Antique Desire

AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- FEBRUARY 9TH: ECLECTIC FINDS AT THE DOYLE @ HOME SALE

by Kelly Keating on 02/09/15

Good morning! Welcome back to Auction Finds of the Week! This week all the selections will come from the Doyle @ Home sale which will take place on 10 February 2015. The Doyle @ Home sales are every month or so and offer an interesting mix of fine and decorative arts from period items, in the style of pieces and contemporary objects. Often, this eclectic mix can be bought at good prices for items with a degree of quality and difference. On offer this week are a couch, a pair of gilt mirrors, a large red cabinet, a pair of Chinese vases and some American Art Deco.

This week's first discovery is a large leather upholstered Chesterfield sofa in a wonderful teal green, lot 111, with a pre-sale estimate of $600-900. The sofa measures 7 feet 4 inches and has nail head details. It would be great to use this piece as the starting point of a living room and build the entire design around its style and color. The traditional and iconic nature of the Chesterfield sofa lends itself to many style types and can fit into a room from modern to traditional. And what a superb price!

The next find is a Chinese style red lacquer cabinet, lot 277, with a pre-sale estimate of $600-900. The cabinet is a deep, rich red color with a stylized pagoda as its crowning top. It stands an impressive 8 feet 3 inches and good be the centerpiece of any chinoiserie inspired room. Why not fill it with a contrasting color of pottery such as blue and white pieces or celadon green items. It would be a striking contrast. Make this the starting point of your design and again it is at a great price.

The third treasure for this week is a pair of Queen Anne style gilt framed mirrors, lot 118, with a pre-sale estimate of $300-500. Don't let the name Queen Anne fool you. These mirrors while in an older style actually have a quite sleek and modern look with their shaped tops and simple molded gilt frames. Depending on the configuration of your room they would be a striking addition to a space reflecting light and the objects in the room. And again what a great price!

The fourth find this week is a pair of Chinese celadon glazed porcelain vases, lot 169, with a pre-sale estimate of $800-1,200. The pair stands a nice 24" tall and would be perfect on a large mantelpiece. There is no information in the listing as to the age and origin of these vases, but that is typical for the Doyle @ Home sales, but they appear to have a degree of quality. The pale celadon color is superb and the shape is traditional and pleasing. The vases would make a great starting point for the design of an entire space.

The final discovery this week is an Art Deco gilt-metal mounted rosewood console along with an associated Art Deco mahogany mirror, lot 383, with a pre-sale estimate of only $600-800. The console is a good size at about 39" in width. The rosewood is a rich choice with its inky black streaks. The console is embellished with gilt metal of 3 inlaid lines down the console column ending in a shaped metal panel of circular shapes which contrasts nicely to the overall rectilinear shape of the piece. Quite handsome! The mahogany mirror is a nice complement to the console with its geometric detailing and shaped framed which mimics the shape of the console. This pair would look smashing in an entry foyer or in a small apartment dining room.

I hope you found something in this Auction Finds of the Week that will inspire the design of your own space. The Doyle @ Home sales are a great place to find interesting objects to add to your room(s) that can give that space a distinctive and collected look. Many other auction houses have these type of sales, so take a look at the auction houses in your local area.

If you are looking for a particular antique or vintage item in any style and from any period and in any budget and would like my help, please contact me at [email protected]. Also, if you need help selling your antique or vintage pieces from a small decorative object to a large piece of furniture, I can also help. Finally, I can provide you with an insurance or informational appraisal of your objects as well. Check out the Services page on my website to see how I work with clients.

