SOTHEBY'S Sotheby's to Offer
PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF MARY SAYLES BOOKER BRAGA
Featuring Fine Art, Furniture & Decorative Art From Her English Country House in Virginia Horse Country
To Be Offered in a Dedicated Auction
On 19 & 20 October 2015 in New York
NEW YORK, 30 July 2015 - Sotheby's is delighted to announce that we will present Property fromthe Estate of Mary Sayles Booker Braga in a dedicated auction on 19 & 20 October 2015 in New York. The sale will offer fine art, furniture and decorative art from Mrs. Braga's 'Oakendale' estate in the heart of Virginia horse country. The elegance of both the home and its contents reflects her passions for the equestrian lifestyle of Virginia as well as the English country house.
Born in New York City in 1921, Mrs. Braga enthusiastically embraced the equestrian lifestyle while attending Foxcroft School near Middleburg, Virginia. She married B. Rionda Braga, the sugar magnate whose family business was at one time the largest private grower of Cuban sugar in the Western world. The couple spent significant time together in Europe, where Mrs. Braga came to appreciate
the aesthetic of the English country house. On her husband's death in 1986, Mrs. Braga purchased the 'Oakendale' estate near Middleburg, and moved to Virginia for the remainder of her life.
Mrs. Braga was a disciplined collector throughout her life, and purchased fine art and furniture from leading dealers in both London and New York, such as Mallett, Agnew's, and Tryon Gallery. The October sale encompasses her impressive selection of paintings and drawings, spanning from 17th century English landscapes through to 20th century portraiture, as well as a significant selection of English furniture, English yellow-ground porcelain, and more.
A Queen Anne Inlaid and Figured
Bonnet Top
High Chest of Drawers circa 1750
Estimate $30/60,000
Thomas Spencer
Sterling, Belonging to the
Duke of Bolton First half of 18th century Estimate $20/30,000
Andrea Spadini
A Patinated Bronze Figure of a
Dancing Elephant with an Accordion Estimate on request
2
Jean-Léon Gérôme
Woman with Red Coiled Braid
Circa 1845
Estimate $30/50,000
Axel Amuchastegui Cockatoos in Their Natural Habitat
1964
Estimate $8/12,000
An Assembled Derby
Yellow-Ground
Botanical Part Service circa 1780-1800
Estimate $8,000 - $12,000
Fine art from the collection reflects Mrs. Braga's connoisseurship - from a bronze by Degas to a study by Jean Leon Gérôme. Twentieth Century British artist Sir Alfred Munnings is represented by three works, including the pastoral scene By Himself (estimate $70/90,000). Works by Aaron Shikler hung side-by-side with paintings by Sir George Clausen and Victoria Dubourg - wife of Henri Fantin-Latour. Mrs. Braga frequented the New York gallery Mark Brady Inc. where she purchased many Old Master and 19th Century drawings as well as 20th Century works by contemporary artists Simon Parkes and Marc de Montebello. She became friends with and a patron of Julian Barrow, who
brilliantly painted interiors and landscapes of her homes.
Aaron Shikler
Head with Bandana (The Artist's Wife) Estimate $3/4,000
Elizabeth Adela Stanhope Forbes
A Game of Old Maid
1891
Estimate $40/60,000
Alfred James Munnings
View of Dunkery Beacon
Circa 1925 3
Estimate $80/120,000
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Sotheby's has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since 1744. Sotheby's became the first international auction house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), the first to conduct sales in Hong Kong (1973) and France (2001), and the first international fine art auction house in China (2012). Today, Sotheby's presents auctions in eight different salesrooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris, and Sotheby's BidNow program allows visitors to view all auctions live online and place bids in real-time from anywhere in the world. Sotheby's offers collectors the resources of Sotheby's Financial Services, the world's only full-service art financing company, as well as private sale opportunities in more than 70 categories, including S|2, the gallery arm of Sotheby's Contemporary Art department, as well as Sotheby's Diamonds and Sotheby's Wine. Sotheby's has a global network of 90 offices in 40 countries and is the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (BID).
*Estimates do not include buyer's premium and prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer's premium.
Images are available upon request
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