More than 200 lots of fine and decorative arts from private collections and estates will be offered at John Moran Auctioneers’ November 15th Antiques and Fine Art Auction. Featuring an outstanding group of 20th century bronzes and metalware, the sale offers a rarely seen survey of fine examples of Art Deco, Art Nouveau and abstract design, by masters such as Demetre Chiparus, Paul Tereszczuk, and Franz Hagenauer.
Three chryselephantine (bronze and ivory) figures by Chiparus (1886-1947 Romanian / French), considered by many the quintessential Art Deco sculptor, will be offered, led by the stunning ‘’Kamorna’’. From his exotic dancers series, ‘’Kamorna’’ measures 13.75-inches high and is signed to the onyx base. It is estimated to realize $30,000 – 50,000. ”Venetian Lady” and ”Egyptian Style Dancer,” both signed, carry estimates of $8000 – 12,000 and $9000 – 12,000 respectively.
The spotlight is also expected to shine on works by Paul Tereszczuk (1895 – 1925 Austrian), whose ”Pierrot Leading” depicts a dancing couple (estimate $4000 – 6000), and by Otto Gustav Schmidt Cassel (1867-1954 German), whose female snake charmer is offered for $10,000 – 15,000. Another exotic female figure by Gerda Iro Gerdago (b. 1906), a girl in a red and blue Oriental-inspired costume, is estimated to bring $4000 – 6000. The charming ”Hoop Girl’’ by Ferdinand Preiss (1882 – 1943 German) depicting a child in a green dress holding a hoop, carries an estimate of $600 – 900.
Among the many other bronzes are a whimsical two-piece patinated and gilt bronze piece by Carl Kauba (1865 – 1922 Austrian), titled ‘’A Treasure Seeker’’, modeled as young man with a shovel digging into a rocky mound which opens on hinges to reveal a sleeping maiden inside (estimate: $1200 – 1800); a model of a bloodhound closely studying a tortoise, ”Chien et Tortue,” by Henri-Alfred-Marie Jacquemart (1824-1896 French), offered for $800 – 1200; and a figure of a goddess romantically entwined in flowers by Gustave Gillot (1888-1965 French).
After their success in September with two large figures by Franz Hagenauer, Moran’s is pleased to offer two more works by the Viennese sculptor, a nickel-plated figural group depicting boxers (estimate: $3000 – 5000) and a chromed table mirror in the form of a kneeling woman (estimate: $1000 – 1500).
Several pieces by Tiffany Studios will be offered, including a patinated bronze and green ‘Favrile’ glass ‘’Pine Needles’’ desk lamp and inkwell, offered as one lot for $1500 – 2500; a ‘’Cypriot’’ glass and gilt bronze cigarette box (estimate: $500 – 700); and a patinated bronze counter-balance floor lamp base with an associated linenfold glass shade (estimate: $4000 – 6000).
Other examples of Art Nouveau design will be offered in the selection of silver, including a teapot from Gorham’s renowned Martele line (estimate: $4000 – 6000), and a bowl by the important but short-lived firm of Codman & Codman, founded by William Christmas Codman, the chief designer of the Martele line, in 1904 after his long career at Gorham. Very similar in style to Martele with its hand-hammered surface and design of meandering poppies chased on a downswept lip, the bowl is a lovely example of Codman’s legendary talent (estimate: $4000- 6000).
The sale’s numerous other pieces of British and American silver include a Rococo style sterling silver punchbowl by Whiting & Co. (estimate: $4000 – 6000); a hand-hammered sterling silver pastry stand by Pasadena, CA maker Clemens Friedell (estimate: $700 – 900); an American coin silver three-piece tea service by Edward Rockwell (estimate: $1800 – 2200); a pair of French Rococo style .950 silver compotes by Emile Delaire (estimate: $2500 – 3500); a set of four George III sterling silver candlesticks modeled as Corinthian columns by Emick Romer (estimate: $3000 – 4000); a large George II sterling silver soup tureen and associated lid featuring a large artichoke finial (estimate: $6000 – 9000); and a late 19th century Baroque style German silver tankard depicting a bacchanalia (estimate: $2000 – 3000), and a box inscribed to William Edward Parry, credited with discovering the Northwest Passage in the 1820’s, as captain of HMS Hecla. Hecla held the record for the Northern-most longitude reached until 1967.
The selection of paintings and prints is led by two photographic prints, ‘’Vanishing Race (Navaho)’’ a platinum print by Edward Curtis (1868 – 1952) expected to realize $12,000 – 18,000, and O. Winston Link’s iconic silver print ”NW 1103, Hot Shot, Eastbound at the Iaeger Drive- In West Virginia, 1956”, offered for $8000 – 10,000. Among the paintings are two Parisian street scenes by Antoine Blanchard (1910 – 1988 French), offered for $8000 – 10,000 each, and a view of the Paris Opera, also by Blanchard, for $6000 – 8000. A large poster by Wally Sluiter (1873-1949 Dutch), for the 1916 Olympics in Amsterdam, is a striking complement to the other early 20th century design items in the sale (estimate: $2000 – 3000).
Other sale highlights include:
• A Swiss Art Deco figural mantle clock by Gubelin, featuring a marvelous Cubist-style figure of a cat (estimate: $1500 – 2000)
• An extensive early 19th century Chamberlain’s Worcester armorial dinner service‘, elaborately decorated in the ‘’rich Kakiemon’’ style in the ‘’Dejeuney’’ pattern, divided into several group lots with estimates starting at $500 per lot
• Eight Native American blankets and rugs, including two large ‘’Eye Dazzler’’ wearing blankets (estimates: $4000 – 6000 each)
• A group of 19th century scrimshaw, including Inuit cribbage boards and a piece by a crewmember of the whaling bark ‘’Florence’’, a survivor of the disastrous 1876 whaling season that took the lives of hundreds of sailors in the Arctic fleet
• A signed Nantucket friendship basket purse by Jose Formosa Reyes in pristine condition (estimate: $1500 – 2000)
• Five lots of Otto and Gertrude Natzler ceramics, including a matte-glazed tea set with cups and saucers (estimate: $5000 – 7000)
• A Sicilian donkey cart (‘’Carretto Sicilia’’) dated 1891 and signed ‘’Puglisi’’, with panels depicting the narrative of Rolando Furioso
John Moran Auctioneers’ November 15th auction will be held at the Pasadena Convention Center at 300 East Green Street in Pasadena. The preview will begin at 12 noon PST the same day of the sale, though advance private previews are available by appointment. The catalogued sale starts at 3:00 pm, with bidding available from the floor, via absentee, telephone or online through Artfact.com. The Discovery Sale, an uncatalogued, no-reserve sale, will immediately follow the catalogued sale and is open for floor or absentee bidding only. The catalogue will be viewable at www.johnmoran.com or artfact.com 2-3 weeks prior to the sale date. Please contact Moran’s offices at 626-793-1833 or [email protected] for more information.
