2025: A Year In Review
As we close out an exceptional year, Freeman’s extends its thanks to our clients and friends for their continued trust and partnership.
Happy Holidays! As we close out an exceptional year, Freeman’s extends its thanks to our clients and friends for their continued trust and partnership.
In 2025, we delivered strong results for our clients, achieving $119M in combined sales and 6.6% year-over-year growth over 147 auctions. Demand remained robust across all categories, with a remarkable 109% sell-through rate by value and 89% by volume, a testament to the vibrant competitive bidding environment across all our salerooms. These results reflect both the continued strength of the Freeman’s market and our unwavering commitment to delivering value.
We look forward to sharing our comprehensive end-of-year report in early 2026, featuring detailed results, market insights, and upcoming offerings. Explore our top lots of the year below.
Auction Highlights
Lot Highlights
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/91400f6d-4563-438f-bd86-329026589be7?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/39b69cc1-d201-473e-b44b-d96888f2f4ef?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/5c21e69b-7923-44b9-8aee-adc3c27ed60f?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/d4390305-434c-43d2-8b51-12dd7ef3717d?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/680525ee-5ad4-4873-ac86-26df8f35290b?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/5cfe36ea-60ec-42cd-b513-90bd7241ae7b?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/8721f9bb-c8e7-43a5-8b85-066c08e75042?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/4a40b999-73e0-4650-ae31-bf9afe3ebf54?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/f67efc0d-c119-4826-ab0a-cd9fbeaf4a44?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/3cb27baa-321a-4172-961d-5d7a29657175?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/5229072a-10f2-49af-bdd7-b6fe8793f4b1?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/2f396aab-3f75-44c7-8d81-7823706327e8?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/1832fec7-a816-4eed-aef3-6f21809e089c?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A pair of stained leather gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/dad10759-68bf-425f-bd11-0a0a3e24c3f7?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A handkerchief carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/ffad6483-507e-4805-a21a-a06d02285eed?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
![[LINCOLN ASSASSINATION]. A handkerchief carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of his assassination, 14 April 1865.](https://assets.basta.app/accounts/4832eb18-f9a7-4c12-8295-871abe232696/images/b4b89280-a9c2-44dd-8dbb-aede3f95f9a3?format=auto&width=828&quality=75)
Latest News
Exceptional Works from Important Collections Headline Freeman’s Fall American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts Auction
Freeman’s is proud to present its American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts auction on November 12, featuring exceptional works from important collections, including the Estate of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II of Rhode Island, the Wister Family of Philadelphia, and the railroad tycoon Edwin Hawley of New York. The auction is comprised of material dating from the 17th century to the early 20th century, illustrating the breadth of American material culture before our nation’s founding through the Industrial Revolution, when the strength of American manufacturing takes hold. Portraits and medallions of American forefathers George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, are incorporated amongst other sitters of lesser renown. The artists who executed these works include Gilbert Stuart, Jean-Baptiste Nini, Charles Willson Peale, and many others. The auction will also showcase silver by important makers Tiffany & Co., John McMullin, and Myer Myers. Many pieces across the auction come with histories of ownership in which objects have been passed down through generations. In addition, the auction includes a 200-year-old cannon believed to have been cast at Paul Revere’s foundry, an extremely rare 1932 C.F. Martin & Co. custom ordered guitar, and a rare pair of exceptional Philadelphia Chippendale side chairs. The Middendorf Collection: A Legacy of Art & Diplomacy The auction begins with property from the Estate of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II, the distinguished American statesman, financier, and cultural patron. Middendorf was a singular figure whose influence spanned finance, government, the military, and the arts. Alongside his professional and civic achievements, he cultivated a discerning eye as a collector. Born in Baltimore on September 22, 1924, Middendorf served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as engineer officer and navigator before earning degrees from Harvard and NYU upon his return home. He