The RSL Auction Company is very pleased to announce its adoption of a new auction format that shall henceforward be known as the “Crème de la Crème Auction”. This phrase originated in France perhaps three centuries ago. Its earliest use stems from culinary references related to cheese produced with the finest creams. In modern parlance, the phrase has simply come to mean the ‘very best’, whether in reference to people or things. As the phrase implies, these auctions will be extremely small with only the very best quality offerings on the market.
Our first crème de la crème sale will take place this summer on Saturday, August 21st at our auction facility in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. The sale will showcase 300 stellar pieces that will include architectural still banks, dynamic themed spelter still banks, figural still banks, tin and cast iron mechanical banks, bell toys, cast iron animal drawn toys, European tinplate planes, trains, automobiles and novelty toys, rare examples of American tin and mechanical toys and several prized pieces of folk art. In the future, we will plan to create one crème de la crème sale every summer.
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LOT 235:
Young Boy with Three Cherries Portrait
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Sold for: $5,500
Start price:
$
3,000
Estimated price :
$6,000 - $8,000
Buyer's Premium: 27.5%
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Young Boy with Three Cherries Portrait
Signed & Dated Lower Right: W. Eddy 1823. Discovered in New England in the 1950's. Frame Dimension is 21 1/4" W x 28 1/2" T. From the Dr. Gail Furman Collection. The artist presents the young boy standing in the middle of a fantasy environment that is intended to be read as a stage. The rich red velvet curtain has been raised on the right so that we, as viewers, can make a close examination of this boy and draw conclusions about his probable future life. Cherries are used as a symbolic reference to the souls of men and this serious looking young man in his fancy red frock is certainly portrayed as deep thinking and soulful. The odd open wall is another theatrical device. It informs us that the portrait subject lives in a coastal town, which may further indicate the occupation of the boy's father as a ship captain or fisherman. The boy is probably only 3 or 4 years old, and yet, we are meant to infer a great deal about his status in life by the way he is illustrated to us. His age is implied by the fact that he is still shown in a dress and by the fact that he wears shoes. Very little is known about the itinerant artist Eddy, but his skill at creating a full narrative portrait is very evident.
