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Images of India fetch astonishing prices at Kaminski auction

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
‘Royal Tryst,’ illuminated manuscript page, depicting a princly scene, from Kangra, India, circa 1800. Price realized: $55,200. Kaminski Auctions image
‘Royal Tryst’ illuminated manuscript page depicting a princely scene, from Kangra, India, circa 1800. Price realized: $55,200. Kaminski Auctions image

 

BEVERLY, Mass. – Kaminski Auctions kicked off their summer season with one of their most successful auctions of the year. The estate of the late Baroness Mary McFall de Gunzburg of New York City and Miami Beach, Florida, at their July 24 auction brought surprising results at what is normally a quiet time in the auction season.

Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

Over 13,000 registered buyers online and a large increase in phone bidder participation were a clear indication of good things to come.

The baroness was a patron of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and had a lifelong passion for art and collecting antiques. Along with her husband Baron Guy de Gunzburg their collecting interests were wide and varied.

Among the top lots in the sale were eight circa 1800 framed Indian illuminated manuscript pages, purchased by the couple from the Doris Wiener Gallery, Madison Avenue, New York City, which brought over $245,000 collectively and garnered the most interest from collectors as far away as Delhi and Karnataka, India.

Bidding was fast and furious on each manuscript lot with several being purchased by the same collector. The most expensive manuscript pages were titled Royal Tryst (above) and Krishna Dances for the Gopis (below). They sold for $55,200 apiece. A third page titled Blindman’s Bluff sold for $34,800, Lover’s Play for $32,400, The Marriage of the Nagini for $31,200, City Scene $27,600 and Birth Scene for $25,200. All prices include the buyer’s premium.

 

‘Krishna Dances for the Gopis,’ illuminated illustration from the ‘Bhagavata Purana,’ from Pahari, Kangra, India, circa 1800. Price realized: $55,200. Kaminski Auctions image
‘Krishna Dances for the Gopis,’ illuminated illustration from the ‘Bhagavata Purana,’ from Pahari, Kangra, India, circa 1800. Price realized: $55,200. Kaminski Auctions image

 

Another collecting category that saw a considerable amount of interest was the Russian silver pieces from the collection. A 19th century Russian silver kovsh (below) marked “P. Ovchinkova” showing two Vikings with armor, marked “84” in Cyrillic sold for $16,800, and a Russian enameled centerpiece marked “84 / P. Ovchimnkova” sold for $13,500.

 

Russian solid silver kovsh, 19th century, signed on base ‘P. Ovchinkova.’ Price realized: $16,800. Kaminski Auctions image
Russian solid silver kovsh, 19th century, signed on base ‘P. Ovchinkova.’ Price realized: $16,800. Kaminski Auctions image

 

Her collection of art included two Felix Kelly (New Zealand, 1914-1994) paintings, purchased from Arthur Tooth and Sons Ltd. of London. The first titled The County Church sold for $6,300, while the second titled The Squeaky Pavillion brought $5,700. An Andre Dunoyer de Segonzac (French, 1887-1974) watercolor titled Le Parier Fleuri, accompanied by the original sale receipt from the Schoneman Galleries, Madison Avenue, New York City, sold for $10,800.

An eclectic collection of fine furniture collected in the couple’s travels throughout Europe featured a rare Neoclassical Portuguese bed of carved gilt wood that sold for $6,765, while a pair of highly decorative French inlaid tables with elaborate marquetry on the tops, drawers and shelves sold for $3,750.

For details call Kaminski Auctions at 978-927-2223.

 

Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.