Christie’s concluded its series of live Design auctions at Rockefeller Center on Friday, June 10 with Tiffany Masterworks from the Garden Museum: A Private Collection. Celebrating the artistic mastery of Louis Comfort Tiffany, the sale consisted of 44 lots from one of the greatest Tiffany collections in existence assembled by Japanese businessman Mr. Takeo Horiuchi in the 1990s.
In total, the sale realized $6,662,124 selling 95% by lot, 90% by value, and 131% hammer above the low estimate. Combined with the live Design sales on Monday, June 6, and Tuesday, June 7, the week’s series of three Design auctions in New York totaled $ 35,839,410.
The sale was led by An Important and Rare ‘Hanging Head Dragonfly’ Chandelier, circa 1905. Estimated at $600,000—800,000, the lot surpassed its high estimate to achieve $1,008,000. Other leading highlights included A Rare ‘Yellow Rose’ Floor Lamp circa 1905 which achieved $819,000 against an estimate of $600,000—800,000 and A Rare and Early ‘Dragonfly and Waterflowers’ Table Lamp formerly in the collection of Barbra Streisand which sold for $756,000 against an estimate of $350,000–500,000.
IMPORTANT AND RARE ‘HANGING HEAD DRAGONFLY’ CHANDELIER, CIRCA 1905
with original hanging fixture leaded glass, patinated bronze
10½ in. (26.7 cm) high, 28 in. (71.1 cm) diameter, 60 in. (152.4 cm)
Price Realized: $1,008,000
A fantastic result was seen for A Drop-Leaf Partner’s Desk for the William S. Kimball House, Rochester, New York, circa 1881. The lot realized over ten times its low estimate of $40,000, selling for $466,200.
Daphné Riou, Christie’s Senior Specialist, Head of Design, comments: “Today, Christie’s had the distinct pleasure of bringing to market one of the most legendary collections of design objects by Louis Comfort Tiffany. We were thrilled to see global excitement from bidders throughout the sale, with wonderful results for the exquisite group of lamps including the ‘Hanging Head Dragonfly’ chandelier, which achieved more than $1 million. We were also quite thrilled by the furniture in the sale, notably the 1881 Drop-Leaf Partner’s Desk designed for the William S. Kimball House, Rochester, New York, which surpassed expectation to achieve ten times its low estimate. It is clear that the market for fine quality objects of prestigious provenance remains as strong as ever.”
Highlights Include
EARLY AND RARE ‘DRAGONFLY AND WATERFLOWERS’ TABLE
LAMP, CIRCA 1900
leaded glass, mosaic Favrile glass, patinated bronze
17¾ in. (45.1 cm) high, 16 in. (40.6 cm) diameter of shade
Price Realized: $756,000
Drop-Leaf Partner’s Desk for the William S. Kimball House, Rochester, New York, circa 1881
canary wood, teak, patinated brass
30 1⁄4 x 84 3⁄8 x 36 in. (76.8 x 214.3 x 91.4 cm) (extended)
50 1⁄2 in. wide (128.3 cm) (unextended)
Price Realized: $466,200
RARE ‘YELLOW ROSE’ FLOOR LAMP, CIRCA 1905
leaded glass, gilt bronze 78½ in. (199.4 cm) high, 26 in. (66 cm) diameter of shade
Price Realized: $819,000
‘PEACOCK’ WINDOW, CIRCA 1910-1915
Favrile glass 31 in. (78.7 cm) high, 22⅞ in. (58.1 cm) wide (sight)
Price Realized: $352,800
Pair of ‘Turtle-Back Tile’ Sconces, circa 1915
leaded glass, gilt bronze
10 1⁄2 x 14 3⁄4 x 4 in. (26.7 x 37.5 x 10.2 cm)
one impressed TIFFANY STUDIOS, the other impressed TIFFANY STUDIOS NEW YORK
with custom Garden Museum Collection case
Price Realized: $226,800
RARE ‘ELABORATE GRAPE’ TABLE LAMP, CIRCA 1903
leaded glass, patinated bronze 27 in. (68.6 cm) high, 18 in. (45.7 cm) diameter of shade
Price Realized: $478,800
