A pair of elaborate teak side chairs designed by Lockwood de Forest (1850-1932) have exceeded all expectations in Bonhams' Fine American and European Furniture, Decorative Arts and Silver auction, which was held on September 25 in New York.
 Lockwood de Forest was instrumental in the development of the American Aesthetic Movement |
The chairs sold for an impressive $242,500, more than quadrupling their pre-sale estimate. Created in the Indian craft tradition for which de Forest was known, they were once housed in the hallway of his New York home.
The chairs, later owned by publishing giant William Randolph Hearst, will now become part of the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, who emerged triumphant following a bidding war with Margot Johnson, a noted authority on late 19th century furniture.
Bonhams is understandably thrilled with the sale, with American furniture specialist Madelia Hickman Ring commenting, "It demonstrates yet again what the right combination of rarity of form and provenance can do,
"These chairs are an important accession for the museum and now bridge their collections of American and Southeast Asian decorative arts."
 The Jupe table expands through a series of interlocking segments that can be rotated |
Starring among the English furniture in the sale was a Johnstone & Jeanes mahogany expanding dining table, known as a Jupe table.
Made circa 1850, the table can accommodate different numbers of guests simply by rotating its top and is prized for its ingenious design and remarkable craftsmanship.
The market for English furniture is particularly strong at the moment, and looks to continue to prosper in the coming months with several high-profiles sales - find previews of these in our Antiques news section.
Paul Fraser Collectibles also has a magnificent selection of fine English furniture for sale, with items from some of the nation's most respected makers.
