HOUSTON – Morton Kuehnert’s summer catalog auction event featuring beautiful antiques, fine art, fine rugs, estate jewelry and art d’objets from Europe and around the globe will begin at 1 p.m. Central on Sunday, July 24. The auction day preview reception begins at 11 a.m.
Beginning Monday, July 18, the items may be previewed in the auction house at 4901 Richmond Ave., in Houston, TX, 77027. Participation is open to the public; also available are absentee bids, phone bids and online bidding at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
More than 200 lots from seven estates are on the block. They include: the estate of Mildred Crocker, Ruidoso, N.M.; property of Escondido Ranch, Magnolia, Texas; the Houston Junior Forum Endowment; the collection of an international oil executive; the estate of La Grand Trunk Gallery, Houston; personal collection of the late Jay Silver, a Houston antique dealer; and a 50-year personal collection of an international gentleman from Houston.
Origins of the lots include: Morocco, North Africa; Luango, Central Africa; Borneo, Bali and Sumatra, Indonesia; Costa Rica; Mexico; Teke Turkman; India; Russia; Iran; Italy; France; England; China; Korea and the United States.
Europe: Italy/France/England
Lot 60, a lovely painting by Italian artist Antonio Casanova, his 1877 oil on canvas The Courtship, estimated at $3,000-$4,000, defines the overall elegance of the European offerings. Very grand is Lot 130, an early Victorian Garrard sterling water kettle on burner stand, 1841, England, estimated at $1,500-$3,000. The Houston Junior Forum Endowment consigned eight paintings; three of the French paintings include Francoise Brochet’s: Lot 75, Lorelee et Fils, signed oil on canvas, mid 20th century, estimate $2,000-$4,000; Lot 74, another 20th-century oil on canvas Jouer de Cartes by Gabriet Dauchot, estimated at $4,000-$6,000; and Lot 77, Michel-Henry’s Toubillon de Reine-Marguerites, 20th-century oil on canvas, estimated at $3,000-$4,000. Lot 98, a pair of French dueling pistols is estimated at $4,000-$6,000. Lot 64 is a finely carved giltwood three-panel room screen, estimated at $2,500-$3,000. Lot 21 is school of Rene Lalique’s Crystal Sea fishes from his animal collection, estimated at $600-$800, signed Lalique France.
Americana
Examples of wonderful Americana include five hand-colored lithographs of American artist George Catlin (1796-1872). Lots 25-30 include lithographs from his North American Indian Portfolio. Hunting Scenes and Amusements of the Rocky Mountains and Prairies of America, London: C. and J. Adlard for George Catlin, 1844. Each is estimated at $2,000-$3,000. Lot 167, an 18th-century scrimshaw corset busk, affectionately called a “sailor’s valentine,” is estimated at $400-$800; Lot 52, a collection of three early 19th-century framed silhouette portraits, is estimated at $1,000-$2,000; and Lot 34, Autumn Landscape, an early 20th-century oil on canvas by Robert Wood, is estimated at $6,000-$9,000.
Costa Rica and Mexico
Heading south of the border, we are auctioning five carved jadeite pendants from northwestern Costa Rica dating to the first century, including Lot 168, $1,500-$2,500; Lot 169, estimated at $500-$750, Lot 170, estimated at $750-$1,000; Lot 171, estimated at $1,500-$2,500 and Lot 172, estimated at $750-$500. Lot 173, a carved jadeite monkey plaque, A.D. 300-700, is from the eastern coast of Costa Rica, with an estimate $500-$700. The oldest antiquity in the auction is Lot 175, a Mezcala carved stone figure, dating 300-100 B.C., found in Guerrero, Mexico, estimated at $500-$700. Lot 174 consists of three small carved Mexican stone celts indigenous to Lago de Chipala, central West Mexico, 100 B.C. -A.D 950, and estimated at $500-$700.
