Decorative arts were dominant in this week’s top lots, from a Grecian-style recamier attributed to the workshop of Duncan Phyfe to a ‘Cityscape’ credenza by Paul Evans. Chippendale appeared in a tall chest from Richard Opfer Auctions, and a zinc-casted garden sculpture of a large dog stole the show at Ralph Fontaine Heritage Auctions. Read on for more top sales.
Prindle Collection Led By Paul Evans ‘Cityscape’ Credenza At Litchfield Auctions
LITCHFIELD, CONN. – Litchfield Auctions’ September 20-21 sale featured property from the modern collection of John “Parker” Prindle Jr of Boston, an avid collector of Twentieth Century decorative arts, furniture, fine art and tribal art. In the sale’s first session on September 20, a Paul Evans for Directional “Cityscape” chrome and brass credenza (shown) surpassed its $5/7,000 estimate to sell for $14,900. Prindle was also known for an extensive collection of studio glass, ceramics and more that filled his duplex apartment in Beacon Hill. Session 2’s leader on September 21 was a Guido Gambone (Italian, 1909-1969) Geometric design, ceramic vase, signed. It was estimated $500/700 but did much better, realizing $11,050 and going to a California collector bidding online. The same buyer purchased a total of five pieces by Gambone. For information, 860-567-4661 or www.litchfieldcountyauctions.com.
Chinese Bronze Censer Smokes Estimate In Andrew Jones DTLA Auction
LOS ANGELES – The DTLA collections and estates auction by Andrew Jones on September 21 boasted an extensive offering of Chinese and other Asian works of art, porcelain and silver, antique and designer furniture, fine art and accessories, all from the collection of Craig Wright, as well as the estate of Lowell Blankfort and other private sources. Top lot in the sale was a large Chinese bronze censer that surpassed its $1/1,500 estimate to finish at $7,500. The 17½-inch-high censer was 38½ inches long and had a depth of 8 inches. For information, 213-748-8008 or www.andrewjonesauctions.com.
Chippendale Chest Stands Tall In Opfer Live Online Auction
TIMONIUM, MD. – A live online auction featuring the estate of Irene Mansfield’s period and reproduction furniture, paintings, watercolors and artwork and more was conducted by Richard Opfer Auctioneering on September 22. Notable across the block was a Chippendale tall chest, Westchester, Penn. Of walnut with two-board top, three over two over four drawers, raised panel sides and straight bracket feet, measuring 60 by 42 by 24 inches, it sold for $12,300. For information, www.opferauction.com or 410-252-5035.
George Cole Sells Hunt Slonem Collection From Cordts Mansion
RED HOOK, N.Y. – On September 24, George Cole Auctions offered partial contents of the Cordts Mansion of Kingston, N.Y., the former home of the world-renowned artist Hunt Slonem. Items from the mansion included four paintings by Hunt Slonem, a wide range of Victorian furniture, including Herter Bros, Belter, Meeks, Renaissance Revival, Gothic Revival and Eastlake, plus a large collection of Victorian lighting. A framed triptych, “Lotus Leaf,” signed Hunt Slonem, 1986, 12 by 28½ inches (shown), was bid to $1,800; a two-drawer desk went to $1,920; a marble top console was $4,200; and a Victorian Renaissance Revival parlor cabinet attributed to Herter left the gallery at $4,500. For information, 845-758-9114 or www.georgecoleauctions.com.
Big Dog Has His Day At Ralph Fontaine’s Auction
CANAAN, N.Y. – Ralph Fontaine Heritage Auctions sold more than 450 lots of Midcentury Modern, oak, Victorian, Mission and period furniture, along with estate jewelry, garden items, paintings and more in a September 25 online sale. The alpha lot was a monumental antique 53-inch-wide garden dog. Estimated $50-$1,000, the zinc-casted canine did much better, achieving $10,000. Estate fresh, he had been repainted years ago, and a crack had been repaired years ago on his rear end. A Rolex clock and a 1967 Cadillac Deville convertible also did well, bringing $2,400 and $10,800, respectively. For information, 413-441-7641 or www.fontaineheritage.com.
Christensen Abstract Acrylic Leads At Capsule
NEW YORK CITY – Of the 124 lots offered by Capsule Gallery Auctions in its September 22 Nowadays: Contemporary Art and Photography auction, “Nerine” by Dan Christensen (1942-2007) took top lot honors, selling within estimate for $13,000. Done in 1981 in acrylic on canvas, the 47½-by-67½-inch signed work came from a private New York collection and had additional provenance to the Harcus Krakow Gallery of Boston, Mass., and CS Schulte Galleries of New York City. The buyer was an online bidder. For information, 212-353-2277 or www.capsuleauctions.com.
Bit Of Giuseppe Verdi Operatic Composition Hits High Note At Benefit Shop Sale
MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. – Featuring property of local estates, including jewelry, luxury fashion, antiques and decorative arts, the Benefit Shop Foundation once again rolled out its red carpet to bidders for its September 28 auction. A unique standout was an authentic Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) signed musical composition, which brought $5,580. The composition and lithograph bore a label from the Kenneth W. Randell Gallery, expert in historical letters, autographs and documents. The Italian operatic composer dated his autograph musical quotation from Rimini, Italy, May 25, 1857. It comprised nine bars on three stages containing the opening of Henri’s aria “La brise soufflé au loin” from Act V of Les Vepres Siciliennes, on an elaborately embossed oblong octavo sheet. A fine example, it was framed with an original postcard photograph, matted in sand and green with a beaded antique gilt measuring 19 inches wide by 11 1/2 inches high. For information, 914-864-0707 or www.thebenefitshop.org.
Showplace Bidders Sit Up For Phyfe Attributed Recamier
NEW YORK CITY – A Mid-Atlantic collector paid $21,250 for a Grecian-style recamier attributed to the workshop of Duncan Phyfe of New York City. It was the top lot of Auctions at Showplace’s September 25 auction and had been dated to circa 1805 and relates to one illustrated in Michael Flanagan’s, American Furniture from the Kaufman Collection (1986). It was consigned to Showplace from a Park Avenue collector of American furniture. For information, 212-633-6063 or www.nyshowplace.com.
Mixed Media ‘New York’ Tops Eldred’s Works On Paper Sale
EAST DENNIS, MASS. – Besting 309 other lots in Eldred’s September 22 Works on Paper sale was “New York,” a mixed media work on gray wove paper by Glenn Cooper Henshaw (American, 1880-1946), which inspired an online bidding battle before selling to a private East Coast collector for $3,250. The 13¾-by-16-inch work was considered to be typical of Henshaw’s urban scenes, and topped the “single owner” sale, all lots coming from a New York City-area trade seller. For information, 508-385-3116 or www.eldreds.com.
