Bonhams present its third-ever Period Art & Design Auction on January 29, 2012 in San Francisco, featuring a strong selection of furniture and decorative arts.
To tastefully outfit a living or dining room, one need look no further than the auction’s top offerings of uniquely crafted chairs and tables. Among these offerings will be a pair of mid 20th century, Louis XV style giltwood fauteuil a la reine by Quatrain. The pair features arched backs centering a foliate garland above a fluted frame over outset padded arms, ending in foliate terminals and a generous seat raised on leaf carved cabriole legs (est. $3,000-5,000).
The presence of California design is also well-represented in the sale with its many offerings of designs made by Therien & Co., an antiques and design firm that provides classic 20th century pieces and period antiques from locations in both northern and southern California. A selection of items on offer of Therien & Co., design will include a ‘Baluster’ Charles X style, burlwood circular dining table (est. $3,000-5,000); a custom Russian Neoclassical style burlwood marble top chest (est. $3,000-5,000); and a set of eight ‘Pavilion’ Neoclassical style side chairs (est. $2,000-3,000).
Additional highlight furnishings of various designs include a late 19th century French chinoiserie decorated bamboo bookcase (est. $2,500-3,500); a pair of 20th century, Louis XV style painted bergeres (est. $1,200-1,800); and a pair of Contemporary upholstered clubchairs custom created by Stoich Designs, Larkspur, Calif. (est. $800-1,200).
Bonhams San Francisco Director of Period Art & Design auctions, Christine Skinner, says of the sale, “The January sale will be a great opportunity to purchase high-end designer furnishings, in pristine condition, at a great price.”
Whether to serve as room accents or central pieces, top lots of the sale’s decorative arts segment are also very desirable. Among them will be a Heriz carpet, approximately 9ft. x 12ft. in size (est. $4,000-6,000) and a Sheffield plate pair of wine coolers by I & I Waterhouse & Co., Sheffield, circa 1830-1840 (est. $2,000-3,000). Boasting charm, and a bit more affordability, will be a pair of early 20th century English porcelain urns in the Neoclassical style, depicting exotic birds (est. $300-500) and a French patinated metal and onyx shelf clock, “Triomphe de L’Amour” ($400–600).
Last, but not least, paintings well-worth touting in the sale will include a pair of Venetian paintings (est. $6,000-8,000); a signed, oil on canvas of The full-rigged ‘James Ray’ by Joseph Heard (British, 1799-1859), featuring a ship sailing blue green waters, against a beige sky (est. $3,000-5,000) and an Italian School, Study of a choir boy (est. $400–600).