I am considering developing an antique pricing research tool that will sift through historic auction data based on your search parameters (e.g. “Horner griffin partner’s desk”). The tool would report back a few years worth of closed auction data in summary and detail form. The theory is that this would enable you to more accurately value antiques that you have in your possession for resale or for insurance purposes.

Could you take this 5-minute survey to help me judge interest levels in such a tool?

I’ve added a new board to VictorianForum.com: “Auction Watch”

Please use this board to post about and read about good upcoming auctions with quality Victorian Furniture lots. Please read the board instructions before posting as it will help us to format the posts in a useful way.

Help your fellow Rare Victorians by letting us know about great auctions that you come across!

Coming up for sale is another historically unified parlor set being split into separate lots. This time it is a “Stanton Hall” parlor set from J & JW Meeks. I won’t revisit the topic of splitting these historic sets apart again but you can revisit the prior post on the Belter set here. By the way, those three Belter lots collectively sold for $79,000 plus buyer’s premium.

This set is comprised of a sofa, one armchair and two sidechairs. The pattern is named after Stanton Hall in Natchez, Mississippi. The home was built for wealthy cotton commission broker, Frederick Stanton, who commissioned many decorative pieces for the house, including the original pattern set of this design.

This set is being sold from the Evelyn Church Royston Trust by John Moran Auctioneers, Inc. in Pasadena, CA.

There are some condition issues and evidence of old woodworm infection, which you can see is the topic of this conversation on the message board.

Bidding ends on November 20th and you can view the lots here:

Meeks Stanton Hall Armchair
Meeks Stanton Hall Sidechairs
Meeks Stanton Hall Sofa

You may remember Ralph and Pamela Krainik from the previous post on their monumental clock. They recently let me know that they purchased a Victorian bookcase and were able to identify it as a Herter Brothers piece due to the Rare Victorian post on a stamped Herter Bookcase here! That certainly makes me happy that the Rare Victorian was able to help in the identification process. I feel like Match.com must feel when a pair of clients gets married due to the use of their matchmaking service - only this time, one of the parties is a bookcase. And in this case there is a trio - Pamela, Ralph and the bookcase, but we won’t go there…

I’ve included the comparison photos below. The smaller inset photos are details from the Krainik piece.

Although the material and gender of the figures are not the same, they are both neoclassical in design and are at the top center of the two bookcases. Note the outline of the burl panel behind both - they are the same.

Although the stamped bookcase has three drawers, both bookcases have simple and identical two-pull carved wood drawer handles and a central carved wood escutcheon

This is the smoking gun. The carved elements on the doors are identical in the central and upper corner areas.

Ralph additionally points to other similar traits like the router markings on the shelves and the markings on the back of them denoting their position in the bookcase. Thanks to the Krainik’s for sharing their latest find. Don’t forget they have a shop where their fine Victorian furniture is for sale.

This three-piece set of parlor furniture will certainly jump out at you when you enter the room. I still can’t decide if I like it or not and I think the problem I’m having is due to the upholstery. I think if this were reupholstered it could be an impressive and unique set.

One of the reasons I like having a Victorian home is that I have an excuse to have outlandish (but tasteful) furniture. I look forward to the day when I find the right Egyptian Revival piece to add to my collection. People don’t flinch when they see ornate antiques in my home. In my previous, circa 1999 home, having furniture like this would have prompted looks of shock and horror. I hope you take some decorative risks too and have fun with it, especially if you have a period house - I’d say you’re required to!

Bidding on the set ends on November 18th and starts at $1,500 with an expected range of $3,000 to $4,000.