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Gallery Report: February 2014

NEW ORLEANS –

 

Russian icon of Jesus, $19,520, Crescent City

 

A circa-1910 Russian icon of Jesus by Khlebnikov, with enameled silver riza and the imperial double-headed eagle mark for Moscow, 5 1/4 inches by 4 1/4 inches, sold for $19,520 at an auction held Dec. 7-8 by Crescent City Auction Gallery. Also, three Mardi Gras Rex Ducal badges (1881, 1927 and 1886) fetched $12,078; a French provincial carved oak Louis XV-style “wedding” armoire, mid-19th century, made $4,270; and an American Gothic Revival carved oak half tester bed brought $6,100. Prices include an 18.5 percent buyer’s premium.

 

Sapphire and diamond brooch, $108,000, Nadeau’s Auction

 

An Anton Horvat platinum, sapphire and diamond brooch having a cushion-cut, 6-carat blue sapphire sold for $108,000 at a New Year’s Day Auction held Jan. 1 by Nadeau’s Auction Gallery in Windsor, Conn. Also, a 1620 manuscript of the Shah Nameh (Book of Kings), an epic poem written by the Persian poet Fedowsi between A.D. 977 and 1010, made $78,000; a first-edition copy from 1851 of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick hit $30,750; and a late 19th century palace-size Sultanabad Oriental rug rose to $29,250. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.

 

Russian officer’s helmet, $19,050, Mohawk Arms

 

A n Imperial Russian Garde du Corps officer’s helmet, made circa 1900-1917, sold for $17,050 in an internet and catalog Auction #70 that ended Dec. 6-7 by Mohawk Arms (MilitaryRelics.com) in Bouckville, N.Y. Also, a Confederate-used M1860 Army Colt revolver with well-worn period holster hit the mark for $1,550; a circa 16th century German swept-hilt sword rose to $1,700; and an informal pattern silver gravy ladle used by Adolf Hitler, with “AH” monogram, made $1,900. Prices include a sliding-scale buyer’s premium.

 

Pair of Chinese carved tusks, $45,000, Ahlers & Ogletree

 

A pair of exquisitely carved and detailed Chinese antique ivory tusk figures on fitted bases with scrolled feet sold as one lot for $45,000 at an estate auction held Jan. 4-5 by Ahlers & Ogletree in Atlanta. Also, a dazzling diamond necklace featuring two vibrant blue tanzanite stones went for $18,000; an antique handwoven serapi rug, made circa 1900, 9 feet by 14 feet, realized $15,000; and a 1921 Steinway & Sons Music Room Model A baby grand piano in an ebonized satinwood case earned $12,000. Prices are hammer, exclusive of a buyer’s premium.

 

Carved eagle with gilt trim, $8,100, Tim’s Inc. Auctions

 

A beautiful carved pine eagle with gold gilt trim, about 5 feet wide, 1950s or ’60s, sold for $8,100 at a Fall Extravaganza Estates Auction on Nov. 17 and an It’s a Wonderful Life Auction on Dec. 8 held online by Tim’s Inc. Auctions (www.timsauction.com), based in Bristol, Conn. Also, a carved oak marble-top sideboard attributed to R.J. Horner knocked down at $3,300; a Japanese World War II long sword brought $4,598; and a fishing pole believed to have been made for baseball legend Babe Ruth hit $1,029. Prices include a 21 percent buyer’s premium.

 

‘Peanuts’ daily strip, $26,450, Philip Weiss

 

A rn original Peanuts daily comic strip drawn by the late illustrator Charles Schulz and dated Oct. 21, 1966, showing Linus, Peppermint Patty and Snoopy wearing flight goggles, with a baseball reference, sold for $26,450 at an estates auction held Jan. 18 by Philip Weiss Auctions in Lynbrook, N.Y. Also, a massice Lladro piece depicting Cinderella’s arrival at the ball, 25 1/2 inches by 45 1/2 inches, realized $14,950; and a sculpture and porcelain creation by cartoonist Carl Barks, both relating to Donald Duck, each hit $13,800. Prices included a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

 

Meeks parlor center table, $33,350, Stevens Auction

 

A rosewood rococo marble turtle-top parlor center table with cluster carved finial, attributed to J. & J. W. Meeks, sold for $33,350 at an estates sale held Jan. 17-18 by Stevens Auction Co. in Aberdeen, Miss. Also, a handsome rosewood half tester bed in mint condition attributed to Mitchell & Rammelsberg and with original mosquito net hardware achieved $12,650; two rosewood laminated parlor side chairs by J.H. Belter fetched $10,350; and an eight-tier Victorian crystal chandelier gaveled for $3,910. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

 

Tiffany Studios table lamp, $118,500, James D. Julia

 

A Tiffany Studios table lamp with an arrangement of seven dragonflies against a striated translucent green and blue background sold for $118,500 at a lamp and glass auction held Nov. 20-21 by James D. Julia Inc. in Fairfield, Maine. Also, a Tiffany Nasturtium chandelier with flowers of green, amber and yellow confetti glass with shaded blue edge panes illuminated the room for $91,125; and a Duffner & Kimberly Peony floor lamp with brilliant pink and red flowers went for $26,070. Prices include an 18.5 percent buyer’s premium.

