Historic 1847 Mansion’s Contents On Tap At Osona Auction Aug. 23
The home’s living room is filled with fine china.
1766 Elizabeth Hadwen sampler
Sixteen ship portraits, mostly China Trade, will be offered, including this example.
NANTUCKET, MASS. — Rafael Osona Auctions will auction the entire untouched contents of the John A. and Katherine Sherman Lodge Nantucket estate on Saturday, August 23, at 9:30 am, after a two-day advance preview in Osona’s gallery at American Legion Hall, 21 Washington Street.
The stately Greek mansion at 94 Main Street, built in 1847 by William Hadwen, a silversmithturned-whale-oil-merchant is perhaps the most admired and photographed historic house on Nantucket Island. The house is one of two side-by-side “Twin Greeks” built by Hadwen for his wife, Eunice Starbuck, and niece. This was the last mansion erected on Nantucket — the then wealthiest town in America
— by a whale oil merchant.
Headlining the auction will be a significant collection of marine and maritime art, including China Trade ship’s portraits and a rare, 13-star, 30-foot-long homecoming ship’s “pay off” pennant; Seventeenth–Nineteenth Century maps, documents, autographs and memorabilia; early American portraiture; Eighteenth–Nineteenth Century American and English furniture; fine estate Oriental carpets; European and China Trade porcelains and silver; as well as a fine library of important first edition books, including a complete set of Charles Dickens works, and a Thoreau’s first edition, first state Walden.
During the 52-year Lodge ownership, their stewardship of their home at 94 Main Street and respect for the island’s history was exemplary. The Nantucket Preservation Trust established the John A. and Katherine S. Lodge Stewardship Award, annually recognizing an individual, organization or owner of historic property demonstrating a high degree of commitment to the preservation of historic structures and Nantucket.
According to Mr and Mrs Lodge’s wishes, proceeds from the sale of the house and its contents will be donated to Nantucket Cottage Hospital, The Nantucket Conservation Foundation and Saint Mary’s Church. For additional information, www.rafaelosonaauctions.com or 508-228-3942.