Twentieth Century Succeeds in Snowy Boston

BOSTON, MASS.

: Skinner's December 6 auction of Twentieth Century furniture and decorative arts was a sound success, despite being conducted on the day of Boston's worst December snowstorm on record.

Featuring art glass ranging from Tiffany lamps to John Kuhn sculptures, and furniture from Gustav Stickley to George Nelson, among other selections, the sale offered values that attracted both beginning and seasoned collectors. Competition came from the gallery, absentee and telephone bidders, and the results proved there was solid interest across the board.

Several Tiffany selections led the diverse selection of art glass, including a Daffodil table lamp that sold high for $28,200, a Moorish bronze and gold Favrile glass chandelier that brought $21,150, and a Pomegranate table lamp that reached $20,563.

A gold Damascene and bronze Doré table lamp realized $8,813, and a gold Favrile vase went for $3,290. Also highlighting American Art Glass were a Carder Steuben brown Aurene glass shade on a brass bridge lamp base that brought $3,290, and three Paul J. Stankard paperweights, one selling for $1,528 and the other two for $1,410 each.

French glass featured a Lalique "Inseparables" vase that garnered $18,800, and a Cameo glass center bowl and a pair of candlesticks thought to be by Baccarat that together realized $11,163. A Gallé Cameo glass table lamp, a Daum scenic birch tree art glass vase and a pair of Charder Le Verre Francais vases sold for $4,994, $3,408 and $3,173, respectively.

Leading selections of Arts and Crafts furniture was a Gustav Stickley chest of drawers that sold well above estimate for $11,750. A Gustav Stickley oak bookcase went for $4,700, and a set of six Stickley Brothers side chairs for $1,645. Highlighting pottery from the same period was a Marblehead three-color vase that sold for $2,938, a Rookwood oval vellum plaque by Carl Schmidt that brought $2,350 and an Iris glaze vase decorated by Irene Bishop that went for $1,293.

Later pottery included several pieces of Catteau Keramis, among them a signed swollen cylindrical-form 7/8s vase decorated with fern frond motifs that reached $1,528.

A collection of art glass spanning the Twentieth Century featured eight lots in various designs by Jon Kuhn, led by a sculpture titled "Rainbow's End" that yielded $4,113, and another titled "Frosty Morn" that sold for $4,406. Additional contemporary studio highlights included a Dame Lucie Rie porcelain bowl selling for $2,350 and a lot of six James Shaw optical glass crystal sculptures bringing $1,645.

Also drawing competition was a George Nelson home office desk that reached $4,994 and a Studio furniture table by Wendell Castle that went for $4,113. A Walter Doren Teague Polaroid desk lamp sold for $1,293.

Prices reported include buyer's premium.