NORWOOD, NJ.- Sterling Associates is known for its eclectic auctions of fine art, furniture, lighting and other quality collectibles sourced from palatial country estates and stylish city residences in the New York metro region. An integral part of Bergen County, New Jersey’s arts community for two generations, Sterling’s online-only sales are unique in that all goods may be previewed ahead of time at the company’s physical premises in Norwood.
On September 12, the Sterling team will host a diverse 213-lot auction of fine art, jewelry and luxury wristwatches; furniture, lighting, European bronzes and other desirable estate goods. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers or Invaluable.
An excellent selection of men’s luxury timepieces features many of the most sought-after brands. A Breguet marine automatic wristwatch, chronograph 483, is housed in a platinum case with and 18K white gold clasp. This handsome example is expected to make $8,000-$12,000. An elegant 18K gold Vacheron Constantin Geneve dress watch has a large round face and Roman numerals. Its estimate is $4,000-$6,000. Other top entries include a Tag Heuer Formula 1 black-dial diamond chronograph watch, $2,000-$3,000; and an Ebel 1911 La Carree Swiss automatic watch, $800-$1,200.
Also ticking with great precision, an antique birdseye maple tall-case grandfather clock was made by David Rowland of Aberystwyth, Wales. With its tasteful decoration and pleasing symmetry, this clock would make a handsome addition to any home and is estimated at $3,000-$4,000.
A head-turning 1999 BMW Z3 M Dinan Convertible with a 3.2-liter engine will show off its excellent condition and shiny finish as it rolls across the auction block. Silver with black interior, the car has only 45,000 miles on its odometer and been fastidiously maintained by a New Jersey owner. It comes to auction with a modest opening bid of $8,000 and an anticipated selling price of $15,000-$20,000.
Some especially beautiful decorative art has been chosen for this sale. An 8-day Henry Capt antique French porcelain-panel carriage clock will be offered with its original leather fitted travel box, key and Vitale & Vitale (retailer) books. Estimate: $3,000-$5,000. An Albert-Ernest Carrier Belleuse (French, 1824-1887) bronze, 40 inches high and titled Neapolitan Dancer with Tambourine, was converted to a table lamp, a practice favored by fashionable Victorians. It comes to auction with a $3,000-$5,000 estimate.
Both American and English-made silver adds shine to the decorative-art mix. A collection of seven antique and vintage salt cellars includes two from Tiffany & Co., estimate $200-$300. A Gorham sterling silver flatware service for 10, weighing 1905 grams and presented in a felt-lined storage box, could reach $600-$800; while a “Marie Antoinette” round tray by the same manufacturer might land in the $800-$1,200 range.
Antique and vintage lighting is one of Sterling Associates’ longtime specialties. Bidders will have many options available to them, with high-quality productions from both the 19th and 20th centuries. A 19th-century patinated and gilt-metal gasolier [gaslight chandelier] with six arms will aim for a $2,000-$3,000 estimate. From a later era, a pair of 71-inch Art Deco floor lamps with cut-to-clear opaline glass inserts and green onyx detail on mixed-metal bodies could reach $700-$900.
A near-complete set of eight framed-under-glass Erte (Russian/French, 1892-1990) lithographs from the Scheherazade Suite I & II comes with a certificate naming each piece. The lithographs are individually signed and numbered “10/300.” Among the titles represented in the selection are “Harem,” “Beauty of Baghdad,” “Pearl of the Orient,” and “Calyph’s Favorite.” This low-numbered set is offered with a $3,000-$5,000 estimate.
