Auction Report

Post Auctions

Von Zezschwitz Art and Design Auctions
10 Years of Art and Design Zezschwitz, Munich

December 1

197 lots of objects from the fields of Art Nouveau, Art Déco, Design as well as Modern and Contemporary Art were offered for sale. The highest price went to lot 129, Cabinet, 1902/03, Richard Riemerschmid, which was sold for € 32.000.

Design: Till Wenzel, Munich or Dresden workshops for crafts, Dresden. Two-door cabinet on steady legs, doubled Zargenblende encircling cornice. Maple, solid and veneered mahogany, stained, pearl inlays, mahogany interior. Two shelves with a key. Sidewall marked:. Mirrored artists Signet RR (brass plaque). H. 138 cm. 95 x 50 cm Exh.

The next high price item was lot 130, a pair of chairs, ca. 1903, Richard Riemerschmid. It was sold for € 7.500. Design: Dresden workshop, Dresden. Square tapered legs, trapezoidal, projecting seat, doubled Zargenblende, high backrest with curved statements and profiles. Maple, mahogany-colored, stained, pearl inlays, white wool Verloursbezug. H. 115 cm. 47 cm as Exh.

Christie's
Christie's London, South Kensington
Old Masters and British Paintings
December 9

Christie's London had put up 157 pots for sale from Old Masters and British Paintings section. 88 lots were sold for a total of 638,400 (GBP). The highest price went to lot 36, Circle of Sir Anthony van Dyck (Antwerp 1599-1641 London), Portrait of Lady Mary Villiers (1622-1685), Lady Herbert and later Duchess of Lennox and Richmond, full-length, seated in a landscape as Saint Agnes, in a silk dress, her right arm resting on a lamb and a palm branch in her left hand, oil on canvas, 84¾ x 52½ in. (215.3 x 133.3 cm.) in size. It was sold for £39,650  (inclusive of buyer's premium).

The next high priced item was John Hamilton Mortimer, A.R.A. (Eastbourne 1741-1779 London),

Banditti at Market, signed with monogram and dated 'JM 1778' (lower right) oil on panel, 8 7/8 x 7 7/8 in. (22.6 x 20 cm.). It was sold for £31,250 (inclusive of buyer's premium).

Christie's London, King Street

An Iberian Private Collection Part II: Furniture, Silver, Jewellery, Paintings, European, Chinese & Islamic Ceramics

December 9

Christie's London had put up for auction 394 lots from an Iberian Private Collection Part II: Furniture, Silver, Jewellery, Paintings, European, Chinese & Islamic Ceramics section. The items sold for a total of 1,833,250 (GBP). The highest price went to lot 273, a Portuguese Silver  Gilt Salver. Apparently Unmarked, Circa 1530-40, the Coat- of- Arms and Feet Probably 18th Century.

Circular with raised central boss, the three later feet cast as lions sejant attached to the border with foliage-headed screws, the centre repousse and chased in high relief with harpies, winged centaurs and grotesque winged monsters, within scrolling foliage and divided by columns headed by winged figures, the raised central boss chased with further winged monsters flanking urns and with central applied coat-of-arms within laurel wreath, marked on border with later Dutch and French control marks, the dish 12 in. (30.5 cm.) diameter, 37 oz. (1,181 gr.)

The arms are those of Portugal quartering León for the family of de Sousa of Prado, Portugal, descendants of an illegitimate son of King Alphonso III of Portugal (d. 1279). The arms are surmounted by what appears to be a marquess' coronet. However, there was little codification of coronets in Portugal prior to the 17th century. The family was elevated from Counts of Prado to Marquesses of Minas in the 18th century.Though it was estimated £70,000 - £100,000, it was sold for £111,650 (inclusive of buyer's premium).

The next high price went to lot A Chinese Gold Ingot, Qianlong Period, Circa 1750. Of rectangular form, the top with gently sloping sides rising to a raised edge stamped with a double-gourd-shaped seal reading Yuanji and two seals reading bao, the underside stamped twice with the characters ding yuan, 3 1/8 in. (8 cm.) long, 11.83 oz. (367.8 gr.). It was sold for £109,250 (inclusive of buyer's premium).

Bonham's

Bonham's California
Natural History Unmounted Gemstones

December 11

Bonham's had put up for sale items from Natural History section. The highest price went to lot no. 1047, King of all Saber-tooths, one of the Largest Saber-toothed Cat Skulls Discovered

Machairodus giganteus, late Miocene, Asia. One of the largest saber-toothed cat skulls ever discovered, from the largest saber-toothed cat species of all time, this skull is from Machairodus giganteus, a species even more massive than the famous Smilodon of the La Brea Tar Pits. The item was sold for US$116,500 (inclusive of buyer's premium).

