Rafael Osona Auctions
21 Washington St, Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554
508-228-3942
About Auction House
Rafael Osona delivers consistent high-quality antiques and art to discriminating buyers in a selling arena built on decades of solid relationships, confidentiality and personalize service. Recognized since 1980 as a premier dealer in 18th – 21st century antiques and arts, Rafael Osona’s family-owned, full-service auction house conducts more than a dozen unique auctions annually, showcasing exceptional decorative and fine arts in every category.Auction Previews & News
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Auction IndustryNantucket Baskets at Auction: Vintage and Modern Examples to Sell at Rafael Osona Auctions
Long considered an icon of Nantucket’s culture, woven wood baskets from the island are highly prized collectibles and works of decorative art. Nantucket baskets are known for their excellent craftsmanship and meticulous style. A selection of these baskets will soon be available with Rafael Osona Auctions in the company’s Annual Spring Daffodil Weekend Auction, to be held on April 27, 2024 at 9:30 AM EDT. Nest of five vintage Bill and Judy Sayle oval Nantucket baskets, circa 2000. Image courtesy of Rafael Osona Auctions. Woven baskets have long been made on Nantucket by Native Americans, particularly members of the Wampanoag Nation. These wooden baskets typically have a square base and are composed of stripped and soaked ash wood splints. The practice thrived for centuries, and weavers continued their work despite the European colonization of Massachusetts and Nantucket in the 17th and 18th centuries. After colonization, the whaling industry grew rapidly. Whalers occupied themselves with various crafts while waiting for whales to appear, giving rise to artworks such as scrimshaw. Some sailors aboard lightships (boats equipped with lighthouses) turned to basket-making to fill their time, mostly using rattan imported from the South Pacific. Their creations were sold to islanders and visitors, and the resulting Nantucket baskets were named after the lightships where they were made. Nantucket enjoyed global dominance in the hunting and processing of whales until rising poverty and the American Civil War destroyed the majority of the island’s whaling vessels. Nantucket’s economy shifted quickly as a result. A new era of basket-making began as weavers perfected the lightship basket style and introduced new variations. Stephen Gibbs Nantucket friendship basket oval form with Charlie Sayle carved whale. Image courtesy of Rafael Osona Auctions. Nantucket baskets are still made today using local skills and techniques that have been handed down through the generations. Rafael Osona Auctions’ upcoming event highlights both vintage and contemporary examples. Among the top lots is a set of five oval Nantucket baskets woven by Bill and Judy Sayle in 2000 (lot #150; estimate: USD 3,000 - $4,000). Carved scallop shells are inlaid at the base of each…
Auction Industry, Press ReleaseNantucket Art Including Works by Robert Stark Jr., Lowell Herrero, Molly Dee Lead Rafael Osona’s Annual Spring Daffodil Weekend Auction
Rafael Osona Auction’s 44th Annual Spring Daffodil Weekend Auction featuring 650 lots begins April 27, 2024, at 9:30 am. Several recently sold Nantucket seaside estates and residences feature an eclectic mix of fine art, Nantucket Art, and decorative arts including works by Robert Stark Jr., Lowell Herrero, Molly Dee, and others. The auction also offers modern and antique furniture, Nantucket baskets, and much more. The sale will be held live on April 27, 2024. Interested bidders can view the complete catalog and place bids by visiting Bidsquare. Atlantic Beach, an oil on board by Robert Jones (b.1943) is one of the leading lots in the sale (lot #112; estimate: USD 9,000 - 12,000). Jones was a fisherman in the inshore waters of his native Cornwall before becoming a full-time artist. It was during this time that his love of the sea developed. Jones studied fine art at the Falmouth School of Art. His paintings have been widely exhibited throughout the UK and abroad. His seascapes and marine subjects, like the one portrayed in this painting, are particularly well known. His paintings are concerned with the atmosphere, changing weather, and light conditions on land and at sea. Robert Jones Oil on Board "Atlantic Beach" Molly Dee’s oil on canvas "Going Ashore 1907" is another notable item (lot #99; estimate: USD 5,000 - 7,000). Dee (American 1938-2022) was an American painter born in Buffalo, NY. She had a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the acclaimed Albright Knox Art School. Growing up, Dee never knew her parents. Her unique style and interpretation of photographic images evolved from the artist’s early fascination with photos of her parents. Old photographs garnered from estate sales, family collections, and historical archives were her inspiration for large figurative paintings like the one available. Molly Dee (American 1938-2022) Oil on Canvas "Going Ashore 1907" Among jewelry, pearls take center stage in this auction. A notable lot is the fine and lustrous Baroque South Sea and Tahitian pearl necklace with 68 pearls (lot #138A; estimate: USD 3,000 – 4,500). The 68 pearls measure 10mm x 16mm in shades of white, natural…
