Commanding the top spot in Michaan’s June 19th Fine Art, Furniture, Decorative Arts and Jewelry Auction was Henri Lebasque’s (1865-1937) oil on canvas Madame Lebasque and her Daughters (lot 3215, $70,000-90,000).  The piece solidified itself as the highest seller of the day at over 3 times the high estimate with a price realized of $271,400.  Rounds of phone bids sprinkled with paddles raised upon the floor pushed the idyllic scene of the artist’s wife and daughters by the water among a grove of birch trees to success.  This most handsome contributor to the department’s bottom line helped fine artworks achieve a total price realized of over $600,000 in the over million-dollar sale. 

Michaan’s Fine Art Specialist Susan Paffrath reflected on the auction’s star lots, noting, “The authenticity of the Lebasque was without compromise.  A 1986 exhibition catalog featuring the piece from the Montgomery Gallery was included in the lot and Denise Bazetoux had confirmed this painting in the catalog raisonné as well.  A range of important artists performed considerably as seen in the second highest figure of the day, Wojcieck Fangor’s M1 that set a U.S. auction record for the artist at $169,400 (lot 3274, $80,000-120,000).  Offered sculpture also achieved an 80% sell-through, with names such as Erté, Arneson, Snowden and Tuan on the auction block.”

     The jewelry section of the sale saw certified jades wow at auction, with a jade and palladium necklace selling for over 6 times the high estimate at $37,760 (lot 3150, $4,000-6,000) and a pair of bangles realizing over triple their estimations at $20,060 (lot 3147, $4,000-6,000).  A certified natural pearl necklace also grabbed bidders attention, as it sold for over 4 times the high estimate for $12,980 (lot 3155, $1,500-3,000).  Kicking off the auction was custom-made jewelry from the Barbara Fouts Collection, with a hefty Queen of Hearts 18 karat yellow gold and diamond bracelet secured for $12,980 (lot 3003, $9,000-10,000).  Also from the department were high karat gold offerings of collectible novelty figures and Asian motif objects experiencing a 100% sell-through and fine timepieces at an over 80% sell-through.

     Fine furnishings also provided property of honorable mention in the sale.  A lovely Daum Nancy cameo pictorial glass boudoir lamp surpassed estimates, selling for $15,340 (lot 3405, $7,000-9,000) and an Arts & Crafts hall tree fashioned as the Roman god Mercury more then tripled projections at $7,080 (lot 3390, $1,500-2,000).

     Complete results for the June Fine Art, Furniture, Decorative Arts and Jewelry Auction as well as future sale information and bid submission is available online at www.michaans.com.  For general information please call Michaan’s Auctions at (510) 740-0220 ext. 0 or e-mail info@michaans.com.  Michaan’s Auctions is located at 2751 Todd Street, Alameda, CA 94501.