Russian fine and decorative arts have yielded increasingly strong results at Moran’s for several years, and the March16th sale confirmed this trend. A watercolor portrait of a girl in traditional Russian costume by Konstantin Egorvich Makovsky (1839 – 1915) sold for $12,650 (estimate: $2000 – 3000) to a European phone bidder. A 19th century Russian icon depicting St. George sold for $1380 (estimate: $400 – 600) and a pair of Russian silver candlesticks, made in 1879 in Minsk, realized $1265 (estimate: $500 – 800).
Sales of silver also remain very healthy. A wonderful Queen Anne Brittania standard chocolate pot by London maker John Jackson, dated 1704, far exceeded the pre-sale estimate of $4000 – 6000, selling for $8625. A six-piece Mexican silver coffee service, marked “CLS” realized $3162 (estimate: $600 -900) and a small, delicate pair of Clemens Friedell hammered sterling candelabra brought $4025 (estimate: $1500 – 2500).
While their national and international market expands, Moran’s maintains its position as a leader in the regional market as the company enters its forty-first year in business in Southern California. The large selection of American Indian artifacts sold very well, highlighted by a Navajo Yei dancers rug that sold for triple its high estimate, realizing $3737.50 (estimate: $800 – 1200). Doubling its estimate of $1000 – 2000 was an Acoma olla-form pottery jar that also realized $3737.50.
Other decorative arts highlights were an Indian-theme bronze piece by Franz Bergmann that doubled the high estimate of $1000, selling to a European buyer for $2070 and a reddish “Japonaise” copper and silver bowl with dragon-form handles made by Gorham, circa 1880, that brought $2587.00 (estimate: $400 – 600).
John Moran Auctioneers’ next Antiques and Decorative Arts Auction is scheduled for April 27, 2010. Highlighting the sale will be a large selection of estate jewelry, in addition to silver, porcelain, furniture and European fine art. Consignments for the two-session sale are currently being accepted. Moran’s is also accepting consignments for their June 15th California and American Paintings Sale, a marquee event for collectors of pre-1950 American art, California plein air paintings and Western works.
For more information on consigning or bidding at Moran’s, please visit www.johnmoran.com, or contact Moran’s at [email protected] or 626-793-1833. Fully illustrated catalogues for each sale are posted at www.johnmoran.com two weeks prior to each sale date.