Bonhams offered Fine European Furniture and Decorative Arts on December 3 in Los Angeles. The 450-lot sale brought nearly $2 million and featured an array of works for varied tastes and collecting levels from the 16th through the 20th centuries, with a focus on German, French, Italian and English properties. Highlights from the December sale included works from several prominent West Coast collections and the Estate of American fashion critic, journalist, actor and designer, Richard Blackwell.
The marquee lot of the winter sale was a stunningly handsome and large Berlin (K.P.M.) porcelain plaque titled “Im Sommer” (est. $80,000-120,000, sold for $92,500). The ornate work depicts an opulent poolside terrace attended by numerous maidens in various states of leisure. Signed in the lower right “F. Wagner.Wien.,” the panel is impressed “K.P.M.”
Andrew Jones, Los Angeles Director of European Furniture and Decorative Arts at Bonhams said of the sale, “The winter auction boasted a strong balance of 16th-20th century porcelain, furnishings and decorative arts from around the globe. Bonhams was delighted to offer collectors a unique opportunity to bid on property from several prominent West Coast collections and the Estate of the famed Mr. Blackwell.”
Additional top lots included a pair of Napoleon III gilt bronze mounted walnut pedestals of square form inset with white marble tops (est. $20,000-30,000, sold for $68,500); a handsome Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted marble rotary clock by Maison Millet (est. $20,000-30,000, sold for $46,250); a large and imposing pair of French gilt and patinated bronze and porphyry seven light candelabra, after the models by Clodion (est. $15,000-20,000, sold for $43,750); a Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted mahogany commode by François Linke (est. $15,000-20,000, sold for $31,250) and a Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted and later paint decorated console also by Linke (est. $2,000-3,000, sold for $28,750).
Highlights from the Collection of Mr. Richard Blackwell included a fine quality Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted inlaid walnut commode by noted maker Paul Sormani (est. $6,000-8,000, sold for $11,250); a stunning French gilt bronze clock garniture comprised of a mantel clock and pair of five light candelabra (est. $6,000-8,000, 10,625); a Louis XVI style carved mahogany dining room suite (est. $3,000-5,000, sold for $6,875); a pair of French patinated bronze figures of Roman soldiers after the models by Édouard Drouot (Est. $1,500-2,000, sold for $3,750) and a pair of wonderful quality Louis XVI style gilt bronze six light candelabra, F. Bardedienne foundry, Paris (est. $3,000-5,000, sold for $3,750).
Jones said of the Blackwell Estate: “Bonhams was pleased to offer works from the Estate this December. Often imitated but never duplicated, Blackwell’s passion for beauty and quality were represented throughout his section of the sale.”
Works of note from the December auction also included a pair of stately Louis XV gilt bronze mounted marquetry inlaid walnut encoignures by Hubert Hansen (est. $8,000-12,000, sold for $31,250); a Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted parquetry inlaid walnut commode after a model by Antoine Robert Gaudreau (est. $20,000-30,000, sold for $30,000); a Louis XV/XVI transitional style gilt bronze mounted and Vernis Martin decorated meuble d’appui (est. $3,000-5,000, sold for $27,500) and a Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted marquetry inlaid commode after a model by Jean-Henri Riesener (est. $8,000-12,000, sold for $27,500), among others.