Until next time,

Kelly T Keating

www.theantiqueflaneur.com

Comments (1)

AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- JANUARY 19TH: WALLS ARE WHAT MAKE A ROOM

by Kelly Keating on 01/18/15

Welcome back to Auction Finds of the Week! This week I will be discussing ways to adorn the blank walls of your space with interesting, original artwork as well as suggesting ceramic plates as another option in which to decorate that empty expanse. Above is a photograph of a wall in my living room (or the drawing room as I like to call it ) hung in the French Salon style with various types of original artwork- an oil on canvas, 2 Japanese woodblock prints, various engravings from the 18th century, early 19th century drawings and even 2 framed late 19th century ceramic tiles. The large early 20th century oil painting at the top of the wall is from my grandmother and while not terribly valuable monetarily, its connection to her makes it meaningful to me and I have always liked its tense and taut psychological scene of a family at the dinner table. Always remember to incorporate a family piece if you have one even when it doesn't exactly "fit", the meaning you and your family have generated with it will make it work.

My wall grouping illustrates several things to keep in mind when decorating the walls of your space. First, it is fairly easy to find original artwork at good prices, online, at auction or at your local antique store. Also, there are an infinite number of picture making mediums that you can chose from not just oil paintings which could be more expense that are at good prices- engravings, etchings, lithographs, silkscreens, woodblocks drawings, watercolors, pastels and so on. And the look of your wall has more interest, texture and dynamism when you concoct various mediums on it or even add something unusual like framed ceramic tiles or plates and platters.

The above photograph depicts wall in my bedroom filled with Aesthetic Movement black and brown transferware plates and platters. Using ceramic plates to decorate a blank space can create a dynamic look relatively inexpensively. And grouping a collection together always gives it more presence and importance.

Currently, on eBay I have several consigned artwork lots mainly in watercolor. The highlight is a watercolor of a winter scene by the listed and known French artist Roland Dubuc (1924-1998). The work is well-framed and matted and nicely conveys a bleak, cold winter day. Also available are a set of 3 framed 17th century colored engravings by Giovanni Battista Falda of Rome- 2 depicting Roman palazzo and the third showing a Roman fountain. They are all nicely presented and matted in gilt frames. A set of 4 late 18th century French engravings framed as a pair with gorgeous red mattes illustrate scenes from the Greek Islands. An large 20th century abstract landscape in watercolor by an unknown artist has brilliant color and was clearly rendered by someone with skill and passion. All of these items are well-priced and would be a welcome decorative addition to any space. Now, onto the Auction Finds of the Week!

This week's first auction find, lot 5 a color screenprint entitled Abstract Owl by Karl Appel (Dutch, 1921-2006) will be auctioned off at Skinner in Boston 23 January 2015 with a pre-sale estimate of $500-700. The piece measures 30" x 19.625 and is a vibrant mix of areas of strong color- oranges, blues, yellows and greens- framed in black against a green ground. The colors and their shapes coalesce into the figure of an owl. A strong, dynamic image, the Appel Owl would look great in a variety of settings. I would love to see it mixed with more traditional pictures to create a wall with a good deal of texture.

The second discovery this week also being auctioned off at Skinner in Boston is lot 22, a color lithograph by Bernard Buffet (French, 1928-1999) entitled Tournesols et Melon dated 1955 with pre-sale estimate of $1,500-2,000. Tournesols is the French word for sunflowers. This great mid-century modern print from an edition of 125 measures 19" x 25.75" and is rendered in oranges and yellows depicting a vase full of sunflowers next to a slice of melon on a cross-hatched ground. This piece would look fabulous in a room with Danish mid-century furniture.

Next is an abstract color lithograph by Sonia Delauney-Terk (Ukrainian, 1885-1979), lot 42, also at Skinner in Boston with a pre-sale estimate of $250-300. The print is untitled and is from an edition of 25 measuring 24.75" x 17". It shows a series of concentric circles in reds, blues, greens, greys, and a touch of black set off by blank areas showing the paper the lithograph is printed on which creates an image of process and construction. This work is a great size and visually appealing by a well-known artist.

The next two finds are more visually traditional and older works of art than the first three from above. A mixture of periods on your wall, just like the concoction of mediums on a blank wall can create a space with strong texture and spirit. These last two finds will be auctioned at Freeman's in Philadelphia on 27 January 2015.

