A colorful and elaborately decorated Tiffany chocolate pot was among the top lots at Cottone Auctions’ fine art and antiques sale March 26.

While paintings and fine art dominated to the top two slots, the rare chocolate pot came in at $69,000, far above its $6/10,000 estimate, and sold to a phone bidder.

The rare silver enameled and hardstone chocolate pot of Moorish design and is circa 1875‱891. Designed by Edward C. Moore, the pot, which is hand chased with acid etched relief work, was exhibited at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893.

Matthew Cottone could not call the pot a record with certainty, but he said the price was right up there with the best examples as he could not find any auction records for a higher price.

Phone lines were booked up for this and other key lots in the auction.

“We had a tremendous amount of interest that ran straight through the sale,” Cottone said, owing to the quality of the offerings.

A full report on the auction will appear in a future edition.

⁁VV