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Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

ART DECO CARTIER WRISTWATCH REALIZES $21,000 IN CORDIER AUCTION NOVEMBER 5 & 6

A lady’s Cartier Art Deco diamond wristwatch realized $21,000 in Cordier Auctions’ Two Day Antique & Fine Art Auction, the inaugural auction in their new Harrisburg, Pennsylvania salesroom on November 5 and 6. Other highlights of the sale included a 19th century Flemish carved ivory tankard at $16,000 and a massive Chinese screen at $10,000. The 680 lot auction was held in Cordier Auctions’ new 12,000 square foot offices and salesroom located at 1500 Paxton Street in Harrisburg.

The multi-consignor sale featured items from over one hundred consignors including estates and collectors. Over 300 people were in attendance during the two days in addition to phone and absentee bidders. More than 450 bidders were pre-registered to bid via the internet through ArtFact/Auctionzip which also provided an online catalog of the auction. Prices quoted do not include the buyer’s premium (10% to 15%).

Saturday’s sale began with numismatics including a large grouping of rare, high quality British coins. Many of these high grade coins finished above estimate, including a 1689 William and Mary half crown. In MS63, the coin realized $2,500 on an estimate of $1,000 to $2,000. The highest selling English coin was a 1658 Oliver Cromwell crown in AU58 which sold for $5,500. Other highlights of the English coins was a 1687 James II crown in MS63 at $3,000 (estimate $2,000 to $3,000), a 1746 George II Lima crown in AU58 at $1,700 (estimate $400 to $800) and a prooflike 1689 Maundy Money set at $2,250 (estimate $1,000 to $1,500). A persistent dealer on the phone was the winner of most of these coins as well as a rare United States 1911-D Indian $2.50 quarter eagle gold piece. In nearly uncirculated condition, the coin hammered down at $6,200 (estimate $2,000 to $4,000). Other highlights in gold pieces was an MS64+ 1927 Liberty head $20 double eagle and an MS63 1904-S Liberty head $20 double eagle, both selling above estimate at $2,300.

Over 80 lots of sterling and plate were offered in Saturday’s session with strong prices especially for quality flatware sets and unique pieces. An 18th century American silver tankard attributed to Joseph Richardson of Philadelphia circa 1770 to 1780 was a highlight of the silver category. Estimated at $1,000 to $1,500, the piece saw strong bidding before hammering down to a phone bidder from Maryland for $4,100. Among several Tiffany sterling items was an early butter dish that went to a successful internet bidder at just under high estimate at $950 while a Tiffany flower holder sold for $1,100 to a dealer in the room. That same bidder was also successful on winning a large parcel gilt and sterling silver nef at $1,500 while an internet bidder came away with a large William B. Durgin seven piece tea set at $8,500.

Saturday’s session finished up with jewelry and watches. Watches especially saw several strong results including the top lot of the two day auction, a lady’s Cartier Art Deco platinum, 18K gold and diamond wristwatch. With an inscription dated 1919 and in fine original condition, the wristwatch was set with 30 diamonds and retained its original ribbon band with jeweled clasp. Bidding opened online at $3,250 with several phone bidders quickly jumping in. Despite the internet dropping out at $9,000, bidding continued quickly and strongly between two phone bidders until the winner, a bidder in New York, prevailed at $21,000 to a round of applause.

Pocketwatches did exceptionally well including an 18K James Nardin Locle at $2,250 (estimate $800 to $1,200), an 18K Vacheron & Constantin at $1,700 (estimate $800 to $1,000) and a 14K American Waltham PS Bartlett at $1,600 (estimate $800 to $1,000). The top lot of jewelry was a VVS2 1.83 carat round brilliant cut diamond engagement ring with side diamonds set in platinum. Purchased at well-known Philadelphia company J.E. Caldwell in 1956, the ring sold just above high estimate at $11,000. Other highlights of jewelry included a Victorian gold and diamond bangle bracelet at $1,800 (estimate $1,000 to $1,200) and a 14K gold and gemstone figural dragon ring realizing its high estimate of $1,200.

