AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- JUNE 2ND: TRADITIONAL & MODERN AT DOYLE NEW YORK

Welcome back to Auction Finds of the Week!  This week all 6 lots are from 2 upcoming sales at Doyle New York.  The first 3 lots are from Belle Epoque: 19th and 20th Century Decorative Arts to be held on June 4, 2014 and the other 3 lots are from Doyle + Design which features 20th century modern artifacts. In this post there is a combination of traditional and modern which to my eye is the best way to create a dynamic and visually appealing room.

This week's first find is a bit archaic, but I think it can be reworked for a modern setting.  Lot 119 in the June 4th sale is a large Edwardian (1901-1910) oak vitrine or display cabinet or case on stand in the Neo-classical style by F. Saye & Co. Ltd, London with a pre-sale estimate of $1.500-2.500.  The piece has an arched top with glazed sides over a conforming case with glazed doors and sides.  The front is flanked by reeded columns and the conforming stand has an egg and dart bead decorated frieze drawer.  The whole is raised on tapered and fluted legs joined by a X form stretcher and ending in bun feet.  

Since the idea of collecting is considered a bit old fashioned these days, one might update this cabinet by filling it with contrasting items- vintage cocktail shakers, Art Deco pottery, Mid-century modern glass.  But, then again, I am biased.  I love a good vitrine and this Edwardian one is handsome and at a great price.  It is sometimes wonderful to have a totally gratuitous object in one's space that is not truly functional, but merely for display of all your gorgeous objets.

The next 2 lots from Doyle's June 4th sale are both paintings.  Both are wonderfully strange and whimsical and would I believe hold one's attention on the wall of any setting.  The first painting, an oil on board, is lot 98 by the Italian painter Nino Caffe (1909-1975) entitled Snow in the Yard with a pre-sale estimate of $3,000-5,000. The painting delightfully depicts a group of priests in a courtyard having a snowball fight. It is weird and wacky and I would have it on my wall in a second.

The next find this week is lot 18, a British School, 19th century oil painting entitled Playtime with a pre-sale estimate of only $800-1,200.  Three children and their faithful dog have taken a break from playing while one of the girls who has put down her hoop and stick adjusts the military uniform on her younger brother who has apparently been playing toy soldier.  The other girl in the white dress who has been gathering flowers stares boldly and strangely at the viewer.  As the spectator, one feels her presence and her breath.  The painting is odd and sweet at the same time and again I would have it on my wall in a second.

The first modern discovery this week from Doyle's upcoming June 11th sale is lot 162, a set of 3 Swedish Arkiva gilt brass candelabra designed by Lars Holmstrom (1894-1959) for Svenskt Tenn Co in 1940 with a pre-sale estimate of $800-1,200. The candelabra have a simple, yet dynamic undulating base where the 7 candle holders sit atop the high points of this wiggling line.  How about these 3 candelabra down the center of an antique table?  Smashing!  And won't they be glorious when all the candles are lit?

The next find this week is lot 183, a French Art Deco rosewood and bronze sideboard from the 1930's with a pre-sale estimate of $2,500-3,500.  The cabinet stands on a plinth and has 2 large cabinet doors on either side of central element.  The rosewood has beautiful figuring and the bronze hardware is both functional and decorative.  It is quite a stylish piece and though not by a named designer, it has all the luxury typical of French Art Deco pieces.

The final find this week is lot 266 from the June 11th sale, a pair of Art Deco white glazed porcelain female figures by the Austrian Robert Ullman (1903-1966) made for Meissen in 1939-1940 with a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-1,500.  The figures depict both women sitting in traditional poses on a piece of drapery, but their proportions and demeanor signal them as being from the 20th century and not a classical figure though they exist in that dubious tradition.  At 12.5" tall, they would look wonderful on our French sideboard as part of its tablescape, perhaps flanking a taller central element.

I hope you enjoyed this week's auction finds and found something to inspire the design of your own room.  Mixing traditional and modern elements in a space can produce a lively and dynamic look that will never get boring or outdated.  

Check out my Facebook Page for results of the lots shown here.

If you are looking for a modern or antique piece and you would like me to source it for you, take a look at my website for details.  I also perform insurance appraisals for mainly silver and ceramics as well as professional opinion of value appraisals if you are looking to find out about your item(s) for informational purposes or for potential sale.  Again take a look at the Services Page on my website for details.

Until next time, 

Kelly T Keating