Date: Fri 17-Jul-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

J&J-Auction-Czech-Glass

Full Text:

Checking Out Czech Glass

(W/3 Cuts)

By Rita Easton

COLUMBUS, OHIO -- Czechoslovakian glass and pottery were the subjects of a

two-session auction on June 20 and 21 at the Columbus International Airport

Holiday Inn.

J & J Auction and Appraisal, Inc, hosted the event, which attracted buyers

from 18 states (including Florida, California, New York, Michigan, Nebraska,

and Pennsylvania) and Germany. Two thousand pieces were sold in 890 lots for a

gross of $107,000.

The consignment represented one collection from Portland, Ore., assembled over

the course of six years. The collectors, a couple, are members of the

Czechoslovakian Guild.

"We did have the president of the guild in attendance," said Joe Johannets of

the gallery, "and he was very happy with the return. Many of the guild members

came out to support the club. Nothing like this has ever really happened

before -- 2,000 pieces of Czech art glass and pottery. A very well-rounded,

diversified sale."

Fetching the top price of $1,900 was a matching pair of peacock lamps, heads

facing one another, bronze on marble bases, standing 12« inches high. It went

to a collector. A second pair of unmatched peacock lamps, heads facing the

same direction, one signed and one unsigned, 16« inches high, brought $1,250

and $850 respectively.

A pair of 18-inch-high mushroom lamps reached $625; and a nymph lamp, the

figure standing over a crystal lighted ball, made $400, but the ball wasn't

matched, noted Johannets.

Powolny lamps, console bowls, and vases ranged from $400 to $750. An

artist-signed Powolny vase of Tango glass, in lime green with cobalt handles,

reached the category's high of $750. Tango glass ewers, standing seven to nine

inches high, and smaller Tango creamers, four to six inches high, ranged from

$100 to $200.

Strong interest was generated in glass basket-of-fruit and basket-of-flower

lamps. A small basket of multicolored roses in a sapphire blue base reached

$1,800. Four centerpiece lamps ranged from $750 to $1,150. Enamelled,

filigreed, and decorated dram and purse bottles were estimated at $100/200,

but four crossed over to the $320 to $425 range, while many other brought over

$200.

A perfume lamp, or one which has a container for perfume to scent a room when

the lamp heats up, this example having a decorative dancing woman

embellishment and a cylindrical shade, realized $225; cone, ball and mushroom

lamps standing 9« to 12 inches high ranged from $375 to $475, the high going

to a matched pair of ball lamps; a "blown-out love bird sitting on a branch"

amphora vase, ten inches high, made $900, and an amphora, featuring a fox

chasing a chicken, also reached $900.

The consignor was also a collector of spider and frog pins, which were

cleverly displayed pinned in all over fashion on dress forms. The unsigned

costume jewelry pins ranged from $25 to $65. The Victorian dress forms,

covered in velvet, were later sold at $65 to $130.

A 33-piece set of dinnerware by J. Mracek, an incomplete mix and match group

in peasant pottery patterns, sold at $1,075. Erphila peasant pottery figural

animals set a record, with a nine inch cat reaching $1,650, following an

estimate of $1,200. A seven inch dog figure made $600.

"This is the first major collection that's ever gone up for auction. We've had

parts of collections, but never an entire collection. We've broken new

ground," Johannets commented. "I would say that the baskets were soft, and

some of the more common Tango pieces were soft, but we had moderate to

sophisticated collectors there, and they may have had these pieces already.

The rare pieces brought top dollar."

J & J Auction does not require a buyer's premium.