Auction PreviewRafael Osona Auctions’ Annual Spring Daffodil Weekend Sale Highlights 1948 Red Willys Jeepster & Nantucket Specialties
The Annual Spring Daffodil Weekend Auction from Rafael Osona Auctions will take place this April. The sale features a 1948 Red Willys Jeepster. The Jeepster has the original four-cylinder Jeep motor that runs smoothly. The other components like the carburetor, fuel pump, and generator appear to be functional. The exterior is Luzon red. Up front, it has a bright chrome bumper and bumper guard. In the back, it has a spare tire with a cover. After World War II, Jeep trademark owner Willys began producing "CJ"s (Civilian Jeeps) for farmers, foresters, and workers with similar utilitarian needs. The Jeepster was a crossover from their "utilitarian" trucks to the passenger automobile market. The Jeepster was only made for three years by Willys-Overland Motors, making it a rare collectible. Robert Stark Jr.’s oil on canvas titled Fast, depicting night surfcasting, is another notable lot. Robert Stark Jr. (1933 - 2014) was an American post-war and contemporary painter. Stark was mostly known for his luminist paintings, principally in oil on canvas and panel depicting the Nantucket landscape, sailboats, and coastal life. Another notable lot is a hand-knotted, sky-blue Caucasian vegetable-dyed woolen carpet with 200 knots per inch. The sale also offers a Nantucket basket cocktail purse and other collectibles. To view the complete Annual Spring Daffodil Weekend Auction sale catalog and register to bid in other online auctions, visit Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewNantucket Oil Painting by Robert Stark Jr. & 4.10-Carat Emerald-Cut Diamond Ring Lead Rafael Osona Auctions’ Annual Christmas Stroll Sale
A 4.10-carat emerald-cut diamond ring will lead the upcoming Annual Christmas Stroll Auction, offered by Rafael Osona Auctions. The diamond in focus has I color and VVS1 clarity, according to its GIA report. The emerald-cut diamond is flanked by two baguette diamonds. A Georg Jensen and Edvard Kindt-Larsen 18-karat yellow gold link bracelet, signed by Georg Jensen, is also a leading lot. Edvard Kindt-Larsen (1901 - 1982), an architect from Denmark, produced a wide range of work in cooperation with his wife, Tove Kindt-Larsen. The couple shared an astute sense of quality that coincided with the taste of the day. For this bracelet, they collaborated with renowned silversmith Georg Jensen. Another top lot is Robert Stark Jr.’s oil on Masonite painting titled Red-Sailed Catboat Rounding Brant Point, Nantucket. It is signed on the lower right corner and molded in a gilt frame with a carved rope border. Robert Stark Jr. (1933 - 2014) worked principally in oil on canvas or panel. Stark was best known for coastal scenes that feature an iconic red-sailed catboat. The aerial perspective and concealment of visible brushstrokes characterize his artworks. His red-sailed catboat paintings evoke tranquility and calm. Additional fine art offerings include works by Antonio Jacobsen, Harry J. Sunter, Isabelle Hollister Tuttle, Anne Ramsdell Congdon, and many others. View the complete catalog of the Annual Christmas Stroll Auction and find other online auctions by visiting Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewJulian Taylor Painting, Arthur R. Martin Oval Open Nantucket Basket, and More at Rafael Osona Auctions
The upcoming Late Summer Auction sale at Rafael Osona Auctions will feature an oil on canvas painting by Modernist artist Julian Taylor. The offered painting evokes a sense of nostalgia, allowing the viewer a sense of familiarity with the winter snow, the countryside, and the city and village roofs. A specialist in acrylics, the artist's favored theme of harbors, vintage rigging, towing, lighthouses, and piers is executed with precision and sharpness. Throughout his work, Taylor represents the tradition of figurative painting, creating a lyrical and poetic world of images in order to elevate people's real-life experiences. Titled The Lowest Tide, the offered painting depicts boats, figures, and a VW panel van by the beach, with the artist's signature on the lower right. Another lot of interest in this sale is an oval open Nantucket basket by Arthur R. Martin. During his time in Massachusetts state prisons, A.R. Martin gained experience crafting Nantucket baskets. In order to make bases and handles, he collected wood from the grounds. It was during his time in prison that he began selling them, and it continued in Turner Falls, Massachusetts after he was released. Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum recognized Martin for his innovative oversize baskets. The available lot is inscribed ARM Arthur R. Martin on its base. Also available is a pair of curved benches, a ship’s wheel and bell table with antique inlay, and a Sarouk scatter rug. Find the complete catalog and register to bid in the Late Summer Auction event by visiting Rafael Osona Auctions.
