Americana and Folk Arts

Sold for $70,000

Rafael Osona Auctions consistently offers fine 18th – 19th Century Americana and Folk Arts in our numerous yearly auctions.  Our Annual Americana, Fine Art, Maritime Auction held the 1st Saturday in August is abundant with collections from around the country.

Nantucket in her maritime heyday was one of the wealthiest town’s in America.  She was steeped in unique material culture from far-reaching trade and whaling voyages.  Today this world-class summer resort attracts connoisseurs AND their collections from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, the Chesapeake, Ohio and the West Coast.

Connecting key players in the Americana/Folk Art arenas, we continue to source top material for discriminating buyers.

Exceptional Objects and Collections

  • President John F. Kennedy’s American Queen Anne Dining Table
  • President John F. Kennedy’s American Windsor Chairs
  • President John F. Kennedy’s American Tavern Table
  • Captain Elihu Goodman’s Connecticut River Valley Cherry Chest on Chest
  • The Barbara & Barton Stevens American Folk Art Collection
  • The Katherine Seeler American Stoneware Collection
  • The William Coffin Scrimshaw Collection
  • The Walter Beinecke Collection
  • James Walter Folger Carved Half-Body Shell Drake in Flight, circa 1911

    James Walter Folger (1851-1918) Carved Half-Body Shell Drake in Flight, circa 1911, beautifully carved and painted on a cloudy sky panel, signed lower left “James Walter Folger, 1911, Nantucket, Mass”. The reverse inscribed in paint “Hand Carved Duck Panel of Shell Drake also Painted in Old Colors by James Walter Folger, Nantucket, Mass. Oct. 1911.”

    11 in. x 22 ¼ in.

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  • Scarce 1888 Map of The Village of Siasconset on The Island of Nantucket, Mass

    Scarce 1888 Map of The Village of Siasconset on The Island of Nantucket, Mass, By Harry Platt. Copyrighted 1888. Published by E.T. Underhill & Co. New York. Canvas backed paper.

    26 ¾ in. x 19 ¼ in.

    Provenance:  Descended in the family of Captain James Cary, Master and half-owner of the Ship Rose.

     

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  • Cast Iron Paint Decorated Figural “Oculist” Trade Sign

    Cast Iron Paint Decorated Figural “Oculist” Trade Sign, with eyes and eyeglass frames.

    Height 14 in. Width 34 in.

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  • Pair of American Miniature Watercolor Silhouette Portraits of a Military Officer and His Wife, early 19th Century

    Pair of American Miniature Watercolor Silhouette Portraits of a Military Officer and His Wife, early 19th Century, officer is wearing his dress uniform, wife is holding a fan with red bow in her hair, with 19th c. Salem Massachusetts newspaper backing behind the officer on reverse. In original mahogany ogee frames.

    Sight: 5 in. x 4 ½ in. Overall 11 in. x 10 ½ in.

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  • Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island Sampler “Wrought by Phebe Almy in the eleventh year of her age 1801”

    Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island Sampler “Wrought by Phebe Almy in the eleventh year of her age 1801 with verse (sic)

    1. “Obferve the one for fhe inftructs the man,
    2. And Preaches labour gathering all fhe can,
    3. Then brings it to her safe her heap at home,
    4. Againft the winter which fhe knows will come,
    5. And when that comes fhe creeps abroad no more,
    6. But lies at home and feafts uPon her ftore.”

    25 ¾ in. x 16 ¼ in.

    Note: this verse is cited in three publications: by Creech:  The Plough, the Loom and the Anvil – Volume 1 – Page 68; American Farmer’s Magazine –Volume 1- Page 68 and Anecdotes of Remarkable Insects – Page 44

    Phebe Almy was born Portsmouth, Newport Rhode Island March 18, 1791. Phebe Almy’s husband Ebenezer Metcalf and his descendants are considered to be one of the oldest farm families in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

    The Phebe Almy sampler is accompanied by Almay family memorabilia: a schoolhouse slate, and four 19th c. books owned and inscribed by Almy family members David, Elizabeth, Lucy and Pelig Almy.

    Schoolhouse slate carved with initials E.W.A. in hardwood frame with inlaid chalk sharpener and alphabet carvings.

