September 3, 2024 - Auction Central News

Rattlesnake Club and the James and Anita Terry collection dominate DuMouchelles September 12-14

Jasper Johns, 'Cicada,' estimate $25,000-$35,000 at DuMouchelles.

DETROIT — The Thursday, September 12 to Saturday, September 14 auction series at DuMouchelles includes two headline collections: 20th-century art from the walls of the Rattlesnake Club, and European bronzes from the Bloomfield Hills home of James and Anita Terry. Catalogs for the three-day auction are now open at LiveAuctioneers.

Longstanding Detroit restaurant Rattlesnake Club closed its doors after 36 years of business in June. It was known for its creative cuisine, its waterfront location, and its decor, which included original works of art by some of the biggest names in international art.

Key pieces include Jasper Johns’ vibrant lithograph Cicada from the series of eight created to benefit the Foundation for Contemporary Performing Arts in 1981. Number 40 from an edition of 50 with 11 artist proofs, it is estimated at $25,000-$35,000.

Three dynamic editioned works by Frank Stella include, estimated at $15,000-$20,000, a mixed media work from the 1988 Waves Series titled Hark! – a Squeeze of the Hand. Executed in 1988, this combination of screenprint, lithograph, linocut, and collage is one of the 10 artist proofs made in addition to the edition of 60.

Five typical screenprints by British Pop artist Patrick Caulfield are led by the 1979-1980 Bowl and Fruit that is signed in pencil and numbered 25/100. It is estimated at $2,000-$4,000.

The collection of James and Anita Terry numbers more than 200 lots with an emphasis on 19th-century French bronze works. It includes models by well-known sculptors such as Émile Louis Picault, Mathurin Moreau, Albert Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, Henri Désiré Gauquié, Claude Michel Clodion, and Isadore Bonheur.

Casts of Picault’s well-known Egyptian revival sculptures of the high priest Pastophore and the scribe Hierogrammate, each standing 2ft 5in high, comes as a matched pair with an estimate of $5,000-$10,000, while a fine lost wax cast of Bonheur’s animalier Taureau carries an estimate of $4,000-$6,000.

Jasper Johns, 'Cicada,' estimate $25,000-$35,000 at DuMouchelles.

Frank Stella, 'Hark! - a Squeeze of the Hand,' estimate $15,000-$20,000 at DuMouchelles.

Patrick Caulfield, 'Bowl and Fruit,' estimate $2,000-$4,000 at DuMouchelles.

Émile Louis Picault, Egyptian Revival Bronze Sculptures, estimate $5,000-$10,000 at DuMouchelles.

Isidore Jules Bonheur, 'Taureau,' estimate $4,000-$6,000 at DuMouchelles.

Roland Arkell

Roland Arkell is editor of Auction Central News and deputy editor at Antiques Trade Gazette. He has been writing about all aspects of the art and antiques market for more than 25 years.

Riviere Studios Tiffany-like Wisteria table lamp doubled its high estimate at John Moran

Riviere Studios Wisteria table lamp, $25,000 ($33,000 with buyer's premium) at John Moran.

MONROVIA, CA — At first glance, the lot looked like a nice Tiffany Studios Wisteria table lamp. Any casual observer would think so, until a closer inspection was performed and a beloved copycat brand was made clear.

Paul Riviere founded The Riviere Brass & Bronze Works in New York in 1904. Little is known about the company; it was rarely mentioned in trade publications of the time, and it apparently did not advertise. Most of what is known today comes from the diary of Paul’s son, Paul Jr., who joined the firm in 1906.

Riviere’s lamps were often shameless copies of Tiffany’s designs. The company marketed two primary product lines: etched metal overlay lamps and leaded glass mosaic lamps, from which this lot was identified as part of John Moran Auctioneers‘ Traditional Collector sale held July 30.

Moran noted the lamp as being unmarked and estimated its production date to the 1910s. The three-light lamp featured a hand-wrought tree-form base, possibly made from copper-plated metal using an ‘antique verde’ patination variant. Its patinated metal shade, made with leaded-glass hand-cut elements, depicts the rich blue hues of a wisteria tree in full bloom.

