NEXT  AUCTION

July 4th

Link to our website for highlights

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Michael  Kane is certainly not least among the legion of Nantucket Lightship Basket Artisans.  This oval, ivory top friendship basket with carved ivory flower basket,  latch & knobs is  inscribed upon the base, "Made by Michael Kane 1984, Nantucket Island."  A classic!

This mid-century summer moment was captured aptly by Colonel Julian E. Yates. (1871-1953) 

Yates' naively rendered snippets of summer life in the 1930's to early 50's are regarded highly enough that the NHA collects him; and his work is registered at the Smithsonian!

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Peeking Ahead to August 1st
Americana, Continental, Maritime & Fine Art Auction
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It's right around the corner. The catalogs will be here soon. Meanwhile, hopeful of leading some of you into temptation, we offer a few highlights.
Visit our website for more.

Nantucket Spool Caddy, circa 1838; whale ivory, tortoise, abalone and wood, silver stud inlay and red wax scribe lines: once belonged to or was carved by Reuben Chase, Master Mariner, Nantucket; October 16, 1838.  Accompanied by original bill of sale.Height 5½ in.

Rare Nantucket Pierced Whalebone Swing Handle Basket, circa 1850; pine oval bottom with  conforming interlocking circles. Basket carved from a single piece of pan-bone, with a swing handle attached with rivets. Height 3 in. Width 7¼ in.   Depth 4 in.

A.D. Williams Miniature Covered Nantucket Basket, with brass name plate on swing handle; engraved, "Edgar Seeler."  Original paper label on base, "Light Ship Basket Made by A.D. Williams, 120 Orange St. Nantucket, Mass. Nov. 17, 1918". Height 5 in.  Diameter 5¼ in. 

NOTE: an identical basket sold at Osona's Auction in 2006 for $43,700.

Julian E. Yates (American; 1871-1953)

Born in Williams Mills, NC, Colonel Julian E. Yates received a Divinity degree from the University of Chicago. A military Chaplain who saw action in France duty during WWI, he eventually became Chief of Chaplains for the US Army. He retired in 1935.

During most of the following 18 years, Col. Yates and his wife divided their time between Washington, DC and 27 India Street, Nantucket, where Colonel Yates spent much of his time painting.  Apparently self-taught, he produced a body of art significant to Nantucket's the post-war summer colony genre.  Soon enough, Yates became active in the newly founded Artists' Association of Nantucket, exhibiting at the Kenneth Taylor Galleries and during AAN's annual sidewalk sales to favorable review by the press.  Col. Yates served as the organization's first secretary and treasurer.

 The artist's preferred medium was oil. While primitively rendered, his realistic, and infinitely detailed paintings were justly appreciated for their apt expressions of daily life during the late 30's to early 50's. He recorded a unique period in the history of the summer colony that continues to be of interest today.

 In 1961, The Lobster Pot Gallery presented a retrospective exhibition of Yates' work.       In 1999, Yates was prominently featured in the Nantucket Historical Association, Fair Street Gallery exhibit entitled, "The Originals," in honor of the Artists' Association's 50th anniversary.  Several of his paintings remain in the collection of Nantucket Historical Association.   Yates is listed in  Robert diCursio's Art on Nantucket and in Who's Who in American Art, with individual work(s?) cataloged in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database.

Ref:  Picturing Nantucket/An Art History of the Island of Nantucket with Paintings from the Collection of the NHA, by Michael A. Jehle; pub. 2000

Yes, for 29 years - and that's more than a quarter century out there in the field - we've  criss-crossed the country, evaluating exceptional material from fine estates and discriminating consignors. Rafael Osona Auctions is known for consistent fine quality antiques and decorative arts auctions spanning the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries. Osona has held numerous  world records for sales of Nantucket Baskets, Ralph Cahoon paintings, Scrimshaw & China Trade art.

How to Consign

the Benefits of Friends

It's really amazing, the insightful ways our non-profit friends manage to give back to the community that sustains them! Take the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum, the must-go-to place for residents and visitors alike:

They've collaborated with Wendy Rouillard and her adventuresome friend, Barnaby Bear. Did you know the Lightship Basket Museum is one of Barnaby's favorite places?