    David Almay’s book: History of the United States of America by Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, 3rd editor Hartford, Pub. By Barber & Robinson, 1824

    Elizabeth Almy’s book: Elements of Chemistry 1831 with engravings

    Lucy B. Almy’s book: Weekly Sabbath, 1836

    Pelig Almy’s book: Early Christians on War, 1814, printed in New Bedford

     

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  • Gustav Stickley Reverse Tapered Bow-Arm Morris Chair, Craftsman Workshops of Gustav Stickley, Eastwood, New York, circa 1901

    Gustav Stickley Reverse Tapered Bow-Arm Morris Chair, Craftsman Workshops of Gustav Stickley, Eastwood, New York, circa 1901. Oak with original black leather upholstered seat back and cushion. Reverse tapering legs.

    Seat Height 16 ½ in. Overall Height 39 ½ in. Width 28 3/8 in.

    Provenance: Estate of Linda Loring, 4 Rays Court, Nantucket

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  • Levi Pitkin of East Hartford, Connecticut Inlaid Mahogany Tall Case Clock, circa 1790s

    Levi Pitkin of East Hartford, Connecticut Inlaid Mahogany Tall Case Clock, circa 1790s, the case of beautiful proportions is band inlaid on the door and base panel and stands on slightly splayed and flared feet with delicate returns. The clock waist is fitted with a band inlaid rectangular door and the sides are fitted with quarter columns which terminate in reeded capitals. The bonnet is embellished with scrolled fretwork which is supported with one fluted plinth flanked by two others and three ball and spike brass finials. The painted iron dial is signed “LEVI PITKIN – East Hartford, and the time ring is painted with Roman numeral hour figures and Arabic numerals are used for the five-minute markers. The dial also displays the date of the month calendar and the seconds are on a secondary dial. The four spandrels are delicately painted with flower blossoms and the arch is decorated with a bird on a branch. The eight-day clock is weight driven and the support plate to the dial signed WILSON.

    Levi Pitkin was born February 23, 1774 in East Hartford, Connecticut and apprenticed with Daniel Burnap, an accomplished clockmaker/silversmith from Windsor, Connecticut around 1787.

    Height 91 in. Width 18 ¾ in.

    Provenance: Estate of Linda Loring, 6 Louisburg Square, Boston

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  • American School Oil on Canvas “Portrait of Brother and Sister in a Landscape”

    American School Oil on Canvas “Portrait of Brother and Sister in a Landscape“, mid 19th century, depicting a young boy in black shirt with gold buttons and lace details, white pants, and holding a red bound book; his sister wearing a double strand beaded necklace, fashionable orange embroidered dress with lace details, white pantaloons and holding a rose; original lemon gilt frame

    43 in. x 34 in. Overall 50 ½ in. x 41 ½ in.

    Provenance: Estate of Linda Loring, 6 Louisburg Square, Boston

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  • 19th Century Carved and Polychromed Female Ship’s Figurehead

    SOLD FOR $18,000

    19th Century Carved and Polychromed Female Ship’s Figurehead, in original paint, an attractive female bust portrait in full round, black curled hair and golden drop earrings, wearing a powder blue, gold and white dress.
    Height 24 in. Width 15 ½ in. Depth 13 in.

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  • Robert Perrin Folk Art Mixed Media Carpet “Greasy Luck”

    SOLD FOR $4,200

    Robert Perrin (1915-1999) Folk Art Mixed Media Carpet “Greasy Luck” constructed from various carpet scraps, depicting a 19th c. whale hunt with long boat, stove boat and whale ship in the distance.
    25 in. x 50 in.

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  • “Glimpses of Nantucket by Henry S. Wyer, August, 1892, Edition De Lux” Photo Album

    SOLD FOR $5,100
    ***This item will appear in our August 5th Addendum***
    Glimpses of Nantucket by Henry S. Wyer (American 1847-1920), August, 1892, Edition De Lux – Limited to 4 Copies” Photo Album, with a total of 46 photographs of various sizes mounted to 27 boards, some boards mounted with multiple photographs, each with handwritten scrip titles, poetry and descriptions of Nantucket, each photograph initialed in pencil below the image “H.S.W.
    Album Overall 8 ¾ in. x 10 ½ in.

