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Silver, Jewelry, Continental Paintings & Decorative Arts Attract Strong Bidding at John Moran Auctioneers’ September Sale |
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- Wolfers Freres centerpiece realizes $96,000
- 600-lot sale attracts buyers worldwide
Pasadena, CA – The very healthy results from John Moran Auctioneers’ September 20th Auction featuring 600-lots of jewelry, decorative and fine arts were highlighted by an important silver centerpiece designed by Philippe Wolfers and Isidore de Rudder, two of the leading lights in the Art Nouveau movement. The asymmetrical, two-tiered ‘’surtout de table aux Maraudeurs’’, styled in a hybrid of Louis XV revival and naturalistic Japonisme motifs, is a masterwork from an innovative line of Wolfers designs dating from the 1890’s depicting putti engaged in playful pursuits. An identical example was included in the catalogue of the Ghent (Belgium) Design Museum’s 2006 – 2007 show ‘’Wolfers Dynasty: from Art Nouveau to Art Deco’’. The piece at Moran’s, which arrived from a private Southern California collection, attracted heavy floor, absentee and telephone bidding from around the globe and realized $96,000, almost five times the pre-sale estimate (all prices include 20% buyer’s premium).
Other standout results from the exceptional group of silver offerings include::
• A pair of ornate Hanau Silberwaren Manufaktur .835-standard figural candelabra, circa 1890 (estimate: $7000 – 10,000) realized $12,000
• A late 19th century French neoclassic style jardiniere by Robert Linzeler (estimate $5000 – 7000) achieved $9000
• A delicately chased pair of early 19th century Viennese trumpet-form candlesticks sold for $3000, ten times over the low end of the estimate of $300 - 500
• A William IV cigar case of historical interest due to its inscription dedicated to a captain of an Australian slave transport ship, the ‘’Lady Feversham’’, realized $2160 (estimate: $300 – 500)
Highlights in other decorative arts categories included Italian pieces such as a Renaissance-style gilt and polychrome painted terra cotta plaque depicting the Madonna and Child, within an architectural frame (estimate: $3000 – 5000) that sold for $11,025; a late 18th century C-scroll-decorated slant front desk (estimate: $4000 – 6000) that achieved $8400; and an early 19th century marquetry commode (estimate $3000 – 5000) that also found a buyer willing at $8400.
The group of offerings in twentieth century art and design was small but highly select, with strong results: a group of four Dale Chihuly ‘’Persians’’ art glass sculptures in purple with applied green lips excelled, realizing $7,200 (estimate: $1500 – 2000); a 48 inches high hammered brass female figure by Franz Hagenauer (estimate: $5000 – 7000) went to a determined collector for $14,400; and a companion figure, a 41 inches high male signed ‘’Franz’’ carrying the same estimate sold for $9,600.
Continental paintings were led by an Edouard Cortes Parisian scene of Place de la Madeleine at twilight (estimate $7000 – 9000) that rocketed to a final price of $19,200 and by a warm late summer landscape by Marcel Dyf (1899 – 1995), ‘’Chemin des Saules en Provence’’, which sold easily over the estimate of $7000 – 9000, realizing $16,800. Russian painter Alexandre Altmann (1885 – 1934) was represented by a melodic autumn river landscape with houses (PHOTO 5) (estimate: $4000 – 6000) that sold for $8400. A humorous courtroom scene of a girl drawing aside her cloak to present ‘’evidence’’ in the form of her nude figure before a crowd of shocked yet fascinated judges, by French artist Gaston Hoffmann (1883 – 1926) sold well beyond the estimate of $500 – 700, realizing $2250.
Fine jewelry from estates and private collections included pieces from all eras, signed and unsigned, and comprised half of the total lots. Diamond solitaires in a variety of shapes performed solidly, with a pear-shape selling for $22,800, an emerald cut for $15,600, an old European-cut also selling for $15,600, and a round brilliant for $14,400. A cobalt blue-enameled antique diamond-encrusted lady’s Patek Philippe pocket watch (estimate $2500 - 3500) inspired some of the most intense competition, realizing $9000.
AAll of Moran’s auctions are held at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, CA. Their next sale will be devoted entirely to California and American art, and is scheduled for October 18, 2011. Bidding for this sale is available from the floor, by phone and absentee as well as online via ArtFact.com. For more information on either sale, please call the offices of John Moran Auctioneers at (626) 793-1833 or visit their website at www.johnmoran.com.
Visit us at http://www.johnmoran.com for more information. Or call us at: (626) 793-1833 or email us at
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