Auction PreviewExceedingly Rare Scrimshaw and Polychrome Whalebone Walking Stick at Rafael Osona Auctions
An exceptionally rare scrimshaw and polychrome whalebone walking stick will lead this upcoming auction, presented by Rafael Osona Auctions. Dating to the 1830s, the stick features two full portraits of women atop which is a wraparound flying fish. The available lot measures 30 inches in length and spears to be in fine condition. The auction also features a single, large scrimshaw sperm whale’s tooth from the first quarter of the 19th century. The tooth is carved with an image of a British ship engaged in a battle with another ship. The reverse portrays a ship sailing through the furious waves. Inscribed on the back are the initials ‘L.R’, and IIA’. An oil on canvas titled Fishing Boats Docked by Emile Albert Gruppe and a whaleman-made chess set and gameboard from 1850 are on offer as well. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming The Marine Auction, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
Auction PreviewSignificant Oil on Masonite Paintings by 19th-20th Century Massachusetts Artists Highlight Rafael Osona Auctions’ Upcoming Sale
Born in Chatham, Massachusetts, artist Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr. spent most of his time sailing, fishing and sketching coastal life. He would illustrate imaginative scenes of mermaids and sailors in whimsical settings. The lighthearted portrayals in his paintings appealed to wealthy and well-to-do patrons. One such oil on Masonite work by Ralph Cahoon is a key highlight of the upcoming sale from Rafael Osona Auctions. Titled American Seamen's Friend Society, it depicts two captains seated and relishing an exquisite dinner served by two mermaids. The captains are apparently discussing their forthcoming voyage on the ship Dashing Wave to Hong Kong, Canton, and Calcutta, departing Derby Wharf on May 4, 1841. Two other oil on Masonite paintings also lead the catalog. An available work titled Hanging the Nets by Elizabeth Rebecca Coffin won the Norman W. Dodge Prize at the National Academy of Design in 1892. Ahead of her time, Coffin made choices considered unconventional for women back then. Middle Moors, Nantucket by Anne Ramsdell Congdon is a noteworthy landscape work in the sale. Anne was an important member of the Art Colony on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming Americana, Fine Art & Decor auction, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
Auction PreviewStephen Swift Furniture and Robert Stark Jr.’s Painting Lead Upcoming July Sale by Rafael Osona Auctions
Pedestal tables for dining first appeared at the end of the 18th century. These marked a departure from the traditional long tables to more intimately fashioned pieces standing on a single or twin pedestal bases. Since the pedestals were designed in the center of the table, they were quite comfortable, as the legs did not get in the way of chairs. A Stephen Swift figured double pedestal dining table with eight armchairs is a key highlight of the upcoming sale, presented by Rafael Osona Auctions. Crafted in mahogany, the oval-shaped table is designed with spider-leg double pedestals and two 24-inch leaves. Another notable Stephen Swift lot is a cherry rocker made circa 1987. It is signed underneath “Stephen Swift, Nantucket.” Leading the fine art section of the catalog is Robert Stark Jr.’s oil on canvas titled Red Sail on Calm Waters. The artist is well known for his coastal scenes that usually portray an iconic red-hued catboat. His style of work is marked by concealment of brushstrokes and skillful depiction of light that evoke a sense of serenity. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming July 1st Furnishings, Fine Art and Décor Auction, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
Auction PreviewDepictions of Nantucket Docks, Penwith Peninsula by Paul Balmer and John Miller Are Highlights of Rafael Osona Auctions’ Upcoming Sale
Australian artist Paul Balmer grew up in South Africa, and he cites traditional African and Aboriginal art as among his influences. Rafael Osona Auctions will offer an oil on canvas by Balmer titled Bird's Eye in the 2023 Designer Daffodil Weekend Auction. The painting shows a bird’s eye view of Nantucket. It depicts an overhead view of a steamship and numerous sailboats departing the Brant Point lighthouse, Coast Guard station, and docks in Nantucket Harbor. Another notable lot is John Miller’s Yacht Passing the Bay. It is an oil on linen in molded gilt frame, titled and signed on the reverse. The painting depicts a bay with a pristine sandy beach and blue water on a bright day. Upon closer observation, viewers can see a yacht in a distance that is barely visible from the standpoint. Miller (British, 1931 - 2002) was an English artist born in London who became famous for his idyllic representation of beach scenes in his home county of Cornwall. Most of his paintings were of the West Penwith peninsula and Tresco in the Isles of Scilly. Rafael Osona Auctions will offer over 600 lots in this event, including partial contents of a Nantucket designer decorated estate and contents of several recently sold seaside homes. Visit Bidsquare for more information on the upcoming April 29, 2023, Designer Daffodil Weekend Auction and to browse other online auctions.
