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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$5,000 – $8,000
Provenance:
Ardis Leigh, Princeton, New Jersey, April 19, 1966.
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.
with refinished surface; nice overall visual appeal; top is one board; brasses not original, but present nicely; the drawer interiors each lined with felt for storing silver or house wares, the top-most drawer with dividers for cutlery; the bottom-most drawer missing lock; the feet with repaired breaks to foot facings, the back left-facing foot also with repaired break to return; the right-facing side panel with stabilized age crack; a couple minor age cracks to drawer faces; the second from bottom-most drawer with patch along lock
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 [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.
To request further details about this lot, please email [email protected]
Lynda Cain
VP, Head of Department, American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts
Andrew Taggart
Associate Vice President, Specialist, American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts
