With over 2,600 lots of world-class fine and decorative arts, antiques, folk art, Asian articles, historical items and archives on offer, Julia's was all abuzz with almost 800 house bidders and 5,000 online bidders from 53 countries throughout the course of their four-day event held Aug. 25 through 28. After the hammer fell for the last time, 57 lots realized $10,000 or above. In addition, over 14 lots realized $25,000 or more, and three lots broke the six figure mark.
Day one hit the ground running with 450 lots of paintings and sculpture. Bidders were ringing the doorbell on a gorgeous “Gloucester Doorway” painting with provenance by Maine artist Abbott Fuller Graves, which was estimated at $20,000-$40,000 and sold for $59,250. Other highlights included "Der Menschen Frosser" by German artist Friedrich Wilhelm Kuhnert (estimated at $150,000-$200,000, sold for $165,900); "St. Patrick’s" by Guy Wiggins (estimated at $10,000-$15,000, sold for $16,590); and "Boats off Rockport" by Max Kuehne (estimated at $7,000-$10,000, sold for $20,145). An unsigned 18th/19th-century Florentine School painting titled "Death of the Virgin" (estimated at $5,000-$7,000) sold for $22,515, and Edgar Alwin Payne's "Glacier, Sierra Mountains, " which was estimated at $20,000-$40,000, realized $23,700. Notably, an outstanding collection of over two dozen paintings by Waldo Peirce, acquired directly from the artist's daughter, brought in nearly $70,000.
Fine bronzes also weighed in heavily as part of the auction's first day highlights. Enthusiasts climbed every mountain for Carl Rungius' "Big Horn Ram," which was estimated at $125,000-$175,000 and sold for $225,150. One lucky bidder feathered their nest with Paul Manship's extraordinary "Adjutant Stork," which was estimated at $30,000-$50,000. It sold for $50,362.50.
Auction days two and three featured 1,300 lots of fine antiques, furniture, and accessories. Clock and furniture highlights included a Chippendale block-and-shell carved Goddard Townsend mahogany tall-case clock, which sold for $47,400, and a Chippendale Cherry highboy, which was estimated at $10,000-$15,000, and sold for $19,552.50. The needle in the haystack for these categories was definitely a 19th-century American Empire mahogany sewing stand, which was estimated at $800-$1,200 and sold for $17,775.
This auction had an array of lighting and silver and equally luminous results for these decorative item categories. Enthusiasts turned the switch on a Tiffany Studios acorn hanging lamp (estimated at $10,000-$15,000, sold for $11,850) and a fine Handel reverse painted scenic table lamp, which was estimated at $3,000-$5,000 and brought $10,665. One silver collector took a shine to a remarkable six-piece Tiffany Chrysanthemum pattern tea and coffee service, which was estimated at $10,000-$20,000. It sold for $23,700.
Buyers looking to deck their halls with the finest folk art, paintings, and posters certainly left happy from this sale. A recently discovered ship portrait by Fitz Hugh Lane, which was featured in a recent New York Times article, realized $118,500. A rare Peugeot automobile broadside By Rene Vincent, estimated at $8,000-$10,000, ruled the road, bringing $20,145. And everyone was floored when a folk art hooked rug titled, "Always Save The Women First," estimated at $2,000-$3,000, brought $16,590.
Other categories featured during the second and third days of this momentous sale included Native American and historical items, motorcycles, and weathervanes. Highlights of these specialty categories included a Plains Buffalo hide box and border robe (estimated at $1,500-$2,500, sold for $9,480); a spectacular 19th-century gold encrusted Caucasian Shashka (estimated at $8,000-$12,000, sold for $24,885); an American/Confederate 13-star American flag from the estate collection of John W. Armiger Jr. (estimated at $20,000-$30,000 sold for $31,995); and a 1916 Harley Davidson from the estate collection of Michael Urioste (estimated at $3,000-$6,000, realized $22,000). Buyers certainly had the wind blowing in the right direction when it came to the fine selection of weathervanes available at this sale, with the tornado being a Fiske full-body New Jersey steer, which was estimated at $25,000-$35,000 and sold for $52,732.50.
Julia's fourth and final auction day was dedicated to Asian Art and realized over $1.2 million in sales.
Artwork and paintings were featured prominently during the Asian portion on the last day. Collectors clearly got the warm and fuzzies from Leonard T. Foujita's "Book of Cats," which was estimated at $10,000-$15,000 and sold for $32,587.50. Another official highlight was a portrait of a Hong Merchant of the 3rd rank, which surpassed its low estimate by a factor of 9, realizing $18,960.
Julia's selection of decorative jades, porcelains, Peking glass, and cloisonné were second to none, and buyers could not get enough of these precious Asian items. A white jade carved covered vase with elephant mask handles, estimated at $15,000-$20,000, sold for $17,290. Porcelain highlights included a large painted famille rose tripod censer with raised handles (estimated at $30,000-$50,000, sold for $ 35,550) and a finely painted famille rose moon flask (estimated at $3,000-$5,000, sold for $44,437.50). Several examples of Ge-Type porcelains were sold, the finest being a Hu Form vase. This petite treat, estimated at $3,000-$5,000, realized a strong $25,477.50. This sales event also offered over 30 lots of jewel-toned Peking glass. Perhaps the most unique item in this category was a pair of ruby red glass ritual disks. They were estimated at $500-$700 but realized $8,100. A five-piece cloisonné enameled garniture set, estimated at $16,000-$30,000, caught the eye of a discerning collector to realize $18,960.
"It was great to see strength and buyers’ interest across the diverse categories offered during our four-day sales event. Our team worked extremely hard on behalf of our consignors and customers, and I do think the results speak for themselves. Our next will be held in February of 2016, and my department is already accepting consignments for this much anticipated sales event," said Bill Gage, of James D. Julia's Fine Art, Asian, and Antique Division.
For more information, visit www.jamesdjulia.com.