JULIA’S RECENT GLASS & LAMP AUCTION–HIGH END ITEMS REACH HIGH END PRICES
Fairfield, Maine, November 21 & 22, 2008. – James D. Julia’s Fall Lamp & Glass Auction with its plethora of rare lamps, exquisite glass and choice mini lamps saw a good deal of activity and realized many strong prices in every one of the categories they offered. Dudley Browne, head of Julia’s glass & lamp division said, “With the current volatility of the stock market, investment in quality tangible assets such as rare glass and lamps is becoming increasingly enticing. The collectibles market is still definitely vibrant!”
The two-day sale totaling approximately 800 lots featured a stunning array of glass and lighting treasures assembled from important collections and estates from across North America. Included was a marvelous selection of Tiffany glass, lamps and desk accessories, fine art glass, French Cameo, and Victorian glass to name a few. The total low estimate of all items sold was $1,357,600, which sold for approximately $1.7 Million (nearly 20% over low estimate). The many highlights included the company’s largest offering of lamps to date. Numbering over 150 examples, the grand selection of Tiffany included a fabulous 18” tulip border table lamp with seldom seen red tulips with broad stems and leaves and two lines of rippled amber geometric panels. Fresh from a Massachusetts home, it sold for 109,250 against a presale estimate of $70,000-100,000. A Tiffany Studios Chinese Tyler table lamp consisting of a geometric pattern over a half moon band, all in dichroic glass that would change color when lit sold for $41,400, mid-way through its $35,000-45,000 estimate. A Tiffany lemon leaf table lamp with a band of swirling leaves brought $17,250, exceeding its estimate of $12,500-15,000. The large selection of Tiffany leaded lamps also included a Pomegranate table lamp with a shade done in a background of green geometric panels highlighted by a band of fiery yellow pomegranates, all resting on a bronze Grecian urn base. This exceptional lamp brought $16,100 while a Tiffany acorn table lamp with excellent patina sold for $17,250, each within their $15,000-20,000 estimates.
Other rarities included an outrageous Tiffany Studios lily and prism chandelier suspended from a Moorish pierced bronze dome finished with an iridescent stalactite shade. Expected to sell for $30,000-35,000, it changed hands for $32,775. And a rare Tiffany counterbalance desk lamp with a lovely blue damascene shade suspended from a naturalistic bronze base and completed by a turtleback counterweight sold for $32,775 against expectations of $30,000-35,000. A most unusual and exceedingly rare lamp, formerly of the Howard Booher, Sr. collection, known as the Tiffany Fireball, was a good trade. One of only two known to exist it consisted of a globular shade ablaze with red, orange, and yellow flames licking the sides of a variegated green and amber body. When all was said and done, this stunning piece sold for $48,875.
While the auctions continue to outperform Wall Street, there are still numerous buying opportunities with some great items going unsold. Julia’s posts a comprehensive list of its sales immediately after the auction soliciting client offers. Some great opportunities include a rare Tiffany Studios Nasturtium table lamp (est. $160,000-180,000), a fine Tiffany Studios curtain border floor lamp (est. $110,000-120-000), and a desirable Daum Nancy Spring Scene cameo vase (est. $8,000-12,000). Check their list of items available at www.juliaauctions.com.
The selection continued with an array of Duffner & Kimberly leaded lamps including a beautiful peony lamp with bold red flowers below a sunny yellow background. This exquisite piece sold for $57,500 within its $50,000-75,000 estimate. A lively variation of a Duffner & Kimberly thistle leaded lamp with an intricate design of pointed leaves and vines forming the irregular border rim beneath a geometric pattern of mottled amber and green pendants brought $10,350 against a pre-auction estimate of $8,000-12,000.
Other lighting included a plethora of Pairpoint puffy examples, particularly an apple tree. This multi-colored example featured rich green leaves, pink blossoms, and green and red apples, further highlighted by a cluster of bumblebees and butterflies. Expected to sell for $25,000-35,000, it finished up at $32,200. This was joined by a closed top azalea puffy example that carried an estimate of $14,000-18,000 and sold for $17,250.
Other highlights included a Wilkinson table lamp with a border of realistic daffodils below a swirling geometric pattern of amber panels saw much action, selling for $11,500 against expectations of $7,000-10,000. A jeweled art deco table lamp with a sweeping array of prisms reminiscent of a waterfall cascading over a slender silver base sold for $6,900 (est. $3,000-4,000). And a brilliant Gorham leaded table lamp consisting of red poppies and variegated green leaves on a striated blue background sold for $47,150.
A selection of Handel included a variety of reverse decorated lamps such as a wonderful blue Chinese pheasant table lamp with outstanding depth and detail that sold for $27,600 exceeding its estimate of $15,000-20,000. A flock of Handel jungle bird lamps was highlighted by an example depicting two macaws resting among tropical foliage that sold for $15,812, surpassing expectations of $10,000-15,000. And an example showing two birds in flight over a black background sold for $12,650 against an estimate of $10,000-15,000. Other Handel included a Teroma chandelier with a globular body decorated with a gold iridescent interior featuring various birds among twisting trees. This piece sold for $10,925, exceeding its estimate of $5,000-7,000.
