NEW YORK, NY.- Sotheby’s New York will offer one of the greatest collections of Tiffany and Prewar Design ever to appear at auction at the sale of The Warshawsky Collection: Masterworks of Tiffany and Prewar Design on 19 May 2015. Discussing the offering, Jodi Pollack, Director of Sotheby’s 20th Century Design department in New York, said: “Chicago-based collector Roy Warshawsky immersed himself in assembling the collection from the late 1960s through the early 1990s, a time when access to works of unprecedented quality and rarity abounded. Warshawsky was particularly drawn to the rich colours and luminosity he saw in the lamps and glass of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Over time he assembled a truly encyclopedic collection of Tiffany, which spans every artistic discipline of the firm’s production. In addition, he was a passionate collector of silver by Archibald Knox, European Art Nouveau and American Art. One of the last true connoisseur collections, this sale event presents both established and new collectors an unprecedented opportunity to acquire works from this treasured collecting legacy.”

AN ENCYCLOPEDIC COLLECTION OF TIFFANY
An encyclopedic collection of Tiffany comprising approximately 90 lots is led by Tiffany Studios "Elaborate Peony" lamp, circa 1910 (est. US$600,000 – 900,000 / HK$4.68 – 7.02 million*), one of the firm’s most illustrious and iconic floral lamp patterns. This outstanding example displays a rich and highly-varied glass selection, showing the wind-swept peony blossoms in a full range of deep purple, magenta and red hues, amidst a bright aqua sky, paired with an exceedingly rare and sculptural "Leaf and Arc" base.

Tiffany Studios, "River of Life" Window, signed and dated 1915 (est. US$200,000 – 300,000 / HK$1.56 – 2.34 million), was a prevalent motif for Tiffany landscape windows, evocative of landscape painting, but achieved through masterful use of glass which served to introduce a sense of luminous beauty and nature into the domestic interior. This highly artistic window depicts a meandering river and majestic mountains framed by lush fields of iris blossoms and magnificent Chinese magnolia trees, boldly displayed through the use of sculpted dimensional "Drapery" glass.

An exceedingly rare Tiffany Studios "Iris" Lantern from circa 1905 (est. US$400,000 – 600,000 / HK$3.12 – 4.68 million) is one of only a few known examples of this model. Each of the six sides of this leaded glass hanging lamp is ingeniously executed with distinct depictions of the iris blossom against a dramatic sky transitioning from dawn to dusk. The panels are framed within a highly sculptural bronze armature of interlacing leaves.

JEWELLERY AND METALWORK
Rene Lalique’s mastery of design perfection is on display in a Gold, Aquamarine, Diamond and Plique-`a-Jour Enamel Dragonfly Pendant-Necklace, circa 19031904 (est. US$70,000 – 100,000 / HK$546,000 – 780,000). Created at the height of Lalique’s inventiveness, this pendant exhibits a delicate balance of forms, subtle use of colour, imaginative techniques and execution of enamel work, and a restrained use of brilliant diamonds.

Also on offer is an exquisite collection of approximately 40 lots of silver and metalwork designed by Archibald Knox for the famous London-based firm of Liberty & Co. In this group are unique and rare examples of clocks, tea services, tablewares and photo frames, including this exceptional “Cymric” Clock by Archibald Knox (est. US$20,000 – 30,000 / HK$156,000 – 234,000).