Real Estate

Peggy Sands • April 19, 2017

The white car with the red-and-white District flag on its side pulls up to the curb. A man with a clipboard gets out, stares at a house or a commercial building, […]

Nora Vanderblythe • April 5, 2017

Nothing speaks “spring” like blue and white porcelain. Walking up Wisconsin Avenue on a recent crisp yet warm afternoon, I noticed an abundance of glistening blue and white porcelain in the shops of the 1400, 1500 and 1600 blocks. The eye-catching displays inspired me to make my home “spring ready” for Easter, Passover or possibly Earth Day — both inside and out. Welcome spring!

Nora Vanderblythe • March 8, 2017

The Ides of March have us under Mother Nature’s thumb with the fluctuation and unpredictability of weather. Some days, especially on the weekends, we simply want to stay in bed and pull the sheets over our heads. Then our minds awaken and we crave tea, coffee or books. Termed “librocubicularist,” a person who reads in bed, would describe many of us this time of year. Let’s make that experience as memorable as we can.

John E. Girouard • March 2, 2017

The top New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight, get organized, spend less, save more and get fit and stay healthy. It’s the end of January. How’s that going for […]

Richard Selden • February 10, 2017

The latest version of Adjaye’s design for the Levy Group’s West Heating Plant project will be unveiled at a March 9 meeting at the Four Seasons.

Nora Vanderblythe • February 8, 2017

With Tom Brady and the Patriots on the tube, a cozy winter’s fire and a newly renovated kitchen for inspiration, I tackle a one-pot meal — the “souper star” for entertaining efficiency. But which choice of vessel to further set the mood? Classic white is always a nice contrast with any food color, but broths in hues of tomato red and curry orange look richer in indigo-coated clay or a sexy Nippon black. Vegetarian alternatives shine in porcelain, too. Here are a few to choose from.

Michelle Galler • February 2, 2017

Although our Puritan ancestors scorned the pretense of personal vanity, mirrors were part of their early colonial households — if used only to glimpse their appearance before they wended their […]

Charlene Louis • January 12, 2017

In 2016, Pantone took the radical step of choosing two colors of the year: serenity and rose quartz (that is, baby blue and light pink). This year, Pantone went for a trans-seasonal shade that brings a fresh zest of color to any room. Greenery is nature’s neutral shade. Reminiscent of the first day of spring, the color offers a sense of renewal. “This particular green is an unusual color: a combination of yellow and blue, or warmth and a certain cool,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “It’s a complex marriage.”

Ari Post •

Christie’s “Madonna lactans with the Last Supper” North Italian School (late 15th/early 16th century) Estimate: $100,000 – $150,000 Auction Date: January 25 It is rare to find a North Italian […]

Ari Post •

For centuries, auctions and estate sales have been used to establish the value of artifacts, artworks, artists, and items of historic or cultural significance. While they are premier venues for finding rare and unique antiques, as well as unprecedented artworks, auctions carry with them a sense of gambling on history that infuses them with a thrilling, electrical current. Given our city’s entrenchment in historic significance and artistic richness, it seems fitting that we should keep ourselves abreast of current auction trends and big-ticket sales. Keep an eye out for The Auction Block, where we will cover the biggest sales and auction pieces from all of the country’s premier auction houses. Now, where shall we start the bidding?

Doyle New York
George Washington Autographed Letter
Auction Date: Nov. 5
Estimated Value $80,000 – $100,000
Founded in 1962, Doyle New York is one of the world’s foremost auctioneers and appraisers of fine art, jewelry, furniture and more, with representatives throughout the U.S., including an office here in Georgetown. Highlighting Doyle’s Sale of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps is a letter from Washington to his wartime aide James McHenry dated Dec. 10, 1783, where Washington describes seeing the British evacuate New York and his intention of retiring and becoming a private citizen. Washington did retire to Mount Vernon, but only to be lured away to the Constitutional Congress in Philadelphia, where he was then elected the nation’s first president in 1789. www.DoyleNewYork.com

