AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- JULY 15TH: ELEGANT DINING PART II

by Kelly Keating on 07/15/13

In last week's post "Elegant Dining Part I" I found items to create the foundation of well-appointed dining room for entertaining- the table, the dining chairs and the plates to be used at a soiree.  This week the blog will focus on how to begin to fashion a tablescape with a beautiful centerpiece which will become the focal point for your table for when it is in use and when it is not.  This week's treasures, I hope, will provide inspiration for your own dining room and the elegant dining that can take place within it.

This week's first discovery is a pair of French gilt-bronze 3 light candelabra from the 20th century, lot 464, to be auctioned off at Christie's New York on July 23-24, 2013 with a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-1,500.  With its swirling, undulating design with foliage and flowers, this pair may be Art Nouveau in date or perhaps later as their style also suggests the Rococo.  Having a wonderful pair of candelabra or candlesticks is almost essential for any table and creates a wonderful ambiance for dining when lit.  This large pair would work well on the Georgian style 19th century mahogany dining table from last week's finds and even would work on the 2 modern tables- the Paul Frankl and the after Leleu.  And of course a large complementary centerbowl perhaps Chinese or glass to sit between the candelabra would be a great touch.  Fill it with fruit, small pots of ivy, or small flowering plants.

Instead of a single centerbowl to accompany the candelabra, how about a group of 4 800 silver continental trumpet vases from Switzerland, lot 89, to be auctioned off also at Christie's New York on July 23-24, 2013 with a pre-sale estimate of $1,500-2,000.  The vases date to the early 20th century, have a hammered trumpet form with a reticulated band of flora and fauna at the base and a gilt interior.  The 4 9" tall vases would complement quite well the French candalabra above in their similar motifs and the mixing of gold and silver metal.  The combination would work well on the more traditional dining room tables from last week as well the more modern ones.

Just as much as they can certainly complement a more traditional space, Chinese decorative objects can work well in a modern setting as well.  The next 3 treasures this week are Chinese in origin.  Lot 12, a pair of late 18th/early 19th century blanc de chine Dehua vases is being auctioned online at Christies, New York with an end date of July 23, 2013 with a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-3,000.  The cylindrical vases are a beautiful creamy white color and are decorated with applied prunus branches.  An emblem of winter and one of the "Three Friends of Winter" because of the tenacity of its blooms through the long, cold months, the plum, or prunus branch was a favored decorative motif of the Dehua potters. Sometimes molded and sometimes applied, the small, snow flake-like flowers appear on a variety of vessel shapes, adding depth and texture to the flat, glossy surfaces. 

The vases are a good size at approximately 9.5".  Their neutral color and sparse elegant decoration would look wonderful on the dark wood of any of the tables from last week's post.  I would group them with other blanc de chine items of different sizes making 2 groupings of 3 and a most pleasing tablescape. 

The next Chinese find for a potential tablescape is lot 146 a pair of green Peking glass bottle-shape vases to be auctioned at Skinner in Boston on July 26, 2013 with a pre-sale estimate of $600-800.  The color of these vases is gorgeous and like the blanc de chine vases from Christie's I would use these Peking glass vases as the starting point for 2 groupings of 3 on a dining table.  At 10.5" tall this pair is a good start and will bring color to the center of the room.  Why not fill them with blossom branches for added height and contrasting color in the room.

Also at Skinner in Boston is lot 82 a pair of export Nanking style blue and white Meiping vases with a pre-sale estimate of $400-600.   The vases are 20th century in date and painted with floral sprigs and reserves depicting riverside pagodas and houses with gilt decoration.   They stand at almost 10" in height and like the other 2 Chinese lots they are a good starting point for a pair of groupings of 3 blue and white vases for the dining room table.  Blue and white porcelain is ubiquitous and can be found at many price points and from many periods.

The next discovery this week for the center of the dining room table is a French crystal free-form undulating bowl hallmarked Cofrac Art  Verrier France, lot 6, being auctioned off at the Palm Beach Auction Gallery in Florida with a pre-sale estimate of $300-400.  The bowl is an impressive size 14" tall x 24" wide.  This piece would look wonderful on the modern dining tables in last week's finds.  It would even look good when paired with the French gilt-bronze candelabra that started off this week's finds. 

This week's next find is also crystal.  Lot 120 is a 19th century Anglo-Irish cut crystal 3 piece garniture consisting of 2 12" tall candlesticks and an 11.75" tall covered vase or compote is being auctioned off online by Millea Bros. in Madison, NJ ending on July 20, 2013 with a pre-sale estimate of $70-100.  This garniture would work well on the more traditional dining tables from last week perhaps interspersed with open vases that could be filled with flowers.

This week's next treaure is a centerpiece bowl in a vibrant green Bohemian crystal, lot 15, to be auctioned off at Van Michael's Consignment LLC in West Palm Beach, Florida with a pre-sale estimate of $200-300 on July 20, 2013.  The piece has circle and star design and is a great size at almost 14" in diameter.  The green color of the bowl would look great in a room with that color.  When placed on the dining room table, it would draw all that color into the center of the room.

The next find is another piece of Bohemian glass- a pair of green and gilt glass pokals or tall drinking cups, lot 427, being auctioned off at Doyle New York on July 18, 2013 with a pre-sale estimate of $200-400.  A good size at 9.5" tall, this pair would work well with a large centerbowl or grouping of candlesticks on either the modern or traditional tables shown in last week's blog entry.

The last discovery for this week is fun lot also being auctioned at Doyle New York on July 20, 2013.  Lot 332 is a lot of 4 polished metal flower form vases probably with not much age with a pre-sale estimate of $500-700.  The vases are of staggered heights, the tallest of which is nice 18".  The set would be great on both the after Leleu and the Paul Frankl table which I posted last week.  Either use 3 of the vases in the center of the table or pairs at either end accompanied by a glass or silver candlestick.

 

This week's auction finds focused on the adornment of the dining room table in order to create a visually appealing tablescape and an elegant dining experience.  Try using different types of pieces on the dining room table.  Group vases, compotes and candlesticks of different heights, but with similar coloring, style or motifs.  I hope this week gave you some inspiration for your dining room and its tablescape.  Next week's finds will focus on the chandelier, another important aspect to consider in creating a dining room.  And if you missed last week's post take a look at it here for the starting point of any dining room:  the table, the chairs and the plates.

Also check out my Facebook Page where I list the results for all the auction finds for each week. 

If you need help adorning your dining room, please email me at [email protected]

Till next week,

Kelly T Keating
www.theantiqueflaneur.com