It’s been a whirlwind of events for auction firm James D. Julia, Inc., in the opening months of 2012. In March, they set yet another world auction record in their firearms division for conducting the highest grossing firearms auction ever held in history when the final tally hit a jaw-dropping $18 Million. A few weeks later, Julia’s opened their first satellite office in Woburn, Massachusetts, to better service the Boston Metropolitan area and points west. In May, Julia’s was honored by Maine’s Governor Paul LePage, receiving the Governor’s Award for Business Excellence in a special ceremony. Now, in the opening days of summer in Maine, Julia’s fine glass and lamp division conducted a two-day auction that grossed just over $1 Million. Featured was a vast array of rare and highly sought after objects handpicked from collections and estates from across the United States and boasted fresh-to-the-market goods seldom seeing the public marketplace.
Highlights included an exceptional offering of Moser enameled glass from a private Midwest collection. Moser glassworks began in the mid-19th century. In 1857, glass engraver Ludwig Moser (1833-1916) created a small workshop in Karlsbad in North East Bohemia where he created and sold hand engraved glass to the rich clients from the town. The foundation was created for a company whose products became very sought after, attracting the attention of emperors, kings, popes, and world stars, among others. The company still exists (http://www.moser-glass.com/en/) - continuing its long history of perfecting the art of glassmaking, a story that began 155 years ago.
Of the nearly 30 lots of these elaborate items, a monumental two-piece handled vase with applied flowers, birds and berries and topped with a ruffled rim finished up at $26,450 against an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. A pair of Moser decorated decanters with heavy applied grape leaves, stems, and clusters against a shaded Amberina background more than tripled the low end of its $5,000 to $7,000 estimate to bring $17,825. A stunning pair of Moser ewers with applied parrots and acorns against an Amberina background is also worthy of note. The pair sold above its $7,000 to $10,000 estimate for $11,500.
Of the fine lamps in the sale there was a Tiffany Studios Dragonfly table lamp with seven down turned dragonflies with glass cabochon eyes against a mottled green and yellow background. It neared the midrange of its $60,000 to $80,000 estimate to sell for $69,000. A multihued Tiffany Crocus table lamp showing flowers in varying stages of bloom was another popular choice, finding bidders willing to go to $17,250 against an estimate of $15,000 to $25,000. Other leaded lamps included a handsome Duffner & Kimberly example with a dome shade constructed of mottled yellow geometric panels accented by a bottom band of oak leaves in autumn colors. This stunner sold within its $7,000 to $10,000 estimate for $8,050.
Tiffany, who is also well known for their leaded glass windows, would first draw up a mock of their windows for approval before embarking on the creation of it. One such example depicting two small window designs signed by the artist and approved by Louis Comfort Tiffany himself sold for $5,750, more than doubling its estimate of $2,000 to $3,000. A sketch design for a six part Tiffany leaded window brought $5,175 against the same $2,000 to $3,000 estimate. One for a demilune window design partially painted to give a hint of the final product exceeded a $1,500 to $2,500 estimate to sell for $6,325.
The auction continued with a marvelous selection of French cameo glass. Included was a very rare Daum prairie scene vase with cameo and enameled prairie flowers on a rich pink background leading to a delicate ruffled rim. It neared the top end of its $10,000 to $15,000 estimate to sell for $14,950. A square Daum Nancy vase with pulled corners and decorated with a scene of trees in a pasture brought $9,200, exceeding an estimate of $7,500 to $8,500. A large Galle mold blown shoulder vase with luscious plums weighing down the branch on its frosted yellow background sold for $12,937 against an estimate of $12,000 to $15,000.
Also quite impressive was a selection of Tiffany glass highlighted by a rare and large black Tiffany vase with blue iridescent pulled feather decoration surrounding its shoulder. After a heated bidding battle it sold for $25,300 against a $10,000 to $15,000 estimate. A Tiffany millefiori vase in rich green, purple, and gold iridescent pulled heart and vine decoration interspersed with millefiori flowers brought within its $6,000 to $8,000 estimate to sell for $6,900.
The elegance of Tiffany also included a selection of sterling silver such as a diminutive and rare and exquisite enamel decorated teapot. Possibly an exhibition piece, it featured repousse and enamel decoration of hanging wisteria flowers and topped with a delicate butterfly finial. Estimated to bring $25,000 to $50,000, it finished up at $31,625. An early Tiffany footed tureen featured two figural handles in the form of bull buffalo’s heads and a lid topped with an elaborate artichoke finial. It sold above its $8,000 to $12,000 estimate for $14,950.
This was followed by a variety of Tiffany bronze desk accessories. A rare double pen holder in the Nautical pattern supporting two Bakelite pens sold for $10,350, well exceeding its $3,000 to $4,000 estimate. A Tiffany bronze thermometer in the rare Byzantine pattern was accented by a single turquoise jewel at the top and string of opalescent jewel around the sides. It changed hands above its $4,500 to $5,000 estimate at $6,325.
The sale was further enhanced by a stellar grouping of art glass including Loetz, Steuben, Quezal, and more. A pair of Durand ribbed art glass table lamps with exaggerated bell shaped dark rose and gold iridescent shades sold for $6,325, surpassing an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000. An exquisite Steuben chandelier with brass ball center with acanthus leaf arms terminating in pulled leaf tulip shades sold above its $1,200 to $1,500 estimate for $4,025. And a Quezal chandelier with nickel plated hardware supporting twisted brass bands that hold four gold iridescent fishnet pattern shades doubled its $2,000 to $2,500 estimate to sell for $4,312.
The sale was rounded out in part by a grouping of glass paperweights from the collection of Una and Henry Blake. Included was a variety of examples ranging from antique to contemporary with highlights including a Clichy loop garland example with 13 rose canes and a large pink and green rose cane that neared the upper end of its $5,000 to $7,000 estimate to sell for $6,900. A lovely Clichy millefiori newel post exceeded expectations of $2,500 to $3,500 to sell for $4,312. A complex Clichy checker paperweight with millefiori canes segmented by latticino twists likewise exceeded its estimate to bring $4,025.
Julia’s upcoming auctions include their annual End of Summer antiques and fine art auction in August while a phenomenal firearms and military memorabilia auction will be held in October. Julia’s next rare lamp and glass auction as well as their toy and doll auction will follow in November. For more information, contact Julia’s at (207) 453-7125. Write: James D. Julia, Inc., P.O. Box 830, Department PR, Fairfield, Maine 04937; E-mail: info@jamesdjulia.com; and visit online at www.jamesdjulia.com.
The history of the Moser glassworks began to be written in the mid-nineteenth century. In 1857, the glass engraver Ludwig Moser (1833-1916) created a small workshop, home to a store of hand engraved glass, for the rich clients from the spa town. Without even realizing it, he laid the foundation for a company whose products became highly sought after, attracting the attention of the emperors, kings, popes, representatives from politics and world stars. For generations, improvements were made to the art of glass making to reach the current level of perfection. Moser glass has become a symbol of wealth, social status recognized, refined aesthetic feeling and respect.
http://www.moser-glass.com/en/
Moser glassworks continues to this day. This year it is celebrating 155 years.
Collectors weekly article at: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/art-glass/moser