LOS ANGELES, CA.- On June 16,
Bonhams, the third largest international fine art auction house, presents an eclectic collection of furniture, works of art, clocks and ceramics in its upcoming auction of Fine European Furniture and Decorative Arts in Los Angeles. Four hundred years of European history and design will go under the auctioneers gavel.
Top highlights are in the French Furniture section, where formal gilt-bronze mounted items abound, including works by great Parisian cabinet makers François Linke, Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener and Gervais Durand. A gilt bronze mounted Vernis Martin decorated kingwood vitrine, circa 1900 by Linke, is being offered at an estimate of $80,000-120,000, and a 19th century Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted and later malachite veneered bureau plat is estimated at $75,000-100,000.
In the English Furniture section, Bonhams is offering an 18th century George III inlaid satinwood pier table attributed to William Moore of Dublin, considered one of the most important Irish cabinet-makers of the period, estimated at $10,000-15,000. Also on offer, a circa 1900 George III style satinwood and rosewood cross-banded mahogany four pillar dining table, which can extend up to an incredible 17 feet in length, is estimated to fetch between $15,000-25,000.
In the works of art section of the auction, highlights include a large group of bronzes from the private collection of Dr. George and Mrs. Vivian A. Thomas. The collection consists of numerous "animalier" bronzes after models by Antoine-Louis Barye, his son Alfred Barye and Pierre-Jules Mêne. The clock section of around 40 lots includes traditional English and Dutch automaton tall case clocks from the 18th century. Of interest to clock collectors, Bonhams will offer Colonel and Mrs. Savin's fine selection of clocks, in particular two Louis XVI gilt bronze cartel clocks, with one valued to fetch between $15,000-20,000. The auction will end with fine quality porcelain from the great factories of Sèvres, Meissen, K.P.M. Berlin and Vienna. A large private collection of Meissen porcelain highlighted by a charming figure of a Turk riding a rhinoceros. Also included are a large number of finely painted K.P.M Berlin porcelain plaques, with estimates ranging from $2,000-8,000.
Andrew Jones, Director of the European Furniture and Decorative Arts department at Bonhams in Los Angeles, commented of the sale, "We are very excited to offer such an eclectic array of furniture and decorative arts, including clocks and ceramics, spanning the 16th-20th centuries. There is something to suit all tastes in this summer auction."