decorative arts,” according to the firm’s president, Joshua Eldred. The auction will be conducted June 11-12, 2020, at the company’s headquarters in East Dennis, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. Anticipated top lots include “Divided Head”, a bronze by noted British sculptor Henry Spencer Moore, estimated at $50,000/100,000, from the estate of a Rhode Island gentleman, and “Sunset Over Lake Thrasemine” by Jasper Francis Cropsey, estimated at $30,000/50,000, part of the artist’s catalog raisonné and with a provenance dating to 1885. "Divided Head", a bronze by Henry Spencer Moorewww.eldreds.com “Constitution Captures the Java, 1812” by noted contemporary marine painter Roy Cross (United Kingdom, b. 1924), estimated at $25,000/35,000, and a pastoral landscape, probably France, by Ernest Lawson (New York/Connecticut, 1873-1939), estimated at $20,000/30,000 are some of the other expected top sellers. The sale will include a considerable selection of sporting art, highlighted by “Stone Wall Surprise – Brittany + Grouse” by Robert Kennedy Abbett (Connecticut/New York, 1926-2015), estimated at $18,000/22,000. Other works by Abbett, as well as wildlife scenes by David A. Maass (Minnesota, b. 1929) and Aiden Lassell Ripley (Massachusetts/New York, 1896-1969), and fishing scenes by George Inness, Jr. (New York/Florida/France, 1854-1926) and watercolorist John Whorf (Massachusetts, 1903-1959) will also be included. Four fishing-related works by Charles Drew Cahoon (Massachusetts, 1861-1951), ranging in estimate from $1,000/1,500 to $5,000/7,000, and an assortment of antique and contemporary decoys and collectible firearms round out the section. Marine paintings will also feature heavily in the sale. In addition to the Roy Cross battle scene, works by Edward Moran (Pennsylvania/New York, 1829-1901) and Antonio Nicolo Gasparo Jacobsen (New York/New Jersey/Denmark, 1850-1921), notably a portrait of the steamship City of Rome estimated at $7,000/10,000, and will be included. Some of lots hail from the Kelton Collection of Maritime Art and Artifacts. "Sunset Over Lake Thrasemine" by Jasper Francis Cropseywww.eldreds.com The auction will also include 19th Century American and European paintings as well as works by contemporary American artists, and Provincetown, Cape Cod and North Shore School examples. Noteworthy lots include Margaret Keane’s…
Auction IndustryAmerican Paintings Auction At Eldred’s Features Two Private Collections
East Dennis, Mass. – Works from a Private North Shore Collection and the Kelton Collection of Marine Art and Artifacts will highlight Eldred’s American Paintings Auction, to be held Thursday, May 21 at 11 a.m. at the firm’s headquarters in East Dennis, Mass., on Cape Cod. The sale includes more than 150 paintings, ranging from pastoral 19th Century landscapes to bold contemporary compositions. Most of the 39 paintings in the Private North Shore Collection feature scenes of Cape Ann, an area that has long appealed to artists for its rugged coastline, picturesque towns and the color trappings of the fishing industry. Works by contemporary Massachusetts artists T.M. Nicholas, Jeff Weaver, Kenneth J. Knowles and Donald Mosher are included, as are earlier Rockport School examples by William Lester Stevens, Paul Strisik, Antonio Cirino and Anthony Thieme. A jewel-like gouache depicting two women sitting on a stone bridge by Jane Peterson (1876-1965), a summer resident of Ipswich, Mass., carries a $15,000/25,000 pre-sale estimate, the highest in the sale. Estimates for the remainder of the collection range from $300/500 for a Frank Beatty (1899-1984) view of Rockport’s Carnegie Library to $7,000/10,000 for a portrait of the schooner Thomas E. Lannon at dock in Gloucester Harbor by Donald Mosher (1945-2014), and most fall within the $3,000/5,000 range. "South Portland Light" by contemporary Massachusetts artist T.M. Nicholas in Eldred's American Paintings Auctionwww.eldreds.com “The majority of the Northshore Collection is made up of living artists that are carrying on the traditions of the Cape Ann Art Colony,” said Joshua Eldred, president