COMPLIMENTARY COPY
VOL. 43, NO. 41 FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2012
Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
Maine End Of Summer Auction Event Featured Incredible Antiques & Art or over two decades James D. Julia, Inc. has marked the end of summer with the biggest and best antique and fine art auction in the state of Maine. Numbering over 3,000 lots, this year’s sale in Fairfield, Maine, went down as their largest and most diverse summer antiques auction to date. Over a four day period, bidders were treated to a massive selection of American & European paintings, folk art, Asian antiques and art, silver, historical documents and letters, and fine antiques of every kind brought together by department heads Bill Gage and Tony Greist. With over 100 scrolls, over 400 pieces of jade, over 200 pieces of ivory as well as paintings, glass, cinnabar, needlework, 18th and 19th century Chinese & Japanese silver, etc., this sale saw a full An oil on canvas pointillist scene attributed to Henry Cross of stylized waterside house of bidders in atten- trees with twisted tree trunks was hotly fought for, ultimately selling for $25,300, dance as well as a constant well above its $3,000-$5,000 estimate. flow of phone, absentee, and cottages beneath a high waterfall. live internet bids that contributed of just under $4.5 million! Highlights included a unique Signed and sealed, it delivered at to the total tally for the four days jade composition lamp attributed more than twice the upper end of to Edward I. Farmer. The shade consisting of four white jade immortals set within gilt carved scrolling floral framework rested on a figural jade base and was topped with a jade finial of an adult and child. Once housed in the collection of the one and only Edsel Ford it saw action beyond its $20,000-$30,000 estimate to sell for $69,000.
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Personal adornment items in this session included a natural color jadeite and diamond necklace with GIA certification that went out at $63,250 against a $6,000-$8,000 estimate. NonChinese jewelry in the auction included a Tiffany & Co. gold, platinum and diamond brooch in the form of a crescent set with 23 diamonds totaling approximately 6.45ct. Elegant beyond words and having descended through the family of the original owner who received it as a gift in 1903, it performed well above its $8,000$12,000 estimate to sell for $22,425. A 14kt white gold and diamond necklace with 135 graduated stones approached midestimate to finish up at
One of the most significant and fascinating lots of this auction was one of the most noteworthy losses of the 17th century and one of the most noteworthy finds of the 20th century. In 1622, the Spanish ship Nuestra Señora de Atocha, part of a fleet of ships laden with gold, silver, and personal treasures hit a reef off the Florida Keys during a hurricane and sunk. Then in 1985, a group of wealthy investors led by Mel Fisher located the Atocha’s remains including this as-found fused cluster of three gold bars and a long gold chain encrusted in coral consigned by one of the original investors. Weighing in at over 115 troy ounces, the lot sold for $172,500 against expectations of $150,000-$200,000.
Also receiving much attention was a rare and fine pair of embroideries picturing 100 birds, housed within highly elaborate carved and pierced rosewood frames. The stunning pair far surpassed its $20,000-$30,000 estimate to bring $86,250. Other rarities included a marvelous double gourd shaped covered jar from the Tao Quang period (1821-1850). A brilliant lemon yellow background, decorated with stylized lotus flowers, traditional enamel vignettes and two jeweled red curved scepter handles went out at $37,375 against an estimate of $15,000$20,000. Other antiques included an array of Chinese scrolls. Highlights included an ink and light color paper example depicting a mountainous landscape with Of the over 30 weathervanes in the sale, this important example depicting the Goddess of Liberty garnered much attention. Attributed to Cushing and White it sold for $32,200, near the upper end of its $25,000-$35,000 estimate.
$8,050. The focus of much of Day II was on a vast array of folk art in a variety of genres including over 30 weathervanes. An important example from
Jewell, she stands wearing a bonnet with a laurel wreath and holds an American flag with pierced stars. From a private Maine collection, it sold for $32,200, near the upper end of its $25,000-$35,000 estimate. A Fiske weathervane in the form of a full bodied leaping stag being chased by a hound sold for $14,950, just short of its $15,000-$25,000 estimate. A Cushing fox & hound weathervane sold for $11,500 (est. $10,000$20,000) while an unusual copper and zinc example with gilt finish depicting a man riding a high wheel bicycle sold for $12,650 (est. $8,000-$12,000). Other items of interest included a monumental, larger than life 32” presentation American stoneware advertising jug from the Ottman Brothers & Co. It was created to be presented to their top sales dealer, which at Folk art included tobacconist figures such as an outstanding carved and painted Native American maiden wearing a feather headdress with a bundle of cigars and a flower in her hands. A captivating example that surely enticed patrons to enter the smoke shop, it went out at $31,050 against an estimate of $7,000-$10,000.
the time was Warren & Wood. This trophy would have been used as an advertising statement in their office or store window and showcased the company’s exceptional talent. Consigned directly from an Ottman family descendent, it sold for $103,500 against an $85,000$125,000 estimate. Other folk art included tobacconist figures such as an outstanding carved and painted Native American maiden wearing a feather headdress with a bundle of cig-
its $8,000-$12,000 estimate to sell for $28,750. An earlier example in the style of Huang Gongwang depicting a recluse in a pavilion among a traditional mountainous landscape went out at $24,150, midway through its $20,000-$30,000 estimate. China trade and export porcelain was well represented. A pair of rectangular form porcelain vases adorned with herons and water dragons among foliate decoration. Ignoring a $400-$600 estimate, the Miscellaneous pair went out at $19,550. items included a fabulous A porcelain Ku vase from Louis Vuitton wardrobe steamer trunk, comthe 1600-1700s with sap- plete with its dividers, drawers, original labels, and brass handles. Another treasure phire blue decoration of from the Harp House, it was something for the advanced collector/traveler, sailing Tao Tich masks and well beyond its $1,500-$2,500 estimate to land at $34,500. cicadas sold above its $300-$500 the second half of the 19th ars and a flower in her hands. A for $10,350. A miniature porce- Century depicting the Goddess of captivating example that surely lain double gourd snuff bottle with Liberty garnered much attention. enticed patrons to enter the smoke red stylized lotus scrolls sold for Attributed to Cushing and White shop, it went out at $31,050 $20,700 against a $400-$600 and modeled after a design by A.L. (Continued on page 10) estimate.