A Tradition of Excellence: The Havemeyer-Webb-Bostwick Collection at STAIR
The November Thursday Morning at STAIR auction presents a rooted legacy of American collecting, represented through property descending from the Havemeyer, Webb, Vanderbilt, and Bostwick families—names synonymous with cultural patronage, connoisseurship, and preservation.
Henry Osborne Havemeyer and Lousine Elder Havemeyer.
The family legacy begins with Henry Osborne Havemeyer and Lousine Elder Havemeyer, pioneering collectors whose discerning tastes shaped the collecting culture of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Havemeyers were early champions of Impressionist painting, forming one of the most significant private collections of the era. Their 1929 bequest to the Metropolitan Museum of Art—which included works by Monet, Degas, Cézanne, as well as Tiffany glass, Asian art, and Old Master paintings—became a cornerstone of the museum’s holdings. Their commitment to art was both personal and public, establishing a model of American philanthropy and aesthetic leadership.
Their daughter, Electra Havemeyer Webb (1888–1960), inherited not only works of art but a profound belief in preservation and accessibility. Her vision culminated in the founding of the Shelburne Museum in Vermont in 1947, one of the most innovative museum projects of the twentieth century, dedicated to American art, architecture, and material culture. Electra’s collecting extended beyond European masterpieces to include American folk art, textiles, antique carriages, and historic buildings, signaling a broader, scholarly approach to the history of art in America. Under her philosophy of “a collection of collections,” she deliberately blurred boundaries between high and vernacular art, creating immersive environments that revealed aesthetic interrelation. The Shelburne Museum remains a vital center for American art and history, with 39 historic buildings and immersive exhibitions spanning folk art, decorative arts, and fine art. The museum continues to engage visitors through seasonal events, family programs, and curator-led tours, preserving and celebrating the cultural legacy of the region.
Kitty (center) with her family, Shelburne, VT. Courtesy Sports Illustrated, 1957.
In 1910, Electra married Watson Webb, linking the Havemeyers with another prominent family. James was the son of Dr. Seward Webb and Lila Vanderbilt Webb, herself the daughter of William Henry Vanderbilt, heir to the famed Vanderbilt fortune. The marriage united two of the nation’s most influential collecting dynasties. Their daughter, Electra Webb Bostwick, continued the family’s tradition of stewardship. Her marriage to Dunbar Bostwick, a distinguished horseman and polo player from a noted sporting family, further reflected the family’s engagement with culture, sport, and social leadership.
Over the decades, the descendants of these families preserved not only objects of beauty but also a consistent philosophy of collecting—rooted in connoisseurship, scholarship, and historical awareness. As collections passed through generations, decisions about care, display, and eventual sale were made with deliberation and discernment. STAIR’s relationship with the Webb descendants is longstanding. A notable example is the estate of Kate “Kitty” Webb Harris, granddaughter of Electra Havemeyer Webb. In 2016, STAIR offered works from her collection, including family portraits, sporting paintings, and important furniture once housed in the family residences in New York City and Shelburne, Vermont.
The forthcoming Thursday Morning at STAIR auction this November continues this tradition. The property offered here, having descended through the Havemeyer, Webb, Vanderbilt, and Bostwick lines, embodies a uniquely American legacy of collecting—one that encompasses fine art, decorative arts, and historic furnishings.
Our November Thursday Morning at STAIR sale brings together an engaging selection of Fine Art, Furniture, and Decorative Arts from multiple estates and collections. Highlights include fine examples of American paintings, traditional furniture and decorative arts with an English country house flair, along with works of art from the 20th century.
CATALOGUE ONLINE:
Friday, October 24
GALLERY PREVIEW:
FFriday, October 24: 9am to 5pm
Saturday, October 25: 11am to 5pm
Sunday, October 26: Closed
Monday, October 27: 9am to 5pm
Tuesday, October 28 : 9am to 5pm
Wednesday, October 29: 9am to 5pm
Thursday, October 30: 9am to 5pm
Friday, October 31: 9am to 6pm
Saturday, November 1: 11am to 5pm
Sunday, November 2: Closed
Monday, November 3: 9am to 5pm
Tuesday, November 4: 9am to 5pm
Wednesday, November 5: 9am to 5pm