A George II red lacquered secretary consigned by the High Museum of Art in Atlanta sold for an astounding $207,400 on Sunday at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. The secretary, decorated with a pierced carved crest and Chinoiserie figures and motifs, was donated to the High Museum in 1961. Thirteen telephone bidders vied for the lot before a British dealer bidding in the saleroom won the lot with a raise of the eyebrows.
Also deaccessioned from the High Museum was an important 19th century silver and marble garniture that brought $134,200. Each of its parts depicts an allegory of the four seasons, over marble bases decorated with dolphins, mask fountains and aquatic birds. The garniture sold to a European buyer, one of twenty phone bidders competing against bidders in the saleroom and on the internet.
“The market for quality and fresh property is truly global,” said auctioneer and president Leslie Hindman. “Our direct marketing along with the internet results in international sales of up to 30 percent per auction.”
Other highlights of the sale were a Fabergé gold, jade and diamond cigarette case which sold for $36,600 and a Louis XVI style bronze and porcelain clock that fetched $31,720 against its estimate of $6,000 to $8,000. A celadon jade brush pot carved with pastoral scenes was consigned by a private Midwest collector of Asian art, and an anonymous phone bidder paid $34,160.
In total the sale realized $1.92 million. Leslie Hindman’s next auction of Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts will be May 2-3, 2010.