co-founded the investment banking firm Middendorf, Colgate and Company, with a seat on the New York Stock Exchange before turning to public service. In his time as a public servant, Middendorf became one of the most frequently appointed American diplomats of his era and advised five presidents: Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan. He served as ambassador to the Netherlands, the Organization of American States, and the European Community, as well as Secretary of the Navy from 1974 to 1977. Middendorf was also an accomplished composer, artist, and author. In his lifetime, he composed at least 80 marches for Navy ships, 17 anthems dedicated to nations across the hemisphere, operas, and eight symphonies, and he received the American Bandmasters Association’s Edwin Franko Goldman Award. A lifelong draftsman, he filled 620 sketchbooks with more than 10,000 drawings. It’s no wonder, then, that Rhode Island Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz once called him a “Renaissance man.” The highlight of the collection is an Athenaeum Type Gilbert Stuart (American, 1755-1828) portrait of George Washington (lot 18; estimate: $100,000 – 200,000). Likely painted in the final decade of the renowned portraitist’s life, Stuart’s portrait of his signature subject, Washington, was one of at least three paintings commissioned by the wealthy Sears family of Boston. During this period the demand for Stuart portraits of the first president was steady, and the artist created numerous likenesses of Washington using an unfinished canvas of the founding father taken from life in Philadelphia in 1796 as reference. That unfinished canvas would come to be known as the “Athenaeum Portrait” and was the basis of Washington’s portrait on the one dollar bill. It is currently jointly owned by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the National Portrait Gallery. Other highlights from the collection include: Lot 1 | A Pilgrim Century Carved and Paneled Oak and Pine Blanket Chest $10,000 – 20,000 Lot 33 | A Ronald Reagan Presidential Chinese Export Porcelain Style Dinner Service $5,000 – 10,000 Lot 31 | A 19th Century American School Double-Sided Advertising Banner for George A. Hayes (active 1870-1885), Probably New York State, Circa 1900 $4,000 – 6,000 A Rare Musical Treasure The auction also features a rare musical treasure in the form of an important 1932 C.F. Martin & Co. Model 000-42S six string guitar (lot 293; estimate: $50,000 – 100,000). In November of 1932, the acoustic guitar was custom ordered by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. in New York City, at the request of a private client. At the time it was ordered, Wurlitzer was one of the few authorized retailers of Martin guitars. There is beautiful and understated abalone inlay around the top of the body, extending around the fingerboard, and around the sound hole. There is additional wood inlay on the front and back of the body. As is the custom with Martin guitars, the model and serial numbers are stamped to the inside of the body, on the neck block. Other Highlights Lot 140 | A Revolutionary / War of 1812 Bronze Cannon, Possibly from Paul Revere's Foundry Possibly Canton, Massachusetts, Circa 1794-1815 $25,000 – 50,000 Lot 97 | A Fine Pair of Chippendale Carved Mahogany Side Chairs Philadelphia, Circa 1770 $30,000 – 50,000 Lot 303 | A Polychrome Painted Cast Zinc Goddess of Liberty Figure Attributed to William DeMuth & Co., New York, Circa 1880 $15,000 – 25,000 Lot 98 | A Chippendale Carved Mahogany Desk and Bookcase Rhode Island, Circa 1780 $15,000 – 25,000 Lot 253 | A Tiffany & Co. Silver Seven Piece Tea and Coffee Service, plus Tray New York, Late 19th/Early 20th Century $15,000 – 25,000 Lot 210 | Three Portraits by Louis Lang (German/American 1821-1893) Caroline Hewitt (1808-1842), William Webb (1805-1863) and Double-Portrait of Sons Thaddeus (1838-1887) and William Hewitt Webb (1835-1893) of Philadelphia, 1839 $15,000 – 25,000 Auction Information American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts Thursday, November 12, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. EST 2400 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA Preview Exhibition 1600 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA November 9-11, 10am – 4pm Prior to November 8 by Appointment For additional information and to view the complete auction catalogue, visit: https://freemansauction.com/auction/6575-american-furniture-folk-decorative-arts How to Bid The American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts auction will be offered on November 12 at 10:00 a.m. EST in Freeman’s Philadelphia saleroom. Bidding will be available in person, over the phone, and via absentee or live online bidding. For more information, please visit freemansauction.com. About Freeman’s Freeman’s is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 14 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman’s strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.
