‘Luxe Living: The Bostonians’ drew worldwide bidding at Skinner
Left, pair of carved giltwood mirrors from the April 14 auction, $68,750; Right, Towle 365-piece sterling flatware set in the Georgian pattern, offered in the April 12 sale, $13,750
MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – Skinner Auctioneers presented two European auctions in April that drew competitive bidding from enthusiastic participants worldwide and generated high prices across multiple categories. On Thursday, April 14, Skinner offered a single-owner live auction titled Luxe Living: The Bostonians, showcasing a curated collection of furniture and decorative arts from the home of a prominent Boston couple. The online European Decor & Design Auction, which ran from April 12 – April 22, proved yet again that the market for silver, particularly pieces of sterling silver holloware from well-known makers such as Tiffany and Gorham, remains strong.
“Buyers’ excitement for fresh property on the market was especially evident by the very well attended previews,” said Department Director Stuart Slavid. “With both a live and an online auction, Skinner attracted more than a thousand bidders for the combined auctions.” All together, the two April European auctions exceeded $1.1 million.
Luxe Living: The Bostonians
Spirited bidding occurred on the phone, online and through absentee bidders, pushing the gross well above the high estimate to $534,875, with a 95% sell-through rate. Slavid said, “The Bostonians auction showed a very refined collection of fine furniture and decorations highlighted by the pair of early and important mirrors, of especially large size and in wonderful condition.” This top lot was a pair of carved giltwood mirrors that soared past their presale estimate of $2,000-$4,000 to sell for $68,750.
Chinese famille jeune jardenieres on stands, $22,500
The most successful categories were furniture and Chinese porcelain. Interest was strong for a pair of famille jeune jarinderes on stands that realized $22,500. Also, a Dutch painted leather screen featuring charming birds and florals sold for $12,500.
European Decor & Design Auction
This online auction hammered comfortably within its estimate, taking in a gross of $583,818. Two large flatware sets performed well: A Whiting Lily pattern sterling silver service with many serving pieces achieved $11,875, and a 365-piece set of Towle Georgian pattern sterling flatware earned $13,750. The European silver selection was highlighted by several Georg Jensen pieces, particularly two large compotes that each sold for $7,500.
Whiting sterling silver service in the Lily pattern, $11,875
There was also a strong showing in ceramics, ranging from Wedgwood, early Staffordshire, Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica and Meissen. “Both the pineapple and melon teapots in the European Decor & Design sale were especially fine examples of 18th-century English pottery,” noted Stuart, and buyers took note. Both teapots, lots 1209 and 1226, sold for $11,875.
View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/
