On Wednesday, May 22nd Schwenke Auctioneers will auction a diverse group of almost 900 lots consigned from 45 separate estates and consignors from Florida, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut and New York. The auction includes over 200 lots of Asian decorative arts, 100 lots of Mid Century Modern decorative arts, 100 fine art lots, 300 lots of English, Continental and American decorative arts and almost 50 estate carpets, in addition to sterling silver, jewelry and garden statuary. The sale marks the tenth anniversary of the auction firm founded by Thomas Schwenke which held its first sale in May 2009.

Featured items include a lovely work by Emille A. Gruppe (Am. 1896-1978), oil on canvas of farmhouse and barn on a low hill in the snow, signed "Emile A. Gruppe" lower right, also signed, titled "First Snow" and dated 1962 on stretcher verso. The stretcher size is 25" high, 30" wide and the artwork is accompanied by the original invoice from the artist. The painting has not previously been offered for sale.

Also expected to delight fine art bidders is a work by Edmund Darch Lewis (Pennsylvania, 1835-1910), a scenic panorama Vermont landscape, apparently original stretcher, 1996 sales invoice attached verso, stretcher size 30" high, 50" wide. The work is signed lower right "Edmund D. Lewis 1880" and is sold on behalf of a Connecticut collector.

Among the large group of Asian items is a wonderful Chinese embroidered silk dragon robe, with dragons and auspicious symbols on a blue field. Measuring 55" high, 18" wide, the provenance is property of a Connecticut estate.

Period furniture enthusiasts will delight in American, English and Continental rarities gleaned from several estates. Many American furniture pieces are being offered, notable among them a fine Federal period inlaid mahogany secretary desk in two parts, with removable pierced and carved swan neck pediment above mullioned glass doors, the base with pull out butler desk, set on large bracket feet. Possibly by Mathew Egerton, New Brunswick NJ, the early 19th century piece measures 98 1/2" high, 46" wide, 22 1/2" deep, and provenance is a New England Private Collector.

Offered on behalf of a Pennsylvania private collector is an important American federal mahogany sofa in the Sheraton taste, first quarter 19th century, attributed to Duncan Phyfe, New York, the crest rail with ribbon swags and thunderbolt carving, the reeded closed and incurved arms fronted by reeded and foliate-carved supports, the shaped seat with reeded front and raised on turned reeded legs ending in brass casters. The sofa is upholstered in fine pale yellow and white silk moire and measures 36" high, 79" wide, 29" deep.  

The sale also includes over 45 fine estate oriental carpets including Persian, Caucasian and Turkoman room and scatter sized rugs, and other regional and modern rugs of varying sizes. Most notable among the carpets and related textiles are four rare and colorful Suzani embroideries from the Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan region, all from a California collection. 

The catalog for the sale is viewable at www.woodburyauction.com. Absentee and phone bidding are available for this live-online auction by registering directly with Schwenke Auctioneers. The sale will be broadcast for live internet bidding on Live Auctioneers, Invaluable and Bidsquare. Preview begins at the firm’s gallery on Friday, May 17th.

For additional information please call Schwenke Auctioneers at 203-266-0323.