Los Angeles, CA— As we near the end of 2022, John Moran Auctioneers is pleased to announce their last Traditional Collector auction of the year, taking place Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at noon PST. With over 350 lots, this sale will include property from the estates of George David Sturges and artist Joan Strauss Carl, as well as other private estates and collections. Collectors will be pleased to find estimates ranging from under $1,000 to over $50,000.
A French Grand Piano $30,000-50,000
Expected to be one of the most coveted lots, a rare Paul Storr Ascot Cup Silver Racing Trophy from 1822, estimated $30,000-50,000. The racecourse on Ascot Heath, in Berkshire, England, and the Royal Meeting, a weeklong series of horse races held there in the summer, remains one of the major events of the British social calendar. This tradition is over 200 years old and includes the Gold Cup racing event. This trophy, engraved, “Ascot Races 1822”, is most likely referring to such race. It was made by Paul Storr, one of the premier English silversmiths of the day. The wine-related imagery is modeled after a large marble vase from the 2nd century A.D. that was found in pieces in a swamp near Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, northeast of Rome, in the 1770s.
Another silver treasure offered in this sale is a Gorham Martelé 5-piece tea set. Martelé was produced at the end of the 19th/beginning 20th century in Gorham’s Providence’s plant (Rhode Island) by master silversmiths under the direction of William C. Codman. Each artisan handcrafted every piece as ancient silversmiths once did, producing decorative items such as bowls, vases, candlesticks, centerpieces, and tea and coffee sets. Martelé production was separated by Gorham’s commercial line and its pieces were one-of-a-kind and expensive objects for selected customers. The trade name Martelé derived from the French verb “marteler” (to hammer), denoting the distinctive hand-hammered surface of the silverware. Along with this tea set, valued at $15,000-20,000, there will be two lots of Martelé candle stick sets, each with $3,000-5,000 estimates, and a Martelé vase, estimated $2,000-3,000.
Turning the attention from silver sets to China sets is a partial dinner service by the Danish porcelain brand, Royal Copenhagen. This ‘Flora Danica’ dinnerware remains one of the world’s most prestigious and luxurious porcelain collections, carefully created by hand just as it was in the 1700s. The original Flora Danica is considered an important Danish cultural treasure and is seen as both an ever-relevant tribute to the nature of Denmark and the most exquisite example of Danish design and artisanship. This 50+ piece set will be presented with an estimate of $22,000-28,000.
Representing the offerings of fine art is an untitled work by the Chinese artist, Qi Baishi (1864-1957). Qi was an influential Chinese painter who is credited for modernizing the gongbi style of classical Chinese painting. Having initial training in carpentry, he taught himself to paint using the Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden, a painting guidebook from the Qing dynasty era. Qi’s earliest works closely followed the gongbi tradition, a Chinese form of realism that favors fine brushstrokes and meticulous detail. This watercolor, depicting flowers and bees, is estimated $15,000-20,000.
As a highlight in the decorative arts category there will be a Riessner, Stellmacher & Kessel, Amphora, Austrian Art Nouveau Vase with a $1,000-1,500 estimate. Eduard Stellmacher of the porcelain company, Riessner, Stellmacher & Kessel and his brother-in-law and fellow classmate from the Arts and Crafts Academy in Dresden, Paul Dachsel, started their own company, Amphora I. Amphora’s goal was to create luxury porcelain objects. In 1893 a collection from the company won the highest awards in exhibitions in Chicago and San Francisco, which lead to increased sales in the U.S. Over the next two years, Amphora opened two more factories, producing terra-cotta and earthenware items. Starting in the late 1890’s the Art Nouveau style was evident in their designs and this vase is one of those examples.
For the musically inclined Traditional collector, a French Grand Piano, Gaveau et Cie Louis Birarello will be offered with an estimate of $30,000-50,000. Gaveau of Paris was a French piano manufacturer established by Joseph Gabriel Gaveau in 1847 and was one of the three largest piano makers in France. From the beginning, Gaveau was committed to making excellent solid upright pianos with a focus on the development of upright piano actions such as the angle of escapement.
Also included in this sale is fine art from artists such as Emil Prinz, Persis Kirmse, Robert Ladbrooke, John Frederick Herring, Sr., and Carl Jutz. The variety of decorative bronze sculpture, clocks, porcelain cockatoo figures, and Chinese and Japanese items is impressive. Furniture will include Louis XVI-style dining chairs and Louis XV-style lamp tables, cabinets, desks, and Tabriz and Kashan area rugs. Among the wide selection of quality silver tableware will be a pair of Continental sterling silver-plated tazzas.
—Brenda Smith, John Moran Auctioneers
A Paul Storr Ascot Cup Silver Racing Trophy $30,000-50,000
“Expected to be one of the most coveted lots, a rare Paul Storr Ascot Cup Silver Racing Trophy from 1822, estimated $30,000-50,000.”
Upcoming Auctions
As we round out the end of 2022, John Moran Auctioneers will continue this year’s lineup with the Studio Fine and Decorative Art auction, Wednesday, November 30th, at 10:00am PST, followed by the Traditional Collector sale Tuesday, December 6th at 12:00pm PST. Be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming auctions so you don’t miss out on the action, and the treasures!
Studio Fine and Decorative Art: Wednesday, Nov. 30th| 10:00 am PST
Traditional Collector: Tuesday, December 6th | 12:00 pm PST
Fine Jewelry & Timepieces: Wednesday, December 7th | 10:00 am PST
For upcoming highlights, online catalogues, and more information on these sales, visit Moran’s website: jm.dev.hookson1.com and follow us on social media: @johnmoranauctioneers. Along with our website, bidding is now available online via Moran’s new mobile app, Moran Mobile, available on both iOS and Android operating systems. You may also choose to bid by phone or absentee.
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