Sunday’s session of the two day auction included furniture and rugs, lighting, clocks and fine, Asian, and ethnographic art. While furniture prices have been soft over the last few years, some strengthening seemed to be evident in this sale. Of local interest was a rare Harrisburg Hepplewhite Pembroke table that featured a book-end motif that has been found on two other examples with Harrisburg provenance. Fittingly the table sold to a Harrisburg area bidder just below high estimate at $850. A local dealer was the winning bidder of an Aesthetic Movement bedside table attributed to Herter Brothers at $1,100 (estimate $1,000 to $3,000) and a 19th century Italian desk and bookcase at $1,900 (estimate $700 to $1,200) while an out of state bidder in the room came away with a set of six Centennial Chippendale side chairs at $1,400 (estimate $1,000 to $1,400).

Asian arts continued to show strong results. One of the top lots of the auction was a massive palace sized Chinese carved and gilded rosewood screen. Estimated at $1,500 to $3,000, interest in the screen was centralized among several Asian bidders online who bid the piece to its final hammer price of $10,000. Among ivory offerings were two lots of Chinese carved puzzle balls that well exceeded their estimates with one selling for $2,000 (estimate $300 to $500) and the other $800 (estimate $100 to $200). Other highlights included a small Chinese Export Masonic bowl at $900, a Chinese cloisonné moon flask at $1,000 and a pair of Chinese famille jaune eggshell vases at $650.

Decorative arts provided two of the top lots of the two day sale. The first was a cast iron fireback dated 1746 and made at the Oxford Furnace in Warren County, New Jersey. One of the earliest known examples and with provenance to an East Millstone, New Jersey mansion, the fireback well exceeded its $1,000 to $2,000 estimate, selling appropriately to a
New Jersey bidder for $7,500. The other was a 19th century Flemish carved ivory tankard. The tankard, consigned by a local estate, was intricately carved with scenes of Bacchanalia and putti and carried a pre-auction estimate of $10,000 to $15,000.
The piece opened strongly with an online absentee bid of $13,000 and while there was much interest in the room, bidding remained entirely on the internet with the final bid of $16,000 coming from a live online bidder in Brazil.

Several lots of Sevres were offered including two pairs of large gilt bronze mounted urns realizing $3,650 and $2,400 while a group of three small urns hammered down at $1,100. Other highlights of decorative arts included a 19th century French gilt bronze jardinière at $1,400 (estimate $500 to $1,000) and a Moser gilt and enameled green glass pitcher at $500 (estimate $100 to $200).

Over 90 lots of fine art were offered including paintings, bronzes, prints and photographs. Overall results were within estimate. The top lot of art was a large oil on canvas by Emile Albert Gruppe (American, 1896-1978) entitled “Bright Gloucester Morning” though the final bid of $4,500 was below its estimate of $6,000 to $8,000. There were however several pleasant surprises, the first being an oil on wood landscape by Antoine Chintreuil (French, 1814-1873). Estimated at $700 to $900, the painting inspired strong bidding between a phone bidder and an online bidder with the phone bidder, a collector in New York, prevailing at $2,750. Another surprise was four lots of 19th century grand tour gouaches. Depicting various Italian scenes and each estimated at $200 to $400, bidding again came down to the phone versus online. This time, a New York collector on the phone was the successful bidder on all with selling prices of $900, $1,000, $1,800 and $1,400.

Lighting and clocks concluded Sunday’s session. Of major interest in lighting were two large Baccarat Zenith chandeliers, one 36 light and one 48 light, consigned by a local estate. Making for an impressive display in the new salesroom, a New York antiques dealer on the phone was the successful bidder on both chandeliers at $11,000 and $15,000 respectively.

Information on Cordier Auctions & Appraisals can be found at www.CordierAntiques.com. Questions can be directed to Cordier Auctions & Appraisals at [email protected] or by calling 717-731-8662.

Lady’s Cartier Art Deco diamond wristwatch ($21,000).jpg (251 KB)

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