Featuring Property from Historic St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- Weschler's February 12th auction of European and American Furniture and Decorations, including Asian Works of Art, will feature a noteworthy selection of furnishings, decorations and fine art from a historic landmark in our nations’ capital – St. John’s Episcopal Church.

St. John’s Episcopal Church, also known as “The Church of the Presidents”, sits across from the White House on Lafayette Square and has been an institution of faith in the Washington area since 1815.  Highlighting the offerings is an impressive American gilt and patinated metal eight-light chandelier, attributed to Cornelius and Baker, Philadelphia, circa 1860.  The chandelier, measuring approximately 70 inches in height, is anticipated to fetch between $18,000-$22,000.

Other standouts from the church include a Classical Gothic Revival mahogany bookcase, probably New York, circa 1830 ($3,000-$5,000); a Pennsylvania Federal inlaid mahogany slant-front desk, circa 1790 ($2,000-$4,000); a Victorian mahogany Bishop's throne armchair ($800-$1,200); a pair of Victorian needlepoint pictures of cardinals, mid-19th century ($3,000-$5,000); and a selection of Italian works including a 19th Century Italian School of The Adoration of the Magi, which holds a pre-sale estimate of $5,000-$10,000 and two oils of The Grand Canal, Venice in the circle of Francesco Guardi (Italian 1712-1793), which are expected to bring $4,000-$6,000 a piece.

Russian works are represented by a silver gilt cloisonné and en-plein enamel casket, Antip Ivanovich Kuzmichev, Moscow, 1896-1908. Consigned from a local collector, the casket is highlighted in colorful enamel with scrolling foliage; the hinged lid is set with an en-plein plaque depicting Zaporozhian Cossacks Writing a Letter to the Turkish Sultan, after Ilya Repin (1844-1930). The casket is estimated to bring between $30,000-$50,000.

Highlights of the silver offerings include two third quarter 18th century Georgian Irish dish rings, Dublin (each estimated at $3,000-$5,000); a Tiffany & Co. ‘Chrysanthemum’ pattern sterling covered entrée dish, New York, 1892-1902 ($1,500-$2,500); and a Tiffany & Co. sterling six-piece coffee and tea service with tray, New York, 1907-1938 ($8,000-$12,000).

The decorative arts portion of the sale will include two lots of late 19th-early 20th century Presidential porcelain plates (estimate range: $1,000-$3,000); an American ‘Stars and Stripes’ pieced and appliquéd cotton crib bedcover by Amelia C. Johnson, Wilmington, DE, circa 1860 ($800-$1,200); and a 20th century Maori carved wood and mother-of-pearl inlaid lidded bowl ($1,000-$1,500). In addition are two Meissen decorated dinner services, 1860-1924, carrying estimates ranging between $2,000 and $6,000; a pair of life-size Venetian polychrome decorated and giltwood blackamoor torchères, 20th century ($5,000-$7,000); and a selection of 18th to early 20h century figural bronzes including two bronzes by Mathurin Moreau (French 1822-1912), Le Retour de la Moisson, which hold a $6,000-$8,000 pre-sale estimate.
Standouts in furnishings include a Japanese salmon-red ground lacquer cabinet on later George II style giltwood stand, which is anticipated to bring between $4,000-$6,000; an Italian baroque style dark and light stained walnut putti stand, circa 1900 ($3,000-$5,000); and a Portuguese satinwood inlaid jacaranda commode, early 19th century ($2,000-$3,000). Other offerings include two Steinway & Sons baby grand pianos (estimate range: $6,000-$10,000); a pair of Federal crossbanded mahogany fold-top card tables, attributed to the workshop of Duncan Phyfe, New York, circa 1810 ($2,000-$4,000); a Queen Anne mahogany stained maple highboy, Massachusetts or Connecticut, circa 1770 ($2,000-$4,000) and an American cast iron figure of a stag, probably J. W. Fiske Iron Works, New York, circa 1870, which is expected to fetch $2,000-$4,000.

Property from a former U.S. Diplomat will highlight the Asian works of art session with pieces spanning the Tang to Ming Dynasties (618-1644) including a Chinese Longquan celadon shallow bowl from the Ming Dynasty ($500-$700) and a group of six Annamese blue and white covered boxes and a jarlet, 15th-16th century, which are expected to fetch $800-$1,200.  Other offerings include a group of five Japanese cloisonné enamel cabinet articles from the Meiji Period (1868-1912) ($500-$700); a selection of Japanese woodblock prints by Hiroshi Yoshida (Japanese 1876-1950) and Toshi Yoshida (Japanese 1911-1995) which carry estimates ranging from $500-$1,000; and a Chinese Export 85-piece 'Blue Fitzhugh' dinner service from the Jiaqing-Daoguang Period (1796-1850) ($5,000-$7,000) will be on the auction block.

A Serapi rug, circa 1900 ($10,000 to $15,000), is one of among the thirty rugs and tapestries to be offered.  Other popular rug styles include Sarouk, Oushak, Heriz, Bidjar and more.

Exhibition for the February 12th auction begins February 5 in Weschler’s downtown Washington, D.C. gallery. For more information, contact our specialists at (202) 628-1281. The items may be viewed online at www.weschlers.com.