Sheraton chest Soars to $11,500 at Knotty Pine Auction
Published December 9th, 2008
A gorgeous paint decorated 4-drawer Sheraton chest in the original old mustard paint with stencil decorations (circa 1830’s-1840’s), from the living estate of Dolores Wettach Williams – the former fashion model, actress & third wife of baseball legend Ted Williams – sold for $11,500 at an auction held Nov. 23 by Knotty Pine Auction Service. About 250 people packed Knotty Pine’s spacious gallery.
The Sheraton chest, as well as the other 350+ lots sold, came out of Dolores’ family home in Putney, Vt., the home that the Williamses shared during their marriage. Many friends and neighbors attended the auction, with some submitting bids. Every item that crossed the block was offered without reserve, and all lots came with a certificate of origin, attesting to their provenance. Phone, absentee and online bidding were all offered and active throughout the sale.
“This was a very successful auction, despite the press’ attempts to turn it into a Ted Williams estate sale, which it was not,” said John Pappas of Knotty Pine Auction Service. “These were items from Dolores and her family; only a few items really had a Ted Williams connection, and we feel most of those items fared very well. As for the other items in the sale, the connection helped those items achieve much higher prices than they would have without the association, especially in today’s economy. Ted will be more of a factor in Part II in May. But Part I was mostly about Dolores, and the country home she & Ted shared in Vermont. It was furnished accordingly. Some lucky bidders went away with many truly fine items.”
The Sheraton chest was pine, with a shaped backsplash, stepback drawers & spooled columns in mustard yellow paint. The freehand & stenciled decorations depicted foliage & fruit. Some minor imperfections didn’t deter bidders, who drove the final price way above the pre-sale high estimate of $4,000. The auction’s top lot was a 1999 BMW M3 convertible, with 76,399 miles. It brought $13,225.
Knotty Pine Auction Service is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them directly, at (800) 352-5251. Or, you can e-mail them at kpa@inc-net.com. To find out more on the company, and to learn about a date for Part II of the Dolores Wettach Williams living estate sale as it approaches, log on to www.knottypineantiques.com.
