LYNN CHADWICK, RENE LALIQUE, CARTIER, TIFFANY & PICASSO UP FOR BID AT A.B. LEVY’S OCTOBER 29th SALE

The auction will be held in Levy’s gallery at 211 Worth Avenue in fashionable Palm Beach, Fla.

PALM BEACH, Fla. – A pair of bronze statues by the world-renowned British sculptor Lynn Chadwick (1914-2003), two gorgeous Tiffany Studios leaded bronze and glass lamps (one floor, one table), two rare and highly collectible glass vases by Rene Lalique, and a stunning platinum, diamond and sapphire bracelet made by Cartier will all be sold at auction on Thursday, Oct. 29.

They are just a few of the expected stars of a 324-lot auction planned by A. B. Levy’s, in the firm’s gallery at 211 Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, starting at 2 p.m. Eastern time. The sale will consist mostly of Modern, antiques, fine art, silver, jewelry and glass. Internet bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Phone and left bids will also be accepted.

Headlining the sale will be property from a private Florida university, with the proceeds going to benefit their library acquisition fund. Lots will include the Lynn Chadwick sculptures, a blown glass creation by Dale Chihuly, photographs by Mary Peck and paintings by James Brooks and Robert Goodnough. Also sold will be a single-owner biscuit tin collection, featuring over 60 tins.

The rest of the sale will comprise quality, fresh to the market items, pulled from prominent area estates and collections. The Lynn Chadwick sculptures, both signed patinated bronzes, include a pair of figures titled Walking Cloaked Figures II, 11 ¼ inches tall, #4 of 8 made (est. $50,000-$70,000); and one titled Beast XXI (1959), 13 inches tall, #4 of 6 made (est. $70,000-$100,000).

Lynn Chadwick became world renowned for his semi-abstract bronze and steel sculptures, most of which were inspired by the human form and natural world. He never attended art school, but his career, spanning 50 years, began in sculpture through exhibition design. He never worked in clay, only iron and bronze. He gave male figures rectangular heads and females triangular heads.

The Tiffany Studios (N.Y., 1899-1920) “Curtain Border” leaded glass and bronze floor lamp, produced circa 1910, stands 70 inches tall and features a hemispheric shade of brickwork tiles in mottled shades of amber over a geometric border (est. $70,000-$100,000). The “Bell Flowers” table lamp, also made circa 1910, is 20 ½ inches tall and has a hemispheric shade with a band of deep red bell flowers below mottled yellow and green stylized foliage (est. $20,000-$30,000).

The important and monumental grey glass vase by Rene Lalique, titled Palestre, 16 inches tall, was first introduced in 1928 and is the largest Lalique production model ever produced. It carries a pre-sale estimate of $30,000-$50,000, but an identical example sold at Christie’s in New York for $362,500 in Dec. 2012. The other Lalique vase up for bid, a rare and fine opalescent glass vase titled Terpischore, introduced in 1937, 8 ¼ inches tall, should hammer for $20,000-$30,000.

The dazzling Cartier platinum, diamond and sapphire bracelet, crafted in 1979, has intertwined rows of sapphires (64 in all, weighing 6.96 carats) and diamonds (56 in all, weighing 3.76 carats) mounted in platinum, 7 inches in length. It should bring $30,000-$50,000. Also, a Rolex stainless steel automatic chronograph men’s wristwatch with registers, tachometer and bracelet (Ref. #116520), the Cosmograph Daytona, produced circa 2015, is expected to hit $6,500-$10,000.

Blown glass creations by Dale Chihuly (Am., b. 1941) are always in high demand by collectors. His striking seaform vessel titled Burnt Sienna with Blue Lip Wrap (1990-1991), 22 inches long by 18 inches wide, carries a $2,000-$4,000 estimate. And speaking of highly collected artists, a red earthenware fish-form pitcher by Pablo Picasso (Sp., 1881-1973), conceived in 1952 and executed in 1962, one of 500, titled Sujet Poissin, 5 ½ inches tall, should make $3,000-$5,000.

The highly respected (and very reclusive) American photographer Mary Peck (b. 1952) will be represented in the sale with a pair of visually arresting images. Both are silver gelatin prints, estimated at $1,200-$1,800. Both are signed, titled and numbered. One is titled Chaco Canyon (25 ¼ inches by 8 ¼ inches); the other is titled Everglades 1986 (29 ¼ inches by 9 ½ inches).

A signed acrylic on canvas painting by James Brooks (N.Y./Mo., 1906-1992), titled Isen, 48 inches by 72 inches, has an estimate of $50,000-$70,000. Brooks was a painter of both Social Realism and Abstract Expressionism, and was a member of the New York School. Also, an acrylic on canvas work by Robert Arthur Goodnogh (N.Y., 1917-2010), titled LA (1985), 58 inches by 96 inches, signed and dated on the reverse, is expected to fetch $15,000-$25,000.

Two very different lots carry identical pre-sale estimates of $6,000-$9,000. One is a pair of French late 19th century Neo-Classical-style gilt bronze and marble six-light candelabra, 26 inches in height and cast and signed by Ferdinand Barbedienne. The other is an articulated polished steel sculpture by Ernest Tino Trova (Am., 1927-2010), titled Walking Man (1979). The work, which is monogrammed and signed “E. Trova,” is numbered (#5 of 8). It is 15 inches tall.

Fans of silver will not be disappointed. Expected stars of the category include a 19th century six-piece Tiffany & Company silver tea and coffee service, comprising a tea pot, coffee pot, covered sugar bowl, creamer and waste bowl (all with a date mark for 1875-1891) and a large oval tray (with a date mark for 1902-1907), weighing a combined 5,996 grams (est. $7,000-$1,000); and a Buccellati sterling silver wine cooler of oval form, flanked by swan handles (est. $2,000-$4,000).

A buyer’s premium of 20 percent will be applied to purchases up to $100,000, 15 percent after that. Previews will be held daily, leading up to auction day, from 10-6, at A. B. Levy's gallery in Palm Beach, at 211 Worth Avenue. There will be no preview on auction day, Oct. 29, but doors will open at 10 a.m. EST. Watch the website for more info as Oct. 29 nears at www.ablevys.com.

A. B. Levy’s is actively accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign a single piece, an estate or an entire collection, you may call them at (561) 835-9139; or, you can send them an e-mail at info@ablevys.com. To learn more about A.B. Levy’s and the Thursday, October 29th auction, log on to www.ablevys.com. Updates are posted often and the full catalog is online.

-Review by Ken Hall