Auction PreviewOriginal Nantucket Style From Rafael Osona Auctions This August
Though the traditional crafted baskets were always well-known and popular items in the Nantucket area, it took a relative outsider— José Formoso Reyes, from Luzon, Philippines— to invent and perfect the first covered Nantucket Friendship basket purse. The baskets were so recognizable that those carrying them could recognize each other while passing on the street, thus establishing both name and tradition. The style of these hand baskets is still popular in the area. Several original Friendship baskets can be found in the Late Summer Auction offered by Rafael Osana Auctions this August. There are many Nantucket-related items in the sale, such as fine art, furniture, textiles, and collectibles. Among the featured art are several pieces by Robert Stark Jr. and Robert E. Nickerson, a street scene by Emile Albert Guppe, and more. There are also several lots of signed Stephen Swift furniture and a Baroque string of white pearls. Visit Bidsquare to find the complete catalog and browse other online auctions.
Auction PreviewScrimshaw Artistry, Southampton Sunset by Copley Fielding at Rafael Osona Auctions
In the late 18th and early 19th century, sailors on whaling ships practiced scrimshaw to pass time. It was the practice of creating artwork out of whalebone, as byproducts. Nothing went to waste. The sailors engraved folk art and embellished common tools and utensils. In the upcoming Marine Auction presented by Rafael Osona Auctions, a pierced panbone scrimshaw basket from circa 1850 is a leading lot. It is the work of Scarce Whaleman. Three tiers of carved openwork form the oval frame of the basket, and the edges are scalloped. It also has a rarely seen fixed handle and oval pine base. This Marine Auction will also offer fine art, Asian art, Native American and ethnographic finds, decorative art, and furniture. Southampton Sunset by Anthony Vandyke Copley Fielding is a top lot among fine art offerings. It is a watercolor, signed and dated 1828 in gilt gesso and a wood frame. Copley Fielding belonged to the Golden Age of British watercolorists. A pupil of John Varley, he later became a teacher and the president of the Royal Society of Watercolours in 1831. One of his favorite subjects to paint was marine life. Find the listed items and more online auctions on Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewNantucket Fine Art by Robert Stark Jr. and More From Rafael Osona Auctions
Founder and director of Nantucket’s oldest gallery, the Stark Gallery on Old North Wharf, Robert Stark Jr. was also an American Luminist painter who approached his scenes with a modernist’s eye. Known primarily for coastal subjects, often with an iconic red sailed catboat in the middle to far distance, Stark painted with a technique that concealed visible brushstrokes and evoked a sense of calm. This is the case in the six works by Stark up for bid in the Independence Weekend auction from Rafael Osona Auctions, including one of his trademark catboat paintings, titled Red Sail on Calm Water. Items in the catalog were sourced from Nantucket homes and seaside estates, as well as five estates from Pawleys Island, Palm Springs, Boston, Albany, and New York City. Anchored by over 300 lots of fine and decorative art works, the sale also features over 140 pieces of fine furniture, such as a set of six Stephen Swift cherry and ash pomfret dining chairs and a set of four cherry and ash bar stools. Other items include pearl necklaces and other jewelry, a hand-knotted Persian Heriz natural wool carpet, Bill and Judy Sayle nested Nantucket swing handle and friendship baskets, and more. Visit Bidsquare to browse the full catalog of this and other online auctions.
