Help! I am hoping someone can remember an article that was featured in Fine Woodworking or Fine Furniture, about 12 years ago, that featured a piece of furniture that sold at auction for $12,000,000. I’m looking for the issue and the date. Can anyone help?
Thanks!
Replies
I remeber the article. But don't rember which issue.
It was for a newport secratary from the Brown house.
Allan Breed made a copy for the Brown family, and will have plans avaiable for it soon.
Thank you for responding to my cry for help on the $12,000,000 furniture. I believe you're correct about it being a Newport secretary. I wonder what it would sell for today?.
I'm not trying to build it, but would like to show it to a friend of mine who is in disbelief at the auction price.
Again, thanks. Good luck woodworking.
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Was it the Newport Secretary or could it have been the Badminton Chest? Seems like I remember seeing one of those going for an obscene price!Furniture...the Art of a FurnitureMaker
I know this isn't the piece from FWW. The Badminton Cabinet sold at auction in Dec. 2004 for $36.7 million. Supposedly the most expensive piece of furniture ever auctioned.If anyone is interested in reading a little about it here is a link to a Washington Post article.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56502-2004Dec10.htmlI did not mean to hijack the OP's thread, just got a little carried away.Furniture...the Art of a FurnitureMaker
I seen that badminton cabinet article, but wasn't the previous high for a piece of furniture a Goddard Townsand 6 shell secretary?
Seams that that went for 12 mill but it was about 18 years ago.
I also remember seeing a Goddard Townsand table bring some serious coin just recently, maybe not 12 mill but I know it was more then I had!
Doug
You may be right that it sold at auction 18 years ago, but the article that discusssed the auction was about 12 years ago. I just can't remember if it was in Fine Woodworking or Fine Furniture. What I remember from the article was what a beautiful piece of furniture it was and of course the $12,000,000 price.
I do recall that there was a followup article about a woodworker who was going to try to duplicate the piece. If my memory is still working, I think he did build the piece.
Thanks for youre input. I now have a couple of leads to help me in reviewing my back issues.
This isn't the specific article you're looking for, but Allen Breed did another article a few years ago, describing a group of guys he instructed in building their own replicas. The article includes the information about the original, the auction price etc.This link is the to "for sale" version of the article. If you've got a copy of FW#144, it should be in there.http://www.taunton.com/FWN/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignPDF.aspx?id=2671
I'll look up the issue. I think I have it. Thanks for the lead.
Gene, I looked up issue FW144. You have a great memory. That is the piece I was looking for.
Thank you to all who responded to my inquiry. Now I can sleep well.
Glad to help.
That Newport Secretary is also in Home Furniture issue #2, in case someone has those laying around.
Bob
If you like this kind of thing ,a great read is called "Hidden Treasures" by Leigh & Leslie Keno. You may have seen them on PBS's Antique Roadshow. It documents many great finds and the auction process afterward. There is a great story about some Townshend & Goddard chairs found in a chicken coop for example.
After reading , I emailed the Kenos' praising the book and giving my take speculating the life of a woodworker in the 18th century. I never expected a reply or anything but received a thoughtful email from Leigh Keno the next day! Good folks with a real passion for furniture.
Mike
I think that the original sold for that figure, the museum had commissioned a replacement piece to fill it's gap.
If yer still hell bent on finding out the details, give me an email back and I'll look it up for ya.....
Eric
Eric,
The reason I was hell bent on finding the article was I had mentioned to my "coffee" buddies about the piece. They seemed to find it hard to believe that a piece of furniture would have sold for $12,000,000+, especially over 10 years ago. This was my way of proving that fine furniture is as valuable a fine art. The Fine Woodworking issue #144 (information provided by another KNOTS e-mailer) proved my point as there was an article about reproducing the piece. I also went online to read more about Goddard and Townsend. The articles were very facinating about these woodworking families from Rhode Island. Considering the times they worked in what incredible work they produced. Just think if the had todays tools and equipment to work with.
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"Just think if the had todays tools and equipment to work with"
They probably would be making kitchen cabinets to survive
I think it is fair to say that the Goddards and Townsends produced incredible work, regardless of the times they worked in.
I couldn't find a picture of the piece:
http://www.antiquetalk.com/column268.htm
"In 1989 a nine feet tall boldly carved bonnet-topped mahogany secretary made by 18th century Newport, RI cabinet maker John Goddard came up for auction at Christie's in New York. The stunned audience watched as the winning bidder paid more money for it than any article of furniture, American or European, had ever brought at auction. At $12.1 million it was then the highest price ever paid at auction for an object other than a painting."
A company was making reproductions of this piece and I had clipped the ad. But this was years ago and I've since lost that information.
Tom
12,000,000 auction piece of furniture..
I made one as I'd guess others did in here.. Bought wood and sold it fer $22.50
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