The first treasure from Freeman's is an 18th century French charcoal drawing of two boys resting attributed to the circle of the famous Rococo artist Francois Boucher (French, 1703-1770). I myself am always dying for a French 18th century moment in my home and this sweet little drawing measuring only 5.625" x 5.25" would certainly satisfy that need. There is something fresh an open about this work, probably quickly rendered, of two smiling, young boys taking a rest from their play. This piece, lot 25, has an estimate of $1,000-1,500.

The last find this week is lot 1 a series of 6 etchings of various scenes in Rome from the 1760's and 1770's by the quite renown Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Italian, 1720-1778) with a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-3,000. I have chosen 2 to illustrate here: A View of the Colosseum measuring 15.875" x 23.563" and dated 1756 and A View of the Flavio Amphitheater measuring 17.25" x 27.25" and dated 1766. I would love to see these 6 prints all hung together in sleek simple frames, filling a wall in a room was a decidedly more modern dynamic in terms of furnishings.

Walls are what make a room. Give your walls a lot of texture and visual interest by finding original artwork at your price point that you find captivating, not just decorative and hang the pieces in thoughtful and planned out groupings that catch the eye. Hang different sizes pieces with different frames in an asymmetrical Salon style as I have done in my living room. Or unite different pieces in different media using the same sleek, unobtrusive frame and hang the grouping in a symmetrical and geometric fashion. Either direction will yield a pleasing result for the eye. Go for bold displays of color or chose works that are only black and white. There are a myriad of choices with which to adorn your walls. Walls are what make a room. Just don't leave them blank!

I hope you have enjoyed this Auction Finds of Week. If you are looks for some good, original and well-priced artwork please take a look at the items I currently have listed on eBay. Or if I can help you find a particular work or works to embellish your wall, please contact me at [email protected] and visit my website to see the services I offer at www.theantiqueflaneur.com. Or if you are looking for any kind of antique or vintage piece from the 1750's to the 1950's and beyond, I can assist you. I have multiple sources across the country and in Europe to find you that unique piece.

I am now able to offer insurance appraisals for the decorative arts especially silver and ceramics. Please contact me if you need an appraisal of items to schedule them on your insurance. If you need an estate or donation appraisal for tax purposes, I can bring in another appraiser who will work with me to complete that for you. I am in New York City, but have worked with clients in New Jersey and Connecticut as well. In addition, if you are interested in selling a piece(s), I can provide you with a Professional Opinion of Value on the object(s) to guide you in your selling (and I can sell it for you too) or perhaps you are just curious about the value of your antique or vintage item.

Until next time,
Kelly T Keating

Comments (0)

AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- DECEMBER 4th: 20th CENTURY DESIGN AT SKINNER

by Kelly Keating on 12/04/14

Welcome back to Auction Finds of the Week on Antique Desire! This week will highlight 4 furniture lots and one fab metalwork lot being sold at the Modern Design auction at Skinner in Boston on December 6, 2014. The sale not only has numerous lots of modern design furniture, but also glass, ceramic and metalwork items. All of the lots I chose for this week have very affordable estimates except one which is a piece by a premier 20th century American furniture designer and maker. Adding one new and interesting piece to a room can change its whole dynamic from an accessory to an item of furniture. And as I have said here before, combining new items with vintage and antique pieces gives a room a great deal of character, warmth and interest.

This week's first find, lot 9, is a Charles Limbert (1854-1923) Arts and Crafts oak desk circa 1912 with an estimate of $600-800. Limbert was the founder of the Limbert Furniture Company in Michigan in 1902. The desk has a rectangular top just shy of 4 feet wide over two drawers with corbel supports under which is a lower median shelf. The piece demonstrates the hallmarks of the Arts & Crafts style in its simplicity of design as well as the exposed tendons which visually indicate how it was constructed. This piece is slightly worn, but with some gentle restoration it would function quite well as a desk in a small room. Can't you just see a computer on top of it?

