Auction Details

Fine & Decorative Arts

Morphy’s June 10-11 Fine & Decorative Arts auction featuring nearly 1,200 high-quality lots outperforms at more than $3.5 million

Highlights: Tiffany Studios Hydrangea ‘Snowball’ leaded-glass floor lamp, $442,800; original Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) oil painting, $166,050; 14K white gold graduated diamond necklace, $63,960

DENVER, Pa. – An important Tiffany Studios Hydrangea “Snowball” leaded-glass floor lamp lit up the room for $442,800; an original Norman Rockwell oil painting titled The Growth of a Leader rang up $166,050; and a glittering ladies’ 14K white gold graduated diamond necklace brought 63,960 at Morphy’s Fine & Decorative Arts auction held June 10-11. The event totaled more than $3.5 million.

Nearly 1,200 top-quality, market-fresh lots came up for bid over the course of the two days. The clear top achiever was the magnificent 79-inch-tall Tiffany Studios floor lamp from the distinguished collection of Seymour and Evelyn Holtzman. The lamp’s 24-inch-diameter leaded-glass shade was adorned with blossoms denoting the iconic Hydrangea (“Snowball”) motif.

A background of gorgeous cobalt blue and lavender extended downward at the apex of the shade and was accented by prodigious mottling and freckling, which added depth and dimension to the pattern. Both the shade and six-socket base were signed Tiffany Studios. This exquisite lamp was no sleeper. Its value was well recognized by bidders who pushed it to a final within-estimate price of $442,800

The original Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978) oil-on-paper laid on board painting titled The Growth of a Leader was a study for a 1966 calendar illustration. The work chronicled the life of an individual in four bust profiles, starting with the Cub Scouts in 1943, then the Boy Scouts in 1947, cadet life in 1949 and military service in 1966. The subject was shown in uniform in all four profiles.

Signed NR at lower right, the painting measured 13½ by 10½ inches (sight, minus the frame). Its fine provenance included a Palm Beach, Florida, private collection; Christie’s New York auction in December 2005; and Phillips’ New York auction October 1982. It was also exhibited at the American Illustrators Gallery in New York City. The final price of $166,050 exceeded the $150,000 high estimate.

The dazzling ladies’ 14K white gold graduated diamond necklace with 88 genuine round, brilliant-cut natural diamonds weighing 44.70 carats in total was 17½ inches long and marked 14K. The luxe necklace was accompanied by an original AIGL appraisal report indicating an ERRV (Estimated Retail Replacement Value) of $227,625. It sold above its high estimate for $63,960.

A Rolex 40mm Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona wristwatch in stainless steel with a black “Patrizio” dial found a new home for $59,040, which was within estimate. The late 1993 to early 1994 watch (Ref #16520, Serial #S5687) was powered by Rolex’s caliber 4030 automatic (Zenith El Primero base) 31-jewel certified chronometer movement. Its original Rolex box was included.

A ladies’ platinum and 18K gold yellow diamond (7.00ct, Y/Z, VS2) and white diamond (1.87ctw) ring, accompanied by an original GIA natural diamond grading report, slipped onto a new finger for $45,600, which was just a little bit below estimate.  The finger size 6½ ring was marked “900PT.”

A ladies’ platinum multicolor unheated sapphire (61.92ctw) necklace accompanied by an original GIA sapphire report and an GGA appraisal report, with an ERRV of $120,540, more than doubled the $20,000 high estimate with a price of $44,280. The necklace was marked “Oscar Friedman PT950.”

An unusual pair of Gorham sterling salad servers in the Narragansett pattern, plus one other spoon, must have resonated with bidders, who boosted the final selling price to $44,280, nearly triple the $15,000 high estimate. Each piece displayed seaweed around shells and crabs, the spoons with oyster shell bowls gilt; the other spoon shorter, with a broader bowl. The total weight was 15.1ozt.

A stunning example of the Greek key table lamp by Tiffany Studios, the 16-inch diameter shade featuring a highly mottled and dichroic background in shades of green, yellows, and fiery oranges, climbed to $41,820. The Greek key pattern around the lower border was composed of sea green and fiery orange scroll. The base had a lovely reddish-brown patina with strong verdigris accents.

A 19th-century Gorham sterling silver ice bowl, chased as an iceberg with two polar bear handles, 10¾ inches across and weighing 24.2 ozt, settled at $29,520, almost three times the $10,000 high estimate.

A Native American maiden carved in the style of Samuel Robb (American, 1851-1928) and attributed to him by the consignor, 57 inches tall, depicting the subject holding a rose and tobacco package in her right arm and a leaf tobacco in her left, coasted to $29,520, just shy of the $30,000 high estimate. This was as impressive a cigar figure as can be found and bidders acted accordingly.

