Fairyland Vase Brings $61,500 at Skinner European Furniture & Decorative Arts Auction

Skinner held an auction of European Furniture & Decorative Arts, with ceramics and fine silver in Boston on July 13, 2019. The sale saw active participation from bidders in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia competing for items online, by telephone, in the room, and via partner platforms.

Lot 373, Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre Temple on a Rock Vase and Cover, England, c. 1920; Sold for $61,500

Wedgwood ceramics ruled the day, comprising seven of the top ten achieving lots. The highest-priced Wedgwood piece was a Fairyland Lustre Temple on a Rock (Lot 373) vase which sold to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston for $61,500. A John Northwood model of a Portland vase (Lot 351) reached $18,450 to a private buyer in Australia. Many of the Wedgwood lots in the auction were from the Spak Collection of Wedgwood with the sale proceeds going to Florida International University.

Lot 302, Art Nouveau Gilt- and Patinated-bronze Figural Stand, France, c. 1860; Sold for $14,760

Items fresh to the market and with interesting provenance fared well with many institutional deaccessions selling well beyond pre-auction estimate. A Japonisme gilt and silvered bronze figural gueridon (Lot 302) sold for $23,370, attributed to Eugene Cornu and cast by G. Viot & Cie., the wonderfully modeled stand with shaped inset onyx supported by a phoenix bird, garnered heavy telephone competition from the U.S. and abroad. Another Institutional deaccession, an elaborately decorated Japanned Cabinet on Stand (Lot 375) realized $14,760.

Lot 77, Extensive Gorham "Paris" Pattern Sterling Silver Flatware Service,Rhode Island, late 19th century; Sold for $6,765

A seven-piece Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Tea and Coffee Service (Lot 79) sold for $8,610. Other silver highlights included an extensive Gorham “Paris” Pattern Sterling Silver Flatware Service (Lot 77) that sold for $6,765; a group of Shreve & Co. Sterling Silver Tableware (Lot 103A) that sold for $5,228; and a Victorian Sterling Silver Flatware Service (Lot 20) that brought $4,305.

Overall, for both bidders and consignors, the auction was a success. Consignments are welcome for Skinner's October 2019 auction!