John Moran Auctioneers Achieves Dazzling Results at May 17th Auction Featuring Jewelry, Decorative & Pasadena, CA-- John Moran Auctioneers’ May 17th Antiques and Fine Art Sale, in which half the lots consisted of vintage and antique estate jewelry, achieved an impressive $1.4 million in sales. The gl
of mesh purses that all sold above estimate, that realized the highest price of the group: $16,800 (estimate: $9500 – 11,500).
The selection of European paintings included some impressive 19th century works, led by a large oil by Vittorio Reggianini (1858-1938 Italian) titled Fowl Play (estimate: $70,000/90,000). The depiction of a laughing woman reclining in a sumptuous interior, with a bird alighting on her shoulder, was undeniably appealing for both its light-hearted subject matter and beautiful technique. It sold to a floor bidder for $84,000. A meticulously detailed watercolor by Orientalist Carl Friederich Werner (1808-1894 German), The Jews' Wailing Place, Jerusalem, realized $42,000.
In the many high-achieving categories of decorative arts, including glass, metalware and bronzes, silver had the best sell-through rate, at 100%. An interesting 1733 William Boys (English) tankard engraved with an inscription commemorating a 1727 nautical disaster, the destruction by fire of the Luxborough Galley en route from Jamaica to England. It sold for $5400, well over the estimate of $1000 – 1500.
19th century items showed great strength across a number of sale categories. Metalware was led by a large pair of Louis V style ormolu candelabra (5000 – 7000) that sold at $13,200 (estimate: $5000 – 7000) and a magnificent pair of late 19th century Louis XVI style ormolu jardiniere urns, stamped ‘’Masselotte 78’’, which sold well above estimate at $7,800. A late 19th century Louis XV style ormolu-mounted porcelain sleigh-form center bowl, was subject to protracted floor bidding, resting only when the price reached $10,000 dollars more than the high estimate of $3000. Some particularly good examples of Meissen porcelain from a private collection found an enthusiastic reception as well, led by a tureen-form box modeled after J.J. Kandler’s Kronung service. Offered for $3000 – 5000, the exquisite piece sold to a floor bidder for $11,400.
A Russian silver and cloisonne enamel kovsh was one of many small Russian metal objects featured. All performed well, with the Kovsh excelling its pre-sale estimate of $1000/2000, bringing $5,100.
Rugs have lately had a very successful run at Moran’s. Leading lots in the May sale were a rare Caucasian Shirvan wool portrait rug that sold for $6,600 (estimate: $5000 – 7000) and two late 19th century Caucasian Daghestan wool prayer rugs that realized $6,000 and $6600 (estimates: $1500 – 2000 and $3000 – 4000 respectively).
Moran’s next auction, scheduled for Tuesday June 14th, will be entirely devoted to California and American fine art and will feature 200 paintings, prints and sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries. Of particular interest is an important oil by acclaimed Austrian/American Realist Henry Koerner (1915 – 1991), whose work is held in the collections of the Whitney Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, among others. Under the Overpass, dating from 1948 – 49, relates to his parent’s deportation to a Nazi concentration camp and eventual murder. It arrives at auction from a private collection and will be offered for the narrative work will be offered for $100,000
