Update: Hearst Credenza Fails to Sell

As reported earlier (click HERE to read previous post), Bohnams and Butterfields was auctioning a renaissance revival credenza with a a William Randolph Hearst provenance in its sale of June 15th in California (see image on left). The pre sale estimate was $8,000.00 to $12,0000.00. The description was Property from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, sold to benefit future acquisitions An Italian Renaissance style walnut credenza incorporating 16th, 17th century and later antique elements The rectangular top over three drawers carved with scrolling foliate vines centering simian mask pulls and narrow drawers carved with grotesque masks above three doors carved with loosely draped beauties divided and flanked by figures of plump putti ending in block feet.

The piece failed to make the reserve and did not sell. I had heard from Kent Anderson of Prices for Antiques, the on line auction database that Cowans just recently sold a Hearst piece after my first post. It was a Kas (see image on right) that was modified with an added pediment base and feet, but still brought just over $8,000.00. This pieces, as noted has a mixture of period and non period components, perhaps a reason it did not sell. Remember the original article posting stated that many experts felt that Hearst was more interested in a look and quantity, rather than quality. The results certainly appear to bear that out.