FEATURES ARCHIVE

This January Silver, English Furniture, Delft, Chinese Export, and Carpets will take center stage in the sale of The Collection of Benjamin F. Edwards III.  Presented here are sale highlights personally selected by our distinguished team of specialists—a mere taste of this sale’s rich offerings.

SILVER
An up-close look at one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of English Silver in this country

When I first saw Edwards’s collection ten years ago in St. Louis, just a handful of silver objects accented the warm interiors decorated with English furniture. But soon thereafter, Mr. Edwards decided to pursue pieces of silver of museum quality, building in only ten years one of the finest collections of English silver in this country. As if working from a “wish-list” of classics, Mr. Edwards curated his exemplary collection with focus, deliberation, and of course, a true collector’s passion. He tirelessly sought after works from the best periods of the greatest English silversmiths: rococo masterpieces by Huguenot Paul de Lamerie, neo-classical designs by Royal silversmith Edward Wakelin, and late-classical models by the Regency master, Paul Storr. His personal tastes come forward through his obvious predilection for sculptural work, a love of silver in sets of four (representing his four children), and a tendency to collect works by silversmiths named Edwards, such as the English virtuoso master, John Edwards, and the prolific American Edwards family of Boston. This cake basket by legendary 18th century English silversmith Paul de Lamerie is one of the great masterpieces of the collection, and exemplifies the technical proficiency and elaborate surface decoration that have become hallmarks of Lamerie’s best work.

— Jeanne Sloane, Deputy Chairman, Specialist, Head of Silver

ENGLISH FURNITURE AND OBJECTS
Exquisitely carved furniture and carefully selected objects, many of them with storied provenance, underscore this collector’s fascination with quality and history

Mr. Edwards was as passionate about furniture as he was about everything, and it seemed to give him great personal enjoyment. I loved sitting with him discussing the many purchases he made over the years, meticulously tallied in his wonderful ledger. The Georgian furniture in the Edwards collection showcases magnificent craftsmanship and design. He obviously had a well-trained eye for the great and the unusual, yet the pieces are approachable. Many works exhibit interesting forms or wonderfully carved details, such as the George II mahogany Windsor armchair. And according to its label on the underside, it was the chair into which Prime Minister Spencer Perceval fell after having been shot by a madman in the lobby of the House of Commons in 1812. An equally fascinating history pertains to the George II mahogany tripod table, one of many in the sale. It once formed part of the collection of connoisseur Henry P. McIlhenny, a scholar whose five-decade career at the Philadelphia Museum of Art culminated in his position as Chairman of the Board. The auction will also feature an extraordinary collection of Edwards’s 18th century brass candlesticks and objects (with estimates from $300–3,000), many of them of rare form or based on silver prototypes.

— Melissa Gagen, International Specialist, English Furniture

DELFT
This collection’s variety of forms and decoration is seemingly limitless

Whether formally displayed in the corporate offices of A.G. Edwards or shown to advantage in the comfort of home, the delft (tin-glazed earthenware) collected by Benjamin Edwards enlivened its surroundings. Comprising 17th century Dutch blue and white tulip pyramids, berry strainers painted with fishermen, tile pictures, butter boxes touched with gold, and so much more, it is clear that the delft is a true collection, acquired with thought and placed with care. When I first analyzed the collection in an attempt to find its heartbeat, several connecting threads become readily apparent—a collector’s love of history, politics and Christianity, among others. Take, for example, the pair of candlesticks illustrated here, made circa 1680. Their form is taken straight from a silver prototype, yet their decoration is Chinese in inspiration; the fantasy birds in flight and trailing flowers evocative of the blue and white porcelains being imported from the Far East at this time. The finely painted Biblical plaque speaks to Mr. Edwards’s faith, for it depicts Christ being led away from his meeting with Pontius Pilate towards the cross on which he will be crucified. In the 17th century, such plaques were easily read and understood by a devout population not necessarily able to read but easily able to comprehend a learned Biblical reference—an artistry much admired by this astute collector.

—Jody Wilkie, Specialist, Head of Porcelain

RUGS AND CARPETS
Well-preserved and brightly colored, these carpets build a room’s foundation from the bottom up

Anyone who had the pleasure of walking through the Edwards’s brick Georgian style home in St. Louis would have noticed, as I did, the beautiful works of art underfoot—and surely would have remarked on the ability of a rug or carpet to create the decorative foundation for an interior space.While possessing great beauty in their own right, the group of fourteen Heriz and Caucasian carpets meld perfectly with furnishings both antique and modern, brightly colored and subdued, formal and informal. Ranging from elegant room-size village carpets to bold tribal rugs, each was chosen discerningly by Mr. Edwards, and collectively represent the trademarks of a refined collection: excellent quality, rich, saturated color, and remarkable design. The graceful pelt-design Bakshaish carpet sits beautifully alongside the geometric Shirvan prayer rug and the breath-taking Heriz measuring over 20 feet in length. Also of note is the rare Eagle Kazak Rug, which features three medallions instead of the more common motif which features two medallions.

—Elisabeth Parker, Specialist, Head of Rugs & Carpets

CHINESE EXPORT PORCELAIN
This classic collection encompasses a variety of traditional decorative themes

As he did with all of his works of art, Mr. Edwards selected Chinese export porcelain with an unerring eye for quality, rarity and charm. His first passion in this field was for the specialized sub-category of Chinese Imari. In 2002–04, we offered that Edwards collection in a series of three annual sales in New York, their tremendous success making the Edwards provenance a coveted treasure, highly sought-after within the porcelain collecting field. This January’s auction will feature approximately 50 lots of classic Chinese export porcelain, a sampling of which is illustrated here. Particularly appealing is the 18th century “Hong” punchbowl whose finely enameled exterior depicts the Canton waterfront, an area inhabited by the foreign traders whose various flags fly above the port. Several plates in the Edwards collection depict charming Biblical subjects, including views from the life of Christ copied after Dutch engravings that found their way to China. Finally, a pair of white porcelain rabbits and a large pair of Aritaware tureens and covers with rabbit knobs reflect the Edwards’s penchant for whimsical animals.

—Becky MacGuire, Senior Specialist, Chinese Export Porcelain

Please note: Property from the Collection of Benjamin F. Edwards will also be offered in the Important American Furniture, Folk Art, Silver and Chinese Export sale in New York on 21 - 25 January, Old Masters & 19th Century Paintings, Drawings & Watercolors on 27 January and Christie's Interiors on 9 - 10 February.