of the firm and head of its Fine Art department. “I have never seen so many of these artists represented so well one collection, making this an incredible opportunity for buyers to add to their own collections.” Highlights from the other featured collection, the Kelton Collection of Marine Art and Artifacts, include “Dreams, Fairhaven” and “The Drydock, Fairhaven”, both by Joe Duncan Gleason (1881-1958), estimated at $12,000/18,000 and $4,000/6,000. Works by contemporary artists David Thimgan and Mark R. Myers are also included. Eldred’s will be offering items from the Kelton Collection over a series of auctions throughout 2020, though…
Auction IndustryTwo Mid-May Auctions on Tap at Eldred’s
East Dennis, Mass. – Eldred’s will hold two consecutive days of auctions this month, with a Fine and Decorative Art Auction on Thursday, May 14, and a “Summer Living” auction on Friday, May 15. Both feature a range of paintings and other fine art, furniture, Oriental rugs and decorative items. The Fine and Decorative Art Auction "really offers something for all tastes, from English transferware and majolica to studio pottery and a Byzantine Madonna and Child, and contemporary Southwestern sculpture to vintage movie posters," said Leah Kingman, head of Eldred’s European and Decorative Arts department. Pastel by Leon Augustin L’Hermitte (France, 1844-1925), headline lot in Eldred's Fine & Decorative Art auction.www.eldreds.com The sale does have a distinct European slant, however, with most of the leading lots having a Continental or British origin. Anticipated top earners include a pastel scene of sunny wheat fields by Leon Augustin L’Hermitte (France, 1844-1925), estimated at $3,000/5,000, a mid-20th Century Swiss mechanical singing bird box by Reuge, estimated at $2,000/3,000, and an English two-part secretary with extensive burled veneer, estimated at $1,200/1,800. Of the nearly 400 lots in the sale, a quarter of them are paintings. In addition to the L’Hermitte, highlights include an oil on board of figures on a rural road by Luigi Levi (Italy, 1858-1939) and an oil on canvas view of Port de Sauzon by Yolande Ardissone (France, b. 1927), both estimated at $2,500/3,500, and a large oil on canvas depicting the famous War of 1812 naval battle between the Shannon and the Chesapeake, attributed to William John Huggins (United Kingdom, 1781-1845), estimated at $1,500/2,500. A Spanish School portrait of a peasant, catalogued as 18th Century, has received significant early interest and may out-perform its $600/800 pre-sale estimate. Also garnering attention is a lot of two miniature Russian icons, estimated at $1,000/2,000. Both include original letters from Armand Hammer’s “Russian Imperial Exhibit” dated 1933, identifying the artist as K. Ulianoff of the Palicha (Palekh) School and listing the pieces as coming from the Imperial Collection of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. The sale also includes 55 lots of silver, notably a George III salver, Elizabeth…
Auction PreviewThe Spring Sale: Day 2
Margaret Keane remained anonymous through most of her career. The credit for all her work was claimed by her former husband, who was not a painter. She eventually received recognition for the big-eyed paintings that Life Magazine called “the most popular art now being produced in the free world.” Keane’s work titled Big Eyes on the Beach is available on the second day of the upcoming Spring Sale, presented by Eldred’s. A Henry Moore bronze sculpture titled Divided Head is also available in the auction. Moore’s sculptures often explored post-war Modernism and have influenced many other contemporary British artists. Between 1924 and 1925, Alexandre Jacovleff went on an African expedition referred to as the ‘Croisière Noire.’ His depictions of the people, landscapes, and cultures he encountered earned him the French Legion of Honor in 1926. His depiction of a Banda woman from central Africa is available in the auction. Beyond fine art, it will also include a variety of rugs, decorative art, and furniture. Browse the full catalog online by visiting Invaluable.
