On Sunday, June 20th at 11 a.m., CRN Auctions in Cambridge, MA will be conducting an exciting, and as

usual eclectic, sale consisting of several private collections from New England homes. Many of the items offered highlight long-standing relationships with discerning collectors who have parsed out jewels from their collections over the years and brought them to market with the help of the CRN team.

Among this esteemed group being sold is the sixth installment from the extensive, life-long collection of Spanish Colonial silver and objects from a Connecticut gentleman. These curated items were collected during his time living in Latin America in the 1980’s. Among the 30 lots in the sale, a stand-out is an 18th c. silver clad figure of San Miguel, measuring an impressive 46”, brandishing a sword and carrying a balance scale. This piece is signed ‘Abila’, considered to be the Mexican silversmith Pedro de Avila (1770-1788). Additional 18th c. items from this collection include a 19” mother-of-pearl inlaid tabernacle with St. Christopher and baby Jesus; a carved coquera and colera from the Jesuit Mission workshops of alto Peru; paintings from the Cuzco school; various silver clad nuts, coconuts and wood; and a variety of beautifully detailed items from crowns to jewelry.

Nautical enthusiasts will recall an important collection of marine chronometers sold by CRN in January, 2019. In the process of preparing the home for sale, the family recently discovered multiple boxes tucked away in the eves containing what is now the 2nd offering of marine technology. This gentleman was not only an avid collector, but a restorer and builder of things of a precise mechanical nature.

Close to the heart of auctioneer Carl Norblom, are pristine and unique examples of early American furniture. “Americana is where I cut my teeth in this business and I still wake up everyday hoping to come across a great piece of American furniture that I haven't seen before.” Carl reports he is beyond thrilled to be a part in offering these select pieces from the collection of a respected Massachusetts collector. Highlighting this group is an extremely rare 18th c. Queen Anne cherry, fan-carved dressing table, never drilled for hardware, most likely made in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Similar examples of this model can be seen in select publications and a close match was last sold at Sotheby’s in January of 1997. In the home alongside the dressing table sat a cherry highboy most likely made by the same hand. Also from the home are three exceptional painted William and Mary bannister-back armchairs, a Boston walnut dressing table, a set of 4 New England maple Queen Anne sidechairs and a regal pair of Bennington flint enamel lions.

CRN is also thrilled to be offering more items from the skyline home of a Boston lady and her late husband, long-time collectors of important art and furnishings, including the Bugatti furniture sold by CRN in 2020. This auction offers paintings including impressive large-scale works by Theobald Chartran, Hermann Herzog, John Carrick, James Bertrand and a stunning modern photo realistic painting of a shoreline scene in Rio de Janeiro by contemporary Brazillian artist Renato Meziat.

Topping off this exceptionally well-rounded sale is a phenomenal selection of silver spanning styles, centuries and country of origin. Of special note are four pieces of the most detailed and narrative repousse silver serving pieces by Baltimore company Jacobi & Jenkins. Auction coordinator, Karin Phillips, assesses these pieces as “the best we’ve seen”. Along with these items being offered are a variety of decorative accessories, an Irish Chippendale slate-topped console table, Louis Vuitton trunks and a Napoleonic Wars wooden canteen, Jensen and other sterling flatware, Chinese Export porcelains and more.
See the CRN website, www.crnauctions.com, for catalogue and information, and keep up to date by following CRN Auctions on instagram.