At $19,800, Lot 3205, an 18th century Russian icon of the Vladimir Mother of God took the top spot in the auction. It arrived at Kaminski as one of a number of pieces belonging to Peter Denisevich, who grew his collection while stationed as a U.S. military attache in Moscow in 1946. The Vladimir Mother of God icon was the oldest piece in Denisevich’s collection, which included two newer, though still beautiful, icons as well. A gilded silver oklad covers the icon, chased with foliage that surrounds the ornately arranged pearls embellishing both the garments of Mother and Child. The beauty and age captured the interest of numerous online and phone bidders who drove the final price well above the original estimate of $5,000- $8,000.
The success of the icon carried over onto the other Russian items in the auction, including a green guilloche enameled card case. The small sterling case was originally made in St. Petersburg between 1908 and 1917, and was marked with the Kokoshnik mark. Kaminski appraisers estimated the case at $2,000-$4,000. It ultimately sold for $6,600.
Denisevich’s collection also included an interesting adjustable candlestick, with two lights arranged to backlight a lithophane of a St. Petersburg scene. The decorative candlestick sold above estimate for $4,560.
Veritable and impressive age was a theme among the highest selling lots of the day. A suite of Old Master paintings spiked many bidders’ interest. The two highest grossing of the collection where Jan Josef Horemans the Younger’s Abraham and the Three Angels and Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist, from the circle of Trevisani, or Francesco de Mura. Both elegant paintings sold for $4,305.
John Mogford’s Shipwreck, proved the best selling painting of the sale. The painting showcases Mogford’s signature soft light that illuminates the vast cliffs and small wrecked ship pictured in the painting. Originally estimated at $3,000-$5,000, the Mogford painted was finally hammered down at $7,800. Paul Renard’s Paris Street Scene, also attracted bidding interest. The painting met its high estimate and sold for $3,600.
A photograph by Annie Leibovitz of the Olympic diver Greg Louganis sold for above its original estimate for $2,400. Also much anticipated was a sterling silver and ivory golf trophy that also sold above estimate for $1,353.
A selection of Continental decorative pieces and paintings rounded out the sale. Among the highlights were a set of two Bohemian decanters and 12 glasses, with exquisitely painted gold surface decoration and ruby colored glass inserts. A phone bidder took home the lot for $3,960, above the $1,800-$2,500 estimate.
Also popular was a 17th or 18th century Turkish Iznik charger, originally estimated at only $300 to $500. Iznik was renowned from the 15th to the 17th centuries for its distinctive decorated pottery. The charger presented at Kaminski exhibited the colors and designs that characterized Iznik pottery at the end of the production era, and fetched $2,829.
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ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
