PHILADELPHIA, PA.- This week, Freeman’s British & European Furniture & Decorative Arts auction brought to market 640 lots, offering buyers a broad selection of objects, artwork, and furnishings. The sale totaled over $1,290,375 and achieved a 90% sell-through rate, with 95% sold by value. Of the two days’ successful buyers, 14% were new.

“It was a good day for fine French furniture and design,” said Nick Nicholson, Department Head. “Interest in the intact 19th century collection of George Lucas also prompted vigorous international bidding and performed exceptionally well.”

Notable lots from Tuesday’s sale of British & European Furniture & Decorative Arts included Lot 56, a rare and possibly unique Louis XV Vincennes hand-painted porcelain rouet de salon which sold for $26,250 against an estimate of $3,000-5,000. Lot 54, A Louis XV ormolu-mounted kingwood barometer by Lange de Bourbon (French, active 1750-1775) sold for $21,250, more than tripling its high estimate of $4,000-6,000. Both items came from the Philadelphia collection of famed French chef Georges Perrier. Lot 409, a Louis Vuitton trunk more than doubled its high estimate at $14,000.

Highlights from the May 23 Gentleman Collectors: The Lucas Family of Baltimore auction included Lot 450, a Chinese carved bamboo pomegranate and a carved pine water coupe from the Qing Dynasty, which saw a prolonged bidding war between a buyer in the audience and the internet. The pieces sold for $35,000, more than 20 times its presale estimate of $1,000-1,500. Lot 461, a pair of Chinese blue and white bottle vases, far exceeded its presale estimate of $2,500-3,000, eventually selling for $25,000.