Kaminski Announces Top Auction Pieces

Notable Russian antiques and European fine art performed well at the podium during Kaminski's July 13th Summer Continental Estate Auction. Among the top lots of the day were a number of Russian silver items, several Old Master paintings, and one exceptional Russian icon.

With final price of $19,800, Lot 3205, an eighteenth century Russian icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, took the top spot in the auction. It arrived at Kaminski as one of a number of pieces belonging to Peter Denisevich, who grew his collection while stationed as a U.S. military attache in Moscow during 1946. The Vladimir Mother of God icon was the oldest piece in Denisevich's collection, which included two newer, though still beautiful, icons as well. A gilded silver oklad covers the icon, chased with foliage that surrounds the ornately arranged pearls embellishing both the garments of Mother and Child. The beauty and age captured the interest of numerous online and phone bidders who drove the final price well above the original estimate of $5,000 to $8,000.

The success of the icon carried over onto the other Russian items in the auction, including a green guilloche enameled card case. The small sterling case was originally made in St. Petersburg between 1908 and 1917, and was marked with the Kokoshnik mark. Kaminski appraisers originally estimated the case at $2,000 to $4,000. It ultimately sold for $6,600.

Mr. Denisevich's collection also included an interesting adjustable candlestick, with two lights arranged to backlight a lithopane of a St. Petersburg scene. The decorative candlestick sold above estimate for $4,560.

Veritable and impressive age was a theme among the highest selling lots of the day. A suite of Old Master paintings spiked many bidders' interest. The two highest grossing of the collection where Jan Josef Horemans the Younger's, "Abraham and the Three Angels," and "Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist," from the circle of Trevisani, or Francesco de Mura. Both elegant paintings sold for $4,305.

John Mogford's "Shipwreck," proved the best selling painting of the sale. The painting showcases Mogford's signature soft light that illuminates the vast cliffs and small wrecked ship pictured in the painting. Originally estimated at $3,000 to $5,000, the Mogford painted was finally hammered down at $7,800. Paul Renard's "Paris Street Scene," also attracted bidding interest. The painting met its high estimate and sold for $3,600.

A photograph from Annie Leibovitz of the Olympic diver Greg Louganis helped open the auction and sold for above its original estimate for $2,400. Also much anticipated was a sterling silver and ivory golf trophy, which also sold above estimate for $1,353.

A selection of Continental decorative pieces and paintings rounded out the sale. Among the highlights were a set of two Bohemian decanters and twelve glasses, with exquisitely painted gold surface decoration and ruby colored glass inserts. A phone bidder took home the lot for $3,960, above the $1,800 to $2,500 estimate.

Also popular was a seventeenth or eighteenth century Turkish Iznik charger, originally only estimated at $300 to $500. Iznik was renowned from the fifteenth to the seventeenth centuries for its distinctive decorated pottery. The charger presented at Kaminski exhibited the colors and designs that characterized Iznik pottery at the end of the production era, and fetched $2,829.

With the conclusion of this Summer Continental Estate Auction, Kaminski Auctions looks forward to its next summer estate auction next Saturday, July 20th, which will feature an extensive selection of Americana, as well as American paintings and furniture.

KAMINSKI
Kaminski Auctions, located on the North Shore of Boston, has been serving the New England antiques market for over 25 years as a full service auction house and appraisal service for fine art, antiques and estates.

With two locations in Beverly, Massachusetts, including a new state of the art auction gallery located at 117 Elliott Street, and a historic 1850's barn and office facility at 564 Cabot Street, Kaminski Auctions hosts 25 auctions a year.

In today's highly competitive market of fine art and antiques, Kaminski Auctions provides its customers with bicoastal services and marketing with west coast offices in Beverly Hills and San Diego, California.

Kaminski Auctions offers specialty departments in Asian Art and Antiques, Silver, Glass and Lamps, Couture and Vintage Clothing, Photography and Modern Design . We have highly trained and knowledgable appraisers on staff that will help you determine the true value of your antiques, or entire collections. Free Appraisal days are offered every Tuesday from 10:00am-4:30pm at our 564 Cabot Street location in Beverly, Massachusetts & by appointment at our 5171 Santa Fe Street location in San Diego, California. We welcome emailed photos of your items! Contact Harry Morgan - hmorgan(at)kaminskiauctions(dot)com