Treasures of a Banking Icon: The Edwards Auction

In an auction that is expected to realize between $6-$9 million, Christie's auction house is set to sell items from the collection of the late Benjamin Edwards III, former chairman of the national brokerage and investment banking firm, AG Edwards. Edwards' great-grandfather, a West Point graduate and former assistant Treasury Secretary to President Lincoln, established AG Edwards in 1887 while Benjamin Edwards was the fifth direct descendant to head the company.

The auction will feature over 400 lots from Edwards' collection, and is similar to previous auctions of Edwards items held in 2002 and 2004. Taking place on January 26th, 2009, the auction features a selection of items of silver, English furniture, delft, Chinese export, rugs and carpets, items which Edwards had a strong passion for collecting.

So, what are some highlights from the Christie's auction? Click ahead for a selection!

Posted 25 Jan 2010

Estimate: $80,000 - $120,000
Item circa 1725

In European silver form, the knopped standards rising from a scalloped, dished base, a bracketed platform supporting the central nozzle above three elaborately scrolled arms, all decorated with a formal arrangement of flower sprigs, spearhead, scrolling vine and palm leaves in blue, green, iron-red and gilt.

15 1/8 in. (38.4 cm.) high (2)

Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000
Item circa 1875-1900, Northwest Persia

[The auction house did not provide a detailed description for this item]

Approximately 20 ft. 5 in. x 12 ft. 9 in. (622 cm. x 389 cm.) 

Estimate: $150,000 - $250,000
Item circa 1731, London

This elaborately designed piece features animal heads around its border and raised scroll handles, while the base border is engraved with the Earl’s armorials and a crest. A later 18th century crest and monogram EMK is marked on the base.

13¾ in. (34.9 cm.) long; 90 oz. 10 dwt. (2,823 gr.)

Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000
Item circa 1720

Enameled with lush peony and magnolia growing from blue rocks with small butterflies hovering above, the splayed foot with floral panels bordered in bright blue cloud pattern.

20½ in. (52 cm.) wide

Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000
Item circa 1750

According to a label affixed to the underside of the seat, this was the chair in which Prime Minister Spencer Perceval collapsed after John Bellingham shot him in the lobby of the House of Commons in 1812.  The back of the chair features scrolling foliage above a pierced interlaced splat flanked by turned spindles on a shaped saddle seat. The apron is carved with ruffles and foliage, on acanthus-carved cabriole legs joined by baluster-turned stretchers ending in ball-and-claw feet.

Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000
Item circa 1785

The exterior finely enameled with a continuous scene of the Canton waterfront showing numerous Western and Chinese figures at leisure or labor before or within the foreign factories, in the interior is a complex border incorporating landscape vignettes above a central basket of flowers.

12½ in. (31.8 cm.) diameter 

Estimate: $80,000 - $120,000
Item circa 1670, London

The item is cylindrical on three cast scallop shell feet, with two scroll and dragon mask handles. The body features an applied detachable sleeve pierced and chased with exotic birds among trailing foliage and flowers and the detachable cover is with similarly pierced detachable casing and with pomegranate finial.

5¼ in. (13.3 cm.) high; 22 oz. 10 dwt. (703 gr.) (2)

Estimate: $70,000 - $100,000
Item circa 1805, London

Each pedestal foot is adorned with leaf borders and the body is applied with trophies of arts and sciences between beaded borders. The handles form classical masks entwined with serpents, while the body engraved with a coat-of-arms within applied mantling and the covers are engraved with an Earl's coronet and two crests.

8 5/8 in. (21.9 cm.) long; 138 oz. 10 dwt. (4325 gr.) (4)

Estimate: $25,000 - $40,000
Item circa 1745

With a rectangular back, the serpentine seat and padded arms are covered fine point landscape needlework.

Estimate: $120,000 - $180,000
Item circa 1662

Painted with the Sovereign in coronation robes holding a sceptre and orb, it is flanked by the inscription C2/R and the date 16/62, within an arch and columns, within a yellow line and blue-dash rim, on a circular foot.

12¼ in. (31 cm.) diameter 

Estimate: $20,000 - $30,0000
Item circa 1727, London/Bristol

Each with an opposing buckle at the instep, the item is painted with a floral band extending down the center of the toe box and overall with scrolling flowers and insects, while the blue sole is reserved with a medallion inscribed E::C above the date 1727.

4¼ in. (10.8 cm.) high, 6½ in. (16.5 cm.) wide (2)

Estimate: $40,000 - $60,000
Item circa 1686-1701

The tulipière square, modeled as a pyramid in two sections, the upper-most baluster-form nozzle centering three graduated tiers of four dolphin-head nozzles. The nozzles are painted and reserved in blue, with the upper registers with birds perched on rockwork amongst flowering plants.

14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm.) high (2)