THOMASTON, ME:  In spite of a special appearance by Tropical Storm Irene, it was standing room only at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ sale on August 27 & 28.  Fine art and Chinese antiques dominated the list of high performing lots, but several eclectic pieces also generated strong bidder response and high prices.

Thomaston Place Owner and Auctioneer Kaja Veilleux noted: “When the storm was predicted, we said that ‘Irene may call, but we will be here selling it all’, and we were packed both days.  The worst weather seems to bring out the biggest auction crowds here in Maine.”

A monumental oil on canvas still life painting by Severin Roesen (PA, 1815-1872) led the fine art category, selling for $57,500.  A Dutch old master rendering of a 17^th Century naval engagement also performed extremely well, bringing $14,375; and a bound circa 1940 portfolio of 8 original watercolor children’s illustrations by Feng Zhi Kai sold for $16,100.  An oil on panel Italian Icon of the Annunciation depicting the Angel approaching Mary garnered $9,775.00, and a Victorian oil on academy board depiction of ‘The Proper Pooch’ brought $8,050. 

A number of sculptural pieces were also well received, including an 18^th Century Italian marble bas relief, “The Pieta”, that raised $14,950; and a wood sculpture, “Long Billed Marsh Wren”, by Charles ‘Chippy’ Greenough Chase (ME, 1908-1988) that brought $8,337.50.

A selection of antique Chinese carved jade pieces attracted much bidder interest.  An 18^th Century Chinese jade bowl carved with archaic designs on a separate jade stand surpassed ingoing expectations and sold for $35,650, and a Chinese jade table artifact in the form of a Ruyi Sceptre brought $23,000.  Another surprise was a pair of early Chinese jade reticulated belt buckles that sold for $5,290. 

The auction featured a large group of Chinese export porcelain, and many lots brought strong prices.  Aggressive bidding for a rare 19^th Century Chinese porcelain Blackamoor figurine drove its selling price to $11,500.  Many of the export pieces came with excellent provenance, as they descended in the family of ship Captain John Smith who brought them to Salem, Massachusetts in 1838.  These included a massive Canton hot water warming dish that brought $8,050, a pair of Rose Mandarin vases that sold for $7,762 and a group of 7 Canton platters that garnered $5,405. 

A pair of rose gold Faberge cufflinks, accented with crowns formed from rose cut diamonds and cabochon rubies by August Hollming generated enthusiastic bidding that led to a selling price of $12,650.  An 18K gold, diamond and Burmese sapphire bead necklace brought $18,400, and a platinum and 18K gold ring set with a natural 5.68 carat Columbian square cut emerald flanked by two shield cut diamonds sold for $21,850.

This sale included several exceptional pieces of furniture, and there was strong bidder response to these pieces.  A circa 1830 Boston mahogany Pembroke table with satinwood lunette inlay sold for $14,375; a Portsmouth, NH area Hepplewhite bow front chest of drawers brought $14,950; a circa 1765-1790, New York Chippendale wing chair frame garnered $12,075; and an early two part soft wood apothecary cabinet in green paint achieved $7,187.

Most silver lots performed exceedingly well, and a 137 piece set of sterling flatware in the Cactus pattern by Georg Jensen set off a bidding frenzy, ending at $16,100.  Another Jensen piece, a circa 1930 sterling compote, brought $6,325.

A 1789 large folio atlas, “The English Pilot, Describing the West India Navigation, from Hudson's Bay to the River Amazones”, in its original leather binding sold for $25,300; and an extremely rare map of Maine, published by J.F.W. Des Barres in 1776 for use by the British Royal Navy during the course of the American Revolutionary War, brought $8,050.

Other high flying lots included: an Etruscan athlete's sarcophagus cinerary urn lid in painted terra cotta from 150-100 BCE that sold for $40,250; a circa 1900 Regina 'Corona' Model 33 floor cabinet music box with Honduras mahogany with 34 discs and a custom cabinet for the extra discs that brought $14,950; a Louis Vuitton child’s trunk that sold for $6,612; and a 16th-17th Century Safavid Persian blue bowl with black decoration that achieved $3,737.

A complete list of auction results can be found at www.thomastonauction.com.  The next Thomaston Place Auction Galleries sale will take place on November 5 & 6, 2011. 

Thomaston Place Auction Galleries is coastal Maine’s premier auction and appraisal company located on U.S. Route 1 in Thomaston.  Thomaston Place is a leader in discovering Maine’s antique and fine art treasures by offering Free Appraisals each Tuesday at the Gallery, creating fundraiser events for civic and charitable organizations using its unique Mobile Appraisal Laboratory, and providing house call appraisal services.  Its expertise in researching and marketing antiques and fine art has earned Thomaston Place the respect of buyers, collectors and experts worldwide.

NOTE:  All prices include the 15% buyer’s premium.