Antique Desire
AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- DECEMBER 2ND: FINE ENGLISH CERAMICS
by Kelly Keating on 12/03/13
Welcome back to Auction Finds of the Week. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a happy Chanukah. This week I highlight some fantastic English ceramics from two auctions: The Connoisseur's Collection to be held at Sotheby's London on December 4th and The Great Estates Auction to be held at Rago Arts and Auction Center in Lambertville, NJ on December 7th. The Sotheby's auction contains some very rare items of English porcelain with prices to match whereas the Rago Auction has some wonderful pieces of later English ceramics at good prices.
This week's first find is lot 435, a Chelsea soft-paste porcelain pigeon tureen and cover, circa 1755 with a pre-sale estimate of $24,330-32,441. Standing 7" tall, the bird is naturalistically modelled with its head turned to the right. It is seated among wheatears and coloured flowers on a low mound base. Its plumage is mainly purple with white highlights and the wings have white and yellow markings. The Chelsea porcelain manufactory was established in 1743-45 and was the first important porcelain maker in England. Chelsea was known for its figures. This delightful pigeon would make a fabulous centerpiece on any table.
This week's next discovery, lot 436, is a pair of large soft-paste porcelain peacocks also by Chelsea circa 1755 with an impressive pre-sale estimate of $97,320-129,761. Standing a grand 18.5" tall, the peacocks face in opposite directions. Each is modelled as if perched on the cross boughs of a tall tree stump festooned with cherries or damson. Their plumage is picked out in colors of puce, iron-red, blue and yellow. The rocky mound bases are also decorated with strawberry plants. This pair of birds is magnificient and would look superb on a mantel or as part of a table centerpiece if only for their grand price.
The last find from the Sotheby's A Connoisseur's Collection auction is another ware by Chelsea. Lot 426 is a Chelsea "Hans Sloane" botanical plate circa 1755 with a pre-sale estimate of $4,866-6,488. The 9.25" plate is painted with an exotic specimen bearing yellow petals with puce leaves and stamens. It is surrounded by scattered stems and sprigs which are attracting insects. Chelsea’s botanical designs were named after Hans Sloane who was a noted scientist, an apt name for such a "scientific" and naturalistic looking plate with extremely gorgeous coloring.
Our first find from Rago is lot 1147, a Minton majolica plaque dated 1876 with a Japanesque/Aesthetic design and a pre-sale estimate of $400-600. The plate features 2 fan shaped cartouches. One depicts 4 small birds in blue while the other depicts a stork or crane in flight. The fans are set against a white blossom flowering branch on which sit 3 birds. The whole is set on a gorgeous cobalt blue ground. At an impressive size of 20", this plaque would make a wonderful item to hang on a wall. Hanging plates, platters and plaques on a wall is one of my favorite decorating tips especially if there is a pattern or period which you collect. Get the plates out of the cupboard and onto the wall! They can make a beautiful visual display and also show off your collection.
The next treasure from Rago is a pair of Wedgwood black basalt oil lamps with gilding from the 19th century. Lot 1144 has a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-3,000. On top of each oil lamp sits a female figure, one reading a book and the other holding a jug which she seems to be pouring into the lamp. The auction catalogue suggest that this design is a River of Life motif. Black basalt wares can be very striking and more everyday objects like a teapot or jug would I believe work in even a modern setting. These lamps, however, scream 19th century and would be for the basalt collector or someone who enjoys antiques. They would look wonderful perched on a mantel.
The final find this week is also by Minton. Lot 1046 is a Minton majolica jardiniere dated 1873 with a pre-sale estimate of $1,200-1,800. The jardiniere has a floral spray and fern decoration in greens and whites against a brown ground suggestive of dirt. It is a good size, measuring 13"x19"x14.25". I love the little scrolled handles made of leaves at the scalloped rim. Such a piece would look wonderful in a garden room filled with a large fern,
I hope you enjoyed this week's tour of the high and low of English ceramics. But, no matter the price point, all 6 of these lots are wonderful objects that would enhance any setting. And hopefully an object in this week's finds will inspire you in the creation of your own space.
