The excitement was palpable before the start of the May 2 auction at Winter Associates, Inc. The variety of the items being auctioned off, in 272 lots, included 35 rugs and numerous pieces of decorative arts from the Barnes Museum of Southington, Conn., along with items from several grand homes in West Hartford and Manchester, Conn.
In advance of the sale, Winter Associates received more than 440 absentee bids and had lined up more than 200 telephone bids. The Barnes Museum plans to use the proceeds of the sale to restore the largest item in its collection †the Nineteenth Century historic house.
Interest in all of the Barnes Museum items was high. The quality and distinctive provenance of so many of the items brought numerous dealers and collectors to the gallery, as well as to the phones and to the Internet. Online bidders from as far away as Australia, Canada, England, Singapore, as well as from throughout the United States, competed for choice lots.
Competition was fierce, and at the end of the evening all of the items from the Barnes Museum were sold, many well above their estimates. By far the greatest interest was in the rugs. An antique Persian Senna kilim, estimated at $1,5/3,000, sold for $12,000, and an antique Persian Kirman, valued at $1/2,000, realized $7,000.
Other high sellers included a bronze sculpture of two Native Americans by artist Carl Kauba, which sold for $5,500; a large porcelain covered vessel from Hirado, Japan, which brought $2,500; an Ansonia Royal Bonn china mantel clock, finishing at $2,900; and a pair of circa 1920 Chinese Republican period vases changing hands for $4,200.
Two of the more important lots came out of West Hartford homes, including a palace-size Persian Kirman carpet that sold for $21,000 and an oil on canvas painting in the manner of Canaletto that fetched $5,500.
Prices realized include the buyer’s premium.
The firm’s June 6 auction will feature additional items and rugs from the Barnes Museum.
For information, www.AuctionsAppraisers.com or 860-793-0288.