Standing 24in in height with a 17in-diameter shade, the Riviere Studios Wisteria lamp had previously sold in November of 1974 at Sotheby’s Parke-Bernet in Los Angeles.

Collectors appreciate Riviere lamps for their fine construction and period feel without the painfully high price tag that accompanies a Tiffany Studios original. As a result, this example hammered for $25,000, or $33,000 with buyer’s premium against a $8,000-$12,000 estimate — more than doubling the high number. The lamp very nearly sold to a LiveAuctioneers bidder at $22,500, when a floor competitor offered $25,000, thereby ending the competition.

Riviere Studios Wisteria table lamp, $25,000 ($33,000 with buyer's premium) at John Moran.

Jim Bunte

Jim Bunte has worked in editorial, design and the toy and auction industries for more than 30 years. He co-founded Auction Central News in 2007.

Dunhill Aquarium lighters fire the passions of collectors

This Dunhill Aquarium lighter achieved $4,100 plus the buyer’s premium in June 2024. Image courtesy of Capsule Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — Smoking has largely gone out of fashion, but demand for vintage and antique pipes, ashtrays, and related paraphernalia has remained smoking hot. Among the pieces driving the market for these collectibles are a variety of lighter produced in the previous century by the British luxury goods firm Alfred Dunhill.

Known as Aquarium lighters, most were too chunky and too exquisite to be concealed in a coat or pants pocket. Gloriously detailed, Dunhill’s Aquarium lighters were meant to sit on a table, sideboard, or shelf and delight the eye when they weren’t being pressed into service.

“Dunhill Aquarium lighters are really admired by collectors because they combine art, history, and practicality in a way that’s hard to match. Each one was hand-painted by Ben Shillingford, a master craftsman, making every lighter with their detailed, vibrant scenes a miniature work of art,” said Simon Baranoff, co-founder of Capsule Auctions in New York City. “Collectors love them not just as fancy smoking accessories, but also as cultural icons and valuable investments that capture the craftsmanship and style of a past era.”

Reverse, or back side, of a Dunhill Aquarium lighter that achieved $4,100 plus the buyer’s premium in June 2024. Image courtesy of Capsule Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

Dunhill Aquarium lighters were made from carved and painted Lucite adorned with metal mounts, and often featured painted images of tropical fish rendered by Shillingford, the firm’s master engraver, and his team. Margaret and Allan Bennett, a husband-and-wife duo, were but two of the artists who made these luxe objects by hand. After a design was approved, Margaret would sketch the scene in pencil and watercolor, and Allan would hand-carve the panels.

The detail work in the underwater scenes was precise; the panels were hand-carved with reverse intaglios using dentist tools and drills. An example displaying black and white angelfish shows the level of artistry involved. It made $4,100 plus the buyer’s premium in May 2024 at Capsule Auctions.

This circa-1950 Dunhill Aquarium table lighter earned $4,800 plus the buyer’s premium in April 2024. Image courtesy of Toomey & Co. Auctioneers and LiveAuctioneers.

Dunhill made Aquarium lighters in four sizes: Giant, Half Giant, Standard, and Service. No two examples were exactly the same. A pleasing circa-1950 lighter in a standard size — approximately 3 1/4 by 4 by 2 inches — brought $4,800 plus the buyer’s premium in April 2024 at Toomey & Co. Auctioneers.

A Dunhill Service-size Aquarium lighter from the 1950s made £3,200 ($4,230) plus the buyer’s premium in March 2024. Image courtesy of Hannam’s Auctioneers Ltd. and LiveAuctioneers.

The Service size was the smallest of the four. One circa-1950s example featuring a school of reddish-pink fish made £3,200 ($4,230) plus the buyer’s premium in March 2024 at Hannam’s Auctioneers. It measured about 3 inches by 1 by 2 inches.

Aquarium lighters also came in three different finishes: gold-plated, silver-plated, and chrome-plated. One fish-themed lighter with a gold-plated finish brought $3,600 plus the buyer’s premium in June 2024 at Capsule Auctions.

