Belter furniture to be featured at Hal Hunt sale, Feb. 21 An important collection of over 35 pieces of John Henry Belter furniture, to include a rare pierce-carved laminated bed (one of only two known) will be sold at a Feb. 21 sale held by Hal Hunt Auctions
(Northport, Ala.) - An important collection of over 35 pieces of John Henry Belter furniture, to include an exceedingly rare pierce-carved laminated bed (one of only two known), will be sold by Hal Hunt Auctions on Saturday, Feb. 21, beginning at 10 a.m. A preview will be held Friday, Feb. 20, from 10-6. The only other known example of the bed is on display at The Brooklyn Museum in New York.
The Belter pieces – all circa 1850s – are from the estate of Gerald Lawhorn, who recently passed away in Georgia, where he lived at his magnificent home, called Cypress Pond Plantation. “Mr. Lawhorn was a very discerning collector,” said Hal Hunt. “This is a rare opportunity for the established collector, as well as the savvy beginner, to bid on some truly wonderful Belter pieces and other items.”
The pierce-carved laminated bed is stamped (or embossed) in six places, with a patent date. It is also labeled on the inside and signed John Henry Belter. There is a matching dresser, also stamped and signed by Belter. The bed is pictured in the book, American Furniture of the 19th Century, 1840s-1880s. Other pieces from Mr. Lawhorn's vast collection are also pictured in the book. All of them will be sold.
Additional Belter furniture pieces in Mr. Lawhorn's collection include the following:
A 10-piece “Milwaukee” pattern parlor suite, very rare.
Pierce-carved center tables.
A “Rosalie” pattern center table with matching etageres.
Another etagere.
A “Tutthill King” pattern sofa and side chair.
A “Fountain Elms” pattern recamier (fainting couch).
A pierce-carved server.
A dressing vanity with matching cheval mirror.
An armoire.
A marble-top center table.
About six slipper chairs.
The sale will also feature an extremely rare multi-form card table (also featured in the above-named book), with a turtle-top center. The table divides into two console tables that flip open to reveal another pair of tables, for playing cards. The Rococo-carved piece was made by Charles A. Boudoine, New York cabinetmaker. Another star lot is a 9-foot-tall Thomas Brooks cylinder roll secretary desk.
J. & J.W. Meeks will be well represented at the auction. Examples include a pierced-carved sideboard, extremely rare; an 8-piece “Hawkins” pattern parlor suite; and a rosewood cylinder secretary desk. Also expected to get paddles wagging will be a Mitchells & Rammelsberg half teaster bed; a McCracken 4-poster bed; and a rosewood Steinway & Sons grand piano (circa 1850s) in fine condition.
Sevres fans won't be disappointed. Offerings will include a matching pedestal and urn, 6 feet tall; a 3-piece clock set; and Sevres and bronze centerpieces. Also featured will be over 12 gasolier chandeliers (at least one made by Cornelius & Baker). And doll fans will feast on a nice collection of 35 German-made dolls (1880-1920), some quite large (3 feet tall), and all intact and in good condition.
Interested in lamps? Slated to cross the block will be a Tiffany lamp in the “Acorn” pattern; 16 lamps from a variety of coveted makers, such as Wilkinson, Chicago
