Los Angeles, CA— As we head into the second half of 2024, John Moran Auctioneers is ready to present their summer Traditional Collector sale, Tuesday, July 30th, 2024, at 12:00pm PDT. The auction, having over 300 lots, is filled with beautiful furniture, fine art, rugs, lighting, and sophisticated table settings. Highlights include two Louis Majorelle “Aux Nénuphars” gueridons, a stunning 19th century Maritime School painting, a “Wisteria” lamp by Riviere Studios, and Nepalese stone sculptures. Other noteworthy items are a Regina Orchestral model 5 upright music box, an Aesthetic movement carved wood étagère, a 141-piece Tiffany & Co. “Winthrop” sterling silver flatware service, and a large Mintons Japonisme covered urn.
Lot 2260: A Riviere Studios "Wisteria" table lamp $8,000-12,000
Leading the sale are lots 2258 and 2259, two Louis Majorelle “Aux Nénuphars” gueridons, circa 1900, each with a $20,000-30,000 estimate. Louis Majorelle (1859-1926) was a French decorator and Art Nouveau furniture designer who manufactured his own designs, in the French tradition of the “ébéniste.” His furniture is known for its elegance unique craftsmanship such as these examples with circular burlwood veneer table tops and bronze mounts of water lilies (“Nénuphars” in French) at their shoulders and feet. For fine art there will a 19th Century Maritime School work titled, “Ship Cowper T.S. Stevens Master Entering Hong Kong Feb. 24 1860”. The 19th century was a time of great maritime exploration and innovation. Numerous ships departed on daring voyages across the world’s oceans and artists would be aboard to capture their adventures. This work, lot 2213, with provenance from Vallejo Gallery in Newport Beach, CA, is estimated at $12,000-18,000.
Collectors are sure to notice the impeccable lighting presented in this sale. With an estimate of $8,000-12,000 is lot 2260, a “Wisteria” table lamp from Riviere Studios, circa 1910s. Paul Riviere, for whom the company is named, was a master metal smith who worked for a number of lighting companies before opening The Riviere Brass & Bronze Works in New York in 1904. This three-light lamp with hand wrought tree-form base is surmounted by a cast and conformingly patinated metal shade issuing leaded hand-cut glass elements to depict the rich blue hues of a wisteria tree in full bloom.
Lot 2213: 19th Century Maritime School, "Ship Cowper T.S. Stevens Master Entering Hong Kong Feb. 24 1860" $12,000-18,000
Included in the offerings will be some 17th century Nepalese art. Having an estimate of $7,000-10,000, lot 2003, a Nepalese stele of Durga slaying the demon Mahishasura. The carved stone sculpture depicts an eighteen-armed deity Chakrasamvara slaying the demon Mahishasura disguised as a buffalo in mid-transition back into human form, wielding various weapons and joined by her divine lion mount, all framed in a flaming prabhamandala and set in a custom wood plinth. Also making its way to the block will be lot 2004, a stele of Chakrasamvara with his consort Vajravarahi, estimated $5,000-8,000, depicting a twelve-armed tantric deity Chakrasamvara embracing his yogini consort Vajravarahi and wielding various weapons while standing atop the bodies of two demons.
Representing late 19th century wood statement pieces are lot 2253, a Regina Orchestral model 5 upright music box and lot 2250, a carved wood étagère from the aesthetic movement. The Regina music box was the brainchild of Gustave Brachhausen, a 35-year-old German engineer and foreman at The Symphonion Company in Leipzig—the first musical box firm to implement a disc-based mechanism. Playing 27″ discs with double combs, crank arm, and 5 cent coin operation, this example, estimated at $5,000-7,000, is housed in a Renaissance Revival-style carved and polished walnut cabinet with turned galleries and finials above an architectural cornice. The Aesthetic movement carved wood étagère features a fine ornate carving of masks and foliage, with a turned gallery above an architectural cornice with bead and barrel trim. Estimated $4,000-6,000, this piece is attributed to George A. Schastey (1839-1894), an American Gilded Age cabinet maker and decorator who once worked for Herter Brothers and has pieces at the Metropolitan Museum.
Other highlights include lot 2067, a 141-piece Tiffany & Co. “Winthrop” sterling silver flatware service, estimated $5,000-7,000, lot 2050, a Japanese lacquered carved wood box, estimated $4,000-6,000, lot 2031, a Minton porcelain covered urn, estimated $3,000-5,000, and with estimates ranging from $2,000-7,000, lots 2292 and 2294, a Bakshaish rug and a Bakhtiari rug.
To view and bid, or for more information, go to www.johnmoran.com.
— Brenda Smith, John Moran Auctioneers
“Louis Majorelle (1859-1926) was a French decorator and Art Nouveau furniture designer who manufactured his own designs, in the French tradition of the “ébéniste.” His furniture is known for its elegance unique craftsmanship such as these examples with circular burlwood veneer table tops and bronze mounts of water lilies (“Nénuphars” in French) at their shoulders and feet.”
Lot 2258 (and 2259): Louis Majorelle (1859-1926), An "Aux Nénuphars" $20,000-30,000
Upcoming Auctions
John Moran Auctioneers is continuing their 2024 lineup with the Traditional Collector auction, Tuesday, July 30th, followed by the Art + Design sale, Tuesday, August 13th, 2024. Be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming auctions so you don’t miss out on the action, and the treasures!
Traditional Collector: Tuesday, July 30th | 12:00 pm PDT
Art + Design: Tuesday, August 13th | 12:00 pm PDT
Art Jewelry & Luxury Online: Tuesday, August 27th | 12:00 pm PDT
Art of the American West: Tuesday, September 10th | 10:00 am PDT
Fine Jewelry & Timepieces: Tuesday, September 17th | 12:00 pm PDT
For upcoming highlights, online catalogues, and more information on these sales, visit Moran’s website: www.johnmoran.com and follow us on social media: @johnmoran_auctioneers. Along with our website, bidding is now available online via Moran’s new mobile app, Moran Mobile, available on both iOS and Android operating systems. You may also choose to bid by phone or absentee.
Consignments are always welcome:
Email us at [email protected] today!