Kalorama's Hidden Gems

Smith & Benjamin offers rare and beautiful home furnishings in accessible, affordable auctions.

By Shaun Rodriguez

1631 Kalorama Rd., NW, is something of an enigma. The mammoth, gray, peculiarly shaped edifice doesn’t seem to fit the mostly residential neighborhood it inhabits. Flanked by a high-rise apartment to the left and a succession of small houses in front, one can’t help but ask, "Well, what is it?" The answer is an interesting story. And equally interesting is what the building was. As structures go, 1631 has lived many interesting lives. During the 1940s, it was a National Guard armory. In the 1960s, it was

Now, after yet another metamorphosis, 1631 Kalorama Rd. is home to a most exciting and welcomed addition thus far -- Smith & Benjamin Auctioneers and Appraisers, the six-month-old brainchild of owner Mark D. Smith.

“It’s a little-loved building that doesn’t present very well from Kalorama and 17th,” says Mark D. Smith, owner of Smith & Benjamin. “But when you get inside, it is quite breath-taking.”

And breath-taking it is. The building is like a well-decorated airplane hangar, and its sheer vastness is ideal for its purpose. Smaller paintings set against the endless wall space are like postage stamps from a distance, forcing the potential buyer to get closer, noticing every detail and forming an attachment to the pieces. Larger pieces, such as armoires, seem comfortably scaled to the space, allowing free movement around them.

So, how does one embark upon such a grand undertaking as opening an auction house? The story begins with the “Smith" in Smith & Benjamin.

A Man With Vision

The TV show didn’t materialize, but the auction house began to show promise -- therein lies the beginning of Smith & Kenyon Auctioneers and Appraisers.

After a very brief partnership, Mark Smith and Stephanie Kenyon parted ways. With a space secured and consignments already in the door, Smith decided to forge ahead solo and change the name to Smith & Benjamin, after his five-year-old son.

There is a relaxed elegance about Mark Smith. The former journalist turned investment banker possess none of the haughtiness one would expect from someone whose livelihood consists of the acquisition and exchange of rare and unique items. Even when he lists his own accomplishments (journalist for NBC News in Tel Aviv and Cairo, a seat on the foreign news desk at CNN, writer-producer for Associated Press), his tone is so matter-of-fact, it’s as if he is speaking of someone other than himself. But a confidence about him ensures you trust what he says and puts you completely at ease. In short, he's a really cool guy.

It is this same relaxed elegance that's apparent in every aspect of Smith & Benjamin. The auctions, for instance, are part social gathering, part symposium. Champagne and light fare are served. Some attendees even wear jeans. Friendly and knowledgeable members of the Smith & Benjamin staff -- if not Smith himself -- are always on hand to answer questions and give their offerings' background information. Smith’s goal is to take some of the mystery out of attending auctions and educate the masses about how one can affordably furnish a home through auctions.

From the Ground Up

Wednesday night silent auctions are best-suited for commuters and those who are too busy to sit through a Saturday auction. They're also a great introduction to the auction process. Items auctioned (Persian rugs, beds, tables, and the like) range from $25 to $7,000.

Here's how it works. The items to be auctioned are available for viewing from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. the day of the auction, as well as in an online catalogue available on Smith & Benjamin's website. At 5:30 p.m., attendees grab some champagne and hors d’oeuvres and register for the auction. The auction begins at 7:00 p.m. One writes her bidding number (which everyone receives one during registration) on the bidding sheets next to each item. The bidding ends at 7:30 p.m., and the highest bid walks away with the goods.

Of Style and Substance

Smith & Benjamin is a veritable treasure trove of one-of-a-kind home furnishings. Unlike a showroom, where everything is mass-produced, an auction house has once-in-a-lifetime finds that, through some twist of fate, end up on the market. Acquiring their inventory from estate sales, consignments, or just a collector who wishes to downsize, some pieces have been around for upwards of a hundred years, and almost every piece has a story.

For instance, you'll find pieces of art from a local Hungarian collector/violin virtuoso who survived WWII by hiding in an attic and playing violin to 30 people in a crawl space. After escaping, he began to collect Hungarian art and has amassed quite a selection, but he's moving to a small apartment in Florida.

“What really makes these pieces sing are the stories that go along behind them," Smith says. "That’s what captures my interest.”

What will you find here? Authentic 10’x12’ Persian rugs -- large enough to cover an entire living room -- selling for a paltry $400 or less; an endless array of watercolor prints selling for between $200 and $400; a box piano, circa 1790s, for $2,000; a grandfather clock, circa early 19th century, for $1,200; a drop-leaf mahogany dining room table, circa early 1900s, for around $300. Smith & Benjamin also has in circulation a growing collection of African-American art from such names as Romare Bearden.

So, before you head to IKEA or Target to affordably furnish your home, stop by Smith & Benjamin, and find great deals that last a lifetime.

Illustration by Matthew Dawson, www.fevertown.com.