EUROPEAN FURNITURE & DECORATIVE ARTS
AT SKINNER APRIL 8TH
Including an Extensive Selection of American, English & Continental Silver
BOSTON, Mass. - April 19, 2006
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www.skinnerinc.com - Skinner, one of the nation's leading auction houses, hosted a very successful auction of European furniture and decorative arts on Saturday, April 8th, grossing $1,264,000 and selling 92% of the offerings. Highlights included examples of American, English, and Continental silver, Russian decorative arts, and various porcelains, among others.
Silver and Objects of Vertu
The sale featured over 250 lots of silver, representing a broad range of styles and periods. Especially interesting lots of early English silver featured a Charles I silver and gold-washed beaker (lot 523) that reached $19,975, a Queen Anne silver lidded tankard by John Elston of Exeter (lot 529) that realized $14,100, and a William and Mary silver lidded tankard made by Thomas Jenkins (lot 527) that sold for $9,400. A James II silver chinoiserie decorated mug (lot 526) went for $7,638, a pair of George III silver candlesticks, London, 1794, John Schofield, maker (lot 556) brought $7,050, and a Charles II silver caudle cup made by Benjamin Pyne (lot 525) sold for $6,463. A Charles II silver tankard (lot 524) sold for $4,994.
Fine Georgian pieces included a set of three George II silver casters by Peter Archambo II and Peter Meure (lot 535) that brought $4,700, and a George III silver covered tureen by William Cripps (lot 539) that reached $8,225. Additional lots included a George V silver Doggett's badge (lot 569), that sold for $3,819. The badge was awarded annually for the scullers race called The Doggett's Coat and Badge race, under the will of Thomas Doggett in commemoration of George I's accession to the throne in 1714.
The auction's Continental silver featured two lots of post 1945 Georg Jensen sterling flatware: a partial service in the "Pyramid" pattern (lot 625) that sold for $7,638, and a service for eight in the "Continental/Antik" pattern (lot 622) that realized $3,055.
Leading lots of American silver ranged from an engraved punch bowl, made circa 1754 (lot 717) that garnered $17,275, to a late 19th century Gorham sterling Rococo Revival seven-piece tea service and coffee service (lot 698) that reached $11,750. A late 19th century Whiting Manufacturing Company sterling trophy tankard (lot 728) went for $9,988, eight Tiffany & Co. figural sterling Aesthetic Movement nut cups, 1870-75 (lot 669) sold together for $8,813, and a Tiffany & Co. sterling "Flemish" flatware service (lot 685) sold for $6,463.
Also included in the sale was an excellent selection of more than 35 lots of Russian silver and objects of vertu. Highlights from this group included a silver enamel presentation flatware set, 1896-1917, possibly made in part by Mariìa Vasilbevna Semenova (lot 649). The set drew significant interest, and ultimately sold for $15,275. An Imperial porcelain portrait plate from the first half of the 19th century (lot 164) sold for $11,750. Additional Russian offerings included a 19th century gold and enamel Order of St. Stanislas (lot 263) that sold for $2,350, a 19th century cruciform gold and enamel Order of St. Anne (lot 256) that went for $2,233, and a 19th century gold and enamel order of St. Vladimir (lot 264) that brought $1,880. Several lacquered objects were led by a papier-mache egg, c. 1881 (lot 124), that reached $3,525, a Kornilov Porcelain proverb plate, c. 1840 (lot 303) sold for $999, and a late 19th century wood hatbox from Luterma (lot 176) sold for $940.
Furniture and Decorations
Topping the selection of English and Continental furniture was a set of ten Renaissance Revival carved oak dining chairs (lot 207) that realized $43,475. Highlights also included a Renaissance Revival oak dining table (lot 206) that brought $19,975, a pair of late 19th century Louis XV/XVI style marquetry and parquetry inlaid marble-top commodes (lot 36) that sold for $14,100, a George II walnut and burl walnut dressing table (lot 43) that sold for $12,925, and a Spanish walnut, painted, and parcel-gilt varqueno on associated stand (lot 200) that went for $11,750. George III offerings included a satinwood inlaid mahogany sideboard (lot 185) that went for $9,988, and a mahogany three pedestal dining table (lot 237) that reached $7, 638. A William and Mary / Queen Anne inlaid walnut bureau bookcase (lot 51) realized $7,050, and a Continental Rococo gray painted pine chest of drawers (lot 28) sold for $6,463.
Auction highlights also featured a diverse selection of bronzes led by Les Violettes, a gilt and brown patinated sculpture of three figures by Francois-Raoul Larche (lot 463) that garnered $38,775. Additional highlights included a parcel-gilt and patinated bronze Cupid and Psyche floor vase by Paul-Eugene Mengin (lot 379) that reached $12,925, and a French gilt bronze, champleve enamel and onyx center bowl (lot 505) that sold for $9,988.
Selected clocks and timepieces featured a French Louis XV-style gilt bronze mantel clock (lot 392) selling for $6,463, a highly elaborate late 19th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze mantel clock with Japy Freres movement (lot 346) going for $4,406, and a late 19th/early 20th century French Louis XVI style gilt bronze and rouge marble mantel clock (lot 475) going for $2,585. More reserved designs included a French Directoire style slate calendar shelf clock by Mudesse of Paris (lot 338) that sold for $1,293.
Additional Highlights
The sale offered a varied selection of porcelain that drew widespread interest. Highlights included an extensive 19th century Paris porcelain armorial decorated dessert service (lot 284) that realized $23,500, and a Rococo style green painted and parcel-gilt porcelain and ormolu girandole (lot 474) that brought $12,925. A Coalport porcelain presentation plate, manufactured c. 1845 for Queen Victoria to present to Tsar Nicholas of Russia (lot 302) sold for $11,750. Late 19th century Berlin porcelain plaques included a plaque of a gypsy man playing fiddle for the lady dozing in his lap (lot 252) that brought $7,050, and a plaque of Psyche (lot 129) that realized $6,463. Over 20 lots of Meissen Porcelain figures also were offered, led by a late 19th century figural group modeled as Neptune surrounded by four animated cherub figures (lot 143) that sold for $2,468, and a late 19th century music group modeled as two cherubs (lot 82) that brought $2,115.
Upcoming Auction Information
Consignments are currently being accepted for Skinner's next auction of English and Continental furniture and decorative arts, which will be held in Boston in July 2006. Prices realized at the April 8th auction are available at
www.skinnerinc.com. Skinner's site also allows users to view all lots in the auctions, leave bids, and order catalogues online.
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About Skinner
Skinner, Inc. is one of the nation's leading auction houses for antiques and fine art and the only major auction house headquartered in New England. 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, Paintings & Prints, English & Continental Furniture & Decorations, Fine Ceramics, Jewelry, Couture, 20th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Art, Fine Judaica, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Science & Technology, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographic Art, and Discovery. Skinner galleries are located in Boston and Bolton, Mass. For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner's web site
www.skinnerinc.com.
