Submitted by aarAdmin on Wed, 10/30/2013 - 11:20
Philips Auctions October fine and decorative arts sale got off to a flying start with every early lot selling – many well above the catalogue estimates.
Great examples were the 1870s mahogany “musette” crank organ music box complete with rolls that sold for $1180 on an $800 upper estimate and an 1840s English Regency table clock that changed hands for $5192.
Another strong early result was the fine French spelter figural clock that sold for $2242 on a $500-$800 estimate.
Many of the items belonging to well-known vendors fared extremely well including those of the late Murray McKearney – from the 1960s to the 1980s one of New Zealand’s leading auctioneers.
An 1825 George IV mahogany drop side table he once owned sold for $708 while a Victorian amboyna and kingwood Sutherland table brought more than $1000.
These were indicative of the good prices achieved for furniture pieces at the auction with only 20 lots of the more than 100 offered left unsold.
Typical were the French mahogany Empire day bed (which sold for more than $1000 on a $300 lower estimate) and the Empire style mahogany display cabinet that changed hands for $2242.
A Biedermeier cherrywood cabinet carrying a $1500 top estimate also fared well, selling for $1534.
Items belonging to well-known Hawthorn interior designer Geraldine Cooper attracted plenty of attention with a replica bronze Roman male torso selling for $708, while another torso (a replica of Artemis) changed hands for $472.
Antique Chinese decorative silver items belonging to a collector who picked them up during the 1980s while living in China was extremely popular – with all selling for a total of more than $2000.
They weren’t the only Chinese items in demand for all the lots were snapped up amid frenzied bidding, the highlight being an antique rhinoceros horn cup from the late Qing Dynasty that sold for $4720.
Another was the pair of Chinese ivory Fo dogs that changed hands for $1770 on an $800 lower estimate.
Japanese items also were in demand with a Fukagawa porcelain charger ($300-$350 estimate) and a rosewood pediment ($500 lower estimate) each bringing $767.
All the continental silver in the auction sold – a sterling silver tea set changing hands for $2832 and early Georgian silver spoons achieving excellent results.
The Monday night jewellery auction results show many items are still much in demand including a large diamond set dress ring that sold for $3540.
Likewise, an 18-carat white gold Troy Clancy diamond ring brought $3186, a diamond and South Sea pearl brooch $4248 and an impressive ruby and diamond collier necklace $15340.
The forthcoming jewellery auction will three large solitaire diamonds – respectively 8.8 carats, 6.25 carats and 4.3 carats.
Items for the fine and decorative arts sale include a burr walnut inlaid games table, Victorian mahogany chests, Georgina and French dining tables and armoires, Carlton Ware and Moorcroft.
