Auction Review: Gibsons Auctions, Melbourne, The Autumn Auction Series, Part I & Part II , 28 and 29 May 2023

By Richard Brewster, on 31-May-2023

A large Chinese Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) bronze censer (Lot 55 ) brought more than four times its low $2000 estimate when sold for $9000, and an 18-carat rose gold wristwatch by De Grisogono (Lot 418 ) achieved more than double its low estimate to change hands at $7500.

<p>A bronze and glass dragonfly lamp with the shade from New York&rsquo;s Tiffany Studios (lot 179) more than doubled its catalogue estimate when knocked down for $32,000 at Melbourne-based Gibson&rsquo;s Auctions two-day autumn series sale on May 28 and 29. Last sold in 1994, the lamp was the highest seller at an auction where 66 per cent of the 464 lots on offer changed hands.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

A bronze and glass dragonfly lamp with the shade from New York’s Tiffany Studios (Lot 179 ) more than doubled its catalogue estimate when knocked down for $32,000 at Melbourne-based Gibson’s Auctions two-day autumn series sale on May 28 and 29. Last sold in 1994, the lamp was the highest seller at an auction where 66 per cent of the 464 lots on offer changed hands.

 

Founded in 1993 in Geneva by Lebanese-Italian black diamond specialist Fawaz Gruosi, Dubai’s Damac Group purchased De Grisogono after the company filed for bankruptcy in January last year. An art deco diamond and emerald bracelet (Lot 360 ) was another strong performer to bring $7000, while a comprehensive 142-piece English and Scottish sterling silver king’s pattern flat ware service featuring various dates and makers (Lot 236 ) was a $5000 return.
Among the furniture highlights was an 18th century oyster walnut inlaid chest of drawers (Lot 190 ) that sold for $6500 on an $800-$1200 estimate and an exceptional circa 1910 carved, painted and lacquered timber carousel jumping horse (Lot 306 ) brought $6000.
The horse was made by master carver Marcus Illions (1871-1949) who emigrated from England to America where he established his own business and became known for his Coney Island style figures.
Another strong result of $4800 against a $800-$1200 estimate was a Cassina ebonised dining suite designed in 1934 after Charles Rennie Mackintosh (Lot 177 ).
Chinese pottery also featured among the top results with a 19th/20th century famille rose “hundred butterfly” bottle vase with a Guangxu mark selling for $4400 on a $600-$800 estimate and a 19th/20th century “hundred cranes” vase (Lot 41 ) bringing $3800.

 

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About The Author

Richard Brewster has been writing about the antiques and art auction industry for almost 20 years, first in a regular weekly column for Fairfax's The Age newspaper and also in more recent times for his own website Australian Auction Review. With 45 years experience as a journalist and public relations consultant, in 1990 Richard established his own business Brewster & Associates in Melbourne, handling a wide range of clients in the building, financial, antiques and art auction industries.