PHILADELPHIA, PA.- The Design auction brought Freeman’s 2018 auction calendar to a close this Monday, December 10. The 130-lot auction included a wide selection of works by master American studio artisans, as well as a group of silver from a California collection, and British, Japanese, and American pottery. The auction achieved $831,000, with 92% of lots sold.

Lot 47, a “Floral Bouquet” pattern chandelier by Tiffany Studios from a private Pennsylvania collection performed well, selling for $125,000. A set of six sculptured metal dining chairs by Paul Evans, of bronze-patinated composite over steel, soared past their presale estimate of $8,000-12,000, eventually selling for $25,000. And Lot 61, a fine custom cabinet of American black walnut, giltwood and slate by Phillip Lloyd Powell sold for $31,250.

Works by father-daughter master woodworkers George and Mira Nakashima enjoyed success at the auction as well. Lot 49, a fine Conoid dining table by George Nakashima (Lot 49) more than doubled its high estimate, when it sold for $68,750. A rare Nakashima Minguren desk (Lot 70) sold for $37,500, also exceeding its presale estimate. A special splay leg low table intended for Japanese-style dining by Mira Nakashima sold for $16,250, against an estimate of $6,000-8,000.

A collection of silver by French artisan Jean Puiforcat from the Carmichael/Pelsinger Collection of San Francisco also out performed. Lot 44, a covered soup tureen of sterling silver and onyx more than doubled its high estimate of $8,000-12,000, selling for $28,750. An assembled flatware service, in the “Cannes” pattern (Lot 38) sold for $15,000. In all, the dozen-lot collection enjoyed a 100% sell-through rate.

A dark olive stoneware vessel by Scottish artist Jennifer Lee (Lot 87), once in the collection of Philadelphia artist Elizabeth Osborne, sold for over three times its estimate, for $20,000, while a composite form stoneware vessel by Hans Coper (Lot 89) doubled its high estimate when it sold for $16,250. Additional highlights include two works by René Lalique, including Lot 17, a “Cinq Chevaux” hood ornament of clear and frosted glass, which sold for $11,050, double its high estimate, and Lot 2, a “Poissons” vase of emerald green glass, which sold for $10,625.

Sunday, December 9 brought American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists to the auction block, and just prior to the Design sale Freeman’s hosted A Buck’s County Life: The Collection of Bonnie O’Boyle. The three sales achieved a grand total of almost $5 million across 500 lots, with buyers in the room, on the phone and online around the world.

Freeman’s hosts two Design auctions each year, and is currently inviting consignments for the Spring 2019 sale.