Friday, November 15th
Stair Galleries is pleased to offer the property of John Levitties, founder of John Alexander Limited Gallery. From 1993 – 2013 he curated one of the world’s leading collections of turn of the century British and Continental decorative arts. As such, he played a pivotal role in bringing English Aesthetic Movement, Arts and Crafts and Reformed Gothic to this country in the early 1990’s. Mr. Levitties also offered his clients the most significant examples of British handcrafted furniture from the Cotswold School. Works from John Alexander Ltd. can be found in important international museums as well as most major American private collections.
The auction will include fine examples of furniture and decorative works from makers including Morris & Co., Liberty & Co., and Heal and Son; and designers Charles Locke Eastlake, Ernest Gimson, Pugin and Gordon Russell, among others. The core focus will be on British bespoke furniture with a smattering of Continental pieces.
“The best things . . . are those that have been produced for the benefit of people who can upon occasion look at a thing without asking what is the utilitarian purpose for which it was intended, and be perfectly satisfied if upon inspection they find it beautiful.”
H.D. Lowry, 1897