Moran’s Announces July 24th, 2012 Antiques Auction -Two-session sale offers eclectic mix of Americana, Art Deco, Clocks and Continental Decorative and Fine Arts
News-Antique.com - Jun 29,2012 - Pasadena, CA – Following close on the heels of their record-shattering June sale of a Navajo chief’s blanket for $1.8 million, by far the highest price achieved at auction for a Native American textile, John Moran Auctioneers is pleased to announce their July 24th antiques auction featuring early to mid - 20th century design, including Art Deco, clocks, 19th and early 20th century Continental furniture and decorative arts, and Americana.
Leading the latter category is a Colt ‘Peacemaker’ revolver that was carried in the Battle of San Juan Hill in the Spanish American War by Sgt. Albert P. Wright, Regimental Color Sergeant of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt's 1st US Volunteer Cavalry, better known as the ''Rough Riders''. One of the most famous volunteer fighting forces in military history, the Rough Riders' heroic actions at San Juan Hill were the key to the American victory in the Spanish American War. Originally from Yuma, AZ, Sergeant Wright served with Roosevelt in Cuba from May 1st, 1898 until September 1898, when the regiment was mustered out. He held the revolver in his possession after the war, and it then passed to Herbert D. Lore, proprietor of the Painted Desert Inn and Lore Trading Post in the Four Corners region. Handed down in the Lore family by descent, this well-documented witness to history remains in as-found condition, and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Colt Archive Properties. Moran’s estimates the single action revolver to bring $7000 – 9000.
Also of interest to collectors of Americana is an elaborately scrimshawed and shell-inlaid powder horn dating from the late 18th or early 19th century. This pictorial artifact depicts two figures of Indians, probably Seminole, and a pair of crossed long guns draped with an American flag. One figure holds a long gun with a dog at his feet, his costume with red decorations. Signed with initials, it is estimated to realize $3000 – 5000.
The sale offers a number of high quality Art Deco items, including bronze figures, ceramics and glass. A circa 1925 enameled metal vase designed by Camille Faure for Limoges is exquisitely decorated in a geometric pattern with shades of deep-to-pale pink and cream (estimate: $4000 – 6000). A large vase of molded black glass in an all-over pattern of birds of paradise in deep relief was designed by Pierre D'Avesn for the Verreries D'Art Lorrain glassworks near Luneville, which was taken over by Daum in 1927 and remained in operation for only a few years until 1932. D'Avesn was a former employee of Lalique, and the vase’s quality reflects its exceptional pedigree (estimate: $4800 – 1200). Additional Art Deco glass items include Lalique dishes and decorative objects, and a Walter, Nancy pate-de-verre fish sculpture. Among the sculptures is a silvered bronze depicting a dynamically posed figure signed ‘Gilbert’ (probably Andre Gilbert), estimated at $6000 – 9000, and works by Gerda Gerdago, Demetre Chiparus and Claire Jeanne Roberte Colinet.
Highlighting decorative items from the early 20th century are a dramatic Zsolnay ceramic
