John Moran Auctioneers December 8, 2009, Antique, Fine Jewelry & Decorative Art Auction John Moran Auctioneers will present fine silver, glass, porcelain, furniture, rugs, clocks, and European paintings as well as their largest and finest offering of jewelry and watches of the year at th
News-Antique.com - Nov 16,2009 - Fine Jewelry Showcased at John Moran’s December Estates Auction
John Moran Auctioneers will present fine silver, glass, porcelain, furniture, rugs, clocks, and European paintings as well as their largest and finest offering of jewelry and watches of the year at their two-session December 8, 2009 Antiques and Decorative Arts Auction at the Pasadena, CA Convention Center. The 80 lots of jewelry carefully chosen from private collections and estates for the Evening Sale include exceptional quality diamonds and other gemstones, Art Deco jewelry, pieces by Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, and watches by Rolex, Patek Philippe, Tiffany, and LeCoultre. Fresh-to-market and conservatively estimated, the jewels are an extremely attractive buying opportunity for both collectors and individuals.
The dazzling array is led by a platinum ring centering a 5.79 cts pear-shaped diamond of J color and VS1 clarity, flanked by two tapered baguette-cut diamonds . It will be offered with an estimate of $65,000 – 75,000. Other diamond pieces include a four-stone diamond ring ($10,000 – 15,000), a 3.70 cts heart-shaped diamond ring ($5500 – 7500), a pair of diamond studs at 1.85 cts each ($10,000 – 15,000), a whimsical bird brooch ($2500 – 4000) and a striking Art Deco platinum ring with an old European-cut diamond weighing 1.51 ct, surrounded by 16 single-cut diamonds, estimated at $4,000/6,000. Numerous other gemstone pieces, including rubies, sapphires and emeralds, and Art Deco rings, bracelets and pendants will be offered with estimates starting at $500.
The evening’s 150 other lots of fine and decorative arts also include a number of very fine items, highlighted by French items ranging from Louis XIV to Art Nouveau. A magnificent pair of Louis XIV ebonized torchères with exquisite tortoiseshell and brass premiere-partie marquetry in a foliate design in the manner of André Charles Boulle (1642 – 1732, French) is offered for $20,000 – 30,000. Another sumptuous piece of craftsmanship, an early 20th century Louis XV style commode crafted from rare woods with a Breche Violette marble top and ormolu caryatid mounts, is expected to bring $8,000 – 12,000. Appropriate accompaniments to this piece and the many other Louis XV and Louis XVI style pieces are a large, early 20th century Sèvres-style cobalt porcelain covered vase with ormolu mounts, possibly by Bloch & Co., Paris, offered at $3,000 – 5,000, and a lovely patinated bronze bust of Marie Antoinette signed “E. Aizelain, Sc” (Eugene Antoine Aizelain, 1821 – 1902, French), offered at $800 – 1,200.
French Art Nouveau has historically performed very well at John Moran. December will feature a gilt-bronze-mounted porcelain vase signed ''F. Bellanger'' ($3,000 – 4,000), and a Daum Nancy glass & metal lamp marked Edgar Brandt is expected to earn $1,800 – 2,200. Another piece of Daum Nancy, a richly colored, 23.25” high cameo art glass vase, is decorated with red-orange lily sprays and yellow-green leaves issuing from an aubergine foot, and carries an estimate of $4,000 – 6,000. Glass collectors should also look for the blue L.C. Tiffany Favrile bowl offered for $1000 –
