Auction highlights for the December 10, 2021 issue spotlights furnishings, lavish decor, and much more. A Chinese gilt bronze figure of Buddha surpassed its $10/15,000 estimate, and was sold for $187,500. A man’s Rolex Cosmograph Daytona wristwatch was sold to an online bidder for $20,313. This included the original box, factory documents, and other original materials. These and more in this week’s Across the Block.
Man’s Rolex Keeps Time For Kaminski Couture Auction
BEVERLY, MASS. – The top lot in Kaminski Auctions’ 248-lot Couture Auction on November 19 was a man’s Rolex Cosmograph Daytona wristwatch that sold to an online bidder for $20,313. The lot, which had come from the Santa Barbara, Calif., collection of Dr Steven Morgan, included the original box, factory documents and other original materials and had been estimated at $9/12,000. For information, 978-927-2223 or www.kaminskiauctions.com.
Vintage Martin D-18 Dreadnaught Plays To $2,375 At Mid-Hudson Galleries
NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. -Online and live, Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries’ Sale on November 20 got underway at 2 pm on November 20 following a two-day preview exhibition. In addition to the firm’s continuing dispersal of items relating to Princess Diana Spencer, the sale included European and American paintings, bronzes, Orientalia, photography and a large collection of sheet music. Top among the day’s offerings was a Martin D-18 acoustic guitar, a 1971 model with serial # 269841. With its original fitted hard case, it sold for $2,375. For information, www.midhudsongalleries.com or 914-882-7356.
Sino-Tibetan Guanyin Gets Heady Sum At Andrew Jones Auction
LOS ANGELES – Billed as an “At Home” sale, Andrew Jones’ November 17-19 auction was headlined by something more exotic than domestic décor. On day one, a Sino-Tibetan Guanyin took off, leaving its $100/200 estimate in the dust to settle at $55,000. The gilt mixed alloy model of the 11-headed manifestation of the compassionate bodhisattva, its 11 heads symbolizing steps on the path to enlightenment, stood 15 inches high and 8½ inches wide. For information, www.andrewjonesauctions.com or 213-748-8008.
Black Forest Chair & Bench Brought To Bear At Schmitt Horan & Co.
WINDHAM, N.H. – The Schmitt Horan & Co. November 20 sale featured antiques, advertising, still and mechanical banks, tea caddies, inkstands and desk items, brass and copper cookware, horology and Black Forest carvings. While the firm is best known for its auctions of horological material, mechanical music and scientific instruments, the online sale with a live close also included a large selection of antique and decorative items appealing to a broad spectrum of buyers. From Switzerland, an early Twentieth Century Black Forest bear carved linden arm chair and bench found favor with bidders, finishing at $16,800. The chair had naturalistic branch and oak leaf carving, and the back sported a standing bear and the arms terminated with bear heads. The hollow tree front legs each had an emerging bear, and the bench matched the carving, its back featuring three bears. For information, www.schmitt-horan.com or 603-432-2237.
US Mint American Eagles Gold Proof Set In The Money At Nadeau’s
WINDSOR, CONN. – Coins, stamps, ephemera and postcards flew before bidders at Nadeau’s November 20 sale. Notable was a United States Mint American Eagles gold proof set that made high estimate at $4,120. The set consisted of four 1990 coins, a one-ounce fine gold $50, a half-ounce $25 dollar, a quarter-ounce $10 dollar and a tenth-ounce $5 piece. American Gold Eagle sets generally include one proof example of each gold eagle denomination, the tenth-ounce, quarter-ounce, half-ounce and one-ounce coins. For information, www.nadeausauction.com or 860-246-2444.
Eighteenth Century American Highboy Stands Tall At Kamelot
PHILADELPHIA – Kamelot’s two-day auction on November 16 and 18 featured continental furniture and architectural antiques. Leading the sale, however, was an Eighteenth Century American highboy (shown) that went out at $10,700. It bested its $1/1,800 estimate, a good example of a two-piece tiger maple highboy with shell carving. Standing 72½ inches high, it had a width of 40½ inches and depth of 20 inches. Also performing well was a set of 14 English mahogany fret carved dining chairs, 1910, that finished at $10,000. For more information, 215-438-6990 or www.kamelotauctions.com.
At Hindman, High Flying Falcon & Egyptian Sculpture Leads To $1.1 Million Auction
CHICAGO – On November 18, Hindman Auctions achieved $1,121,063 in its antiquities and ethnographic art auction, which included remarkable engagement with ancient Egyptian sculpture. The auction offered rare objects from the Fifth Millennium BCE to the Twentieth Century. Emerging as the top lot of the auction was an Egyptian granodiorite falcon, which shattered its estimate of $7/9,000 to sell for $93,750. The falcon is seen as a powerful and fierce bird in ancient culture. Bidders recognized value in the fine craftmanship and overall remarkable condition. For information, www.hindmanauctions.com or 312-280-1212.
Wild And Wooly Modern & Contemporary Art Sale At Freeman’s
PHILADELPHIA – Freeman’s November 17 Modern and contemporary art auction was marked by competitive bidding among national and international bidders, leading to an impressive overall sale total of nearly $5 million in only 80 lots, far surpassing estimates. The undoubted highlight of the auction was a suite of playful “Moutons de Pierre” by François-Xavier Lalanne from the collection of a prominent Washington, DC, family, all of which realized prices that soared well past their respective estimates. A set of two moutons (sheep) achieved $705,600, while two others sold for $466,200 each, and another achieved $403,200. In addition to Lalanne’s flock of sheep, his “Éléphant” was bid to $264,600 – all in, an overall result of $2,305,800 for works by Lalanne. For information, www.freemansauction.com or 215-563-9275.
Chinese Gilt Bronze Buddha Tops For Clars
OAKLAND, CALIF. – A Chinese gilt bronze figure of Buddha, seated in dhvanasana on a double lotus pedestal, soared past its $10/15,000 estimate to achieve a Nirvana-like price of $187,500, from a Shanghai-based buyer; it was the top price in Clars Auction Gallery’s November 21 Fine Art & Antiques Auction. Standing 14¼ inches tall, the work was noted for its unsurpassed craftsmanship that was distinguished by detailed features. It was part of the estate of Eric de Reynier, who had acquired it in Shanghai during the late 1930s. For information, 510-428-0100 or www.clars.com.
