A newly discovered Philadelphia Chippendale sofa is being offered in Witherell's American Arts Auction June 27 to July 11, 2017.

Found in a Danville, Calif., home, the mahogany double-peaked, camelback couch was acquired by the consignor’s mother at a Los Angeles antiques shop about 1942.

Although the consignor knew little about it, she agreed to have a portion of the show cover removed from which Brian Witherell, Witherell's chief operating officer and ‘Antiques Roadshow’ appraiser, was able to tell her that the sofa was unaltered, circa 1770-1780. 

It is being offered without reserve with a conservative, pre-sale estimate of $25/50,000.

A newly discovered 1940s Dale Nichols painting also highlights this auction that covers the spectrum with four centuries of art and design.

Originally the December illustration for a Red & White Foods calendar, “Red Barn” has reds and snowy blues with strong light and shadow contrast that show the style of the “American Regionalist” painters from the mid-nineteenth century.  

The 20 x 23 inch oil is estimated at $20/40,000. 

The art was originally given to the consignor’s grandfather on his retirement from Red and White Foods. 

An elaborately carved wooden desk and chair with gold velvet seat, back and arm rests from the House of Representatives is being sold in two separate lots, for what will likely be $8/12,000 each.

Belonging to Congressman George W. McCrary, who later served in President Rutherford B. Hayes’ cabinet, the set with classical Congressional chair and desk was featured on “Antiques Roadshow.”

These unique pieces come to Witherell’s by direct family descent. 

A Queen Anne highboy and chest of drawers, estimated at $8/12,000, came from the estate of a local antiques dealer. With nine drawers of flame mahogany, it is a fine example of a mid-eighteenth century highboy in good condition.

This auction has furniture from the eighteenth through the twenty-first century, including some fine pieces that would be unique to the buyer’s home—and could even be used as accent pieces in a more contemporary setting. 

An original May 8, 1945 Proclamation for Victory in Europe Day signed by Harry S. Truman came to Witherell’s as part of the Secret Service Agent Hipsley’s estate who traveled with the President to the Potsdam Conference.

It is valued at $8/12,000.    

Another newly discovered painting, this by Edward Willard Nichols (American, 1819-1871)  only had the artist’s initials when it was consigned to the local auction house.

When Witherell researched it, he discovered that “EWN” stood for a prominent painter of the Hudson River School.

The landscape is a fine example of the Hudson River School with its beautiful use of dreamy peach tones in the light of the clouds.

A conservative estimate for the 16 by 25 inch oil that had been tucked away in a downstairs room is $5/10,000.

A Francis Davis Millet (American, 1848 – 1912) oil believed to be the artist’s wife shown in formal period attire came to Witherell’s through the McAuliffe estate.  

The 18 x 25 inch painting is expected to fetch $5/10,000.