A treasure trove of Rhode Island history will go under the hammer next month when Nye & Company Auctioneers offers rare artifacts from some of the Ocean State’s most influential families.
The two-day auction, scheduled for Sept. 10-11 in Bloomfield, New Jersey, will feature property from the DeWolf, Herreshoff and Brown families — dynasties that shaped Rhode Island’s mercantile and maritime legacy for centuries.
Star pieces include furniture directly tied to John Brown (1736-1803), the Providence merchant and Brown University co-founder whose family helped define early American commerce. Among the highlights is a Chippendale carved mahogany pole screen attributed to renowned Newport cabinetmaker John Goddard (1724-1785), carrying an estimate of $10,000-$20,000.
Also from the Brown collection is a diminutive Chippendale drop-leaf dining table, also attributed to Goddard and dating to circa 1770, estimated at $5,000-$10,000. Chinese Export armorial table articles bearing John Brown’s “JB” monogram — 30 pieces including small plates and fruit bowls — are expected to sell for $800-$1,200.
The sale connects Rhode Island’s mercantile past with its maritime innovation through the Herreshoff family line. When Sarah Brown, John Brown’s daughter, married Karl Friedrich Herreshoff, it united two influential dynasties. The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company later revolutionized yacht design, producing multiple America’s Cup winners and pioneering naval vessels.
Historic oars from the Herreshoff collection reference the family’s yacht-building legacy, while furniture and decorations reflect their shared history with the Brown family. Items collected by Emilie Herreshoff, who started the tradition of displaying a public Christmas tree, will also be offered.
The DeWolf and Lewis families of Bristol round out the consignment, representing generations of collecting and preservation tied to Rhode Island’s economic development.
“Don’t miss this rare opportunity to acquire rare objects with direct ties to Rhode Island’s First Families,” said Andrew Holter of Nye & Company Auctioneers. “From Brown’s 18th-century carved furniture to Herreshoff maritime ephemera, these pieces are not just antiques — they are American history in tangible form.”
The Sept. 11 session continues with the Chic and Antique Estate Treasures Auction, featuring a Chippendale mahogany pier table believed to have descended from Nicholas Brown or his daughter Hope Brown Ives, formerly part of the Joseph K. Ott Collection.
Both auction sessions begin at 10 a.m. Eastern. Preview exhibitions will be held Sept. 2-5 and Sept. 8-10 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Bloomfield gallery at 20 Beach Street.
For more information, visit www.nyeandcompany.com or call (973) 984-6900.