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Feb 09, 2019 10:00AM EST
McPherson Griffin Southern Collection
The McPherson Griffin Collection represents three generations of astute collectors having an avid appreciation for the English, American, and Southern fine and decorative art. Of particular note in this collection are miniatures. This collection reflects their superb eye and collecting success.
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Feb 09, 10:00AM EST 
McPherson Griffin Southern Collection
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Auction Description
The McPherson Griffin collection represents three generations of astute collectors, items enjoyed by proud Upstate South Carolinians, Mrs. Walter Griffin, Sr., Walter Sullivan Griffin, Jr., and Mrs. Nelle Griffin McPherson.
Originally from Rome, Georgia, Walter Griffin, Jr. was raised in Greenville, South Carolina. He graduated from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, before returning home to work in his late teens with his father, Walter Sullivan Griffin, Sr., in the cotton brokerage business and later founded the Walter S. Griffin Real Estate Company. Mrs. Walter Sullivan Griffin, Sr. (Annie Curry) instilled in her son, Walter Griffin, Jr., a love for fine American antiques of which Mr. Griffin Jr. became an avid collector.
Mr. Walter Griffin Jr. married Nelle West Mills. He regularly traveled throughout the Piedmont region of North and South Carolina searching for additions to his collection. Often Mr. Griffin traded with local farmers, receiving antiques in exchange for guns and hunting dogs.
Their daughter Nelle Mills Griffin was born in Greenville, South Carolina. She was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Sullivan Griffin, Jr. Mr. Walter Griffin, Jr. passed along his love for antiques to his beloved daughter. Together, they saw beauty in the craftsmanship, as well as having an avid appreciation for the English, American, and Southern history surrounding them.
Of particular note in this collection are the miniatures. Mr. Griffin, Jr. was intensely interested in miniature pieces of furniture. “Whether they were made for children’s use and play, or as a cabinetmakers’ samples, has never been resolved, but his eye for acquiring these and other fine pieces was extraordinary.” (Butler, Joseph. “At Home in Greenville, South Carolina” Art & Antiques, Jan. 1983: 91). He loved the beauty, scale, and detail that miniatures afforded. He and his daughter, Nelle, exhibited select pieces from their miniature collection. Their passion provided much joy for both father and daughter.
In 1955, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Griffin, Jr. built their home near downtown in Cleveland Forest neighborhood of Greenville, South Carolina. Notable southern architect, Mr. William A. Riddle Ward, Jr., (Willie Ward) designed the home for gracious southern living, entertaining, and purposeful placement of treasured pieces collected by Mrs. Griffin, Sr. and Mr. Walter Griffin, Jr. The intricate interior molding, architectural details and masterfully designed gardens delighted friends and visitors. Their home was featured in the January 1983 issue of Art & Antiques, in “At Home in Greenville, South Carolina” the home was described as the “essence of 18th-century American design” and the pieces throughout the home are a “testament to his (Mr. Griffin’s) extraordinary eye and collecting success.”
Miss Griffin was a teenager when her family moved into the stately home overlooking Cleveland Park. Following high school, she studied at Mount Vernon Seminary College in Washington, D.C., where she focused on interior design. She also interned at the White House for a brief period, where she gained greater appreciation for American fine and decorative art. Miss Griffin returned to Greenville where she studied at Furman University.
In 1972, Miss Griffin married Greenville native, George Bruce McPherson, Jr. Mr. McPherson, Jr. was a graduate of Sewanee Military Academy and the University of South Carolina, where he obtained an M.B.A. After graduate school, he became a securities dealer stockbroker. Together, Bruce and Nelle enjoyed forty-three wonderful years of marriage and shared an interest collecting art and antiques. They focused their collection on southern art, samplers, and South Carolina history.
