1033
American Aesthetic Movement Rosewood Cabinet
1/16
Description
American Aesthetic Movement Rosewood Cabinet, Attributed to Pottier & Stymus, New York
ca. 1880-1882, adorned with mixed metal and wood inlay and shibayama plaques, in two parts, the upper section with a carved gallery over an inlaid floral basket flanked by leaves, vines and flora, over a mirror plate centering cupboard doors and a recessed mirror, all mirror plates with a beveled perimeter with holly leaf, vine and berry etching, the base with a figured onyx top over a projecting band of drawers, with drawers and open niches below, on carved paw feet atop scroll brackets, the cabinet mounted throughout with Meiji shibayama panels depicting common Japonesque motifs executed in silver, gold, mother-of-pearl and enameled inlay, the side panels of the upper and lower cases with raised panels with mixed metal banded inlay.
h. 68-1/8", w. 49", d. 19-3/4"
Notes: The designer's decision to employ shibayama plaques, and presumably design a case around them, is illustrative of both the contemporaneous fascination with Japonism as well as the tendency of firms like Pottier & Stymus or Herter Brothers to employ the finest, most costly materials in their commissioned pieces. An art form first introduced to the West at the Paris World Exposition in 1867, its popularity continued to consolidate after the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Many export works containing shibayama designs are associated with Yokohama, after this port city became a destination for craftsmen of the art. However, the panels we see here are more indicative of the smaller, delicate works crafted during the late Edo/early Meiji period, rather than the larger pieces produced out of Yokohama that were often designed to cater to the tastes of the Western market.
The cabinet's production number of 60078 appears in several places on the piece. The sequential numbering system employed by the firm suggests the present cabinet dates to around 1881. The cabinet is also stenciled "photographed" along with the name "Bostwick". Pottier & Stymus is known to have marked other pieces with that designation, presumably indicating that pictures had been taken of the cabinet for inclusion in the folios of consignor's pieces in production. (The fate of those folios is unknown.)
Jabez Abel Bostwick (1830-1892) was one of John D. Rockefeller's partners in Standard Oil. One of the eight officers who sat on the Standard Oil Trust, he served as Secretary-Treasurer. The trust controlled about 90% of the oil refining in the country until it was broken up in the early 20th century.
Like other principals of Standard Oil including Rockefeller, Wallace C. Andrews and Henry Flagler, Bostwick commissioned the Pottier & Stymus firm for decorating and furniture (1). At least one earlier piece of P & S furniture marked "Bostwick" has surfaced, suggesting the firm provided furnishings for him on more than one occasion. In 1876, Bostwick erected a manse at 800 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Given that firms such as Herter Brothers and Pottier & Stymus often took three to four years to fulfill their commissions, the present cabinet was probably designed for the new Fifth Avenue home.
(1) The 1893 edition of King's Handbook of New York City includes an advertisement for Pottier & Stymus in which the firm states that "Among many of the richest and finest private residences in America that have been furnished by this company can be mentioned those of Henry M. Flagler, William Rockefeller, J. A. Bostwick, John D. Archibold, Wallace C. Andrews, Fred T. Steinway and M.C.D. Borden, of New York; George Westinghouse, Jr. of Pittsburgh and Lenox; Robert Pitcairn of Pittsburgh; William Williams, Myron P. Brush and William G. Fargo of Buffalo; Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford, James Flood, Charles Crocker and Henry Crocker of San Francisco; Mrs. C. H. Strong of Erie, Pennsylvania and Mrs. N. Willis of Galveston, Texas".
ca. 1880-1882, adorned with mixed metal and wood inlay and shibayama plaques, in two parts, the upper section with a carved gallery over an inlaid floral basket flanked by leaves, vines and flora, over a mirror plate centering cupboard doors and a recessed mirror, all mirror plates with a beveled perimeter with holly leaf, vine and berry etching, the base with a figured onyx top over a projecting band of drawers, with drawers and open niches below, on carved paw feet atop scroll brackets, the cabinet mounted throughout with Meiji shibayama panels depicting common Japonesque motifs executed in silver, gold, mother-of-pearl and enameled inlay, the side panels of the upper and lower cases with raised panels with mixed metal banded inlay.
h. 68-1/8", w. 49", d. 19-3/4"
Notes: The designer's decision to employ shibayama plaques, and presumably design a case around them, is illustrative of both the contemporaneous fascination with Japonism as well as the tendency of firms like Pottier & Stymus or Herter Brothers to employ the finest, most costly materials in their commissioned pieces. An art form first introduced to the West at the Paris World Exposition in 1867, its popularity continued to consolidate after the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Many export works containing shibayama designs are associated with Yokohama, after this port city became a destination for craftsmen of the art. However, the panels we see here are more indicative of the smaller, delicate works crafted during the late Edo/early Meiji period, rather than the larger pieces produced out of Yokohama that were often designed to cater to the tastes of the Western market.