The next discovery this week is lot 168, a Seville Art Metal Studios gilt metal magazine rack from 1928 with an estimate of $500-700. Seville Art Metal Studios was located in Cleveland, Ohio and produced various pieces of metalwork during the Art Deco period. Each side of the magazine rack whimsically features a dancing female nude playing a flute in a swirled oval frame. I would not use this piece for its original function to hold magazines, but treat it as a piece of sculpture, an Art Deco artifact, to be displayed on a sideboard or a deep mantelpiece.

Lot 233 is a 1970's rosewood armchair with an upholstered seat from Denmark designed by Niels Koefoed with an estimate of $200-300. The chair has at first a traditional appearance, but this look is underlined and countered by its sleek, sculpted look. Particularly appealing is how the arms of the chair continue past the seat and are attached to the stretchers. The stretcher actually goes through the arm piece creating a dynamic visual look. Here is a single piece of furniture, relatively inexpensive, that could transform a room with its interesting shape and construction.

The next find this week is lot 299, an American black walnut hanging cabinet from 1977, by the renown George Nakashima (1905-1990) with an estimate of $10,000-15,000. The cabinet consists of a rectangular top with a sap streak and free form edge over a pair of sliding doors with grillwork over Pandaus grass which reveals an open compartment. In this piece, Nakashima turns the traditional hanging cabinet on its head making it horizontal instead of vertical which gives the piece a superb visual dynamic as it appears to float in space. Other hallmarks of Nakashima's style are here as well most notably allowing the wood to express its inherent characteristics: the top's free form edge and the incorporation of the sap streak. This hanging cabinet is really a wonderful piece full of presence and soul.

This week's last discovery is lot 354, a T H Robsjohns-Gibbings walnut coffee table circa 1960's with an estimate of $600-800. Robsjohns-Gibbings (1905-1976) was a British-born architect and furniture designer who combined classical elements of Ancient Greece and Art Deco design. The coffee table consist of a rectangular top with a crossbanding over a medial shelf. The whole is raised on four saber legs. This piece clearly expresses his design aesthetic. The saber legs of Ancient Greece are injected into an overall modern design creating a striking effect. At only 30" x 18" this coffee table could work in a variety of spaces and I would have it in my own living room toute suite. Like the Koefoed chair, this one piece of furniture could transform a room.

If you are looking for a single item from traditional to modern, antique to vintage, to dramatically change your own space, please visit my website and contact me at [email protected]. Also, if you need help selling your antique or vintage items, please think about consigning your items with me. Finally, I am also available for insurance or informational appraisals of your decorative arts objects particularly silver and English ceramics which are my specialties. If you need an estate or donation appraisal for the IRS, I can refer you to a qualified appraiser to help you.

Happy Hanukkah! Happy Christmas! Happy New Year!

Until next time,

Kelly T Keating

Comments (0)

MY FAVORITE ANTIQUE DEALERS: RUSTIC & ELEGANT IN MASSACHUSETTS

by Kelly Keating on 11/06/14

Here on Antique Desire I am beginning a new series of posts entitled My Favorite Antique Dealers where I will introduce a dealer whom I believe has interesting and quality objects to adorn your space. I not only want to promote the individual dealers that I will highlight, but also encourage people to consider antique and vintage items for the decoration of their home. In each post I will choose about 5 objects that the dealer currently has on offer. All items are currently for sale. If you are interested in buying any of these fantastic objects, please contact me at [email protected] and I will help complete your transaction.

This post highlights antique dealer Michael Weinberg of Massachusetts. My first purchase from Michael was many years ago for a client in New Jersey who had a very neutral palette, modern living room with just a hint of a purple accent color. Although the living room was modern in design, the client loved antiques and from Michael I found 3 pieces of circa 1800 Wedgwood creamware dishes with a feathered purple edge consisting of a large platter and 2 scallop-shaped dessert dishes. The trio was hung on the wall and was the perfect complement to the room and its accent color giving this contemporary space a sense of time and history.

In addition to early English ceramics, Michael also deals in good American country antiques which I will spotlight below as well as needlework samplers of the 18th and 19th century. I have chosen to underline his country antiques which I think could work quite well in a variety of settings from traditional to modern. Just like the Wedgwood creamware I found years ago, the right antique can give a sense of time and history to a modern space making it warmer and more dynamic through the contrast of old and new.

