Date: Fri 04-Jun-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: LIZAM

Quick Words:

Susanin-Easton

Full Text:

Susanin's "Whatever It takes..."

(with 5 cuts)

By Rita Easton

CHICAGO, ILL. -- Susanin's held an estates auction in two sessions on May 8

and 9, following previews May 5-9, with unsold lots continuing to be previewed

during the auction. Property from several Midwestern estates and collections

were sold at the fully attended event, which generated a gross of over $1

million from the sale of 1,287 lots -- the first time the firm has broken the

million dollar mark.

"Even though the Sunday session was on Mother's Day, there wasn't an empty

seat in the house," noted Roberta Kramer of the gallery.

Falling in line with a generally hot spring '99 auction pattern, the most

sought-after lots left estimates behind in the dust. Buyers knew what they

wanted and freely outbid competitors.

Headlining the event was a four-panel canvas floor screen, "Spring," painted

in oil by Natalia Sergeevna Gontcharova (Russian, 1881-1962), which was

estimated at $25/35,000 but brought $60,000. Each panel measured 95« inches

high by 31« inches wide and depicted trees, some in bud.

A suite of eight important George II carved mahogany dining chairs, circa

1755, comprising two armchairs and six side chairs, all with slip seats, also

estimated at $25/35,000 sold privately at $38,000.

An Art Deco bronze by Wilhelm Hunt Diederich (American, 1884-1963), depicting

two hounds, the initialed piece with green patina mounted on a beveled marble

base, 25« inches long (est $15/20,000) brought $30,000; and a pair of

Continental gilt bronze, five-light figural candelabra, Nineteenth Century,

24¬ inches high, went out at $3,000.

Causing the competitive bidding trend to escalate to combative, a pair of

English silver Pan-form ewers, 8« inches high, weighing 80 troy ounces,

estimated at $3/4,000, reached $20,000. The London-made lot, executed in

1887/88, bore the mark of makers J. Aldwincle and Thomas Slater.

From a collection of Georg Jensen sterling silver, a pair of candlesticks

circa 1950, eight inches high, weighing 53 troy ounces, standing on twisted

columns with grape and vine holders, garnered $8,000; and a three-piece group

comprising a sugar and creamer in the "Bud" pattern, and a small tray in the

"Blossom" pattern, was purchased at $4,400.

A Russian yellow gold, diamond and emerald brooch, Nineteenth Century, in the

form of a question mark, reached $4,000. A cushion cut emerald on the lot

weighed .8 carats, an opal tipped the scale at 1.5 carats, and several

diamonds totaled 1.45 carats. A 14 karat yellow gold buckle bracelet sold at

$1,400 for the 31.3 pennyweight piece; and a platinum, diamond and emerald

ring, the emerald weighing 7.74 carats, surpassed the high estimate by $200,

going out at $2,400.

A Georgian mahogany serpentine front sideboard achieved $8,500; an Irish

Georgian mahogany breakfront, Nineteenth Century, sold at $10,000, which was

double the high estimate; a Chippendale cherry slant-front desk sold at

$8,400; and a George II walnut and parquetry chest of drawers, two over three,

Eighteenth Century, in remarkably poor condition, estimated at $1/1,500, was

bid up to $6,500 with reckless abandon.

A three-piece Neoclassical style marquetry and upholstered parlor suite,

comprising a settee and a pair of open armchairs, reached $7,000; a Chinese

bronze wealth god, Ming Dynasty, 30 inches high, went within estimate at

$2,800, as did a 25-inch high Continental carved alabaster bust of a lady,

framed prettily in a ruffled crinoline collar, at $2,200; and a pair of

Nineteenth Century Wedgwood jasperware yellow and black urns, eight inches

high, estimated at $200 to $400 ("because they were in rough shape and

broken," said Ms Kramer. "Anything that could be wrong with them was"),

fetched a surprising $950.

A malachite ashtray with Cartier gold mounts reached $1,700. "Frau Professor

Goldstein," a 1916 woodcut by Ernest L. Kirchner (German, 1880-1938), signed

in pencil on the lower right, went under the low estimate at $15,000.

Prices quoted do not reflect the 15 percent buyer's premium charged.