Cottone Auctions – Fine Art & Timepieces
March 31
120 Court Street, Geneseo, NY 14454
www.cottoneauctions.com
info@cottoneauctions.com
585-243-1000
GENESEO, N.Y. — Cottone Auctions’ timepieces and decorative arts auction, on Friday, March 31, will feature the collection of Dr William Thomas of Naples, Fla., showcasing 50 of the finest examples of French and European clock masterpieces. The auction, starts at noon Eastern time, with 220 lots.
Both rarity and condition were important to Dr Thomas. Highlighting his collection, assembled over a period of 50 years, is a rare Raingo orrery clock and music box with original matching pedestal. The clock and music box are in fine running order with patina and gilt bronze mounts.
An orrery is a mechanical model of the solar system, one that illustrates or predicts the relative positions and motions of the planets and moons. Orreries are typically driven by a clockwork mechanism with a globe representing the sun at the center, and with a planet at the end of each of the arms. It is widely believed that perhaps as few as 20 orrery clocks exist.
Most known examples, like the present clock, are in the form of a gilt mounted, four-column rotunda, veneered with mahogany or amboyna. Few rest on a musical base, playing on the hour or at will. The clock was purchased from renowned horologist Jim Cipra of Long Beach, Calif., who acquired it from a Portuguese collection.
The orrery clock, signed Raingo A. Paris, circa 1820, has an amboyna burl veneer and gilt bronze Neoclassical case in the form of a classical rotunda temple. It is supported on a round base that is set on a plinth with cylinder musical movement ($150/250,000).
Another masterpiece from the collection is a Louis XVI regulator with equation of time and remontoire, clockmaker Robert Robin, Horloger du Roi, renowned enameler Joseph Coteau and case attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, Paris, circa 1785, the quintessence of Parisian luxury horology during the reign of Louis XVI. Such clocks were made for a handful of important connoisseurs, often people who were close to the royal family.
The regulator being offered features a dial by Joseph Coteau (1740-1801), who is regarded as the greatest enameler of all time, supplying dials for the most eminent horologists, including Antide Janvier (1751-1835), Robert Robin (1742-1809) and Ferdinand Berthoud (1727-1807). This finely painted, jeweled and enameled porcelain dial with astrological zodiac cartouches and signed “Coteau,” like the orrery clock, was purchased from Jim Cipra. It stands a little over 15 inches tall and is in running condition ($100/150,000).
Also up for bid will be Tiffany Studios New York lamps from the collection of Dr Robert McGann of Naples, Fla., led by a Poppy lamp with a 16-inch shade ($50/80,000). Other works by Tiffany Studios from various private collections include a rare Lotus lamp with a 26-inch shade ($80/120,000); a Poinsettia lamp with lighted turtleback base ($40/60,000); and a Tiffany Studios dichroic curtain border floor lamp ($60/80,000).
Highlighting American paintings will be an oil on paper by Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902), titled “A View of the High Sierras.” It is included in the database being compiled for a forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the artist’s work and was acquired from William Hailes (Rochester, N.Y.) in the 1930s by Mr and Mrs Edward Crumpston.
Several works from the collection of Dr McGann include an oil on canvas street scene by Edouard-Leon Cortes (French, 1882-1969), 13 by 18 inches ($10/15,000); and a diminutive pair of watercolor and gouache works by Eugene Galien-Laloue (French, 1854-1941) depicting Moulin Rouge and Palace de Bastille ($5/8,000).
Twentieth Century design, paintings and prints will include several works on paper by Chinese modern artist Zao Wou-Ki (1920-2013); “Reveal” and “Providence” from Damien Hirst’s “Butterfly” series; and additional works on paper by Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Helen Frankenthaler, William Scott and Sam Francis. Works of design include an occasional table by Gio Ponti, sculptures by Albert Paley, and a Madoura plate by Pablo Picasso, titled “Visage No. 157” ($8/12,000).
Asian items will feature an imperial Chinese parcel gilt bronze censer, mark and period of Qianlong (1736-1795), bronze with gilding, circular censer, bombe form and splayed foot, with Qingqing six-character mantra (Om Mani Padme Hum) and celestial elephant handles, from a Buffalo, N.Y., estate ($3/5,000); an early Chinese gilt iron seated figure of Guanyin or Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara; as well as Japanese Meji mixed metal warriors.
Americana and Native American offerings will include a Federal satinwood and mahogany bowfront chest of drawers, signed and dated Saco, Maine, 1812 ($10/15,000); and a hand-painted miniature of Lady Liberty, signed Abijah Canfield, April 1797, depicting a female figure dressed in a classical Greek or Roman costume, as well as a “cap of liberty” ($5/8,000).
Previews will be conducted by appointment in Cottone Auctions’ gallery at 120 Court Street. For more information, www.cottoneauctions.com or 585-243-1000.
(2) James McCabe, circa 1830
Louis XVI Ormolu Pendule-Cage Charles Bertrand (master, 1772- 1789)
Louis XV Contra-Boulle Musical Clock & Bracket, circa 1740
Raingo Freres, circa 1830
French Empire Lyre Clock A. Courbet, circa 1815
Rare F. Luthi Constant Force Regulator, circa 1920
French Empire Regulator Michel Lepaute, circa 1810
Fine and Rare 19th Century French Mystery Clocks
Exceptional Louis XVI Regulator Robin & Coteau, circa 1785
French Empire Glass-Plated Skeleton, circa 1815
Louis XVI Cercles Tournants Gille A Paris, circa 1775
French Empire Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Portico Clock, circa 1810
Jean Andre & Jean Baptiste Lepaute, Important Louis XV Longcase, circa 1760
Fine & Rare Raingo A Paris, Empire Amboyna Orrery & Music Box, circa 1820
Biedermeier ‘Laterndluhr’ Vienna Regulator
Picasso Madoura
Estate Silver & Jewelry 2.74 CT. Diamond Ring
Fine Authentic Tiffany Studios Lamps, Favrile Glass & Accessories
Collection of Tiffany Favrile Glass Pairpoint Puffy Albert Bierstadt (German-American, 1830-1902)
Tiffany Studios
Japanese Mixed Metal Asian Items
Palace Size Sarouk Farahan – 21 ft. x 13 ft. (Several Antique Rugs)
Albert Paley (b, 1944) Bronze
Emile Gruppe (1 of several)
Anthony Thieme
19th C. Northwest Coast Feast Bowl
Miniature Lady Liberty signed Abijah Canfield, April 1797
Federal Satinwood & Mahogany Bow-Front Chest of Drawers, Saco, Maine, 1812
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