Decorative arts seemed to be on many buyers’ agendas of late. Standouts in recent auctions included a Clément Massier plaque of St Cecilia that made $5,440 at Treasureseeker Auctions while a pair of jardinières on dragon-form supports clawed their way to a $1,380 winning bid at Golden Gavel. Fine art enthusiasts also found a moody Émile Friant painting for $21,780 at Kodner. For these stories and others, keep reading.
B & S Auction Service Sees Shining Result For Silver Dollars
PORTLAND, CONN. — B & S Auction Service conducted a sale of coins on March 11, which totaled around $50,000. A notable result included two coins that came from a safety deposit box in Connecticut and sold, separately, to a dealer on the floor. Both were Draped Bust silver dollars: a 1799 example (left) achieved $1,900 and an 1800 example (right) realized $1,800. For information, 860-342-2540.
Pleissner Watercolor Tops Nathan Auction
MANCHESTER, VT. — Eric Nathan of Nathan Auction reported his March 28 auction featuring the deaccession of 27 artworks by the Southern Vermont Arts Center, which is building two new galleries on its campus and relocating its archives, performed solidly. Out of 46 lots, 42 sold and the top lot was Ogden Minton Pleissner’s watercolor “Valley of the Mettowee” in a gilded and molded frame. The diminutive work, measuring a mere 6½ by 11 inches, brought a big price of $4,920, more than doubling its $1/2,000 estimate. For information, www.nathanre.com or 802-236 1358.
St Jerome Bronze Awes At Richard Opfer
TIMONIUM, MD. — A Sixteenth Century gilded bronze tomb figure of St Jerome, attributed to P. Torrigano, made $39,000 in Richard Opfer Auctioneering’s March 30 auction. The 25-inch-tall bronze outperformed its $6/8,000 estimate despite some condition issues, such as a missing halo, dents and graffiti scratches in the gilding. For information, www.opferauction.com or 410-252-5035.
Torso Lamps Brighten SJD Auctions
AMENIA, N.Y. —Lighting up SJD Auctions’ March 26 sale of antiques and collectibles was a pair of Nima Oberoi Lunares (San Francisco) polished aluminum male and female torso table lamps that sold together for $378. The lamps came from a private estate in Connecticut and are headed back to Connecticut with their new owner. Ten bidders eagerly competed for this lot, with all bids placed online. The lamps were in fine working condition, and one retained the manufacturer label on its underside. For information, 845-489-7408.
Clément Massier Plaque Leads Treasureseeker
LAS VEGAS — The top lot in Treasureseeker Auctions’ March 29 sale was an iridescent-glazed ceramic plaque by Clément Massier depicting St Cecilia, patron saint of music. The 9-by-6½-inch piece made $5,440. Made the same year his wife died, this plaque contains a dedication from Massier to his wife: the first “M” in his “MCM” cipher. For information, www.treasureseekerauction.com or 725-735-4296.
French Painting Glows At Kodner
DANIA BEACH, FLA. — A standout in Kodner’s March 31 auction was a work by the French realist painter Émile Friant (1863-1932), who excelled at using low light to add to a painting’s emotional qualities. Exemplifying this was “The Workshop,” a signed and dated 1901 oil on board that sold for $21,780 to a phone bidder. For information, www.kodner.com or 954-925-2550.
Chinese Imperial Bell Rings Loudest For iGavel
NEW YORK CITY — A Chinese Imperial gilt bronze bell was the leading lot in iGavel Associates’ Chinese and Asian Works of Art auction that closed March 31. Besting 240 other lots, the bell rose to $218,750. Weighing 50 pounds and standing 12⅜ inches tall, the bell was heavily cast in high relief and marked with the date “Kangxi wu shi er nian zhi (made in the 52nd year of Kangxi)”, or 1714. For information, www.igavelauctions.com.
Dragon Jardinières Fly At Golden Gavel
EAST WINDSOR, CONN. — A pair of Victorian Aesthetic‑Movement Revival jardinières featuring dragon‑form supports with feathered wings, was a standout in Golden Gavel’s April 2 auction, selling at $1,380. Each was topped with a scalloped campana‑style bowl. For information, www.goldengavel.com or 860-623-2100.
Lighthouse Painting Illuminates Beattie’s Spring Ahead Auction
ESSEX, MASS. — Edward B. Beattie’s Spring Ahead Auction was an intimate 96-lot sale including property from three small estates, as well as a jewelry store liquidation, coins, glassware and other items. An oil on board painting by John Nesta titled “Annisquam Light” took home the top lot title, secured for $591 after 27 bids back and forth. For information, www.auctionninja.com/edward-beattie-auctioneers or 603-770-9878.
