Tiffany’s ‘Thomas Lynch Window’ Returns to Pennsylvania via Museum Buyer
NEW YORK CITY – “The return of Tiffany’s ‘Thomas Lynch window’ to Greensburg was one of the exciting moment’s of Christie’s June 7 sale,” commented Peggy Gilges, head of the firm’s Twentieth Century Decorative Arts Department. “Two determined bidders had their mind set on the piece and the final price almost doubled the estimate. We are sure the Westmoreland Museum of American Art will be a fine home for this extraordinary work of art.”
“Another favorite,” she continued, “was Jeanne Lanvin’s advisor and decorator, Armand Albert Rateau and the three pieces by Rateau caused enthusiastic bidding and all three fetched very solid prices.” Sale number 9664 offered 86 lots with 52 selling (66 percent by dollar; 60 percent by lot) for a total of $2,756,238.
Top lot selling for $391,000 against an estimate of $200/300,000 to the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg, Pa. was ‘The Thomas Lynch Window’, a fine leaded and plated-glass landscape window, Tiffany Studios, circa 1905. A ‘Wistaria’ leaded glass and bronze table lamp, Tiffany Studios, circa 1910 sold for $270,000 (est $180/220,000); a pair of bronze cat-form andirons, Armand Albert Rateau, circa 1929, brought $171,000 (est $90/120,000); and ‘Miss Kita’, a patinated and painted bronze and ivory figure, cast and carved from a model by Demetre H. Chiparus, circa 1930 realized $138,000 (est $100/150,000).
$121,500 (est $80/120,000); was paid for a ‘Peony’ leaded-glass and bronze table lamp, Tiffany Studios, circa 1910, $116,000 (est $70/90,000) was realized for a Brazilian rosewood and etched metal secretaire, Eugene Printz and Jean Dunand, circa 1947; $116,000 (est $100/150,000) for a ‘Tulip’ leaded glass and bronze table lamp, Tiffany Studios, circa 1910; $113,800 (est $10/15,000) for a carved and lacquered wood mirror, Armand Albert Rateau for the residence of Jeanne Lanvin, Vesinet, France, circa 1921; $94,000 was paid for a ‘Nadica’ molded-glass vase, René Lalique, designed in 1930 against an estimate of $100/150,000 and $94,000 (est $80/100,000) was bid for an enameled copper vase, Tiffany Studios, circa 1900.
All prices quoted include buyers premium.