GENESEO, N.Y. – A Kashmir sapphire and diamond ladies’ vintage ring in a platinum and gold setting slipped onto a new finger for $103,500 at a Fine Art & Antiques Auction held Sept. 23-24 by Cottone Auctions, in the firm’s gallery at 120 Court Street in Geneseo. The ring doubled its pre-sale estimate and knocked down after a spirited bidding war between the floor and phones.

The ring was the top lot in a sale that saw about 750 lots come up for bid in a broad range of categories. Around 200 people per day attended the event live, while hundreds more participated online, via LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com In addition, close to 1,000 phone and left bids were recorded. By the time it was all over, the auction had grossed a robust $2.1 million.

“We’ve been riding a wave of successful auctions, and our only goal for this one was to match or exceed the successful March auction that grossed $1.7 million,” said Matt Cottone of Cottone Auctions. “This auction bested that figure by about $400,000, so I’d say we hit our goal. In today’s market, we tend to be selective about what we take on, and it’s been a winning strategy.”

The Kashmir ring boasted a natural blue sapphire of 3.1 carats, plus a 2.50-carat diamond and six smaller, 0.45-carat diamonds, all old European cut. The sapphire was square antique mixed cut in shape and was a deep, but not dark, violetish-blue color. Bidders were attracted to the sapphire’s outstanding brilliance, the diamonds’ VS clarity and the ring’s overall desirability and beauty.

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Tiffany lamps are always a big hit with collectors. The category was led by a rare Tiffany Studios (N.Y.) leaded glass Geranium lamp with a signed shade and three-arm bronze and art glass candlestick base that brought $52,325; and an early 20th century Apple Blossom lamp with 16-inch diameter shade, signed base and shade and nice original patina that fetched $36,000.

Asian lots featured a two-piece Japanese painting on silk, measuring 76 inches by 51 inches and deaccessioned from a New York State museum that changed hands for $33,500; and a fine pair of Chinese gold leaf and painted jade carved hardwood table screens from the late 19th or early 20th century, overall 16 inches tall and with a 10 ½ inch by 7 ¾ inch plaque, that made $29,325.

Two very different lots posted identical selling prices of $42,550. One was a pair of 19th century Majolica plaques, done in the manner of Benozzo Gozzoli (It., 1421-1497), both 18 inches by 13 inches and showing scenes from the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, with saints, and with carved and gilt wood frames and a painted frieze. The other was a 17th or 18th century gilt bronze figure of a Tibetan Sakya Lama, signed on the underside and inscribed along the base, 7 ½ inches in height.

The auction had a little bit of everything, from banjos to banjo clocks – literally. A rare Waltham gilt front banjo girandole clock, with the original signed and painted dial and original reverse painted Aurora glass and thermometer, realized $28,750; while a fine example of a Gibson PT 6 Plectrum Tenor flathead banjo, completely unaltered and in a plush lined case, rose to $20,300.

In the fine art category, a signed oil on canvas painting by Hans Zatzka (Austrian, 1858-1945), titled Three Women Near Pool Feeding Swans, 23 inches by 31 inches and housed in the original carved and gilded frame, gaveled for $28,900; and an aquatint and carborundum etching, signed by Joan Miro (Sp., 1893-1983), done in 1969 and titled Le Chassseur de Pieuvres, hit $16,100.

A fine 19th century boulle cabinet with winged women, claw feet, acanthus mounts and a marble top, 49 inches tall by 70 inches wide and pulled from a prominent Rochester estate, breezed to $29,900. Also, a 19th century North West Persian Oriental rug, signed and measuring 15 feet 5 inches by 6 feet 7 inches, with some small areas of wear to be expected, climbed to $20,700.

Rounding out just some of the sale’s top lots, a Paul Storr (1771-1844) sterling silver tea urn with gadrooning, lion mask handles and spout and paw feet, 17 inches tall, with each piece individually hallmarked, 207 troy ounces total, coasted to $19,770; and a 19th century Meissen Count Bruhl Tailor, blue with crossed swords mark, 17 inches tall, partly restored, hit $14,950.

Cottone Auctions’ next big sale will be another two-day Fine Art & Antiques Auction, planned for sometime in November (time and dates to be announced). Then, in early January, Cottone Auctions will conduct its annual Fine Art Auction, typically a premier event on the company’s calendar. Watch the website for details, dates and information, at www.cottoneauctions.com.

Cottone Auctions is always seeking quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, call (585) 243-1000; or, you can e-mail them at info@cottoneauctions.com. Cottone Auctions' gallery, at 120 Court Street in Geneseo, N.Y. (zip code: 14454) is located just south of Rochester and east of Buffalo. For directions and all other inquiries call (585) 243-1000.

To learn more about Cottone Auctions and the upcoming auctions planned for November and January, please visit them online, at www.cottoneauctions.com. Updates are posted frequently.

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