Evening star., 1947-07-06

works by Moran and TAFT, who Ger
tainly do not rank as American "old
masters"
Decorative Arts
English and American furniture
fetched somewhat higher prices
than during the previous season. A
Chippendale carved m h gany
break-front bookcase, for example,
sold for $500. Other excellent indi-
vidual pieces and sets fetched sums
ranging from $4,000 to $500. Fine
French 18th century furniture OBJ
tanned equivalent prices in a num-
Der of instances.
An unusually large quantity Of fine
early American and English 18th
century silver was offered during
1867. One of the seasons notable
prices was in this category-$7, ,O0o
for a silver coffee pot by the Revolu-
tionary patriot Paul Revere. Dur
ing the previous season, an engraved
teapot with stand made by him
fetched $4,000. Particular atten-
ton focused on the collection Of old
English silver 0532-183O belonging
to Mrs. Elizabeth H. Baldwin OF
Parkersburg, w. Va, dispersed in
one session for $103,972.
A high light among the bibelots
was the historic Hundred Days
chased gold snuff box of Napoleon ]
inset with a portrait miniature of
him, which was sold for $2,700.
Dispersal of the Karrick Riggs
collection of rare early French soft
paste porcelain, the first to be Of
fered at public auction sale in the
United States. was an event of ex-
ceptional interest, with number OF
items realizing high prices. Chinese
ceramics and semiprecious min
eral carvings were other categories
In which good prices were obtained
Books and Prints
Thirty-five sales comprised books
and prints, achieving total of $945,
939. Sale of ''The Bay Psalm Book
was not only the sensation of this
class, but was the dramatic high
light of the season. The first book
printed G64O in the Anglo-Ameri-
can colonies. it was the only perfect
copy still privately owned, and had
been handsomely bound by a 10Th
century English craftsman, F. Bed
ford. 1t was the only copy to come
into the market in 68 years (this
same one having been sold at .auc-
ton in 1870. It's sale was by order
of the Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney
Trust for the benefit of the North
Country Community Hospital at
Glen Cove, Long Island, and it was
acquired by DR.. A. S. w. Rosenbach
for sl51 900, the highest price ever
paid for any printed book.
While the above mentioned prices
were considered by the Parke- Bernet
Galleries as commensurate with the
value of the works of art and other
objects sold, large number of beau
tiful and valuable times went for
prices so low as to put them within
reach of buyers of limited means
Whether or not one collects, visit
to this famous auction gallery is an
exciting experience. The season is
September through June.
A* X X X
National Society Expands
The thirty-two-year old Society
of American Etchers recently an
nounced that it has changed its
name and corporate title to the
Society of American Etchers, GRAY
ers, Lithographers and Woodcutters,
Inc. Henceforth, there will be ad-
mitted to membership, with full
privileges, artists in the categories
listed in the organizations new title.
John Taylor Arms, president OF
the society, one of the United
States foremost etchers dnciden-
tally a native of Washington, said
that the basic reason for the expan-
sion is the belief of the membership