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  • Pair of Ralph and Martha Cahoon Sailor’s Valentines

    SOLD FOR $16,800
    ***This item will appear in our August 5th Addendum***
    Pair of Ralph and Martha Cahoon (American 1910-1982 & 1905-1999) Sailor’s Valentines, oil on Masonite and seashell collage by Bernard Woodman. The Ralph Cahoon valentine with roundel depicting hot air balloon with sailor and two mermaids atop an affixed faux ivory carved whale with mermaid and sailor in a basket below, signed R. Cahoon. The Martha Cahoon valentine with roundel depicting a merman and mermaid in a clam shell boat, signed Martha Cahoon and dated ’84.
    20 in. x 20 in. Each

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  • James Walter Folger Carved Wood Plaque of Stone Alley

    SOLD FOR $6,240
    James Walter Folger (Nantucket 1851-1918) Carved Wood Plaque of Stone Alley, circa 1900, single piece of poplar carved down to a three dimensional view looking up to Orange Street and the town clock with cobblestones, trees, houses, shrubs, etc. Titled upper left “Stone Alley Nantucket,” pencil signed on reverse “Stone Alley Carved by Jas Walter Folger Nantucket Mass 1900.
    11 in. x 7 ¼ in.

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  • Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr Oil on Masonite “Portrait of the Bird Ship”

    SOLD FOR $96,000
    Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr (American 1910-1982) Oil on Masonite “Portrait of the Bird Ship,” a hot air balloon hoisting a special mermaid with floral bouquet as signified by the ship’s flags and pennants, mermaids splashing about beneath, signed lower right R. Cahoon.
    31 in. x 27 ¾ in.

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  • Very Fine British Sailor’s Woolwork, circa 1868

    SOLD FOR $19,200
    Very Fine British Sailor’s Woolwork, circa 1868, large sailor made presentation or wedding gift depicting an anchored Man-O-War flying colors with 112 sailors on yardarms in blue and white dress with two officers on deck, two transport launches alongside, flanked by four cameos of ships in full sail, one flying the Union Jack, two flying the white ensign of the Colonies and one flying the ensign of the Royal Navy, center bottom adorned by a British crest with letters “JB 1868 AH,” all surrounded by a full foliate border of grape clusters, roses and acorn branches, triple matted and framed.
    22 ½ in. x 30 ½ in.

    Note: A ship dressed with flags and pennants generally announces a special occasion such as the visit of a dignitary.

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  • Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr. Oil on Masonite “Ships and Scrimshaw”

    SOLD FOR $96,000
    Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr. (Massachusetts 1910-1982) Oil on Masonite “Ships and Scrimshaw,” depicting a stern view of the ship “Susan – Nantucket” with five sailors and four mermaids, three other gun boats anchored and flying American flags, painted domed scrimshaw foliate band, surrounded by two scrimshaw tusks, pair of carved hanging whalebone fids, two hanging scrimshaw sperm whale teeth, two whalebone busks and a scrimshaw bone plaque lower center inscribed, “Ships and Scrimshaw, R. Cahoon PINXT,” in 4 inch antique lemon gilt frame.
    31 ½ in. x 41 ½ in. Overall 37 ¼ in. x 47 ½ in.

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  • Portrait Bust of Nantucket or New Bedford Sea Captain

    SOLD FOR $6,000
    Portrait Bust of Nantucket or New Bedford Sea Captain, circa 1830-40, gesso over wood, illustrated in Charles Lankin’s Wood Carvers of North America, page 126.

    Height 21 in.

    Provenance: David Schorsch, Carey Daniels, Wayne Pratt, Sold Osona’s August 7, 2004 to private collector.

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  • British Sailor’s Woolwork, 19th Century

    SOLD FOR $6,000
    British Sailor’s Woolwork, 19th century, the woolie depicts two British frigates off a headland with stone fortress and brick houses, one warship anchored with sails tied and flying colors, the other departing under full sail, the polychrome wool yarn retain good color, with gilt slip in bird’s eye maple frame.
    14 ¾ in. x 25 ¾ in.
    Overall 18 ½ in. x 20 ½ in.

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  • Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr. and Bernard A. Woodman Sailor’s Valentine

    SOLD FOR $10,800

    Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr. (American 1910-1982) and Bernard A. Woodman Sailor’s Valentine, a Ralph Cahoon central oil painting depicting an American ship and hot air balloon with applied faux ivory sperm whale, signed lower right, shell-work by B.A. Woodman #118.
    Diameter of painting 6 in. Overall Diameter 14 in.

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  • Ralph Eugene Cahoon Jr. “Racing to the Wharf Rats Club”

    SOLD FOR $56,400

    Ralph Eugene Cahoon Jr. (American 1910-1982)
    “Racing to the Wharf Rats Club”, oil on Masonite, depicting a dapper gentleman wearing a top hat with his mermaid in a bonnet, pearls flying on her neck and fluke racing to the Wharf Rats Club in a horse drawn surrey before a sign reading “Wharf Rats Club, 3 mi.”. Signed lower right R. Cahoon.
    21½ in. x 27 ½ in.

