Finer American, English, and Continental Antiques and Decorative Arts of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
We are open by appointment, shows, or chance, so please us call in advance. We welcome your visit!
ABOUT US
C. Lyman McCallum, Jr., CEO of Chicora Antiques, Inc., has been proudly serving the needs of connoisseurs of finer 18th and 19th century American, English, and French antiques and decorative arts since 1990. After twenty-years, we have relocated from Charleston to Columbia, South Carolina, and are only open by appointment or show exhibition. By choice, we do not have a retail store, but remain vigorously active in serving our existing clientele as advisers and welcome new clients from our show exhibitions and website offerings. Our emphasis has always been on objects of true rarity, superior quality, originality, form, and condition. All of our merchandise is accompanied with a comprehensive written guarantee of authenticity, condition, and authorship, attribution, and provenance when available. It has been a pleasure establishing long and lasting relationships with our clients and hope you will become acquainted with our merchandise, expertise, scholarship, resources and services of acquiring and the study of material culture.
Appraisal services are available as well.
Chicora Antiques, Inc. has recently updated our website with new additions to our inventory. We hope you will enjoy perusing our new offerings. The current economic climate provides collectors of fine art with tremendous opportunities in obtaining objects of great intrinsic value and artistic merit at exceptional value. This fact, in addition to our choice in eliminating our retail operation overheads, has prompted a re-evaluation of our inventory pricing. All items shown on our website now reflect these factors. We endeavor to persuade all who are able to do so, to take advantage of what is currently a true investment opportunity.
Let Us Get to Know You
Our web page enables collectors to conveniently profile a sample of our offerings, but it by no means encompasses our entire stock.
Many of the pieces we handle are placed in private and public collections before they reach our website. Therefore, we strongly advise interested parties to make their needs and wishes known to us. Simply email us at chicoraclm@msn.com
We keep extensive confidential client files of collectors. When an object that may interest them comes to our attention, the best way to help us in assisting you is simple: contact us with your collecting interests. We will then immediately notify you by email should something pertinent to your collecting pursuits is brought to our attention.
If you do have a particular item for which you are searching or a specific area of collecting interest, we would like to hear from you! Simply fill out the form below or send us an email at chicoraclm@msn.com . This is the fastest way for us to stay in touch with our clientele!
We do strive to serve our old and new clientele to the best of our ability, but we need YOUR help. It is of the utmost importance that you be very specific about your collecting interests in acquiring objects when filling out our form. Vague and ambiguous emails regarding your collecting interests, will not be acknowledged for lack of time and therefore, unfortunately, you will not be added to our client database, as it is categorized and the space is limited. Emailed requests that are distinct and well-defined will be answered politely and promptly, usually within 24 hours of receipt.
Simply e-mail us at chicoraclm@msn.com , fill out the form which appears below, or simply call us at 1-803-834-3787.
Auction and Estate Services
Our twenty plus years experience allows us liberal access to items that appear at auction, estate sales, and privately throughout the country and abroad that might otherwise not be available to the inexperienced collector or the unseasoned novice. Likewise, we strongly advise against the beginner to contemplate these sources without first asking for the assistance and guarantee of a professional. Therefore, we are pleased to offer an inspection and authentication service for any piece that presents itself at any of these settings. At your request, we will personally examine, authenticate in writing, negotiate, and attempt to purchase on your behalf any object that presents itself at public or private sale. This service comes with the same absolute guarantee of condition and authenticity that accompanies our stock. The commission rate for such services varies, but generally averages around 20% of the purchase price. Please contact us for further information.
OUR FEATURED ITEM
“A superlative pair of museum quality French Paris porcelain Neo-Classical form urns in outstanding condition, with both circular friezes depicting characters and scenes of subjects drawn from ancient mythology, circa 1800-1810″
The first urn depicts the “Judgment of Paris”, and shows a young shepherd presenting a golden apple to Venus, the goddess of love, preferred to as Juno, but referred to as Hermes by the Romans. In the background is seen Juno, surrounded by her rivals and Minerva. A brilliantly colored peacock is perched in the background, almost if she were proudly parading, ever watchful, as her tail was thought to contain one-hundred eyes. The second vase is decorated with a lofty, bewhiskered, and aged man who plays the lyre before a trio of dancers comprised of three girls wearing crowns, a turban, dressed in antique gowns and an adolescent boy proudly adorning a laurel wreath. Beside him, a reclining Cupid holds an hourglass. Doubtlessly, it representing the allegory of Time, personified by Chronos, the god of time and destiny in Greek mythology, easily recognizable by his long gray beard. The partial nudity of the figures on the urns may be seen as tasteless and excessively burlesque to modern society, but the figure’s diaphanous and scantily dressed attire represented an ambition to exalt the true beauty and humanity of the semi-nude human form, both female and male.
