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Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

JADE SOARS AT GROGAN AUCTION

Dedham, MA – Grogan & Company Fine Art Auctioneers and Appraisers held their annual spring auction, The April Auction, on Sunday, April 19th. The auction, comprised over 500 lots of Fine Art, 18th and 19th century Furniture, Decorative Works of Art, Silver, Jewelry and Oriental Rugs, netted over 1.3 million dollars in sales and attracted a standing room only crowd.

jade-jar.jpgThe highlight of the sale came midway through the auction, when a collection of jade from the Donald and Pauline MacDonald Jade Collection crossed the block. The excitement began when a Chinese Carved Ivory and Mottled Jade Jar sold to a phone bidder for 20,700, well above it’s 1,200 pre-sale estimate. The bidding wars continued as the several dealers who flew in from China to attend the auction and phone bidders from London and New York competed for Two Chinese Carved White Jade Twin Bird Groups. The pair of bird groups finally sold for 43,125 to a Chinese dealer in the room. However, it was a Chinese Carved White Jade Covered Bowl, estimated to sell in the 1,200-1,500 range, that sparked the audience’s applause when two phone bidders drove the price to an astounding 184,000. The excitement continued when Two Chinese Carved Jade Coupes, soared to 155,250. “I am very pleased with the jade results. Exceptional results like this don’t happen very often, and when they do, it makes for an exciting auction,” commented Michael Grogan, President and Chief Auctioneer. A Chinese Carved Gray Jade Scribe’s Box later brought 48,875 and a Chinese Spinach Jade Covered Bowl, both from the same collection, sold for 57,500 to a Chinese dealer in the room.

The highlight of the Fine art offerings was Bubble Dance, a bronze figure of a nude dancer created in 1923 by American sculptress Harriet Frishmuth. Inspiration for the sculpture came from Frishmuth’s favorite model, Deesha Delteil, who appeared in a short film titled “The Bubble” in 1920. Estimated at 8,000-12,000, the bronze drew competitive bidding from the floor and phones before selling to the phone for 33,350. Portrait of Jean Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus, the beloved first Roman Catholic Bishop of Boston, by venerated American portrait artist Gilbert Stuart, also faired well, selling for 19,550 against an 8,000-12,000 pre-sale estimate and a small still life by American painter William Merritt Chase sold for 13,225, well above it’s 2,000-3,000 estimate.

Other highlights in the sale included an impressive Sevres Cobalt Blue Gilt Decorated Presentation Box, from the Newton Estate of Claire Golant, which sold for 13,800 and a Henry Dasson Louis XV style Parquetry and Tooled Leather Ormolu Mounted Ladies Writing Desk sold for 9,200. A Set of Four George III Weighted Silver Candlesticks, c. 1790, estimated at 3,000-5,000, sold for 6,325 and a Japanese Silvered and Enameled Censor sold for 4,887, well above it’s 500-700 pre-sale estimate. The jewelry highlight was an 18 karat yellow gold, Diamond, Emerald and Ruby Dragon form Bracelet, which sold for 4,312 and an Oushak Carpet, circa 1900, sold for 6,325, against a 3,000-5,000 estimate.

All prices include a buyer’s premium. A complete list of results can be found on-line at www.groganco.com. For more information, contact the gallery at 781-461-9500.

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