Five for Friday: Akiba Antiques’ Eclectic Collection of Estates Worldwide
Auction Daily:
Please tell the Auction Daily readers about Akiba Antiques. Where are you located? What do you specialize in? How long have you been in business? And how often do you hold auctions?
Akiba Antiques:
We are located in Dania Beach, FL, and hold two auctions per month. Our sales offer a little bit of everything and present eclectic merchandise to meet the demands of our marketplace. We do very well in the jewelry, fine art, and collectibles categories; interestingly, we are one of the largest resellers of Herend porcelain.
Akiba Antiques is run and operated by myself, Alexander Anapolsky, and my partner Jon Akiba. We’ve been working together for about eight years now. We are both in our 30s, so we like to think of ourselves as leading the next generation of auction professionals and collectors. Akiba Antiques’ legacy goes back four decades, with its origins in Paris. There, Jon’s parents operated a retail location with the same name. We took their business online and created the auction house.
Auction Daily:
What is the most unusual item you’ve sold through an Akiba Antiques auction in the past few years? And what was your highest selling item/lot?
Akiba Antiques:
The most unusual item we’ve handled was a small, enameled Danish “Order of the Elephant” pendant. This order, founded in 1478 by King Christian I, is still in existence today. It is Denmark’s highest honor and given solely at the King’s discretion. These pendants are extremely rare, as technically they must be returned to the order upon the recipient’s death. This elephant was consigned to us by a gentleman who purchased it at a flea market in South Florida. It ended up selling for $15,000 to a member of the Danish royalty. And the most expensive item we’ve sold to date was an important diamond necklace by the British multinational jeweler Graff. It traded hands at $250,000. This phenomenal piece of jewelry was consigned to us from a prominent collector in Bal Harbor, FL.
Auction Daily:
Your upcoming March 18th Eclectic Collection of Estates Worldwide sale offers a huge range of jewelry, fine and decorative arts, lighting, fine antiques, Asian arts, and luxury accessories. What are some of your personal favorites in the sale, and why?
Akiba Antiques:
There are so many great items that it’s hard to pick just a few. But these really do catch my eye. The first is lot #14, a pair of Hollywood Regency gilded bronze and rock crystal sconces. They are jaw-droppingly stunning, and so rarely seen on the secondary market – especially in excellent condition like these. Lot #12, a large 19th century Franz Bergman lamp in the form of a mosque, is outstanding for its size, subject matter, and incredible details. Lot #59, a working, vintage Coca Cola Cavalier C-51 machine, is fabulous and an interior designer’s or Coca Cola collector’s dream. And of course, I have to give a shout out to lot #71, a mixed media work by local (at least to us!) Miami artist Purvis Young.
Auction Daily:
Buyers can’t help but notice the offerings of lamps and fixtures in this sale. Which ones catch your eye, and why?
Akiba Antiques:
The piece that really lights me up in this category is lot #21, a large, 16 arm gilded bronze and crystal chandelier. It features a very rare crystal inlaid underbase and looks absolutely magnificent when illuminated.
Auction Daily:
And finally, this sale features a collection of mirrors. Lot 106A, a monumental two tone gilded mirror, is one of the top lots in the sale. What makes this piece so interesting from the design and collector’s perspectives?
Akiba Antiques:
This beautiful and important 19th century mirror was acquired from a West Palm beach estate. As an auction professional, it’s a really nice and authentic 19th century mirror/console combination, especially in such fine condition.
Akiba Antiques Eclectic Collection of Estates Worldwide event will be held on March 18, 2020 starting at 4:00 PM EDT at the company’s gallery, located at 3 N Federal Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004. Bidding is available in person, on the phone, via absentee bids, and online at Liveauctioneers and Invaluable. For more information, please see www.akibaantiques.com.
