132-PIECE MODERN HAMMERED STERLING FLATWARE SERVICE BY ALLAN ADLER COMMANDS $15,525
Examiner.com
July 1, 8:42 PM
Take a look at this auction report.
132-PIECE MODERN HAMMERED STERLING FLATWARE SERVICE BY ALLAN ADLER
COMMANDS $15,525 AT JUNE 13-14 ESTATE SALE HELD BY LELAND LITTLE
AUCTION & ESTATE SALES, LTD.
(HILLSBOROUGH, N.C.) – An important and complete 132-piece modern
hammered sterling flatware service for twelve, by the renowned
California silversmith Allan Adler sold for $15,525 at an Historic
Hillsborough Auction held June 13-14 by Leland Little Auction &
Estate Sales, Ltd. It was the grand opening event for the firm in
its new gallery location, at 620 Cornerstone Court in Hillsborough.
Allan Adler honed his craft in California in the 1930s, and developed
a strong following among many Hollywood celebrities (he once hosted
Katharine Hepburn at his workbench as an apprentice), as well as
presidents, museum curators and silver collectors. He once described
his work as "clean lines with a bent toward the unconventional,"
and that was evident in the large service that changed hands.
The silver service was the top earner of the more than 800 lots that
crossed the block during the two days. About 250 people packed the
showroom for the Saturday session, while around 150 bidders were
counted on Sunday. A little less than 1,000 pre-absentee and phone
bids were recorded going into Saturday. Internet bidding was brisk
via LiveAuctioneers.com, with 450-500 registered online bidders.
"There was a great deal of anticipation leading up to the premiere
event at our new gallery," said Leland Little of Leland Little Auction
& Estate Sales, Ltd. "The results exceeded our expectations. The
auction was a hit, and everyone was favorably impressed with our
modern, 10,000-square-foot facility. It’s a great environment for
buyers and sellers to view items from our collections that come
to market."
The sale was preceded by a week-long preview, highlighted by an Opening
Night Gala on June 11, at which the noted antiques expert Albert Sack
had kind words to say about Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.;
and a special lecture presentation on June 12 by Johanna M. Brown,
director of collections and a curator at the Museum of Early Southern
Decorative Arts (MESDA). Another MESDA curator, June Lucas, will be the
guest speaker at the firm’s cataloged auction scheduled for Dec. 5-6.
Following are additional highlights from the sale. All prices quoted
include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
The runner-up top lot was a French mid-19th century Raingo Freres
figural mantle clock that served as cover art for the auction
catalog. Featuring a porcelain signed dial and unmarked time and strike
brass movement set within a gilt bronze urn on a matching acanthus
footed base, the clock brought $9,775. Also, an ornate German wall
clock made in 1880 and with nice color and patina realized $2,990.
A signed Tiffany Studios counterbalance desk lamp with heavy patinated
bronze construction throughout and a webbed damascene shade lit
up the room for $8,912; an Irish sterling silver soup tureen with
cover (Georgian, 1821), with figural engravings, soared to $8,050;
and a Staffordshire historic blue plate (circa 1820s), commemorating
Gen. Lafayette’s 1824-25 tour of the U.S., hit $2,530.
Fine art was offered in abundance. A 19th-century American still life
theorem (watercolor on velvet) rose to $8,625; a pastel on paper
portrait of a child by Lila Cabot Perry (Am., 1848-1933), went for
$6,038; an 18th-century American School portrait of a young boy,
oil on canvas, made $5,750; and a signed oil on canvas depiction of
a shepherd by George Turner II (Br., 1843-1910), gaveled for $4,140.
An Egyptian bronze statuette depicting a seated Isis suckling the
infant Harpokrates coasted to $3,680; an oil on canvas by James
Yarborough (Am., 20th century), titled Noreen & Laurie, hit $2,990;
an oil on canvas work by Jerome Blum (Ill./ N.Y., 1884-1956), titled
Woman in Green (1911), achieved $2,530; and a red chalk drawing on
paper by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (It., 1591-1666) made $1,150.
Fine period furniture pieces from prominent local estates wowed the
crowd. Top earners included a mid-Atlantic early 19th-century butler’s
chest with figured mahogany veneers ($2,300); and an 18th-century
Continental pine pewter cupboard with original mustard paint and
hardware ($2,070). Also, a Karabagh rug (circa 1910) brought $2,185,
and a Shahsavan bag (circa 1900) realized $3,105.
Estate jewelry did well. A Mikimoto triple-strand pearl necklace with
18k yellow gold clasp, four diamonds and four pearls fetched $3,680;
an 18k yellow gold men’s emerald and diamond ring, appraised at $5,200,
went for $2,185; and a 14k platinum and diamond lady’s Hamilton watch
found a new wrist for $1,610. Also, a mourning miniature with hair
brooch (S.C., 1802) hammered for $2,990.
>From decorative accessories, a gorgeous pair of Japanese Satsuma vases
(circa 1860-1880), in tapering baluster form, went to a determined
bidder for $7,188; a Belle Epoque figural centerpiece (French, circa
1880-1920), garnered $1,955; a rare Art Deco cast-iron sundial (circa
1930s), spherical in form, demanded $1,610; and an early 20th century
Egyptian Revival Sphinx inkwell sold for $1,150.
Regional folk art pottery was a hit, per usual. A Burlon Craig 3-gallon
face jug (N.C., circa 1980) breezed to $2,645; a 20th century chip
carved figural of a black preacher, titled Man of the Cloth (circa
1900), reached $1,150; and a Billy Ray Hussey cat doorstop, signed on
the bottom, went for $748. Also, a restored pre-Columbian Guatemalan
pot with polychrome decoration changed hands for $3,450.
Decoys struck an impressive pose. A handsome Brant decoy (Ocracoke,
N.C.) was a hit for $5,060; a Southern swan decoy by an unknown maker
(but probably crafted in Virginia or North Carolina) commanded $1,150;
and a Canada goose decoy by Ira Hudson – an early production example,
with tack eyes, a belligerent pose and old paint – saw a top bid of
$1,610. Other examples did well, too.
Top earners among firearms were a flintlock long rifle with no maker’s
mark (circa 1790-1820), with an octagonal barrel and 3/8-inch bore
($2,185); a North Carolina percussion long rifle by Enoch Kennedy
(Moore Cty., circa 1830-1850), with 36-inch octagonal barrel and
walnut half stock ($1,725); and an English flintlock over/under
double-barrel pistol (approx. .45 caliber, circa 1780-1820, $920).
Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., is still accepting quality
consignments for its big Sept. 19-20 cataloged sale, as well as for all
future estate auctions. To consign an item, an estate or a collection,
you may call them directly, at (919) 644-1243. Or, e-mail them,
at [email protected]. To learn more about Leland Little Auction &
Estate Sales, Ltd., log on to