The cabinet's production number of 60078 appears in several places on the piece. The sequential numbering system employed by the firm suggests the present cabinet dates to around 1881. The cabinet is also stenciled "photographed" along with the name "Bostwick". Pottier & Stymus is known to have marked other pieces with that designation, presumably indicating that pictures had been taken of the cabinet for inclusion in the folios of consignor's pieces in production. (The fate of those folios is unknown.)
Jabez Abel Bostwick (1830-1892) was one of John D. Rockefeller's partners in Standard Oil. One of the eight officers who sat on the Standard Oil Trust, he served as Secretary-Treasurer. The trust controlled about 90% of the oil refining in the country until it was broken up in the early 20th century.
Like other principals of Standard Oil including Rockefeller, Wallace C. Andrews and Henry Flagler, Bostwick commissioned the Pottier & Stymus firm for decorating and furniture (1). At least one earlier piece of P & S furniture marked "Bostwick" has surfaced, suggesting the firm provided furnishings for him on more than one occasion. In 1876, Bostwick erected a manse at 800 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Given that firms such as Herter Brothers and Pottier & Stymus often took three to four years to fulfill their commissions, the present cabinet was probably designed for the new Fifth Avenue home.
(1) The 1893 edition of King's Handbook of New York City includes an advertisement for Pottier & Stymus in which the firm states that "Among many of the richest and finest private residences in America that have been furnished by this company can be mentioned those of Henry M. Flagler, William Rockefeller, J. A. Bostwick, John D. Archibold, Wallace C. Andrews, Fred T. Steinway and M.C.D. Borden, of New York; George Westinghouse, Jr. of Pittsburgh and Lenox; Robert Pitcairn of Pittsburgh; William Williams, Myron P. Brush and William G. Fargo of Buffalo; Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford, James Flood, Charles Crocker and Henry Crocker of San Francisco; Mrs. C. H. Strong of Erie, Pennsylvania and Mrs. N. Willis of Galveston, Texas".
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American Aesthetic Movement Rosewood Cabinet, Attributed to Pottier & Stymus, New York
ca. 1880-1882, adorned with mixed metal and wood inlay and shibayama plaques, in two parts, the upper section with a carved gallery over an inlaid floral basket flanked by leaves, vines and flora, over a mirror plate centering cupboard doors and a recessed mirror, all mirror plates with a beveled perimeter with holly leaf, vine and berry etching, the base with a figured onyx top over a projecting band of drawers, with drawers and open niches below, on carved paw feet atop scroll brackets, the cabinet mounted throughout with Meiji shibayama panels depicting common Japonesque motifs executed in silver, gold, mother-of-pearl and enameled inlay, the side panels of the upper and lower cases with raised panels with mixed metal banded inlay.
h. 68-1/8", w. 49", d. 19-3/4"
Notes: The designer's decision to employ shibayama plaques, and presumably design a case around them, is illustrative of both the contemporaneous fascination with Japonism as well as the tendency of firms like Pottier & Stymus or Herter Brothers to employ the finest, most costly materials in their commissioned pieces. An art form first introduced to the West at the Paris World Exposition in 1867, its popularity continued to consolidate after the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Many export works containing shibayama designs are associated with Yokohama, after this port city became a destination for craftsmen of the art. However, the panels we see here are more indicative of the smaller, delicate works crafted during the late Edo/early Meiji period, rather than the larger pieces produced out of Yokohama that were often designed to cater to the tastes of the Western market.
The cabinet's production number of 60078 appears in several places on the piece. The sequential numbering system employed by the firm suggests the present cabinet dates to around 1881. The cabinet is also stenciled "photographed" along with the name "Bostwick". Pottier & Stymus is known to have marked other pieces with that designation, presumably indicating that pictures had been taken of the cabinet for inclusion in the folios of consignor's pieces in production. (The fate of those folios is unknown.)
Jabez Abel Bostwick (1830-1892) was one of John D. Rockefeller's partners in Standard Oil. One of the eight officers who sat on the Standard Oil Trust, he served as Secretary-Treasurer. The trust controlled about 90% of the oil refining in the country until it was broken up in the early 20th century.
Like other principals of Standard Oil including Rockefeller, Wallace C. Andrews and Henry Flagler, Bostwick commissioned the Pottier & Stymus firm for decorating and furniture (1). At least one earlier piece of P & S furniture marked "Bostwick" has surfaced, suggesting the firm provided furnishings for him on more than one occasion. In 1876, Bostwick erected a manse at 800 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Given that firms such as Herter Brothers and Pottier & Stymus often took three to four years to fulfill their commissions, the present cabinet was probably designed for the new Fifth Avenue home.
