PALM BEACH, FLA.- Important Rene Lalique glass creations, stunning Tiffany Studios lamps, desirable Chinese ceramics, European fine art (including two exquisite oil paintings by Jean Metzinger), 19th century furniture, a collection of Majolica pieces and more will come up for bid at
A. B. Levy’s next estates auction, slated for Thursday, Feb. 19, starting at 6 p.m. Eastern time.
The auction will be held at A. B. Levy’s showroom in the Flamingo Building, located at 1921 South Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach (exhibitions will be held Feb. 9-18 at Levy's home facility in nearby Palm Beach, at 211 Worth Avenue). The more than 250 lots are from a variety of owners, including an important Midwest private collection and fine items from a lady and gentleman, both living in Palm Beach.
The auction will commence with the largest selection of Rene Lalique glass at auction the world has ever seen, featuring both geometric and naturalist inspired works, with themes drawn from nature and antiquity. The more than 100 works of art demonstrate Lalique’s ability to generate and utilize subtle variations in color and texture, as he designed a superb iconic oeuvre. Creations by Lalique are highly sought after by collectors.
Lalique pieces expected to do well include a gorgeous brilliant blue glass pendulet titled Le Jour et la Nuit (“The Day and the Night”), 15 inches tall, circa 1926 (est. $80,000-$120,000); an opalescent glass vase titled Bacchantes, wheel-carved by Lalique circa 1927, 9 ¾ inches tall (est. $20,000-$30,000); and a yellow glass statuette molded circa 1925 and titled Suzanne, 8 ¾ inches tall (est. $20,000-$30,000). An opalescent version of this very piece will also be in the auction.
Tiffany Studios leaded stained glass and bronze lamps will provide a perfect complement to the Lalique glass. Two expected star lots (both with identical estimates of $60,000-$90,000 and both made circa 1899-1920) are a geometric curtain border glass and bronze floor lamp, 78 inches tall with perforated serpentine cap on a dome-shaped shade of brickwork tiles; and a Favrile glass and bronze Jeweled Dragonfly table lamp on a gilt bronze base with a conical-shaped shade.
A strong candidate for top lot of the auction promises to be the monumental patinated and gilt figural bronze statue by Marius-Jean-Antonin Mercie (Fr., 1845-1916), titled Gloria Victis. The plaster model for the late 19th century sculpture was executed in 1874 and cast in bronze by Barbedienne shortly after. The work, artist signed and six feet tall, should hit $80,000-$120,000.
Another outstanding bronze lot is a fine pair of parcel gilt and patinated bronze male and female figures of classical Egyptians (created circa 1850-1860) holding aloft candle branches (added later, around 1880) by Armand Tousaint (Fr., 1806-1862). Both figures and candle branches are signed by Toussaint and the male figure is impressed with the Barbedienne circular foundry seal.
What fine art sale would be complete without a Picasso? An aquatint on woven paper by the iconoclastic Spanish master (1881-1973) is signed by him lower right and numbered (25/50) lower left. The work, done in 1949, is titled Venus et L’Amour d’Apres Cranach and is 21 ½ inches by 15 ¾ inches (48 inches by 33 inches framed). It should realize $70,000-$90,000.
An expected superstar of the Asian category is a fine and rare octagonal lobed vase carrying the Qianlong six-character seal marks and of the period (1736-1795). The 8 ¾ inch tall vase boasts a compressed spherical body on a high slightly splayed foot. It is surmounted by a tall ribbed neck below a rim covered in a pale bluish green glaze with brown crackle (est. $40,000-$70,000).
Other noteworthy lots from Asia include a rare pink-ground famille rose jardinière (lead or zinc lined container, for holding indoor plants), with a Chinese seal mark and of the Jiaqing period, 1796-1820 (est. $7,000-$10,000); and a pair of Chinese Republic painted porcelain landscape panels of the Guilin Hills in the style of Wang Yeting, circa 1920-1940 (est. $1,000-$3,000).
The paintings by Jean Metzinger (Germ./Fr., 1883-1956), the internationally renowned painter of still-lives, figures and landscapes based on the neo-impressionist style and form of divisionism (or what was to become Cubism), are an early 1905 pointillist landscape and a mature period, stylized figure of a young lady. Two Pablo Picasso linoleum cuts from 1962 will also be sold.
Antiques in the sale will include 19th century furniture signed by such notable ebenistes (French for “cabinet makers”) as Linke, Durand and Zwiener. Francois Linke (Czech./Fr., 1855-1946) was a leading Parisian ebeniste of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Linke learned his craft from an unknown German ebeniste in Paris; some believe that person was Emmanuel Zwiener.
Rounding out just a few of the auction’s anticipated top lots is a fine and rare suite of silver mounted, foliate decorated blue d’Roi Sevres porcelain tea wares, made in 1759 and painted by Jean-Baptiste Tandart (est. $3,000-$5,000). The set consists of a milk jug with rendering of Minerva; a creamer with hinged lid; a covered sugar bowl; and monogrammed cup and saucer.
Internet bidding will be via LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Saleroom.com. A buyer’s premium of 20 percent will be applied to all purchases up to $100,000 (it’s 15 percent after that). Phone and absentee bids will be accepted, in addition to live and internet bidding. Previews will be held daily, Feb. 9-18, from 10-6, at A. B. Levy's home location at 211 Worth Avenue in fashionable Palm Beach.
