Morphy’s June 11-12 Fine & Decorative Arts Auction offers luxe jewelry, paintings, Amphora pottery and 25 Tiffany lamps including magnificent ‘Peony’

Also featured: 18K gold, emerald and diamond necklace, extremely rare Duffner & Kimberly ‘Viking’ lamp, avant-garde Paul Dachsel ‘Cactus’ vase made circa 1906, Rolex and other luxury watches

DENVER, Pa. – Exquisite jewelry and watches, 35 pieces of early Amphora pottery, and 25 exceptional Tiffany Studios lamps lead the select array of fine and decorative art to be auctioned by Morphy’s on June 11-12, 2024. All items in this sale – from breathtaking diamonds and Rolex watches to antique maps and 170 fancifully-carved walking sticks – have been examined, evaluated and cataloged by respected experts from Morphy’s team of seasoned professionals.

The Pennsylvania gallery is beaming with rainbow colors from the auction’s 72 art glass lamps by Tiffany Studios, Handel, Pairpoint, Duffner & Kimberly and other acclaimed manufacturers of the early 20th century. Tiffany lamps, in particular, are regarded as American treasures, and over the years, Morphy’s has auctioned some of the finest fresh-to-market examples of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s work. The 25 Tiffany creations chosen for the June 11-12 sale will delight even the most discerning connoisseur, starting with an absolutely stunning “Peony” leaded-glass lamp.

This glorious top-tier table lamp dazzles with its multicolored background of mottled cobalt and streaked sky blues, medley of multicolored confetti glass, and blossoms crafted from numerous types of Tiffany glass, including granite-backed reds and highly mottled opalescent whites. Both the Peony shade and base are signed by Tiffany, with illustrious provenance adding to their desirability. The 22-inch (diameter) shade was formerly in the collection of Minna Rosenblatt (1944-2008), while the lamp’s base was previously acquired at a Sotheby’s auction. Ms Rosenblatt owned a premier Madison Avenue (NYC) antiques gallery for 35 years and was one of the influential dealers who fostered the 1950s revival of Tiffany lamps and other Art Nouveau glass. In excellent condition and ready to elevate any environment in which it is placed, the stellar Peony lamp presented by Morphy’s is estimated at $100,000-$150,000.

Another wonderful buying opportunity comes in the form of a Duffner & Kimberly “Viking” leaded-glass table lamp, a model that appeared in the manufacturer’s 1906 catalog. It is one of few examples of its type known to exist. Against its emerald-green background, the shade has an intricate motif executed in various hues of purple, teal, yellow and red glass. It is further accented by bronze straps, each terminating in a three-dimensional monster head reminiscent of mythical creatures that might have been carved on the prow of a Viking ship. The lamp stands 30 inches tall and is signed under its (correct) base and on one of the inside straps. With provenance from the Barry Toombs collection, it comes to auction with a $60,000-$90,000 estimate.

For many years Morphy’s has been regarded as a trusted source for antique Amphora pottery, garnering record prices on several designs. The opening session of the June 11-12 auction will not disappoint Amphora fans, as it includes 35 pieces of the exotic wares, led by a monumental circa-1906 Amphora Cactus Vase by Paul Dachsel. Regarded as one of the artist’s most innovative designs, the streamlined form seems to foretell the Moderne aesthetic that would not arrive on the art scene for another quarter of a century. The 11-inch vase displays an iridized matte green glaze and undulating reticulated handles. It is marked PD and impressed with the number 1048. An example is shown in Richard Scott’s 1955 reference Ceramics from the House of Amphora 1890-1915. In mint condition, the Dachsel Cactus vase is estimated at $18,000-$24,000.

Gold and platinum jewelry, luxury watches, pocket watches, coins and collectible currency comprise a 140-lot selection of very fine quality. The star of the group is an 18K white gold, emerald and diamond necklace with nine graduated emerald-cut emeralds having a total weight of 49.20cts (largest stone measuring 15.4mm x 7.0mm), and 640 brilliant-cut diamonds with total weight of 8.91cts. Its overall clasped length is 17.5 inches, and its gross weight is 57.5 grams. The necklace is marked Oscar Friedman 18K EM29.51ct D5.68ct under the clasp and it comes with its GemAssure Gemological Appraisals Report. Estimate: $20,000-$40,000

A great-looking circa-1967 Rolex Oyster Perpetual 200mm/660ft Submariner 40mm wristwatch, Ref. 5512, is composed of stainless steel with a black diamond insert. Its face is marked SUPERLATIVE CHRONOMETER OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED. The Oyster bracelet is marked 9315 on its last link, and it is date-coded 1/68. In VG-Excellent condition, this classic carries a $14,000-$20,000 estimate.

Weathervanes have been in the news lately. CBS Television’s Sunday Morning show even did a special feature on the quintessentially American variations of an art form that actually began in China a century before Christ’s birth. But collectors have never needed media coverage to tell them what makes the handcrafted roof-toppers so appealing. In addition to their functional purpose – telling the wind’s direction – they are architectural ornaments typically seen on the summit of a church, barn or other building. On June 12, Morphy’s will auction three weathervanes, the most unusual being an early 20th-century molded-zinc depiction of a woman tennis player in a long, billowing skirt, with her racquet held aloft. Standing 32 inches tall on a metal stand, it is one of only seven known to exist and is in excellent condition. Estimate: $5,000-$15,000

Another auction entry with charm to spare is a circa-1877 hand-painted wood trade sign in the form of a tea kettle, advertising ‘Gilbert & Lawrence Coppersmiths.” This very rare piece, measuring 48 inches by 48 inches by 7¼ inches deep, is flat on one side, making it very easy to display. Estimate: $3,000-$8,000

A fabulous selection of 170 antique walking sticks and canes traverses a broad spectrum of subject matter, including animals, buildings, and medieval, religious or mythological characters. Many are fancy, with gold handles, elaborate ivory carvings or jeweled embellishments. Others conceal a surprise, such as a sword or dice. A highlight of the group is a walking stick/cane with an ivory shaft and carved-ivory dual-faced grip showing a skull on one side and Jesus Christ wearing the Crown of Thorns on the other. In excellent condition, it will cross the auction block with a $2,000-$4,000 estimate.

Antique occupational shaving mugs have shown strong upward momentum in the marketplace for several years, now. Morphy’s has remained at the forefront of the trend, selling some of the rarest and costliest examples. In the June sale, they will offer an extremely rare mug depicting three gymnasts practicing their various athletic disciplines. The mug is emblazoned in gilt with the owner’s name, “Leoder Brodecki” and is stamped T & V Limoges France under the base. Visually outstanding and in excellent condition, it is expected to claim a winning bid in the region of $1,000-$4,000. 

The Tuesday/Wednesday June 11-12, 2024 Fine & Decorative Arts Auction will be held live at Morphy’s gallery, 2000 N. Reading Rd., Denver, PA 17517, starting at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Jewelry preview is by appointment only. All forms of bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone and live via the Internet through Morphy Live. Enquiries: call 877-968-8880, email [email protected]. Visit Morphy’s online at www.morphyauctions.com.

Editors – Please click to view the entire 1,050-lot online catalog:

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/catalog.aspx?auctionid=599