Americana Collection of Howard and Nancy Wagner With New Haven Auctions

An American artist, William Matthew Prior (1806 – 1873) was best known for his portraits of children and families. After completing his training under Charles Codman, Prior executed his first portrait when he was 17 years old. One of the noteworthy lots in the upcoming New Haven Auctions event is a painting attributed to Prior. It is a portrait of a child, dressed in blue. 

Another highlight of the auction is an antique highboy. A highboy or tallboy is a raised chest of drawers, named after the French bois (“wood”). The sale also showcases an early two-part painted Dutch cupboard with raised panel doors on the bottom. The top section has two glazed, arched doors above five dovetailed drawers. The lower section includes three dovetailed drawers. Two needlework samplers are also available. One is an early American needlework sampler by Anne Mooers and the other is a 1796 sampler by Mary Bollt. 

The sale will feature the Americana collection of the late Howard and Nancy Wagner of Beavercreek, Ohio. It includes more than 400 lots collected by the couple and Howard Wagner’s parents. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.