COMPLIMENTARY COPY TM
The Most Widely Read Collector's Newspaper In The East VOL. 46, NO. 12 FRIDAY MARCH 20, 2015
Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
Julia’s Begins 2015 With $3.5 Million Asian, Fine Arts Auction J
ulia’s Fine Art, Antique and Asian Department kicked off its 2015 auction season with a winter auction that spanned three days and featured over 2,000 lots on Feb. 4 to 6. Because of the exciting array of goods, bidders came out in droves to be a part of the sale. Registering over 5,000 online bidders representing 61 countries and 650 in-house, absentee and phone bidders, the sale’s gross exceeded $3.5 million. Among the vast offerings of fine art, antiques, folk art, and historical items, Asian antiques and artifacts proved to be particularly
From an estate collection of a renowned Taiwanese diplomatic family with ties to Robert Frost and T.S. Eliot, this bronze figure of Guanyin is from the Ming Dynasty period. The piece went out just above its $160,000-$180,000 estimate to sell for $189,600.
strong. The sale included hundreds of such lots, some of which came from an estate collection of a renowned Taiwanese diplomatic family with ties to Robert Frost and T.S. Eliot. The collection consisted of a variety of carved figures, seals, censers, jade, porcelain, and more. Of particular note was a bronze figure of Guanyin from the Ming Dynasty period. Displaying a benevolent expression and shown wearing a long, loose robe and elaborate headpiece, decked in divine beading and jewels, the figure was seated on an ornate lotus stand. This phenomenal piece went out just above its $160,000$180,000 estimate, selling for $189,600. The following lot was a gilt bronze Buddha figure in the Ming style seated on a delicate throne. Ornamented with turquoise and coral, the piece sold at the upper end of its $25,000-$30,000 estimate for $29,625. From the same collection came an impressive carved wood altar table with intricate traditional Chinese design and fretwork. Believed to have been constructed from Zitan, a Chinese wood typically reserved for royalty, the table sold for a princely sum of $58,662, surpassing an estimate of $28,000$32,000. Chinese furniture from other collections included two pairs of Huanghuali armchairs from the 18th century. A pair of yoke-backed examples with dragon carvings sold for $16,590 against a $3,000-$5,000 estimate, while a pair in an austere block form sold within its $10,000-$15,000 estimate for $11,850. Jade and jadeite also proved to be quite popular, especially when quality was high and estimates were conservative. A well-carved celadon jade Ruyi scepter intricately carved with plum trees, branches and flowers sold well above expectations of $3,500-$4,500 for $24,700. From the Taiwanese diplomat estate, a carved white
Folk art included a very rare set of 25 carved and painted shore birds by master decoy carver A. Elmer Crowell. Consigned by the grandson of the original purchaser, the desirable set was hotly contested for. It ultimately went to a phone bidder for $82,950, well above a $10,000-$15,000 estimate.
jade elephant representing peace from the Qing Dynasty period was no white elephant. It sold for $23,700 against an estimate of $8,000-$12,000. The following lot was a carved white jade censer from the same time period. The urn form topped with lion handles and a carved lion finial showed exceptional translucence. It neared midestimate to sell for $47,400. Natural jadeite jewelry included two breathtaking emerald green pendants carved depicting Quanyin. The first, mounted within diamond encrusted scrollwork, sold for $26,662 and the second, set within a diamond encrusted aura, sold for $54,510. Elaborate cloisonné included a variety of censers. Of particular note was a pair of repousse gilt copper examples on stout foo dog tripod legs with dragon handles and finials that brought $21,330, surpassing an estimate of $2,500$3,500. A bulbous pair of censers with uprising handles and gilt covers with bats and chrysanthemums sold for $18,525 against a $9,000$12,000 estimate. The auction continued with vases in an assortment of styles and forms. From the Taiwanese
Natural jadeite jewelry included this Of the over two dozen weathervanes in the sale, this leaping stag example emerald green pendant depicting by Washburne or Fiske with cast zinc head and detailed copper body sold Quanyin set within a diamond for $14,220 against a $5,000-$6,000 estimate. encrusted aura. It sold for $54,510.
diplomat estate, a massive pair of carved cinnabar lacquer baluster vases with landscape village scenes saw active bidding. It neared the upper end of its $28,000-$32,000 estimate to sell for $32,587. A Famille Rose bottle vase with a globular body and long neck, decorated with butterflies and bats flying among the flowers, went out at $12,350 against a conservative estimate of $500-$700, and a Famile Verte shoulder vase with flaring lip and decorated with children at play in a large courtyard sold within its $14,000-$16,000 estimate for $14,220. Other highlights included a rare and finely carved rhinoceros horn figure of Budai from the Wanli Period (1573-1620). Depicted in the traditional form with a joyful expression and wearing loose fitting robes to reveal his plump belly, which represents contentment and abundance, it is shown with various children climbing across his belly and back. This lot, complete with proper documentation, sold for $53,325, surpassing its $30,000$40,000 estimate. An assortment of textiles included a number of Thangkas, Tibetan religious (Continued on page 2)
Among the historical items included was this rare silver Congressional Medal for Herbert Leach of the Jeannette Arctic expedition of 1879-82. This ill-fated mission soured shortly after departure, and Leach was one of the 25 survivors. He was given this medal, which descended through the family until being consigned to Julia’s. Coincidentally, it sold to a descendent of Leach for $21,330, exceeding an estimate of $10,000-$20,000.
From a private Boston collector with an eye for quality Cape Ann School works came Thomas Nicholas’ “Valley Farm, Vermont,” offering a view of the state’s rolling hills with its rural residents amid a blanket of snow. It sold for $14,220, more than doubling the low end of its $6,000-$8,000 estimate.