Fall Fine & Decorative Arts

J.D. McClatchy was an American poet and public figure, a man who almost won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize. Beyond his work as a writer and critic, McClatchy also collected fine art. His estate, as well as several private New York collections, will be on offer in the upcoming Fall Fine & Decorative Arts auction presented by Butterscotch Auctioneers & Appraisers. Over 750 lots will be available, including decorative arts, furniture, Asian and ethnographic art, and silver. A private collection of antique Leica cameras will also feature. 

Two significant lots in this auction are paintings from Yanzhou Xu, a contemporary Chinese artist. The first depicts an expectant mother, clothed in a patterned fabric that contrasts a peeling white fence in the background. A baby seated in a red chair is shown in the second painting, realistic in its style and bright in its colors. Both works were created in the early 1990s. In contrast to these portraits is an abstract work from Claude Venard, painted in the style of a mosaic or stained glass window. 

Furniture and decorative accessories are included in this auction as well; standing out is a tall case clock with paintings of birds and a nautical scene on its face. A 20th-century elk antler chandelier is also a statement piece. From an antique map charting the conquests of Alexander the Great to a polished tortoiseshell complete with barnacles, this auction blends the influences of several collections into a single sale. To view the full catalog and register to bid, visit Butterscotch Auction.