Way was an expert in early English and Dutch oak furniture who set out on a half-century-long quest to assemble the largest privately owned collection of 17th century chairs in the US, much of which is now housed in museums on the eastern seaboard. He also collected more than 275 Dutch and English paintings: portraits, still-lifes, landscapes and genre studies
The Skinner auction will feature examples of his 17th century (and 17th century style) paintings, furniture, decorative objects and household items.
Pictured here is one of his paintings, a portrait of a man in a large ruff ascribed to the school of Thomas de Keyser (1596-1667). The unsigned oil on cradled panel, inscribed Aeta Suae 45/1650 in two places, measures 21¾ x 17in (55 x 43cm) and has an estimate of $1000-1500.
