AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- DECEMBER 23RD: INTERIORS AT CHRISTIE'S NEW YORK
by Kelly Keating on 12/21/13
This week's treasures are all from the Interiors auction at Christie's New York to be held on January 14-15, 2014. The Interiors auctions are like large estate sales full of artwork, decorative arts and furniture. All of the lots are offered at a lower price point with estimates starting at only $1,000, but since the Interiors auction is a no reserve auction, items can sale for much less than that. This week I chose a variety of furniture and artwork from the sale to tempt you to bid or at least give you ideas for the decoration of your own interiors.
This week's first find is a pastel and gouache on paper of a smartly dressed 19th century man in black coat and pants with a cream or yellow waistcoat. He sports a black tophat and a jaunty pose as he leans up against a pillar and holds a cane in his right hand. The artist is unknown and the work is simply catalogued as "American 19th Century". Lot 69 is being offered with four companion drawings with a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-3,000. The work is not large only 12.75"x10.75" but it would making an interesting addition to a group of artwork on a wall. There is something very appealing and vibrant about this gentleman with his sly smile that would make you take a look every time you passed him on your wall.
The next discovery this week is a 19th century English portrait done in oil on panel, 15.5"x11.5", of a gentleman in a black coat with a white ruffled shirt. As with our last gentleman, lot 67 is by an unknown artist and simply catalogued as "English School, 19th Century" and has a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-3,000. The lot includes 4 other companion portraits. This piece appeals to me on several levels. I love the oval shape of the work and its gilt frame with the carved spray of roses at the top. Yet, what is really engaging is the sitter of the painting. He is an older gentleman who looks off to his right as if suddenly distracted by something. He seems long lived and perhaps a bit world weary. Does he glance to his waning future? Hard to tell. But like the gentleman in the top hat, this figure has a presence that will continually engage you as he hangs on your wall.
This week's next find is Lot 91 a depiction of the Central Park Zoo in the 1960's. The painting is done in oil on canvas, measures 40.25"x20" and has a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-1,500. The work is signed and dated indistinctly on the stretcher. The date, however, of 1961 is clear. Overall, the work has an abstract and impressionistic feel with a muted color palette. In the foreground the artist paints a famous Central Park Zoo sea lion with spectators behind, two of whom are holding colored ballons. Behind the spectators is a pavillion or another animal attraction which is itself in front of a screen of tall trees behind which are the tall buildings of the city. I like this work for its limited color range (it looks like a gray winter day) and the memories it evokes in me of the old Central Park Zoo with its simple cages and distressed animals that I used to visit as a child. Like the other two artwork above, one will not grow tired of this work and it will continually engage you as it hangs on your wall.
The first furniture lot this week is lot 367, a French ormolu-mounted mahogany, satine and amboyna buffet with a black marble top dated to the late 19th or early 20th century. It has a pre-sale estimate of $3,000-5,000. The buffet is a good size measuring 42.25" tall x 83.25" wide x 20.75" deep. What appeals to be about this buffet is the use of rich woods in an interesting configuration and how the piece though decidely French is not too French or too fancy, so that it could work in a variety of settings. And I adore the big open space at the bottom of the server. While it is not exactly practical, it would be marvelous filled with blue and white Chinese or Delft vases and objects. That would be a cracking look!
This week's next discovery is lot 323, a American Chippendale maple slant-front desk from New England, circa late 18th century with a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-3,000. The slant-front desk is over four graduated drawers each with locks and batwing brass pulls. The whole stands on cabriole legs with claw and ball feet. This piece is a nice, fairly clean example of a piece of American 18th century furniture with a decent color to the wood. It has had some restoration and the brasses have been replaced, but all in all if you wanted to own an 18th century American object, this is a good candidate and at a good price point. And I love anything with a claw and ball foot.
The next discovery this week is another type of desk, an English form, called a Davenport that was very popular in the 19th century. The davenport owes its name to a Captain Davenport who was the first to commission the design, from Gillow's of Lancaster, near the end of the 18th century. In a sense then it could also be considered a campaign desk though there are no records indicating if Captain Davenport was in the British Army or the Royal Navy. Lot 579 is a mid-19th century Victorian burr bird's-eye maple and oak davenport with ink stand, the whole standing on bun feet. It has a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-1,5000. The davenport has an inclined lifting desktop that opens up to reveal a large storage compartment and 4 drawers that are located on the side of the desk. The desk is not large measuring 38" high x 24" wide x 23.5" deep. The interest in this desk is the use of bird's-eye maple with its wonderful grain. As a small desk it would be quite good for apartment living and would work well with a laptop or tablet.
If you are going to have a fabulous desk, then you need a fabulous desk chair to accompany it. Lot 552 is an early 19th century Empire fauteuil de bureau with turned front legs and wonderfully carved lion heads at the end of the chair arms. It has a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-3,000. For me, the carved lion heads make this chair. It is ornate, but not too ornate and the reel and bobbin turning of the front legs simplifies this chair, so that is not typically over the top Empire in its expression.
This week's next treasure is a second quarter of the 19th century North European Biedermeier satin birch meridienne with a pre-sale estimate of $1,500-2,000. A meridienne is a short sofa of the French Empire period having one arm higher than the other. On one level Biedermeier can be considered a domesticated version of the French Empire style that appeared in other parts of Europe such as Germany. I like this piece of furniture with its swirling curves and gorgeous wood. But, unfortunately, in the "brown furniture" realm Biedermeier is very out of fashion. It will be interesting to see how this sofa fars at the auction. It would certainly benefit from a more neutral or modern fabric. The crimson stripe while perhaps historically accurate makes the piece look more old and dumpy than it actually is.
This week's final lot is a fantastic desk from the Art Deco period. Lot 583 is a circa 1935 French gilt metal-mounted mahogany three drawer desk with a pre-sale estimate of $3,000-5,000. Just looking at this desk, one could tell it was French in origin. The gilt metal mounts recall French 18th century furniture. The desk is an impressive size: 30" high x 70" wide x 31" deep. It would look wonderful in a variety of interiors from traditional to modern. Wouldn't your laptop look grand on top of this desk?
The Christie's Interiors auction is like a vast antique shop filled with a myriad of good and not so good items, but with a little looking you can find some fabulous pieces for your home. My favorite lots this week are the 19th century English oval portrait of the older gentleman, the 1961 painting of the Central Park Zoo and the Empire fauteuil de bureau. I would have any of those objects in my home.
What is your favorite piece this week? Leave a comment below. I hope these lots gave you ideas and inspiration for the decoration of your own interiors. If you need help sourcing an antique or vintage item from something small to a large piece of furniture please take a look at my website www.theantiqueflaneur.com and see how I work with clients or email me at [email protected] with details about what you are looking for, your budget, timeframe etc.
And always check my Facebook Page for the results of the lots I post here.
Happy Christmas! Happy New Year!
Until next time,
Kelly T Keating
