Bonhams Los Angeles presents The Elegant Home, the leading source for high-end luxury on the West Coast. The June 7 – 8 sale provides a diverse range of nearly 850 important pieces of furniture, silver, decorative and fine arts – all reflecting quality in design and build. Items to be offered include furniture, tapestries, paintings, porcelain and silver, among other exceptional decorative arts.
One highlight is an American sterling silver and mixed – metal Japanese style punch bowl and ladle by Gorham (estimate U.S. $20,000 – 30,000). The Gorham line of ‘Art Silver’ of the 1870s was focused almost exclusively on the Japanese aesthetic post – 1877, after the opening of commercial trade between Japan and the U.S. and the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition which highlighted an ornate Japanese Pavilion with gardens and a vast bazaar. As the manufacture of the handmade mixed – metal wares was so involved and expensive, production was relatively small and ultimately ceased in 1885 – making them rare and prized possessions.
Another lot featured in this sale is an English gilt metal mounted mahogany extending ‘Jupe’ dining table, estimated at U.S. $60,000 – 80,000. Made in the second half of the 19th century, it bears a makers stamp of ‘Johnstone & Jeanes 67 New Bond St’. The patent for ‘Improved Expanding Table’ was originally patented by Robert Jupe (of Johnstone Jupe & Co.) in 1835. After Jupe parted ways with Johnstone, the latter partnered with Jeanes; and as records suggest the new partnership had claim on the patent and produced several tables in the ‘Jupe’ signature style.