If you are looking for a piece of English ceramics, high or low, contact me at [email protected] and I can be of assistance. Check out my website www.theantiqueflaneur.com under Services for details of how I work.
Results for these lots and others can be found on my Facebook Page.
Until next week,
Kelly T Keating
AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- NOVEMBER 18TH: 20TH CENTURY DESIGN AT SKINNER
by Kelly Keating on 11/20/13
Last week all of the auction finds were from the Doyle + Design auction held at Doyle New York. This week we travel north to Boston for more modern design at the 20th Century Design auction on December 7, 2013 at Skinner. This auction embraces modernism with fine examples of furniture, art glass, lighting, pottery, metalwork, and sculpture. From early mosaic glass lighting by Tiffany, Duffner & Kimberly, and Wilkinson to iconic furniture designs from Stickley, Wegner, Eames, and the American studio craft movement. I have chosen a variety of pieces for this week's discoveries from Art Nouveau to Mid-century Modern pieces with a heavy emphasis on Art Deco which is a personal favorite of mine. I am sure you will find a piece you love and hopefully it will inspire the design of your own space.
This week's first find is an Art Nouveau chair, lot 5, from the early 20th century with a pre-sale estimate of $500-700. The chair is most likely French in origin and is made of oak, leather, brass and has wood inlays. The openwork crest rail sits over an inlaid wood landscape scene full of the undulating curves of trees, bushes and clouds. The back splat is composed of leather and has a fruit and leaf tooled design. The curved and bent armrests sit on the front legs which are square with leaf-carving and terminate in a square foot. There are curved struts attached to the front leg and the seat rail. All of these curves and the decoration on the chair exemplify the Art Nouveau style. The chair maintains its original leather seat upholstery which is unfortunately damaged. This chair needs a little attention particularly in the seat, but if one could match the leather of the back splat to a new piece of leather for seat, the chair would be given a whole new life.
The next discovery is our first piece of Art Deco for this week. Lot 232 is an Art Deco slant front desk in the manner of Ruhlmann which is unmarked and made probably in New York in the early 20th century with a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-1,500. The desk is made of mahogany, burlwood veneers, ebony and ivory. The top of the desk has a molded edge over a slant lid with an abstract geometric floral inlay of ebony and ivory. The opening reveals a writing surface and interior shelving which sits over a pullout writing surface and three drawers which have carved and inlaid ivory rectangular pulls. The whole stands on fluted and tapered legs. This desk takes a very traditional form, the slant front desk, and updates it through its decoration and its use of rich materials- ivory, ebony and burlwood. The inlay of ebony and ivory on the opening of the desk screams Art Deco in its geometric styling. I would certainly have this desk in my house tout suite!
This week's next treasure is an Art Deco Aubusson rug, lot 234, made in France circa 1930 with a pre-sale estimate of $800-1,000. The carpet is made of wool with a terracotta ground and a modernist design in cream and French blue. The rug measures 7 feet 10 inches x 5 ft. 7 inches. The edges are finished in a blue and cream piping with tassels at the 4 corners. I love this color combination and would like to see this carpet as the starting point for a wonderful room. Why not add the Art Deco slant front desk and Art Nouveau chair to this (imaginary) room? It would look fabulous.
The next discovery this week is an English Art Deco sideboard by Heal & Son Ltd., lot 241, circa 1935 with a pre-sale estimate of $700-900. The sideboard is made of hardwood and veneers. The case is fitted with a single short drawer over a liquor cabinet flanked by two long drawers over double door cabinets each of which has a single interior shelf. All the drawers have stepped inlay accents and shaped recangular pulls. The whole stands on Asian-inspired square shaped feet. The beauty of this piece is all of the matching veneers used on the case. It creates a rich surface that is visually dynamic on a simply shaped silhouette. And at $700-900 this sideboard is a steal and would be a great starting point for a modern inspired dining room.
