This large Berlin topographical porcelain plaque showing Berlin from the Kreuzberg, circa 1830, sold for $61,000, more than doubling its presale estimate. The finely painted panoramic view overlooking Victoria Park to the city, on the left is Schinkel's Monument to the Wars of Liberation, was offered in a carved giltwood and gesso frame.
:On January 29 and 30, Freeman's conducted its important English and Continental furniture and decorative sale. The sale featured early Italian furniture, English and French silver, Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century French furniture and decorative arts, a large collection of bronzes and several German porcelain plaques.
Highlighting the sale was a large Berlin topographical porcelain plaque, circa 1830, which sold for $61,000, more than doubling its presale estimate of $18/22,000. Also of great interest was a pair of Sevres porcelain cache pots. Presented as the first diplomatic gift from the Sevres factory by King Louis XV to Frederick V of Denmark, they are two of 12 cache pots that were produced by the Sevres factory. Estimated at $1,5/2,500, the pots fetched $34,600.
Also achieving values substantially above the estimate were several pieces of early Italian and Spanish furniture. An Italian credenza owned by the renowned artist Nelson Shanks, estimated at $5/7,000, soared to $16,250. In addition, a Seventeenth Century Spanish trestle table, estimated at $2/3,000, reached $11,250.
A pair of Sevres-style porcelain cache pots, Nineteenth Century, with molded foliate scroll handles and floral reserves on an apple green ground, with gilt details throughout, blue interlaced marks to bases, realized $34,600.
French furniture and decorative arts also held their own in the sale. A French Louis XV-style lacquered commode, estimated at $8/12,000, sold for $18,750. A Louis XVI celestial globe, dated 1780, was estimated at $880–$1,200 and sold for more than $2,875. One of the standout lots was an exceptional empire French silver gilt necessaire de voyage, circa 1820; it fetched $12,500.
One of the most spectacular decorative pieces in the sale was a Louis Philippe gilt bronze Rheims cathedral clock ($3/5,000), which sold for $8,125.
Hungarian porcelain was highly sought after by the buyers. A Herend Ming pattern porcelain dinner service, estimated at $5/7,000, achieved $12,500 after lively competition for the service.
Prices reported include the buyer's premium. For information, 215-563-9275 or
www.freemansauction.com
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