An antique Meissen hand painted oval, covered dresser box with reticulated design throughout sold for $14,375 at a multi-estate sale held August 27 by Elite Decorative Arts. The Nineteenth Century box was the top lot of the estimated 345 items that changed hands. About 100 people attended the live event, while online bidding attracted more than 700 registered bidders and more than 1,000 bids. Around 180 phone bids were also posted.
The Meissen dresser box exhibited fine workmanship, with female busts and figural cherubs throughout the sides and cover. It also boasted finely detailed floral garlands, with scrolled reticulated designs throughout. The interior was a gilded bowl, with a flat floral design to the bottom of the cover.
The second top lot of the sale was a rare Tiffany & Company sterling silver revival urn with figural snake handles that sold at $8,555. One side of the urn showed a depiction of Asclepius, the Greek god of healing. Another Tiffany piece †a sterling silver and cut crystal pitcher with sterling silver stirring spoon in the Chrysanthemum pattern †sold at $5,750.
Without question, Meissen dominated the day’s list of top achievers. Two pieces topped the $3,000 mark. One was a figural group depicting a woman sitting in a seat with three children playing cards, which realized $3,894. The other was a cherubic figure depicting two women in dresses standing near a column, 10 inches tall, that sold at $3,304.
A Meissen figural group depicting five cherubs dancing, playing instruments, eating fruit, looking through a telescope and holding a bird, measuring 5 ½ inches in height, rose to $2,832; and a Meissen figural group depicting two women with cherubs, in a scene with flowers and eggs, brought $2,760.
Two Meissen lots fetched the identical price †$2,530. The first was a pair of antique hand painted figural candlesticks, each depicting cherubs with fish fin legs holding figural flowers, into which the candles were inserted. The second was a figural depiction of a cherub holding a torch and flower, as an allegory of day. The antique, hand painted piece measured 7¼ inches tall.
Another pair of Meissen pieces also garnered the identical price of $2,478. One was a hand painted figure of a fortune teller adorned in a pink and blue dress, fitted with a bonnet and standing at a pedestal table, shuffling a deck of cards. The other was a figure of a boy in a flamboyant garb, with badminton racket and shuttlecock, standing 6¼ inches high. A Meissen figurine depiction of night breezed to $2,415.
All was not Meissen, however. The top selling Royal Vienna lot was a pair of antique Austrian vases, each one showing hand painted nymph scenes, which sold at $5,074. The circa 1880 vases were artist-signed, Feier.
Two other Royal Vienna pieces were a hand painted portrait charger with a scene of a woman titled “Ruth”; it brought $2,530. A portrait plate depicting a young girl in a pink dress with a crown of leaves, was signed “Wagner” and had gilt work with enameled beading. It realized $2,478.
A hand painted KPM porcelain plaque, circa 1900, depicting the bust of a young woman, was distinguished with clear outlines and cool colors. The framed piece sold for $6,195. A Teplitz amphora portrait vase (Reissner, Stellmacher & Kessel), hand painted, depicting a woman with a tiara, with beautiful purples and turquoise, hit $5,865. An enchanting Jaeger LeCoultre white caravelle Atmos mantel clock with honeybee design and fitted white leather presentation box, in full working condition, chimed at $3,776; and an oil on canvas Cubist presentation of two pierrots (musicians as harlequins), by the Argentine painter, Emilio Pettoruti (1892‱971), 30 by 24 inches, commanded $3,186.
All prices quoted include a buyer’s premium †15 percent for in-house and phone and 18 percent for Internet bidders.
Elite Decorative Arts is at 1034 Gateway Boulevard, suite 106. For more information, 561-200-0893, 800-991-3340 or www.eliteauction.com .