The fifth find this week is our last piece of Art Deco. Lot 259 is a pair of Art Deco wall scones made most likely in France in the early 20th century of glass and patinated metal with a pre-sale estimate of $400-600. Each sconce has a single light with a molded colorless glass panel which is cast with an abstract geometric motif in relief. At a good size of 14", this pair of scones would go nicely with the English Deco sideboard for our (imaginary) dining room.
The next treasure this week is a pair of Hans Wegner "Wishbone" chairs, lot 313, made by Carl Hansen & Son, Odense, Denmark and designed in 1949 with a pre-sale estimate of $300-500. The chairs are made of oak with cord seats. Each chair has a continuous arm over the "wishbone" splat with woven seats and stand on turned legs. Although later in date and style than the English Deco sideboard, I think these chairs would pair nicely with it in our (imaginary) dining room. The "wishbone" splat is not only whimsical, but visually appealing in the overall design.
This week's next discovery is also an example of Danish design. Lot 349 is a Borge Mogensen secretary made by Soborg Mobler Denmark in teak circa 1965 with a pre-sale estimate of $600-800. The drop front top reveals a writing surface and fitted interior with letter and paper organizers and two drawers. The desk section stands over four lower drawers. The whole rests on a platform base. The simplicity of this design is in marked contrast to the Art Deco desk above. The surface is clean and unadorned. The teak wood is allowed to speak for itself without ornamentation or decoration.
This week's next find is a piece of American Mid-century Modern design. Lot 423 is a mahogany and glass tea cart by Edward Wormley made by Dunbar circa 1950 with a pre-sale estimate of $800-1,200. The bentwood frame has semicircular drop leaves that support an inset fixed glass top. There are two removable trays on the median shelf. The whole stands on wheels. Now here is a must have item for entertaining! You could even use it as a drinks cart instead of tea. It will be interesting to see how this lot fairs. It seems like an archaic entertaining instrument which is not much in use now. One could buy it almost as a piece of sculpture to stand in the room and still use it as a bar cart, but stationary, not moving around to serve guests.
This week's last find is a wall sculpture from the late 1970's that would work well with the Wegner chairs, the Mogensen desk and the Wormley tea cart. It could even work well with the English Deco sideboard. Lot 556 is a Curtis Jere wall sculpture, dated 1979, made out of metal with a pre-sale estimate of $400-600. The sculpture consists of six staggered palm fronds on curving rod stems. This piece has both an organic and industrial feel to it. It is whimsical yet hard-edged. Put it above your modern sideboard!
I hope you enjoyed this week's finds and found something to inspire the design of your own interiors. I loved all the Art Deco pieces this week and would love to have the in the manner of Ruhlmann American Art Deco slant front desk in my house. It has a luxury and richness to it that is reminiscent of French Art Deco and the inlaid panel on the slant front is gorgeous.
If you need help finding an antique or vintage object from small to large contact me at [email protected] and take a look at my website for details.
Check my Facebook page for the sale results of the lots profiled here.
Until next week,
Kelly T Keating
AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- NOVEMBER 11TH: MODERN DESIGN AT DOYLE NEW YORK
by Kelly Keating on 11/14/13
After 3 weeks of gorgeous, sparkling silver, Auction Finds returns to modern design and furniture with lots from the Doyle + Design auction to be held at Doyle New York on November 18, 2013. This auction has some wonderful pieces of 20th century and 21st century design by very prominent artists, designers and makers of this period notably George Nakashima. Many of the items are at affordable prices. If you are interested in modern design and want to start creating a room with objects from this period the Doyle + Design auction is a great place to start.
This week's first find is lot 204, a low table made of American black walnut by the renown George Nakashima with a pre-sale estimate of $10,000-15,000. The table was made circa 1955-1964 and it is an impressive 7' 10" in length, 31" in width and 12" in height. The design of the table follows Nakashima's desire to preserve the original character of the piece wood of wood he uses as seen in the undulating edge of the tabletop and even the hole in the center of the object. The whole stands on 3 peg legs and has a wonderful patina. A piece such as this would be the centerpiece of any room, used perhaps as a coffee table. The rest of the room would have to be built around this gorgeous and visually arresting table.
