LOS ANGELES – Works in marble achieved marvelous results in Andrew Jones Auctions‘ October 24 auction of The John Nelson Collection, Part I, which more than doubled its presale estimate to realize $1.6 million. Leading the sale were two magnificent life-size Italian Carrara marble models of dogs, both from the 19th century, that brought $62,500.

An Italian marble torso of a youth from the 18th or 19th century achieved $35,000, while a pair of Roman marble lion head reliefs made $23,750 against an estimate of $2,000-3,000. Asian items featured a beautiful set of four Chinese hand painted wallpaper panels of birds amidst flowering branches, which sold for $12,500, and a Southeast Asian verdigris mixed alloy bust of the Buddha, which achieved $15,000.

“I am beyond elated that the sale performed as fantastically as it did,” said Andrew Jones, the president and CEO of Andrew Jones Auctions. “A telephone bidder during the auction said, ‘I bet John is looking down from heaven with a big smile.’ I can’t image a better result than that.” The Part 1 auction came just two weeks after another white glove online-only event: the sale of the collection of Lady Victoria White, held Oct. 10.

John Nelson had a deep love of European furniture and decorative arts. Testaments to the man’s discerning eye included a pair of Florentine Neoclassical parcel gilt and white painted console tables, circa 1800, which sold for $30,000; and a fine pair of Louis XVI style scarlet lacquered side cabinets by Jean Louis Benjamin Gros (Paris), which realized $27,500.

Nelson’s affinity for exquisite chandeliers and mirrors spurred bidders on. A pair of 20th-century French Neoclassical style gilt bronze and cut glass 18-light chandeliers in the manner of Maison Bagues, achieved $20,000, while a pair of Italian Rococo giltwood and cobalt glass pier mirrors dating from the mid-18th century drove international bidding to a final price of $27,500.

The selection of European paintings was highlighted by a series of four oils on canvas portraits of dogs after Joseph Urbain Melin (French 1811-1886), which collectively achieved $57,500.  A wonderful and vibrant oil on canvas of parrots amidst flowers by a follower of Jacob Bogdani (Dutch-Hungarian, 1660-1724) far surpassed its estimate of $3,000-$5,000 to sell for $21,250.