A TRUE MASTERPIECE OF NEO-CLASSICAL PORCELAIN
HEIGHT 13 1/4″
LENGHT (OVERALL) 9 7/8″
For additional information, details, a full condition report, or price, simply call or email us at chicoraclm@msn.com
NEW ARRIVALS
*An outstanding French Paris Porcelain round “ormolu” centerpiece with a large wicker-form basket resting on three nude females with wings, made of bisque, that rest on a circular plinth with both matte and burnished surfaces, circa 1800-1810, in an outstanding state of preservation. A similar gilt-bronze wicker centerpiece or basket attributed to “Deniere et Matelin“, Paris, circa 1817 (or Jean Francois and Francois Deniere) with three scantily clad Females in “Empire” style dresses, often called “The Three Graces“ in Greek mythology support the upper basket and are standing on a heavily bronzed based with applied “ormolu” decorations appears in “The White House“, by Betty C. Monkman, Abbeville Press, page 52.
*An excellent Baltimore Federal inlaid bowfront bureau, circa 1790-1800, with a “Cupid’s Bow” skirt and the original oval stamped brasses made by Hands and Jenkins of Birmingham, England. A virtual mate to this chest is in “The Columbus Museum-American Federal Furniture and Decorative Arts from the Watson Collection“.
*A very good Virginia Federal mahogany and astragal inlaid bowfront chest, circa 1790-1800, with the original oval brass hardware. Yellow and white pine secondary woods.
* An exceptional Baltimore Neo-classical Federal bowfront mahogany sideboard with legs, puncuated with ascending “bell-flowers” details and inlaid shaded urns at the top of each front leg stile, circa 1795. SOLD TO A PRIVATE COLLECTION, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
* A very fine and diminuative New England bowfront mahogany and inlaid bureau, with ivory escutcheons insets, exotic crotch veneers and inlaid patterns, circa 1805. Totally original, with no notable repairs. A visually delight.
*An English George III pier mirror, circa 1810, in an undisturbed state, with exceptionally refined decorations and the original gilt surfaces. Both the mirror plate and the eglomise inset appear to be original. The rare original paper lablel on its back reads” “M. Gould & Sons, No. 78 Grace Church Street LONDON manufactures of Looking & Plate Glasses ALSO Concave and Convex Mirrors”. SOLD TO “THE WICKHAM HOUSE”, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.
* An unusually fine and large Paris presentation porcelian campagna form urn, circa 1815-1825, with vibrant buccolic, pastoral scenes, attributed to the Paris workshop of ”Dihl et Guerhard”. SOLD TO A SOUTH CAROLINA COLLECTOR OF PROMINANCE.
* A very fine New York City Federal mahogany “library” table with “canted” corners and four spiral turned and acanthus leaf carved supports with ebullient mahogany veneers and an ancient surface, circa 1810-1815. SOLD.
* An outstanding Salem, Massachusetts Federal mahogany “double serpentine” elliptical, half-hollow front, hollow end, and ovolo cornered card table, circa 1815, with the original brass casters retaining traces of their original “lemon” gilt surfaces. SOLD.
*A rare American Classical rosewood card table of “Gothic Revival” form, with a circular playing surface, attributed to “D. Phyfe and Son”, 1840-1847, in the Sheraton manner. See: “Duncan Phyfe, Master Cabinetmaker of New York”, by Peter Kenny and Michael Brown, plate 51 for a related “sofa table”. PROVENANCE: A Lowcountry, South Carolina estate. Purchased on behalf of “The Classical American Homes Preservation Trust”.
*A very fine Philadelphia Chippendale mahogany armchair, in the manner of James Gillingham (1736-1781) from an example in Thomas Chippendale’s “Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director”, plate XIII, 1754 edition, from a New York and Florida estate.
* An untouched “estate found” Classical mahogany “pedestal ended” sideboard, circa 1815, with original gilt brass “lion’s head” pulls, wine drawers, gilt brass “ferule” feet and ancient surface. Glorious veneers. A similar, less extravagant sideboard is in the collection of “Boscobel” and is shown in “Federal Furniture and Decorative Arts at Boscobel”, plate 40, by Barry B. Tracy. Provenance: A New York Estate. SOLD.
