A monumental American brilliant cut glass vase sold for $23,000 at Cordier Auction and Appraisals' Fall Two-Day Antique and Fine Art Auction on Nov. 8 and 9. Other highlights included the sculpture “Clarissa” by William Zorach (American, 1887-1966), which sold for $9,100, and a painting by Albert Francis King (American, 1854-1945), which sold for $7,500. The 1,003-lot auction was held at Cordier's auction house located at 1500 Paxton St. in Harrisburg, Pa.
The multi-consignor sale featured items from more than 150 consignors including décor from the estate of well-known Harrisburg decorator Ronald Shepler. More than 200 people were in attendance over the two days, in addition to phone and absentee bidders, while more than 2,500 bidders were preregistered to bid over the Internet. Prices quoted are hammer prices.
Saturday's sale offered coins, silver, jewelry, collectibles, and glass. The auction opened with more than 100 lots of gold coins, both American and foreign (from numerous countries). Highlights included multiple $50 one ounce gold American eagles that hammered at $1,300 each, as well as Canadian $50 one ounce .9999 gold coins and Austrian one ounce gold schillings that hammered at $1,100 each. A 1947 Mexican 50 pesos 37.5 gram gold coin sold for $1,300.
In ephemera, a two-volume set of the personal memoirs of President Ulysses S. Grant signed with an inscription by Julia Grant brought $800 from an Internet bidder. Framed Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth cut signatures with photos sold for $650. Collectibles offered several notable items, including a 1926 Markneukirchen violin by Ernst Heinrich Roth that sold to a phone bidder for $3,300. One lot that brought spirited bidding was an 8-foot-long neon "Marty's" hot dog sign from the 1950s, which sold to an Internet bidder for $800 on a $250-$500 estimate.
Silver lots featured a four piece Barker Bros. English sterling tea/coffee set that sold to a floor bidder for $1,300. An Ottoman Empire Turkish silver pen case and inkwell captured attention, selling online for $1,500. Amongst numerous sets of flatware were 108 pieces of Gorham Etruscan sterling that hammered down at $1,100.
In jewelry, all eyes were on an elegant 18-carat plique a jour angel brooch that sold to the floor for $2,000 after enthusiastic bidding. Other lots of interest were a David Yurman necklace and bracelet that sold for $1,200 on a $600-$900 estimate and a Deco diamond, sapphire and platinum wristwatch, which brought $2,200. There were a number of items for the gents as well, including a man's 1.02-carat ruby and 2.02 ctw diamond ring that sold for $3,700.
The stand out lot of the day was a monumental American brilliant cut glass vase in the Waldorf (Quatrefoil Rosette) pattern by Clark. Standing 18.5 inches tall, the vase opened to an online bidder at $1,100. Bidding between the Internet and multiple phone bidders progressed rapidly, until a floor bidder entered the fray at $18,000. That floor bidder was the victor at a final hammer price of $23,000. Other glass of note was a Lalique Chrysalide Fairy figurine, which sold for $600 and a Steuben Excalibur paperweight with sterling letter opener, which sold online for $2,000.
Sunday's session featured furniture, Asian arts, decorative arts, art, clocks, and lighting. The day began with furniture. A magnificent E.J. Victor Louis XV style dining room set saw heavy bidding from floor bidders and hammered for $5,000. A set of eight Needlepoint Back Dining Chairs from Eleanor Allen and the late Heath Allen of Camp Hill brought $2,200. More than 50 lots of rugs were also offered, including an antique Persian Heriz room-sized rug that sold for $1,400.
In Asian arts, a large ivory Buddha head vessel went to an Internet buyer for $1,700. A framed Chinese calligraphy brought $850, and a unique Chinese cloisonné garden turtle was won for $550. Amongst the decorative arts was a southern folk art signed stool that sold to an Internet bidder for $550.
A fine selection of pieces were offered in the art category. A monumental oil-on-canvas after Rubens was sold to a floor bidder for $4,200. A large Peter Max (American, b. 1937) entitled “Angel with Heart Version II #7,” sold for $6,000. Multiple paintings by T.M. Nicholas (American, b. 1963) brought enthusiastic bidding online, on the floor, and on the phones, including “Along the Annisquam River” ($4,800), and “Port Clyde Harbor, ME,” which sold for $4,300. Multiple phone and floor bidders also tussled over a still life by Albert Francis King (American, 1854-1945), which sold to a phone bidder for $7,500. A river landscape by Eugene Alonzo Poole (American, 1984-1912) was won for $5,500. In sculpture, the magnificent “Clarissa” by William Zorach (American, 1887-1966) sold for $9,100, and a Romain (Erte) DeTirtoff (Russia/France, 1892-1990) bronze of an angel sold for $3,500.
Sunday concluded with clocks and lighting, the highlight of which was an inlaid five tube circa 1910 tall case clock, which sold to a bidder in the salesroom for $4,300.
For more information, call 717-731-8662 or visit www.CordierAuction.com.