Fanciful Designs Draw Fantastic Prices at Treadway-Toomey Galleries’ 20th Century Art Auction A Teco vase in ingenious, flowing design by Fritz Albert was the event's pièce de résistance that commanded the top price of $78,000, surpassing pre-sale estimates of $45,000-65,000.
and the vanity $16,800 (est. $12,000-15,000). The 40-inch high H-back chair with original rush seat sold for $9,600 and the 32-inch high vanity chair version for $8,400 (each estimated at $3000-4000). An oak Gustav Stickley sewing cabinet reached $1,920 (est. $1200-1500). His oak child’s rocker with leatherette cushion went for $570 (est. $300-500).
A mahogany Arts and crafts hall chair with high back, upholstery and an inlaid mother-of-pearl design reached $780 ($300-500). An oak Lifetime china cabinet with original copper hardware brought $2640, more than triple its estimated $500-700.
“Pines Grand Canyon,” a colorful woodblock print by Gustave Baumann sold for $18,000, double the estimated $7000-9000. “Le Jardin Français,” a 1904 Bernard Boutet woodblock print, fetched $300 ($150-250). A formal garden scene, it featured a lovely, seated lady enveloped by the voluminous, flounced layers of her jaunty orange gown. A multihued German woodblock print of houses on a snowy, winter night brought $720 (est. $250-350). Paul Berthon’s circa 1901 print, a profile of Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands, sold for $300 ($250-350).
Increasingly scarce, an Arequipa vase with the signature, organic squeezebag design on the shoulder and a blue, gray, tan and ivory matte glaze reached $11,400 ($9000-11,000). An exceptional Newcomb College vase, which was executed by Sadie Irvine, featured a carved and painted geometric Espanol design and sold for $7,800 ($3500-4500). Another striking geometric example, a vase by Camille Fauré for Limoges, also reached $7,800 ($4000-6000). Its three-dimensional, enameled design was implemented in bright white, black and several shades of green.
One of the most original designs was a petite Bigot vase in a green and brown glaze that fetched $3,120, three times its estimated $500-1000. A Cinderella story of sorts, the plain gourd form was rescued from the mundane by a tall, elaborately scrolled wrought iron base, which tripled its height with stately style. Another intriguing example was an Emille Gallé vase in an unorthodox shape that sold for $1,320 (est. $800-1100). It showcased a circular landscape scene bordered with applied creatures.
An Adrien Dalpayrat vase with indented sides in a marvelous mottled red, green, blue and tan matte glaze sold for $4,200 (est. $2000-3000). A regal Pauline Pottery vase in a monumental form, which reached $2,160 (est. $1200-1700), was ornamented with gold floral and bird designs against a rich, tobacco background.
Two rare vases by Charles Clewell, the crafter of copper-clad pottery with a mysterious patina, fared well. The three-footed form with tooled designs sold for $900 (est. $700-900), while the flattened form with tooled clover design went for $600 (est. $550-750).
A Rookwood Faience tile with a raised lemon tree branch detail brought $1,440 (est. $1000-1500). An early Rookwood jug dated 1882 sold for $660 (est. $500-700). Reminiscent of autumn, the tan, 4.5-inch high jug was painted in red with a charming sketch of owls, a bat and rabbit.
A sitting rabbit design on a Grueby tile fetched $2,880 (est. $1000-1500). “Girl with Rabbits,” an enchanting oil on canvas by British artist Percy Harland Fisher (1867-1944),
