Rafael Osona Two Day Auction Americana, Fine Art, Décor ~ Saturday, August 5 The Marine Session ~ Sunday, August 6

July 10, 2023 - Rafael Osona’s 43rd annual August sale is known for presenting exceptionally curated material. This year's two-day event presents choice properties from Nantucket's coastal compounds and historic in-town estates, including 151 lots across both days from the estate of Stephen Weinroth.

There's a certain and often drama in the quality of natural light on an island thirty miles at sea. Collectors prize the drama in light cast through Tiffany Studios glass. Osona's August 5th auction presents a signed Tiffany Studios "Nasturtium Trellis" six-light chandelier of leaded glass and bronze. Its twenty-seven inch diameter and drop-height of fifty inches projects extravagance in both design and craftsmanship that is classic Louis Comfort Tiffany; classic Art Nouveau. (Tiffany Studios "Nasturtium Trellis" lot 260, est. $30,000 -$50,000)

Hot August summer? This '49 Willy Jeep Coupe is the winning bid. With just 560 approximate miles since restoration, this summer ride has been garaged on Nantucket Island. (1949 Jeep Willy Coupe, lot 148-A, est. $30,000 -$40,000) 

Where there's clarity of light, there are artists. Nantucket's Art Colony evolved from 1920 -1945 and continues to thrive. The Day-1 sale presents work painted by a celebrated early Colony talent, Anne Ramsdell Congdon. (1873 -1958) "Middle Moors," for its size, seems a never-ending and light saturated vista. It's one among six lots by this important artist. (Anne Ramsdell Congdon "Middle Moors" lot 150, est. $25,000 -$35,000)

The Lost Painting

The exemplary talents of so many Nantucket women is no myth. Skill honed through the fortitude necessary for self-determination among Nantucket women is far-reaching. 

 A generation before the Nantucket Art Colony took shape, Elizabeth Rebecca Coffin (1850-1930) painted "Hanging the Nets." In 1892 the painting won the Norman W. Dodge Prize at the National Academy of Design for the best picture in the United States painted by a woman. Just one year later, the painting was recognized again; juried for exhibit during the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, presented alongside American painters Thomas Eakin, Winslow Homer, and Eastman Johnson, as well as Mary Cassatt, Cecilia Beaux, and Elizabeth Gardner.

In 1900 Elizabeth Coffin gifted the painting to Vassar College; deaccessioned in 1946. Purchased by Victor D. Spark, a New York City art dealer, the painting hung in a New Jersey home for decades until it descended to the current owner. ~ Reference: Margaret Moore Booker, "Nantucket Spirit, The Art and Life of Elizabeth Rebecca Coffin" (Elizabeth Rebecca Coffin "Hanging the Nets" lot 159, est. $35,000 -$50,000) 

Nantucket baskets range from early Lightship baskets to ladies' friendship purses, and miniatures designed with contemporary flair. From the 19th century is a rare and scarce “Double Lollipop” Nantucket basket. ("Double Lollipop" 19th century Nantucket basket, lot 213, est. $5,000 -$7,000) (Aug. 5, image 13) From the Weinroth estate, one of two contemporary Michael Kane baskets: a 1985 nest of ten Nantucket rounds, with a 1985 penny at the center. (Michael Kane, Nantucket basket nest, lot 99, est. $8,000 -$10,000)

Among jewelry offered, three pearl grades: very fine, fine, and natural gold South Sea pearl necklaces; together with seven solid gold lots of vintage Nantucket jewelry are not to be missed, especially the work of premier Nantucket goldsmith, Glenaan Elliot, including her vintage Golden Basket 14K Gold Nantucket linked "charm" bracelet. (Glenaan Elliot Nantucket bracelet, lot 269, est. $1,250-$1,750) 

From America's first globe maker, an intriguing pair of terrestrial and celestial nine inch globes, circa 1829 and 1830, manufactured by James Wilson & Co. Albany, New York. (James Wilson & Co globes, lot 190-A, est. $30,000 - $35,000)

Classic Louis Vuitton (Louis Vuitton steamer trunk, lot 202, est. $10,000 -$15,000) (Aug. 5, image 20) or E. Goyard 1920s steamer trunks are perfect for every luxe guestroom suite. 

