LOS ANGELES, CA.- Bonhams celebrates the beginning of the busy autumn auction season with the European and Asian Furniture, Decorative and Fine Arts sale on September 22 at its Sunset Boulevard sale room. The auction event will feature an eclectic mix of 15th to 20th century European furniture, European paintings, Asian decorative arts and property from the Universal City Studios, LLC. There are more than 420 items to suit all tastes, featuring an attractive selection of chandeliers, mirrors, porcelain and bronzes.
The top highlight in the English furniture section of the auction is a circa 1900 monumental George II style parcel gilt and paint decorated carved mahogany centered table measuring more than nine feet wide, surmounted by a marble top with geometric design (estimate $20,000-30,000). Representing the finest quality of porcelain in this auction is an early 20th century extensive Sevrès style porcelain part dinner service (estimate $20,000-30,000), which boasts of 96 pieces each individually hand painted with scenes depicting lovers in pastoral landscapes. Founded in 1740, the Sevrès porcelain factory in France made the most elegantly designed dinner services and decorated porcelain. In the early 20th century, new designs were produced and well-received at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris. Today, Sevrès porcelain is highly regarded in the history of porcelain manufacture and collecting.
Of the European furniture, an imposing Napoleon III gilt bronze mounted and polished hard stone ebonized cabinet from the third quarter of the 19th century (estimate $15,000-20,000) stands out and features a stiff leaf decorated frieze and hard stone panels depicting birds amongst ribbon tied floral sprays, sprigs of flowers and fruits. A late 19th century significant pair of Italian Rococo style carved giltwood center tables (estimate $15,000-20,000), includes a later added malachite lined marble inset top. The bold foliate and c-scroll frieze characteristic of the style helps to create a luxurious sensibility. Lastly, a highlight in the Asian furniture and decorative arts section features impressive and imposing cloisonné enameled and porcelain plaque inset furniture, which includes a five panel screen, throne chair and foot rest (estimate $12,000-18,000).
Also of importance, Bonhams will offer 59 lots of property from the Universal City Studios, LLC comprised mainly of finely-crafted European furniture with interesting history. Many of the items have been featured as props in film sets, which are known to attract film enthusiasts and furniture collectors alike.
Director of Bonhams Furniture and Decorative Arts Department in Los Angeles, Andrew Jones, commented, "This eclectic auction of European and Asian furniture and decorative arts including paintings, is a wonderful start to the autumn auction season and will attract a very diverse audience. We are looking forward to a very exciting sale.”