Sterling Associates’ March 31 Auction Features Fine Art, Asian Antiques And Premier Estate Offerings
The 350-lot sale includes a superb selection of paintings, sculpture, 18th- and 19th-century furniture, and autographed historical ephemera from some of the finest East Coast estates.
News-Antique.com - Mar 01,2012 - CLOSTER, N.J. – Following the overwhelming success of its inaugural Estates Auction in December, Sterling Associates is preparing a March 31 follow-up event that features an exciting array of antiques and art from some of New Jersey’s finest homes.
The 350-lot sale includes a superb selection of paintings, sculpture, 18th- and 19th-century furniture, and autographed historical ephemera. A special offering of Chinese ivories and Asian porcelain has been added in response to the strong demand shown for this category in Sterling’s debut.
The fine art section is led by the wonderful Portrait of Anna Maria Borghese (née de Ferrari, 1844-1914), painted by Vittorio Matteo Corcos (Italian, 1859-1933). The framed 71 x 43¾-inch oil-on-canvas portrait depicts the young Italian noble in a pastel pink dress, her arm resting upon a terrace railing. Exhibiting outstanding technique in both its delicate flesh tones and shadings of background foliage, the appealing artwork is entered in the sale with a $15,000-$25,000 estimate.
One of the highlights of the decorative arts section is a 25½-inch patinated gilt bronze Art Nouveau vase with the foundry mark “E. Blot Paris Vrai Bronze.” The artist, Jules Jouant (French, 1882-1921), skillfully created a relief image of a seminude young woman playing a lyre beneath a crescent moon and stars, with a swan swimming in nearby willows as its background. The dual-handled vessel is profusely carved with telescoping tree branches that terminate in flowering branches. The vase’s presale estimate is $4,000-$6,000.
A pair of figural gilt bronze compotes came from a home whose owners appreciate the elegance and perfection of 19th-century French design. Scrolling cabriole embellishments and a bird and acanthus leaf motif garnish the pedestals, each of which supports a shell-shape bowl. The pair will be offered with a $6,000-$8,000 estimate.
Another elegant duo is the pair of circa-1840 French chenets of gilt bronze mercury. Created for use as fireplace adornments, the 16-inch-tall chenets depict a three-dimensional cherub and fairy, respectively, each figure seated on a pedestal and holding a lengthy garland of flowers. Together, they are estimated at $4,000-$6,000.
Sterling Associates’ owner, Stephen D’Atri, is especially pleased to have amassed an exceptional grouping of Asian antiques to offer to bidders in his upcoming sale. He said he is giving bidders what they want, based on the results of his first auction.
“The star of our December sale was an 18th-century Qianlong cloisonné censer with kirin lid, which we had estimated at $6,000-$8,000. It attracted multiple Asian bidders over the phone and Internet, and ended up selling for $28,750 (inclusive of 15% buyer’s premium). That sent a clear signal that the demand for top-quality Asian antiques is not relenting,” said D’Atri.
The March 31 auction includes a sizable grouping of Chinese, Japanese and Indian ivory figures coming from three different estates. All are of old ivory, and date to the 19th or early 20th century. A few of the figures are of Shiva goddesses, and one particular highlight depicts Quan Yen with a baby, riding atop a wave with a
