Date: Fri 23-Apr-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: LIZAM

Quick Words:

Dargate

Full Text:

Dargate Sale Totals $500,000

By Rita Easton

PITTSBURGH, PENN. -- An important estate sale took place at Dargate Auction

Galleries in two sessions, March 13 and 14, following three viewing sessions.

Despite an impending blizzard, the large audience attracted many new buyers

and specialty interest groups competing for items in the featured art and

antique collection from a Pittsburgh family with Russian and European

ancestors, according to Lori Framiglio of the gallery. Fifteen hundred ninety

two lots crossed the block, generating a gross of $500,000.

An oil on canvas depicting well-fed farm animals taking their ease in a

pastoral setting, painted by E.J. Verboeckhoven (Belgian, 1799-1881), with

dimensions of 23 by 28« inches, escalated to $31,000, the top bid of the

event, going over the phone to a Dutch gallery on behalf of a Belgian client.

A finely carved oak cylinder music box, an Ideal Sublime Harmonie Piccolo,

with interchangeable cylinders, a large 46 inches in length, sold at $25,000.

A 22 inch high monumental Daum Nancy vase made $9,200, and a 4« inch high Daum

Nancy example with cottage scene realized $3,500; a rare Russian coronation

book on Alexander III, with Cyrillic print, 27 inches high, went to a Russian

buyer in New York at $9,500; and a Nineteenth Century Russian leatherbound

volume in Cyrillic, with hundreds of color illustrations and text, showing

various coats of arms from the Russian empire, went to an Internet buyer for

$700.

An example of Russian art by Soudeikine, an oil on canvas depicting a kneeling

couple, fetched $7,000 from a New York City buyer; a fabulous Russian silver

Cossack belt with turquoise stone set in the center, circa 1900, went to a

buyer with a 30 inch waist at $550; an oil on canvas by N. Obolensky,

depicting a moonlit scene, achieved $3,300; a canvas of a mountainous

landscape partially covered in snow, painted by Ivan Choultse was purchased at

$3,250; and a watercolor by I. Bilibine, the work having an affixed label

giving provenance of a Russian architect who was formerly a president of the

Royal Academy, 84 years of age and in exile, generated lively competition

between the floor and an Internet bidder, as won on cyberspace for $2,000.

Silver, bronze, and gilt boxes brought in fresh bidders, with a Nineteenth

Century cylindrical sterling silver box with the Russian Imperial warrant mark

by maker K.L.B.M. Nikov of Moscow fetching $1,600; a presentation silver

casket, inscribed by the Russian Count Arenoss to Bishop Erenicus, selling for

$1,550; and a large Russian silver kvosch with semi-precious stones and

Cyrillic inscription going to a New York City buyer for $2,300.

A Russian enamel Nineteenth Century berry spoon by maker S. T. Bogadanov

reached $1,100; a sterling silver and enamel icon made in the early Twentieth

Century, went out at $1,200; a 14« inch high Tiffany Zodiac lamp with unusual

bronze shade brought $3,900; a fine Tiffany counterbalance lamp, 14« inches

high by seven inches in diameter realized $7,000; and a Tiffany ten-piece desk

set with red inlay sold at $6,000.

Prices quoted above do not reflect a required 15 percent buyers premium.