Two of a Kind

NEW YORK—Sotheby’s New York has lined up a pair of single-owner sales featuring the collections of two late Manhattan dealers, each celebrated for his unerring eye. Hitting the block on the 24th are 180 lots amassed by Tom Devenish, whose Madison Avenue gallery built its reputation on its unrivaled selection of English furniture. A George II carved-mahogany armchair, circa 1755 (est. $800,000–1.2 million), is sure to catch the eye of dedicated collectors; its match can be found in New York’s Metropolitan Museum. Another exceptional piece up for grabs is a George I japanned bureau cabinet, circa 1720 (est. $400–600,000).

On the 25th, Sotheby’s is offering the vast personal trove of the late Khalil Rizk, cofounder of the Chinese Porcelain Company in New York; the collection is expected to fetch $3 million. Not surprisingly, the standouts of the sale—which includes hundreds of items ranging from French furniture to Old Master paintings—are Chinese export porcelain, including a 1720 Armorial ewer (est. $50–70,000) emblazoned with the coat of arms of Ataide, a Portuguese noble family, and a rare 1750 rectangular tea caddy depicting negotiating merchants (est. $45–55,000). Also for sale are several charming 18th-century seascapes, such as the 1756 Capture of the Chausey Islands by the English artist Francis Swaine (est. $20–30,000).

"Two of a Kind" originally appeared in the April 2008 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's April 2008 Table of Contents.