Heritage Auctions – Art Nouveau, Art Deco & Art Glass Signature Auction
October 26
HA.com/8144

DALLAS — The philosophical, political and creative bond between the United States and France has been significant since the Eighteenth Century, and later, as we entered the Twentieth Century, the rich cultural exchange between the two countries remained ever-fertile. The two countries’ famous architects, designers, artists, writers and more continued their aesthetic conversations (and lively competitive spirit) across the pond and both regions — and collectors — reaped the benefits.

This lively back and forth was evident in the innovative Art Nouveau, Art Deco and art glass offerings around the turn of the last century and stretching into later years: The United States and France were both at the top of their design games and New York’s Tiffany Studios found itself at the forefront of breathtaking invention, along with American contemporaries Duffner & Kimberly and, overseas, French powerhouses Daum, R. Lalique and others. The push-and-pull responses between them all made for collector heaven. This month, Heritage presents its third installment of a category it calls Pursuit of Beauty, and on October 26 the event culminates in the live Pursuit of Beauty: Art Nouveau, Art Deco & Art Glass Signature Auction, which leads with outstanding creations from those listed above and more.

“I am, along with Nick Dawes, Heritage’s senior vice president of Special Collections, honored to present our third Pursuit of Beauty auction of 2023 — our most successful year to date,” says Samantha Robinson, Heritage’s director of decorative arts and design. “This auction features a wide variety of fresh-to-market treasures drawn primarily from private collections and estates.”

The name Tiffany Studios is nearly synonymous with “remarkable lamps” and indeed the lead in this event is an extraordinary Tiffany Studios leaded glass and patinated bronze Jeweled Geometric table lamp, circa 1905. This highly sought-after original pairing boasts both shade and base accented with matching rows of blue Favrile “jewels” — iridescent cabochons that evoke blue, gray and black sea pearls. A complimentary American lead in this event is a Duffner & Kimberly leaded glass and patinated bronze Waterlily Border table lamp, circa 1910, which exemplifies American design at its finest.

The glass studios weren’t only about lamps, of course, and neither is this event. An early, significant Tiffany Studios decorated Cypriote Favrile glass vase, circa 1899, was produced immediately before Tiffany Studios’ Grand Prix-winning presentation at the 1900 Paris Exposition. Tiffany Studios began producing Cypriote glass, inspired by ancient Cyprian glass artifacts excavated by Luigi Palma di Cesnola in the 1860s, and this exceptional vase demonstrates the firm’s virtuosic command of the medium, pushing both its technical and aesthetic boundaries. This large spherical example stands as a masterwork of the form during a period of tremendous experimentation, critical acclaim and commercial success.

Contemporaneous beauties from France, also in the form of vessels, join their American counterparts in the auction. A vase from Daum stands out: The partial-gilt, enameled, needle- and acid-etched glass Algues et Poissons vase was designed by Henri Bergé, circa 1898.

We can’t talk about the importance of French glass of the era without mentioning R. Lalique, and this event includes several dozen R. Lalique pieces, including rare forms such as an electric blue glass Poissons vase, circa 1921, which is a particularly vibrant example.

This era saw the creation of objects that seduced collectors long after their inception: Over the course of four decades, American medical stenographer Angela Gross Folk and her husband amassed an impressive collection of Modern and Haitian art, Asian art, French bronzes and art glass. This event offers up selections from the Folk estate, including American lamps, Continental glass and ceramics, and highlights include Tiffany Studios lamps, Favrile glass, Rookwood Pottery, French glass, Art Nouveau and Art Deco sculpture, and rare designs by René and Suzanne Lalique. Some highlights from the Folk estate include rare American lamps by Handel and Pairpoint, with ones from French makers like Gallé.

This auction features Art Nouveau and Art Deco objects in all media, including works on paper, including a Toulouse-Lautrec lithograph from 1896 titled “La Troupe de Mademoiselle Églantine.” Three dimensional French highlights will include a rare Süe et Mare gilt bronze mantel clock, circa 1923. For information about this sale, www.ha.com/8144.

PURSUIT OF BEAUTY: ART NOUVEAU, ART DECO & ART GLASS Signature® Auction
Tiffany Studios Leaded Glass and Patinated Bronze Jewelled Geometric Table Lamp, circa 1905 Estimate: $60,000 – $80,000
View All Lots and Bid at HA.com/8144
Inquiries: 877-HERITAGE (437-4824)
Nick Dawes | ext. 1605 | NickD@HA.com
Samantha Robinson | ext. 1784 | SamanthaR@HA.com
Paul R. Minshull #16591. BP 15-25%; see HA.com. Licensed by the City ot New York #1364738/9-DCA 73832