Auction Highlights

On Jan. 26, the Philadelphia auction house Freeman’s offered three volumes of hand-colored lithographed plates by John J. Audubon and John Bachman titled The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, with each of the 155 plates depicting a four-legged animal. Published between 1849 and 1854, the grouping was entered in the sale with an $8,000-12,000 estimate, but heavy Internet bidding came into play, and a LiveAuctioneers participant prevailed with a final selling price of $19,520.

This late 18th/early 19th century Wedgwood Jasperware vase, “Two Ruined Columns,” stands 8in tall and is impressed with the word WEDGWOOD in its base. Molded friezes adorn each side, and two “fractured” ancient columns feature prominently at the top. With provenance through the A.M. Kanter collection, it demolished its $3,000-5,000 estimate in Dallas Auction Gallery's Jan. 11 sale, bringing $18,000 via LiveAuctioneers.

Regency Superior’s Jan. 7-8 Elvis Empire sale featured 1,210 lots of stage-worn clothing and other memorabilia pertaining to The King – Elvis Presley. Among the 204 lots that sold through LiveAuctioneers was this 1975-era, dark blue two-piece jumpsuit worn by Presley in concert. Of quintessential Elvis style, the jumpsuit features a Napoleonic collar and decorative, pointed-panel faux capelet in orange, gold and white. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity, it sold online for a royal price: $126,000.

Mid-Century Modern continued its runaway popularity streak in Clars’ Jan. 7-8 Premier auction, in which 282 lots sold via LiveAuctioneers. One of those lots was a Danish Modern walnut cabinet factory fitted with a Lansing/JBL speaker system. Back in 1960, when it was shown at Stereo Hi Fi Show in San Francisco and available for a mere $2,080, it was touted as “the most expensive speaker system on the market.” Fast forward 46 years to Clars’ sale, where it sold online for an amazing $16,800 against an $800-1,200 estimate.

Online participants snapped up 206 items from the esteemed Carolyn and Charles Sunstein antique dollhouse and miniatures collection, as well as the Davanzo and Chirico doll collections, at Noel Barrett’s Dec. 9-10 sale. This 23in charmer, a golden brown Steiff teddy with desirable “blank” button in his ear, has a new home with a LiveAuctioneers bidder who parted with $9,600 to own the fetching bruin.

Morphy Auctions averaged a 35.2% sell-through rate to the Internet in their huge Dec. 8-10 Winter sale. Among the 807 items purchased through LiveAuctioneers was this 16in Tiffany Studios Acorn lamp that lit up the Internet at $10,200.

This circa 18th century Flemish or French tapestry measures 6ft 6in by 17ft and features wonderful allegorical scenes of animals and castles. Carrying a presale estimate of $5,000-7,000, it was purchased by a LiveAuctioneers bidder in Alderfer’s Dec. 6-8 sale for $27,000.