Date: Fri 09-Oct-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDYC

Quick Words:

Hantmans

Full Text:

Hantman's April Sale Best to Date

w/11 cuts

By Sims Rogers

POTOMAC, MD. -- Of the more than 300 bidders who registered for Paula

Hantman's single-owner estate sale in late spring, a good percentage crowded

into the small VFW hall.

It would be Hantman's best sale to date in terms of total dollar amount. The

scope of material offered was broad, spanning four centuries, several

continents, and a number of disciplines, from furniture to both two- and

three-dimensional art. The 1,000 items that crossed the auction block made for

a very long day for both the audience and the auction staff, yet the crowd

remained alert and prices strong to the end. Often there were as many as 13

phone lines open and the audience appeared caught up in the bidding battles

which raged from a table manned by two phone-fisted staff members. She never

seemed to lose her cool and even managed to add a little light humor from time

to time.

Two video screens were used for many of the smaller items, while a number of

runners were kept busy spotting bids, holding up paintings, small pieces of

furniture, and rugs. By mid-afternoon, the crowd had not lessened and

collectors and dealers were still busy, some chatting with each other while

waiting for what interested them and others slipped out to get lunch from the

wonderful bar-be-que wagon that is ever present at the Hantman sales.

The silver category was highlighted by a five-piece Steiff Twentieth Century

repousse coffee and tea service, which brought $4,600, and an early Danish peg

tankard, which fetched $5,462.50.

Within 45 lots of European and English ceramics, an unmarked pair of early

Nineteenth Century porcelain urns was believed to be Coalport or perhaps

Derby, the decoration being reminiscent of both. Overall gilt foliate

decoration with fruit and flower reserves, gilt spread-winged eagle handles,

the pair sold for a stately $6,900. The majority of the lots was within or

very close to their estimates.

Oriental Chinese and Oriental ceramics and decorations inspired bidders to

battle for a pair of Chinese Export famille rose five-light candelabra. With

eagle headed foliate arms over an ovoid ceramic body with a green ground, the

pair went to the phone for $3,162.50. The section ended with seven lots of

Korean objects of which five sold and two were passed. A celadon pear form

vase, expected to bring between $10,000 and $15,000, didn't quite reach its

reserve. A Yi Dynasty polychrome persimmon form water dropper only four inches

high brought a fruitful $4,025, within the estimate. In spite of some repairs,

the last lot of this group, a five-tiered celadon pagoda of the Yi Dynasty was

hammered down at $2,300, two and a half times its estimate.

Forty or so works of fine art included serious paintings and more whimsical

works, bringing about interest from the floor which was noisy and fun

spirited. Two paintings by the Twentieth Century Italian minimalist Antonio

Calderara brought giggles and com ments from the floor until the bidding

began. Calderara, a listed artist with good auction records, painted in oil on

board. These two, two-part paintings which, at first glance, appeared to be

simple squares of white, were not. Upon closer inspection all four squares had

a single, very subtle, vertical white stripe. To the surprise of many in the

audience both works had serious competition and fell, at the hammer, within

their estimates at $2,070 each.

"Naval Engagement of British and American Ships," an unsigned Eighteenth

Century oil on canvas in rough condition brought a surprising $4,600. Although

there were no tears or holes, the painting needed some restoration.

A 14-lot section of bronze and stone sculptures was dominated by Nineteenth

Century works and those of classical influence. A 10.25-inch high "Bust of

Coco" in bronze and signed Renoir brought a very reasonable $6,325 with a

swift battle between the phones and the floor. A beautifully carved standing

muse with arms gracefully draped over a pedastled urn brought $2,875. Carved

of white marble and standing on a black marble plinth, the muse was Eighteenth

Century and of the Italian school.

Rugs were sold in two sessions, with approximately 23 rugs in the first group.

The ever present and recognizable rug dealers showed considerable interest in

a number of rugs but were left behind when the phone bidders went head to head

on at least three of the more outstanding rugs. The top lot, an 11'5 by 13'4

Serapi, in the first group, went to a phone bidder in New York for $9,200.

Two sessions of English furniture comprised a total of 125 lots, divided just

about in half. In the first, a number of pieces brought strong prices, well

exceeding their estimates, including a George III mahogany partners' writing

table. It had tapered legs, ending in brass cup casters, three drawers across

and a top with a gilt tooled leather inset, and was knocked down to the floor

for $6,900.

In the second session, a giltwood piece, a George III carved sofa with a

serpentine front and a down cushion, brought $6,325, more than twice its

estimate. This was followed shortly by a pair (things seemed to sell well in

pairs) of japanned black lacquer cabinets on stands of a later period.

Estimated between $4,000 and $6,000, they were won by the phone for $8,050

after a battle with the floor.

Among three pieces of late Nineteenth Century American Revival furniture, a

New York Renaissance Revival inlaid and ebonized center table had the phones

busy. Hammered down at $5,750, the table, with cartouche form top inlaid with

a classical figure driving a chariot, was in excellent condition and a very

good buy.

Phone lines handled many bidders from other continents during the Continental

furniture and decorations session. A Venetian piece highlighted this group and

became the day's top lot: a console table with the most elaborately carved and

ebonized chinoiserie figural base. An estimate of $1,500 to $2,000 was quickly

left behind until underbidder finally admitted defeat and let it go overseas

to the phone for the hefty price of $10,925.

Hantman's Auctions is in its fourth year and, with five to seven sales a year,

this was their best sale yet. All prices quoted include a premium of 15

percent. The next catalogued sale is scheduled for October 10 and 11.

Hantman's has also begun having uncatalogued sales a number of times a year,

the next slated for the weekend following their October sale.