Global Audience Drives Strong Results at John Moran’s September 29th Estates Auction John Moran Auctioneers’ September 29, 2009 Estates Auction, featuring European & American decorative & fine art, proved once again that however battered the economy, exceptional pieces still bring exc
News-Antique.com - Oct 05,2009 - John Moran Auctioneers’ September 29, 2009 Estates Auction, featuring European & American decorative & fine art, proved once again that however battered the economy, exceptional pieces still bring exceptional prices. With their national and international audience growing ever larger, thanks to extensive internet visibility and online bidding, Moran’s is achieving strong results in the categories buyers traditionally seek out at their sales, such as silver, art glass, French furniture, and Arts and Crafts, as well as for eclectic estate items.
Prior to the internationally marketed Evening Sale, John Moran Auctioneers conducted their afternoon Discovery Sale, an auction geared to a local audience that is open to floor and absentee bidding only, and is not catalogued. The element of surprise, along with the high quality of the treasures, has made this sale highly popular. Among the various finds on the 29th were a Wallace 'Washington' pattern sterling silver part flatware service that brought $940 (all prices include the 15% buyer’s premium) and a wonderful Louis XV provincial walnut armoire that realized $823. Bidding for a set of fifty Franklin Mint sterling silver commemorative ingots in a wooden case rose to a final price of $1,293.
The catalogued evening sale, which began at 6:30pm, offered an intriguing mix of extremely fine quality decorative arts and rarities, and attracted a very high proportion of bidders participating online or via telephone. As so often at John Moran Auctioneers, Louis XV and XVI furnishings were among the top performers. Lot 1138, a Louis XVI style ormolu, patinated bronze and cut-glass three-light chandelier, dating from the late 19th century, featured three large Cupid figures. It sold well over the $2500-3500 estimate, at $7,475, while Lot 1107, an ormolu figural mount, also a Cupid, realized $2,587.50 on an estimate of $600-900, no doubt on the strength of its bearing the signature of Fancois Linke.
A stunning cobalt blue porcelain gilt bronze-mounted three-piece clock garniture (lot 1139), also Louis XVI style, doubled its estimate, realizing $5,462.50. Several exquisitely crafted pieces of furniture also made strong appearances, including Lot 1100, a Louis XV provincial walnut commode with gilt-bronze mounts, dating from the second half of the 18th century, which brought $3737.50, and Lot 1101, a Louis XV ormolu-mounted kingwood, tulipwood and marquetry writing table, which performed well at $2,875.
As impressive as the French items were, the star lot of the evening was American. Lot 1070 was a Tiffany Studios patinated bronze adjustable root candlestick, model #1250. With three green blown-out glass lights and measuring 20.5 inches tall, it was apparently unmarked, but was illustrated in a collector’s guide. On an estimate of $3,000-5,000 it attracted several phone bidders who, in a very fast round of bidding, competed to a remarkable final price of $21,850.
Art glass is a traditionally strong area at John Moran, especially Tiffany, so it was no surprise that another Tiffany Studios item, a six piece “Pine Needles” bronze and glass desk set, brought $2150, doubling its presale estimate. Bringing $1725 was a Schneider Le
