Date: Fri 23-Apr-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: LIZAM

Quick Words:

Phillips-Selkirk

Full Text:

Kerman At Phillips-Selkirk Auction

By Rita Easton

SAINT LOUIS, MO. -- Phillips-Selkirk held a February 13 auction in its Clayton

gallery following a five-day exhibition. Approximately 500 people were in

attendance, competing for as many lots.

A number of private consignors were represented, including a collection to

benefit Washington University in St. Louis, with a wide range of antique and

semi-antique English, American and Continental furniture, clocks, musical

boxes and decorative art, paintings, prints, etchings, drawings, sculpture,

silver, an assembled collection of diamond and pearl jewelry, and more than

550 bottles of fine wine.

Leading the event was a fine semi-antique Persian Kerman, early Twentieth

Century, with an overall pattern within many bands of borders, measuring 15'9"

by 22 feet, selling privately at $26,450.

A close second was a Seventeenth Century Aubusson tapestry panel, 6'11" by ten

feet, depicting a historical scene with a military general thought to be

Alexander the Great riding through woods on horseback, done in subtle shades

of tan, teal, and brown. The lot carried a pre-auction estimate of $10/15,000,

but went out at $23,575, privately purchased by a resident of a local historic

mansion in the Central West End of Saint Louis, with competitive bidding on

the phone.

An ebony 1930 Steinway grand piano, with the original manufacturer's booklet,

brought $16,675, while a second Steinway, dated 1939, brought $12,075. Both

instruments were in fine condition and exceeded their estimated value. A

framed oil on board by Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, (American, 1819-1905), signed,

depicting a retriever in high grass carrying a game bird, sold at $10,925; and

a watercolor and graphite on paper, signed, by Giulio Rosati, (Italian,

1858-1917), depicting an Arab horseman, framed, reached $8,625.

An antique English longcase clock, circa 1820, fetched $3,220; an antique

Dutch marquetry bedroom suite garnered $4,830; a massive Chinese figure in the

Ming style, Daoguang (1821-1850), made $3,450, going to a local order bidder;

a French lithograph by Edouard Buillard, 1898/99, edition of 100, was

purchased at $6,035.

Prices quoted reflect a 15 percent buyers premium.