IMPORTANT 20TH CENTURY ART & DESIGN AT MORAN'S JULY SALE Pasadena, CA –International 20th Century design, décor and art will take center stage at John Moran Auctioneers’ July 22nd, 2008 Antiques and Fine Estates Sale. Items by Georg Jensen, Tiffany, and Pai
News-Antique.com - Jun 19,2008 - IMPORTANT 20TH CENTURY ART AND DESIGN AT JOHN MORAN’S
JULY ANTIQUES AND FINE ESTATES SALE
Pasadena, CA –International 20th Century design, décor and art will take center stage at John Moran Auctioneers’ July 22nd, 2008 Antiques and Fine Estates Sale. Items by Georg Jensen, Tiffany, and Pairpoint, and artistic works by Lyonel Feininger, Claude Vernard and Cesare Lapini are expected to command enthusiastic bidding from an international audience.
The first of several important offerings by Georg Jensen is a “Blossom” sterling coffee service, circa 1908, which comprises a coffee pot, cream jug and covered sugar bowl. It carries a pre-sale estimate of $2-$4,000. Moran’s had tremendous success at their May sale with a sterling coffee and tea service designed by Henning Koppel for Jensen in 1952, which was estimated at $4-$6,000 but, with demand driven by the public’s ever-increasing interest in 20th century design, realized $21,850.
Following the “Blossom” service on July 22nd is a Jensen “Cactus” sterling serving set design by Gundorph Albertus, circa 1930, and estimated at $400-$600. Immediately afterwards, an “Acorn” sterling serving set designed by Johan Rohde, 1915, is expected to exceed its conservative estimate of $500 - $800.
A strong selection of Tiffany includes sterling flatware and signed Tiffany Studios lamps. A sterling “Japanese” or “Audubon” flatware service by Edward C. Moore comprises 198 pieces and carries a total weight of 290 oz. This amazing set is estimated at $7-$9,000.
Other sterling offerings include services and sets by Gorham, van Outvorst & Zoon, and Royal Danish.
Perhaps the most internationally anticipated offering in the July 22nd sale is an ink drawing on paper by renowned German/American artist Lyonel Feininger (1871-1956) titled “Die Teufelssonate”." Feininger’s colorful paintings of modern life and architecture, fusing Cubism and Expressionism, placed him firmly in the German avant-garde of the early 20th century. A teacher at the Bauhaus, he associated with Kandinsky and Klee of the “The Blue Four” and was widely exhibited. Many of his works were confiscated by the Nazi regime and displayed at the show of “Degenerate Art” in Munich in 1937.
Feininger painted “Die Teufelssonate” (Devil’s Sonata) in 1908 and it was printed in the February 19, 1911 Berliner Illustrite Zeitung. This 1908 drawing illustrates a pivotal shift in his artistic direction, as he transformed himself from a cartoonist and master caricaturist into a fine painter. Inspired by the story of the composer Tartini’s dream of the devil appearing before him and performing a wickedly virtuosic violin sonata, this work may also be somewhat autobiographical, a reflection of Feininger’s accomplishments as a pianist and composer, and his upbringing by his musician parents. “Die Teufelssonate” comes to the July sale from the Marianne J. Knox Trust of Los Angeles, California. Measuring 14 by 12 inches, this important work has been assigned a pre-sale estimate of $20,000 to $30,000.
Art offerings are strong throughout the sale. A signed oil on canvas by French artist Claude Vernard (1913-1999) entitled “Nature Morte" is expected to bring $10,000 on the high side
