Continental Offerings Tally a Cool $3 Million for Northeast

Leading the auction was this rare, Neo-classical giltwood and glass trumeau mirror selling for $70,150.

Continental Offerings Tally a Cool $3 Million for Northeast

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- The personal collection of Boston dealer George Gravert was among the offerings at Ron Bourgeault's two-day auction this past weekend, May 17-18, attracting major attention from buyers from throughout the country.

George III cut glass 12-light chandelier, $60,375.

The Northeast Auctions sale attracted a huge crowd and "more phone and absentee bids than we have ever had," commented Bourgeault. When all was said and done, the sale tallied more than $3 million.

"George had impeccable taste with decorative objects and the stuff just flew out of here. We will never have another Continental auction that will match up to this one," said Bourgeault.

Other consignors included the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the estate of the late Malcolm Stearns, the estate of Fred Nadler and items from the collection of Barbra Streisand.

Leading the auction was a rare neoclassical giltwood and glass trumeau mirror with a central painting depicting figures engaged in various agrarian activities before ruins in a landscape setting. The mirror, estimated at only $2/3 ,000 was actively bid with it selling at $70,150.

Other top lots included a George III cut glass 12-light chandelier at $60,375, a "Lamentation of Christ" oil on panel $52,900, a Venetian Rococo-style painted commode at $44,850 and an Italian oil on canvas depicting classical architecture realized $41,400.

Prices include the premium charged.