Indonesia/China/Korea/SE Asia
Lot 136 is an ancient Southeast Asian rain drum, estimated at $400-$800. Lot 162, a 20th-century Kayan rattan baby carrier, beaded and decorated, Borneo, Indonesia, promises to be a popular auction item. It is estimated at $300-$600. Three carved wood and bone ritual containers attributed to the Batak people in Sumatra, Indonesia, will be sold in three different lots: 163, estimated at $250-$500; Lot 164, estimated at $250-$500 and Lot 165, estimated at $250-$500. Lot 141, a 19th-century Chinese garden stool or pedestal table, is estimated at $500-$1,000. Lot 144, a Ming Dynasty glazed pottery roof tile, is estimated at $400-$800 and Lot 143, a Chinese jade and semiprecious stone 19th-century peach tree in a Famille Verte porcelain pot, is estimated at $500-$1,000. A Korean elmwood cabinet over chest, circa late 19th century, Lot 137, is estimated at $400-$600. Lot 158, two Indonesian Iban Ikat shawls, 49 x 21 inches and 62 x 19 inches, are estimated at $250-$500 and Lot 159, an 84- x 44-inch Indonesian Ikat Hinggi, is estimated at $350-$500.
Teke Turkman
The Teke tribe was the dominant Turkman tribe in Central Asia the second half of the 19th century. On the auction block are four Teke Turkman silver cuff bracelets: Lot 176 with two, estimated at $1,000-$2,000; Lot 177 with one, estimated at $250-$500 and Lot 178, estimated at $400-$600. Lot 179, a silver double-headed eagle pendant, is estimated at $500-$750. Of the two silver diamond-shaped pendants, Lot 180 is estimated at $400-$600 and Lot 181 is estimated at $300-$500. Also, Lot 182, a silver four-tiered bird figural necklace, is estimated at $250-$500.
Africa: Morocco/Luango
Lot 156, a Moroccan red and black goat-hair Berber akhnif, a hooded cape, 19th century, has intricate design work and $1,500-$3,000 estimate. Also from Morocco is Lot 188, with two mid-20th century tooled and embroidered leather bags decorated with star and geometric patterns, estimated at $350-$500. A special Moroccan tufted wool rug, Lot 153, 53 by 93 inches, circa 1850, will also be auctioned with an estimate of $400-$800. From Luango, West Africa, is Lot 166, a carved elephant tusk, circa 1860. The high relief carving interestingly depicts life in 19th-century West Africa and is estimated at $2,500-$5,000.
Iran/India/Russia/Turkey/Afghanistan
This category has a number of unusual treasures from our collectors, such as seven Afghani/Pakistani Kutch silver dangle rings in Lot 183, estimated at $250-$500; a late 19th-century Iranian/Persian hand-stitched table cover with a boteh (paisley) motif, estimated at $250-$500; and Lot 149, a Kohistani woman’s ceremonial tunic with silk pattern designs and tiny white beads, estimated at $1,000-$2,000. Rugs include Lot 89, a fine central Persian silk Qum rug, 11 x 8 feet, estimated at $4,000-$5,000; Lot 154, a Turkish Anatolian early 20th-century wool prayer rug, estimated at $400-800; and Lot 127, a fine Turkish Hereke rug, 4 feet 9 inches x 3 feet 4 inches, estimated at $1,000-$2,000.
Jewelry and Coins
Sure to bring international interest is Lot 94, an 18K gold Pasha de Cartier watch with a 5.00-carat diamond bezel, estimated at $16,000-$20,000. Lot 114, an 18K Rolex President wristwatch, is estimated at $4,000-$6,000. A man’s sapphire and diamond ring, Lot 115, is estimated at $700-$1,000, and a ruby and diamond bracelet is estimated at $300-$500. Lot 92 is a 19K yellow gold pair of signed Henry Dunay earrings, estimated at $1,500-$2,500. Lot 91, estimated at $1,500-$2,500, is a 1745 Peruvian 8 Escudos coin from the Kingdom of Spain-Spanish Colonial empire, Vice Royalty of Peru, Lima Mint.
For details contact Lindsay Davis, Fine Art Specialist, at ldavis@mortonkuehnert.com; David Baker, Jewelry Specialist, at dbaker@mortonkuehnert.com and Luis Arce, at larce@mortonkuehnert.com.
Items may be viewed online at www.liveauctioneers.com and http://bit.ly/m0dOKi.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
