July 2007
 

SUMMER SIZZLER

AT JACKSON'S

CEDAR FALLS, IA.- So much for the old belief that mid summer auctions are poorly attended and therefore not very productive. For such was certainly not the case at Jackson’s International July 17th and 18th auction in Cedar Falls, Iowa where bidding reached record levels producing total sales of over 3 million dollars.

The auction featured items from various collections and estates, most notably from the Cyrus and Mildred Churchill estate, Rock Island, Illinois and the Donald Chester Bernstein estate, St. Louis, Missouri. Both the Churchill’s and Don Bernstein were lifelong collectors and world travelers and while they never knew each other, their taste in antiques and art was amazingly similar in many ways. Both collections featured fine examples of Russian works, Asian works and European works. 

The auction attracted a whopping 844 bidders representing 47 states and 33 countries. Session one opened with European paintings and bronzes beginning with an oil sketch by Dutch artist Isaac Israels (1865-1934) that sold for $141,600.00 including 18% buyers premium. That was followed by a rather charming little oil on panel interior scene by Armando G. Menocal (1863-1942) measuring 14” x 10” that sold to a European buyer for $27,140.00 against a pre-sale estimate of $4-$7,000. Next up to sell was a 20” x 25” Venetian canal scene by French artist Antoine Bouvard that sold to a New York buyer for $23,600.00. An Arab genre painting by Francesco Peluso (It.1836-1918) sold for $21,240.00, a still life by Marcel Dyf (1899-1985) measuring 21” x 18” sold for $18,880.00 and a 13” x 18” Paris street scene by Antoine Blanchard (1910-1988) sold to a buyer from British Columbia for $11,210.00.

European sculpture was well represented with over 50 bronzes and other sculptures being offered including a 13.2” study for Monolith, by Norwegian sculptor Gustave Vigeland (1869-1943) that sold to a Canadian buyer for $25,960.00. A 38” Italian carved marble figure of an Odalisque sold to a German buyer for $8,850.00. A 15” model of Credo by Emanuel Fremiet (1824-1910) set on an elaborate base sold for $7,670.00.  An example of Turkish Horse by Antoine-Louis Barye (1795-1875) measuring 4.8 inches sold for $7,670.00 and Barye’s Tiger Devouring a Gavail sold for $5,192.00. 

By far the greatest excitement was created by the ferocious bidding on Russian works, with both floor bidders and phone bidders duking it out. The one piece that stole the show, so to speak, was a 13 inch silver Faberge kovsh which carried a pre-sale estimate of $20-$25,000 and ending up selling for $147,500.00, nearly seven times the high estimate. A five-piece Russian silver samovar and tea set in the Pan Slavic style sold to a buyer from Moscow for $87,320.00. A diminutive 3-inch enamel icon of St. George by Ovchinnikov opened at $10,000 and battled back and forth between two phone bidders finally crossing the block at $73,160.00- a record for such a piece. A beautiful Russian silver and malachite desk-set sold to an in-house bidder for $68,440.00. An engraved silver soup tureen by Faberge made $48,380.00. An interesting but unmarked gilt bronze figure of Peter the Great sold for $42,480.00 and a 4” silver and shaded enamel kovsh by Faberge sold for $40,120.00. The term kovsh is Russian and is used to describe a particular styled ceremonial drinking vessel. Their unusual shape, low oval form with hook handle, is based on ancient Russian models, which were originally carved from wood. At the end of the 19th century a revival of Russian handicraft swept the country with one result being elaborately crafted items such as silver and enamel kovshi being made by various silversmiths including Faberge.

Other Russian works worthy of note include a single 9.5 inch porcelain plate from the Raphael Service, circa 1905 that sold for $22,420.00. A 4.5 inch silver bowl in the Neo-Classical style by Faberge finished at $24,780.00. A 12.5 inch bronze of a courting scene by Vassili Grachev (1831-1905) sold to a Moscow buyer for $27,140.00. A 9” x 11” watercolor of a Venetian bridge scene by Alexandre Benois (1870-1960) sold for $23,600.00.

