Revere Auctions is honored to present the esteemed collection of Leo and Doris Hodroff. Renowned globally as some of the most discerning collectors of the 20th century, the Hodroffs didn’t just acquire objects; they preserved history.

To understand the brilliance of the Hodroff Collection, one must first understand the man behind it. Leo Hodroff was the definition of American industriousness. A Minneapolis native, Leo began his career as a young mortician working alongside his father, eventually earning his degree in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota.

Today, as we present these selections, we are offering pieces of a legacy built on hard work, service, and a $100 dream that changed the landscape of American museums. But the story of this collection isn’t a solo journey. It is a story of a 63-year partnership. If Leo was the engine of their success, Doris Hodroff was the heart of their connoisseurship.

The Hodroffs shared their treasures generously, establishing dedicated galleries at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Peabody Essex Museum, Winterthur Museum, Norton Museum, and the Mayo Clinic. Their legacy is further immortalized in scholarship through David S. Howard’s definitive volumes, “The Choice of the Private Trader” (1994) and “Made in China” (2005).

Leo and Doris’ life of hard work and service led to many prestigious philanthropic positions. Leo served on the board of Mount Sinai Hospital, as a trustee of the Minneapolis Arts, and as one of the founders of the Jewish-Christian Learning Center at St. Thomas University, amongst many other positions. In addition to running successful companies, the Hodroff family has provided outstanding service and support to funeral professionals for decades. They established an endowment fund at the University of Minnesota Program of Mortuary Science that recognizes and memorializes the Hodroff family’s contributions to the mortuary science profession and is a testament to their belief in the importance of education.

The Leo & Doris Hodroff Collection is the finest collection of export porcelain in private hands. This collection’s journey to the Midwest is just one port on its long, transcontinental voyage and mirrors the fascinating crossroads of cultures that these objects represent. In keeping with the family’s spirit of generosity, all proceeds from these auctions will benefit the University of Minnesota. Revere Auctions is proud and honored to steward these specimens to new collectors while embracing the family’s philanthropic endeavors.

Revere Auctions is honored to present The Meissen Collection, a spectacular assembly of 174 lots originating from the esteemed Hodroff estate. As the first porcelain manufactory in Europe, Meissen represented the pinnacle of 18th-century luxury, and this collection serves as a pristine time capsule of that “Golden Age.”

What sets this collection apart is its impeccable provenance documentation. Many of these rare pieces have been held in the private Hodroff collection for decades, making this a generational opportunity for museums and serious collectors to acquire items that have not graced the open market in nearly half a century.

The Hodroff home was a seamless blend of European aristocratic elegance and scholarly connoisseurship. To walk through their residence is to move through a curated history of the 18th and 19th centuries, where every gilt edge and hand-knotted fiber tells a story of global trade and artistic triumph. Their dedication to this aesthetic was so profound that upon moving to an expansive new condo, the Hodroffs meticulously renovated the space to mirror the architectural soul of their beloved first home.

This collection represents a lifetime of discerning acquisition, featuring masterworks of European furniture, monumental textiles, and exquisite decorative objects that defined an era of sophisticated living. As a premier destination for full-service estate liquidations, Revere Auctions is proud to facilitate the transition of these storied objects. The living spaces were anchored by monumental finds, such as a Ziegler Sultanabad carpet circa 1860, which provided a soft, floral foundation for a pair of George II-style carved giltwood console tables. The air of refined luxury was further punctuated by the presence of a Steinway Model A baby grand piano from 1905, resplendent with bespoke gilt accents to match the theme of the rest of the home.

For those seeking expert estate handling in the Twin Cities, the Hodroff collection stands as a hallmark of how Revere Auctions connects significant historical property with the next generation of connoisseurs.

The Hodroff art collection may be small in stature, but it is immense in its cultural and historical significance. Featuring a “Who’s Who” of American Modernism and Impressionism, this curated selection reflects the same scholarly precision the Hodroffs applied to their world-class porcelain. Each work serves as a vital thread in the fabric of 20th-century art history, capturing the energy of American cityscapes and the evolution of the avant-garde.

The soul of the collection boasts a remarkable lineup of the “Ashcan School” and American Impressionist icons such as a highly valuable pastel on canvas by Everett Shinn entitled “Ballet Dancers” (1911). The painting showcases Shinn’s fascination with the theater and Degas-inspired movement. There’s a classic Guy Wiggins painting, “Down the Avenue, 5th Ave. Looking South, Brentano’s to the Left” (1927), a view that captures the quintessential snowy NYC streetscape with American flags blowing in the wind that made Wiggins a household name. A vigorous 1918 oil on canvas by Reynolds Beal of South Roundout, New York, demonstrating his unique transition from Impressionism to a more modern, spirited hand.

The sale also moves into the cerebral and the abstract with works by Charles Ephraim Burchfield, whose watercolor and gouache “Woman in a Garden” (1915) highlights his early, visionary approach to nature. Standing out as a titan of the collection is the Hans Hofmann painting “Landscape” (1936). Considered the ‘Dean of Abstract Expressionism’, Hofmann’s influence on the 20th-century art world was seismic. Interestingly, Hofmann has a charming Minnesota connection as he was a close friend and mentor to the famed Minnesota painter Cameron Booth, helping to bring the fire of European Modernism to the Midwest.

Perhaps the most intimate painting in the sale is Jane Peterson’s “Zinnias”. As Doris’s favorite artwork, it hung prominently in the couple’s bedroom, serving as a daily vibrant reminder of Peterson’s mastery of floral brilliance and light. This personal connection underscores the ethos of the Hodroff home: art was not just collected; it was lived with and loved.

Revere Auctions is immensely honored to steward these pieces into the hands of collectors in this exceptional sale.

The Hodroff collection of Asian and Chinese Export porcelain is widely regarded as a scholarly landmark in the study of global trade. As documented in the definitive text “Made in China: Export Porcelain from the Leo and Doris Hodroff Collection at Winterthur” by Ronald W. Fuchs II and David S. Howard (2005), the Hodroffs amassed one of the world’s most significant private holdings of East meets West artistry. Their collection serves as a vivid chronicle of the 17th and 18th-century porcelain trade, illustrating how Chinese artisans meticulously adapted their ancient ceramic mastery to satisfy the specific social rituals and aesthetic desires of the European and American markets.

The Hodroffs focused on the sophisticated exchange between the Qing Dynasty and the Western world, acquiring pieces that were not merely decorative but essential tools of diplomacy and social status. The auction offerings include a breathtaking array of armorial porcelain, bespoke services commissioned by the European elite to display their family crests and coats of arms; as well as a stunning spectrum of famille verte and famille rose pieces. These wares reflect the incredible craftsmanship of the Jingdezhen kilns and a commitment to the scholarly preservation of history. 

The Hodroff’s Asian Arts Collection is so extensive that its sale will be over the course of three auction days centered around the themes within their estate.

Every item carries impeccable provenance, having been vetted by the highest levels of academic scholarship and curated by a couple who were as much historians as they were connoisseurs. Revere Auction is excited to play a vital role in passing the torch for these items, allowing a new generation of collectors to acquire objects that have been held in a legendary, museum-vetted private collection for over 25 years.

The Hodroff aesthetic extended to a chic selection of luxury accessories from the world’s premier fashion houses. Luxury brands represented include Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Yves St. Laurent, and Chloe.