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Outstanding results at Moran's April Sale |
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Pasadena, CA- John Moran Auctioneers, Southern California’s premier family-owned auction house, achieved outstanding results for property from several important estates and private collections in their April 27th Antiques, Decorative Arts and Jewelry Auction.
With sell-through rates averaging 95% on several private collections and estates including three sizable collections that achieved the 100% sold mark, the sale underscored Moran’s consistency in attracting important property and earning top prices for their consignors. The sale’s overall sell-through rate was 87%.
Moran’s winning formula includes a focus on high quality items in collecting areas where buyer confidence remains high, particularly silver, jewelry, Continental furnishings and fine art, and exposure to the broader national and international market. The sale nicely demonstrated the extent of this audience: of the 361 registered bidders, 269 bid online or via telephone or absentee, with the vast majority of them based outside of California and many based abroad in eleven different countries. Moran’s overall client base includes nationals of at least 25 foreign countries.
A notable collection of silver in a range of styles came to the auction from descendents of Lucille Mara de Vescovi. Born in Rome in 1893, Countess Mara, as she was known, originally moved to New York City planning to become an opera singer. As a socialite and wife of textile industrialist Malcolm D. Whitman she found another calling as a designer of high-end gentlemen’s neckwear. Moran’s sold all sixteen of the items that were consigned from her collection, including an Italian Modernist tea service and swan-form center bowl, both by Zinzi, which realized $5175 and $2587.50 respectively, a Russian kovsh inset with an amethyst and a Peter II Rouble ($3162.50), and a pair of asparagus tongs by Tiffany and Co. ($1035) (all prices include the 15% buyer’s premium).
Also selling well, with only one item going unsold, was a group of Continental furnishings and paintings from an important Southern California estate. An elaborate giltwood and gesso Louis XV style floor screen made in the late 19th century realized $13,800, more than three times the pre-sale estimate of $2000 – 3000, and a set of six Louis XV style gilt bronze wall lights sold for $3250 (estimate: $800 – 1200).
Of the 84 lots of jewelry or watches in the sale, 30 came from an estate in San Francisco, with all but one of those lots selling, and seven lots came from a private collection that was consigned to benefit the Duarte, CA cancer research hospital City of Hope, with 100% of that collection selling. These were highlighted by a ladies’ Rolex President watch with a lapis lazuli face that realized $6,900 (estimate: $3000 – 4000) and a 3.95 carats pear-shaped diamond set in an 18K yellow gold ring that brought $16,100.50 (estimate: $5000 – 7000).
More jewelry came from an estate in Tarzana, CA, which also included a Daum Nancy “Nasturtium” vase that topped the high estimate of $2500, realizing $2750. In total, 28 lots were offered from this estate, with all of them selling.
Additional highlights of the auction include:
• Several oils by Russian/American artist David Burliuk (1882 – 1967). His depiction of a milkmaid with a cow and ducks, offered with an estimate of $5000 – 7000, realized $10,925, as did his depiction of two farm girls with a black horse.
• An Austro-Hungarian enameled, parcel-gilt silver intricately set with stones chess set?(estimate: $8000/12,000) that realized $20,700
• A patinated bronze head of a Classical woman after Pietro Masulli (estimate: $700 – 1000) that realized $2185
• A patinated bronze figure of a seated female nude signed by Mexican artist Armando Amaya (b.1935) (estimate: $1000 – 1500) that realized $3737.50
• A pair of Arts & Crafts brass and shell bookends, unmarked but believed to be made by Charles Frederick Eaton or Elizabeth Burton Eaton, (estimate: 1500 – 2500) that realized $3450
• A pair of Gorham sterling silver floral repoussé tureens (estimate: $1500 – 2000) that realized $4887.50
John Moran Auctioneers’ next Antiques and Decorative Arts Auction will be held May 25th, 2010. Their next tri-annual California and American Painting Auction is scheduled for June 15, 2010. All of Moran’s sales are held at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, CA and full catalogues are posted at www.johnmoran.com 2 -3 weeks prior to each sale. Consignments are now being accepted for the June sale. For more information please call 626-793-1833 or email
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