PRESS RELEASE:
LEIGHTON HOLDS FIRST PREVIEW IN NEW ALLENDALE GALLERY
On January 19th, Leighton Galleries showcased over 400 lots in their new location at 6 Pearl Court in Allendale, New Jersey. Long in the making but worth the wait, said Evelyn Leighton, the gallery was built to our specifications. The 5000 square foot space includes a gorgeous showroom, a nice big warehouse, and a “bullpen” where we make it all happen. After being in business over 20 years, it is nice to finally have our own space, said Ms. Leighton, especially in an upscale office park with a great location in such a beautiful town. This has been a blessing to us. Due to zoning issues, Leighton is not permitted to hold the auctions on site. Therefore the auctions will continue to be held at the Knights of Columbus hall in Washington Township. That was the one caveat, said Leighton, albeit our January 19th auction was a huge success. We had a good turnout for our previews in our new gallery, as well as a full auction audience at the Knights hall which is less than 10 minutes away.
The Thursday evening Fine & Decorative Arts auction offered American Artworks, Silver, Fine Jewelry, Designer Couture, Elegant Glass, Fine Porcelains, Formal Furniture and a collection of Tiffany items including lamps, bronzes, silver, glass and jewelry. Bidding was highly competitive and at times fierce between internet, phone and floor bidders, with many lots exceeding high estimate.
Among the surprises of the evening was a French bronze and champlevé regulator clock selling for $7600 (est.2000-3000), a Hermes tricolor Kelly bag bringing $5700 (est.1500-2000), a Chinese carved ivory tusk bridge reaching $4500 (est.1500-2000), a pair of Russian Niello vodka cups bringing $3600 (est.200-300), and a Charles Levier oil on canvas “Les Soeurs” went for $2200 against a 600-800 estimate.
American art offered included three Norman Rockwell works in progress including a watercolor study “Browning Superposed” selling for $5300, a mixed media “Dodge City” bringing $4900, and a baseball sketch realizing $3300. A Keith Haring and Andy Warhol drawing “Andy Mouse” sold for $4600, two Andy Warhol artworks including an offset lithograph “Campbell’s Soup Box” and a drawing on paper “Merry Boot” each realized $1900, a Dr. Seuss ink drawing “Cat in the Hat” garnered $1500, and a Hahn Vidal canvas painting “Water Lilies” reached $1000. Antique portraits also fared well with three separate portraits by Paul Peel of the Myers family of the Ohio textile mill garnering a total of $6000, and an oil on canvas portrait painting of a classical woman sold for $2300.
A nice collection of Tiffany was also offered. A Tiffany Studios leaded glass and bronze lamp sold for $5000, a French bronze regulator clock brought $1900, a Tiffany Studios dore bronze candelabra garnered $1400, a favrile glass candle lamp realized $1200, a Tiffany & Co. Makers sterling centerpiece bowl sold at $900, an Olympian ice cream server and a pair of 14K cufflinks each reached $550.
Highlighting the jewelry was a platinum and diamond engagement ring reaching $3100 (est.1000-1500), a Matl Matilda Poulat necklace and earring set bringing $1500 (est.500-700), a diamond mechanical flower brooch selling for $1400 (est.1000-1200), a pair of diamond stud earrings realizing $900 (est.200-300), and a Boucher bunny pin fetched $750 (est.450-550).
Bidding continued to be strong in the porcelain and glass category. A Lechenet majolica jardinière & pedestal garnered $2100 (est.800-1200), a 108-piece Wedgwood Florentine china set fetched $1800 (est.600-800), a 150-piece Royal Worcester Cradley china set brought $1200 (est.300-500), a Lladro figural group “Seamaids Playing” sold for $1050 (est.250-350), a pair of Steuben Ivrene vases sold for $1400 (est.1000-1500), a Baccarat Rubina Swirl lemonade set realized $1200 (est.300-500), and a Rubina Swirl dresser set fetched $800 (est.300-500).
Other items in the sale far exceeded their high estimates. A Chinese carved ivory foo lion group realized $4200 (est.2000-3000), a group of 265 assorted ivory poker chips garnered $2000 (est.1000-1500), an antique carved gesso mirror sold for $1600 (est.500-800), a grotto-style stool with dolphin base brought $1000 (est.400-600), a German bronze sculpture of an amazon cast by Gladenbeck fetched $1600 (est.500-700, a Sino-Tibetan silver and jade ceremonial ax sold at $1050 (est.300-500), a Bucherer bracket clock went for $750 (est.250-350), and an Austrian cold-painted peacock brought $575 (est.250-350).
Prices given include a 17% buyers premium. For more results or information www.leightongalleries.com. or 201-327-8800.