Estate / Collection: Property of a Fifth Avenue Philanthropist
With black printed armorial seal and impressed crowned BFB marks; each center painted with a full coat of arms, Blake impaling French, above a scrolling banner inscribed with the motto ‘VIRTUS SOLA NOBILITAT’ (Virtue is the Only Nobility), including a two-handled oval soup tureen, cover and stand, width 14 ¾ inches; two sauce-tureens and covers and stands, width 9 1/4 inches (23.5 cm); two square vegetable dishes and covers, width 9 5.8 inches (24.4 cm); square bowl, width 9 3/4 inches (24.7 cm); eight graduated platters, width of largest 18 inches (45.7 cm); forty dinner plates, diameter 9 3/8 inches (28.8 cm); twelve soup plates, diameter 9 1/2 inches (24.1 cm); twelve side plates, diameter 6 1/8 inches (15.6 cm).
The impaled arms represent the complete armorial of the Blake family of Ballyglunin Park, County Galway. In 1803 John Blake (1765-1822) married Olivia Ann French (1782-1877) of Brook Lodge, County Galway.
Sold for $12,800
Estimated at $10,000 - $20,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
Estate / Collection: Property of a Fifth Avenue Philanthropist
With black printed armorial seal and impressed crowned BFB marks; each center painted with a full coat of arms, Blake impaling French, above a scrolling banner inscribed with the motto ‘VIRTUS SOLA NOBILITAT’ (Virtue is the Only Nobility), including a two-handled oval soup tureen, cover and stand, width 14 ¾ inches; two sauce-tureens and covers and stands, width 9 1/4 inches (23.5 cm); two square vegetable dishes and covers, width 9 5.8 inches (24.4 cm); square bowl, width 9 3/4 inches (24.7 cm); eight graduated platters, width of largest 18 inches (45.7 cm); forty dinner plates, diameter 9 3/8 inches (28.8 cm); twelve soup plates, diameter 9 1/2 inches (24.1 cm); twelve side plates, diameter 6 1/8 inches (15.6 cm).
The impaled arms represent the complete armorial of the Blake family of Ballyglunin Park, County Galway. In 1803 John Blake (1765-1822) married Olivia Ann French (1782-1877) of Brook Lodge, County Galway.
Generally good condition overall with minor loss to gilding; exceptions to note:
two salad plates with rim chips
chip to tureen cover
two large oval serving platters with several rim chips
all platters with heavy wear to undersides
two dinner plates with chip losses to rims
Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact and our Organization shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. Please contact the specialist department to request further information or additional images that may be available.
Auction: Property of a Fifth Avenue Philanthropist, Nov 8, 2024
NEW YORK, NY -- International competition drove exceptional results at Doyle's two-day auction of Property of a Fifth Avenue Philanthropist on November 7–8, 2024. The landmark auction showcased over 600 lots of important French furniture and decorations and Old Master paintings and drawings from an elegant Fifth Avenue apartment. This exceptional collection was assembled over many years by an astute collector of great sophistication and refined taste.
Highlighting the collection was an extensive porcelain dinner service in the Imari ‘Rock and Tree’ or ‘Money Tree’ pattern that soared past its estimate of $6,000-8,000 to achieve a stunning $51,200. The impressive circa 1810-1820 assembled service by Coalport and Spode comprised approximately 114 pieces. Also outperforming expectations was an extensive 19th century French porcelain iron-red trellis ground dinner and dessert service, approximately 117 pieces, that realized $35,200, many times its $3,000-5,000 estimate.
Furniture highlights included a selection of important 18th century French desks and writing tables highlighted by a Louis XV/XVI gilt bronze mounted table à ecrire by Charles Topino that sold for $32,000, surpassing its $20,000-30,000 estimate. Parisian ébéniste Charles Topino, maître in 1773, specialized in creating light pieces decorated with fine marquetry, such as this writing table featuring pictorial marquetry of exceptional quality. Specialist Todd Sell examines the writing table, click here for the video.
Among the fine clocks in the collection was a Louis XV gilt bronze mounted rosewood, tulipwood and kingwood tall case clock, 1770s, that realized $23,040, exceeding its $12,000-18,000 estimate. The elegant clock was attributed to the Parisian ébéniste and clock case specialist Adrien-Jerome Jollain, maître in 1763.
Artwork in the collection offered a diverse selection of 18th and 19th century paintings and an extensive range of 17th and 18th century drawings rendered in the rich, warm tones of sanguine chalk.
Click here to download the catalogue for Part I
Click here to download the catalogue for Part II
Be inspired by Alex Papachristidis' stylish tablescape combining his signature tableware with Property of a Fifth Avenue Philanthropist! The exhibition featured a lavish table setting created for the ultimate fantasy dinner with design legends Elsie de Wolfe, Billy Baldwin, Pauline de Rothschild and Cristóbal Balenciaga. Everyday Elegance Collection is available at everyday-elegance.com
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
For information, please contact:
Furniture & Decorations: Todd Sell: 212-427-4141, ext 269, Todd.Sell@Doyle.com
Paintings & Drawings: Elaine Stainton: 212-427-4141, ext 238, Paintings@Doyle.com