Date: Fri 15-May-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

Eldred

Full Text:

Eldred's Fine & Decorative Art Auction

(W/3 cuts)

EAST DENNIS, MASS. -- The Robert C. Eldred Co, Inc, held its Fine & Decorative

Art Auction on May 8-9, with almost half of the 647 lots bringing more than

the high estimates.

The furniture claimed half of the top 20 lots with an Edwardian mahogany

library table becoming the star of the sale with a final sparkling bid of

$8,910. Other examples were a set of eight mahogany Chippendale-style dining

chairs with carved crest rails and pierced carved back splats, $3,300;

European extension dining table in walnut veneers with inlaid decoration,

$2,200; an unusual early Twentieth Century fall-front desk, $1,760; and a

Federal-style mahogany dropleaf dining table, $1,650.

Some other notable prices were $1,210 for a set of eight antique mahogany

Empire sabre-leg dining chairs; $1,155 for a mahogany five-drawer office desk;

and $1,072 for a Chippendale-style upholstered armchair in mahogany. The top

price for a clock was $550 for a Dutch brass and tin Comptoise wall clock

decorated with farmers and horses.

The largest category was pottery and porcelain, and, as predicted, both

collectors and dealers found many exciting pieces. The majolica attracted the

greatest attention, such as the fine Nineteenth Century Minton teapot in the

form of a Japanese man holding a spirit mask. It sold for $2,970. Other

Nineteenth Century majolica pieces were a teapot at $1,430, in

rectangular-form with an Oriental-style decoration of a man on a bridge and

elephant head spout; a serving dish, $1,320, with leaf center and fox head

handle probably by George Jones; and a rare oyster plate, $880.

Snuff boxes included a Nineteenth Century Meissen in the form of a masked

lady's head with diamond eyes. It caught a bidder's eye for $1,870, and a

pomegranate-form snuff box (probably Austrian) sold for $1,100. Also a Royal

Worcester dinner service for 12 in pale green with gold rims and white and

silver exotic bird decoration sold for $1,375; 12 Cauldon game plates with

handpainted bird decoration took $715; a Royal Crown Derby dinner service for

eight in the "Red Aves" pattern garnered $825; and a rare Doulton Lambeth milk

pitcher with three panels featuring raised golfing decoration sold for $907.

There were about 100 lots of glass including a Tiffany bronze and green glass

candlestick for $165, and a Mount Washington Burmese glass vase for $275. The

lighting section offered two similar rare miniature embossed beaded swirl

pattern lamps for $660, and two Jefferson table lamps that brought $1,045 and

$880.

Paintings included an unsigned Dutch interior scene of five men at a table for

$935, a Dutch scene of a dentist at work for $935, a Nineteenth Century

European portrait of a nobleman for $605, and a floral still life by F.B.

Triebner for $550.

A five-piece English tea and coffee set headed up the silver section for

$1,265, while a circa 1900 articulated lobster sold for $525.

Of the 60 lots of jewelry, the most admired piece was a 14k white gold and

diamond ring with a central diamond surrounded by six small diamonds, all

between two rows of six smaller diamonds. It brought $1,980. A 17k white gold

flower-form diamond ring with a central diamond surrounded by eight smaller

diamonds sold for $1,375, and a platinum ring with two diamonds in a

rectangular setting brought $1,210.

Eldred's July auctions will include its three-day Collector's Sale on

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, July 15-17, featuring a large group of

postcards, movie posters, dolls and toys, marbles, buttons and books; American

& European paintings on Thursday, July 23, with a section devoted to circa

1850 to 1950 American women artists; and the Marine Auction on Thursday, July

30, which will include export ware.

August auctions will begin with two days of Americana, on August 6 and 7,

followed by Fine & Decorative on August 13 and 14, and the weeklong Japanese,

Jacoulet, Snuff Bottle and Oriental Auctions will be presented Monday through

Saturday, August 24 through 29.

Consignments are still being accepted for some of these sales. Call

508/385-3116 for appointment.