FEATURES ARCHIVE

John Hays, Deputy Chairman of Christie’s Americas, discusses a group of American furniture from WEA Enterprises Corporate Collection assembled by Eric Martin Wunsch.

How did the WEA Enterprises corporate collection come into existence?
WEA Enterprises is a New York-based mechanical engineering corporation that was founded by Mr. Wunsch’s father after World War I. After graduating from MIT, Mr. Wunsch followed in his father’s footsteps, growing the family business to also include ventures in commercial real estate. Mr. Wunsch developed a keen interest in art across many collecting categories. His great passion, however, focused on early American decorative arts. Under Mr. Wunsch’s discerning eye, the WEA Enterprises corporate collection became one of the most significant collections of American furniture of the century. The works were displayed in the corporate offices as symbols of American ingenuity and design.

How would you describe Martin Wunsch’s collecting style?
Mr. Wunsch’s approach to collecting has been both academic and businesslike. He has an endless appetite for researching, but he is also a student of the market, fascinated by trends. He loves sharing the works in the WEA Enterprises collection, loaning and even donating works from both the corporate collection and his personal collection to numerous museums around the United States. He is something of a legend in our field, and it is not uncommon to hear of local collectors seeking his counsel when considering the merits of a piece coming up for sale. His enthusiasm is contagious, and I would say he is responsible for exciting a whole generation of collectors.

Why was Mr. Wunsch drawn specifically to American decorative arts?
Early on, he was fascinated with the early history of New York State, when this region was inhabited by Dutch settlers. His interest in early American decorative art and Dutch painting was likely a product of this fascination. Mr. Wunsch’s passion for American art was also tied to his great pride in being an American and the success his company enjoyed here.

This September, Christie’s will present for sale an initial group of works from the WEA Enterprises corporate collection. Tell us about one of the leading highlights, the Chippendale carved mahogany easy chair.
This chair is without doubt one of the most outstanding examples of 18th century Philadelphia furniture to ever come to market.  The masterful craftsmanship that went into this piece is reflected in the carved knees, which may have been made in the shop of renowned cabinetmaker Benjamin Randolph (1737-1791). The chair is one of few examples to remain in its original condition, with most of its original upholstery foundation remaining in tact. The untouched surfaces allow us to appreciate the workmanship of the 18th century craftsman, and also provide insight onto the materials and carving techniques of the period.

Another highlight of the collection is the “Sunflower” carved chest. What makes this work so exceptional?
The “Sunflower” style of case furniture, named for its signature floral carved panels, flourished in central Connecticut during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. But while the design and construction was widespread during this time, today there are only four other known examples that bear their original paintwork. Further adding to its rarity is the single-drawer form, as most “Sunflower” chests contain two drawers.