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  • Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr. Oil “Sledding on Main Street Nantucket”

    Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr. (1910-1982)
    Oil on Masonite “Sledding on Main Street Nantucket”,
    signed lower right R. Cahoon
    22 in. x 28 in.

    Sold for $32,200.00

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  • Rare Ralph Cahoon 3-Dimensional Oil on Masonite “Nantucket Sleigh Ride”

    Rare Ralph Cahoon (1910-1982) 3-Dimensional Oil on Masonite with Clark Voorhees (1911-1980) Whale, titled“Nantucket Sleigh Ride”, depicting three mermaids riding a Clark Voorhees carved half bodied whale with lighthouse, clipper ship and hot air balloon in the distance. Titled “Nantucket Sleigh Ride” lower center, signed lower right R. Cahoon, original Lobster Pot Gallery label on reverse.
    18 ¼ in. x 22 in.

    Sold for $23,800.00

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  • Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr. Folk Art Oil on Masonite “Seaside Wedding Party”

    Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr. (1910-1980) “Seaside Wedding Party”, folk art oil on Masonite, hot air balloons overhead crossing American clippers by the lighthouse and church clock tower, a very joyful wedding party of four mermaids and four sailors dancing with floral bouquets. signed lower right R. Cahoon. 26 in. x 32 in.

    Sold for $43,125.00

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  • Jan Munro Mixed Media on Masonite “Summer View of Nantucket”

    Jan Munro (20th Century Folk Artist) Mixed Media on Masonite “Summer View of Nantucket”, with views of Brant Point and Great Point Lighthouses, oyster and fish shacks, boats, whales and an active waterfront village in the foreground, signed and dated lower left “J.L. Munro, 2015”, in gray driftwood frame.
    24 in. x 36 in.

    Sold for $8,925.00

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  • Carved and Gilded Pilot House Eagle

    Carved and Gilded Pilot House Eagle, 19th Century, in aggressive posture, standing on a rock formation.
    Height 30 in. Width 26 in. Depth 30 in.

    Sold for $15,470.00

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  • J. Evans “Two Children and a Gentleman” Pen and Ink on Paper Laid on Board

    J. Evans “Two Children and a Gentleman”, 19th Century, pen and ink on paper laid on board.
    12 ½ in. x 14 ½ in.

    Sold for $17,850.00

    An excellent example of the more formalized style Evans employed in later watercolors, as documented in he definitive biography of the watercolor artist J. Evans by Gail and Norbert H. Savage as it appears in the catalog from the museum exhibition catalog Three New England Water Color Painters (pub. 1974). This example is likely related to the exhibited watercolors listed as plate no. 13, 15, 17 and 18 in the catalog.

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  • Ralph Cahoon Fine Arts Oil on Masonite

    Ralph Eugene Cahoon (1910-1982) Fine Arts Oil on Masonite “Mermaid Sailing in a Chinese Junk”, signed lower right R. Cahoon, in period Chinese Export frame.
    12 in. x 14 in.

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  • Hand Colored Map of Nantucket by I.F.W. Des Barres,

    Hand Colored Map of Nantucket by I.F.W. Des Barres, published by an act of Parliament in 1781 from the folio “Atlantic Neptune”, fine condition and colored at the time of printing.
    29 ½ in. x 42 in.

    Sold For $53,550.00

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  • Rare Clark Voorhees Carved and Painted Full Bodied Sperm Whale

    Rare Clark Voorhees (1911-1980) Carved and Painted Full Body Sperm Whale, impressed signature stamp on base.
    Length 18 in.

    Sold for $8,330.00

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  • Folk Art Tradesman’s Figure of a Sailor Holding a Spyglass

    Folk Art Tradesman’s Figure of a Sailor Holding a Spyglass,
    the young sailor dressed in a white shirt, gray trousers, gold vest and red neck-ware, black jacket with brass buttons and a stovepipe hat.
    Height 39 ¼ in.

    Sold for $9,520.00

    Provenance: The Nantucket Estate of Georgia P. Gosnell

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  • Folk Art Chandlery Advertising Store Front Figure of a Young Sailor

    Folk Art Carved Advertising Store Front Figure,
    19th Century, a very fine carved and polychrome figure of a young sailor holding an octant. The figure was acquired in England and was possibly a store front advertising figure for one of John Cail’s instrument shops between 1825-1858 in Newcastle-on-Tyne. Height 66 in.

