PRESS RELEASE:
"POSSUM HUNTER" SOARS TO $11,000 - GOES FROM NEW JERSEY ATTIC TO FLORIDA SUNSHINE!
Leighton Galleries' November 4th auction featured a William Aiken Walker oil painting titled "Possum Hunter". The painting was gifted to the consignor in 1970 by her great-uncle, primarily for the frame. The oil on board painting had been in the attic of the house her great-uncle's parents built in Irvington, New Jersey since 1905, which was the date on the newspaper it had been wrapped in. "My uncle wanted me to have the frame, he wouldn't take no for an answer, and I decided that the picture was cute, so I'd take it for that and my uncle would never know what I did with the frame, which ended up in the basement at home", said the consignor. Competition proved strong and aggressive between the floor, the Internet, and all available phone lines, each with an excited bidder on the other end. A private collector from Florida was the successful bidder when his bid of $11,000 (estimate $8000-12000) was the last price to be hammered down. The painting is being shipped directly to a restorer, and from there will head to its new home in Florida. Leighton did ask the consignor if she might still have the frame, as it would be nice for the painting and the frame to be put back together. After a noble effort, it was unable to be located.
A nice collection of estate jewelry that had been consigned by a local resident who was downsizing, did exceedingly well. The consignor had decided to finally part with her mother's jewelry. It was important to her that the jewelry did not sell for meltdown value. She wanted folks to wear, enjoy and cherish the pieces just as her mother did, and she after her. The highlight piece, a 32" fancy-link gold necklace with cabochon gemstone sliders came in at its high estimate of $1200. An 18K opal and diamond brooch garnered $900, exceeding its high estimate of $800. A 14K charm bracelet donning seven charms brought $700, exceeding its high estimate of $600. An emerald and diamond ring realized $500 against a $200-300 estimate. And a group of six pairs of 14K pierced earrings realized $800 against a $500-700 estimate.
Formal contemporary furniture from a fine residence in Chester, New Jersey also faired well at the sale. A ball & claw bombe chest by Century garnered $1400 against a $300-500 estimate. A Sherrill camel back sofa estimated at $200-300 realized $900. And a pair of walnut host chairs in Lee Jofa fabric brought $350 meeting its estimate of $300-500. Other furniture in the sale included a Tiffany & Co. tall case clock hammered down at $4800 against a $6000-8000 estimate, a pair of barrel chairs designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Cassina brought $1200 against an estimate of $800-1200, and a pair of Arne Jacobsen/Fritz Hansen swan chairs estimated at $1000-1500 realized $1400.
Sterling silver prices proved exceedingly strong. Among the pieces exceeding their high estimates included a Handarbeit coffee and tea service that realized $1600 against a $500-700 estimate, a Reed & Barton coffee and tea service also estimated at $500-700 realized $1200, a 68-piece Reed & Barton flatware service that garnered $1500 was estimated at $500-700, a Gorham Fontainebleau punch ladle brought $1200 against a $300-500 estimate, a pair of Rococo-style candlesticks estimated at $250-350 realized $550, and a 35-piece Wallace flatware service in Spanish Lace pattern garnered $700 against a $400-500 estimate.
There were also plenty of highlights and surprises on auction night. A Swiss Jacots Ideal Piccolo cylinder music box by Mermod Freres estimated at $2500-3500 was hammered down at $6000, a pair of Sevres-style urns fitted as lamps realized $5500 against an $800-1200 estimate, an Asian embroidered tapestry garnered $1400 against a $400-600 estimate, a pair of painted porcelain plaques estimated at $700-900 brought $1500, and a Louis Vuitton trunk estimated at $800-1200 garnered $2700.
Prices given do not include buyers premium. For more results or information www.leightongalleries.com. or 201-327-8800.