A wealth of fine & decorative art, furniture & jewelry in Sterling Associates' Sept. 15 auction Sterling Associates’ Sept. 15 Fall Fine Art & Furniture Auction is laden with high-quality antiques, art, furniture and jewelry from N.Y., N.J. and Connecticut estates.
vase. It is signed, but cannot be positively identified. “It has that feel of something that could turn out to be very special,” D’Atri said.
A wonderful selection of furniture will be offered, including many 18th- and 19th-century chairs, dining sets and modern designs. Unquestionably, the premier furniture lot is a French, 19th-century marble-top commode with marquetry and parquetry, and dore bronze mountings. After the model of the commode “de Fontainebleau” by Riesener, it is an even finer example than one that sold recently in a major West Coast auction for more than $45,000. Measuring 72¾ inches wide by 37 inches high, it is entered in Sterling Associates’ sale with a conservative $14,000-$16,000 estimate. “We are letting the marketplace determine its true value,” said D’Atri.
Decorative-art highlights are plentiful. A circa-1820 Continental bas-relief carved-ivory procession measures 9¼ inches wide by 3½ inches high. It is not a flat piece, D’Atri pointed out. “It was carved directly onto a rounded tusk, which makes it unusual,” he said.
Two beautiful European triptych reliquaries are to be sold. One is 18th-century Italian majolica, while the other, a German wood and carved-bone shrine, has an attribution label that identifies it as a 16th-century work.
Highlights among the bronzes include a 27-inch-high Isis on Sphinx by Louis Jules Franceschi (French, 1825-1893) and a superb 19th century dore, silvered and patinated bronze bust of “Raphaella” by Vincent Desire Faure de Brousse, a French artist who exhibited at the 1876 Paris Salon. Attractively adorned with lapis lazuli and ivory accents, the 26-inch bronze of Raphaella is of Victorian style with some Art Nouveau influence.
Among the hand-painted porcelain plaques in the sale are examples by Sevres, Royal Vienna and KPM. A standout in the group is a 12-inch-high KPM framed porcelain plaque of a young woman peering through the reeds at baby Moses in his cradle. Other top decorative-art lots include a pair of stamped Tiffany & Co. repousse sterling silver compotes with gilt tops, and a circa-1860s Black Forest wall clock.
The plentiful selection of estate and other fine jewelry includes Tiffany gold money clips and other quality accessories in addition to diamond and gemstone jewelry. In all, 60 jewelry lots will be offered.
Sterling Associates utilizes an innovative hybrid auction method. “The way our auctions work, all bidding is conducted remotely, but we’re very much a permanent brick-and-mortar company where anyone can come in to inspect the goods,” said D’Atri. “It will be run exactly like a live auction, but without a live audience.”
Sterling Associates’ Fall Fine Art & Furniture Auction will be held on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, starting at 12 noon Eastern Time. Bidding options include by phone, absentee, or live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.com. No in-house bidding.
The live gallery preview is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 8 and Sept. 11-14 inclusive, and on auction day from 10-11 a.m. The gallery is located at 70 Herbert Ave., Closter, NJ 07624.
