Bidders investing in wine, Chinese pagoda cabinet brings $34,500

Two lots of three bottles each of Chateau Lafite Rothschild wine (2000) went for $6,440 each.

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. – A gorgeous 19th century Chinese pagoda form wood and ivory display cabinet in overall good condition breezed to $34,500 at a two-session weekend cataloged auction held Dec. 3-4 by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. The auction was held in the firm’s new, state-of-the-art gallery located at 620 Cornerstone Court in Hillsborough.

The cabinet was the highest price realized of the 650 items sold. The auction grossed $925,000, the second-highest ever posted by the firm.“It was strong confirmation that our final cataloged sale of 2010 was such a success, a real statement to our dedicated team and quality consignments,” said Leland Little of Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.

The following highlights include a 15 percent buyer’s premium:

The entire first session, on Dec. 3, was dedicated to fine wine, a category the firm has nurtured along in recent sales. Top lots included a pair of cases (12 bottles each) of 1982 Chateau Haut-Brion, a fine French wine. Each case sold for $7,820. Also, two lots of three bottles each of Chateau Lafite Rothschild (French, 2000), with the original tissue, hammered for $6,440 per lot.

Asian arts seemed to dominate the Dec. 4 session. Top achievers included a monumental late 19th century Chinese tester bed, 99 inches tall, made from mahogany with bone and lighter wood inlays throughout sold for $29,900; and a 19th century Chinese porcelain jardinière (or goldfish bowl), with interior decoration simulating an underwater landscape of fish and plants brought $26,450.

Other Asian objects included a beautiful Chinese Export orange Fitzhugh pattern platter, made for the American market and showing an eagle with spread wings sold for $10,350; a Southeast Asian standing Buddha, circa late 18th century, bronze and gilt bronze on a circular lotus base brought $4,600; and a large Japanese cloisonné floor vase with flaring mouth and decorations brought $3,680.

Continental artwork did exceptionally well. An oil on canvas by Abraham Bisschop (1660-1731), titled Birds in a Landscape, signed and dated (1695) realized $27,600; a signed oil on canvas by Albert Dawant (Fr., 1852-1923), titled Eve of Austerlitz, rose to $16,675; and an oil on Masonite work by Rafael Durancamps (Sp., 1891-1978), titled Shoreline, garnered $4,600.

American art did well, too. A woodcut by Anna Heyward Taylor (S.C., 1879-1956), depicting vendors at the Old City Market in Charleston, signed and numbered (23) hit $4,600; an oil on board by Adele Williams (Va., 1868-1952), titled Market Scene, signed, rose to $3,450; and an oil on canvas by David B. Walkley (Oh/Ct, 1849-1934), titled Boat House, made $3,220.

Southern American furniture was a big crowd-pleaser. A fine late 18th century Eastern North Carolina center table, walnut with cedar secondary, topped out at $10,063; a circa 1800 Southern cellaret on frame, walnut with yellow pine secondary, rectangular form, made $8,625; and a North Carolina leather key basket with tooled line decoration changed hands for $4,600.

Tops in the Continental and English furniture category were an important 18th century English Sheraton Pembroke table, satinwood veneer with oak secondary, coasted to $6,325; a finely crafted and visually stunning Louis XV-style bureau plat with a tooled black leather top went for $4,600; and an Italian gilded rococo-style console table with marble top brought $3,910.

Mid-century furniture featured a cabinet custom-designed by Tommi Parzinger in the early 1970s and consisting of a four-door front with central inset mirror sold for $3,910; a circa 1950 solid walnut sideboard attributed to Peter Hvidt and produced by John Stewart sold for $2,185; and an Eames-style modern reclining lounge chair with cream leather upholstery and chrome sold for $1,495.

Fine estate jewelry has been a strong and growing department for the firm. This sale featured a 2.10-carat diamond bypass solitaire ring nicknamed “Pure Perfection,” mounted by Claude Thibadeau in platinum and 18kt yellow gold brought $10,925; a fine 1.68-carat emerald cut diamond ring flanked by tapered baguettes sold for $9,775; and a suite of Victorian coral jewelry, to include a necklace, brooch, bracelet and earrings brought $7,188.

Additional jewelry pieces included necklace consisting of a long single strand of 89 near-round Akoya cultured pearls with great luster ($6,325); and a beautiful Victorian diamond and pearl bracelet with two finely detailed female period portraits on ivory ($4,600). Also sold was a circa 1920s Mariano Fortuny silk Delphos tea gown made of pleated silk, made in Italy ($6,038).

Continental silver wowed the crowd, beginning with a pair of George III entrée dishes and covers, each piece bearing the sponsor’s mark for Paul Storr (London, 1799). The set went for $10,925. Also, a George IV sterling silver tray with armorial crest (London, 1814) realized $6,038; and a Danish silver tea urn in the Regency style (Michelsen, 1980) brought $3,220.

American silver did nearly as well. A Tiffany & Company “Winthrop” sterling flatware service for 12, with the original price list dated Aug. 1921 and weighing 103.6 total troy oz., fetched $3,680; a set of 12 Mexican sterling stemmed wines, 81.28 total troy oz., commanded $2,185; and a Towle “Old Master” sterling flatware service for 8, 35 total troy oz., hit $1,725.

The undisputed king of the Southern pottery category was a monumental Dave the Slave jar (Edgefield, S.C., inscribed Oct. 1857). The jar, ovoid form with applied wide ear handles, knocked down at $25,300. Also, a late 1920s C. B. Masten earthenware glazed footed vase sold for $1,610; and a fine pair of circa 1940 North Carolina earthenware floor vases made $2,300/pr.

Tops among sculptures and bronzes was a large antique Italian blackamoor carving, circa 18th century or earlier, with polychrome decoration and attired in a plumed costume, on a custom black painted wood plinth sold for $10,925; and an Art Deco sculpture by Roland Paris (Ger., 1894-1915), depicting a dapper gentleman serenading a swooning woman with his guitar brought $4,140.

Lighting examples illuminated the room, starting with a fine Georgian-style chandelier, made circa 19th century and featuring ten lights, draped with crystal cut swags and five upper bell form crystal arms ($10,925). Also, a pair of Empire bronze and ormolu mounted candelabra, converted to table lamps and each raised on a stepped square base with four paw feet hit $2,185.

Militaria also got paddles wagging, to include a Confederate officer tintype with an 1864 letter pertaining to cavalryman Capt. William Jones White of Warrenton, N.C. sold for $4,370; antique bronze models of a cannon and caisson, elaborately engraved and based on weaponry from the Napoleonic wars sold for $1,955; and a Confederate-used Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket sold for $1,265.

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (919) 644-1243 or contact the gallery.

Resources:

Warman’s Rookwood Pottery Identification and Price Guide
by Denise Rago and Jonathan Clancy

Warman’s Rookwood Pottery is a unique combination of identification and pricing, offering more than 1,000 auction-quality color photographs. With accompanying detailed descriptions and price listings, you’ll easily make a positive identification every time.

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