The next high price went to lot no. 1078, a recent T. rex Discovery, one of the largest T. rex teeth ever found, Tyrannosaurus rex, Cretaceous,Garfield County, Montana. Excavated in late summer, 2011, in Garfield County, Montana, this exceptional T. rex tooth is one of the largest T. rex teeth ever discovered. Experts have noted the extraordinary size of the specimen, measuring 5 1/8 inches (linear measurement) from base to tip. The tooth is more massive than any of the teeth of the well-known T. rex, Stan and possibly larger than those of Sue, the famous T. rex residing in the Field Museum, Chicago. It was sold for US$56,250 (inclusive of buyer's premium).

Christie's Interiors, London,                     
South Kensington

December 13

Christie's Interiors had put up 712 lots for auction, out of which 514 lots were sold for a total of 703,606 (GBP). The highest price went to lot 450, Cecil Kennedy's (1905-1997)

Tulips, signed 'Cecil Kennedy' (lower right), oil on canvas, 24 x 20 in. (61 x 50.8 cm.). It was sold for £8,125 (inclusive of buyer's premium)

The next high priced item was lot 401, a Vitorian Small Mahogany Longcase Regulator

Gabriel, London. Circa 1880, which was sold for £6,250 (inclusive of buyer's premium).

Phillips de Pury
Design Masters, New York

December 14

Phillips de Pury had put for auction 75 items from Design Masters, New York which was sold for a total of $7,070,450. The highest price went to lot 53, Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, a pair of “Gonse” armchairs, model no. 278 NR, ca. 1930-1932. Lacquered wood, fabric. Underside of one frame branded with “Ruhlmann” (2).

Each: 29 × 42 × 45 1/4 in. (73.7 × 106.7 × 114.9 cm.). It was sold at $1,426,500.

The next high priced item was lot 19, Charlotte Perriand, which was sold at $374, 500.

Sotheby's
Sotheby's London

Fine Jewels

December 14

Sotheby's had put up for sale 399 lots of fine jewels on December 14. The highest price went to lot 381, Gem-Set Desk Clock, Cartier, circa 1925, the circular dial inlaid with mother-of-pearl, royal blue enamel and diamond set hands, to a rock crystal bezel applied with Roman numerals, set within a jadeite frame, accented with sugarloaf lapis lazuli, signed Cartier, Made in France and numbered, fitted case Cartier, Paris. It was sold for 79,250 GBP.

The next high priced item was lot 338, Diamond Parure 'Spiga', Bulgari. Comprising: a necklace designed as a series of chevron links, highlighted at intervals with brilliant-cut diamonds, inner circumference approximately 365mm; a flexible bracelet of matching design; a pair of earrings, post and clip fittings, maker's marks; and a flexible ring; all with Italian assay marks, signed Bulgari, two pouches signed Bulgari. It was sold for 78,050 GBP.

Osian's, New Delhi
Creative India Series I: Bengal

December 15

Osian's auction house presented an auction highlighting on Bengal art from 1780 to 2000. The auction house had put 130 lots for sale out of which 70 were sold for Rs. 7.95 crores. The highest price went to Nandalal Bose's Shiva Drinking the World Poison, which was sold for Rs. 60 lakhs.

The next high price went to J.P.Gangooly's Sun Rise on the Rocky Mountain, which was sold for Rs. 46 lakh 80 thousnd.

Forthcoming

Bonham's
Bonham's Period Design Furniture, London, Knightsbridge

January 10

Bonham's will present 268 lots of furniture. Lot 23, a large pollard oak and ebonised extending circular dining table is expected to the highest priced lot. The radially segmented top centred with a circular medallion, with a gadroon moulded tilt-top and freize, on an octagonal panelled support, terminating in a concave quadripartite gadrooned base with scroll feet and sunken castors, with eight additional leaves, eight clips and four screws, unextended, of recent manufacture, 155cm wide x 155cm deep x 78.5cm high, (61" wide x 61" deep x 30.5" high). It's estimated price is £6,000 - 8,000, € 7,000 - 9,300.

The next high priced lot is expected to be lot 62, An Italian late 17th century ebonised, walnut, ivory and fruitwood inlaid secretaire commode, it's estimated price £6,000 - 8,000, € 7,000 - 9,300.

