Largest collection of Lalique ever offered at Heritage Auctions’ highlights two-day art glass event
November 11, 2012 by All Art News
Filed under Art Market
NEW YORK, NY.- A private collection of Tiffany lamps, a collection of Tiffany glass that had been bricked up in a secret Connecticut trove and the largest Lalique collection ever offered by Heritage Auctions highlight the company’s two-day Art Glass Signature® Auction, Nov. 16-17, at The Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion (Ukrainian Institute of America), 2 E. 79th Street (at 5th Ave.).
The event features an evening session devoted to the work of Tiffany Studios, as well as a number of well-known glass collections, including that of Susan and Roy Bittan, keyboardist in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, and Paul Bogart, the five-time Emmy winning director of “All in The Family.”
“It’s rare to discover old collections of Rene Lalique, but this auction includes four great ones,” said Nicholas Dawes, Vice President of Special Collections at Heritage. “The Byron Collection from Maryland displays the owner’s passion for automobiles in a strong selection of hood ornaments and a focused collection from Florida reveals most of Lalique’s best fish designs. Not to mention 10 Tiffany leaded glass lamps that rarely show up in one auction – and with no reserve.”
A pair of opalescent Suzanne and Thais art glass statuettes on bronze illuminating bases, circa 1925. Molded: R. LALIQUE, 11-1/2 inches high (29.2 cm) (taller). M p. 399, 400 Estimate: $40,000 – $60,000.
A pair of opalescent Suzanne and Thais art glass statuettes on bronze illuminating bases, circa 1925, is expected to lead the Lalique selection. The pair is expected to bring $40,000+. A collection of Lalique car mascots is highlighted by an amethyst-tinted Victoire, or “Spirit of the Wind” radiator ornament, retaining its original Breves illuminating mount, is expected to sell for $20,000+ while a clear and frosted glass Petite Libelulle, or dragonfly mascot, is expected to bring $8,000+.
Among Lalique’s fish-motif works, a red glass Poissons vase with white patina, crafted in 1921, is expected to bring $20,000+ and a frosted glass Yeso plaque with illuminating base, circa 1930, may sell for $5,000+. An engraved and foliate-covered green glass Milan vase, circa 1929, may bring $8,000 while a circa 1920 clear and frosted Lalique perfume bottle for Volnay, titled Ambre De Siam, is expected to earn $5,000.
Two dragonfly leaded shades highlight a selection of Tiffany Studios table lamps, the first being sporting a circa 1910 Red-Eye Dragonfly shade. The second Dragonfly table lamp features a green, yellow, blue and brown shade. Both are expected to bring $40,000+ each. A Poppy table lamp, circa 1901, may also bring $40,000+ and a Geometric table lamp with a Favrile ball embellishment is estimated at $30,000.
Much of the selections of Tiffany glass comes from the Meyer and Lillian Schwartz collection. The pieces were bricked up for decades in a secret closet in the Schwartzes’ Connecticut house. They were pioneer Tiffany dealers, active from the early 1950s through the 1970s. A circa 1896 Tiffany Studios Favrile vase is expected to bring $20,000. The peacock-patterned goose neck vase is similar to one L.C. Tiffany presented to President Benjamin Harrison, which is now in the permanent collection at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, Indianapolis, Ind.
The selection of Charles Schneider art glass includes a circa 1925 pink lamp with removable shade, accented in violet and orange overlay and acid-etched in the Digitales pattern (estimated $5,000+) and a yellow lamp with orange to violet overlay acid-etched in Pivoines pattern (estimate $5,000+). A number of Schneider vases are included in the sale is highlighted by a Raisins Noirs vase, featuring orange powdered glass with applied violet-footed base and black overlay (estimate $4,000+).
