A highly anticipated annual event for Ed Nadeau, his auction gallery and the large contingent of buyers that are always in attendance, the well-received New Year’s Day Auction at Nadeau’s was once again transformed into a celebration. Taking place January 1, the festive auction was attended by a “full house,” according to Nadeau, who seemed pleasantly surprised at the size of the standing-room-only crowd on hand.
“There was spirited bidding,” commented the auctioneer, although he added that there were also “many bargains to be had throughout the day.” Nadeau attempted to limit the number of items in the auction that carried reserves, and he reported only about 15 such lots. The majority of those lots met with tepid bidding, resulting in about a dozen of them being passed. Unreserved lots did well, with several surprises seen throughout the day.
As has become tradition for this sale, the auction began with a good assortment of estate jewelry and many of the coveted lots brought strong prices, including a gold diamond bow-shaped pin. Containing 36 diamonds, including a central 6-carat, emerald-cut diamond, the lot opened for bidding in the gallery and was pursued by several, with it selling well above the $12/18,000 presale estimates as it realized $28,750.
Other jewelry included a David Webb carved jade bracelet with diamond inserts and enamel decoration that sold for $16,100 and a Louis Bornand gold pocket watch that realized $14,375.
Always a highlight of Nadeau’s New Year’s sale, a grand selection of custom furniture by Margolis and Fineberg was offered. Leading the group was a Federal-style sideboard by Fineberg in crotch mahogany that hammered down at $4,562. Two different Margolis sideboards did well, selling for $4,600 each, while a Margolis Chippendale-style shell carved chest brought $3,450.
Antique furniture prices were reasonable, with a pair of Regency benches bringing $2,760, a Renaissance Revival three-piece bedroom set going out at $2,875 and a large overmantel mirror realizing $1,725.
Numerous pieces of Arts and Crafts furniture were sold, with a Harvey Ellis-designed mahogany sideboard by Gustav Stickley selling at $4,312, while a matching mahogany server brought $920. A Stickley Brothers china cabinet was hammered down at $1,610, a Limbert writing table brought $1,150, and an attractive slat sided oak waste basket realized $747.
Most of the top paintings in the auction carried reserves and did not fare well. Paintings that did find buyers included an oil on board by Lemuel Eldred titled “Rocky Seashore” that depicted a scene thought to be of Newport, R.I. The 11-by-18-inch oil was actively bid, selling between estimates at $7,475. A nice oil on canvas depicting a homestead scene by Rowland Hiller was bid to $1,725, and a Gladys MacCabe oil titled “The Gallery” sold for $1,610.
A selection of bronzes did well, with an abstract figure of a woman by Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu soaring past the $800․1,200 presale estimates as it sold for $14,950. A Mathurin Moreau bronze figure of a dancing woman was knocked down at $4,187, and a bronze titled “Glamour in Bronze” by Erte brought $1,610.
Numerous estate-fresh rugs found their way to Nadeau’s, with an 11-by-16-foot Oushak attracting attention as it sold well above the $4/6,000 presale estimate, reaching $11,500.
Estate-fresh silver also did well, with a George IV silver gilt pedestal on a triangular base and decorated with elaborate acanthus scroll work and cattails by London maker J.E. Terry, circa 1827, selling at $4,600. A Louis XVI pattern sterling flatware service by Towle consisting of more than 270 pieces and weighting 230 troy ounces hammered down at $2,530, a sterling tea service in a Georgian style brought $1,552, and a large Tiffany bowl with ladle in a Japanese style fetched $1,310.
Other items of interest included a Handel lamp with an ice-chip-style shade reverse painted with a wooded landscape scene at sunset that sold for $2,895, an 18-piece Lalique crystal surtout de table doubled estimates at $2,415, a Tiffany art glass vase on a bronze base brought $1,380, and a set of Herend porcelain Rothschild bird pattern serving pieces went out at $1,840.
Prices include the 15 percent buyer’s premium charged. For information, 860-246-2444 or www.nadeausauction.com .