Bonham's Period Design Works of Art & Sculpture, London, Knightsbridge

January 10

Bonham's will put up for auction 90 items from their Period Design Works of Art & Sculpture section (lots 322 to 412). Lot 374, a large pair of late 19th century bronze figures of Bernard Palissy and Benvenuto Cellini is expected to be the most be the most high priced item, with an estimated price of £3,000 - 5,000, € 3,500 - 5,800. Another item, lot 386 is also of the same estimated price i.e. £3,000 - 4,000, € 3,500 - 4,700. It is a pair of late 19th century Empire style gilt and patinated bronze figural candelabra.

Skinner
European Furniture and Decorative Arts, Featuring Fine Ceramics

January 14

Skinner, Inc. will host an auction of European Furniture and Decorative Arts on Saturday, January 14th in its Boston gallery. The sale features a collection of Continental and British ceramics, glass, statuary, clocks, paintings and prints, lighting, rugs, textiles, and antique furniture.

Ceramic highlights include an extensive Chamberlain Worcester Regent porcelain dinner service (lot 3) in excellent condition estimated between $10,000 and $15,000. The wide pale blue borders of each piece are adorned with birds, while the centers feature fruit and flowers.

A large collection of Royal Doulton Flambe figures will be offered in twenty-two different lots with estimates ranging from $300 to $900.

Bronzes include a sculpture of horses at a well (lot 726) estimated between $5,000 and $7,000; the artist-signed sculpture dates from the late 19th century/early 20th century.

Also featured is a fine selection of Continental carved ivory figurines and vessels including a 19th century carved figure of the Venus de Medici (lot 498), estimated between $500 and $700. The auction will feature fine collections of Royal Worcester, Royal Doulton, KPM Porcelain, and Delft Ware.

Christie's
Jewellery, London, South Kensington

January 18

292 lots of jewellery will be offered for sale at Christie's London. The highest price is estimated to be lot 86, a coloured diamond and diamond bracelet, the graduated cluster panel centre composed of a series of vari-shaped vari-coloured diamond with brilliant-cut diamond line borders, 18.0cm. long, clasp signed Hana, Accompanied by report no. 1132076691 dated 24th February 2011 from the GIA Gemological Institute of America stating one yellow pear modified brilliant diamond measuring approximately 5.50 x 4.60mm, was found to be fancy intense to fancy vivid yellow, natural colour. Its estimated price is £13,000 - £16,000.

The next High lot is expected to be lot 125, a diamond necklace which is estimated to be £9,000 - £11,000.

Sotheby's

Sotheby's New York
Old Masters Drawings

January 25

Sotheby's will auction 225 lots of Old Masters Drawings. The highest price is estimated to be a work attributed to Piero del Pollaiolo which is a portrait of a young man, head and shoulders, wearing a cap. Pen and brown ink over black chalk, 360 by 228 mm with an estimated price of 300,000 USD - 400,000 USD.

The other highlights of auction are lot 60, Guido Reni, Bologna 1575  1642, Study Of Hands And Drapery, Black chalk heightened with white on beige prepared paper, 280 by 400 mm; 11 by 15 3/4 in. It's estimated price is 50,000  80,000 USD.

Sotheby's New York

Important Old Master Paintings & Sculpture

January 26

Sotheby's New York auction of Important Old Master Paintings & Sculpture will offer 366 lots of paintings and sculptures. The lots will feature three paintings from the estate of Lady Forte. The group comprises: Venice, A View of the Churches of the Redentore and San Giacomo by Venetian view painter Canaletto, which has not been seen on the market since 1986 (est. $5/7 million); Jan van Huysum's Still Life of Roses, Tulips, Peonies and Other Flowers in a Sculpted Stone Vase, which is a piece painted on copper (est. $4/6 million); and Interior with a Child Feeding a Parrot, a charming and Vermeer-like work by Pieter de Hooch (est. $1.5/2 million). The works will be on exhibition in Sotheby's York Avenue galleries beginning 22 January, alongside the full sale.

Sotheby's New York

Masterworks

January 27

Sotheby's wil put 15 lots of Masterworks on auction on January 27. Highlights from the sale include a very large and rare Regency Blue John krater vase, a set of four early 18th century Royal French Gobelins tapestries, a magnificent English paste-mounted ormolu automaton musical clock made for the Chinese market and a Royal ormolu-mounted Sèvres fond violet porcelain vase garniture.

The highest priced lot is expected to be a regency blue john krater-form vase, attributed to James Shore with an estimated price of 150,000 - 250,000 USD