Eight of these lots, mostly small trays or candlesticks with mother-of-pearl orientalist figural decor dated to the early 18th century, were entered by a titled lady and one private telephone bidder was particularly determined to secure these, taking away half of them and paying substantially more than predicted against competition from London trade in the room and other phones.
A 14in (35cm) wide bowl; an 83/4in (22cm) high ewer and a pair of 3in (8cm) high canted-corner covered boxes each made £13,500, for example, against estimates of £5000-8000 apiece. The others went to a commission bidder.
And it was the commission bidder rather than the telephone that secured the most expensive piece in this section, the much more elaborate tortoiseshell, gold and mother-of-pearl inkstand, of Berainesque inspiration, pictured right. This came from another source – the same European collector who was selling the fauteuils by Gourdin. It had formerly been in the collection of Baron Gustave de Rothschild and had sold at Paris auctioneers Piasa four years ago for Fr125,000. This time around it was secured for a treble estimate £44,000.
Piqué perfection…
UK: Christie’s Continental Furniture sale on July 4 (17.5/10% buyer's premium) included a small nine-lot section devoted to Neapolitan piqué work: tortoiseshell objects inlaid with mother-of-pearl and silver, which proved decidedly popular.
