Past Auction

Doyle New York's Auction of Important English and Continental Furniture and Decorations and Old Master Paintings Surpasses $1.4 Million

Wed, Jan 28, 2015 at 10am EST |

New York

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17th Century Portrait by French Artist Pierre Mignard Highlights January 28, 2015 Sale

17th Century Portrait by French Artist Pierre Mignard Highlights January 28, 2015 Sale
We Invite You to Auction Your English and Continental Furniture and Decorations and Old Master Paintings
Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for the May 20, 2015 Auction

Doyle New York's auction of January 28, 2015 offered English and Continental furniture and decorations from the 17th through 19th centuries, as well as English, Continental and Chinese export porcelain, Georgian silver, sculpture, clocks, chandeliers, sconces, tapestries and rugs. The Old Master Paintings section of the sale showcased landscapes, still lifes, portraits and religious subjects by European artists from the Renaissance to the 19th century.

With competitive international bidding from the salesroom, the telephones and the Internet, the sale totaled $1,461,856, surpassing its estimate of $782,050-1,321,400 with an exceptional 87% sold by lot and 94% sold by value.

Old Master Paintings

The Old Master paintings section of the sale offered over 140 examples and was highlighted by several portraits. Portrait of Louis Francois Marie Le Tellier, Marquis de Barbezieux, Secretaire d'Etat a la Guerre (1668-1701) by Pierre Mignard (French, 1612-1695) achieved an exceptional $81,250, more than quadrupling its low estimate of $20,000. The Marquis de Barbezieux was appointed by King Louis XIV to the post of Secretaire d'Etat a la Guerre in 1691, when he was only 23, and he remained in that office until his death a decade later. There is a preparatory drawing for the portrait in the collection of the Musée du Louvre in Paris, and an engraving after it by Cornelis Vermeulen.

An 18th century English School portrait of Queen Carolina Wilhelmina of Brandenburg-Ansbach as Princess of Wales with provenance of the Duke of Cambridge fetched a remarkable $43,750, many times its estimate of $7,000-12,000. Italian paintings in the sale featured a 19th century Italian School portrait of a Cardinal that soared past its estimate of $800-1,200 to reach $25,000 and a 16th/17th century North Italian School portrait, Gentleman in a Fur Lined Cloak, bearing a red wax seal with the arms and motto of the Prince of Liechtenstein, that sold for $23,750, far surpassing its estimate of $2,000-4,000.

Furniture and Decorations

Continental furniture in the auction was highlighted by an Empire gilt-metal mounted giltwood gueridon with a white marble top later painted with a large bouquet of flowers and fruit. Estimated at $1,000-1,500, it sold for a stunning $62,500. A Continental polychrome painted and parcel gilt cabinet, partially 18th century, decorated with trompe l'oeil objects including books, tankards, urns etc. fetched $18,750, almost tripling its estimate of $6,000-8,000. A mid-17th century South German Baroque Fassendenschrank of walnut and other woods, with carved initials PG BZ and the date 1652, achieved $16,250, far exceeding its estimate of $3,000-5,000.

English furniture offered a George III mahogany secretaire chest of drawers with galleried two-tier open shelves attributed to Thomas Chippendale. The circa 1770 chest soldfor $21,250, many times its estimate of $5,000-7,000. It is almost identical to an example formerly at Hornby Castle, Yorkshire, the seat of the Dukes of Leeds. These chests were designed for bedrooms, the lattice-work superstructure used for the display of porcelain.

Decorations in the sale offered an early 19th century Vienna cobalt blue and parcel gilt porcelain tete-a-tete service from the collection of famed makeup artist Pablo Manzoni. Comprising a tray, coffee pot, hot milk jug, two cups and saucers, sugar bowl and the original gilt tooled red Morocco leather case, the exquisite service fetched an exceptional $13,750, well over tis estimate of $1,000-1,500.

An associated pair of 18th century Prattware ceramic figures of horsemen, height of taller 8 3/4 inches sold for $12,500 against an estimate of $1,000-2,000. An Empire gilt and patinated-bronze of a standing female figure measuring 50 1/2 inches and estimate at $2,000-4,000 sold for a strong $11,875.

NEXT IMPORTANT FURNITURE & OLD MASTER PAINTINGS AUCTION: May 20, 2015

Consignments are currently being accepted for Doyle New York’s next auction of Important English & Continental Furniture & Decorations, Including Old Master Paintings and Drawings scheduled for May 20, 2015. 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:

Peter Lang, Furniture & Decorations, 212-427-4141, ext 274, [email protected]

Elaine Stainton, Paintings, 212-427-4141, ext 249, [email protected]