: Susanin's Auctions took in more than $1 million during its
Holiday Premiere Auction, making it the highest grossing single
sale in the company's ten-year history. The two-day event,
conducted December 7-8, featured 483 lots of furniture, fine art,
decorative art, silver and textiles in addition to 433 lots of
fine antique estate jewelry.
One of the most anticipated lots of the sale was an oil on canvas
by prominent muralist José Clemente Orozco (1883-1949), who is
credited with leading the renaissance of modern Mexican art. The
boldly colored painting, titled "Who Is Next," measures 251/2 by
18 inches and depicts a group of men crowded around a table
playing a game of chance with a pistol. The painting, which was
owned by Cecil B. DeMille, was consigned to Susanin's by the
legendary filmmaker's great-granddaughter.
As the Orozco came up for bid on Sunday afternoon, principal
auctioneer Sean Susanin paused for a moment to allow his staff
time to ensure that the seven phone bidders from all corners of
the globe were ready to begin. Susanin opened the bidding at the
presale estimate of $50,000 and a flurry of activity ensued.
Within seconds, the figure escalated to $120,000, causing the
phone bidders to drop out one by one. Valerie Carberry of Chicago
and Jason Schoen of Miami, both successful gallery owners, were
the only two left vying for the painting.
Susanin's attention flashed from one side of the gallery to the
other as Carberry and Schoen continued to bid against each other.
Thirty seconds later, applause filled the room and Carberry's
winning bid of $240,000 set a new record as the most expensive
painting sold at Susanin's. (Previously, the record was held by
John William Godward's "Loosened Lace," an oil painting sold in
May 2003 for $144,000.)
Other fine art highlights of the sale include a 20- by 28-inch
landscape by Theodore Clement Steele (1847-1926) that brought
$30,000 against a low estimate of $3,000; Ernest Walbourn's
"Cottage Landscape with Figures," which sold for $1,680 against a
low estimate of $500; and an oil on canvas by Pierre DuMont
(1884-1936) titled "Rouen Harbour" that went for $2,280.
Two sets of ten Japanese woodblock prints from Tokushi Katsuhira
(1904-1971) drew considerable interest from bidders and sold for
$2,640 and$2,880 against low auction estimates of $1,000 per set.
A 241/4- by 36-inch oil on canvas by Alexander Dzigurski
(1911-1995) titled "Ocean Grandeur" brought $2,400 against a low
auction estimate of $1,000; and Leonard Woodruff's "Pears," an
oil on canvas measuring 19 by 30 inches, sold for $1,560 against
a low estimate of $600.
Interest was high on a collection of French furniture, resulting
in winning bids that were at least double and sometimes triple
the presale low estimates. Highlights include a 35-inch-high
mahogany marble-top dresser with marquetry and ormolu detailing
that sold for $9,600 against a low estimate of $1,500; a 62-inch
mahogany bed that brought $1,440 ($450/650); and a pair of side
tables with marble tops, inlay and ormolu detailing that brought
$1,020 against a low estimate of $300.
Mahogany marble top dresser with marquetry and ormolu detailing
sold for $9,600.
Among other results, a Renaissance-style carved oak armoire
circa 1880, $1,560; a Louis XV marquetry commode with marble top,
circa 1850, $3,840; and a Nineteenth Century Louis XVI-style
marquetry commode, $3,600.
Several French vitrines from the estate of Lillian Tunze were
also offered. A 641/2-inch-high painted and giltwood vitrine,
circa 1900-1910, sold for $1,680; a walnut vitrine with ormolu
detailing, circa 1880-1890, brought $1,560; and a walnut
tri-foliate form vitrine with ormolu detailing sold for $1,140.
Decorative arts highlights include an Eighteenth Century giltwood
mirror with floral, shield and swag design details that sold for
$1,140; three pietra dura plaques that brought $1,920; and a
carved ivory and yellow gold elephant studded with diamonds,
rubies and sapphires that went for $4,800.
A French marble and gilt bronze standish with matching
candlesticks sold for $6,000; an Eighteenth Century Austrian
carved wood figure of God the Father brought $1,200; and a pair
of Italian gesso and wood book covers sold for $5,520.