A Dunhill Aquarium lighter with a gold-plated finish brought $3,600 plus the buyer’s premium in June 2024. Image courtesy of Capsule Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

While health campaigns have succeeded in tamping down the once-inescapable worldwide habit of smoking tobacco, collectors’ cravings for these lighters has only blazed brighter.

“Collectors of Dunhill Aquarium lighters are particularly drawn to the intricate, hand-painted scenes depicting detailed aquatic environments,” Baranoff said. “While fish designs are the most iconic, lighters featuring rarer subjects like birds or other unique scenes are even more coveted.” The more complex and detailed the design, the more valuable it becomes, especially if it includes uncommon species or vivid backgrounds, he added.

Some of the later works from Shillingford’s studio were embellished with the help of the Bennetts, and the designs became even more vibrant. “Larger sizes and luxurious finishes also add to a lighter’s appeal and make it even more collectible,” he said.

A non-marine themed Dunhill Aquarium table lighter depicts fox hunting scenes, with a horse and rider on one side and a foxhound on the reverse. It realized $5,000 plus the buyer’s premium in July 2024. Image courtesy of Toomey & Co. Auctioneers and LiveAuctioneers.

A circa-1950 fox hunting-themed lighter proves Baranoff’s point. On the front panel, a hunter wearing a bright red jacket is pictured in a field astride his steed, while the other side shows a foxhound in hot pursuit. This lighter secured $5,000 plus the buyer’s premium in July 2024 at Toomey & Co. Auctioneers.

Lucite may not seem like a typical medium for a cherished antique, but it was widely used in mid-century modern furniture, jewelry, and handbags, as well as in Dunhill Aquarium lighters. Dupont invented Lucite, an acrylic, in 1931, and companies embraced it when World War II restricted the use of more traditional materials. Dunhill chose it because it was shatterproof, easy to carve, transparent, and not apt to turn yellow with age.

Reverse, or back side, of a Dunhill Aquarium lighter with a gold-plated finish, which brought $3,600 plus the buyer’s premium in June 2024. Image courtesy of Capsule Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

Dunhill introduced the Aquarium lighter in 1949 and offered it until 1959, when Shillingford retired. The short production window increases its desirability.

“Lucite objects from the mid-20th century are definitely still in high demand among collectors. Although they might not be as common as some other vintage materials, Lucite’s distinctive look and nostalgic charm make it especially appealing,” Baranoff said. “Its unique aesthetic and the retro vibe it carries ensures that these pieces are highly prized in today’s market.”

Most fish-themed Aquarium lighters sell for about $4,000, but ones with birds or other species can bring more, nearing and even exceeding $10,000. They have long been collectible and typically perform well above their conservative estimates. Flying past its $3,000-$5,000 estimate was a large lighter decorated with parrots that secured $7,500 plus the buyer’s premium in October 2020 at Clarke Auction Gallery.

Selling above its $3,000-$5,000 estimate was a large Dunhill Aquarium lighter with parrots instead of fish, which took $7,500 plus the buyer’s premium in October 2020. Image courtesy of Clarke Auction Gallery and LiveAuctioneers.

Dunhill Aquarium lighters have stood the test of time and remained popular for far longer than the ten year-span in which they were produced. “Table lighters, with their robust flame and elegant design, are ideal for toasting a cigar, ensuring an even light while adding a touch of sophistication to the ritual. Their practicality as everyday tools enhances their value, making them both functional and collectible,” Baranoff said.

“With smoking and cigar culture having a global appeal, high-quality lighters like the Dunhill models are cherished not just for their elegance but also for their cultural significance,” he said. “Collectors appreciate that these lighters aren’t just for display; they can be actively used and maintained, blending form and function in a way that adds a layer of personal engagement to any collection.”

Andrea Valluzzo

Andrea Valluzzo is an award-winning journalist who has worked for media publications for more than 20 years. Today, she enjoys writing about antiques, collectibles, art and the art of collecting. Based in Connecticut, she's also an avid scrapbooker who loves Broadway shows.