A Spirited Spring Sale of European Furniture & Decorative Arts

The April European Décor & Design auction drew attention this spring with over 300 pieces of Royal Copenhagen “Flora Danica” dinnerware (Lots 1183-1215). The entire collection came from a single pantry at the Ker Arvor Estate in Newport, Rhode Island. A set of twenty-five seafood plates stole the show, selling at $25,000, with a set of teacups and saucers and an ice dome following close behind, selling for $18,750 and $17,500, respectively. In all, the thirty-three lots realized nearly $200,000.

Spirited bidding took place online in the last hours of the auction, pushing many pieces to greatly exceed their estimated value. As if in celebration of spring, three of the four Russian silver and enameled Easter eggs up for auction exceeded their estimated value, with the highest going for $5,938.

Other spectacular silver sales included an important Boston tankard by Samuel Minott, circa 1760, selling for $11,875; a grape leaf Gorham platter for $15,000; and a Gorham Versailles pattern flatware service (Lot 1021) in its original oak case for $9,375.

The star of the eighty-three lots of Wedgwood was a rare, complete 19th century jasper chess set, selling for $32,500. With white figures and blue and lilac bases, the pieces are based on characters from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Also of note was a white jasper medallion depicting an enslaved man—inscribed “AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER?”—which exceeded its $800-1,200 estimate, selling at $4,063.

Overall, the sale was 94% sold. Both national and international competition for a variety of items proves the continued strength in the market for good, fresh property.