Russian icons also saw keen interest with strong bidding for fine examples including a 32” x 26” Russian icon of the Trinity, circa 1700 which sold for $64,900.00. A 33” x 13” Russian icon of St. John Chrysostom, circa 1600 sold for $41,300.00. A 10” x 8” icon of Christ with engraved riza and enameled halo, circa 1890 sold to an in-house bidder for $18,880.00. A 14” x 12” icon of the Kazan Virgin with engraved silver riza sold for $15,930.00 and a partial folding iconostasis sold for $11,800.00.

Old Master paintings and European works sold next with a pair of 18” x 26” oils depicting battle scenes and attributed to Adam Frans Van Der Meulen making $18,880.00 against an estimate of $8-$10,000. An oil on panel measuring 16” x 13” and depicting mounted travelers in a landscape attributed to Van Gronnigen sold for $16,520.00. A 15” x 11” panel painting cataloged as circle of Marcellus Coffermans depicting the Virgin and Child sold for $12,980.00. A pair of 16” x 5” gilt panel paintings of St. Sebastian and St. Catherine, Sienese School (17th century) sold for $10,030.00 and a Classic architectural scene attributed to Claudius Porroni (1705-1769) sold for $4,480.00.

European works faired well too, as an example a carved wood triptych in the Neo-Gothic style containing three hand painted porcelain plaques of religious scenes and dated to circa 1890 sold for $18,880.00. A pair of 18th century carved ivory figures of St. John the Baptist and the Virgin and Child did $9,700.00. A Pope Pius XII worn zucchetto sold for $5,900.00. A group of three 19th century French gilt bronze freestanding reliquaries totaled $5,075.00. A pair of small 19th century carved ivory figures of Saints Constantine and Helen measuring just 5.5 inches sold for $4,248.00. A 19th century French carved ivory plaque depicting French Royalty and measuring 4 inches by 7 inches sold to a California buyer for $3,540.00. An interesting cased set of silver-gilt hunting medals presented to Franz Josef of Austria in the year 1910 sold to a buyer from Texas for $4,012.00. A 20th century German carved wood figure of the Virgin and Child sold for $2,596.00 and a carved relief oval plaque of the Pieta sold for $2,242.00.

American paintings and sculpture sold next with a 9” x 22” Marvin Cone (1891-1964) Barn Scene leading the way at $82,600.00. Another Cone, this a Still Life with flowers, sold for $27,140.00. Two very small paintings by Levi Wells Prentice (1851-1935) saw a good amount of interest. The first being a 6” x 9” painting of Spilled Raspberries that sold to a New York buyer for $21,240.00, followed by a 4” x 10” landscape by Prentice that sold for $10,620.00. A 10” x 8” still life by C.P.Ream (1837-1917) sold to a buyer from Connecticut for $7,080.00. A 12” x 8” watercolor of a Native American by Edgar Paxson (1852- 1919) sold for $6,490.00 and a pair of Maynard Reece (Am. B. 1920-) wildlife paintings sold for $7,900.00.

Of the American sculptures offered each lot outperformed the estimate beginning with a pair of bronze bookends of Neptune and Venus by Russian/American artist Gleb Derujinsky that sold for $6,490.00 against an estimate of $1,800-$2,200. A study for Pioneer Woman-no.1 by Bryant Percy Baker (1881-1971) made $3,540.00, almost doubling the high estimate. A pair of acrylic sculptures by Frederick Hart (1943-1999) sold for $7,080.00 and a charming little grouping titled Teasing by Richard Paine (Am. B. 1875-) sold for $1,888.00.

Session one ended with works on paper including a folio of etchings Alice in Wonderland by Salvador Dali in the original box selling to a buyer from San Francisco for $4,602.00. A group of 13 charcoal drawing of religious scenes by Charles Bosseron Chambers sold for $4,484.00. Three unsigned etchings after Mary Cassatt made $3,303.00. Down the River, a lithograph by Thomas Hart Benton sold for $4,484.00, and a color etching of a Cardinal by Mauricio Lasansky (Am. B. 1914-) sold for $2,596.00.