 

Colt Model 1909 pistol, $96,000, Morphy Auctions

 

A Colt production Model 1909 .45-caliber trial pistol, serial no. 11 of 22 made, with a Colt letter of authenticity, sold for $96,000 at a firearms sale held Jan. 11 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa. Also, a Colt production Model 1911 .45-caliber pistol, Serial no. 10, marked “United States Property,” with a Colt letter of authenticity, also rang out at $96,000; a Singer production Model 1911A1 .45-caliber pistol coasted to $78,000; and a New Haven Arms production lever-action .42-caliber Volcanic carbine hit $40,800. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

 

Monumental Sputnik chandelier, $38,400, Palm Beach Modern Auctions

 

A Sputnik chandelier with Murano glass spikes sold for $38,400 at an auction titled Tiziani: Lagerfeld + Liz Archive held Jan. 11 by Palm Beach Modern Auctions in West Palm Beach, Fla. Also, a Paul Evans faceted, chromed metal and mica Cityscape cabinet realized $36,000; a metal and marble sculpture attributed to Ernest Trova hit $10,800; a signed Vladimir Kagan upholstery and chrome sofa garnered $9,000; and a 1968 photo of Elizabeth Taylor signed to Evan “Buddy” Richards (Tiziani) made $4,800. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

 

Painting by Qi Bashi, $383,500, Michaan’s

 

A painting by the Chinese master Qi Bashi, titled Rabbits Under Osmanthus Tree (Tian Xiang), depicting one black and one white rabbit huddling behind an Osmanthus branch, sold for $383,500 at an Asian works of art auction held Dec. 15 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, Calif. Also, Zhang Daqian’s brush painting titled Bamboo coasted to $118,000; an album collection of 10 paintings of various flowers and insects earned $44,250; and Zhao Shaoang’s presentation scroll Birds and Flowers hit $26,550. Prices include a 12 percent buyer’s premium.

 

Breguet tourbillon wristwatch, $57,000, John Moran Auctioneers

 

A Breguet tourbillon wristwatch sold for $57,000 at an HQ Jewelry & Luxe Auction held Dec. 10 by John Moran Auctioneers in Pasadena, Calif. Also, an Art Deco diamond bracelet featuring a total of 15.00 carats in diamonds achieved $45,000; an 18K gold bangle by Demner, set with rubies, sapphires and emeralds knocked down at $7,200; and a signed Matl sectional necklace, set throughout with amethysts and turquoise, together with matching earrings, went for $3,675. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

 

Continental document, $912,500, Keno Auctions

 

A document titled Letter From the Twelve United States Colonies, from the Colonial delegates in the Continental Congress to the inhabitants of Great Britain, penned by Robert R. Livingston and printed in July 1775, sold for $912,500 at an auction held Jan. 26 by Keno Auctions in New York City. The letter, written before the United States officially broke away from England and formed a new nation, was a final plea for peace by the Continental Congress to the people of Great Britain, to avoid a revolution. The price includes the buyer’s premium.

 

1787 Brasher Doubloon, $4.58 million, Heritage

 

A Brasher Doubloon – the first gold coin made in the United States, hand-struck in 1787 by George Washington’s New York City neighbor – sold for $4.58 million at a week-long auction of coins and currency held Jan. 5-12 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, a Buffalo nickel made under mysterious circumstances at the Philadelphia mint in 1913 and famously featured in an episode of the TV show Hawaii Five-O rose to $3.29 million; and a 1927-D $20 U.S. gold coin (MS66 NGC) went for nearly $2 million. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.

 

Christian Laettner jersey, $119,500, Lelands.com

 

The basketball jersey believed worn by Christian Laettner in 1992, when he made a famous turnaround jump shot to lead Duke over Kentucky in the NCAA tournament, sold for $119,500 in an online sports auction that ended Jan. 10 by Lelands.com, based in Bohemia, N.Y. Also, Jackie Robinson’s 1947 Rookie of the Year Award brought $401,968; Juan Gonzalez’s 1996 American League MVP Award fetched $23,287; and Livan Hernandez’s 1997 Florida Marlins world championship ring made $18,572. Prices include a 19.5 percent buyer’s premium.

 

Pair of Neo-classical tables, $18,750; Leslie Hindman

 

A pair of Neo-classical fruitwood console tables with marble tops sold for $18,750 at a sale of three private Palm Beach collectors held Jan. 11 by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers at the firm’s new West Palm Beach, Fla., gallery. Also, a large collection of Flora Danica porcelain that included an ice dome and stand changed hands for $15,000; and a painting by March Avery commanded $6,250. Overall, the auction realized more than $580,000, against a low estimate of $330,000. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

 

Signed Beatles album, $175,000, RR Auction

 

A Beatles signed Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, a U.K. Parlophone Records first issue mono pressing from 1967 signed by all four band members, sold for $175,000 in an auction held Jan. 15 by RR Auction in Amherst, N.H. Also, an original 8mm silent home movie of Lee Harvey Oswald and his family celebrating Thanksgiving on Nov. 22, 1962 fetched $43,320; a one-page document signed by Emperor Hirohito of Japan in 1940 hit $32,530; and a George Washington signed manuscript made $21,952. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

 

Chinese pot of flowers, $35,700, Clars Auction

 

A pot of Chinese hardstone Narcissus flowers from the late Qing or early Republic period sold for $35,700 at an auction held Jan. 15-16 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, Calif. Also, a lot of 12 German hand-painted porcelain cabinet plates, circa late 19th century, from the Franz Xavier Tallmaier Studio, climbed to $22,610; a large cibachrome print titled Revenge of the Goldfish, 1981, by Sandy Skoglund, fetched $20,230; and a man’s jadeite and 18K gold ring made $15,470. Prices include a 19 percent buyer’s premium.