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American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts
|
- Sale 2100
Live
| Philadelphia
Nov 19 | 10:00 AM EST
Live
| Philadelphia
Sale 2100
| Philadelphia
| Philadelphia
Estimate$1,000 – $1,500
Provenance:
Accompanied by a hand-written letter dated May, 24, 1929 from Brookline, Massachusetts, stating that the pitcher presently in a Mr. Dunham's house originally came from "a Nantucket lady of advanced age... Its perfect condition is due to the splendid care this lady gave all her possession."
William "Bill" Clifton Buck (1928-2023) was a successful businessman, avid sportsman, and leader within the Philadelphia community. Bill attended Lafayette College, where he majored in Economics, and later joined the family business, Smith Kline and French (later GlaxoSmithKline). Alongside his brothers, he founded and expanded The Drug House and later established TDH, a venture capital firm that invested in major companies such as ESPN and Staples. Bill married Laura Thomas (1931-2024) in 1954, and they enjoyed a vibrant 68-year marriage. Together, they were active philanthropists, supporting numerous organizations and causes in Nantucket, Vero Beach, and Philadelphia, including the Barnes Foundation and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In addition, Bill’s lifelong passion for baseball led him to become a partner in the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981, and he cherished the team's successes, including the 2008 World Series win.
“Bucktucket,” their beloved Nantucket residence, offered an impressive backdrop for the couple’s collection of Nantucket art. The furnishings of Bucktucket, a traditional cedar-shake house, and of the couple’s Villanova residence seamlessly blended their varied interests into an inviting and cohesive aesthetic. Bill and Laura loved discovering just the right things to fill their homes, meeting artists and dealers along the way. Their collection is marked by several spectacular pieces, including fine period furniture, maritime painting, scrimshaw, sailor’s valentines, wool-work pictures, ceramics, and folk art, offered within this single-owner sequence.
nice condition overall, with some expected crackling to glaze commensurate with age, and some rubbing / loss to gilding to rim and spout; firing crack to seam of upper terminal of handle, and glaze / firing flaw to base edge; some minor knicks and chips to base edge
The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue description or a condition report shall not amount to a full accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Freeman's staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the Department prior to bidding.
The absence of a posted condition report on the Freeman's website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Freeman's.
Please email ataggart@freemansauction.com for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.
To request further details about this lot, please email ataggart@freemansauction.com
Lynda Cain
VP, Head of Department, American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts
Andrew Taggart
Associate Vice President, Specialist, American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts
