Treadway Gallery, Cincinnati, OH, held a diverse Decorative Arts auction on June 14, 2020. The sale included pottery, glass, furniture, lamps and metalware. Following are a few of the more notable results.
The top lot of the sale was a Tiffany Studios 20″ Dragonfly table lamp, sold as lot #116. I would call it an unusual, not very attractive example. There were too many colors that didn’t work well together — blue geometric bands at the bottom and top; reddish dragonflies; brownish-olive background; green jewels; and flat, orange eyes. Personally I wouldn’t have been interested even at a substantially lower price. It sold below its estimate of $55,000 – $65,000, realizing $62,500, including buyer’s premium.
A moderately strong price was paid for lot #107, a Tiffany 10″ diameter gold decorated Favrile shade. It realized $13,000, including buyer’s premium, against an estimate of $7,000 – $9,000. Makes perfect sense to me. When a Favrile lamp falls and breaks, the shade is destroyed and the base remains. It means there are many more bases than shades in existence today. So when a shade comes up for sale by itself, everyone wants it, especially a nice example like this.
The Handel reverse-painted lamp market has been in a decline for quite a few years, maybe even decades. But what is still buoyant is anything that is Arts & Crafts. Treadway lot #119 was a Handel overlay lamp in the Cattail design, on a very nice bulbous tree-trunk base. It fits the mold of Arts & Crafts design, so it works well in a Mission style-home. It sold within its estimate, realizing $13,750, including buyer’s premium, against an estimate of $9,000 – $12,000.
For the complete results of the sale, click here.