Roycroft Chest and Byrdcliffe Table Lead Sunday Auction

NOTE: As soon as the official auction results are released, we will update this story with the sale prices.

No one will want to come in late for this one.

Lot #1 in John Toomey's and Don Treadway's 20th Century Art & Design Auction this Sunday promises to catch everyone's attention, as a rare Roycroft bridal chest (model #097) featuring copper hardware, keyed tenons, a full script signature and an original finish and beautiful patina prepares to go to a new home. Measuring 38" long and 26" high and with a presale estimate of $20,000-$30,000, this stunning piece may be the finest example of Roycroft furniture to come to auction this year.

Less than an hour later as equally as rare, though not as well known, library table (pictured) made in 1904 at Byrdcliffe, a short-lived artist colony near Woodstock, NY, will cross the stage with a presale estimate of $50,000-$70,000. Made of poplar and featuring an original polychrome stain, keyed tenons and intricate carvings, the 73" long table was designed by the artist Dawson Dawson-Watson (1864-1939) while he was living and working at Byrdcliffe. A matching settle also designed by the artist in 1904 resides in the collection of the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh.

Shortly after, an early Gustav Stickley chest of drawers (similar to model #903), along with a rare hanging mirror complete with its original chains and a pair of candle-holders, will be offered for sale. The pair were among numerous pieces of Stickley furniture purchased in 1905 by Senator Horace White for his home on Fox Island in Lake Ontario. The island, home and contents were sold at auction last August. The pair is estimated to sell in the $18,000-$20,000 range.

This Sunday's 1100-lot sale is divided into three sessions, beginning with the Arts & Crafts sale at 10:00am. The second session will consist of American and European oil paintings, prints and watercolors. The sale will conclude with 1950s/Modern furniture, lighting, ceramics, Italian glass and decorative objects.

Among the 400 lots of Arts & Crafts is one of the largest selections of Limbert furniture to appear at auction in some time, an assortment of Teco, Fulper and Van Briggle art pottery, silver by Kalo and Georg Jensen, metalware by Heintz and Roycroft, several pieces of Gustav Stickley furniture, along with a number of examples of English and European Arts & Crafts furniture and metalware.

The auction will take place on Sunday, May 22, beginning at 10:00am at the John Toomey Gallery located at 818 North Blvd., Oak Park, IL.

To view the online catalog, please go to http://www.TreadwayGallery.com.

Use the Zoom feature to view details of photographs.

- Bruce Johnson