Once again the firm of James D. Julia, Inc proved that quality merchandise combined with quality marketing and promotion equals quality results. “Remove one piece of that equation,” said the firm’s sales coordinator Dudley Browne, “and you have just another auction.”
Julia’s recent fine lamp and glass auction, grossing $2.3 million and setting some world auction records, was not just another auction. The 1,100-plus lot sale offered a wide variety of art glass and lighting including Tiffany, Mount Washington and Steuben as well as an array of French cameo glass and rare pottery.
Most impressive was a Quezal jack-in-the-pulpit vase ($3/5,000) with green pulled feather design extending to its rich gold iridescent stretched flower that finished up amid applause reaching a record $36,800.
Other highlights included a Tiffany Studios poppy table lamp that sold for $66,125. A leaded Tiffany daffodil table lamp realized $48,875. One of the few bargains of the day was a Tiffany swirling leaf and vine hanger. Fresh to the market, having been in the same family since 1929, it was a steal at $23,000.
A scarce Pairpoint puffy begonia table lamp ($45/55,000) consisting of four large begonias in full bloom that came to the block from the collection of Ed and Sheila Malakoff achieved $51,750.
Other lighting included a multihued Galle cameo table lamp with foliage design in various reds that realized $10,925. A Daum Nancy chandelier with colorful grape and leaf pattern brought $7,475, more than tripling its $2/3,000 estimate.
An important museum quality Galle vase with detailed cameo polar bears in an arctic setting sold for $34,500. Other Galle included a marquetry vase with inlaid wheel-carved flowers of red and cream for $26,450.
A set of four Galle nesting tables with inlaid marquetry tops went to a bidder looking to complete his Galle collection. Ignoring the $3/5,000 estimate, the set sold for $25,875.
English cameo glass included a rare signed Webb window vase, acid etched white over gray on a green background that brought a solid $28,750.
Daum highlights included a museum quality padded and wheel-carved crocus flower for $28,750; a highly detailed Daum Nancy frosted vase with a flock of cranes that soared to $24,725, and in another of the many surprises of the day was a 22″ Daum vase with purple enameled irises highlighted by cameo and gold enamel grasshoppers that achieved $34,500, nearly triple its high estimate.
Another surprise was a Le Verre Francais vase with stylized swan decoration over a strong yellow and orange mottled background that hammered down for $9,487, more than five times its estimate of $1,8/2,200. Steuben glass offerings included a rare red Aurene that sold for $33,350; a powder blue example for $14,375 and a Steuben Moss Agate vase at $13,800.
Early Lalique pieces signed by its founder, R. Lalique, are among the most desirable and this sale had numerous examples including a deep ruby red Perruches vase with allover pattern of parakeets perched on limbs. With provenance to Russian ballet master Louis H. Chalif, the piece soared past its $10/15,000 estimate to $25,875.
Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre highlights included a vase in the Candlemas pattern for $20,125, a multihued Fairyland Lustre footed vase at $16,675 and a large footed Woodland Bridge punchbowl at $14,375.
Mount Washington Victorian art glass included a Royal Flemish two-handled vase with Egyptian travelers that sold for $28,175; a soft pink Burmese two-handled covered jar for $8,912 and an enameled Mount Washington peachblow vase for $9,775.
Modern art glass offerings included an unusual studio art glass bowl by Toots Zynsky that brought $7,475.
Rounding out the sale were numerous contemporary jewelry pieces including a 14K white gold necklace that brought $10,925. A Georg Jensen silver and mother of pearl necklace with suspended bellflower achieved $8,912.
All prices include the 15 percent buyer’s premium. Julia’s next lamp and glass auction will take place in November. Other auctions include a rare antique firearms and military memorabilia auction in October, as well as an antique toy and doll auction also in November. For more information, www.juliaauctions.com or 207-453-7125.
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