WINDSOR, Conn. – Nadeau’s Auction Gallery saved the best for last on March 29th when lot #607 – the final item to come up for bid, a set of six diminutive Chinese 19th century porcelain famille rose panels – soared to $57,600, making it the top lot of the auction. It was the firm’s annual American & Asian Auction, held in Nadeau’s gallery at 25 Meadow Road in Windsor.

The set of panels, boasting floral and figural decorations and measuring 14 ½ inches by 4 ¾ inches, carried a modest pre-sale estimate of just $500-$800. It finished at many times that, a testament to the robust health of the Chinese antiques market. To further illustrate the point, if the set were substantially larger, as some are, it might have commanded up to $100,000 or more.

“The American antiques, European antiques, estate jewelry and original artworks all did well in this auction,” said Ed Nadeau of Nadeau’s Auction Gallery, “but this was absolutely pound-for-pound the strongest sale for Asian antiques we’ve held to date. It helped, of course, that we had all fresh estate merchandise, but I can’t stress enough how wildly popular Chinese antiques are.”

Perfect examples: a 19th century Chinese famille rose framed porcelain plaque on a stand with finely painted depictions of Fu-sing, Wu-sing and Shou-laso brought $36,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $1,000-$2,000; and a pair of 19th or 20th century Chinese framed reverse paintings on mirrors showing a young man and a female servant expected to bring $400-$800 rose to $14,400.

A 19th or 20th century pair of Chinese square hardwood taborets (low seats or stools without backs or arms) with carved apron and legs in an archaic style of flowers and animals, expected to realize $500-$900, went for $31,200; while a three-piece lot comprising a pair of Chinese square rosewood taborets and a tall square rosewood stand (est. $500-$700) changed hands for $25,200.

A large 18th century Chinese blue and white conical vase (Jiaqing/Daoguang), 30 inches tall, with stylized dragon handles and central stylized chrysanthemum medallions and clouds (est. $1,500-$2,500) garnered $9,000; and a Chinese scroll painting with birds and a landscape, measuring 35 inches by 26 inches, expected to hit just $200-$400 (mainly because of a tear) finished at $6,600.

Chinese Export lots were just as impressive. A Chinese Export famille verte porcelain baluster jar, drilled and mounted for use as a table lamp, made in the 19th century and standing 26 ½ inches tall (est. 400-$700), topped out at $20,400; while a pair of Chinese Export porcelain triple gourd-form vases, made circa 19th or 20th century, 24 inches tall (est. $400-$800) hit $12,000.

Around 125 people attended the auction in person, while hundreds of others bid online, through Invaluable.com (formerly Artfact.com). Many phone and absentee bids were also recorded. By the time the final gavel had fallen, $875,000 in sales had been tabulated (including the buyer’s premium). The total number of lots, when factoring in estate jewelry items, was around 650.

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 17 percent buyer’s premium for winning in-house bidders and a 20 percent premium for online bidders.

A group of antiquities that included small vessels, tomb figures and a partial of a stone face, carrying a pre-sale estimate of $300-$500, achieved $31,200. Also, a framed map by renowned cartographer John Speed, dated 1651 and showing a hand-colored engraving twin-hemisphere map of the world, with California depicted as an island (est. $3,000-$5,000), gaveled for $6,300.

An oil on canvas work by the French artist Jules Jaques Veyrassat (1828-1893), titled Working Hayers, measuring 35 inches by 49 inches (est. $10,000-$15,000) breezed to $22,800; and an oil on canvas by Jules Perahim (also French, 1914-2008), titled La Defense Aggressive (Aggressive Defense), 25 ½ inches by 32 inches, expected to bring $2,000-$4,000, changed hands for $5,700.

In the furniture category, a Regency gilt bronze mounted kingwood commode from the early 19th century, 32 ½ inches tall by 51 ¾ inches wide, with a pre-sale estimate of $3,000-$5,000, sold for $5,400; and a walnut Chippendale side chair made in Pennsylvania circa 1760, prior to the American Revolution, was assigned an estimate of $1,000-$2,000, but ended up fetching $4,800.

Rounding out just some of the auction’s top lots, a stained and leaded glass panel mounted as a fire screen, dated 1881 (est. $250-$450) earned $17,550; a Russian icon of gilt silver over a wood panel and having a crown set with colored stones (est. $1,500-$2,500) made $15,600; and a pair of signed Cartier platinum and diamond clip-on earrings (est. $2,000-$4,000) hit $8,775.

Nadeau’s Auction Gallery has its next monthly sale, an estates auction, on Saturday, April 12th, starting at 10:30 a.m. (EST). The next sale after that will be in early May (time and date to be determined). Keep an eye on the website as April turns into May, at www.NadeausAuction.com.

Nadeau’s is always accepting quality consignments for its bigger sales, held throughout the year, and its general auctions, held every four weeks. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (860) 246-2444; or, you can e-mail them at heather@nadeausauction.com. For more information about Nadeau’s Auction Gallery, please log on to www.NadeausAuction.com.

30 -