The second discovery of the week is a decidedly different table than the Nakashima. Lot 316 is an oak Art Deco center table from the second quarter of the 20th century with a pre-sale estimate of $800-1,200. What a great piece for an entry way! The whole stands on 3 block feet which support a tripartite base. From the triangular base 3 slightly curved but blocky legs/supports rise up to support the 32" in diameter circular tabletop in which a dynamic patterning is created with the grain of the oak. The center table as a form emerged in the early 19th century Classical period and the form here is much as it was then.
This week's next treasure like the Art Deco center table is a new take on an old form. Lot 341 is a French secretaire by Andre Sornay (1902-2000) circa 1940 made of birch and mahogany with copper inlay with a pre-sale estimate of $1,500-2,500. Here a traditional form is updated with a graphic use of wood graining and copper as well as the large cup-like handles for the 2 drawers and the fold down desk. This desk would be the centerpiece of any room and like the Nakashima the room would need to be designed around it.
The fourth discovery this week is a 1920's French Art Deco mantel clock which would look wonderful on your new Sornay secretaire. The clock, lot 339 with a pre-sale estimate of $1,500-2,000 is by Paul Follot (1877-1941). It is made of carved and gilt-wood featuring 2 stylized birds whose heads come together over the clock dial. Beneath the birds there is some foliage. The whole stands on bun feet. Chic and stylish, this clock is the way to tell time.
The next find for this week is a Mid-century modern sideboard by Jens Risom (b.1916), lot 192, with a pre-sale estimate of $600-900. The sideboard made of walnut with a lovely patina was made in circa 1960. It features a large accordian door on the left which perhaps was for barware or a stereo and 4 drawers on the right all of which stands on 4 feet with what appears to be a cross-stretcher. This foot design gives a lightness to the piece as if its main rectangular form is simply floating. If you are looking to start buying Mid-century modern furniture, this piece is a good start and it is by a good maker.
This week's sixth treasure is a Danish modern design armchair that would work well with the Risom sideboard. Lot 190 is an upholstered arm chair with tripod teak legs from the mid 20th century with a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-2,000. The current fabric on the chair is quite stark. I would keep the offwhite color, just warm it up a bit and find a fabric with some texture to contrast with the smooth teak legs.
This week's last find is Lot 195, an American lounge chair from the 1930's/1940's of bentwood and upholstery by Martin Craig with a pre-sale estimate of $1,500-2,000. The chair is a series of wonderful curves and it looks supremely comfortable. Like the Danish modern chair above, I would warm up the fabric with a slightly deeper tone of offwhite and add a fabric with some texture like a chenille to make this chair super cozy.
This week's discoveries could all work together in the same house. My favorite piece this week is the Andre Sornay secretaire. As an update of an earlier form, it is both modern and traditional and supremely French in its elegance and style.
I hope this week's finds provided inspiration for the design of your own interiors.
If you are looking for a modern design piece from a small decorative object to a large item of furniture, I can assist you. Email me at [email protected] with details. And check out my website www.theantiqueflaneur.com to see how I work.
For auction results of the Finds, past and present, go to my Facebook Page.
Until next week,
Kelly T Keating
AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- NOVEMBER 4TH: ALL THAT GLITTERS...PART III
by Kelly Keating on 11/03/13
Like All That Glitters...Part I and Part II, this week's auction finds focus on silver. And like last week's post these chosen lots are more accessible in terms of price to the average buyer than the very high end items discussed in Part I. This week, however, will solely focus on silverplate pieces from 3 different auction houses rather than sterling objects. Silverplate is a wonderful substitute for sterling and certainly can be more affordable. With any object you wish to purchase, condition is everything especially for silverplate items. Pass on pieces with bad plate loss (where the silver has worn away and the base metal is showing) and/or corrossion. Replating can be done, but it is very expensive and will usually cost more than the object's true value. Another similar item is sure to come along soon. If you have a very unusual or rare object or something sentimental or a family piece, then replating might be an option. (Contact me if you need a piece of silver replated. I know and have used several wonderful platers.)
