Our good friend artist Elaine O’Neill has a charming show dedicated entirely to the charm of Chapel Hill (including our Villa!) open now through July 4th at the Horace Williams House, home of the Chapel Hill Preservation Society.

This campus view from an earlier show typifies the charm of her work and the colorful visual feast of her pieces.

We are sorry (and happy) to announce that two of our Summer Antiques Seminar Courses are now closed:  American Federal Furniture and Oriental Rugs.

A few spots remain in the Advanced Silver Seminar.  Do not be frightened by the term “advanced” as collectors and students at most levels will benefit enormously from this course!

We are all grateful at Whitehall for the many words of support against the sadly enacted Amendment One enshrining discrimination into our Constitution.  Since our Constitution was changed about 1977 to eliminate the prohibition passed by constitutional amendment in 1875 banning inter-racial marriage, North Carolina has enjoyed a constitution granting rights to it’s citizens–that short lived tradition ended today.

To those who picked up the 200 signs that Paul and I had made against this amendment, even more thanks!

We have begun to prepare the descriptions of the wonderful estate of Sigourney Cheek of Nashville, Tennessee–exceptional silver, intriguing copper, gorgeous armorial English ceramics (Flight Barr and Barr, etc).  But today I want to give you a preview of the unveiling of these items next Friday, the 13th, and also a taste of the extent to which we go to properly research, authenticate and guarantee every item we sell.

Sigourney was a fanatical collector of Staffordshire figures, ranging from the 18th century through the Victorian era. Of the Victorian pieces, most are dogs (and one terrific fox!), but the most wonderful pieces are the early works of John Walton, Enoch Wood, and Ralph Wood, Jr. as well as the many groups categorized by scholars over the years but not specifically attributed.  This is a rarified area of expertise and happily over the years both Pat Halfpenny and Myrna Schkolne have become friends.  Pat, long of Winterthur, is the author of  ”English Earthenware Figures, 1740-1840″ and Myrna Schkolne, is the author of “People, Passions, Pastimes and Pleasures, Staffordshire Figures, 1810-1835″ as well as a massive four volume set to be published by Schiffer.  Both of their books are readily available on all internet book sites and both are simply invaluable resources.  Myrna’s blog is also a continual parade of fascinating information with lots of fakes revealed and auction house and ebay shenanigans exposed!  Delicious fun. (Simply google Myrna Schkolne and sign in to her blog–you will be greatly rewarded!)

Most happily Myrna lives a bit over an hour away and she graciously took three hours last week to share her knowledge of each piece with Elizabeth and me.  Here are a few photos of the three of us exploring the collection–the early pieces only.  All have now been described and priced, the tags are being prepared and on April 13th they will be available for sale (with a few exceptions of pieces spoken for by FOS–friends of Sigourney).

A Dancing Bear/Performing Bear Examined

The Ring is Perfect!

Even the miniscule ring is intact and perfect on this Persuasion (a proposal of marriage).

Yes, we had some laughs!

For those of you who are blowing up or magnifying these photos, the four pieces not available are the little dog, Persuasion, Performing Bear and The Dandies.

Available items will include: a Pratt Autumn, The Scottsman, The Fawn, Baby in Cradle, John Walton signed Ewe and Lamb spill, The Hunter, The Gardner (additional provenance of Fred S. Johnston Collection, Kingston, NY, and Winterthur Board Member), The Tithe (Tythe) Pig of Enoch Wood, Boy With Bird’s Nest (additional provenance of Jonathan Horne) made and marked by Ralph Wood, Jr., a charming Ewe and Lamb, Bag Piper with Dog and Swan spill (a bit later at c. 1830), Jobson the Cobbler, also c. 1830, and many more.  Come visit us on Friday the 13th!

This week North Carolina lost it’s true “First Lady” and we are all deeply saddened.  Mary Semans graciously supported the arts, stalwartly built the health of Duke University, and was a true and caring friend to all who had the joy of knowing her.  She had the innate grace that made all feel comfortable with her, cherished by her.  No conversation ever occurred without Mary inquiring about health, good works in progress, the importance of the person with whom she was speaking.  For over 60 years she defined grace and character, from serving on Durham’s town council as a young widow with four little girls to founding The North Carolina School of the Arts with her second husband (the beloved Dr. James Semans) to guiding the Duke Endowment for generations (for the benefit of past and future generations).  These accomplishments were only a few of her lifetime of amazing accomplishments.  But above all she loved all those on whom she lavished her care, support and praise–pushing others to do the things she knew needed doing, realizing she could not do it all!

French Fountain in Fisk Basin, both c. 1870

This great fountain and basin are from a southern estate and were acquired from Barbara Israel, America’s finest antique garden dealer, about 10 years ago–truly fabulous any season but amazing this morning with our first cold snap of the season!  Details on website in the Garden section.  We will happily arrange delivery to your garden but we will not do it ourselves–a few tons of cast iron!

We at Whitehall wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

WOW–totally exhausted by High Point, preparing an article for the Journal of the International Society of Appraisers on the authentication of multi-part case furniture, and celebrating Halloween by babysitting my youngest grandson while big brother went to Disney for his fourth birthday.

I will publish a report on High Point and the 75,000 professional buyers who attended.  Also I will get down on an interesting piece of furniture in the near future!

Hope you all had a great Halloween with no squeaky antiques and no clanking porcelains!

Next Friday heralds the resumption of the excellent Two Rivers Antiques Show at Rumson Country Day School.  Everyone is very excited, the area is wonderful, the people are friendly, and the benefit is the cancer care center–what’s not to like?!?

Friday night opening and a Saturday-Sunday show, again well worth a few hours drive.  Plan a little shore time as well–the area is truly spectacular

Elizabeth and I will both attend with her eight month old Alexander–hope to see you there!