For 12/17

Slug: At Julia’s Lamp and Glass Auction Tiffany Soars

#612969

TG – 6 cuts, emailed

FAIRFIELD, MAINE — On November 19 and 20, James D. Julia’s last auction of its 2004 season went off without a hitch and ended the year at an all-time high for the firm. The auction explored merchandise normally handled by Julia’s Americana division, particularly elegant and rare Victorian furniture and fine oil paintings, many of which came from a major Las Vegas collector.

Joining the mass of absentee bids was a busy bank of phone bidders, a live Internet bidding terminal, and an active crowd of bidders and attendees. When the final hammer dropped, Julia’s hit a sound $2.5 million for the two-day auction. A crowd-pleaser was a Tiffany turtleback and prism Moorish table lamp with four highly desirable platinum chartreuse shades with pierced open work, set off by a beautifully constructed gold “Eiffel Tower” base. This massive lamp sold at $97,750.

Not far behind was a marvelous geometric leaded glass and Favrile glass ball lamp. Its bronze naturalistic base supports an arrangement of glass dragon scales, terminating in a heavily mottled green glass leaded shade with a single band of Favrile glass balls. This striking lamp sold for $89,125.

A soft amber floriform vase with white and red pulled flowers highlighted a fine selection of Tiffany vases. Rare in that it is decorated on the foot, stem, and flower portion of the vase, it sold within its estimate to bring $13,225. Unusual to find glazed Tiffany pottery, an exceptional pumpkin form pottery vase in green with black accents, found eager bidders, finishing up at $17,825.

An important Tiffany aquamarine paperweight vase with provenance to Laurelton Hall, the home of Tiffany, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art was a monumental piece. A tall paperweight base, revealing marvelous pond lilies that extend the entire height of the vase, supports a squat flower bowl, sold for $83,375.

Additionally, a variety of fine art, including a dazzling early morning seascape by William Trost Richards, was sold. This oil on canvas scene in gentle pastels brought $178,250, and an original oil over print of “Interlude” by Maxfield Parrish, which depicts fanciful lute players under the trees against a rich, vivid, night sky background, sold for $31,625

Selections of bronze sculptures and fine lighting were offered. Standing out was a charming Chiparus bronze and ivory piece entitled “Friends Forever” that sold for $26,450. It depicted a lovely Art Deco woman flanked by her two whippets looking up at her devotedly. Others included a well-executed Austrian cold painted bronze lamp with a Middle Eastern design of a musician sitting on a cascading Oriental rug below flowing draperies that sold for $8,050.

A rare Duffner and Kimberly table lamp in the Louis XV pattern with a leaded shade boasting a full palette of colors resting atop its elegant slender gold base made a most striking display; it sold for $43,700. An important Pairpoint orange tree lamp consisting of blown oranges in various stages of ripeness, green leafy branches and colorful butterflies all sit atop a naturalistic tree trunk base. This stunning piece sold for $46,000.

Combining art glass and lighting, a rare G. Argy Rousseau pate-de-verre radio lamp features stylized flowers in rich colors in an Art Deco design. It sold for $10,925. Daum Nancy’s enameled windblown trees in the midst of an autumn rainstorm made an impressive $35,650, above expectations of $30,000.

Art glass vases enjoyed much attention. A Galle marquetry and wheel carved vase with gray and burnt orange leaves on yellow amber glass climbed past its $40/$50,000 estimate to bring $60,375. A very rare G. Argy-Rousseau pate-de-verre wolf vase featured amethyst and black wolves against a muted lavender and green frosted background. All atop an undulating snowy foot, this rare vase in fantastic condition brought $44,850. All prices include the 15 percent buyer’s premium.

For information, 207-453-7125, or JuliaAuctions.com.