This week's first auction discovery is a "Special Line" Cubist silverplate 3 piece coffee set circa 1929-1931 which is lot 288 to be auctioned off at Freeman's in Philadelphia on November 15, 2013 with a pre-sale estimate of $800-1,200. The set is comprised of a coffeepot, a twin handled open sugar and a creamer. The coffeepot and the creamer have a geometric chased design of right angles and intersecting arcs. The set was designed by Albert Feinauer for the Barbour Silver Co. in Hartford, CT.
In the late 1920s, the International Silver Company hired a new designer, Weimar emigre Albert Feinauer (German, 1886-1955). Before moving to the United States, Feinauer taught metalwork at the School of Arts and Crafts founded by Henry van de Velde. He later became a designer for Georg Jensen in Copenhagen before returning to Weimar where he opened his own jewelry studio.
Feinauer's 'Special Line' of silverplate holloware, was made by the Barbour Silver Company, a division of International that was introduced in 1929. The Special Line incorporates post WWI German Bauhaus styles, and the chased ornament on the coffee pot and creamer is reminiscent of the work of Cubist artists who used right-angle steps, arcs, and parallel-lines in their work. This type of ornament, as opposed to triangles and other angular shapes, is rare in American design before 1930.
I think this coffee set is quite stylish and chic. It would look wonderful in a modern setting whether Art Deco or Danish Mid-century modern. The set is also an example of how silverplate designs can be much more radical and forward thinking than a sterling example. An item produced in sterling is much more costly to produce and is much less with a silverplate piece. With the Feinaur coffee set, Barbour Silver could take a chance on a bold new design without breaking the bank.
The next find this week is also being auctioned off at Freeman's on November 15, 2013 and it is completely opposite in its aesthetic to the Feinauer coffee set. Lot 54 is a pair of late 19th century silverplate 6 branch 7 light candelabra in the manner of Odiot with a pre-sale estimate of $3,000-5,000. The pair stands an impressive 23" tall. From the central standard issues six acanthus-capped arms terminating in bobeches with drip pans. All is raised on circular base and the whole is decorated with lion's masks, bellflowers, and strap work.
Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot (1763–1850) was a French silversmith working in a neoclassical style. He famously made the cradle for Napoleon's son the King of Rome. Though made well after Odiot the candelabra at Freeman's have all the neoclassical hallmarks in its decoration such as acanthus leaves, lion's masks and bell flowers. This pair would create an impressive presence on a large dining room table in both a traditional room or one that was simpler, not exactly modern, but more clean and streamlined.
The next 4 lots in this week's finds are all being auctioned at Quittenbaum Kunstauktion in Munich, Germany on November 5, 2013. The first item in Munich is lot 554, a set of ten silverplate whimsical knife rests in the shapes of animals by the French firm of Christofle, circa 1925 with a pre-sale estimate of $675-800. Knife rests are an interesting tabletop article. They would make a wonderful collecting category. Simply put, one places a used and dirty knife on the rest to prevent the soiling of the tablecloth. Apparently, they were "invented" in the late 17th or early 18th century, but were probably going out of fashion by the time Christofle made these animal ones in the 20's. In French they are called porte couteaux. In this lot there is a peacock, a rabbit, a duck, a dove, a lion, a swordfish, 3 dogs and what I think is a crane. Their bodies are wonderfully stylized comprised of soft angular lines. They just scream Art Deco. Bring back the knife rest!
The second lot from Munich is also by the French firm, Christofle. Lot 555 is a silverplate tea set with tray c.1928 in a wonderful Art Deco manner with a pre-sale estimate of $1,600-1,890. The set is comprised of a tray with mahogany handles, a teapot with a mahogany handle and finial, a creamer with mahogany handle and a lidded sugar with a mahogany finial. Stylish and chic, this piece would work well in any interior. I love the contrast between the deep, warm mahogany and the shiny, cool silverplate.