In addition to the lighting was an expansive selection of art glass including works by Tiffany, Steuben, Lalique, and others. Quezal included an exceptional bulbous vase with flaring rim and decorated with a gold pulled feather design that brought $8,050, just above its estimate of $7,000-8,000. A beautiful Quezal silver overlay vase with King Tut design with gold iridescence sold for $3,680, exceeding expectations of $1,500-2,500. The ever popular and forever elegant, Tiffany was represented by a gorgeous 16” Tiffany pastel candlestick with a pink foot and candle cup supporting a green stem that fades to blue. Believed to be the finest example the firm has seen in their 40+ years in the business, the candlestick surpassed its $2,500-3,500 estimate to sell for $6,612. Tiffany shades included a scarce reactive glass example with green and orange flame design over a smoky gray body that brought $4,025 over its $2,500-3,500 estimate. And a beautiful bell-shaped shade with translucent green pulled feather decoration more than doubled its $1,000-1,500 estimate to sell for $2,530. Tiffany was further represented by a leaded window depicting a fruit bowl flanked by two twisted columns draped in grapevines. Estimated for $15,000-20,000, it found a buyer at $16,100.
An assortment of Lalique was highlighted in part by a wonderful Gros Scarabees vase in clear glass with large scarab beetles covering the outside that reached the upper end of its $6,000-7,000 estimate to sell for $6,900. And a magnificent Archers vase with blue patination featuring an army of men aiming their bows and arrows toward the sky hit its target estimate of 5,000-6,000 to sell for $5,175.
And a select grouping of Steuben included a pair of Moss Agate torchieres in green, red, brown, and amber over twisted brass stands that sold for $12,650 against expectations of $5,000-7,000.
Adding to the breadth of the sale was an ample offering of French Cameo glass by the most sought after names in the genre, but none fared as well as those by Daum Nancy. A magnificent and monumental 26” Daum swan vase with white birches and graceful swans around the outside is perhaps one of the largest of its type available. It flew past its $10,000-15,000 estimate to sell for $18,400. An exceptional Daum cameo egg shaped vase in an autumn motif with browning leaves and vines on a yellow background, enhanced with applied glass snails was another popular item. It sold within its $10,000-20,000 estimate for $10,925. A trio of Daum winter scene vases included a banjo vase with barren trees on a snowy ground beneath a flame orange sky that sold for $10,350 versus an $8,000-12,000 estimate. An acid etched and enameled Daum cameo vase decorated with red berries and green leaves on a mottled green and brown background sold for $8,050, above expectations of $6,000-8,000. And a Daum padded and wheel carved footed vase with orange poppies on a striated blue to green martele background sold for $9,200 against a presale estimate of $8,000-12,000.
Other examples of French cameo included a highly detailed Galle Rio de Janeiro vase with a tropical scene in rich russet tones that sold for $9,200 against an $8,000-10,000 estimate. Other Galle included a most interesting Verrerie Parlant vase depicting a brown bird amongst a chilly winter background. Expected to sell for $10,000-15,000, it sold for $10,925.
A fine offering of rare Victorian glassware added to the selection including a magnificent Royal Flemish covered jar with delicate handles and enameled images of winged cherubs in a battle between a griffin on the front and back. Seldom seen, this piece finished at $11,500 against a $10,000-15,000 estimate. And a plated Amberina salt shaker that shaded from a rich fuchsia to a golden amber brought $4,025, surpassing a $3,000-4,000 estimate.
Helping to round out the sale was a selection of jewelry and Italian enameled compacts from the Geraldine Gaba Estate of Scottsdale, Arizona. The large offering of compacts included several multi-piece lots and included a vast number of Italian enameled examples, every one of which exceeded their $500-700 estimates to fetch prices three and four times these amounts. Mrs. Gaba’s massive estate included an equally massive emerald ring weighing nearly 12 carats, which sold for $10,350 within its $10,000-12,000 estimate.
And a collection of fine mini lamps from a Mississippi estate was highlighted in part by a red and white Webb cameo example with floral decoration across its base and chimney. It sold for $8,050 versus an estimate of $4,000-6,000. Also included was a marvelous and exceedingly rare rainbow cut glass example that surpassed its $3,500-5,500 estimate to bring $9,775. Just in time for the holidays, a figural mini lamp in the form of Santa Claus brought $4,312 against an estimate of $2,500-4,500. And a superb glossy melon ribbed rainbow mini lamp, one of the finest examples available, sold for $4,600 within expectations of $4,000-6,000.
Julia’s upcoming auctions include a fabulous antiques and fine art auction taking place February 5, 6, and 7 at Julia’s facilities in Fairfield, Maine that will feature over $2 Million worth of goods, an important firearms and military memorabilia auction in March, and a toy & doll auction in June. Julia’s next glass and lamp auction will also take place in June. Julia’s is currently accepting consignments for these and other upcoming auctions. Call immediately for inclusion in these exciting sales.
For more information, contact their offices at 207-453-7125. James D. Julia, Inc., P.O. Box 830, Dept. PR, Fairfield, ME 04937. E-mail: jjulia@juliaauctions.com.
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