(1) The 1893 edition of King's Handbook of New York City includes an advertisement for Pottier & Stymus in which the firm states that "Among many of the richest and finest private residences in America that have been furnished by this company can be mentioned those of Henry M. Flagler, William Rockefeller, J. A. Bostwick, John D. Archibold, Wallace C. Andrews, Fred T. Steinway and M.C.D. Borden, of New York; George Westinghouse, Jr. of Pittsburgh and Lenox; Robert Pitcairn of Pittsburgh; William Williams, Myron P. Brush and William G. Fargo of Buffalo; Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford, James Flood, Charles Crocker and Henry Crocker of San Francisco; Mrs. C. H. Strong of Erie, Pennsylvania and Mrs. N. Willis of Galveston, Texas".
ca. 1880-1882, adorned with mixed metal and wood inlay and shibayama plaques, in two parts, the upper section with a carved gallery over an inlaid floral basket flanked by leaves, vines and flora, over a mirror plate centering cupboard doors and a recessed mirror, all mirror plates with a beveled perimeter with holly leaf, vine and berry etching, the base with a figured onyx top over a projecting band of drawers, with drawers and open niches below, on carved paw feet atop scroll brackets, the cabinet mounted throughout with Meiji shibayama panels depicting common Japonesque motifs executed in silver, gold, mother-of-pearl and enameled inlay, the side panels of the upper and lower cases with raised panels with mixed metal banded inlay.
h. 68-1/8", w. 49", d. 19-3/4"
Notes: The designer's decision to employ shibayama plaques, and presumably design a case around them, is illustrative of both the contemporaneous fascination with Japonism as well as the tendency of firms like Pottier & Stymus or Herter Brothers to employ the finest, most costly materials in their commissioned pieces. An art form first introduced to the West at the Paris World Exposition in 1867, its popularity continued to consolidate after the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Many export works containing shibayama designs are associated with Yokohama, after this port city became a destination for craftsmen of the art. However, the panels we see here are more indicative of the smaller, delicate works crafted during the late Edo/early Meiji period, rather than the larger pieces produced out of Yokohama that were often designed to cater to the tastes of the Western market.
The cabinet's production number of 60078 appears in several places on the piece. The sequential numbering system employed by the firm suggests the present cabinet dates to around 1881. The cabinet is also stenciled "photographed" along with the name "Bostwick". Pottier & Stymus is known to have marked other pieces with that designation, presumably indicating that pictures had been taken of the cabinet for inclusion in the folios of consignor's pieces in production. (The fate of those folios is unknown.)
Jabez Abel Bostwick (1830-1892) was one of John D. Rockefeller's partners in Standard Oil. One of the eight officers who sat on the Standard Oil Trust, he served as Secretary-Treasurer. The trust controlled about 90% of the oil refining in the country until it was broken up in the early 20th century.
Like other principals of Standard Oil including Rockefeller, Wallace C. Andrews and Henry Flagler, Bostwick commissioned the Pottier & Stymus firm for decorating and furniture (1). At least one earlier piece of P & S furniture marked "Bostwick" has surfaced, suggesting the firm provided furnishings for him on more than one occasion. In 1876, Bostwick erected a manse at 800 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Given that firms such as Herter Brothers and Pottier & Stymus often took three to four years to fulfill their commissions, the present cabinet was probably designed for the new Fifth Avenue home.
(1) The 1893 edition of King's Handbook of New York City includes an advertisement for Pottier & Stymus in which the firm states that "Among many of the richest and finest private residences in America that have been furnished by this company can be mentioned those of Henry M. Flagler, William Rockefeller, J. A. Bostwick, John D. Archibold, Wallace C. Andrews, Fred T. Steinway and M.C.D. Borden, of New York; George Westinghouse, Jr. of Pittsburgh and Lenox; Robert Pitcairn of Pittsburgh; William Williams, Myron P. Brush and William G. Fargo of Buffalo; Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford, James Flood, Charles Crocker and Henry Crocker of San Francisco; Mrs. C. H. Strong of Erie, Pennsylvania and Mrs. N. Willis of Galveston, Texas".
Spring Major Estates Two Day Auction
Sale Date(s)
Lots: 1-610
Lots: 611-1096
Venue Address
333 Saint Joseph Street
New Orleans
Louisiana
70130
United States
For New Orleans Auction Galleries delivery information please telephone +1 5045661849.
