A Stickley & Grueby Collaboration, A Frank Lloyd Wright Weed Holder and More: Art & Design at Toomey & Co.

by Kate Nixon

Editor’s note: this article has been changed to reflect updated information. The sale will be closed to the public, bidding will take place online, absentee and over the phone. Please see the end of the article for bidding notes.

 

Art & Design

Thursday, December 2nd, 10:00 AM CST

Hosted by Toomey & Co Auctioneers

 

This Thursday, Toomey & Co Auctioneers will host their quarterly Art & Design auction, starting at 10:00 AM CST online. The sale also includes nearly 350 items of fine art, decorative arts, furniture, lighting, and more spanning the 19th to 21st centuries, including the Arts & Crafts period. The Toomey & Co auctionhouse will be closed to the public during this sale.

Arts & Crafts works include a number of prints by Gustave Baumann (both in the early and mid-1900’s) and Frances Gearhart, tables, sideboards, chairs and a large number of furniture by Gustav Stickley, metalwork by Robert Riddle Jarvie and Dirk Van Erp, Grueby pottery, Teco Pottery, and the Roycrofters.

One particular highlight of the auction for Arts & Crafts collectors will be an early Twelve tile table from Gustav Stickley and Grueby . According to the catalog, this design is the result of a successful collaboration between Gustav Stickley and Grueby Faience Company that began when they were both exhibitors at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York.

Art Pottery collectors may also take notice of a lovely Grueby large three-color Lotus vase (8,000-12,000) and a daffodil vase (2,000 – 3,000) both in its Grueby green tint that they are known for. A example of a large Teco Pottery vase (or lamp base) up for bid (8,000-12,000) can also be found at Lake Bluff, Illinois’ Crab Tree farm. For the Roycrofter fan in your life, a rare Davenport sofa (5,000 – 7,000) and a partner desk (most likely from the Roycroft Inn) is offered among six Roycrofters works. A large amount of Stickley Brothers furniture is also offered.

In Arts and Crafts lighting, a lovely Tiffany Studios Oak Leaf and Acorn lamp is offered (15,000-25,000) as is a hanging prism lamp (10,000 – 20,000) and a Turtleback Chandelier (10,000 – 20,000). Also included however are Tiffany Studios items at a lower estimate including a Louis Comfort Tiffany candlestick lamp (800 – 1,200), a favrile glass vase in excellent condition (800 – 1,200) and a Louis C. Tiffany trumpet vase (800-1,200).

Lastly, the item making the rounds in the local antiques blogs and one to absolutely keep your eyes on: a weed holder in its original patina and currently on display in the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park, Illinois, will be up for bid during Thursday’s auction with a whopping estimate of $100,000 – $150,000! The catalog notes the holder was owned by the Burdick family of Oak Park, Illinois and used for holding prairie weeds commonly found in the Midwest, the holder has appeared in a number of photographs and drawings, including a classic 1895 photograph. The obelisk shape of the weed holder is a classic example of the Frank Lloyd Wright philosophy; the weed holder was manufactured by James A. Miller & Brother Manufacturing.

 

Here are a few items of note we will be keeping our eyes on (aside from the weed holder).

Photos and descriptions courtesy of Toomey & Co Auctioneers

 

 

Gustave Baumann
(American, 1881-1971)
Road to Town, 1917
color woodcut on cream Zanders Bergisch Gladbach laid paper
signed, titled and numbered in lower margin
signed with artist’s chop mark
edition of 100 (First Edition)
9 5/8″ x 11 1/4″

Estimate $5,000-7,000

 

 

 

Gustav Stickley (1858-1942)
sideboard, #814
Eastwood, New York, circa 1907
oak, copper
marked with red decal and paper label
through tenon construction
66″w x 24″d x 48 1/2″h

Estimate $3,000-5,000

 

 

Gustav Stickley (1858-1942) / Grueby
early Twelve-Tile table
Eastwood, New York / Boston, Massachusetts
oak, matte green glazed ceramic
early box mark
24″w x 20 1/2″d x 26″h

Estimate $8,000-12,000

 

 

The Roycrofters / Roycroft
rare davenport, #054
East Aurora, New York, circa 1905
oak, leather
carved orb and cross
74″w x 31″d x 34″h

Estimate $5,000-7,000

 

 

To see all lots listed in the Toomey & Co catalog, please visit Toomey & Co’s website by clicking here.

Bidding notes (via Toomey & Co’s website):

Telephone Bidding

With telephone bidding, a Toomey & Co. Auctioneers representative will call you prior to your lot(s) coming up for bid so you can experience the bidding in real-time. In order to call you the day of the auction, you will need to register with Toomey & Co prior to the day of the sale to secure a phone line on the lot(s).

You may register for telephone bidding through your online account once the online catalog is posted on the  Upcoming Auctions page or by calling Toomey & Co at (708) 383-5234.

Please note that telephone bids are generally reserved for items with a low estimate of $500 or more and you will need to have a registered account with Toomey & Co. Auctioneers, Chicago.

Not sure if you have an account? Please contact Toomey & Co Auctioneers via email or telephone at (708) 383-5234.

Absentee Bidding

Through absentee bidding, you may leave your confidential top bid(s) with Toomey & Co and the auctioneer will competitively execute your absentee bid(s) for you during the auction.

Similar to telephone bidding, you will need to register for absentee bidding prior to the day of the auction through your online account once the online catalog is posted on our Upcoming Auctions. Complete the online form on the detailed lot page or fill out multiple bids using the online form for the desired auction. Please note that in the event of a tie bid, the lot will be awarded to the bidder who registers the bid with Toomey & Co first. Please contact Client Services should you have any issues registering.

Absentee and Telephone Bid Form

Live Online Bidding

If you prefer to bid live online and do not mind paying an extra 5% for the convenience, you can still bid via two third-party websites: LiveAuctioneers and Invaluable.

To bid online with either of these sites, you will first need to create a free account with the site(s) of your choice, then register to bid at the auction via the third-party site in one of our upcoming auctions.

If you are a first-time bidder or we need additional credit approval, you will receive an email or message asking for credit card information before you are approved for bidding.