LOS ANGELES – John Moran Auctioneers smashed records with its Made in Mexico Auction, which it presented during two non-consecutive days: Tuesday, February 15, and Thursday, February 17. The auction achieved a 133% result by value, with a 96% sell-through rate by lot.
Jewelry was indeed the highlight of the Made in Mexico auction. More than 30 lots of William Spratling pieces were offered, including jewelry and decorative items, and nearly all of them sold. A pair of Spratling link bracelets with stylized cross motifs achieved $3,750, well beyond its estimate of $700-$900.
A Spratling link bracelet flew high above its estimate of $800-$1,200 to sell for $3,125. Many works doubled their high estimate, including a Spratling First Design Period silver and rosewood necklace featuring six carved delicate rosewood hands. It was estimated at $1,000-$1,500 and ultimately realized $4,375.
The auction also had a high sell-through rate for Antonio Pineda lots. Two Pineda pieces with interesting stones sold well above their estimates, with Lot 178, a group of delicate mother of pearl and silver foliate design jewelry, finishing at $4,062 against an estimate of $800-$1,200, and lot 170, a silver and moonstone foliate design pendant and chain rising to $2,812 against an estimate of $700-$900.
Other firm favorites in the jewelry category were Mathilde Poulat’s elaborate Matl pieces. A pair of Matl silver and coral dove earrings landed at $2,125, miles away from its estimate of $200-$300. Also, a sterling silver filigree necklace achieved $5,312 against an estimate of $2,000-$3,000.
Recent results confirm the popularity of Salvador Teran, a Taxco-born artist who received his early training at William Spratling’s Taller de Las Delicias. Five lots of silver jewelry groups by Teran met or exceeded their top estimates, including a group of three interchangeable silver and hardstone pendants on a rich black velvet cord, which sold for $2,000 against an estimate of $300-$500.
Jewelry was not the only category to achieve exceptional results. Five works by artist Roberto Gil De Montes also shared in the glory. An untitled 1992 pastel drawing, estimated at $800-$1,200, finished at $4,062, and a group of two acrylic paintings from 2007, Boyhood Dreams and ’Napoleon’ The Lie, achieved $8,125 against an estimated $300-$500. However, lot 253, another group of two paintings, “Man with blue face”, 2003, and “New Penitente” [sic], 2005, finished at $11,250, well above its estimate of $300-$500.
Ceramics and pottery items held their own, including a striking Michoacan pottery pineapple jar by Hilario Alejos Madrigal that realized more than double its estimate of $300-$500 to finish at $2,000. Many lots of Tonala pottery of Jalisco met with success, including a group lot menagerie of lively animal figures and themed plates which soared to $1,500, beyond an estimate of $200-$400.
Finally, the auction featured several rustic wood furniture items. A colorful Guatemalan hand-painted wood trunk rose to $1,875 against an estimate of $500-$700.
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