June Auction Behind the Scenes
June 2020 press release
Featured in Winter Associates’ June 2020 auction is the estate of a woman who had a home in Paris, France as well as in Connecticut. She had a good eye for design and was passionate about her jewelry that will be offered in over 50 lots ranging from a ring with an over 1 carat center natural emerald accented by diamonds set in platinum, a 14k necklace set with a total of 8.5cts tw of natural sapphires and 2.5cts tw of diamonds, and a Byzantine design 18k necklace set with turquoise and garnets as well as an abundance of high end costume jewelry by makers such as Dior, Schiaparelli, Givenchy, Scaasi and examples of striking ethnic jewelry. Her estate will feature other fashionable items such as a Jimmy Choo evening purse and Ferragamo shoes. Likely picked up on her world travels are coins and medals discovered in the jewelry cases: a French wedding coin designed by Depaulis dated 1884, a 1935 Swiss gold 20 Franc, two US 1987 $5 fractional gold eagles and other Continental and American coins.
Two impressive mechanical pieces from days gone by include an Ideal Sublime Harmonie table top cylinder music box with a zither attachment and ten cylinders that has a companion to rest on, a carved cabriole leg table; and a clock retailed by Tiffany and Company inspired by the Parthenon with a replica gilt metal frieze, a polished black slate case, and French works measuring 22” high.
The skill of Italian craftsmen specializing in pietra dura is showcased by many fine pieces from another collector including by a 3’ x 4’ black table top / slab that features polychrome inset stone of meandering vines and geometric forms; a smaller round table top set in a metal stand, framed works featuring subtly shaded flowers, town views, fishermen and dancers, etc. There are also some fine micro mosaic works.
Other European items to be featured are a good assortment of religious figures and Icons (many Russian and Greek), a Limoges enameled plaque with Virgin and child, Herend porcelain dinnerware and figures, Ventian glassware, etc.
Blending handsomely from a number of Connecticut collectors will be a wide variety of Asian items including a 20th C. oil on canvas by Hong Nian Zhang depicting a Buddha inspired by artwork in the hidden caves of Tibet; a Japanese hibachi converted to a vitrine. Also many notable small object suitable for display in such a cabinet include carved netsuke, deities, snuff bottles, doctor dolls, etc. Woodblocks handsomely framed including diptychs and triptychs will be offered.
Interesting items with United States origins include a striking portrait of Frankie Cleveland (US First Lady twice) painted by Robert Gruelle and dated 1895, a date that indicates it was painted during one of her husband’s White House terms. Her relationship and marriage to Grover Cleveland, from ward to wife, is a story out of a romantic novel. A mystery to be solved is the subject of a portrait of sculptor painted by Sidney Dickenson. It depicts a stately older gentleman with a goatee standing by his work, perhaps he is a fellow instructor of Dickinson’s at the Art Student League or another member of the National Academy?
Art lovers with an appreciation for the modern will want to inspect an oil on canvas still life by Ben Benn and a graphite drawing by Allan M. D’Arcangelo from his Directional period.
A good selection of scrimshaw will include sperm whale teeth, one inscribed with a portrayal of the Goodspeed Opera House and another decorated with mermaids and “Robert F. Murphy/Harpooner/ New Bedford, Mass.”, other items include cribbage boards and Inuit items are from the estate of a local collector.