The finer things were in demand at auction this week, especially in fine art, decorative arts and jewelry. Eldred’s sent a Blanche Lazzell woodcut home for a three-figure price and Showplace achieved “poetic reality” with a floral still life by Jules Cavailles. Nye & Co. served a pair of Chinese export punch bowls for a tasty figure while Andrew Jones closed out a Japonisme armoire. A Rolex Yacht-Master sailed away from Kodner, and a distinctive diamond ring from Sharon Boccelli winked its way to a new owner. Read on for more fancy finds.
Nineteenth Century Chinese Bowls Pack Some Punch At Nye & Co.
BLOOMFIELD, N.J. – A pair of Chinese export porcelain punch bowls from the Nineteenth Century brought a Twenty-First Century price at Nye & Company’s Estate Treasures auction on July 20. Finishing at $64,000, the pair had been estimated just $500-$1,000. Each bowl measured 6¾ inches high by 15¾ inches diameter. The auction featured a curated selection of both fine and decorative arts made in the Eighteenth Century through present day, so there was sure to be something to capture one’s interest. For information, 973-984-6900 or www.nyeandcompany.com.
Floral Still Life Blooms At Showplace
NEW YORK CITY – At Auctions at Showplace’s July 24 sale, the highest price of nearly 300 lots on offer was a floral still life titled “Le Vase Bleu” by Jules Cavailles (French, 1901-1977), who was a member of the 1935 French art group “Peintres de la réalité poétique (Painters of poetic reality).” The painting, which was executed in oil on canvas and measured 39 by 36 inches, had been estimated at $4/6,000 but sold for $16,250 to an international bidder. For more information, 212-633-6063 or www.nyshowplace.com.
Frank Applegate’s ‘Los Penitentes’ Catches The Spirit At Santa Fe Art Auction
SANTA FE, N.M. – Gallery president and chief executive officer of Santa Fe Art Auction Gillian Blitch reported an exciting top lot at the firm’s July 23 sale. Frank Applegate’s (1881-1931) “Los Penitentes” from the 1920s, carved wood, gesso and pigment, 12½ by 17½ inches, sold for $17,000 versus a $3/5,000 estimate. Applegate moved to Santa Fe in 1921 and was one of the first to recognize the value of local Native American and Hispanic artwork. He worked in the Santero style but brought his own local imagery to the work. For information, 505-954-5858 or www.santafeartauction.com.
Bidders Step Right This Way For Disney Barker Bird Sculpture
RED HOOK, N.Y. – Disney fans were in their element for George Cole’s July 23 sale. Exceeding expectations and after a lengthy exchange, a limited edition of Blaine Gibson’s version of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room Barker Bird, 23 inches high, sold to an internet bidder through LiveAuctioneers for $1,500, more than ten times its high estimate. The Barker Bird is a character from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland, drawing guests’ attention like the barkers of carnivals. Gibson was an American Disney animator and Imagineer, best known for his sculpting work on numerous classic Disney attractions. For information, 845-758-9114 or www.georgecoleauctions.com.
Bird Decorated Japonisme Armoire Flies For Andrew Jones
LOS ANGELES – One of the top lots of two days of sales conducted by Andrew Jones Auctions of the John Nelson Collection, part VI, was a French parcel paint-decorated Karelian birch and faux bamboo Japonisme armoire from the late Nineteenth Century that featured delicate bird and foliage decoration. Estimated at $1,5/2,500, the piece soared to $30,000, going home with a private collector in the American South. The two-day event saw 404 lots on offer, all selling, with a combined total of $6.9 million. For information, 213-748-8008 or www.andrewjonesauctions.com.
Cape Cod Artist Leads Eldred’s Summer Sale
EAST DENNIS, MASS. – Cape Cod darling Blanche Lazzell (1878-1956) was a top seller July 26-27 at Eldred’s summer sale, leading the second day with a white-line color woodcut (shown) titled “The Town Home,” which sold to a phone bidder for $118,750. Another white-line color woodcut by Lazzell titled “Marygolds” bloomed to $59,375, the second highest price of the event. Those two, as well as a third white-line color woodcut by the artist, were all consigned to the sale from the same seller, who was not local to Eldred’s. Competition for the works was reportedly also online and via absentee bid. For information, 508-385-3116 or www.eldreds.com.
Ahoy! Rolex Yacht-Master Watch Makes Waves At Kodner Galleries
DANIA BEACH, FLA. – Estate jewelry, coins, art and collectibles were the bill of fare at Kodner Galleries’ July 27 auction. Notable was a Rolex Yacht-Master II Ref. 116681, which sold for $27,720. The two-tone stainless steel and 18K rose gold bracelet watch featured a white dial, blue ceramic bezel and automatic self-winding movement. It was offered complete with boxes, papers, hang tag and bezel protector. For information, 954-925-2550 or www.kodner.com.
Mediterranean Landscape Tempts Doyle Bidders Near & Far
NEW YORK CITY – A seasonal summertime view at Doyle’s July 28 “Doyle at Home” sale was a lush oil on canvas Mediterranean landscape by Gabriel Descamps (French, 1919-?), which would have tempted those on a vacation or staycation. Estimated at just 500/700, it finished at $4,410 and was one of the top results in the 373-lot sale, which achieved a total of $400,365 and surpassed expectations with 85 percent of lots sold. For information, 212-427-2730, info@doyle.com or www.doyle.com.
Sharon Boccelli Puts A Ring On It
BELLOWS FALLS, VT. – On July 27, Sharon Boccelli & Company Auctioneers conducted its Quality Auction, consisting of jewelry, silver, fine and decorative arts and religious and ceremonial works. The top lot of the sale was a 14K gold and diamond ring, weight 5.3 grams with an approximate 2.34-carat weight. The ring was unusual, with a large center diamond, four graduated round diamonds, a row of diamond chips and two small rectangular diamonds on each side of the center stone, creating an almost eyeball and eyelashes-like design. The ring bid to $2,415 ($2/3,000). For information, 802-460-1190 or www.sbauctioneers.com.
