Freeman’s, America’s oldest auction house, located in Philadelphia will be sending several specialists to the United Kingdom in search of American-made fine and decorative arts, silver, porcelain, furniture, and more. The eight day tour, from July 31 to August 7, will include stops in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Shropshire, and London, with special events planned at Weston Park and Kensington Palace.

From William Penn, who founded the Pennsylvania colony in America only to return home to England later, to American heiresses marrying British nobility for titles in the early 1900s, Yankees and Brits have been traveling “across the pond” for centuries. As a result, many American-made furniture, wares, and paintings have found their way to the United Kingdom—and back to the United States.

“Freeman’s has successfully sold antiques that have been discovered abroad through our sister auction house Lyon & Turnbull. Both firms know that American property achieves better results in the US where demand is greater. Based on Lyon & Turnbull’s findings and the long the history between the US and UK, Freeman’s is confident there are high-quality American works of art, furniture, and more in Britain waiting to be found that will command excellent prices at auction in America,” said Lynda Cain, Head of American Furniture, Silver, Folk & Decorative Arts.

Freeman’s recently sold a Captain Abraham Perry French & Indian War engraved powder horn uncovered in Britain for $25,000, surpassing its estimate of $8,000, and in November 2013, the firm auctioned off the only known example of a mechanical toy bank, known as the “Coasting Bank,” which came to Freeman’s by way of Lyon & Turnbull. The bank, estimated at $30,000, brought $266,500 at auction. Another United Kingdom discovery sold at Freeman’s was a silver basin, which Martha Washington gifted to her niece. It descended through the family for seven generations— eventually making its way to England via a marriage.

Through a host of events, Freeman’s fine and decorative art specialists will be lecturing on Americana, providing complimentary valuations, and accepting entries for their upcoming autumn auctions. David Walker, Head of Fine Collections and English & Continental Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts will also be traveling with the American fine & decorative arts specialists to provide definitive answers to those wondering: Is it American or British?

“Throughout the 18th century and into the 19th century, English furniture styles and construction methods influenced American craftsman. This occurred through the dissemination of English furniture design books, the arrival of British immigrant furniture makers into America, and the constant trade that took place between America and Britain in the Colonial era and beyond. American furniture, at first glance, can look remarkably similar to English and Irish examples, and frequently, antique pieces once considered English for decades are later identified as American and vice versa,” said David Walker, Head of Fine Collections and English & Continental Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts.

Visiting specialists from Freeman’s | July 31 – August 7:

Lynda Cain, Department Head, American Furniture, Silver, Folk & Decorative Arts
Whitney Bounty, Associate Specialist of American Furniture, Silver, Folk & Decorative Arts
Seeking furniture, decorative and folk art made in America from the 18th to the 20th century, including furniture, silver, portraits, miniature portraits, carvings, sailor-made objects, militaria, manuscripts, maps, quilts, samplers, Chinese Export porcelain and English-made wares produced for the American market.

David Weiss, Department Head, Fine Art
Seeking fine American paintings, works on paper and sculpture by well-known artists from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, New York, California, the American South and West, American impressionists, illustrators, and modernists.

Tour Events:

Friday, 31 July                  Open Valuation Day, 2pm-5pm | Lyon & Turnbull, Glasgow

Appointments preferred, to arrange a time or for more information:

James McNaught | 0141 333 1992 | james.mcnaught@lyonandturnbull.com

Saturday, 1 August         Open Valuation Day, 11am-3pm | Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh
                                             Appointments preferred, to arrange a time or for more information:

                                             Eleanor Welsh | 0131 557 8844 | Eleanor.welsh@lyonandturnbull.com

Monday, 3 August          Open Valuation Day, 11am-3pm | Granary Art Gallery at Weston Park,                                                                 Shropshire
                                             Open to the Public. No appointment required. For more information:
                                             Juliet Brown | 01952 852130 | Juliet@weston-park.com

Monday, 3 August          Private Lecture & Evening Cocktails by invitation | Weston Park, Shropshire

Wednesday, 5 August  Private Appointments, 10am-3pm | Pall Mall, London
                                             By appointment only. For more information:
                                             Jess Curnow | 0746 869 7366 | jess.curnow@lyonandturnbull.com

Thursday, 6 August        Private Lecture & Luncheon for Historic Royal Palaces Members|                                                                     Kensington Palace, London

In between events, specialists will be available for free valuation appointments for those looking to sell their American furniture, decorative art, and pictures in Freeman’s forthcoming auctions.

To make a free valuation appointment with our visiting specialists, please contact:

                                            
                                             Whitney Bounty | 267 414 1254
                                             wbounty@freemansauciton.com

For more information, visit: www.freemansauction.com.