There's stately elegance in Antoine Gabriel Quervelle's (b. France 1789-1856) Philadelphia Empire sideboard formerly owned by President John Quincy Adams and illustrated in the Willard Bradley Memoirs. (Antoine Gabriel Quervelle’s Philadelphia Empire sideboard, lot 168, est. $3,000 -$5,000) 

Sunday, Aug 6th 

The Marine Auction

96 Antique walking sticks hold center stage during Sunday's Marine Auction. Among them, 67 lots carry provenance from the estate of Stephen Weinroth of Nantucket. (Collection of 19th century walking sticks and canes from Rafael Osona's August 6th Marine Auction}

Turk's knots, serpents, polyhedron, knob and mushroom grips, naughty legs, hands, twisted L-grips, grasping ball, Arctic hawk, paneled grip, American eagle, and friendship handshakes top finely carved 19th century narwhal, whalebone, baleen and hardwood canes and sticks. 

Of note are a whaleman made stick, circa 1840, antique whale ivory reeded mushroom cap grip with inlaid abalone cabochon disc, continuing to an antique narwhal tusk shaft. (Whaleman made walking stick, circa 1840, lot 695, est. $5,000-$7,000) as well as a fine and scarce whaleman made baleen walking stick, mid 19th Century. (Baleen walking stick, mid- 19th century, lot 576, est. $3,000 -$4,000) This stick as are most, from the Estate of Stephen Weinroth. 

A rare whaleman made chess set and gameboard, circa 1850, complete with carved and stained antique whale ivory game pieces, the whalebone and ebony gameboard, mounted on carved whale fluke feet, (Whaleman made chess and gameboard, circa 1850, lot 657, est. $6000 -$9,000) and a fine trinket box, embellished with 42 inlaid stars, 90 inlaid diamonds, 102 dots, each and together fairly represent the breadth of whalemen’s idyl hours and their craftmanship. (Whaleman made trinket box, mid-19th century, lot 700, est. $4000 -$6000)

The log book of the Barque Cora 1841-1845, a whaling voyage to the Pacific out of New Bedford, with crew list compiled by reading the entire log, cites incidents and losses with regard to personnel. (Log book of the Barque Cora 1841-1845, lot 559, est. $4,500-$5,000)

Albert S. Nemethy, (American 1920-1998) one of four Albert Nemethy lots, together leading the Day-2 paintings category along with two works by Emile Albert Gruppe. (American 1896-1897): an extraordinary Nemethy oil, "The City of Worcester Paddlewheel Ferry." (Albert S. Nemethy "City of Worcester Paddlewheel Ferry" lot 579, est. $5,000 -$8,000) (Aug. 6, image 37) and Emile Gruppe's “Fishing Boats Docked”. (Emile Gruppe "Fishing Boats Docked" lot 675, est. $8,000 -$10,000)

An exceptional and fine large whaleman made pierced pie crimper, carved in three sections from the same sperm whale tooth shines among nineteen mid-19th Century crimpers, (Whaleman made pie crimper, lot 635, est. $2,000-$3,000)

Eight cased ship models including the then-recently launched French Prisoner of War Cased Miniature Model of the H.M.S. Magnificent, circa 1808 (H.M.S Magnificent, lot 560, est. $3,000 -$5,000) alongside full and half hull Shipbuilder's models in 6 lots.

19th century whaleman made scrimshawed whale teeth, spyglasses, mementos, two and three draw telescopes, fids and bodkins, ship's lanterns, wheels and gear, signal cannons, prisoner of war and indigenous Eskimo, Inuit, and Dieppe arts round out Day-2's 400 lot sale.

Rafael Osona Auctions is highly regarded for consistent and exceptional offerings in designer furnishings, Nantucket art, artifacts, fine art, Nantucket Baskets, Americana, maritime, scrimshaw, decorative arts, estate jewelry, carpets and more. He is a third generation antiquarian, a respected expert in the fields of maritime and Nantucket collections. He is a 43-year master in the discrete sale of privately-owned antiques, fine art, and custom décor to global patrons. Telephone, Absentee and Live Online Bidding available.

In person LIVE PREVIEW: August 1, 2, 3 & 4 from 10am to 5pm EST at American Legion Hall,

21 Washington Street, Nantucket Island, Massachusetts USA

Online auctions begin promptly Saturday, Aug. 5th and Sunday, Aug. 6th at 9:30am EST

Register to bid at least 48 hours in advance

Absentee or phone bids: +1(508)228-3942 or info@RafaelOsonaAuctions.com