Briggs Auction Inc.'s Distinctive Estate Treasures Auction on Dec. 9 was aptly named and well received, with strong prices awarded to unique items from several prominent estates and collections from in and around Philadelphia.
The top lot was a rare and important Chinese archaic bronze double-sided pole finial from the Shang/Early Western Zhou Dynasty period, circa the 11th/10th century B.C. The finial, featuring a cast taotie head surmounted with horns, with the reverse cast with horned animal head, sold after spirited bidding from the floor, numerous telephones, and online for $41,820. The pole finial was one of many important Asian decorative arts from the estate collection of Richard C. Bull of Philadelphia, who, along with his wife, were prominent collectors of important antique Asian decorative arts. Prices reported include either an 18 or 23 percent buyer's premium. Biding was active throughout the 442-lot auction, with more than 1,500 total registered bidders.
Many significant pieces of their collection were featured in Sotheby's “Important Chinese Works of Art: The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Bull” in 1983. A previous piece from Bull's estate, a fine 20th century Chinese scroll with watercolor folk art scene and poem by Li Keran, was sold by Briggs in September 2012 for $166,750. "We were honored to represent the Bull estate with this collection," said Steve Turner of Briggs Auction Inc. "We felt a great responsibility to represent Mr. Bull's estate well and are very happy with how the auction was received, with strong bidding for these pieces and impressive selling prices."
Other items from the estate included a rare Chinese Shang Dynasty bronze Yue axe head with a wide flattened blade and curved cutting edge, and with raised t'ieh designs on both sides, taotie masks in relief decorating the haft, and traces of cinnabar decoration. The axe head had been shown in the Virginia Museum of Fine Art’s “Masterpieces of Chinese Art” exhibit in 1954 and 1955 and realized $4,674. A pair of Japanese polychrome genre-scene paintings with applied gold leaf attributed to Chojiro (1580-1610) sold for $5,904. A fine Chinese scroll with watercolor painting of crayfish marked with calligraphy and red seal, and signed on the back "Chi Pai Shih" for artist Qi Baishi, sold for $4,012, and a grouping of two Chinese carved hardstone Toggles, foliate carved jade and carved stone horse, went for $2,360.
An important Javanese Bronze figure of Avalokitesvara seated in dhyanasana on a double lotus throne, circa 10th century, sold for $2,214. A Hindu Javanese bronze temple bell with a loop handle and shaped body with flaring ends sold for $1,107, and a 10th century Javanese bronze figure of Buddha seated in dhyanasana realized $984.
Another prominent Philadelphia estate collection added several eclectic lots to the auction, including an R.J. Horner carved mahogany bookcase with three drawers flanked by large carved maidens with twisted serpent tails and mask faces, with a frieze carved with acanthus leaves and two Neptune figures, which sold for $15,340. A grouping of four large, unframed Leonard Baskin woodcuts, each signed in pencil, with the largest measuring 40-by-90 inches ($5,900); a Paul Evans Cityscape dining table with directional patchwork base and rectangular glass top ($4,956); a Paul Evans Cityscape desk/dining table with chromed steel base and rectangular glass top ($2,596); and a pair of cinnabar lacquered "Arrow" vases with scenic decoration, sold for $2,337. An Alexander Calder signed and numbered (44/90) lithograph of the sun and moon ($1,045), and a polished bronze abstract sculpture on black marble base by 20th century Canadian artist Andrew Posa sold for $984.
Material from other estates and collections included a 2.50-ct. pear-cut diamond solitaire engagement ring in 14-carat yellow gold setting ($7,670); a carved Philadelphia Empire marble-top pier table, possibly by Querville ($4,674); a Herend porcelain 78-piece dinner service for 12 in the Rothschild pattern, with numerous unusual serving pieces ($3,186); and an 18th-century Chippendale walnut architectural schrank with dentil carved step cornice over a paneled frieze on Ogee bracket feet, ($2,706).
For additional information, call Briggs Auction Inc. in Garnet Valley, Pa., at 610-566-3138.