Lot 3030, an outstanding and unique gold treasure from the Nuestra Senora De Atocha, circa 1622, was this incredible find encompassing an encrustation of three gold bars and a long gold chain fused as one with coral as found on the ocean floor. It sold at mid-estimate, bringing $172,500.

“Things are really hopping around here,” James Julia said recently, citing the four-day auction of August 21′4 that had just been completed and looking ahead to several on-coming sales. “We have an extraordinary firearms auction on October 1′, and we are still lining up more consignments for our fall toy, doll and advertising auction and our fall lamp and glass auction,” he said.

As for the four-day auction (the Americana section was reviewed in the September 14 issue of Antiques and The Arts Weekly ), “The paintings were the softest session, Americana did well and the Chinese sessions did very well,” Jim said. Each of the sales carried a large number of absentee bids, and the phone bank was busy from start to finish each day. “There were more people bidding on the Internet, on phones and with left bids than usual,” he added.

In total, the four days realized $4.5 million, including the buyer’s premium. All prices noted in this review also include the buyer’s premium.

Paintings led off the auction schedule on Tuesday, with 709 lots in Session 1. Marsden Hartley (American, 1877‱943) was represented with a couple of works, including an oil on board titled “Afternoon Haze 1907,” a colorful seascape with waves against a rock cliff under a bright sun through a haze, 10¾ by 12 inches, in a carved silver gilt modern frame. It sold for $28,750, slightly under the low estimate. “Luminist Sunset over Coastal Massachusetts,” a coastal watercolor scene by Charles Henry Gifford (American, 1839‱904), was in a period gilt frame, 10 by 22 inches sight, and brought $12,650, just over high estimate.

A rare and fine pair of carved hardwood Chinese framed embroideries, circa 1870, China, the frames with foo dog feet enclosing panels of the 100 birds. The overall size is 74 inches high, 46½ inches wide and 20 inches deep and the embroidery measures 32½ by 29 inches. Estimate at $20/30,000, the pair realized $86,250.

Two paintings by Guy Carleton Wiggins (American, 1883‱962), were in the sale, including lot 1117, “The New York Stock Exchange,” oil on canvas, signed lower left, measuring 25 by 30 inches in a fancy gesso decorated gilt frame, that went for $37,375, just under the low estimate. Selling mid-estimate at $20,060 was “Sunlit Forest Pool” by Andrei Nikolaevich Shilder (Russian, 1861‱919), a large oil on canvas forest scene, 27 by 41½ inches, in a black and brown decorated frame.

A colorful harbor scene by Paul Signac (French, 1863‱936), watercolor and graphite on paper, modern giltwood frame, 6¾ by 9¾ inches, brought $20,700, right at the high estimate. Toward the end of the painting session, lot 1679, “Enrique Grau” by Evan, a large oil on canvas showing a red and white tablecloth filled with sliced melon and set with bottle, glass, knife, fork and plate, 37 by 31 inches, went well over the $600 high estimate, selling for $6,612.

A selection of coins opened Session 3, Thursday, with $11,500 paid for a 1798 $5 half eagle gold piece, ungraded condition, and $6,900 for an eight escudo gold coin from the 1715 Spanish fleet.

From the silver selections, a 8½-inch-long coin silver spoon by Paul Revere, Boston, marked “REVERE,” sold for $6,900, over estimate, and a pair of coin silver sauce boats with undertrays by Thomas Fletcher, circa 1820, Philadelphia, sold below estimate at $10,350. An outstanding English sterling silver fishing trophy by James Dixon & Son, Sheffield, 1861‶2, 14¼ inches high, with fishing motifs included in both the cup and the cover, went over the $4,000 high estimate, selling for $6,900.

Among the timepieces were two that achieved their high estimates: a Poitevin Swiss hunter’s case gold pocket watch, early Twentieth Century, enameled dial with dual Arabic chapter rings, jeweled movement, case 2 inches in diameter, at $4,025, and a lady’s 18K Rolex wristwatch, an Oyster Perpetual Datejust with gold tone dial and date window, very good to excellent, at $3,565.

