AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- MAY 27TH: ACCESSORIES, ACCESSORIES, ACCESSORIES
by Kelly Keating on 05/27/13
This week's auction finds are all about accessories. Accessories are the jewelry of a room, the last finishing touch that completes a space and the pieces that truly express the identity of the room's inhabitant. I like room ornaments that stand in contrast to the design of the room in general. A decorative item that can draw the eye into the room, say a wonderful pair of large silver candlesticks on a mantel, and serve as a counterpoint to the room's style works best for me.
All of the items this week except one are being auctioned at Doyle's Belle Epoque: 19th & 20th Century Decorative Arts in New York on June 5th. One item is being auctioned on June 15th at Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd. in Hillsborough, NC.
This week's first discovery is a bit old fashioned. Lot 307 is a Japanese Export Silver Coffee and Tea Service from the Meiji Period (1868-1912). I am thinking it is earlier in the Meiji period rather than later. It was made for the Western market and is comprised of a kettle on stand, coffee pot, teapot, creamer, two-handled covered sugar bowl and a tea caddy, each with a gorgeous chased and repousse or applied iris decoration against a stippled ground.
At one time in domestic life it was de riguer to have a coffee and tea set on the sideboard. But in today's world, no one really stops for afternoon tea and no one wants to polish silver. A set like lot 307 in its naturalistic forms and impressive array of items would look wonderful on any dining room sideboard from varying periods, but one has to commit to not only polishing the set, but actually also using it despite its general obsolescene. Have a dinner party and wow your friends when you put a coffee and tea service like this on the table for dessert. They will enjoy and take pleasure in your effort.
The Japanese export service has a pre-sale estimate of $3,500-4,500. And no need to spend this much or get a sterling service. There are plenty of nicely appointed plate services available for around $500 that will do the trick.
The second adornment this week is another silver object lot 240- a pair of Gorham Egyptian Revival sterling silver candlesticks in the form of cobras surmounted with a lotus blossom form candle holder. The pair date from 1875 to 1900 with the 1880's being the most likely date. The Egyptian Revival is usually dated from 1820-1850, but silver examples with Egyptian motifs appear long after that date into the 1880’s. And of course, there was another great Egyptian revival after 1922 when King Tut’s tomb was found by Harry Carter.
The cobra sticks I think could only exist in a vary daring interior. Perhaps a wonderful Art Deco inspired space with a touch of chinoiserie, an early 20th century Chinese Deco rug and a lacquer piece could contain the strength of the snake candlesticks. The sticks are wonderfully alive and naturalistic and the lotus blossoms on the heads of the snakes are simply gorgeous. The cobra sticks have a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-3,000.
The third find of the week is our final piece of silver- lot 281 a Georg Jensen Silver Water Pitcher with a pre-sale estimate of $1,500-2,500. The pitcher was designed by Johan Rohde, circa 1925-36. It is of ovoid form, with a sloped mouth and elongated C-form handle and a subtle hand-hammered finish. Silver is not only old fashioned, but can also be found in wonderful modern shapes and designs like this Jensen pitcher which would look lovely on a Mid-century Modern sideboard. It could be used for iced tea, lemonade or just water. If you have a piece of silver you love, use it! Your guests will appreciate it. Just remember whether sterling or plate do not overpolish pieces. Use a mild silver polish about 2-3 times a year. In between store pieces in silver keeper bags or if displayed, use a mild soap (nothing with lemon in it) to clean your item.
The fourth accessory discovery this week is lot 529 also at Doyle New York- Companion Pair of Galle Faience Figures of Cats with a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-3,000. This choice is wacky, no? I am definitely not a cat person, but have always found these Galle cats very appealing. Each cat is modeled in a seated pose with a yellow glaze and decorated with a blue and white striped tail and conforming hearts and spots on the body. They date to the late 19th or early 20th century. The yellow and blue color combination of the cats is happy and cheerful. They are a good size at 13" and would look wonderful on a white mantel in a crisp English country or French country inspired room in corresponding colors.
The next treasure for this week is lot 534 another piece of Galle- an Acid Etched Cameo Glass Vase circa 1900 with a pre-sale estimate of $8,000-10,000. With an impressive height of almost 25" this vase is a flattened ovoid form, with a flared mouth, in olive green, amber and colorless glass and decorated with a continuous landscape scene that includes trees and a moored rowboat in a placid lake. It has a frosted and glossy finish. This Galle vase is an impressive collector's lot. But how about creating a room with this piece as a starting point? Would we dare to even put flowers in it? Of course White, cream, pink, purple, green!
The final discovery this week is the only lot not being auctioned at Doyle New York. Lot 508, an Art Deco Magazine Rack, is being auctioned on June 15th at Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd. in Hillsborough, NC with a pre-sale estimate of $200-400. The silvered cast iron magazine rack is in the form of a hound jumping through a foliate ring. The piece is unmarked. This magazine rack has wonderful style and design. I would use it on a mantel or a sideboard as a piece of sculpture rather than as a magazine rack which always look chaotic and messy to me when full. Add a little style to your room with this decorative accessory!
This week's auction finds were all about accessories from silver to silvered metal. After the paint, the rug, the furniture and the light fixtures a room (even a minimal one) needs further adornment with decorative accessories that dress the space and enhance the other elements in it. Ornaments bring a room to life and express the character of the person who inhabits it.
If you need any help finding decorative accessories for your room, contact me at [email protected]
Till next week,
Kelly T Keating
www.theantiqueflaneur.com
