A gorgeous pair of gilt bronze figural dancers, executed by the renowned French artist and sculptor Agathon Léonard (1841-1923) sold for a combined $60,950 at a Fine & Decorative Arts Cataloged Auction held Dec. 5 by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. It was the final sale of the year for the firm in its new state-of-the art gallery, at 620 Cornerstone Court.
Agathon Léonard was the pseudonym of Van Weydveldt. He gained fame in 1900 with the debut of “Jeu l’echarpe,” originally created for Sevres in fine porcelain as a centerpiece and based on the fluid movements of Loïe Fuller in her famous scarf dances. The sets sold out and Léonard created the figures in bronze in varying sizes. The two sold are 21-¾ inches tall and epitomize the Art Nouveau movement.
The bronzes were the top lots in a sale that saw nearly 750 lots change hands. Around 250 people packed the building, while over 700 bidders registered online, through LiveAuctioneers.com, prior to the sale. Also, pre-absentee and phone bids numbered 1,300. “This was a great sale to wrap up the first year in our new showroom,” Leland Little commented. “We look forward to continued success next year.”
The auction was preceded by previews, an evening reception and a special lecture by June Lucas, the director of research at Old Salem Museums and Gardens in Winston-Salem, N.C. Ms. Lucas’ talk was titled Wood on Canvas: the Paint-Decorated Furniture of Piedmont, N.C. It centered on the late 18th and 19th century furniture makers in the Piedmont region of the state and their use of paint decoration.
Next up for Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., is a New Year’s Day non-cataloged sale, followed by a cataloged auction slated for March 20, 2010. Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or an entire collection, you may call them at (919) 644-1243. Or, you can e-mail them at [email protected].
To learn more about Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., and their calendar of upcoming auctions, please log on to www.LLAuctions.com