Henry Frances DuPont and George Ives
by Bee Askin on 10/14/13
Well as noted before good old Mr. Frances came to Danbury to the Estate auction of antiques. I contacted Winterthur and they gave me all the information that they had. Because back then when he purchased items he did keep invoices etc. But back then they didn't add museum numbers or use a cataloguing system. And the items at the auction were not all photographed as they are now especially in the digital age. However the catalogue of the estate auction was published in Antiques, May, 1924. I got a copy and it is really great to have a large version of the catalogue rather than the Xerox copies we have.
So this is what we know for sure, Mr. Frances purchased;
On June 13 a Four Poster bed painted blue. On June 18; Candlestand, Barrell, Large Hooked Rug, Cherry Secretary (being restored), Windsor Lovers Seat, Pine Settee, Small Trunk, Piece of Carving. On June 19; two Sconces, Hooked Rug, set of 10 Porringers, tall Candlestick, tin Sconce, Cover. In the catalogue; 7 Candle Stand, 9 Cherry Secretary Desk, 17 Barrel or Waste Basket, made from small oak keg (see picture), 25 Candle Stand (see picture), 45 Pine Settle hinged seat, 135 Hooked Rug, 202 Coaching Trunk, 207 Windsor Love Seat, 305 Brazier, 305 Brazier wrought iron, 311 Pewter Porringers, graduated sizes, 358 Candle Sconce (see picture), 386 Hooked Rug, 488 Candle Sconce, 527a Carved Cake Mold wood, 557 Hooked Rug, and # unknown Candlestick and Cover.
Whew so state of research so far, and the best we can do at this point, what we need to do someday is to find and buy similar objects from the catalogue in general for the house. Thanks for listening!