A brass peacock-form table lamp brought $1,140; a Nineteenth
Century Viennese enameled cupboard with gilt figural highlights
and enameled panels sold for $7,800, and an automated singing
birdcage by Bontems, Paris, circa 1900, sold for $1,560.
A collection of Peruvian silver did extremely well. Highlights
include a late Eighteenth Century charger, $840; a Nineteenth
Century epergne, $2,640; and a 141/2-inch covered tureen, $2,400.
In addition, an 11-inch spice tower sold for $1,200; a document
box measuring 41/4 by 101/2 by 71/4 inches went for $2,160; and a
footed bowl brought $3,360.
The June Latta Antique Jewelry Collection presented fine jewelry
from the estate of the longtime Park Ridge, Ill., resident. The
Latta jewelry represents one of the finest single-owner
collections of antique bracelets, rings, brooches, necklaces and
cameos known to exist.
During the days and weeks leading up to the sale, Susanin's
welcomed more than 1,500 buyers from across the country who
wanted to preview the entire collection, resulting in an
unprecedented 850 absentee bids left at the gallery or online.
By 5 pm Monday night, more than 150 people filled the first floor
of Susanin's gallery, snacking on savory chicken salad
croissants, champagne and Italian chocolates in between bidding
on the nearly 450 lots of Victorian, Georgian, French,
Continental and Austrian antique and contemporary jewelry. While
the cameos and gold pieces in the collection were popular with
bidders, the stars of the sale were the reptiles and insects.
An English green garnet and diamond salamander pin, circa 1890,
brought $5,760 from a phone bidder, while another lucky phone
bidder picked up a similar yellow gold, green garnet and diamond
salamander pin for $3,600. A third salamander pin of yellow gold,
garnet and pearls went for $3,120.
A yellow gold spider pin with opal, diamonds and demantoid
garnets, circa 1910, brought $3,120; a silver on gold natural
pearl and diamond fish form pin, circa 1890, sold for $2,040; a
Victorian butterfly pin with mine-cut diamonds and emeralds,
circa 1860, brought $1,560; and an insect pin with pink
tourmaline, opal, rubies, emeralds and mine-cut diamonds went for
$2,400.
A continental 14K. yellow gold, diamond and enamel bangle
bracelet brought $2,280; an English 15K gold three-strand
necklace with heart pendant, circa 1910, sold to an absentee
bidder for $1,920; and another absentee bidder was successful in
buying a rare Art Nouveau 14K yellow gold spider web form
bracelet with diamonds and sapphires with matching earrings for
$4,080.
An English monkey pin with sapphires, pearls, amethyst, emeralds
and diamonds, circa 1880, sold for $1,800; an American gold chain
necklace with 15 brilliant cut diamonds, circa 1920, brought
$1,920; and a French gold musical pocket watch, circa 1890, sold
for $2,640.
French marble and gilt bronze standish with matching
candlesticks, $6,000.
Cameo highlights include a seven-cameo necklace with pearls
and a cameo clasp that sold to a phone bidder for $1,920; an
English dancer pin on sardonyx with gold and pearl frame, circa
1850, brought $1,800; and an American agate cameo pin with 14K gold
frame, circa 1910-20, that sold for $1,440. In addition, a yellow
gold, pearl and stone cameo pine of a woman brought $1,200 and a
stone cameo pin of a priest sold for $1,320.
One of the most unique cameo sets in the Latta collection was a
bracelet and brooch both with Etruscan work, circa 1870. Still in
its original box, the set sold for $3,840.
An English malachite set comprising a pin, earrings and cuff
links with its original box sold for $2,280; a pair of 18K yellow
gold and enamel bangle bracelets, circa 1890, also sold for
$2,280; and a Giuliano-style enamel necklace, circa 1890, in its
original box went to a phone bidder for $4,800.
The collection included many rings. Among the highlights were a
4.73-carat platinum and diamond engagement ring that brought
$21,600; a 2.15-carat white gold and diamond girdle ring that
sold for $9,600; a stunning demantoid garnet ring, circa 1910,
that fetched $4,800; and a custom-made 18K gold 2.75 carat pave
ring that brought $3,600.
Prices reported include buyer's premium.
