Newport County Auction Features Fine Antiques and Estate Furnishings

A large collection of estate treasures will be auctioned in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, this Wednesday, November 18.

The upcoming sale at the Newport County Auction Gallery features a massive dispersal of antique and contemporary furnishings, paintings, and silver, according to Antiques And The Arts Weekly. The items originate from the estates of George G. Herrick and Fred H. Barrows, Jr., of “Stonybrook” in Middletown, along with pieces previously held by the Preservation Society of Newport County.

For collectors and decorators, the scale of the inventory suggests a rare opportunity to acquire high-end domestic history. The auction includes 40 gilded salon chairs and 22 oyster plates, several of which are noted as being extremely rare, Antiques And The Arts Weekly reported.

The auction is characterized by a heavy emphasis on fine art and substantial furniture. Notable highlights include four large, early 19th-century European port paintings created after the style of Claude-Joseph Vernet. The sale also features works by artists such as Edwin Gill, Richard Grosvenor, George Harvey, George Hays, Samuel Howitt, Philip Rickman, Eveline Roberge, and Will Simmons.

Furniture enthusiasts will find a deep selection of specialized pieces, particularly Herrick marquetry. The inventory contains much burl and rosewood furniture, a French ebony center table, an Italian neo-classical table, and various tiger maple and cherry tall chests. Other notable items include:

A 26-foot by 40-foot palace carpet
Six obelisks and three trumeaux
Two Walter H. Durfee banjo clocks
A 12-piece Heywood Wakefield wicker porch set
Ten pieces of lead and stone statuary
Collections of vintage fly rods, sterling-knobbed canes, and four Derringer pistols

The sheer physical presence of the collection is a logistical factor for prospective buyers. The auction house has advised that many items are large and heavy, suggesting that attendees bring trucks, vans, and blankets to secure their purchases.

The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. at 1674 East Main Road, Rte. 138, in Portsmouth, located opposite St. Barnabas Church. An inspection period is set for Tuesday, November 17, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with an additional hour of viewing available immediately before the sale begins.

In the event of inclement weather, a storm date has been established for Thursday, November 19, at 10 a.m.

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