From Prominent Journalist and Statesman to International Collector: Lark Mason Associates Announces The Collection of James Greenfield, Now Open for Bidding on iGavelAuctions

New York, NY – Lark Mason Associates is pleased to announce the upcoming auction of the esteemed Collection of James Greenfield, a distinguished editor, journalist, statesman, and avid world traveler. The collection is open for bidding on iGavelAuctions.com from October 17 through October 31, 2024.

Greenfield, known for his urbane and well-traveled lifestyle, began his illustrious multi-faceted career as a foreign correspondent for Time Magazine, covering the Korean War in the 1950s. His assignments led him to live in Hong Kong, India, Japan and Myanmar, sparking a lifelong fascination with Asia and its diverse cultures. 

In 1967, Greenfield joined The New York Times overseeing international coverage, including the Vietnam War. His contributions were crucial to the paper’s Pulitzer Prize-winning publication of the Pentagon Papers, a secret Defense Department report on American involvement in Vietnam.

During his extensive travels across Asia, Greenfield forged close relationships with antique dealers in Hanoi’s back alleys, Hong Kong’s Hollywood Road, the sprawling markets of Bangkok, and Cambodia’s flea markets. With a keen and discerning eye, he unearthed small, unassuming objects that often turned out to be rare and extraordinary treasures. Collecting became a lifelong passion, a pursuit that paralleled his career in journalism and public service, which included a pivotal role in the Kennedy Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.

By the late 1960s, while working in London as a correspondent for The New York Times, Greenfield’s passion for collecting expanded to English furniture, paintings, and decorative objects discovered in the Cotswolds and Bath.

Upon returning to the United States, Greenfield continued his pursuit of art and antiques, frequenting regional auctions, tag sales, and small shops. His collection became a diverse showcase of Chinese ceramics, Southeast Asian bronzes, European bronze sculptures, and scientific instruments, many of which will be available in the upcoming iGavel Auctions sale.

Notable highlights from The Greenfield Collection include:

• A Pair of Tibetan Gilt Bronze Figures on Deer and Buffalo, 18th Century (Estimate: $4,000-6,000)
• A Chinese Huanghuali Table, Qing Dynasty (Estimate: $5,000-8,000)
• Four Chinese Export Paintings, Interior Scenes, Gouache on Paper, Qing Dynasty (Estimate: $5,000-8,000)
• Two Thai Bronze Buddha Heads (Estimate: $1,000-2,000)
• Two Chinese Bronze Mirrors (Estimate: $1,500-2,000)
• A Pair of Chinese Porcelain Lotus Form Libation Cups, Guangxu Mark and Period (Estimate: $4,000-6,000)

Paintings:

• John Ferneley II (1815-1862), English School, Horse, Oil on Canvas (Estimate: $4,000-6,000)
• Claude Lorraine Ferneley (1822-1892), English School, Hound and Horse, Oil on Canvas, signed Claude L. Ferneley and inscribed Melton Mowbray 1867 (Estimate: $1,500-2,000)

Decorative Objects:

• A Chinese Export Armorial Porcelain Group with American Flag, including five tureens and three serving dishes, 19^th and 20^th Centuries (Estimate: $2,000-4,000)

• Joseph Smith Brass Telescope and Stand, Royal Exchange, London, ca. 1820 (Estimate: $800-1,200)

• New Celestial Globe, John and William Cary, London, 1816 (Estimate: $3,000-5,000) 

• A pair of Swedish Gilt and Painted Wood Armchairs, ca. 1790 (Estimate: $1,000-2,000)

“We are honored to present the Collection of James Greenfield,” says Lark Mason, founder and CEO of Lark Mason Associates and iGavel Auctions. “This auction offers a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire pieces with accessible estimates from the personal collection of a man who not only influenced history through journalism and public service but also cultivated a deep and lifelong passion for art and collecting.”