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American & Southern | May 30, 2025

Fri, May 30, 2025 10:00AM EDT
  2025-05-30 10:00:00 2025-05-30 10:00:00 America/New_York Brunk Auctions Brunk Auctions : American & Southern | May 30, 2025 https://live.brunkauctions.com/auctions/brunk/american-southern-may-30-2025-17404
The month of May ends with our Premier Auction of American furniture, paintings, and decorative arts. Important artists include A.T. Bricher, Worthington Whittredge, Winfred Rembert, Andrew Melrose, Gunnar Widforss, and others. Of Southern interest is a museum exhibited W. A. Walker, a double sided panel by Key West folk artist Mario Sanchez, two works by Alice Ravenel Huger Smith, Southern pottery from the Ackland Art Museum, and more. A Connecticut Queen Ann bonnet top high chest, Tiffany, Arts & Crafts and mixed metal silver, weathervanes, and many other categories round out the sale.
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Lot 1092

American School Folk Art Portraits

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000
Starting Bid
$1,500

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $25
$100 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $200
$3,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000

(American, 19th Century)

Pair of portraits of Solomon and Nabby Steele Billings, not visibly signed, pencil, watercolor and applied gold leaf, 5 x 4 in. each; paint decorated frame, 9 x 11-3/4 x 1 in.

Provenance: David Wheatcroft, Westborough Massachusetts, 2004; Doyle Auctions, New York, January 23, 2020, lot 181, sold for $3,750; Property from the John B. Schorsch Collection

Note: The cataloging when this pair of portraits was sold in :

The invoice from David Wheatcroft indicates that there was a paper label affixed to the back (since lost) that included the following inscription: Nabby Steel [sic] Billings in the picture was the daughter of Jemima Wolcott, in a direct line from two Colonial Governors and Oliver Wolcott, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Jemina [sic] Wolcott was born May 15, 1763 and married James Steel [sic] Nov. 19. 1782. Nabby Steel [sic] was born July 9, 1799, married Solomon Billings Nov. 27, 1822.

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David Wheatcroft, Westborough Massachusetts, 2004; Doyle Auctions, New York, January 23, 2020, lot 181, sold for $3,750; Property from the John B. Schorsch Collection

Note:

The cataloging when this pair of portraits was sold in :

The invoice from David Wheatcroft indicates that there was a paper label affixed to the back (since lost) that included the following inscription: Nabby Steel [sic] Billings in the picture was the daughter of Jemima Wolcott, in a direct line from two Colonial Governors and Oliver Wolcott, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Jemina [sic] Wolcott was born May 15, 1763 and married James Steel [sic] Nov. 19. 1782. Nabby Steel [sic] was born July 9, 1799, married Solomon Billings Nov. 27, 1822.

paper toned, paint has crackled in some areas of background, paper folded over as if a card, continuous background would suggest that was originally a family group rather than a pair of portraits; frame with some scratches and wear Note - Brunk Auctions makes every effort to offer accurate and thorough information, but encourages prospective bidders to inspect items in person whenever possible. Condition statements are provided as a courtesy for general guidance and should not be considered complete or definitive. They do not represent a warranty or assumption of liability by Brunk Auctions. Certain condition issues may not be specifically noted in the report but may be visible in the accompanying photographs, which are considered part of the overall condition report. Please refer to our Terms of Sale for complete information and contact us for additional photos or information as needed.