Silver, Continental furnishings, Native American and Chinese works of art will form the core of John Moran Auctioneers’ July 20, 2010 Antiques and Decorative Arts Auction, to be held at the Pasadena Convention Center. The sale will also offer an excellent opportunity for collectors at all levels to acquire Continental and American fine art, particularly California paintings, at all price levels.
The impressive array of over 35 lots of silver encompasses items of all types and eras, and many countries of origin. American makers such as Tiffany, Gorham, Reed and Barton, Durgin, and Gale, Wood & Hughes are represented, as well as 19th and early 20th century British makers Dobson & Sons, Christopher and Thomas Barker, Daniel Hockley, Peter & William Bateman and Benjamin Smith. A 17th century Spanish Colonial silver pitcher from Guatemala is offered with an estimate of $1000 – 1500), while modern pieces include a group of Georg Jensen sterling silver serving pieces in the “Acorn” and “Cactus” patterns (estimate: $600 – 800).
As their market for Asian works of art continues to gather momentum, John Moran is very pleased to present several pieces fresh from a Sun Valley, CA estate. Chinese jade pieces include a pair of jade foo dogs ($3000 – 5000), an intricately carved pair of cranes ($6000 – 8000) , and a recumbent horse ($800 – 1200). A Chinese carved ivory sword and a Mongolian jade and enamel sword are offered for $1000 – 2000 and $6000 – 8000 respectively. Arriving from another private collection is a Chinese bronze mirror dating from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) (estimate: $1000 – 1500).
Also arriving from the Sun Valley estate are several other choice items, including a Persian Kashan rug ($3000 – 5000), a large Hereke rug ($8000 – 12,000), and a Chinese export mother-of-pearl-inlaid tall case clock ($1000 – 2000).
The selection of Continental furnishings in the sale is one of the best of the year for John Moran. The many highlights include a pair of 19th century Louis XVI style gilt-bronze figural six-light candelabra, decorated with a child holding a lamb or dove and bearing the stamp of Henri Picard. One of Picard’s patrons was Emperor Napoleon III, for whose Louvre apartments he provided furnishings and objects. The candelabra are estimated at $3000 – 5000.
At 50 inches high, a French gilt-bronze and champleve enamel-mounted clock on an onyx pedestal is a spectacular piece. Dating from the late 19th century and the movement bearing the A.D. Mougin pastille, it is offered for $8000 – 12,000. Another clock, a Regence style gilt-bronze mounted ‘Boulle’ marquetry mantel clock by Japy Freres is expected to realize $700 – 1000.
An elaborate pair of French gilt-bronze-mounted molded glass torchières with Corinthian capitals and a pair of Italian Baroque style giltwood wall-brackets are each offered for $2000 – 3000, and a 20th century Louis XVI style gilt-metal and cut glass twelve-light chandelier is expected to bring $1000 – 1500.
From a private Pasadena, CA collection is a late 19th century Italian Baroque style walnut sideboard, robustly carved with figures of Neptune, mermen, griffins and grotesque masks. This massive piece is offered for $2000 – 4000.
Another Pasadena collection was the source of a parcel-gilt maple Lyon & Healy Style 22 46-string harp. Made in 1915, it was the property of a member of the San Francisco Philharmonic who performed with it in the 1920s – 1940s, and is offered together with the original case, a bird’s eye maple music stand, and a fruitwood stool. The conservative estimate for this lot is $4000 – 6000. An Italian carved Carrara marble figure of a fisher boy, from the same collection, is signed Bacherini, 1897, Firenze, and is estimated at $3000 – 5000.
American and California paintings are the focus of John Moran’s major tri-annual Art Auctions, but their monthly Antiques Auctions offer similar works, often with very attractive estimates. This month’s auction features some very desirable works, such as a genre scene by African American “Neo-Mannerist” artist Ernie Barnes (1938 – 2009). The amusingly posed woman in a hat shop is a wonderful example of the attenuated, serpentine figures in everyday settings that Barnes is known for, and the oil is estimated to bring $6000 – 9000. Other California and artists in the sale include Christian von Schneidau, Ernest Tonk, Walter Farrington Moses, Dan Lutz and Dan Toigo.
Continental paintings, also regularly featured in John Moran’s Antiques Sales, are led by two works from an Arizona private collection, one by Marie Laurencin (French 1885 – 1965) and one by Edouard Cortès (French 1882 – 1969). Laurencin’s watercolor “Portrait de Jeune Fille” (Portrait of a Young Girl) is a typical mature work, softly modeled and colored and hinting at the Cubist influences in her early career. It is offered for $10,000 – 15,000. The Cortès (estimate: $15,000 – 20,000) depicts the Church of the Madeleine in Paris in classic late Impressionist style. Other French artists in the sale include Yvonne Canu (1921 – 2008), Jules René Herve (1887 – 1981) and Joseph Le Tessier (1867 – 1949).
The twenty-one lots of Native American artifacts comprise a selection of very high quality. Collectors will find signed pottery from San Ildefonso and Santa Clara Pueblos, and Pima, Washoe, Panamint and Mono basketry.
John Moran’s July 20th sale is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm PST. Bidding is available from the floor, via telephone, absentee, and online through ArtFact.com. A fully illustrated catalogue complete with condition reports will be available at Moran’s website, johnmoran.com, two weeks prior to the sale date.
All of John Moran’s sales are held at the Pasadena Convention center in Pasadena, CA. For more information about this sale, or for consignment inquiries for future sales, please call 626-793-1833 or email to [email protected]