Mrs. McPherson was involved with the South Carolina Governor’s Mansion Foundation with First Lady Ann “Tunky” Riley. She was an active gardener, enjoyed ower arranging, and was a member of Dorothy Haynsworth Garden Club and Carolina Foothills Garden Club. In 1982, the McPhersons formed Designs Unlimited, an antiques and accessories business, which brought them great joy for over 30 years. Designs Unlimited had a presence in Greenville, Atlanta, and Hendersonville. Mr. and Mrs. McPherson, Jr. traveled annually to New England where they would spend one month every summer, using Kennebunkport, Maine, as their base to search for exquisite items. Over the years, they forged friendships and business relationships with numerous art and antiques dealers throughout New England.
The McPherson’s were proud supporters and long-time benefactors of the Greenville County Museum of Art’s annual Antiques Show and Gala. They also were actively involved with First Presbyterian Church as well as loyal advocates and supporters of the Y.M.C.A. of Greenville.
Mr. Walter Griffin, Jr. and Mr. and Mrs. Bruce McPherson, Jr. lived in a thoughtful nostalgic world and were drawn to rare and interesting objects. Their collection gives you a glimpse into their eloquent and charming southern estate and re ects their southern vision, appreciation for history, and the never-ending quest for beauty.
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Buyer’s Premium
| Start | Premium (%) |
|---|---|
| $0 | 25.00 |
| $1,000,000 | 20.00 |
| $1,000,001 | 15.00 |
Bid Increments
| Start | Increments ($) |
|---|---|
| $0 | $10 |
| $200 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
Shipping Info
Childress Gaffney Acutions does not provide packing and shipping services. We do provide clients with a list of third-party fine art shippers to assist you in the shipping to and from our premises.
We require a signed Shipping Release Form to release property to any third party. You may fax a completed Shipping Release Form to 864.674.4008 or you can email your authorization to shipping@cgauctions.com.
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Terms & Conditions
The following Conditions of Sale incorporate the Guide to Buyers for the auction and apply to all bidders and purchasers in the auction. If there is a conflict between the terms and conditions herein and those in the Guide to Buyers, then the terms and conditions herein shall apply.
1. Regardless of your bidding method, all bidders must have an account with Childress Gaffney Auctions, LLC (“CGA” and the “Auction- eer”) and be registered for the specific sale in which they intend to bid. By placing a bid in the auction, you agree to be bound by these Conditions of Sale.
2. Property (a “lot” or “lots”) in this sale may be subject to a reserve. The reserve is a confidential minimum price agreed upon by the consignor and CGA below which the lot will not be sold. In most cases, the reserve will be set below the low auction estimate, but in no case will it exceed that amount. A representative of CGA will execute such reserves by bidding for the consignor. In any event and whether a lot is subject to a reserve, the auctioneer may reject any bid or raise not commensurate with the value of such lot.
3. Except as provided in paragraph 2 above, the highest bidder as determined by the Auctioneer shall be the purchaser. In the case of a disputed bid, the Auctioneer shall have sole discretion to withdraw any bid or reoffer the lot for sale. The auctioneer shall have sole discretion to refuse any bid, refuse to acknowledge any bidder, or to change the bidding increments on a lot. Bidder spending in excess of $100,000 will be required to make a deposit of good funds with CGA at least five (5) days in advance of the sale to participate in an auction.
4. All purchasers shall pay for and removed purchased property from the premises within seven (7) days of the auction. CGA may impose, and the purchaser agrees to pay, a monthly interest charge of 1.5% of the purchase price of any lot or item lot not paid for within thirty (30) days of the date of sale. CGA shall have no liability for any damage or loss to property left on its premises for more than seven (7) days from the date of sale (“Removal Period”). If any property has not been removed by the end of the Removal Period, at the option of CGA (a) CGA may impose, and the purchaser agrees to pay, a monthly storage charge of 1.5% of the purchase price of any lot or portion of a lot not removed within the Removal Period, and/or (b) CGA may place the merchandise in a subsequent auction, without a reserve, to be sold to the highest bidder, and after deducting the standard commission and any additional charges that may apply, remit the proceeds to the purchaser.
5. CGA accepts cash, check, credit cards, and wire transfers for payment. Personal checks will be acceptable only if credit has been established with CGA or if a bank authorization has been received guaranteeing a personal check. CGA reserves the right to hold property purchased by personal check until the check has cleared the bank. The purchaser agrees to pay CGA a handling charge of $25.00 for any check dishonored by the drawee. Please contact Accounting for additional payment methods.
