From a pair of spectacular bronze-mounted elephant tusks to American, European, and Contemporary Art, sewn with a varied selection of fine furniture and decorative arts — including collections of ivory figures, earthenware steins, and meerschaum pipes — Heritage Auctions’ 1400+ lot Estate Signature Auction, September 12-13, has been designed with every taste in mind.
“This is a wide ranging and thoughtfully assembled auction,” said Ed Beardsley, Vice President at Heritage. “Included in the array we’re also offering a world class collection of Tribal Artifacts that once belonged to Carl Akeley, the Father of Modern Taxidermy, and The Elton Hyder III Collection, which formerly decorated the University of Texas School of Law Library.”
Among the most important pieces of furniture offered in the auction, a Pair of French Jacob Fréres Empire Walnut Side Chairs, Paris, France, circa 1829 — with conclusive provenance dating to 1829 and the Chateau des Tuileries, 1829. “These chairs are simply stunning on their own, as pieces of fine furniture,” said Beardsley, “but figuring in the history and the unquestionable provenance, and they should prove irresistible to any number of collectors.”
The fine art section of the auction is brimming with affordable and tasteful paintings and sculpture, all offered at a variety of price points, including a stunning Pietro Franchi marble figural group, Venus Et L’Amour, Rome, Italy, circa 1876, after the original by Charles-Auguste Fraikin and Landscape with Travelers Along a Roadway, in the manner of 17th century Dutch painter Pieter Jansz Asch.
Contemporary and Modern Art is represented in a diversity of artists across the 20th and 21st centuries, including Andy Warhol with a color screenprint of Cow, circa 1976-77, Rukus Taxi, 1986, a playful sculpture from the inimitable American artist Red Grooms and Seeing More, 2012, from Hiwei Tu, one of China’s most important and prolific living artists.
Several pieces of fine 20th Century Lalique punctuate the auction, with a Lalique Enameled Glass Dahlias Vase, Wingen-sur-Moder, France, circa 1923, leading the way, complemented by a Lalique Patinated Glass Espalion Vase, Wingen-sur-Moder, France, circa 1927, with a lovely blue patina.
An assortment of decorative furniture, vases, Meissen and other decorative arts round out the considerable offerings, led by an intricate and splendid Louis XVIII Style Porcelain, Gilt Bronze and Wood Tripod Table, probably made in Paris, France, circa 1850 — with bleu celeste ground Sèvres style bowl centered with portrait of Louis XVIII circled by 18 medallions, 17 depicting ladies of the court and one armorial, walnut pedestal with scroll and acanthus leaf gilt bronze mounts — and a Meissen Porcelain Figural Group from the early 20th century, depicting an aristocratic lady playing cards with three children.