The third German find is another piece of French silverplate by an unknown maker. Lot 568 is fashionable silverplate pen holder with a stepped chevron base with engine turning with a pre-sale estimate of $400-540. Made circa 1925 it has a wonderful Art Deco expression and would make a lovely gift.
The final find from Munich is lot 632, a silverplate liquor set circa 1905 by WMF (Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik) with a pre-sale estimate of $940-1,080. The set consists of a carafe, 6 glasses and a tray. It is beautifully decorated in the Art Nouveau style with reductive floral motif which is placed in round cartouches on both the carafe and the glasses. The tray has a nice hexagonal shape with round cutouts crossed by 2 parallel bands. A smart piece for entertaining!
This week's final treasure is a later 19th century soup tureen and cover that is being auctioned at Leslie Hindman in Chicago on November 7, 2013. Lot 463 has a pre-sale estimate of $600-800. The tureen has 2 stag head handles and what appears to be an antelope finial on the cover. Both the body and the lid are engraved with stylized flowers and leaves and the whole stands on fantastic deer? hoof feet. The tureen measures a nice 16.75" from handle to handle. This item of course is for a very specialized buyer, namely someone like me who is not afraid of objects that may appear to be "old-fashioned". Such a tureen would look fantastic on my sideboard and the hoof feet would speak to the hoof feet of my Aesthetic Movement stool.
The Aesthetic deer foot stool with antique fabric in my drawing room.
I hope this week's discoveries inspire the design of your own space. I hope too that I have convinced you that silverplate is stylish and viable option to more expensive sterling objects. Just remember with silverplate it is all about condition and also the singularity of the design. Just as in sterling, there is a lot of bog standard silverplate, so look for unusual forms by good makers such as Christofle, WMF etc.
If you would like help finding an interesting piece of silverplate or any other kind of antique from a large piece of furniture to a painting, please contact me at [email protected]. Check out my website for how I work at www.theantiqueflaneur.com.
Check out my Facebook page for the results of the lots discussed here.
Until next week,
Kelly T Keating
AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- OCTOBER 28TH: ALL THAT GLITTERS...PART II
by Kelly Keating on 11/01/13
In the last few Auction Finds of the Week such as The Connoisseur's Eye and All That Glitters... I selected high end, expensive items whose collector's market is quite small due to these high prices. Starting with this post, All That Glitters...Part II, I am going to focus on items that are available to a wider market, yet are still quite beautiful and intriguing. You don't often have to spend a great deal of money to get something that has the right look and feel for your own space. Many times high price pieces generate lesser cousins, but only less in price not less in aesthetic beauty or enjoyment. As the title of this post suggests this week also focuses on silver. All the items selected are from Heritage Auctions' Fine Silver and Vertu Signature Auction to be held in Dallas, Texas on November 5, 2013.
This week's first glittering find is an English biscuit barrel made by the renown Birmingham firm of Elkington circa 1860, lot 68394 with a pre-sale estimate of $500-800. The biscuit barrel has a cylindrical-form with a rounded bottom and a hinged domed lid topped with a fantastic finial of lion rampant holding an engraved shield. The entire box is decorated with stylized beading that borders flowers on branches of undulating acanthus leaves against a textured ground. The handles on either side have wonderful lion head mounts. The whole is raised on segmented legs with fan-form feet that are mounted with female masks. Standing at almost 10" tall the biscuit box would make an impressive addition to any sideboard in pretty much any style.