6. If the purchaser breaches any of its obligations under these Conditions of Sale, including its obligation to pay in full the purchase price of all items for which it was the highest successful bidder, CGA may exercise all of its rights and remedies under the law including, without limitation, (a) canceling the sale and applying any payments made by the purchaser to the damages caused by the purchaser’s breach, and/or (b) offering at public auction, without reserve, any lot or item for which the purchaser has breached any of its obligations, including its obligation to pay in full the purchase price, holding the purchaser liable for any deficiency plus all costs of sale.
7. In no event will the liability of CGA to any purchaser with respect to any lot exceed the purchase price actually paid by such purchaser for such lot.
8. Shipping is the responsibility of the purchaser. Upon request, our staff will provide the list of shipping
companies. Some property may be subject to export restrictions from the U.S., such as items that include material from some endangered species. The purchaser is solely responsible for applying for and obtaining any applicable export license or approval for a lot. Denial or delay of licensing will not constitute cancellation or delay in payment for the total purchase price of the lot.
9. Sales in South Carolina are subject to sales tax. Dealers, museums, and other qualifying parties may be exempt from sales tax upon submission of proper documentation.
10. The purchaser will be charged a premium (the “Buyer’s Premium”) equal to 20% the final bid price up to and including $500,000, plus 15% of the amount by which the Sale Price exceeds $500,000, to be paid by the purchaser as part of the purchase price.
11. Bidding on any item indicates your acceptance of these terms and all other terms printed within, posted, and announced at the time of sale whether bidding in person, through a representative, by phone, by Internet, or other absentee bid.
12. CGA makes a limited warranty to the original purchaser of record concerning the authenticity of each lot for a period of fourteen (14) days after purchaser’s receipt of the purchased lot. If a buyer is not satisfied that the lot purchased is authentic, the buyer may, at his or her own expense, obtain the opinion of two mutually-agreed-upon, recognized experts in the field of the disputed lot. If these experts determine that the lot is not authentic, the buyer’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the rescission of the sale and refund of the amount paid for the lot. It is specifically understood and agreed that the rescission of the sale and refund is exclusive and in lieu of any other remedy which might otherwise be available as a matter of law or in equity, and such remedy is conditioned upon the buyer returning the property in the same condition as at the time of sale. CGA shall not be liable for any incidental or consequential damages. All sales are final, with no returns or refunds except as provided in this limited warranty.
Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, ALL PROPERTY IS SOLD “AS IS,” and neither CGA nor any consignor makes any warranties or representation of any kind or nature with respect to the
property, and in no event shall they be responsible for the correctness, nor deemed to have made any representation or warranty, of description, genuineness, authorship, attribution, provenance, period, culture, source, origin, or condition of the property and no statement made at the sale, or in the bill of sale, or invoice or elsewhere shall be purchaser agrees to pay CGA a handling charge of $25.00 for any check dishonored by the drawee. Please contact Accounting for additional payment methods.deemed such a warranty of representation or an assumption of liability.
13. CGA and its consignors make no warranty or representation, express or implied, that the purchaser will acquire any copyright or reproduction rights to any lot sold. CGA expressly reserves the right to reproduce any image of the lots sold in this catalog. The copyright in all images, illustrations and written material produced by or for CGA relating to a lot, including the contents of this catalog, is, and shall always remain, the property of CGA and shall not be used by the purchaser, nor by anyone else, without our prior written consent.
14. These Conditions of Sale shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina (excluding the laws applicable to conflicts or choice of law). The buyer/bidder agrees that any suit for the enforcement of this agreement may be brought, and any action against CGA in connection with the transactions contemplated by this agreement shall be brought, in the courts of South Carolina or any federal court sitting therein. The bidder/buyer consents to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waives objections that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such suit.
Any questions about these Conditions of Sale should be directed to our Client Services Department at 864.674.4008 or info@Childressgaffneyauctions.com.
Updated: Jan. 2019