“Icebergs in Henley Harbor, Labrador,†an outstanding oil on artist’s board by William Bradford (American, 1823‱892), is signed lower right and housed in a fabulous period gesso decorated frame with gilt liner. It measures 9 by 14 inches, is in very good condition with minor touch-up, and sold for $57,500, just under the high estimate.

Asian sessions began with a Peking glass vase, Eighteenth Century, China, in transparent amber, 143/8 inches high, selling for $2,472 against a high estimate of $700, and a Peking glass water coupe, Eighteenth Century, Ch’ien Lung mark on base, imperial yellow glass, 3¼ inches in diameter, sold for $6,490, just over ten times the high estimate. A Peking glass vase, same mark and period, cobalt blue eight-panel faceted bottle shaped example, 7¼ inches tall, also far exceeded its $600 high estimate, selling for $7,475.

A fine pair of carved ivory urns with covers, late Nineteenth or early Twentieth Century, China, each with foo dog mask handles, surface carved with figures in relief in floral design, 24½ inches high, carried an estimate of $1,5/2,500, and sold for $14,950. A hanging scroll, China, Wang Yuanqi (1642‱715), ink on paper, depicting a recluse in a pavilion in a mountainous landscape with pines and rivers, 36 by 16¼ inches, good condition, sold within estimate at $24,150.

An ivory seal carved as a chilong, Ming period, China, square seal intact, measuring 2¼ inches high and 3 inches square, was estimated at $1,5/2,000, and sold for $47,150.

Lot 3576, a unique and rare jade composition lamp attributed to Edward Farmer, circa 1920″0, New York, with jade elements dating from the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. The shades were composed of four white jades in the form of immortals, additionally set with eight carved and pierced floral panels, all set with in gilt carved scrolling floral framework. Measuring 28 inches high, the lamp was ex-collection of Edsel Ford and sold for $69,000 against a $30,000 high estimate.

Another hanging scroll, China, Huang Junbi, ink and light color on paper, depicting mountainous landscape with cottages and waterfall, 22¼ by 11¾ inches, more than doubled the high estimate, selling for $28,750. A $300 high estimate was on lot 3633, two Nineteenth Century seals, China, Tien Huang shih, both with deep honey color, one with a foo dog finial, finely carved, 2½ inches high and 1½ inches high, that sold for $23,000.

Leaving the $8,000 high estimate in the dust was a jadeite and diamond necklace comprising round jadeite beads ranging in size from 3.8 mm to 8.8 mm in diameter, together with seven single-cut diamonds and two caliber-cut diamonds, 26 inches long, that climbed to $63,250.

John Hoppner (British, 1758‱810), “George Third Earl of Ashburnham,†large, unsigned, oil on canvas three-quarter portrait of a gentleman in red robe standing in front of a red curtain, his left hand resting on a folded document. It is in its original frame, which has been resurfaced with gold paint. It retains the original artist’s plaque and measures 50 by 40 inches. It sold for $34,500.

A pair of huanghuali compound cabinets, each rectangular cabinet in two parts, the upper with a pair of doors opening to storage space, the lower section with two doors opening to a compartmentalized storage area and fitted with brass half moon hardware and measuring 94½ inches high sold within estimate at $13,800.

A Nineteenth Century ivory chess set, China, 32 pieces, red and white carvings of mandarins with puzzle ball bases, went just over five times the high estimate, realizing $2,760, and a parcel-gilt bronze Buddha, Nineteenth Century, China, seated on a double lotus throne, 15¾ inches high, went for $8,625 with a high estimate of $1,200. A Thangka, Sino-Tibetan, with a high estimate of $800, mineral color on heavy cloth, seated Buddha on a throne, 32 by 22 inches, realized $6,195.

For additional information, www.jamesdjulia.com or 207-453-7125.