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Estate of Richard and Shirley Roberts, Virginia Beach, Virginia | October 29, 2026

Thu, Oct 29, 2026 10:30AM EDT
  2026-10-29 10:30:00 2026-10-29 10:30:00 America/New_York Brunk Auctions Brunk Auctions : Estate of Richard and Shirley Roberts, Virginia Beach, Virginia | October 29, 2026 https://live.brunkauctions.com/auctions/brunk/estate-of-richard-and-shirley-roberts-virginia-beach-virginia-october-29-2026-23916
Dick & Shirley Roberts assembled a world-class collection of American furniture, paintings, maps, early Catesby prints, silver and porcelain, working with top dealers including Israel Sack, Liverant & Son, Deanne Levison, Arader, Shrubsole and others. Major centers of furniture making are represented: Boston, Portsmouth, Newport, Connecticut, Philadelphia and Charleston, with paintings by Jane Peterson, JC Beckwith, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf & Edmund Tarbell, among others. Silver by John Ewan, John Carter, Robert Reading, extensive selection of Francis I pattern; and early Chinese export.
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Lot 526

Fine Simon Willard Federal Inlaid Mahogany Tall Case Clock, Sack Provenance

Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000
Starting Bid
$10,000

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

Roxbury, Massachusetts, circa 1795-1805, dial signed “Simon Willard”, original brass works with original hands, the case of typical Willard form, arched bonnet with fretwork crest, brass steeple top finials, dial with calendar aperture, second hand dial, and moonphase painted with naval scene with British Ensign ship and figure pointing to monument inscribed "WERTER", brass inlaid stop fluted colonettes and quarter columns, waisted case door with line and fan quadrant inlay, ogee bracket feet, illegible inscriptions to backboard behind dial, two weights and pendulum included, 90-1/2 x 20 x 10-3/8 in.

Provenance: Israel Sack, New York, NY, April 28, 1988 (accompanied by copy of receipt for $112,500); Estate of Richard and Shirley Roberts, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Literature: Deanne Levison, "Living with Antiques: A Collection on the Chesapeake Bay", The Magazine Antiques (December 2001), p. 805, pl. I.

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Israel Sack, New York, NY, April 28, 1988 (accompanied by copy of receipt for $112,500); Estate of Richard and Shirley Roberts, Virginia Beach, Virginia

has not been tested, later finials, fretwork with some repairs to breaks and two small restored pieces, central finial support with repair to break, dial with even crazing, moonphase with scattered spots of retouch, patches and repairs to feet, case with typical light wear overall, accompanied by repair notes from David Tabor spanning 2008 (see photos) 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.