This story ran five years ago; I’ve added an update about gold’s much higher price today at the end. – Jeffrey Hess
Occasionally a museum-quality piece crosses our desk, and this week, we’re proud to have a most incredible example of Arts and Crafts artistry that we have ever owned. This masterpiece is being offered at the low price of $28,500 (yes, this price is low — please read on).
George J. Hunt is one of the more important Boston Arts and Crafts metal masters of the 20th century. Our initial research indicates that this piece was made for exhibition purposes only, in the 1920s. (We found references in
a 1930s magazine to a gold trophy made by Hunt, calling it a “treasure.”) The graceful design, with ornamental knobs on the stem, featured a hand-hammered top piece. It was on exhibit at the Tricennial Exhibition of the Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston and later in Detroit. It is made entirely of 18k gold, weighing 24.6 oz. With gold trading at just over $1,300 an ounce, you can see the price is barely over the gold value.
George J. Hunt And The Society Of Arts & Crafts
When researching George Hunt and the Society of Arts & Crafts, you will learn a lot about this movement. Interestingly, small sterling silver jewelry made by Hunt that has less than $20 worth of silver can sell for several hundred dollars. This piece has so much gold it is impossible to get more than 20 percent over gold value. It is engraved ‘Albert Cameron Burrage,’ and was awarded to Jere A. Downs by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.
Sell Your Gold Now!
Today this would be worth $50,000, because today, due to current Congressional budget uncertainty, gold is at $2,050 per ounce. We believe this is temporary.
Go ahead. Google us. Three former sothebyscom associates and two art historians on staff. You read about us in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and Fortune magazine. Do you have expensive fine art for sale? Contact us! We have sold the contents of museums and collections for USF. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Always buying rare and valuable items. Cash or auction. We make house calls statewide.
This is an archival article formerly written and is for informational purposes only. The valuations in this article have likely changed since it was first written.
