La Belle Epoque Auction Gallery Shines At Premiere Auction

Published: February 15, 2022

This Twentieth Century French Limoges porcelain table service, retailed by Tiffany, realized $9,600.

NEW YORK CITY – New York City’s newest full-service boutique auction house, La Belle Epoque Auction Gallery, conducted its premiere auction on February 5, offering a new auction experience to art and antiques lovers, dealers, collectors, first time-buyers and consignors.

The day turned out to be quite successful, according to the auction house, also giving auction lovers the chance to attend in person, following safety guidelines and resulting in quite a few “in-the-room” buyers. The auction was presented online as well. The inaugural auction featured a little bit of everything, with a selection of hundreds of items, including fine and contemporary art, antiques, furniture, Midcentury Modern, decorative items and collectibles from multiple estates.

Highlights in the decorative arts arena were an Art Deco-style bronze figural table lamp, after a model by Feral ne Pierre Le Fageays (French, 1892-1962) with applied patina and modeled as nude figure posed in front of draped swags raised on a stepped pinch base, which sold for $5,120; a Twentieth Century French Limoges porcelain table service comprising a miscellaneous assorted group of table service articles, retailed by Tiffany, selling for $9,600; and a pair of Nineteenth Century French empire gilt eight-light candelabra, which went to a lucky bidder for just $875. A Twentieth Century Mexican sterling silver platter with a 20-inch diameter sold for $1,525.

Midcentury Modern was well represented in the sale, with a Herman Miller – Charles and Ray Eames Modernica bookcase, late Twentieth Century, realizing $1,280 and a pair of leather and chrome LC2 club chairs by Le Corbusier for Cassina settling in at $768, with two other identical pairs also offered. Other furniture included an Eighteenth Century Queen Anne highboy raised on cabriole legs terminating on Dutch pad feet. Of cherry wood and measuring 63 by 38 by 18¾ inches, it went for $1,025.

Highlighting decorative arts was an Art Deco-style bronze figural table lamp, after a model by Feral ne Pierre Le Fageays (French, 1892-1962) with applied patina and modeled as nude figure posed in front of draped swags raised on a stepped pinch base. It sold for $5,120.

Fine and contemporary art, some very affordable, also had a good showing with a polychromed oil on canvas, “Two Women” by Charles Levier aka “Villard” (French, 1920-2003), selling for $2,050; a French Nineteenth Century oil painting of a Venetian scene in gilt frame by Paul Charles Emmanuel Gallard-Lepinay (1842-1885), bringing $1,152; and an oil painting on board by Arthur Drummond (British, 1871-1951) titled “Fortune Teller,” a figurative painting in a classical setting finding a buyer at $1,280.

Many in the art world already know the La Belle Epoque name as being one of the New York area’s top vintage poster dealer and galleries, specializing in Art Nouveau, Art Deco and midcentury posters from the Belle Epoque era to modern times. So it was natural that original vintage posters also brought a lot of attention both in the room and online, with a Cachou Lajaunie, an original vintage poster designed by Leonetto Cappiello (French, 1875-1942) selling for $3,580; an Automobiles Renault original vintage poster printed by Pierre Lafitte making $2,048; and an original vintage poster by Fix Masseau (1905-1994), circa 1968, going for $960. Also, an original vintage Coca-Cola Gas Today metal sign, circa 1932, went for $1,536.

La Belle Epoque Vintage Posters will continue to be maintained as a separate business.

Prices given include the buyer’s premium as stated by the auction house.

Throughout the year, La Belle Epoque Auction Gallery will present numerous auctions on a regular basis, featuring multiple estate auctions and single-owner specialized auctions. For information, 212-362-1770 or www.labelleepoque.com.