Eldred's to Auction Collection of Set Designers Helen Pond and Herbert SennThe collection of Helen Pond and Herbert Senn, who worked for 35 years as set designers for the Cape Playhouse, will be sold as part of Eldred's Fine & Decorative Art Auction, scheduled for November 2 - 3, 2017. Pond and Senn's partnership was professional as well as personal. In addition to their years with the Cape Playhouse, the team's long and distinguished career included designing sets for nine Broadway shows, several opera companies, and numerous off-Broadway productions and regional theaters. The auction will include 48 scale models of their sets, including several from the Boston Ballet's production of The Nutcracker. The beloved scenery Pond and Senn designed for The Nutcracker was used by the Boston Ballet for 35 years. Other set models include Showboat, Il Trovatore, and Mad Dogs and Englishmen. Perhaps Pond and Senn's most personal project was Strawberry Hill, the deconsecrated Yarmouth Port church they restored and furnished and used as their home for many years. The two reimagined what was once the sanctuary with an elaborate trompe l'oeil ceiling and whimsical Gothic Revival furnishings fabricated by Senn, many of which are in the auction. Their private quarters showcased a variety of design styles, from patriotic Americana to Victorian to Adirondack lodge, as well as their varied and unique collections, ranging from vintage hand mirrors to antique paper clips. Pond and Senn also cultivated a circle of creative friends including writer/illustrator Edward Gorey, John and Eve Carey of Eden Hand Arts, and painters Ric Howard and Marieluise Hutchinson, all of whom are represented in the collection. "We're honored to handle Helen and Herbert's Collection," said Leah Kingman, head of Eldred's decorative arts department. "It is full of interesting curated objects acquired over a lifetime of artful living." Other highlights include a gilt running horse weather vane, several pieces of Louis Vuitton luggage, and a model of the Cape Playhouse gazebo. The auction will take place at Eldred's headquarters, located at 1483 Route 6A, in East Dennis, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod's historic Route 6A. Interested bidders can visit www.eldreds.com for a complete sale listing and to register to bid via phone, absentee bid, or online. Online bidding will also be hosted by Invaluable.com. Those wishing to bid live in the audience may register at the offices the day of the auction. The auction preview exhibition will be held Wednesday, November 1, from 10:00am to 5:00pm, and the mornings of the sale dates starting at 8:45am. The auction begins at 10:00am EST on both Thursday and Friday, November 2 and 3. For more information about Eldred's please call (508) 385-3116 or email info@eldreds.com. 
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