Christie’s New York
François Boucher (French 1703 – 1770)
The Bird Nesters
Oil on canvas
Auction Date: Oct. 24
Estimated Value: $250,000 –$350,000
Christie’s will host Treasures of France, From The Sun King To The Belle Époque – Vincennes And Sèvres Porcelain, French Furniture, Old Master Paintings, Books And Textiles From The Collection Of Dr. Bruce Wilson, an estate sale of one of the most important private collections of Vincennes and Sèvres porcelain of recent times in the United States. Dr. Wilson has acquired an amazing range of pieces from some of the most famous services of the 18th Century. Among the items, François Boucher’s painting, The Bird Nester, is a small masterpiece of the Rococo tradition, depicting the light-hearted scene of a budding romance. www.Christies.com/calendar

Sotheby’s
Mark Rothko (American 1903 – 1970)
No. 1 (Royal Red and Blue)
Oil on canvas
Auction Date: Nov. 13
Estimated Value: $35 – 50 million
A seminal, large-scale masterpiece by Mark Rothko will lead Sotheby’s Evening Sale of Contemporary Art in New York. “No.1 (Royal Red and Blue)” was painted in 1954, a time considered by many to be the zenith of the artist’s creative powers, and, in a fitting twist of fate considering this newspaper’s current anniversary issue, the founding year of The Georgetowner. Standing at nearly 9 ½ feet tall, this majestic canvas was one of eight works hand-selected by Rothko for his landmark solo show of the same year at the Art Institute of Chicago. Leading up to the auction, the canvas will be on view in New York beginning Nov. 1. www.Sothebys.com

Bonham’s
John William Godward, RBA (British 1861 – 1922)
Waiting for the Procession
Oil on Canvas
Auction Date: Oct. 31
Estimate: $400,000 – $600,000
Founded in 1793, Bonhams is the world’s third largest auction house, offering more sales categories in more auction rooms around the world than any other firm. From their offices in Georgetown, they provide local clients expert advice and international reach in every collecting category. A case in point is this stunning painting by John William Godward, discovered in Arizona, previewed in London, and to be sold in San Francisco and New York on Oct. 31st. This exceptional Godward painting, along with other international highlights, will visit Washington, D.C. for a private viewing at the British Embassy on Oct. 22nd. For details contact Martin Gammon: (202) 333-1696. www.Bonhams.com

Sloans and Kenyon
Eagle Woodcarving by John Haley Bellamy (American 1836 – 1914)
Auction Date: Nov. 9 – 11
Sloans & Kenyon Auctioneers and Appraisers, located in Bethesda, Md., hosts estate catalogue auctions of fine art and antiques approximately five times each year.

In their Eight Annual Auction of Americana and More, they will auction items from the estate of the renowned late architect Arthur H. Keyes, including a rare carving by John Haley Bellamy, a noted 19th
century New England folk artist known for his highly stylized carved wooden eagles. This piece is a resplendent example of the legendary artist’s work. An exhibition preceding the auction will be on view at the auction house Nov. 3 – 8. www.SloansAndKenyon.com.

Weschler’s
William Frederick de Haas (American 1830 – 1922)
The Maine Shoreline
Oil on canvas
Auction Date: Nov. 16
Estimated Value: $40,000 – $60,000
Washington D.C.’s only auction house, Weschler’s has been a local tradition for over 120 years. A monumental William Frederick de Haas oil on canvas depicting a hazy Maine shoreline hits the market Nov. 16th, as part of their Capital Collections Estate Auction. In a private local collection for over fifty years, the painting captures the solitude and vastness of the American coast and is an exceptional example of de Haas’ work. The auctioning of this work is expected to reflect a renewed collector interest in American Luminist paintings. An exhibition preceding the auction begins November 10th at Weschler’s, 909 E Street, NW Gallery. www.Weschlers.com