The first treasure from Michael is a whimsical sheet metal sign in the shape of a pig with the words "Baked Ham" painted on it. It most likely originates from a restaurant or deli and its nail holes may indicate that it was tacked to a larger board or wall. The sign as a whole retains much of its original red paint surface and probably dates to the first half of the 20th century. The piece measures 9" high to the ear and 19.5" from snout to tail. The condition is good with no splits or cracks. The paint has a good crusty surface. As mentioned there are nail holes on the sign from where it was attached during its functional lifetime. The price is $385 + shipping. It would be a wonderful, fun addition to a neutral kitchen or even hang it above a sideboard with other pictures in a dining room to create a fanciful look and less formal space.

The next find from Michael is a heavy sheet metal cow weathervane from the mid 20th century. The weathervane measures 13.5" to the top of the head and 20" from nose to tail. The patina of the surface is wonderful- mellow with only some minor darkening. The piece is in good condition with no splits, cracks or rust. Like the piggy above, the cow weathervane would be a great accent piece for a kitchen or again in a dining room in order to add a touch of whimsy. The price is $575 + shipping.

The third find from Michael is an interesting mid to late 19th century carved wooden horse head with glass eyes. The horse head still has remnants of the original bridal and the reins. Perhaps this item was a display piece in a harness makers shop or a depiction of someone's favorite mount. Either way the piece has a good deal of charm and allure. The head is mounted on a plain wooden base. It measures 8" to the top of the horse's ears and 9.5" from the nose to the back of the neck. It has a lovely patina to the original surface. The horse head is in very fine condition with no splits, cracks or breaks and only some surface rubbing of the color on the nose and the right side of the head. I could see this piece on a large desk in a study with a riding theme or as part of a mix of objects and books in a study as well. It would also be charming as a focal object on a mantelpiece. The price is $850 + shipping.

Also from Michael is a rare red painted tin toleware cheese cradle circa 1850. Cheese cradles were used in general stores to hold wheels of cheddar or other round cheeses. The cheese wheels would stand up on end in the cradle making it easier for the shopkeeper to cut hunks of cheese off for the customers. Wooden cheese cradles not like this tin toleware one were used in homes at formal dinner parties. This cheese cradle measures 4.75" high x 13.5" long x 8" wide. The red painted surface has yellow highlight lines on the curved body and black highlight lines on the base. The piece is in very fine condition with no splits, cracks or areas of rust. The surface is dry and crusty and the cradle retains about 75% of its original paint. What a great item for a dining room centerpiece either empty or perhaps filled with fruit. Use it on a large kitchen island to accent the red color in the room. It is a charming and unusual antique that will certainly spark conversation. The price is $495 + shipping.

The final antique from Michael- a late 19th century tin 10th anniversary wall pocket- is I think as interesting as the cheese cradle and like the cradle has a wonderful sense of history and physical patina. It was popular in the late Victorian period to give tin items as presents for a 10th anniversary. Usually, these tin gifts were baskets woven out of strips of tin or hats or even tin slippers. The wall pocket is an unusual item from the usual, but would be useful for sewing items, letters, keys etc. The hanging wall pocket is made out of .5" strips of tin woven together in a basket weave fashion. It measures 3.25" high (the pocket) x 8" wide and the step-down back is 7.75" high. The piece is in fine condition with no breaks or splits in the tin work. The surface is dry and mellow. There are some very minor scattered oxidized rust spots, but nothing that really detracts from the item. I could see this wall pocket as part of an interesting wall grouping with other similar type objects or it could be used functionally as a fun addition for a mud room for keys or letters. I think this piece has an irresistible charm. It is a humble object that celebrates love.

