CRANSTON, R.I. – The enduring popularity of early 20th century creations by Tiffany Studios was on full display at an auction held June 23rd by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers, where a table lamp, a glass vase and a pair of lamp screens, all made by the New York design firm, sold for a combined $213,750. The sale was held in Bruneau’s gallery, at 63 Fourth Avenue in Cranston.

“Seeing the Tiffany lamp, vase and lamp shades achieve double or more their high estimates just proves that quality will always stand the test of time,” said Bruneau & Co. company president and auctioneer Kevin Bruneau. “The next step is figuring out the best way to get the Rolls-Royce to Cambodia.” He was referring to the 1962 Silver Cloud that went to an overseas bidder in Asia.

Travis Landry, a Bruneau & Co. specialist and auctioneer, added, “It was a total thrill to sell all three pieces of Tiffany back to back. This auction brought great results. I can’t wait to finish the next one.” The June auction was an eclectic event, featuring Asian art, period furniture, modern prints, ancient Roman glass, American Fauvism and more – something for just about everybody.

The sale’s top lot was the circa 1905 Tiffany Studios table lamp having a Poppy shade consisting of variegated blue, green, red, purple and yellow Favrile glass with reticulated bronze overlay, supported by a twisted vine base. The 20 ¼ inch shade was impressed “Tiffany Studios 1537” and the base “Tiffany Studios 443”. The estimate was $30,000-$50,000 and it sold for $125,000.

The runner-up lot to that was the beautiful circa 1910 Tiffany Studios paperweight Favrile glass vase, 10 inches tall ($68,750). The vase was prolate form, with a thick rolled rim decorated with a freeform bleeding-heart pattern in hues of red and purple throughout the iridescent amber Favrile glass. A lovely faint blue swirl pattern was cast over the whole of the paperweight body. 

Third place went not to the Tiffany Studios lamp shields but to the aforementioned Rolls-Royce car, which sped off for $55,000. It also surpassed its $30,000-$50,000 estimate. The 1962 Silver Cloud II Standard Saloon was one of only 2,417 built, between 1959 and 1962. The velvet green over sand left-hand drive car had a 380 cubic inch V-8 engine and was in remarkable condition.

The pair of circa 1905 Tiffany Studios table lamp screens (or shields) brought $20,000. Both were curved, with square green Favrile panels surrounded by a thin rectangle panel border, suspended by an 11 ¾ inch chain, with hook, and suited for a 20-inch shade. They originally hung on the Poppy table lamp shade that realized $125,000. Both were in very good condition.

Following are additional highlights from the auction. Internet bidding was via Invaluable.com, LiveAuctioneers.com, ePaiLIVE (in Asia), Bidsquare.com, Bidlive.Bruneauandco.com, the Bruneau app, Auctionzip.com and eBay. All prices quoted here include the buyer’s premium.

Rolex watches are always a hit with collectors and this sale had two beauties, both men’s and both made in Switzerland post-2000. They realized a combined $10,938. The Oyster Perpetual two-tone Datejust automatic wristwatch having a rose dial, Roman numeral hour markers, date indication and fluted bezel on a gold and stainless jubilee band, signed on the dial, made $6,250.

The Oyster Perpetual Datejust SS automatic wristwatch having a black dial with stainless center, baton hour markers, date indication and fluted bezel on a two-toned brushed and polished steel band (model #116234, serial #D418742), fetched $4,688. Both watches were in good overall working condition and both came out of the same collection of a gentleman in Cranston, R.I.

An 18th century Turkish Oriental gold and silver thread tapestry measuring 10 feet 2 inches by 7 feet 1 inch, including borders, finished at $4,062. The tapestry was profusely decorated with a symmetrical geometric Moorish pattern, delineated in silver and gold thread on an ochre and reddish-brown ground, within a blue velvet border. It was remarkably well preserved.

Two lots posted identical prices of $3,125. The first was a pair of chairs and ottomans designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (Am., 1886-1969) and Lily Reich for the Barcelona Pavilion in 1928. The set, produced by Knoll International in 1978, retained the original labels on the underside. Dry leather and light craquelure didn’t deter bidders.

The other lot was a Realistic Judaic painting by Anna Rychter-May (U.K., 1865-1955), depicting pilgrims at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. The painting, measuring 20 ¼ inches by 17 inches in the frame, came from a Rhode Island estate and was in good condition.

Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers has a full slate of auctions planned for the balance of the summer and heading into fall. There will be Monday night discovery auctions on July 9th and July 23rd, and the next cataloged estate sale is scheduled for Saturday, August 11th. Then, on Saturday, September 1st, a single-owner train collection will be sold. Watch the website for further details.

To learn more about Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers and the firm’s calendar of upcoming auctions, visit www.bruneauandco.com. To contact the company via e-mail, use info@bruneauandco.com.

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