An amazing image of George Washington after the Stuart Presidential “Athenaeum” portrait. This fine oval image of several different types of wood inlay is placed in the center of the lid. Also there is a multi-wood inlay border around the lower section of the box. It measures 6 x 13 x 18 inches.

$5,500

The King’s Cup is a major yachting trophy presented by the New York Yacht Club. It is made by Tiffany & Company of sterling silver with a gold vermeil finish. The cup itself is splendid with two acanthus sheathed scroll handles, chased decoration all around, and a pineapple finial at top above a tapering body. It measures approximately 11 inches high.

On the bottom is the maker’s signature: Tiffany & Company / 1089 Makers 8194 – 925.1000. “M”. 1 ½ pints.

Inscribed on one side of this great chalice shaped trophy is the following:This trophy presented by the New York Yacht Club to George M. Pynchon owner of the Sloop “Istalena” in recognition of Istalena’s winning The King’s cup at Newport, August 7th, 1909

George M. Pynchon, a wealthy New York businessman, was a member of the New York Yacht Club in the first decade of the 20th century. Along with other members, including Cornelius Vanderbilt, Pynchon enjoyed yachting as an escape from a busy life. Pynchon had several yachts designed over the years and to thisb day, a search continues for the hull of the “Istalena”, now believed to be in Venezuela. Pynchon had input into the construction of Vanderbilt’s yacht, The “Reliance” which successfully defended the America’s Cup in 1903. Pynchon also won the King Edward VII Cup in the Istalena in 1909. It is interesting to note that Cornelius Vanderbilt’s yacht, the “Aurora” finished second to the “Istalena” in the 1909 King’s Cup race. Included with this important trophy is a leather bound book of 16 original professional period photographs by Edwin Levick, New York, of the “Istalena” and another yacht, probably also belonging to Pynchon, the “Vasanta”. All are mounted, in excellent condition SOLD

One of our favorite pieces of furniture that was purchased from Howard Szmolko several decades ago: An Early Victorian walnut marble top dresser, the white marble top supporting carved dolphin brackets which hold a mirror with carved frame of acanthus leaves and fruit. The base has three graduated drawers, with beautiful crotch veneer fronts, carved corners feature bust of a woman with indian style head dress, on fluted column. The six drawer pulls are carved heads of a bearded man (probably representing Neptune). Super condition, and all original. 40" wide, 25" deep, 90" high; Philadelphia, circa 1850-60. In a letter from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to Szmolko in 1994, the now noted NC auctioneer Andrew Brunk, then a Curatorial Assistant quotes Jack Lindsay who believed the maker was either the firms of Klauder and Deginther or Gottlieb Vollmer, both active in Philadelphia the second half of the 19th Century. POR