August 3rd, 2008
 

SIZZLING HOT SUMMER SALE
AT JACKSON'S

CEDAR FALLS IA.- The sizzling hot mid summer Midwest weather closely mirrored the heated bidding that took place at Jackson’s International July 15th and 16th auction in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The sale attracted over 500 bidders worldwide representing 23 countries producing sales of $2.2 million dollars.

The auction featured important European and American Fine Art together with important Russian works including property from the estates of Mrs. Fern Fletcher, Lakeland Florida; Mr. Earl Norris, Stronghurst, Illinois; Mr. Robert A. Amunrud, Mabel, Minnesota, as well as other private collections and estates.

From fine furniture to glassware, ceramics, Orientalia, lighting, clocks, paintings, bronzes, and Russian works, hardly a category was not represented. However, as seems to be the trend at present, Russian works clearly saw more intense competition compared to any other category as nouveau riche Russians continue to buy back their heritage with bear-like enthusiasm. A case in point, lot 293, a Russian paste set Badge and Star of the Order of Saint Andrew that carried a pre sale estimate of $30-$40,000 ending up selling to a buyer from Moscow for $135,700.00.

The sale began with European and Old Master paintings including an always popular Paris Street scene painting by French artist Antoine Blanchard (1910-1988) and measuring 18” x 21” which sold to buyer from Texas for $14,160.00. A pair of paintings also depicting Paris scenes by French artist Jules Rene Herve (1887-1981) sold for $15,930.00. An interesting genre painting by British artist Edgar Bundy (1862-1922) sold to a buyer from Beverly Hills, California for $10,620.00. A painting of a Nobleman by Italian artist Cesare Auguste Detti (1847-1914) sold for $8,260.00 and an Arab scene in watercolor by Filipo Bartolini (Italian 1861-1908) sold to a buyer from London for $7,080.00.

Old Master paintings and European works followed beginning with  a 33” x 24” oil of the Coronation of the Virgin by Mexican artist Miguel Cabrera (1695-1768) selling to a Mexican buyer for $61,360.00. A large oil on panel painting of the Annunciation to the Shepherds by Dutch artist Cornelis de Bie (1621-1654) sold to a Swiss phone bidder for $12,980.00. An oil on canvas of the praying Madonna attributed to Giovan Gioseffe Dal Sole (Italian 1654-1719) sold to a phone bidder from London for $6,000.00, and a small 12” x 15” oil on copper depicting the Mocking of Christ attributed to Hans Rottenhammer I (1564-1625) sold for $5,900.00. A 19th century German carved and painted wood statue of the Virgin and Child sold to a Canadian buyer for $9,735.00. A 19th century carved oak figure of an angel holding a scroll, probably German, sold to a buyer from California for $4,720.00 and a 34” carved figure of the Archangel Michael, circa 1890 sold for $3,776.00.

Russian works sold next beginning with the aforementioned Russian paste set Badge and Star of the Order of Saint Andrew that sold to a collector in Moscow via the phone for $135,700.00.  That was followed by a Faberge nephrite presentation cigarette case that sold for $47,200.00. Next was a 7-inch silver and enameled kovsh by Ovchinnikov that finished at $33,000.00. Other Russian sales of note include a 3-inch Faberge cigarette case in Guilloche enamel with some repairs that sold for $29,500.00. An interesting silver picture frame in the shape of a duga (harness) measuring 11 inches in height sold for $27,140.00 against an estimate of $6-$9,000. An engraved silver case made to hold a deck of playing cards and measuring 3.75 inches, sold to a British dealer for $22,420.00 and an interesting trompe l’oeil silver and enamel little cake stand in the form of an embroidered cloth sold for $18,800.00. Russian icons also fared well especially those with silver and enamel decorative covers (riza). A circa 1890 Russian icon of St. Nicholas measuring 12” x 10” with filigree and enamel silver-gilt riza sold to a collector from St. Petersburg, Russia via the phone for $70,800.00. An icon of the Korsun Mother of God with silver-gilt and shaded enamel riza sold for $64,900.00 and a 12” x 10” icon of Christ with enameled riza sold for $36,580.00.

The second session featured a small offering of American paintings and prints together with furniture, decorative arts, porcelain, glassware and Orientalia. Perhaps the most interesting item from this session was a scarce Symphonion triple disc “Eroica” musical carved oak longcase clock, German, circa 1895 that sold to a Russian buyer for $92,040.00. A seven piece heavily carved late 19th century library set consisting of a bookcase, desk and chairs in the Renaissance Revival taste sold for $20,060.00. An American Rococo laminated rosewood lamp table attributed to J. & J.W. Meeks sold for $16,520.00 and a similar rosewood arm chair also attributed to Meeks sold for $6,490.00.  An American carved mahogany sideboard with 12 matching chairs sold for $5,900.00. An interesting Arts & Crafts oak and leaded glass floor lamp sold for $8,850.00 and an Arts & Crafts style oak china cabinet sold for $2,000.00.

European sculpture and bronzes sold well- leading the way was a figure of an Amazon on a rearing horse by Austrian artist Erich Schmidt-Kestner (1877-1941) that sold for $7,552.00. Next to sell was a petite carved ivory figure of a nude woman by German artist Ferdinand Preiss (1882-1943), measuring only 6.75 inches and with a slight repair, the charming little figure finished at $7,080.00, a good bit over the high pre-sale estimate. A pair of mythological figures in gilt bronze by French sculptor Eugene-Antoine Aizelin (1821-1902) made $5,192.00 and a figure of Fanny Elssler by French sculpture Jean-Auguste Barre (1811-1896) sold for $7,080.00.

A small collection of KPM hand painted porcelain plaques was offered next. The first being a plaque depicting a scene from Shakespeare’s Othello that sold to a Pennsylvania collector for $15,340.00. An Ohio collector also paid $15,340.00 for a KPM plaque depicting the Goddess Diana with Lion after the painting by Angelo Comte de Courten (Italian 1848-1925) and measuring 5.6” x 8.5”. A Wagner signed KPM plaque depicting Ruth and measuring 9.5” x 6.2” sold for $8,260.00 and a 9.4” x 6.4” plaque of Echo signed O. Dietrich sold for $7,080.00.

A few other highlights of interest include a 22-inch silver-gilt repousse center bowl by noted Italian silversmith Gianmaria Buccellati that sold to a New York buyer for $16,520.00. A French Louis XVI style figural bisque Cercle Tourants Clock depicting the Three Graces measuring 29.5 inches sold to a buyer from Vienna, Austria for $17,700.00. A 33-piece assembled group of Buffalo Deldare Ware finished at $6,400.00. An Almeric Walter Pate de Verre figure of a reclining nude sold for $5,192.00. A pair of Regency Tortoise Shell tea caddies sold for $5,300.00. A 20th century Chinese carved ivory dragon boat sold to a collector in Texas for $7,080.00 and a 48” x 68” Shirvan prayer rug, circa 1900, sold for $4,000.00.