Auction PreviewWhaling and Marine Memorabilia at Rafael Osona Auctions
In 1659, English settlers arrived on the island of Nantucket. They hoped to earn a living through farming and shepherding. They soon noticed that every autumn, whales surrounded the island until spring. From 1690 until around 1840, Nantucket was known as the top whaling port in America. However, as Nantucket’s population dwindled in the 19th century, whaling also decreased. Rafael Osona Auctions will offer a nostalgic view of the Nantucket whaling community with its upcoming Whaling and Marine Memorabilia auction. Highlighted in the sale is a Nantucket whalebone, cherry wood, and whale ivory birdcage made by Joseph Clapp around 1870. The birdcage is constructed with a pegged, mortise, and tenon dome top, a cherry wood frame, whalebone dowels, and a hinged access door. Each top corner features a whale ivory ball-in-cup decoration. Another item showcased is a 19th-century mahogany and brass ship’s wheel produced by John Hastie & Co. Ltd, a steering gear manufacturer from Greenock, Scotland. The 36-inch wheel features eight mahogany spokes and handles with support rails. The brass hub is inscribed ‘John Hastie & Co Ltd. Greenock.’ To view the entire auction catalog and register to bid, visit Bidsquare.
Auction Industry, Press ReleaseA Civil War Document Signed By Lincoln And A 1775 Revolutionary War Muster Roll Will Be In Rafael Osona’s Online Auction, Aug. 7-8
The Day 1 session on Saturday, August 7th, is titled Americana, Fine Art, Pacific Trade & Décor. Day 2, on Sunday, August 8th, is titled The Marine Auction. In total, over 700 lots will be sold. NANTUCKET, Mass. – A Civil War document signed by then-President Abraham Lincoln and a rare 1775 American Revolutionary War Muster Roll are just a couple of the expected star lots in Rafael Osona Auctions’ annual, two-day online auction slated for the weekend of August 7th and 8th, at 9:30 am Eastern time both days. Over 700 lots will be sold. The auction will be headlined by the Gail and Rich Mellin collection of Chinese export porcelain of Canton design, American furniture, fine arts and décor. The Mellins are esteemed antiques dealers in Canton and export porcelains and are offering Part 1 of their collection from their recently sold Connecticut residence; property from the descendants of Francis Elias Spinner, U.S. Treasurer appointed by Lincoln; and fine antique rugs, China Trade art, and export porcelains from the Marie and Rick Wackenhut collection from the Starbuck East Brick mansion in Nantucket. Civil War document signed by then-President Abraham Lincoln in 1861, naming Francis E. Spinner as U.S. Treasurer, a post he held until 1875. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000. The Day 1 auction on Saturday, August 7th, is titled Americana, Fine Art, Pacific Trade & Décor. The Lincoln signed document with others will be part of the Day 1 offerings, which total more than 500 lots. The Lincoln lot is a signed presidential appointment, naming Francis E. Spinner as U.S. Treasurer, a post he held until 1875. The document, which also has the signature of Secretary of State William H. Seward, plus the Presidential seal, should bring $4,000-$6,000. Two Rembrandt etchings, titled Self-Portrait Leaning on a Stone Sill and The Windmill, descended in the Spinner collection. An exceptional offering of six original paintings by the noted Nantucket artist Anne Ramsdell Congdon (1873-1958) will come up for bid, an example being an oil on board titled View from Mill Hill, and measuring 14 ¼ inches by 18 ½ inches (sight, less frame).…
Auction PreviewAnne Ramsdell Congdon Painting, Rembrandt Etching Headline Rafael Osona Auctions Event
Known for her plein air oil paintings of harbor views, seascapes, and sand dunes, Anne Ramsdell Congdon was an accomplished American artist of the early 20th century. She studied at the Académie Delecluse in Paris and under Rhoda Holmes Nichols, an assistant of William Merritt Chase. However, Congdon developed her own style while studying with American Impressionist painter Charles Woodbury. Rafael Osona Auctions will offer Congdon’s View from Mill Hill in its upcoming auction. The oil painting shows a figure (likely Ruth Haviland Sutton) in the foreground with a harbor view of Nantucket in the background. In its molded wood frame, the unsigned painting measures 16 ¾ inches by 20 inches. A Dutch artist of the 1600s, Rembrandt Harmenszoon Van Rijn painted dozens of self-portraits. These self-portraits depict the artist in various scenes with different facial expressions and costumes. Found in this auction is Rembrandt’s 1639 etching titled Self-Portrait Leaning on a Stone Sill. The artist’s signature, along with the year of the self-portrait, can be found in the upper left corner. The etching is affixed to a mat with cardboard backing and comes in a thin black wood frame. View the entire auction catalog and place a bid by visiting Bidsquare.
