The auction firm of James D. Julia, Inc. did it again. Experiencing tremendous growth and consistently strong auctions over the last several years, their recent glass and lamp auction set a new high for the division. Department head Dudley Browne reported a final gross of over $3 million against pre-auction projections of items sold of $2.2 million, approximately 33 percent over estimate, making it the firm's highest grossing and most successful glass and lamp sale to date. In fact, this was one of the largest auctions of rare glass and lamps conducted by any firm in North America.
The centerpiece to the auction was a phenomenal Tiffany Studios lily leaded window. Unquestionably the finest example Julia's has had the pleasure to offer, it was comprised of three separate layers of glass creating depth and realism one would not expect from a leaded window. It pictured a magnificent flower-draped pillar and large lilies in the foreground framing a background scene of a mountain, lake, and waterfall. Seeing much competition it sold for $172,500, far exceeding its pre-auction estimate of $85,000 to $100,000.
The auction also boasted one of the largest selections of lamps to hit the market in recent memory. Included were over 100 examples by Tiffany, Handel, Pairpoint, Duffner & Kimberly, Loetz, and others. Among the selection was a fabulous Tiffany red poppy table lamp. Depicting numerous poppies in various stages of bloom against a variegated green background, it sold for $120,750 within its $110,000 to $130,000 estimate. A gorgeous Tiffany lamp with seven overlapping down-turned dragonflies in various shades of green with red jeweled cabochon eyes flew to $115,000 against an estimate of $100,000 to $125,000. A beautiful Tiffany Studios woodbine table lamp with rich red, green, and tan flowers over a marvelous green honeycomb background reached $40,250 above its $30,000 to $40,000 estimate while a poinsettia example with dichroic glass brought $43,125 against a $35,000 to $45,000
estimate.
In addition to Tiffany, the mass of lighting included a rare Duffner & Kimberly Viking table lamp. The intricate leaded panels comprised of interlocking geometric designs in dramatic colors below layers of green scales made for one of Duffner & Kimberly's most famous lamps. It sailed to $80,500 against expectations of $60,000 to $80,000.
Numerous examples of Handel added to the selection including a marvelous wisteria leaded table lamp. Its massive shade in blues and greens caught the eye of several bidders but went to the victor who ignored the $12,000 to $15,000 estimate to shell out $27,600. Even more impressive was a Gallé cameo lamp, beautifully carved with Oriental poppy design over a camphor colored background, that sold for $31,050 against a $15,000 to $25,000 estimate. Also worth noting was a duo of Handel obverse painted hanging lamps decorated with birds and foliage, formerly of the renowned Dr. Irving Paul Collection. Each more than quadrupled the low end of its $2,000 to $3,000 estimate to finish up at $9,200 and $8,625 respectively.
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