Important Information
NOAG's Major Estates Auction features a selection of antique and modern furniture, paintings, prints, sculpture, jewelry, lighting, carpets and more. The auction includes property from The Estate of John Stockwell Samuels III, Galveston, TX; The Estate of Elaine Levy Proler, Houston, Texas; The Estate of Russell C. Klein, M.D. & Donna Guinn Klein, New Orleans, Louisiana; The Estate of Hurley Wayne Gray, Houston, Texas; and Paintings from Frances Aronson Fine Art, Atlanta, Georgia. Fine art highlights including works by George Rodrigue, Wolf Kahn, William Henry, Kemble Yarrow, Maximilien Luce, Edmund Charles Tarbell and Ashley Longshore. Just in time for Spring, the two-day sale offers a selection of handbags by Hermes, Prada, Louis Vuitton and Chanel.
Terms & Conditions
Conditions Of Sale
The following as amended by any posted notices or oral announcements during the sale, constitutes the entire terms and conditions on which property listed in the catalog shall be offered for sale or sold through New Orleans Auction Galleries, Inc. (the "Company"), for any consignor of such property for whom we act as agent.
As used herein, the term "bid price" means the price at which a lot is knocked down to the purchaser and the term "purchase price" means the aggregate of (a) the bid price (b) a premium of 23% of the bid price up to and including $200,000 and 10% of the amount by which the lot exceeds $200,000 payable by the purchaser to the Company and (c) unless the purchaser is exempt by law from the payment thereof, any Louisiana state or local sales taxes.
On the fall of the auctioneer's hammer, the highest bidder shall be deemed to have purchased the offered lot in accordance with all of the conditions set forth herein and thereupon (a) assumes full risk and responsibility therefor (b) if requested will sign a confirmation of purchase thereof, and (c) will pay the purchase price in full. The Company reserves the right to withdraw any lot at any time before the actual sale. Unless otherwise announced by the auctioneer at the time of sale, all bids are per lot as numbered in the catalog and no lot shall be divided for sale.
The Company reserves the right to reject a bid from any bidder. The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer shall be the purchaser. In the event of any dispute between bidders, or in the event the auctioneer doubts the validity of any bid, the auctioneer shall have sole and final discretion either to determine the successful bidder or to re-offer and resell the lot in dispute. If any dispute arises after the sale, the Company's sales records shall be conclusive in all respects. In the event of a tie bid between an absentee bidder and a live bidder, the lot will be sold to the live bidder.
If a lot is offered subject to a reserve (the confidential minimum price below which the lot will not be sold), the Company may implement such reserve by bidding on behalf of the consignor, whether by opening bidding or continuing bidding until the reserve is obtained, by placing consecutive bids or bids in response to other bidders. Consignors shall not be permitted to bid on their own items.
While the Company has endeavored to catalog and describe the lots correctly, each lot is sold "as is", and neither the Company nor the seller warrants or represents, nor shall be responsible for, the description, genuineness, provenance, importance, or condition of a lot. No statement contained in the catalog or made verbally prior to or during the sale shall be deemed to express any warranty, representation, or assumption of responsibility by the Company or the Seller.
In the event that the buyer of any lot fails to pay the purchase price thereof when due, the Company shall have the option, at its sole discretion, to (a) enforce payment by civil action or other proceedings against the buyer; (b) to void the sale as if said sale had not occurred; or (c) to exercise any other remedy or remedies available under the law, including but not limited to a second sale of said item in accordance with the provisions of Louisiana Civil Code, Article 2622, including the subsequent enforcement of any deficiency against the initial buyer (d) to charge successful bids to your credit card, including the 23% buyer premium.
The Company reserves the right to require that advance bids received either by mail or by means of telecommunications be accompanied by a 25% deposit. The Company further reserves the right to require payment in full of the sales price ("Hammer Price") at the moment of successful bid. The Purchase Price must be paid by the successful bidder on or prior to the close of the auction. Checks are not acceptable unless a buyer is accredited with the Company; otherwise certified checks are required.
Absolutely no items may be removed before the end of the auction. All items must be removed by the purchaser thereof promptly after the auction. The Company is not liable for any damage to goods after they have been sold. A storage charge of $5 per item per day will be assessed against any items remaining in the custody of the Company by the close of business of the fifteenth day following the auction.
These Conditions of Sale, as well as the Purchaser's and the Company's respective rights and obligations hereunder, shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana. By bidding at an auction, whether present in person or by agent, order bid, telephone, internet, or other means, the Purchaser shall be deemed to have consented to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state courts of, and the federal courts sitting in, the State of Louisiana.
Lots purchased online with ATG media will attract an additional charge for this service in the sum of 2% of the hammer price plus VAT at the rate imposed