The next shiny discovery this week is a piece of Chinese Export silver. It is interesting to note that since the 18th centuy, the West not only bought Chinese porcelain, but also silver often times in Western forms and conventions. Lot 68002 is a late example of Chinese Export silver, decorated with Chinese motifs, but with a Western form meant for Western taste. The silver footed compote by Luen Wo of Shanghai circa 1890 has a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-1,500. The pedestal compote has a lotus form bowl with nine lobed peaked petals. Each petal has chased repoussé and is decorated with applied foliage and flowers with birds. The center bowl is supported by three dragons that emanate from the central baluster column that then in turn stands upon a domed foot decorated with an elaborate high relief swirling dragon against a finely planished ground. The compote is small only about 7" in height, but its rich decoration is very appealing. It would be interesting grouped with other silver items on a sideboard or perhaps on a coffee table.
This week's third auction find was not made in Asia like the compote, but it took as its inspiration the arts of Japan. Lot 68200 is a Howard and Company, New York sterling toast rack circa 1882 in the Aesthetic style with a pre-sale estimate of $800-1,200. The Aesthetic Style beginning in the mid to late 1870's found inspiration for its creations in the arts of Japan which in the late 1860's became open to the West after many, many years of isolation. The shaped six slot toast rack has a hand hammered metal surface that is reminiscent of Japanese metalwork. The decoration too of a dragon fly above lily pad which is engraved and chased to one end and on the opposite end a water insect resting upon the bloom of a water lily suggests the Aesthetic Style. The whole stands on shaped bun feet and the center of six toast slots rises to form a loop handle. I adore the Aesthetic Style and have myself collected many pieces in silverplate. Often one finds more adventurous Aesthetic silver designs in plate rather than sterling because plate was simply cheaper to produce. This toast rack is a wonderful sterling example. Use it for its intended purpose at your next brunch or turn it into a letter rack for a smart desk accessory.
The fourth glittering discovery this week would make a nice pairing with the Aesthetic toast rack if you were to use it as a desk accessory. Lot 68441 with a pre-sale estimate of $300-500 is a Shiebler silver chrysanthemum pattern calendar rack with month, day and date cards, circa 1900. The rack is decorated beautifully with applied chrysanthemum blooms to the front and the sides and is raised on chrysanthemum feet. It has twenty-five interchangeable cards for the day, the month and the date. I think that this find is just the most fabulous, gorgeous thing. What a great gift! Imagine having it on your desk and enjoying the pleasure of changing the date manually. Sheer enjoyment!
This week's next treasure is a bit of an archaic tabletop item. I of course would say use it and enjoy it. It's not just a pretty thing to look at in a cabinet. Lot 68188 is a Mauser Manufactering Company, New York sterling grape stand in the form of a leaf, circa 1880, with a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-1,500. What is a grape stand you might ask? Read on. The dish is modeled as a leaf with a ruffled rim. Coming up from one end of the leaf is a tripartite vine handle with applied leaves. The whole is raised on three loop feet with a single leaf to center of each foot. The grape stand is monogrammed MSW to a leaf located at the base of handle. How does one serve grapes elegantly on one's table? You hang a bunch of grapes from the tripartite vine handle and then with a pair of elegant grape scissors your guest snips off a smaller bunch of grapes. Fab, no? What could be more stunningly awkward and pretenious. Impress your guests. Get a grape stand. They come in plate too.
This week's last find is inspired by the autumn and I cannot really resist a cute Buccellati silver figure. Lot 68063 is a Buccellati silver figure of a squirrel with gilt acorns with a pre-sale estimate $2,000-3,000. This sweet little piece is only 3 inches in height, but can't you imagine it nestled in your bowl of gourds on your autumnal table? It is amazing how the fur is achieved in metal. And while I don't like squirrels in real life, this little fella would be welcome in my house anytime.
I hope you enjoyed this week's auction discoveries and saw that fabulous items to adorn your space are available at many price points whatever look you are trying to achieve. Next week will be another silver post with fantastic, stylish and affordable pieces in silverplate. Then the following week there will be a post filled with modern design objects from Doyle.
If you are looking for something special and need my assistance contact me at [email protected] and take a look at my website www.theantiqueflaneur.com to see how I work with clients. Or perhaps you have an antique collection you are looking to sell? I am able to help you with that as well.
Until next week,
Kelly T Keating