    Sold for $95,200.00

    Provenance: The Nantucket Estate of Georgia P. Gosnell

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  • 19th C. Sailor Made Cutlery Tray

    Fine Mid 19th Century Whaler Made Cutlery Tray, multi-wood construction with 9 star inlays and ivory ring pull on lower drawer
    Height 7 in. Length 11 ¾ in. Width 6 ½ in.
    Sold for $3,105.00

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  • Ralph Eugene Cahoon Oil on Masonite

    Ralph Eugene Cahoon (1910-1982) “Riding the Whale”, oil on board depicting three mermaids and three sailors riding a whale, signed lower right “R.Cahoon”, in an antique gilt frame.
    12 in. x 16 in.

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  • 18th Century Map of Nantucket

    SOLD FOR $64,900
    18th Century Map of Nantucket by I.F.W. des Barres, Esq. Published June 1, 1776.
    29 ½ in. x 42 in.

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  • 1836 Illustrated Whaling Journal of the Ship Golconda

    SOLD FOR $ 53,820

    1836 Illustrated Whaling Journal of the Ship Golconda, N.B. Wilcox (Master), out of New Bedford May 8, 1836 to the Pacific Ocean, returning with great success March 26, 1839, written by Francis Harrison. Extremely rare and most important log with seldom seen 76 ship stamps symbolizing the sighting of vessels and 320 whale stamps of not only different species, but Harrison hand carved stamps for varying size whales.

    The journal is very legible and in untouched condition, as is the binding. The journal is now encased in a ¾ gilt leather clam-shell box. Journal Height 11 7/8 in. Width 8 in.; Dimensions of box: Height 13 in. Width 9 1/8 in. Depth 2 1/2 in.

    There are a number of fine quality pencil drawings which leads us to believe that Harrison must have also scrimshawed pieces along the way. In sequence we find the following drawings:
    • GOLCONDA. CAPE HORN. BEARING. SW
    • GOLCONDA. BOUND. TO. OTAHEITE. S.I.
    • GOLCONDA. BOUND. ON. A. CRUISE. Whaling
    • AN. OLD. WHALING. CAPTAIN. AT. HIS. EASE. I. AFFLUENCE. 1838
    (A portrait of Miss Henrietta Brown)
    • Situation of the Golconda the day after being dismasted
    • View of the Golconda when fitted, after being dismasted
    • A VIEW UP WALL STREET. N-YORK
    • The Buildings that are to be
    • CANAL INLAND NAVIGATION
    • Starboard of the Golconda under sail
    In addition there are:
    • Eleven pages of 49 whaling songs, which must have been a welcome pastime from the sailor’s day to day life threatening endeavors
    • List of whales caught on the voyage and the name of the person credited along with the number of barrels taken from the whales
    • List of whales lost by different boats during the voyage
    • List of whales caught by each whaleboat during the voyage
    • List of vessels seen in port on the voyage and the names of the harbors
    • List of vessels spoken on the voyage
    • Names of places touched on the voyage

    Reference: Starbuck, Alexander, “History of the American Whale Fishery,” Secaucus, NJ: Castle Books, 1989, p.226, p.567. The Golconda left on her first whaling voyage from New Bedford May 1818 for Patagonia and returned January 10, 1819. Her final voyage left on October 15, 1859 and was altered from a ship to another rig. She was captured and burned by the Confederate ship “Florida” July 8, 1864.

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  • Elizabeth Hadwen Sampler, 1766

    SOLD FOR $8,260

    Elizabeth Hadwen Sampler, 1766, born February 18, 1755 in Newport, Rhode Island. The sampler contains partial alphabet and quote “Elizabeth Hadwen Her Sampler Made the 12 Year of Her Age, 1766. A Precious Young Woman and an Honour to Her Parents”.
    15 in. x 9 in.

    Elizabeth was the sister of James Hadwen (b. Newport 1758) the Father of “Nantucket’s” William Hadwen (b. in Newport 1791); Elizabeth’s mother was a Barney.

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  • Ralph Cahoon Oil on Masonite

    SOLD FOR $57,330

    Ralph Cahoon (1910-1982) “Flying Kites at Brant Point” oil on Masonite, depicting a sailor and mermaids flying kites at Brant Point, hot air balloon and three-mast American clipper rounding Brant Point, signed lower right R. Cahoon, original Lobster Pot Gallery label on reverse. 25 in. x 19 in.

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