Asian, American and Mid Century Modern Lots Bring Strong Results

On February 28th, Schwenke Auctioneers held their Connecticut Fine Estates Auction featuring estate property from several estates and consignors. The auction included a large collection of Asian decorative arts from a New Milford estate; Mid-Century Modern decorative arts, American, English and Continental decorative arts from a Sandy Hook estate; folk art and American country furniture from the Stevenson Collection; English & other sterling silver, jewelry, fine art, miscellaneous decorative arts; a collection of Croatian folk art paintings from a West 83rd Street estate; a group of ethnic art from a West 93rd Street estate; a group of American and English furniture and decorative arts from an Ulster County, NY estate; and estate oriental rugs.

Top lot of the sale was a colorful framed Tibetan Thangka depicting Padmasambhava, founder of Tantric Buddhism, in pigment and gilt on fabric, sight size: 52" high, 28" wide, which was claimed by an internet bidder at $59,375, winning out against other internet bidders and eight phone bidders.

Second top lot was an Asian gilt bronze figure of Guanyin in elaborate dress on a separate foliate base, measuring 8 1/2" high, 6" wide, also selling to an internet bidder at $29,280.

Another framed Tibetan Thangka depicting an Arhat surrounded by three deities, pigment on fabric, measuring 57 1/2" high, 31 1/2" wide, sold to the internet for $16,250.

Over 35,000 page views were racked up by a lot of two signed Chinese painted snuff bottles comprising a rock crystal interior painted bottle and an incised and painted porcelain bottle, 2 ½” high, 2” wide, which ultimately sold to an internet bidder at $12,700.

A Chinese carved mutton fat jade vase on wood stand, 2 3/8" high, 2 1/2" wide, sold to a phone bidder for $5,250, and a pair of Chinese spinach jade footed bowls on stand, 1" high, 7 1/4" diameter, fetched $1375 from an internet bidder.

American furniture and clocks were represented in the sale, and the top lot was a Mid-Atlantic probably Pennsylvania inlaid Federal tall clock, with broken arch in inlaid mahogany case having a painted moon phase dial, case with bellflower vine and urn inlay on bracket base, 98" high, which sold to a determined phone bidder winning out over four other phone bidders and numerous internet bidders at $24,400.

Another tall clock sold above estimate - a fine Irish (Dublin) Georgian mahogany tall case clock, having a broken arch crest over carved lion molding, engraved brass and steel dial signed "Wm. Edwards-Dublin", the case with scalloped arched door on bracket base, sized at 89" high, 20" wide, 9 3/4" deep, which sold to an internet bidder for $1,375.

Among the many Mid-Century items offered was a pair of Knoll Mies van der Rohe Barcelona chairs, upholstered in brown leather, measuring 30 1/2" high, 30" wide, which sold to an internet bidder for $5,300 against strong competition in the room and on the phone.

One of the most unique silver lots sold was a pair of Cambodian .900 silver pumpkin form containers with chased foliate decoration, both stamped 90%, measuring 7" high, 9" diameter and weighing 58.8 troy ounces, selling to an internet bidder at $610.

Also offered was an important Georg Jensen sterling silver flatware service for twelve in the Continental pattern marked "Georg Jensen Denmark", Jensen cloth rolls included; the service comprised fourteen dinner forks, twenty-two fish forks, three luncheon forks, twelve demitasse spoons, fourteen teaspoons, twelve dessert/soup spoons, twelve dinner knives, twelve luncheon knives, twelve butter knives, pair salad servers, cake knife, pastry server, and jam spoon. Total weighable silver was 120.29 troy ounces. The service was knocked down by auctioneer Tom Schwenke to a phone bidder at $4,800 against competition from the internet, absentee bidders and bidders in the sale room.

This sale also featured several estate oriental carpets including Persian and Caucasian room and scatter sized rugs, including a very fine and brilliantly colored Persian area rug, early 20th century, measuring 4' 4" long, 6' 6" wide, which sold to a bidder in the room at $1100.

The catalog for the sale was posted on Live Auctioneers and Invaluable. Please watch the company’s website www.woodburyauction.com for information regarding the next catalog auction. Consignments are being accepted now. Please send photos or call 203-266-0323 to discuss consigning to upcoming sales.