[WASHINGTON, DC] - Weschler's May 18th Capital Collections Estate Auction brought strong bidding amongst a full house at the Washington D.C. gallery, with 76% selling by lot and sales totaling almost $800,000.

A stunning selection of diamonds took center stage during the recent catalogue auction and inspired serious bidding from participants in the crowded auction house and a full bank of telephone bidders during the jewelry session. Grabbing the limelight was a stunning platinum solitaire diamond ring set with a round brilliant-cut diamond weighing 6.04 carats, G color, SI1.  Consigned by a local trust and estimated at $40,000-$60,000, the ring fetched an astonishing $201,750.  Additional diamond highlights included a 14-karat yellow-gold solitaire diamond ring, weighing approximately 2.50 carats, which realized $44,650; a platinum solitaire diamond ring with a brilliant-cut diamond weighing approximately 2.70 carats surrounded by two tapered baguette-cut diamonds, which achieved $27,000; and a platinum and 18-karat yellow-gold solitaire diamond ring with an oval brilliant-cut diamond flanked by two trillion-cut diamonds for a total weight of 5.38 carats which brought in $29,375.

Fine rugs from the estate of His Imperial Highness Prince Ali-Reza Pahlavi of Iran highlighted the rug offerings. The selection, all selling above estimate, included a Qum rug, circa 1950, which realized $11,163; a Sultan Laver Kerman rug depicting Achaemenid King Darius and his successors, which fetched $9,988; and a Laver Kerman 'Royal Coat of Arms' rug centering a royal crest which brought $9,038.

Highlighting the fine art offerings was a Maxime Maufra (French 1861-1918) oil on canvas titled Le Pont Saint-Goustan à Auray: Morbihan, dated 1908, which sold to an overseas buyer for $17,625; two beautifully painted oils by Walter Emerson Baum (American 1884-1956) sold to an internet bidder, the first, titled Autumn River Landscape, which fetched $10,845, and the second, titled Zionsville (Autumn Scene), sold for $4,097; a charming charcoal and sepia crayon drawing by Theophile Alexandre Steinlen (Swiss/French 1859-1923), titled Cat at Rest, sold for $6,463; and a Eugene Berman (American/Russian 1899-1972) oil on canvas, signed and dated 1932, titled Versailles sold above estimate for $6,463.

The array of decorative arts offered at the auction was highlighted by an E. Howard & Co. eglomisé and walnut 'No. 10' figure-eight wall clock which realized $7,638; a French manuscript document, signed by Marie Antoinette and dated 1786, sold above estimate on the Internet for $6,628;  A New Map of Virginia, Maryland and The Improved Parts of Pennsylvania & New Jersey 1719, by John Senex (British 1678-1740) after Christopher Brown, fetched $3,760; and a Federal stained pine fireplace surround, that reputedly was removed from the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. during the 1820 restoration, achieved $1,880.

Standouts amongst the silver offerings included a Durham Silver Co. repoussé sterling five-piece coffee and tea service with tray which sold within estimate for $7,050; a set of four Bailey, Banks & Biddle Co. weighted repoussé sterling candlesticks ($4,230); a Wallace Silversmiths, Inc. sterling 124-piece flat table service ($3,055); and a Persian silver box embossed with Achaemenid King Darius and attendants, from the estate of His Imperial Highness Prince Ali-Reza Pahlavi of Iran, which achieved $1,763.

Noteworthy furniture offerings included a George III mahogany chest of drawers, circa 1790, which sold above estimate for $2,350; a George III style mahogany bookcase-cabinet passed its pre-sale estimate of $800-$1,200 and sold for $1,880; a 20th century Louis XV style walnut bureau plat fetched $1,763; and two George III style light green painted mahogany serving tables, each estimated to bring $1,000-$2,000, circa 1900, sold for $2,115 and $1,763, respectively.

Among the selection of Asian and Islamic works of art were a pair of Chinese 'Famille Rose' egg-shell porcelain bowls, Republic Period (1912-1949), which nearly tripled their pre-sale estimate selling to an overseas bidder for $9,988; four 19th-20th century Chinese School hanging scrolls of War Lords sold above estimate for $2,820; an 18th-19th century Islamic brass astrolabe ($1,058); and an Ottoman turquoise jeweled niello silver and rhinoceros horn dagger (Jambiya), which fetched $940.

Leading the sculpture offerings was a maquette for the seated Abraham Lincoln (1920) sculpture at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The bronze sculpture, dated June 1915, by American artist Daniel Chester French sold within estimate for $7,638. Other bronze highlights included Girl with a Chick, signed on the base Auguste Moreau, which realized $1,645; and Returning from the Fields by Eugeni Alexandrovich Lanceray (Russian 1848-1882) which sold for $1,645.

The next Capital Collections Estate Auction will be held September 14th with a consignment deadline of July 27th. We invite you to contact us for auction-value estimates of a single item or an entire collection. For more information, please contact us at 202-628-1281 or email info@weschlers.com.