Where Art Meets Design: Diego Giacometti's Berceau Table Leads Freeman’s November Design Auction
On November 17, Freeman’s will present its Modern and Early 20th Century Design auction, bringing together an exceptional selection of furniture, lighting, and decorative arts spanning the 20th century. Headlining the sale is a remarkable Berceau table, première version, by Diego Giacometti, estimated at $250,000–350,000. The sale spans the evolution of 20th-century design, from Tiffany Studios lighting and French Art Deco furniture to the bold, sculptural forms of modern designers such as Paul Evans, Maria Pergay, and Judy Kensley McKie. Works by George and Mira Nakashima, Karl Springer, and Phillip Lloyd Powell further demonstrate the range of the offering, alongside a selection from the estate of American designer John Risley. Decorative arts by Clarice Cliff, Charles Lotton, and Albert Paley round out the sale. “This auction brings together an exceptional range of 20th-century design, from French Art Deco to modern American furniture,” says Roger Ward, Vice President and Head of Design at Freeman’s. “Among these works, the Giacometti table is particularly special. It perfectly captures the intersection of art and design, combining the craftsmanship of a skilled sculptor with the elegance of functional furniture.” Diego Giacometti: Sculpture in Functional Form At the heart of the auction is Diego Giacometti’s Berceau table, première version, designed circa 1963 (Lot 126, estimate: $250,000–350,000), offered from the Collection of Mai Hallingby Harrison, Palm Beach, Florida, and Southampton, New York. An extraordinary marriage of sculpture and furniture, the table exemplifies Giacometti's ability to transform utilitarian objects into works of art. Diego developed his artistic sensibilities working alongside his older brother, the celebrated sculptor Alberto Giacometti, in Paris, where the two collaborated for nearly four decades. Together, they moved within the city's vibrant artistic circles and worked with influential figures including designer Jean-Michel Frank. While Diego initially played a supporting role in realizing his brother's sculptural visions, he gradually developed a distinctive artistic language of his own, finding his greatest expression in bronze furniture that combined traditional craftsmanship with imaginative, sculptural forms. Conceived in 1963, the Berceau table captures an important period in Diego's emergence as an independent artist. Its elegantly curved bronze supports form a cradle-like structure—berceau in French—beneath a substantial glass top, creating an arresting interplay between strength and delicacy. The richly textured, patinated bronze bears the unmistakable character of the artist's hand, while the graceful proportions lend the composition an unexpected sense of lightness. For collectors, the Berceau table offers a compelling example of Giacometti's distinctive approach to furniture design. Created during his years working alongside Alberto, it reflects his growing artistic independence and ability to unite sculptural expression with functional purpose. The result is a work that embodies the craftsmanship and creative vision that would come to define his legacy. Additional Auction Highlights Lot 229 | Judy Kensley McKie, Table with Bird, 1982 Estimate: $15,000–25,000 Carved and painted in poplar and topped with glass, this whimsical table incorporates a bird motif into its sculptural form. The work reflects McKie's inventive approach to furniture, seamlessly combining craftsmanship, playful imagery, and function. Lot 214 | John Risley, Candelabra Sculpture Estimate: $1,200–1,800 Offered from the estate of John Risley, this large-scale wrought-iron sculpture embodies the American designer's ability to merge artistic expression with functional design. The work is among a selection of pieces from the Risley family's cabin in Maine, reflecting the creativity and wit that defined his contributions to mid-century American design. Lot 188 | Karl Springer, Free Form Coffee Tables, Set of Three, circa 1970 Estimate: $12,000–18,000 Featuring stainless steel and black glass, this set of three tables showcases the fluid silhouettes and striking materials characteristic of Springer's modern designs. Their sculptural forms bring a bold, sophisticated presence to the traditional coffee table. Lot 152 | Maria Pergay, Ring Chair, 1967 Estimate: $15,000–25,000 Crafted in stainless steel, Pergay's Ring Chair demonstrates her innovative approach to material and form. Its distinctive circular silhouette transforms an industrial material into an elegant, sculptural statement. Auction Information Modern and Early 20th Century Design Tuesday, November 17, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. CST 1550 West Carroll Avenue, Chicago, IL Preview Exhibition: Diego Giacometti Berceau Table Freeman’s New York Gallery 32 East 67th Street, New York, NY October 30–November 16, 2026 Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Saturday, 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Closed Sundays How to Bid The Modern and Early 20th Century Design auction will be offered on November 17 at 10:00 a.m. CST in Freeman’s Chicago saleroom. Bidding will be available in person, over the phone, and via absentee or live online bidding. About Freeman’s Freeman’s is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 14 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman’s strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.
The Cradle and the Craftsman: Diego Giacometti’s Berceau Table
by Roger Ward, Vice President, Head of Department, Design
Circle of Frans Hals (Dutch, 1582-1666)
Portrait of a Lady, Three Quarter Length with Hood and Ruff,