May 2012 Post Auction Press Release

On May 22^nd and May 23^rd, Jackson’s International proved once again why they continue to be an auction house of choice for buyers and sellers worldwide.  With over 1,000 choice lots to pick from and buyers participating from over 50 countries across the globe, the sale touting “World Treasures” in Russian, Asian, European and American Fine Art lived up to its name totaling over 2 million dollars in sales.

This sale featured collections belonging to two fantastic collectors that Jackson’s buyers are perhaps familiar with – Dr. James F. Cooper and Dr. John E. Sinsky.  Jackson’s was honored to offer a portion of the Dr. James F. Cooper Lifetime Collection of Imperial  Russian Treasures in May of 2010.  After falling ill and passing away suddenly, Jackson’s handled the portion of the collection that Dr. Cooper had held back for his own enjoyment.  Also featured in this sale was the second portion of the Dr. John Sinsky collection of Imperial Russian art.

With two great collections to pull from, the sale began with Russian Arts, starting with a collection of Faberge including a clock, picture frame, silver tray, cigarette case and other items.  A pair of Russian icons depicting the Mother of God and Christ, circa 1800, sold for $52,800.00 to a collector in Omaha after much heated bidding on the phone, including three lines out to Moscow.  Another nice Palekh school icon of St. George also sold for over $50,000.00. 

The sale also featured an impressive collection of European arts, including a nicely carved Gothic Pieta, circa 1470.  The carving measured 27.5 inches and sold for $36,000.00 to a buyer in Miami, Florida.  A large Neo-Byzantine gilt bronze altar triptych, Austrian and from the 19^th century saw lots of action and sold over its estimate of $4,000-$7,000 crossing the block at $13,800.00 and finally selling to a buyer in London after competing with an aggressive internet bidder.  A nice alabaster carving of Joan of Arc with matching pedestal sold for $8,400.00 to a collector in Texas. 

After moving through some nice ivories, art bronzes and other carvings, next up was a collection of paintings including a Heinz Heim depiction of “The Cloister Soup” which sold to a buyer in the Ukraine for $27,600.00 and an Antonio Gisbert oil on wood panel painting entitled “Love Song” which sold for $14,400.00.  Other paintings of note include a Jusepe Ribera oil on canvas depicting Saint Jerome which sold for $10,800.00 to a buyer in Spain and an oil on canvas of Jesus au Tombeau from the studio of French painter Jean-Jacques Henner which sold for $7,200.00 against a $2,500-$3,500 pre-sale auction estimate.   Also selling was an amazing depiction of the Tribune Room in the Uffizi Palace done in watercolor by Jean Baptiste Fortune de Fournier.  This sizable watercolor sold for $12,000.00 and will be going to a buyer in Paris. 

American paintings were represented by a quintessential Marvin Cone painting entitled River Hills and dated 1945.  The oil on canvas board painting measured 13 inches x 20 inches was received by the owner as a wedding gift from the artist in 1946.  With twelve phone bidders on line, it took some time to work through the bidding, but the painting finally sold to for $174,000.00.  Enough to pay for several weddings! 

There were also two works by Cone’s well-known colleague, Grant Wood, being offered on this sale including an early fall landscape which sold for $62,400.00 and an interesting wrought iron candle stand lamp designed by Wood which sold to a private institution for $3,360.00.

Day one ended with some more Russian arts including a fascinating cache of personal icons and other related materials from the family of General Vsevolod Victorovich Sakharov, former general of Turkistan (1905-1906).  This interesting group was composed of six icons, a hand painted coat of arms, a letter from the Russian Diplomatic Mission of Constantinople and several other items.  This fantastic grouping sold for $6,600.00 to a buyer in New York.

Day two opened with some impressive art glass pieces, including pieces by Tiffany, Daum Nancy, Galle, Muller & Co. and Baccarat.  This grouping was followed by more European works including some interesting furniture pieces including an Italian Renaissance carved marble and Pietra Dura center table that sold for $15,600.00 to a Floridian followed by a Milanese ebony veneered and ivory inlaid papeleira on stand in the manner of Ferdinando Poglaini which sold for $8,400.00.

Next to cross the block was an interesting collection of European ivory, including two interesting German lots that included a group of sterling-gilt, ivory and gemstone mounted knights and a silver mounted lidded stein, bringing in $3,600.00 collectively.

Day two of the auction also featured a small, but nice, collection of furniture.  Pieces of note include a French Louis XVI style parquetry mahogany and satin wood vide poche selling for $3,120.00, a Biedermeier walnut, ebonized and gilt bronze four door bookcase which sold for $4,800.00 and a English Regency period rosewood and satinwood inlaid tilt top breakfast table selling for $2,160.00.

Next to sell were some very impressive silver and European art pieces including works by Tiffany, KPM, Limoges, Sevres and Meissen.  Two pieces of note include a French Renaissance style Limoges enameled wood casket from the 19^th century.  The ebonized wood casket with twist carved columnar supports contained ten Limoges enameled portrait plaques of European Renaissance territorial rulers and military leaders.  The piece sold for $36,000.00 to a Canadian buyer.  Also selling was an interesting Continental enameled silver gem set and internal diorama casket, 19^th century, in the manner of Boucheron, while only 5.75 inches sold to a collector in Massachusetts for $16,800.00.

The sale featured several Napoleonic items, including a French bronze bust, a gilt bronze and marble mounted figure of Napoleon, a gilt bronze and marble French plaque of Napoleon and Josephine, a Sevres style hand painted plate, a gilt bronze and marble inkstand, a pair of ivory portraits, a pair of bronze figures and many other items.  Together, this interesting collection sold across the globe for over $11,000.00.

After European works, the sale concluded with an array of Asian items including several carved rhinoceros libation cups, carved jade and spectacular ivory pieces.  Starting the Asian lots was a diminutive carved rhinoceros horn libation cup from the Qing dynasty.  While only measuring 4 inches in height, this piece sold for just under $20,000.00.  One of the more interesting Asian pieces was a Japanese rock crystal and Shibayama carved ivory model of a temple lion from the Meiji period which was inlaid with pearl and coral and sold for $12,000.00 to a buyer in the Yucatan. 

Asian porcelain was also represented with one piece of note being a fine Chinese Ming yellow glazed dish with a Hongzhi mark and of the period.  Measuring 6.75 inches in diameter, the piece which came from a private Midwestern estate, sold for $12,000.00 to a collector in Illinois.  Another interesting piece to sell was a Chinese doucai and blue ground porcelain rouleau vase which sold for $4,800.00 against a conservative $500-$750 pre-sale auction estimate. 

To view the entire illustrated catalog online, along with corresponding sales results or to view any of Jackson’s past sales with results, log on at jacksonsauction.com and click on “Search Past Auctions.”

Jackson’s International is now turning their attention to their upcoming Fall Sales, with their next International Fine Art sale of World Treasures scheduled for November 13^th and 14^th, 2012.  Jackson’s will be accepting consignments for this sale through September 1^st.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our consignment department at consignments@jacksonsauction.com.