At this writing, James D. Julia, Inc. of Fairfield, Maine, is busy preparing for another multimillion dollar three-day dual auction extravaganza, November 28 and 29. Sandwiched between Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, the back-to-back cataloged auctions make for a one-stop holiday shopping event. Julia’s kicks things off with two full days of fine glass and lamps, followed by a generous and diverse array of toys, dolls, antique advertising, coin-op, music machines, salesman samples, and more. The glass and lamp auction boasts fresh-to-the-market items from collections and estates from across the country and includes some very rare buying opportunities. One such rarity among the numerous lamps in the sale is a marvelous Tiffany Nasturtium floor lamp. A gorgeous mix of highly mottled and fiery glass, the shade allover pattern of flowers resting on a vertically ribbed bronze base with lily pad foot carries with it an estimate of $70,000 to $100,000. A Tiffany Venetian leaded table lamp with intricate micro-design with exceptional glass rests on its original and equally intricate bronze base patterned to match the Tiffany bronze desk sets of the same design. This unusual lamp is estimated for $60,000 to $80,000. Other Tiffany lamps include a scarce variety of their Linenfold lamp. Normally found in green or amber, this example is in white and displays a lovely brilliance and sublime elegance. The formed glass crafted to look like fabric is delightfully deceiving. It comes with an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000.
Other lamps include a variety of Pairpoint examples such as an outstanding Puffy Poppy. Including both the two and the rarer four color examples with realistically rendered blossoms, they carry estimates of $8,000 to $10,000 and $10,000 to $15,000, respectively. The auction will also feature a Pairpoint Puffy Rose lamp with similar styling and desirability. It is expected to sell for $6,000 to $8,000.
These are joined by some exquisite reverse painted lamps such as a rare Handel Hollyhock table lamp. Depicting allover design of multihued flowers in various states of bloom against a peach butterscotch background, it carries an $8,000 to $12,000 estimate. A rare Handel lamp known as “The Road” shows a country trail leading to the woods. Both reverse and obverse painted, it gives the shade a very three dimensional look. This lamp is estimated for $20,000 to $25,000.
This auction is also highlighted by a quality selection of fine Tiffany glass. A rare Tiffany red miniature bulbous vase with wavy bands of gold iridescence should garner the attention of the advanced collector. It comes with expectations of $8,000 to $12,000. An unusual green iridescent Tiffany vase with pulled feather design and accented by zipper decoration is another piece worthy of attention. It carries a presale estimate of $5,000 to $7,000. The virtual rainbow of Tiffany vases continues with a stunning blue vase with pulled design that is expected to finish up at $8,000 to $12,000. Others include a large gold Favrile vase with heart and vine decoration further enhanced by padded and wheel carved white flowers. This example comes estimated for $15,000 to $25,000. And a monumental Tiffany vase measuring over 19 inches features delicate peacock feathers surrounding the perimeter. It carries an estimate of $6,000 to $9,000.
Other monumental pieces that will amaze you by their sheer size and decoration include a Daum cameo and enamel bumblebee vase with realism that defies reason. This exceptional vase comes estimated for $15,000 to $20,000. On the other side of the size spectrum is a rare Daum squat vase with a long slender stem that has a desirable Martele background, looking like a hand hammered finish. The piece also features wheel carved flowers and comes with a $20,000 to $30,000 estimate. This joins several other rare Daum pieces such as rain scene vases, winter scenes, and others such as, you guessed it, a monumental Daum mushroom vase with an acid textured stem that looks like flowing water leading to the bulbous base decorated with a field of colorful wild mushrooms. It is expected to bring $15,000 to $20,000.
The cavalcade of cameo glass continues with two outstanding Galle marquetry and padded vases. Once the vase itself was blown, the artist then would inlay molten glass and wheel-carve delicate translucent flowers for a striking effect. These examples including one with a carved Oriental style signature for $10,000 to $15,000 and $15,000 to $20,000, respectively.
Other exciting offerings include over 50 pieces of Moser glass from a West Texas collector. After Julia’s glass and lamp auction in June of this year that showed strong results in Moser, the consignor felt it the proper time to sell and Julia's the firm to handle it. The offering was secured and transported back to Maine awaiting bids from eager collectors. Included will be such significant pieces as a monumental two-handled cranberry colored vase beautifully enameled with a wooded brook scene with a large heron scoping for his next meal as two herons fly above for a different vantage point. With its exceptional artistry and realism, the piece is expected to bring $10,000 to $15,000. Following this theme is another Moser vase, this one a large clear glass example that shades to amethyst with an applied bird of prey swooping down over a lily pad strewn swamp. Its rim accented with gold swamp grass decoration, this lovely piece carries a presale estimate of $2,500 to $3,000. And a monumental 31-inch Moser trumpet vase decorated with towering sunflowers comes with expectations of $2,000 to $2,500.
Another area in which Julia’s has excelled in recent years is Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre. This highly elaborate decorated ceramic ware created by Daisy Makeig Jones in the early 20th century has consistently found favor among serious collectors for its otherworldly depictions of whimsy and fantasy. Included in this sale are such pieces as a rare footed chalice bowl in the Twyford Gardens pattern on the exterior, and a variation of the Fairy Gondola pattern on the interior. It carries a $10,000 to $12,000 estimate. A Melba center bowl with an exterior decorated in the Garden of Paradise pattern and the interior decorated in the Jumping Faun pattern comes with an estimate of $5,000 to $8,000. And a plate in the Roc Center pattern carries an estimate of $3,000 to $4,000.
From a somewhat earlier era comes a variety of Victorian glass including some rather spectacular examples of Mt. Washington Burmese pieces. A lovely vase with a ruffled lip and enameled with monkeys is expected to bring $15,000 to $20,000 while a similar form only decorated with owls instead likewise carries an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000. A Mt. Washington Burmese two-handled vase with curlicue handles and herons flying over pyramids is estimated for $8,000 to $12,000. The selection of Victorian glass continues with some wonderful Royal Flemish works including an elaborate vase enameled with a scene of ducks in flight. It carries an estimate of $5,000 to $7,000. And a Royal Flemish vase with a V-shaped freeform top reminiscent of a bird’s beak that echoes the enameled flock of seagulls across its body comes to the block with a $3,000 to $4,000 estimate.
Also included is a large collection of contemporary paperweights including artists such as Paul Stankard, Debbie & Delmo Tarsitano, Rick Ayotte, and many more. Highlights of the grouping include three large Paul Stankard “Root Spirit” weights depicting stylized figures entwined in the roots of flowers. They come estimated for $7,000 to $9,000 apiece.
The sale is rounded out by a large selection of sterling silver including Tiffany, George Jensen, J.E. Caldwell, and other top makers and includes coffee and tea service pieces, bowls, and other utilitarian pieces. And having just arrived is a selection of jewelry, silver, and art glass from the collection of actress Polly Bergen. With a career spanning over six decades including the original Cape Fear, television roles throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s as well as work as recent and notable as ABC’s Desperate Housewives, this is your chance to own pieces from a Hollywood veteran.
More information on the Julia auction can be obtained by going to Julia’s website at www.jamesdjulia.com or calling (207) 453-7125. Free full-color brochures are available, or their lavish, full-color, detailed and illustrated catalogs are available for $39. Previews for the auctions will be Tuesday, November 27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Friday from 8 to 10 a.m. before the auction. The glass and lamp auction commences at 10 a.m. on November 28 and 29 and the toy, doll, and advertising auction on November 30 at Julia’s auction facilities on Route 201 in Fairfield, Maine.