Last Major Studio Collection of Herter Brothers Work at Bonhams NY The final pieces from Warner Bros. collection of iconic Herter Brothers works will be offered on May 5th as part of a two day sale of American and European F&D taking place at Bonhams NY.
Following the record-breaking January sale of American Renaissance furniture commissioned for the Milton Slocum Latham residence, Thurlow Lodge, and executed by Herter Brothers, Bonhams New York is set to auction the final historic pieces from the Warner Bros. Studios Collection on May 5th.
The collection was originally purchased by Warner Bros. in the Butterfield & Butterfield auctions of property from the Estate of Mary K. Hopkins, which were held in San Francisco and Menlo Park on October 5 and 22, 1942. Three major Hollywood studios were the largest buyers in this auction; the other two studio collections have long since been dispersed, making the Warner Bros. collection the most comprehensive remaining collection of the furnishings of both Thurlow Lodge and the Mark Hopkins San Francisco residence.
Certain to spark competitive bidding is a fine Herter Brothers American Renaissance carved, inlaid and polychromed maple mirrored cabinet, circa 1872. Estimated at $30,000-50,000, the piece, commissioned for a Second Floor Bedroom of the famed Milton Slocum Latham Residence, is painted with grisaille roundels depicting classical busts, decorated with marquetry and walnut panels and measures almost 8 feet in height.
Three delicate walnut and ivory-inlaid ebonized side chairs, commissioned for the Master Bedroom of Thurlow Lodge, will be offered with an estimate of $15,000-20,000. Five pieces from the bedroom suite sold in January for an impressive combined total of $736,800.
Rounding out the Herter Brothers pieces created for Thurlow Lodge is a pair of American Renaissance carved walnut armchairs. Commissioned for the Billiard Room of the residence, the armchairs are robustly carved with large herons, male masques and festoons and carry a pre-sale estimate of $15,000-20,000. A large buffet and matching decoration commissioned for the same room, sold in January for $192,000.
Supporting the long-held theory that Herter Brothers not only supplied furniture to Thurlow , but also served as interior designers, is the dining room furniture offered in this auction. As was fashionable in the 1870s, the Thurlow Lodge dining room was decorated in a prevailing hunt motif. The dining table, chairs, cabinets and fireplace were all carved with massive hounds. Herter Brothers commissioned this furniture from one of the leading Parisian firms, Guéret Frères. Of special note is a set of nineteen carved oak Renaissance Revival chairs, comprised of seventeen side chairs and two armchairs carved with hound head terminals; the set is estimated at $30,000-40,000. Also commissioned for the Dining Room is a large carved oak console on seated hound-form supports. Measuring over 9 feet 9 inches in length, the substantial piece is estimated at $20,000-30,000.
Another focal point of the Dining Room was a massive and finely carved walnut fireplace mantel carved with large figures of hounds; this mantel is now in the collection of the deYoung Memorial Museum, San Francisco.
Also originally part of the furnishing of Thurlow Lodge is a monumental French patinated bronze figure of a tambourine player. Cast by F. Barbedienne after a model by Jean Baptiste Clessinger, Rome, dated 1858, the lot carries an estimate
