George III Chinese lacquer and japanned parcel gilt commode by Thomas Chippendale, estimate $200,000-300,000 at Christie’s.
Completing the landmark series of auctions held since October 2022, this grand finale features the collection from Ann’s childhood home outside Sacramento known as Wheatland.
As is the norm these days, a live sale (October 18-19) will be followed by an online auction (October 6-20).
Wheatland, originally a farm with walnut and peach orchards, is located on the outskirts of a small agricultural town in northern California. It was for romanticism rather than convenience that Ann used her interior decorator’s eye to transform the estate into a vision of the English country house.
The collection also includes more of the English furniture and decorative arts - blending academic rigour with a love of the wow factor - that made the first sales such memorable events.
Pictured here are two potential highlights from the reign of George III: a Chinese lacquer and japanned parcel gilt commode by Thomas Chippendale ($200,000- 300,000) and an ebony veneered library bookcase set with Chinese mirror paintings (estimate $300,000-500,000).
The commode was almost certainly supplied by Chippendale to Edwin Lascelles for Harewood House, Yorkshire, c.1771-72 and came by descent until it was sold by the Earl of Harewood; at Christie’s in 1951. Later with London dealer Partridge, it was supplied by Parish-Hadley, New York, to Ann and Gordon Getty in 1976.
Ebony veneered library bookcase set with Chinese mirror paintings, guide $300,000-500,000 at Christie’s.
The bookcase, c.1760, came by descent to Algernon Walker-Heneage-Vivian (1871-1952) of Clyne Castle, Swansea, and was sold there in a house sale in 1952. It was acquired by the Gettys from James Hepworth, London in 1993.
