Fine Jewelry, Antiques & Fine Art Auction

Jewelry, Watches, and Exquisite Fine and Decorative Arts Add Sparkle to the Season at Moran’s December Auction

John Moran Auctioneers’ December 13, 2011 auction, a glittering finale to the Southern California company’s impressive year of sales, will feature 175 lots of fine jewelry from private estates and collections alongside 200 lots of European and American fine art and antiques. 

The two-session sale is led by a 1940’s 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe chronograph wristwatch that is expected to realize $40,000 – 60,000, a diamond and platinum ring centering a pear-shaped 4.20 carat, H-I color diamond (estimate: $20,000 – 30,000), and an elegant oval sapphire and gold ring (estimate: $10,000 – 15,000), but buyers will also find highly desirable jewelry and watches of all types at all price points from under $1000 up to $15,000, including gemstones of every type and vintage: Art Deco, Edwardian, Victorian, retro and modern, including signed pieces by Fahrner and Mia B., items by Tiffany and Cartier, and accessories by Judth Leiber. Several pieces add a whimsical flavor to the selection, in keeping with the holiday season, such as a wonderful ruby, diamond, enamel and gold standing horse brooch, by Tiffany & Co (estimate: $4000 – 6000). 

The decorative arts selection comprises Continental bronzes, porcelain, and glass, American and Continental silver, including several flatware sets, and many exquisite items that are small in size but outstanding in quality, including:

•A set of six Tiffany & Co. ‘’Lap Over Edge’’ silver luncheon knives, variously decorated with gilt metal-inlaid flowers, foliage, a fish, a crab, bats and snowflakes (estimate: $1000 - 1500) 

•An Art Deco amethyst glass desk clock by Cartier (estimate: $2000 – 3000)

•A Russian blue, turquoise, red and white enameled silver cup, made for Tiffany & Co, probably in Moscow, with a charming engraved inscription dedicated to a child at Christmas (estimate: $800 – 1200)

•An enameled copper plaque signed ‘’F. Barbedienne’’ depicting a brunette beauty in profile with an exotic flower ornamenting her hair (estimate: $500 – 700)

•A pair of Chinese silver candlesticks decorated with dragons by Hong Kong maker Wang Hing ($600 – 900)

A large and beautifully cast French bronze after the model by Pierre Marius Montagne (1828 – 1879) depicting Hermes seated (estimate: $5000 – 7000) highlights the decorative items from the mid and late 19th century, while a large (18’’) L.C. Tiffany gold favrile glass baluster vase (estimate: $2000 – 4000) represents the trend towards simplicity at beginning of the 20th century. Mid-century designs include a large blue and clear Murano glass vase signed Seguso for Tiffany.

The carefully edited selection of Continental and British paintings includes a delicate 18th century portrait miniature of a woman in a period shell-backed frame by Scottish painter John Bogle (1786 – 1804), estimated at $1000 – 2000 (PHOTO 6), and a gouache, watercolor and pencil sketch by Raoul Dufy (1877 – 1953 French), titled ‘’Nature Morte aux Feuilles’’ (estimate: $4000 - 6000). An energetic work by Austrian painter Adolf Constantine Stoiloff Baumgartner depicting Cossacks riding through a winter landscape is offered for $4000 – 6000. Among the other artists are represented are Arthur V. Diehl, Alfred Siefert (1850 – 1901 Czech), Alexandre Legrand (1822 – 1901 French) and William Harris Weatherhead (1843 – 1909 British). American works are led by an Edward Curtis (1868-1952) photogravure “Oasis in the Badlands” (estimate: $2000 – 3000).

John Moran Auctioneers’ December 13th sale will be held at the Pasadena Convention Center at 300 East Green Street in Pasadena. The preview will begin at 12 noon PST the same day of the sale, though advance private previews are available by appointment. The catalogued sale starts at 3:00 pm, with bidding available from the floor, via absentee, telephone or online through Artfact.com. The Discovery Sale will start at 6:30 pm and is open for floor or absentee bidding only. The catalogue will be viewable at www.johnmoran.com or artfact.com 2-3 weeks prior to the sale date. Please contact Moran’s offices at 626-793-1833 or info@johnmoran.com for more information.