CRANSTON, R.I. – A double-barrel shotgun made around 1915 by English gunsmith Westley Richards cracked $12,500 – more than double its high estimate – to take top lot honors at a Fall Antiques, Fine Art, Firearms & Asian Auction held Sept. 16 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.
The single-trigger shotgun, with a 28-inch barrel and figured walnut stock, boasted a breech ornately engraved with stylized tendrils around panels of game birds and a trigger guard decorated with gold inlaid “A.” The top of the gun barrel was engraved, “Westley Richards, 178 New Bond Street, London, Gun Marker by Appointment to His Majesty George V.” All it needed was a thorough cleaning.
“After pulling the Westley Richards out of a collection comprised entirely of American firearms, it was the icing on the cake to see it achieve double its high estimate,” said Travis Landry, Bruneau & Co. specialist and auctioneer. “It was an original survivor, a diamond in the rough.”
“It was a fast-pace auction, with active bidding on all ends, whether it was the house, the phone or online,” said Kevin Bruneau, company president and auctioneer. “The diverse collection of Asian art was rare for our estate auctions, but the fine items in that and other categories provided a great opportunity for collectors to take home a prized piece. We had good results all around.”
Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium.
The Asian category featured a 20th-century Chinese apple green jadeite pendant necklace and earring set, with the pendants incised with florals, mounted in 14K yellow gold ($3,750); and a lovely Chinese early 20th-century porcelain avian tile, decorated with as pair of sparrows perched on a wisteria plant above a rocky path, measuring 16 ¾ inches by 11 ½ inches, framed ($5,000).
An English Jacobean carved oak sideboard crafted in the second half of the 17th century, having three central large vertical drawers flanked by two drawers over a cabinet, the drawers carved with layered geometric fronts, the cabinet doors with cathedral panels, hammered for $3,750.
A Persian Bachtiari carpet, early to mid-20th century, decorated with a tile-like floral pattern with a blue border, palace-size at 19 feet by 13 feet 5 inches, realized $3,125.
Also, a German, post-World War II Walther model PP 9mm caliber semiautomatic factory gold-plated pistol, with smooth grips carved from the finest substrate, sold for $2,500.
Two very different artworks posted identical selling prices of $1,375. The first was an oil on canvas study painting of a leopard by the German-American artist Hugo Bruel (1854-1910), signed lower left. The second was a large and original French Art Nouveau cognac advertising poster designed by Camille Bouchet, with male peacock graphic, 63 ½ inches by 47 ¼ inches.
To more information email Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers at info@bruneauandco.com.
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