Lifetime Arts and Crafts Collection in Asheville, NC Spotlighted with Brunk Auctions July 11th
by Kate Nixon
Lifetime Arts & Crafts Collection/Emporium
July 11th, 2024 starting at 10:00 AM Eastern
Hosted by Brunk Auctions
Online auction
Featuring over 200 lots of Decorative Arts, Silver, Furniture, Rugs, and fine art from private estates and collections, this auction highlights the collection of longtime Arts and Crafts collectors and National Arts & Crafts Conference attendees Rosemary and Ed Kostansek. The 200-lot auction will have over 50 lots of Arts & Crafts from the Kostanseks, including works by Charles Rohlfs, Roycroft, Limbert, Newcomb College, Gustav Stickley, and Rookwood Pottery.
In addition to being longtime supporters and attendees of the National Arts and Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn, Ed and Rosemary were intrigued by the study of the movement back at the start of the revival in the 1970s, where the Kostanseks came across a certain exhibition. “When we were in Cambridge in the 1970’s we came across a copy of the Princeton exhibit. It piqued our interest, and we became Collectors of all manner of Arts and Crafts antiques. We discovered the Grove Park Conference in its 4th year and we have attended each year since,” says Rosemary in an email to ArtsandCraftsCollector.com. Thanks to a lifelong interest in embroidery and the textile arts, Rosemary’s interest in textiles found new heights in discovering the movement and exploring the range of art and objects exhibitions had to offer. Her love expanded when she was drawn to the Scottish Arts and Crafts style while studying in college for her degree in art and education. Collecting textiles led her to finding not only the conference, but her beloved textiles became part of Ann Wallace’s book Arts and Crafts Textiles.
“Ed and I share a love of art and design and we hope you enjoy the auction of part of our collection including furniture, art pottery, metalwork, prints, leather work, jewelry, in addition to textiles.”
Rosemary is a life member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, a Master Craftsman in counted thread, an educator, and has served in several administrative capacities. After her husband Ed graduated from graduate school, and while living in New Jersey, Rosemary began volunteering at Craftsman Farms in the visitor’s center and working on reproductions of a bedspread and small pieces for the girls’ bedroom.
Rosemary’s highlights include: a family owned Charles Rohlfs sewing rocker, a Roycroft “Martha Washington style’ sewing stand, Rookwood dragonfly motif bowl. Newcomb College holly motif bowl, assorted furniture/metal/ceramics, textiles, and prints.
Charles Rohlfs Rocking Chair
American, early 20th century, oak throughout, styles with pierced sections to hold leather form splats, shaped seat rails, runners with decorative elements at rear, spindle with three carved elements, 35 x 26 x 20-1/4
Note: A similar chair appears in a photo of the Rohlfs’ family home circa 1920, which is featured in the book, The Artistic Furniture of Charles Rohlfs by Charles Cunningham.
Estimates: $2,000-$4,000
See the lot HERE on BrunkAuctions.com.
Roycroft Sewing Cabinet
American, circa 1910, oak, three central drawers with corresponding stamped Roman numerals, two side lidded compartments, Roycroft mark on central right, measures 29″ x 30″ x 16-1/2.”
Estimates: $1,000-$2,000
See the lot HERE on Brunk Auctions.com.
Textiles from the collection of Ed and Rosemary Kostansek
Click on the highlighted lettering to visit the lot on BrunkAuctions.com.
Left to right, first row:
(1) six assorted Arts and Craft textiles early 20th century, square pillow case with green stylized foliate decoration and fringe border, 20 x 22-1/4 in.; three floral embroidered tablecloths, largest 18-1/2 x 20 in.; two drawstring pouches, larger 8-1/2 x 10 in.
(2) two Arts and Crafts oval embroidered tablecloths, early 20th century, each with line and floral motifs and openwork lace borders, 39-3/4 x 26 in. and 23-1/2 in. diameter.
(3) two Arts and Crafts oval floral embroidered tablecloths, early 20th century, arge circular example with multicolored embroidered floral and vine border, outer openwork lace border, 38-1/2 in. diameter; ovoid example with yellow and green floral and foliate border, 32-3/4 x 26-1/4 in.
Left to right, second row:
(4) three Arts and Crafts embroidered textiles, early 20th century, table runner with openwork lace border and floral motifs, 55-1/2 x 21-3/4 in.; dragonfly and orchid placemat, 26-1/2 x 15-1/2 in.; small pillow case with daisy motif, 18-1/4 x 14-1/2 in.
(5) two Arts and Crafts embroidered tablecloths, early 20th century, white example with pink, yellow, and green pierced floral borders, 61-3/4 x 46-1/2 in.; taupe example with embroidered cherry borders, 54-3/4 x 54-1/2 in.
Ceramics and Prints from the Collection of Ed and Rosemary Kostansek
Vase with holly berry motif by Henrietta Bailey for Newcomb College
circa 1917, the base marked with Newcomb mark, cipher mark for Henrietta Davidson Bailey, and “JD43/270”, the shoulder with raised holly decoration, blue green glaze, 3-3/8 x 4-3/4 in.
Estimate: $1,500-$2,500
Click here to view on BrunkAuctions.com
Bowl by Albert Pons of Rookwood Pottery
circa 1907, the base with Rookwood RP flame logo atop “VII/AP”, dark blue and green glaze, raised dragonfly decoration on shoulder and rim, 2-3/8 x 6-3/8 in. diameter
Estimate: $800-$1,200
Click here to view on BrunkAuctions.com.
Helen Hyde Woodblock Print
(Japan/California, 1868-1919)
Mount Orizaba, 1912, signed with monogram lower left in block “HH” with seal, signed and dated in block upper left, published by the artist in Japan, Matsumoto, carver, Murata Shojiro, printer, color woodblock on thin Japanese paper, image 9-1/2 x 9 in.; gilt wood frame, 18-1/8 x 16-1/4 x 1/2 in.
Estimate: $400-$600
Click here to view on BrunkAuctions.com
Two framed miniature Japanese Woodblock Prints
Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797–1858), New Year’s Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree, Oji, sight 6-3/4 x 4-3/4 in.; Crows on Branch, artist’s and publisher’s seals lower left, sight 9 x 6 in.; framed, larger 10 x 7 in.
Estimates: $50-$150
Click here to view on BrunkAuctions.com
Additional lots include hooked rugs, an art glass and bronze floor lamp, a Limbert desk ($400-$600), a Limbert library table with ebonized oak inlays ($600-$900), a Lifetime Puritan rocker ($800-$1,200), a Stickley Brothers tea cart ($500-$700), metalwork of the Jugendstil style, Arts and Crafts tooled leather handbags and wallets, woodblock prints by Wharton Esherick and Herbert Scheffel, and more!
See the remaining lots auctioned by Ed and Rosemary Kostansek here on BrunkAuctions.com.
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