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TREASURES FROM THE DUKE-SEMANS MANSION AT 1009 FIFTH AVENUE
PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF MRS. MARY DUKE BIDDLE TRENT SEMANS
(LOT 501)
Almost all of this wonderful group of European furniture and Sèvres porcelain was originally acquired by Mary Duke Biddle (1887-1960) for 1009 Fifth Avenue, which remains one of the few remaining intact townhouses on Fifth Avenue from New York's gilded age. 1009 Fifth Avenue was originally built in 1901 as a speculative investment for William and Thomas Hall, one of four adjoining mansions designed for them by the architect Alexander Welch. It was bought soon after by Benjamin N. Duke who, in partnership with his brother James B. Duke, was successful in tobacco, textiles and utilities and as philanthropists are best remembered for their endowment of Duke University. Mr. Ben Duke gave the townhouse in 1918 to his daughter Mary Lillian Duke Biddle who furnished it with a rich array of European furniture, paintings and objets d'art acquired on buying trips to Europe with her interior designer, Karl Bock. Following Mary Biddle's death in 1960, the mansion and its contents were inherited by her daughter Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans (1920-2012). Having lived in the mansion for part of every year of her life from birth until its sale in 2008, Mrs. Semans was instrumental in ensuring its preservation, as in 1974 through her tireless efforts it was given landmark protection by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Unless otherwise noted, the provenance for each lot from the estate (lots 501-528) should read:
Acquired by Mary Duke Biddle (1887-1960) for 1009 Fifth Avenue, with the advice of her interior designer Karl Bock.
Thence by descent to her daughter Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans (1920-2012).
A PAIR OF LOUIS XVI ORMOLU FOUR-LIGHT CANDELABRA
LATE 18TH CENTURY
細節
A PAIR OF LOUIS XVI ORMOLU FOUR-LIGHT CANDELABRA
LATE 18TH CENTURY
Each with central reversible candle nozzle and berried finial above an urn with applied masks on a fluted column supporting three scrolling branches
15¼ in. (39 cm.) high (2)
LATE 18TH CENTURY
Each with central reversible candle nozzle and berried finial above an urn with applied masks on a fluted column supporting three scrolling branches
15¼ in. (39 cm.) high (2)