This week’s block was crowded with Asian decorative arts, as well as a few surprises from Africa and elsewhere. Tremont Auctions and Thomas Hirshak Company presented a Chinese gu vase and a decorated Nippon ewer, respectively, and Winter Associates sold a monumental pair of censers for well over their estimate. Kimball’s Auction & Estate Services hosted a collection of Yoruba masks and other art, and the Benefit Shop’s monthly sale produced a Bidjar carpet from West Persia. Read on for more winning bids.
Klismos Chairs Are High Performers In George Cole Auction
RED HOOK, N.Y. – George Cole Auctions & Realty had quite a few lots that performed better than expected in the firm’s February 18 auction. Artwork was selling well, according to auctioneer Cole, but a few pieces stood out among the rest. A framed lithograph titled “Hidson River Bridge,” pencil signed “Howard Cook w/ Kennedy & Co Rare Prints” label on back, beat its $2/3,000 estimate, realizing $4,350. Another framed lithograph, “Spring Planting,” pencil signed “Benton” was estimated $400/600 but plowed up a final price of $3,075. It was a set of 10 David Iatesta Klismos chairs, however, that proved to be the sale’s apex with a long series of bids that had the in-house bidders abuzz cheering the competitors on. Estimated $2/3,000, the set went out at $11,685. For information, 845-758-9114 or www.georgecoleauctions.com.
Hand-Knotted Rug Ties Up Benefit Shop’s February Auction
MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. – The Benefit Shop conducted its monthly Red Carpet Auction on February 15, presenting more than 700 lots from local estates. Beating out an Xavier Amiana oil painting and a Keith Haring lithograph was an oversized circa 1890 rug from Bidjar, West Persia, that sold for $4,190 ($1/5,000). The rug showed a rust ground with a cream medallion decorated with finely executed floral motifs, flanked by light blue spandrels and a navy border, and measured approximately 220 by 134 inches. For information, 914-864-0707 www.thebenefitshop.org.
Sunset At ArtHaz
NEW YORK CITY – On February 16, ArtHaz offered 276 lots of Old Masters, oil paintings, works on paper and modern fine art for its Important American & European Artworks auction. The peak of these was achieved by an oil painting of a Western landscape, credited to a follower of Thomas Moran (British-American, 1837-1926). Signed with fading paint and dated 1867, the scene showed the last light of day shining golden on a craggy mountain face, and bid to $3,600. For information, 212-752-0995 or www.arthaz.com.
Dragon-Decorated Chinese Vase Breathes Fire In Tremont Online Auction
SUDBURY, MASS. – An online-only offering of Chinese and Japanese ceramics, accessories and art at Tremont Auctions on February 21 did very well, with strong interest and active bidding on all items with a few good surprises. The top lot was a Chinese Qing period yellow ground, puce-decorated two-part gu vase with dragon decoration and Jia Jing mark on base rim. It sold for $6,820. The single-owner offering had almost a complete sell through with only one lot out of 112 passing. For information, 617-795-1678 or www.tremontauctions.com.
Nippon Porcelain Ewer With Lake Scene Sells At Hirchak
MORRISVILLE, VT. – A Nippon porcelain ewer, 11 inches tall and hand painted with a Japanese lake scene sold for $500 at Thomas Hirchak Company’s antiques and collectibles sale on February 21. Undecorated pieces of Nippon normally bring only a few dollars. The pieces that command between $100 and $500 depend on the piece, condition, decoration and other factors. For information, 800-634-7653, 802-242-3862 or www.thcauction.com.
Cloisonné Censers Achieve Palatial Price For Winter Associates
PLAINVILLE, CONN. – Burning up its $3,5/7,000 estimate and selling for $12,000 in the February 20 sale at Winter Associates was a pair of palace-sized cloisonné pagoda form incense burners or censers. Standing 70 inches tall and featuring dragons and a double-tiered pagoda top, the lot was the top one of 321 offered, in a sale that was more than 92 percent sold by lot. For more information, 860-793-0288 or www.auctionsappraisers.com.
Nineteenth Century Yoruba Mask Surprises At Kimball’s Auction
HATFIELD, MASS. – Kimball’s Auction & Estate Services hosted a sale on February 19 featuring a large collection of Nigerian Yoruba and other African art from the private collection of Janine and Josef Gugler. A Nineteenth Century carved and painted Yoruba mask with a University of Connecticut Museum of Art tag surprised when it jumped its $200/800 estimate to sell for $3,750. The mask measured 11 by 6 by 8 inches. The Yoruba are the largest cultural group on the African continent, with nearly 40 million people. The word “Yoruba” describes both the language and the tribe living across Nigeria and the Popular Republic of Benin, in an area of forest and savannah. For information, 413-549-8300 or www.kimballsauction.com.
McInnis Bidders Over The Moon For Asian Collections
AMESBURY, MASS. – An organically carved Chinese bench with inset moonstone panels was one of the top selling lots in John McInnis Auctioneers’ February 25 Asian Collections Auction. Dated to the Nineteenth Century and cataloged as featuring “extraordinary carved details, birds and tree branches,” the 66ý-inch-long bench surpassed its $2/4,000 when it brought $18,600. The 687-lot sale was more than 99 percent sold by lot. For information, 978-388-0400 or www.mcinnisauctions.com.
Icart Benched By Treasureseeker Auctions
PASADENA, CALIF. – The Late Winter Antiques & Decorative Arts sale took place at Treasureseeker Auctions on February 26, headlined by an original Louis Icart (1888-1950) oil on board painting titled “On the Bench.” Icart’s prints and lithographs are favorites of the secondary market, but original paintings are even more sought-after. The painting shows an alluring young woman sitting on a park bench, holding a red umbrella and gazing directly at the viewer; the winning bidder returned her stare with $14,080. For information, 626-529-5775 or www.treasureseekerauction.com.