The second session kicked off with Asian works beginning with a collection of 16 diminutive gilt-copper Buddhist devotional figures circa 1700-1900. A number of bidders representing Chinese buyers were present in the gallery as well as on the phone. Each lot quickly blew past the estimate with one selling for almost 20 times the high estimate. After it was all said and done the inconspicuous group of 16 figures, none over 11 inches, and most averaging only 6 inches, totaled a whopping $126,732.00, with the majority headed back to China.

Other Asian works of interest include a group of 15 snuff bottles that sold for $15,104.00.  A 20 inch carved marble relief depicting a Bodhisattva of Compassion, probably Chinese circa 1700, that sold for $8,850.00 against an estimate of $800-$1,200.  A 19th century Chinese blue and white porcelain figure of a Taoist worthy sold for $4,484.00. A late Song Dynasty Celadon stoneware bowl measuring 4 inches in height sold for $4,248.00.  A Song Dynasty “Ding” bowl in white glaze measuring 10” in diameter sold for $3,540.00. Proving that good things come in small packages was a tiny Song Dynasty Chingbai water dropper in the form of a lion atop a drum measuring 3.2 inches in height sold for $2,596.00 and a 19th century cinnabar covered box measuring 8.5 in diameter sold for $4,248.00.

Furnishings and decorative arts sold next with an English Chippendale Chest on Chest selling for $9,440.00. A George III mahogany piecrust table sold for $4,248.00. An English brass mounted campaign chest sold for $3,776.00 and an English Regency bookcase sold for $3,300.00.  A 30-inch Chippendale reading table with slat top sold for $3,068.00. A 19th century smaller size partner’s style desk made $2,360.00. A small collection of Swiss carved Black Forest items did well with a game bird mounted jewelry chest bringing $3,776.00, and a pair of hall seats selling for $2,360.00. And an oak case for a Gabel’s Niagara slot machine (works absent) sold for $4,484.00.

An interesting array of various decorative arts followed furnishings including a pair of 30” gilt bronze mounted carved marble urns that sold for $8,024.00. A rather petite 6 inch enameled gilt-metal egg on stand, probably Italian 20th century, sold for $4,720.00. A French Boulle bracket clock and shelf did $3,068.00. A 19th century English silver mounted oak letter file sold for $1,880.00. A 19th century English brass refracting telescope by J.H. Steward sold for $4,248.00. A 19th century 7-inch working steam engine model sold for $2,596.00. A 25 inch Northwest Persian short sword sold for $3,068.00 and a pair of Gorham copper and silver decorated vessels did $1,000.00.

A mixed variety of American and European glassware and ceramics sold next including a set of nine Tiffany Favrile champagne glasses (2 damaged) that sold for $4,484.00. A 5 inch diameter Almeric Walter Pate De Vere molded glass tray sold for $1,652.00. A Victorian Mother of Pearl glass and silver-plated brides bowl and frame sold for $1,534.00 and an unsigned 13-inch vase attributed to Stanislav Libensky (1921-2002) sold for $2,832.00. A later Wedgwood Portland vase replica sold well above the $800-$1,200 estimate bringing $4,484.00 also.  A group of fifteen various 19th century Meissen figurines totaled $19,617.00 while a Crown Derby bisque figural group depicting Virgins Awakening Cupid sold for $3,068.00.

When asked to comment as to why he thought the auction totaled well over the high pre-auction estimate, President and CEO James L. Jackson said, “Our advertising was quite extensive both here in the states and overseas. It seems obvious that the main factors contributing to the strong European and Asian presence which in turn resulted in record breaking prices at this auction were our intense marketing campaign and of course the high quality and variety of merchandise.” The nearly 400-page gorgeous color catalog for this auction was a complete sell out. However, Jackson’s provides free access to past auction catalogs with prices realized on their website. This free service, which Jackson’s provides, is particularly handy for those who wish to research values but can’t justify the often-high price online subscription rates charged by the various online databases. For questions on this auction or past auctions contact Jackson’s at 1-800-665-6743.