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Nantucket birdcage, circa 1870, made from whalebone, cherry wood and antique whale ivory by Joseph Clapp (1825-1909), wonderfully constructed, 18 inches tall. Estimate: $25,000-$35,000.

Annual Two-Day Online Auction, Aug. 7-8

Rafael Osona Auctions / August 7-8, 2021

http://www.RafaelOsonaAuctions.com

A Civil War document signed by then-President Abraham Lincoln and a rare 1775 American Revolutionary War Muster Roll are just a couple of the expected star lots in Rafael Osona Auctions’ annual, two-day online auction slated for the weekend of August 7th and 8th, at 9:30 am Eastern time both days. Over 700 lots will be sold. The auction will be headlined by the Gail and Rich Mellin collection of Chinese export porcelain of Canton design, American furniture, fine arts and décor. The Mellins are esteemed antiques dealers in Canton and export porcelains and are offering Part 1 of their collection from their recently sold Connecticut residence; property from the descendants of Francis Elias Spinner, U.S. Treasurer appointed by Lincoln; and fine antique rugs, China Trade art, and export porcelains from the Marie and Rick Wackenhut collection from the Starbuck East Brick mansion in Nantucket. The Day 1 auction on Saturday, August 7th, is titled Americana, Fine Art, Pacific Trade & Décor. The Lincoln signed document with others will be part of the Day 1 offerings, which total more than 500 lots. The Lincoln lot is a signed presidential appointment, naming Francis E. Spinner as U.S. Treasurer, a post he held until 1875. The document, which also has the signature of Secretary of State William H. Seward, plus the Presidential seal, should bring $4,000-$6,000. Two Rembrandt etchings, titled Self-Portrait Leaning on a Stone Sill and The Windmill, descended in the Spinner collection. Day 2, titled The Marine Auction, is held August 8th. One expected top lot is the Nantucket birdcage, circa 1870, made from whalebone, cherry wood and antique whale ivory by Joseph Clapp (1825-1909), similar to one in the collection of the Nantucket Historical Association. The wonderfully constructed, 18 inches tall by 18 ¾ inch wide birdcage should hit $25,000-$35,000. Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Bidsquare.com. Phone and absentee bids will be accepted (for more on this, visit www.RafaelOsonaAuctions.com). A live four-day exhibition preview will be held August 3rd thru 6th, from 10 am to 5 pm Eastern time, in the American Legion Hall located at 21 Washington Street on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. To learn more about Rafael Osona Auctions and the two-day auction (Americana, Fine Art, Pacific Trade & Décor on Aug. 7, Marine Auction on Aug. 8), visit www.RafaelOsonaAuctions.com.