European Furniture and Decorative Arts, Featuring Fine Ceramics, to be Auctioned at Skinner
Auction to feature fine collections of Royal Worcester, Royal Doulton, KPM Porcelain, and Delft
Boston, MA – December 22, 2011 – Skinner, Inc. will host an auction of European Furniture and Decorative Arts on Saturday, January 14th in its Boston gallery. The sale begins at 10 a.m. and features an impressive collection of Continental and British ceramics, glass, statuary, clocks, paintings and prints, lighting, rugs, textiles, and antique furniture.
Ceramics
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. The china pattern dates back to 1816-1817 and was originally created for Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte.
Figurines include more than thirty lots of Dorothy Doughty for Royal Worcester porcelain birds. These lots come from a single-owner collection that contained nearly every piece in the series.
A large collection of Royal Doulton Flambe figures will be offered in twenty-two different lots with estimates ranging from $300 to $900. These figures contain many animals, ranging from groups of dogs of various breeds to the more exotic examples, including a rhinoceros (lot 414) and a white glazed “Flambe” fox and duck (lot 445).
A KPM porcelain plaque of Lorelei depicts the winged beauty seated on a ledge in a misty landscape (lot 693). The work is estimated between $8,000 and $12,000. Another KPM work is an artist-signed charger (lot 830), estimated between $3,000 and $5,000. This excellent 19th century porcelain Pate-sur-Pate charger depicts a seated Venus scribing in a book supported by Cupid.
This sale features a large and varied collection of Delft ware. Featured lots include a pair of Dutch chargers (lot 146) from the 18th century depicting different Biblical scenes. One details the verse in Numbers 13:23 with two spies from the Eschol valley carrying an oversized bunch of grapes; the other depicts Samson carrying the gates up to the mountain as described in Judges 16:3. The auction estimate ranges from $800 to $1,200 for the pair. In addition to chargers, there are fine examples of hollow ware, garnitures, wall plaques, and figurines.
Decorative Arts Including Bronzes and Ivories
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. Another artist-signed bronze (lot 762) by the French sculptor Louis Ernest Barrias represents Joan of Arc and is estimated between $5,000 and $7,000. This work depicts the figure of a captive Joan clad in armor, her hands bound by manacles.
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; and a relief-carved lidded tankard decorated with a scene of soldiers making camp (lot 503), estimated between $2,500 and 3,500.
Dutch Marquetry-Inlaid Furniture and English Furniture
Several pieces of Dutch marquetry 19th century furniture including chairs, chests and clocks will be featured such as a large-scale walnut and marquetry-inlaid vitrine (lot 439), estimated between $8,000 and $12,000. The upper section of this outstanding example consists of an arched cornice over glass doors enclosing a shelved interior, and the lower section has three long graduated drawers and a shaped apron on bracket feet.
A William & Mary oyster veneer table (lot 297) from the 17th century is estimated between $4,000 and $6,000. The table has a string-inlaid and veneered top that sits on barley-twist legs.
Previews, Catalogue and Bidding
Previews for the auction will be held on Thursday, January 12, 2012, 12pm-5pm, and Friday, January 13, 2012, 12pm-8pm. Illustrated catalogue #2579B is available by mail for $35 ($42 for foreign requests) from the subscription department at 508-970-3240. It is also available at the gallery for $32. Prices realized will be available at www.skinnerinc.com during and after the sale. Skinner's site also allows users to view all lots in the auctions, leave bids, order catalogues, and bid live in real-time through SkinnerLive!
About Skinner
Skinner, Inc. is one of the world’s leading auction houses for antiques and fine art. With expertise in over 20 specialty collecting areas, Skinner draws the interest of buyers from all over the world and its auctions regularly achieve world record prices. Skinner provides a broad range of auction and appraisal services, and it is widely regarded as one of the most trusted names in the auction business. Skinner’s appraisal experts regularly appear on the PBS-TV series, Antiques Roadshow, and its specialty departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, American & European Works of Art, European Furniture & Decorative Arts, 20th Century Design, Fine Ceramics, Fine Silver, Fine Jewelry, Couture, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Works of Art, Fine Wines, Rare Books & Manuscripts, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographic Art, Fine Judaica, Antique Motor Vehicles, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Discovery and Science, Technology & Clocks. Skinner galleries are located in Boston and Marlborough, Mass. For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.
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Contacts
- Stuart Slavid, Director of European Furniture & Decorative Arts, 508-970-3278, sslavid@skinnerinc.com
- Kate de Bethune, Director of Marketing, 508-970-3231, kdebethune@skinnerinc.com