The Ann P. and Peter G. Todd Silver Overlay Collection

The Ann P. and Peter G. Todd Silver Overlay Collection is the first section of the Modern Design auction on May 12. The Todds were private collectors and dealers and spent several decades amassing an impressive silver overlay collection. Together they owned Objects de Vertu, an antique shop in Rochester, New York, where they sold a diverse array of items, including silver overlay glass and porcelain. Mr. and Mrs. Todd were married at the Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge National Park, which was built on land donated by the Todd family.

The couple received their first silver overlay article, a perfume bottle, from Mr. Todd’s mother, Mary Louis Todd, a gift which sparked their interest in the subject.The technique of silver overlay has been around for over 100 years and has always been considered exclusive luxury ware from the beginning because of the very complicated and time-consuming steps of manufacturing. The Ann P. and Peter G. Todd Collection of Silver Overlay Glass comprises nearly 700 examples divided into over 250 lots. The items offered in the session span several styles of the early 20th century such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco, displaying both the breadth and sheer volume of the collection. The Todd’s silver overlay collection is one of the largest to be presented at auction.

Included in the auction are various Loetz silver overlay glass vases such as a double gourd form example in striated purple and abaluster form example stamped La Pierre on scrolling foliate, both with presale estimates of $600 – 800. Another Loetz glass example has an oil spot decoration with a crossed arrows Austria mark on its base ($500 – 700).

A large Rockwell silver overlay glass landscape vase will be offered with a presale estimate of $400 – 600 and an Art Nouveau silver overlay glass decanter, retailed by Black, Starr & Frost will be offered with a presale estimate of $300 – 500.