* A Maryland Federal “crotch” mahogany candlestand, probably Baltimore, circa 1800-1810. SOLD.
* An American neoclassical mahogany inlaid card table, circa 1800, New York or southern, Scottish school of cabinetmaking in Federal America. SOLD.
*A southern Federal mahogany Pembroke table, probably Camden or Columbia, circa 1795. Endowed to “The Historic Columbia Foundation” from Chicora Antiques, Inc.
* A New York City Classical marble top center table, probably by J. and J. Meeks, circa 1825. SOLD.
* A handsome mahogany “floral” inlaid bowfront chest of drawers, probably Scottish, circa 1800.*A Classical Giltwood Pier Mirror, Philadelphia, attributed to Caleb. B. Wayne, circa 1830. SOLD.
*A Fine Georgian Mahogany Chest on Chest or “Double-Chest” with a Fretwork Frieze, Greek Key Cornice, and “Brushing Slide, circa 1765-1775.
Our Guarantee to You
Our clients’ utmost satisfaction is our number one goal. We endeavor to provide them with a great selection of antiques of superior form and condition. To that same end, we proudly warrant the authenticity and condition of everything we offer and provide this guarantee in writing as described in our descriptions and comprehensive invoices. We take great pride in offering this assurance of guarantee to collectors of fine antiques and decorative arts, however, we do not issue cash refunds under any circumstances, except those pertaining to misrepresentation, in which case, a resolution equivalent to the purchase price is issued conditionally. Our stock is carefully reviewed for quality and condition, conserved as needed by qualified artisans, then fully documented and described in our shop texts.
Approvals
We are delighted to allow any item in our inventory to be shipped, or taken, on approval, for parties who are seriously interested. We do require that any object taken, or shipped on approval be paid for in full, including shipping charges, and tax of the sale, when applicable, before it is removed from our stock. Sales made out of state are tax-exempt. This generous approval option is subject to the same terms, guarantee, and condition of the sale, as is composed in our detailed invoices, which clearly states that we do not issue cash refunds, under any circumstances, other than those pertaining to misrepresentation of age, origin, provenance, or condition. If that remote event were to occur, an immediate reimbursement will be presented to the buyer as a credit towards future purchases, or exchanges, from our stock, less the cost of shipping and insurance, provided it is returned to us in the same condition.
Please contact us for further information.
Deferred Payments
Assembling a fine collection takes time. Therefore, we do offer extended payments at no extra charge for certain items. The only provision we require is that the piece remain on our possession until payment in full has been made.
Upgrading Your Collection
Time for a re-evaluation of your fine arts collection? We can help! Our confidence in our stock is so solid, we are happy to issue 100% shop credit for any item that was previously sold at retail price by Chicora Antiques, Inc. This generous policy allows our clients to upgrade, exchange, or even reduce their collection, as they wish. No explanation required! It is truly a pleasure to re-handle our own merchandise. Like good stock, exchanges are not subject to negotiation, but unlike stock or bonds, there is no broker trading fee!
Chicora Antiques, Inc. Business Affiliations
- The Historic Columbia Foundation http://historiccolumbia.org/
- The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation www.colonialwilliamsburg.com
- The Charleston Museum www.charlestonmuseum.org
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Wing www.metmuseum.org
- The Greenville County Museum of Art www.greenvillemuseum.org
- The High Museum, Atlanta Georgia www.high.org
- The Baltimore Museum of Art www.artbma.org
- The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts www.mesda.org
- The Winterthur Museum www.winterthur.org
- Historic Poplar Forest www.poplarforest.org
- Boscobel Museum www.boscobel.org
- Monticello Foundation www.monticello.org
- Bayou Bend Museum www.mfah.org/bayoubend
- Historic Drayton Hall www.draytonhall.org
- Middleton Place Foundation www.middletonplace.org
- Classical American Homes Preservation Trust www.classicalamerican.org
- The Dallas Museum of Art www.dallasmuseumofart.org
- The Columbus Museum www.columbusmuseum.com
- The Philadelphia Museum of Art www.philamuseum.org
- “The Collectors Art” Featuring some of the Worlds’s best
- Art and Antiques dealers www.collectorsnet.com
- The Valentine Richmond History Center http://richmondhistorycenter.com/
- Antiques & Fine Art – Your complete resource!
AntiquesandFineArt.com is the leading site for collectors, designers, art and antique enthusiasts, dealers, museum professionals and scholars. Featuring outstanding inventory for sale from top antique and art dealers, educational articles on fine and decorative arts, and a calendar listing upcoming antiques shows and fairs.