Auction PreviewTreasure Chest: Online-Only Timed Auction
In his 20s, Simon Tissot-Dupont was a photographer for Napoleon III, a position that allowed him to better understand the styles of the Parisian upper class. He soon founded his own company, S.T. Dupont, which produced luxury travel cases and, later, cigar lighters and cutters. A highlighted lot in the upcoming Treasure Chest: Online-Only Timed Auction, presented by Eldred's, is an S.T. Dupont "Windsor Noir" lighter. This piece includes a black enamel center panel and comes to auction unused. Several works of 20th-century fine and decorative art are also on offer in this event. Among the available paintings is John French Sloan's Blonde Nude. Sloan was associated with the Ashcan School movement, which prioritized gritty, everyday life over traditional “highbrow” subjects. In particular, Sloan became known for his non-romanticized depictions of prostitutes. In Blonde Nude, a woman looks off in the distance, unaware or uncaring of the viewer's gaze. Collectors can also consider Paleolithic Flux 1955 by 20th-century Abstract artist Charles Green Shaw. Register to bid on this or any other piece by visiting Invaluable.
Auction PreviewSingle Owner Collection
Eldred's will present a single-owner collection with a focus on fine and decorative art in the upcoming auction. A Queen Anne bonnet-top highboy is one of the featured lots. Produced in 1760, this drawer chest is made of mahogany wood. Two fans carved into the top and bottom of the highboy frame ten drawers of various sizes. Queen Anne-style furniture became popular in the 18th century and is characterized by its combination of versatility and Baroque embellishments. Those interested in antique decorative art can also consider a 19th-century Swiss music box. Inside the case is a music set that can play 12 different songs. Bees and butterflies decorate the device's hammers. Bidders will also find several bird-themed lots in the catalog, including eight carved Canada geese plaques. Dating back to the early 20th century, they vary in size from five to 11 inches. Another example is a Bellamy-style eagle plaque holding a "Remember the Maine" flag. The 1898 sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor was one of the inciting incidents of the Spanish-American War. Register to bid and view each of the lots on Invaluable.
Auction PreviewApril Evening Sale
Rockport painter Kenneth J. Knowles is known for his Impressionist landscape paintings. Knowles learned his craft under the guidance of master artists Stapleton Kearns, John Terelak, and T.M. Nicholas. The upcoming April Evening Sale, presented by Eldred's, features an oil on masonite work titled A Woman in Her Garden by Knowles. Artworks by Loretta Feeney and Todd Bonita, along with pieces from the American School and California School, are also showcased. A bronze sculpture of two hunting dogs on the base of a table lamp and a set of 12 topographical maps of Cape Cod dating from 1905 to 1944 will be offered as well. Several Bidjar, Indian, and Heriz rugs are also highlighted. A Tabriz rug woven in shades of blue, red, and green with a central medallion and floral design is notable. Tabriz rugs are popular for their quality and traditional weave. Furniture, porcelain sculptures, Chinese famille rose vases, timepieces, and musical instruments round out the sale. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Invaluable
Auction PreviewThe Spring Sale: Day 1
Roy Cross’ paintings and illustrations are known for their realistic portrayals of marine life. One of his works is featured on the first day of the upcoming Spring Sale, presented by Eldred's. The oil on canvas piece is titled Constitution Captures Java 1812 and depicts the capture of the HMS Java during the Battle of Tamatave. Antonio Nicolo is another highlighted maritime artist in the sale, specializing in steam vessels. The available Nicolo painting portrays the Dreadnought, an American clipper ship. Also featured is a Philadelphia needlework sampler by Rebecca F. Bishop. A total of four Biblical verses are surrounded by floral bouquets. The auction house describes the piece: “It depicts the Federal-style brick farmhouse within a landscape, with grazing sheep, rabbits, and birds, all symbols of prosperity.” View the complete catalog for this auction on Invaluable.