I hope you have enjoyed meeting the great antique dealer Michael Weinberg and some of the wonderful objects that he has on offer. If you are interested in buying any of the items in this post and/or if you require more pictures of a particular piece, please email me at [email protected]. And as always if you are looking for a specific antique or vintage item from traditional to modern, please contact me and I can help you find it. Or perhaps you have inherited some antique pieces that you wish to sell. I can help you sell your items too. If you need an insurance appraisal of your antiques or an appraisal determining their value for sale or reference, I can help you as well. For other types of appraisals such as donation or estate tax, I can refer you to another competent qualified appraiser. The details and terms of all of my services are listed here on my website.

Until next time,

Kelly T Keating

www.theantiqueflaneur.com

Comments (1)

AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- OCTOBER 20TH: CHINESE EXPORT SILVER AT CHRISTIE'S ONLINE

by Kelly Keating on 10/18/14

From October 16th to October 28th Christie's is holding an online auction of Chinese Export silver consisting of 88 lots. Chinese Export silver is perhaps the fastest growing area in the overall silver auction market. It will be interesting to see what prices are fetched at this exclusive sale. Just as Chinese makers produced pottery for a European consumer since the 18th century, silver makers were also employed by Westerners to create objects in precious metal. The confluence often produced unique objects that often blend European forms with Chinese decoration. I hope you enjoy the following objects as much as I do and that it will inspire you to think about silver in a new way.

This week's first find, lot 3, is a Chinese Export silver pitcher with the mark of the commercial firm of Hoaching of Canton and made circa 1825-1870. It has an estimate of $3,000-5,000. The pitcher is a cylindrical shape with a tuck in foot. The body has an overall decoration of bamboo branches and leaves against a matte ground which creates a lace-like effect appearing both strong and delicate at the same time. The handle of the pitcher is modeled as a piece of bamboo as well. The pitcher stands 8.25" tall and has a vacant cartouche underneath the spout. What a gorgeous piece!

This week's next discovery, lot 14, is a Chinese Export silver centerpiece with the mark of the enterprise of Tuck Chang of Shanghai dating to 1870-1920. It has an estimate of $4,000-6,000. Standing 17.5" tall, the centerpiece features a beautifully rendered crane which supports 4 vases that are decorated with lovely chrysanthemum flowers against a matte ground. The whole stands on a wood stand. The detail of this piece is simply extraordinary.

The third treasure this week are 2 related Chinese Export silver round picture frames, lot 71, one made by the firm of Cum Wo of Hong Kong circa 1840-1910 and the other made by the business of Luen Wo of Shanghai circa 1880-1925. It would be interesting to investigate these frames and other objects to see how perhaps certain forms and motifs persisted in Chinese Export silver over long periods of time either because of the Chinese maker, the European consumer or both. The 2 frames have an estimate of $2,500-3,500. Each frame is 12" in diameter. They are both decorated with chrysanthemums. It would be lovely to fill these frames with some distinguished ancestors.

The last find this week is a Chinese Export 3 piece tea set. How could one talk about Chinese Export silver and not show an object used for tea although decidedly for a Western drinker? Lot 44 has an estimate of $2,000-3,000. The tea set was made by the enterprise of Luen Wo of Shanghai circa 1880-1925. The teapot, cream jug and sugar bowl are each inventively shaped as a tree trunk section with applied prunus blossoms. The handle, spout and finial are modeled as twigs. The cream jug and sugar bowl have the nicely added touch of a gilt interior. This tea set is simply charming. The trunk and twig motif give it a touch of whimsy and the prunus blossoms add a feeling of elegance.

I hope you enjoyed this small foray into Chinese Export silver and have become as enamored with its beauty as I have. Also, all of the pieces in the auction not just the ones discussed here have strong estimates. It will be interesting to see how the sale proceeds and if a majority of lots exceed their higher valuation.

If you are looking for a piece of Chinese Export silver or another antique or vintage. object, please contact me through my website and I would be happy to help. Also, if you have items you wish to sell, I provide that service as well. And finally if you are on Facebook, please like my business page where I post items of antique interest and additionally antiques for sale.

Until next time,

Kelly T Keating

www.theantiqueflaneur.com

Comments (1)

« Newer Entries | Main | Older Entries »