ALAMEDA, Calif. – Michaan’s final quarter of 2021 got off to a rollicking start in September, with strong sales conducted on September 17 and September 18.
At the Estates and Collections sale held on September 17, a Chinese antique theatrical diorama, as well as fine American and European art, topped the highlights. September 18 brought the monthly Gallery Auction, in which French wines, jadeite jade jewelry, and gold coins ignited fiery competitions between bidders.
The Art Nouveau poster art of Alphonse Mucha is known and loved in every corner of the globe. Michaan’s September 17 sale featured four Mucha lots, led by a set of four color lithographs representing The Seasons, which realized $15,600.
Another fine art highlight was a rainy street scene of Paris at the turn of the 20th century, which sold for $30,000. The artist, Edouard Leon Cortes, has been featured at Michaan’s a number of times in recent years, as his paintings continue to grow in value and renown.
Modern art in the September 17 sale included Tom Wesselmann’s 1988 nude, Monica Lying on Blanket, a work rendered in enamel on laser cut steel. It sold for $24,000.
Michaan’s Asian Art Specialist Annie Zeng presented a special lot in the same sale: a magnificent, monumental Chinese theatrical diorama. Resplendent with intricate details such as kingfisher feather embellishment, the ornate diorama enclosed a troupe of costumed figures, capturing a scene from a historical drama of great cultural significance; it realized $20,400.
The September 18 auction saw Chinese pieces perform well, among them a guan-type brush washer, a petite oval basin estimated at $700-$900. It was free of all embellishment save the poem incised in its base; it sold for $5,100. Also notable was a large bolt of silk brocade embroidered with dragons and stylized clouds that brought $4,800, surpassing its estimate of $1,200-$1,800.
Jadeite jade headlined Michaan’s jewelry department offerings on September 18, with some astonishing sale prices achieved. A pair of jadeite jade 14K gold drop earrings estimated at $500-$700, created a tremendous stir among bidders. Their simple design perfectly showcased the jadeite’s beautiful color and quality, and the dust didn’t settle until the earrings had realized $19,200.
Jewelry designs in bright yellow gold were also big winners. A 14K gold charm bracelet featuring gold coins brought $5,700, while a gold coin, diamond, and 18K yellow gold necklace sold for $3,900.
Coin collectors had choices in the September 18 sale beyond jewelry featuring coins. They pursued prizes such as a US 1887 Indian Princess dollar coin, which realized $3,900, and an 1824 English Sovereign that achieved $5,400.
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