On November 19th bidders were met with several good collecting opportunities at Bonhams New York’s European Furniture and Decorative Arts sale.
Attracting collectors located in New York, California and several regions of Italy was an important Roman Neoclassical giltwood suite of seating furniture, de-accessioned from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. The suite (two chairs of which are illustrated above), dating from the last quarter of the 18th century and carrying the distinguished provenance of having been in the Estate of collector Whitney Warren, fetched $48,800, solidly within the pre-sale estimate.
A Roman marble relief fragment dating from the 2nd century A.D. and deeply carved in relief with an equestrian scene generated animated bidding from around the world. The lot realized $47,580, six times the pre-sale estimate.
Also of interest to local and international bidders was a fine Florentine Baroque style giltwood and pietra dura center table dating from the mid-19th century. The slate top was colorfully inlaid with a basket of fruit, a Chinese blue and white vase, a bowl and floral sprays. Similar to an example in the famed Gilbert Collection, the table exceeded the auction estimate, selling for $34,160.
Another piece generating a bidding frenzy was an Empire patinated and gilt-bronze figural wall clock, the dial signed by Jean-François DeBelle. Depicting an Egyptian female standing on a narrow scroll and holding the circular clock face, the dramatic piece commanded $18,300, far exceeding the pre-sale estimate of $6,000-9,000.
The illustrated auction catalog for the sale will be online at www.bonhams.com/us in the weeks following the auction. For more information about the department, please visit www.bonhams.com/usfurniture.