Porter Blanchard

Estimate

30,000 - 50,000 USD

bidding is closed

Description

Porter Blanchard
A Fine and Rare "Commonwealth" Flatware Service
each stamped PORTER BLANCHARD and STERLING and each engraved to reverse Abna Linden
comprising 12 dinner forks, 12 dinner knives, 12 dinner spoons, 11 luncheon forks, 12 luncheon knives, 12 luncheon spoons, 12 ice cream forks, 12 butter knives, 12 fish forks, 12 soup spoons, 12 dessert forks, 12 demitasse spoons, 11 serving spoons, small ladle, asparagus server, cake server, fish fork, and carving fork and knife. 160 pieces.
silver and stainless steel

Provenance

Dennis Boses, Los Angeles
Collection of John P. Axelrod, Boston

Literature

L. Stanley Grohs, The Renaissance of an Ancient Art, S & G. Gump Company, 1930, p. 32
"California Creates," House Beautiful, November 1934, p. 36
Helen Johnson Keyes, "Contemporary American Silver," Christian Science Monitor, Boston, May 1, 1937, p.6 (for a discussion of this pattern)
Stephen N. Dennis, "Arts and Crafts Silver for the Historic House," Historic Houses, February 1982, p. 7
Leslie Greene Bowman, "Arts and Crafts Silversmiths: Friedell and Blanchard in Southern California," Silver in the Golden State, Oakland, 1986, p. 54
Rosalie and Bob Dannenbaum, "The Blanchard Tradition in Hand Wrought Silver," West Coast Peddler, August 1989, p. 25
Jewel Stern, "Striking the Modern Note in Metal," Craft in the Machine Age, 1920-1945, New York, 1995, p. 125

Condition

Overall excellent condition. The service has been recently cleaned. A very large extensive service with many rare serving pieces. The engraving of the original client is subtle and appears on the reverse of each piece adjacent to the markers mark. The surface of each piece with a detailed hand hammered handle, which is add great depth to each piece. This is best shown in the catalogue photograph in the dinner spoon. A superb opportunity to acquire a very large and rare pattern by this noted American Modern designer.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

Sotheby's would like to thank Jewel Stern for her assistance in cataloguing this lot.

"During the 1980's, when Fifty/50 was in its heyday, I was at a distinct disadvantage when it came to acquiring their best works. Not only was I not in New York, but I also had to compete with one Mr. John Waddell, who I always suspected was the "secret fourth partner" of the gallery. Completely trustworthy, especially when it comes to authenticity and provenance, Mark McDonald is a gentleman and a scholar."
-John P. Axelrod, Boston