Maranda Moran's 2020 Head of Sale Year in Review

As we leave 2020 behind us, I have been reflecting back and plucking all the positives out. As the Head of Sale for a handful of wildly successful sales last year I am so grateful for all the hard work it took from my team, faith from my consignors and enthusiasm from our buyers. Here are some of my highlights…

The health and sanity of my family, co-workers, friends, and clients, all who have been touched with disruptions but have persevered through so much.  A full house of incredible property – so much that our showroom is just busting at the seams. Gracious consignors who have selected Moran’s to care for their property until new buyers add it to their collections. Staple household items and food were no longer in shortage; Toilet paper for everyone!

The Collection of Cindy Tietze-Hodosh and Stuart Hodosh:

This sale of more than 500 lots was simply an amazing lifetime collection of Mexican silver and jewelry that Moran’s was proud to offer and clients were excited to participate in. The sale had a 90% sale through rate with most lots selling at or above their estimate. Buyers are still reaching out almost a year later to say what fun they had played in the cases at the preview and how much they love their new bobble.

Art of the American West:

Moran’s held both a Spring and Fall Art of the American West auction in 2020. They both had distinctive looks and featured important early First Phase Navajo jewelry, spectacular Classic and Late Classic textiles, and Western art & sculpture.

Jewelry Made Modern:

Jewelry: Made Modern was another standout event in the line-up of auctions under my banner. This sale featured offerings from some of the most important Modernist Jewelry designers of the 20th century including Picasso, Antonio Pineda, Peter Macchiarini, James Parker, Hubert Harmon and H. Fred Skaggs among others.

Made in Mexico:

A new and exciting addition to our annual sale line up is our bi-annual Made in Mexico auction featuring fine art, sculpture, decorative objects, and jewelry from our southern neighbors. These sales have a distinct silver flare to them but also included some wonderful artwork and objects by Rodolfo Nieto, Alberto Gironella, Francisco Toledo, Arnold Belkin, Rafael Coronel, José Luis Cuevas and sculpture by Felipe Castañeda. Master silversmith William Spratling offers both housewares and jewelry to the mix and Antonio Pineda jewelry designs are second only to a set of pillar candlesticks from the artist’s own collection. Icons from Matilda Poulat (Matl) along with extraordinary jewelry excited collectors. Enrique Ledesma, Margot de Taxco, Los Castillo, and Sigi Pineda were some of the other jewelry designers to swirl the excitement for Moran’s Made in Mexico auction.

And if to prove that Moran’s can pivot on a dime and take on one-of-a-kind collections, we offered more than 100 American made Amish quilts passed through our hands in our Blanket Statements sale in May.  These quilts comprised an exhibition and book from the UCLA Fowler Museum. Such choice examples as Lancaster Bar quilts, to the famous Log Cabins and Chinese coin were all represented and eagerly scooped up with the sale resulting in a finally tally of 100% sale though rate and lots of new and returning satisfied collectors.

And finally, our Spring and Fall California Living auctions that were both filled to the gills with California Art, by the likes of Alfred Mitchell, Mary DeNeale Morgan, Walter Schofield N.A., and Theodore Wores to name just a few. American Art pottery, Arts and Crafts furniture lighting that could easily grace the halls of the finest homes in California added diversity. Rounding out the selections were contemporary pieces from Banksy and Tony Duquette and silver jewelry from Mexico.

With all that has happened in the last twelve months, I continue to be grateful to have had the support of my team here at Moran’s and our clients who have proved patient and resilient. My work family has weathered the last year successfully and as I look back at the roller coaster that was 2020, I am still unsure what the future will hold for 2021, but I am anxious to take a bite out of it. Keep your eyes open for more from goodies from Made in Mexico, California Living and Art of the American West. As always thank you to everyone for continuing to buy and sell with Morans.

Health and Sanity to you all,
Maranda