On January 17 and 18, 2015, Clars Auction Gallery brought to market the first offering of the expansive collection of Majolica, porcelains, and antique furnishings from the estate of billionaire publisher Richard Mellon Scaife (1932-2014). This initial offering featured 300 lots that soared well past estimates achieving over $250,000.

Deric Torres, Vice President and Director of Decorative Arts and Furniture for Clars commented after the sale that, “The formidable global market reaction to this collection exceeded all of our expectations. Bidding was incredibly strong, particularly from Europe and Britain. A majority of the pieces offered sold for over high estimate with several going for two and three times the high and more. The provenance combined with the quality of the offerings resulted in prices not seen, particularly on Majolica, since before the 2008 downturn. It was a very exciting sale to be part of and a very exciting weekend indeed.”

The top lot of the collection offered, which went for almost 10 times high estimate, was a lot of three (3) 19th century Royal Worcester urchin and dolphin compotes that sold for an impressive $10,115 setting an new auction record for this form. Also going for four (4) times high estimate was a Royal Worcester shell form tazza, circa 1885, which went out at $5,600.

In the Majolica, the top sellers included  a lot of two (2) Copeland shell form vases, circa 1885, which sold for $4,400 (estimate: $800); another lot of two (2) Copeland shell form spoon warmers, circa 1870, achieved $2,400 (estimate: $1,500); and again from Copeland, a 19th century swan and bulrush vase sold also sold for $2,400 against its high estimate of $800. A lot of ten (10) Portuguese corn luncheon service that was offered for $500 sold for $1,500 and a lot of two (2) William Brownfield and Son conch shell vases, circa 1880, sold for $4,100 (estimate: $1,500)

Other offerings from the Mellon Scaife collection that brought surprising prices was a French Industrial gilt bronze automaton lighthouse clock and barometer, circa 1890, which was expected to sell for $4,000 but sailed over the top selling for $7,100. Perhaps the most “whimsical lot in the sale,” according to Deric Torres, was a monumental brass bell and striker which sold for an amazing $4,750 against its $1,500 high estimate. Also of note in the fine furniture that was offered was a 19th century Continental pietra dura side table that was expected to achieve $1,500 but realized an astounding $7,700.

Overall, Clars January 17-19, 2015 auction was the 3rd highest grossing January sale in the firm’s history realizing over $850,000.While the Mellon Scaife collection was the focus of the three-day event, the top lot of the entire sale came from the Asian category. A Chinese Longquan type celadon vase from the estate of U.S. Navy Captain Edward S. Pearce, was expected to sell for $1,600 but highly competitive bidding on this piece drove the final sale price to an exciting $35,700.

The Fine Art category also performed well realizing $225,000. The top sellers in this category both sold for $14,280. The first was “Harbor Scene with SailBoats” by Georgi Alexandrovich Lapchine (Russian, 1885-1951) and the second, a color woodblock print titled “Nude,” 1950 by Kiyoshi Saito. (Provenance: Deaccession- Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, NV). While both of these offerings sold for over high estimate, the final sale price of the Kiyoshi woodblock print was 14 times its high estimate.

Rounding out the sale was the Jewelry and Timepieces category where watches reigned supreme this month. The highlight of this category was a Gentleman’s Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute stainless steel wristwatch, Ref. 809, circa 1962, which solidly surpassed high estimate selling for $6,545.

For a complete list of prices realized and more information on this sale, please visit www.clars.com or email: info@clars.com