Auction Highlights

Signed and dated at the lower right, this 31 by 51in oil on canvas titled Caragh Lake, MacGillicuddy's Reeks, Kerry was painted in 1976 by American artist Peter Ellenshaw (b. 1913). Estimated at $1,400-1,600 in Alderfer Auction's Sept. 14-15 cataloged auction of Fine Arts and Antiques, it sold online to a LiveAuctioneers bidder for $11,000, more than six times its high estimate.

Floor bidders may have called it quits at £1,600 ($2,880), but this pair of Chinese lacquered panels with bas relief hardstone decorations had miles to go via the Internet before ending its spirited run in Ewbanks' Oct. 6 auction. LiveAuctioneers participants picked up the reins where the room bidding left off and maintained the lead all the way to the 31st and final bid of £3,500 ($6,179.25). It was a stellar performance for a lot estimated at only £50-100 ($90-180).

This exceptional 20in Tiffany Studios lamp in the Daffodil pattern was a star lot in Metropolitan Galleries’ Oct. 15 sale. The signed lamp features variegated stained glass that in beautiful tones of green, yellow-orange and white, with areas of heavy rippled glass. The signed, 4-footed library base has an onion pattern on the bottom platform. The lot drew 9 bids before selling online through LiveAuctioneers for $67,500.

Estimated at $1,000-1,250, this extremely rare Gemini Agena spacecraft model mounted on a wood and Lucite base has a descriptive plate that reads Project Gemini - Gemini-Agena-Rendezvous. Space memorabilia collectors bid it all the way to $6,000, with the winning bidder participating live online through LiveAuctioneers.com

This graceful 16" tall Lenci figurine of a nude girl seated on an elephant and gazing upward drew 19 bids in Gorringes' Oct. 18 sale before selling online through LiveAuctioneers for $6,670.14. Made in Italy and bearing the painted Lenci mark, the figurine had been estimated at $550-900, but the Internet proved a powerful tool in establishing an up to the minute market value.

One of many outstanding lots in Swann Galleries’ Oct. 27 sale of the Christian Fechner Magic Collection was this 28½ by 20in color lithograph of Alexander Herrmann, also known as Herrmann the Great (1844-1896). Thirty-seven bids were lodged on the litho, which carried a presale estimate of $5,000-7,500. An online participant using LiveAuctioneers.com placed the winning bid of $24,000.

This ornately decorated world championship boxing belt with hallmarked sterling silver panels was awarded to English boxer Jem “The Gypsy” Mace on June 18, 1861 after his victory over Sam Hurst. Mace was the last undisputed heavyweight champion recognized under the London Prize Ring rules. The belt, which came from the Stanley Weston and Toby Weston Cone collection, was offered in Geppi’s Memorabilia Road Show’s Oct. 25-27 Icons auction with a $15,000-25,000 estimate. It attracted 14 bids before selling online through LiveAuctioneers for a knockout price of $61,000.