An artful circa-1880s 18K gold Gerome, Hoff & Fils (Switzerland) quarter-hour repeating triple-date calendar hunter case pocket watch with moon phases and a fancy silver dial, in excellent condition and weighing 151.3 grams, brought $19,680, exceeding the $18,000 high estimate. The hand-engraved case was decorated on verso with flowers and foliage opposite a multicolor gold monogram.

A gorgeous circa-1900 Loetz vase in camellien-rot phanomen gre 202 décor, realized $14,760, more than doubling the $6,000 high estimate. The 5-inch-tall vase boasted an iridescent blue pulled feather decoration set against a pinkish-orange ground and was signed “Loetz Austria.”

To discuss consigning to a future Fine & Decorative Arts auction, or other auction hosted by Morphy’s, call Dan Morphy at 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. All enquiries are kept strictly confidential, and there is never an obligation to consign. Online: www.morphyauctions.com.

CAPTIONS:

All images courtesy of Morphy Auctions

1004 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/NORMAN_ROCKWELL__1894_1978_-LOT664372.aspx

Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978), ‘The Growth of a Leader,’ original oil-on-paper laid on board, a study for a 1966 calendar illustration. Signed ‘NR’ at lower right. Size: 13½in x 10½in (sight); 19¾in x 17in (framed). Sold for $166,050

1038 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/PLATINUM___18K_GOLD_7CT_DIAMOND_RING_W_GIA_REPORT-LOT669108.aspx

Ladies’ platinum and 18K gold yellow diamond (7.00ct, Y/Z, VS2) and white diamond (1.87ctw) ring, accompanied by an original GIA natural diamond grading report. Sold for $45,600

1143 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/PLATINUM_62CT_TW_UNHEATED_SAPPHIRE_NECKLACE_W_GIA_-LOT667013.aspx

Ladies’ platinum multicolor unheated sapphire (61.92ctw) necklace accompanied by an original GIA sapphire report and an GGA appraisal report, with an ERRV of $120,540. Sold for $44,280

1145 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/14K_WHITE_GOLD_45CT_TW_DIAMOND_NECKLACE_W_REPORT-LOT667011.aspx

Ladies’ 14K white gold graduated diamond necklace of 44.70ctw with 88 genuine round, brilliant-cut natural diamonds, 17½ inches long, marked ‘14K.’ Accompanied by an AIGL appraisal report. Sold for $63,960

1190 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/18K_GOLD_GEROME_HOFF___SON_QUARTER_HOUR_REPEATING_-LOT661971.aspx

Circa-1880s 18K gold Gerome, Hoff & Fils (Switzerland) quarter-hour repeating triple-date calendar hunter case pocket watch with moon phases and fancy silver dial. Gross weight: 151.3 grams. Sold for $19,680

1242 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/ROLEX_OYSTER_PERPETUAL_COSMOGRAPH_DAYTONA_PATRIZZI-LOT668841.aspx

Late 1993/early 1994 Rolex 40mm Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona wristwatch, Ref #16520, Serial #S5687, powered by Rolex’s caliber 4030 automatic (Zenith El Primero base) 31-jewel certified chronometer movement. Sold for $59,040

1409 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/A_PAIR_OF_GORHAM_STERLING_NARRAGANSETT_PATTERN_SAL-LOT666334.aspx

This unusual pair of Gorham sterling salad servers in the Narragansett pattern, plus one other spoon, must have resonated with bidders, who pushed the final selling price to $44,280.

1416 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/A_GORHAM_STERLING_ICE_BOWL-LOT666314.aspx

This 19th-century Gorham sterling ice bowl, chased as an iceberg with two polar bear handles, 10¾ inches across and weighing 24.2 ozt, settled at $29,520, nearly three times the $10,000 high estimate.

2027 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/LOETZ_PHANOMEN_ORANGE_SWIRL_VASE-LOT668790.aspx

Gorgeous circa-1900 Loetz vase in camellien-rot phanomen gre 202 décor, 5 inches in height, with an iridescent blue pulled feather decoration set against a pinkish-orange ground. Sold for $14,760

2058 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/TIFFANY_STUDIOS_DICHROIC_GREEK_KEY_LEADED_GLASS_TA-LOT669157.aspx

Stunning Greek key table lamp by Tiffany Studios, the 16-inch diameter shade featuring a highly mottled and dichroic background in shades of green, yellows, and fiery oranges. Sold for $41,820

2059 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/IMPORTANT_TIFFANY_STUDIOS_HYDRANGEA__SNOWBALL__LEA-LOT661768.aspx

Important, fresh-to-the-market, 79-inch-tall Tiffany Studios Hydrangea floor lamp featuring a 24-inch diameter leaded glass shade executed in the ‘Hydrangea’ (or ‘Snowball’) motif. Sold for $442,800

2176 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/CARVED_WOODEN_INDIAN_HOLDING_ROSE-LOT669989.aspx

Native American maiden carved in the style of Samuel Robb (American, 1851-1928) and attributed to him by the consignor, 57 inches tall.  Sold for $29,520, just shy of the $30,000 high estimate.