On Saturday, December 4th, the Jewelry, Coins & Watches, American & European Fine Art and 20th Century Decorative Arts sessions gave a solid performance at Weschler’s, totaling over $571,000, with 84 percent sold by lot.

The morning began on a high note with a selection of U.S. and foreign gold coins on the auction block.  The twenty-eight lots of coins were estimated to bring between $38,400-$54,100, and with a 100 percent sell rate, the coins sold within estimate for $44,039.

Among the watches, an Edwardian lady’s platinum, diamond and seed pearl pendant watch by Vacheron & Constantin took center stage.  The pendant watch, set with one round full Dutch rose-cut diamond weighing approximately 1.75 carats, drove past its estimate of $7,000-$10,000 and sold to a phone bidder for $28,200.  Other star performers included another Edwardian lady’s pendant watch, which depicted in white enamel a portrait miniature of a woman ($8,812) and an 18-karat yellow-gold open face pocketwatch by Thomas, Russell & Son, Liverpool realized $2,115 just above estimate.

Highlighting the fine selection of period jewelry was a unique Art Deco platinum, opal doublet, diamond, blue sapphire and ruby clip, which surpassed its pre-sale estimate to sell for $11,162.  In addition, an Art Deco platinum, jadeite jade, emerald and diamond three piece ensemble sold for $3,525; an Art Deco matinee length cultured pearl and blue sapphire necklace realized $2,115; and an Art Deco platinum, emerald and diamond dinner ring, set with one square-cut emerald weighing approximately 1.95 carats, brought $4,935.  Standouts among the gold offerings included an 18-karat yellow-gold, multi-color precious and semi-precious stone three-piece ensemble selling for $2,820 and a choker length 14-karat yellow-gold necklace by Tiffany & Co., which sold above estimate at $3,055.

The afternoon sessions began with a collection of 20th Century decorative arts consigned by an Alexandria, Virginia estate.  Highlighting the collection was a Tiffany favrile glass pulled feather shade ($1,292); a set of eight Tiffany gold favrile glass stem wines ($3,525); a set of eight Tiffany & Co. ‘Chrysanthemum’ pattern sterling bouillon cup housings with Lenox gilt porcelain liners ($3,525); and a Tiffany & Co. ‘Chrysanthemum’ pattern 217-piece sterling assembled flat table service which sold for $21,150.  Furnishings were highlighted by a Philip and Kelvin Laverne ‘Etruscan’ acid-etched bronze dining table, which battled amongst the phones and eventually sold for $6,462.

A selection of Australian and Indonesian works of art from the estate of a former U.S. diplomat had a stellar performance, with an oil by John de Burgh Perceval (Australian 1923-2000) titled Lady in Paddys River fetching $43,375. In addition, a mixed media on canvas by Indonesian artist Ahmad Sadali (1924-1987), Untitled (Abstract of Nine Gold Bars), sold for $11,750 and a still life of flowers by Arie Smit (Indonesian b. 1916) brought $4,582.

Standouts among the European works included a Parisian street scene by Antoine Blanchard (French 1910-1988) ($7,637); Horses in a Rolling Countryside by George Henry Laporte (German 1799-1873) ($8,812); a 16th-17th Century Italian School work, Madonna and Child with Saints ($6,462); Vista de Toledo by Spanish artist José Beulas Recasens (b. 1921) ($12,925); and a British School unsigned oil of The Soldier’s Return sold to an Internet bidder for $7,230.

American landscapes fared well with a late 19th century American School painting of a farmer approaching a hayfield at sunrise, which sold to an Internet bidder for $13,255; a summer landscape by Henry Pember Smith (1854-1907) and Hardangerfjord, Norway by German/American artist Herman Ottomar Herzog (1832-1932) both brought $4,230, respectively; and an oil of a black lab on the shore by Edwin Megargee (1883-1958) exceeded its pre-sale estimate, fetching $7,050.  Standouts in the print offerings included a photogravure by Alfred Stieglitz (1864-1946) of The Flat Iron Building, New York, which realized $3,525.

The next auction of Jewelry, Coins & Watches and American & European Fine Art and 20th Century Decorative Arts will be held on April 2, 2011, with a consignment deadline of February 11th. For more information, please contact Weschler’s at 202.628.1281 or by email at info@weschlers.com.