Tiffany and Co leads glass collectibles auction at Christie's New York

Tiffany and Co is among 'one of the largest single groups of art glass ever to be offered at auction'

Christie's has released details of its upcoming sale of Important Tiffany and Co pieces on December 17.

"This lively collecting category has achieved outstanding results in recent years, fuelled by increased demand from collectors for top-quality examples of the distinctive Tiffany style," said Christie's in a statement.

The Tiffany Studios portion of Christie's Important 20th Century Decorative Art and Design sale in June 2011 realised more than $2.5 million - 128% above the pre-sale estimate - with buyers of this quintessentially American art coming from as far afield as Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The strong presence of Midwestern collectors, as both buyers and sellers, remains one of the most striking hallmarks of the Tiffany market.

In the June 2011 sale, no fewer than 57 lots came from the private collection of one Midwestern couple, and realised a total of more than $1.3 million with premium.

The Midwest will be no less significant at the December 17 Christie's sale, which will include an astounding 102 lots of art glass and lamps - one of the largest groups ever sold at auction - from a single collector in Wisconsin.

Tiffany Decorated and Floriform Favrile Glass Vases, circa 1900-1910

"It's been exciting to watch the steady development of the Tiffany market over the past few seasons," said Carolyn Pastel, Specialist/Associate Vice President of 20th Century Decorative Arts & Design at Christie's.

"This is a very exciting development for both buyers and sellers of rare Tiffany, as the majority of these collections have excellent provenance and have been in private hands for decades, in turn making them fresh to the market."

Among the highlights of the upcoming sale in December is a private collection of 102 Tiffany items from the Estate of Thomas F. Walker of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

An anaesthesiologist, Dr. Walker collected Tiffany glass avidly in the 1980s and 90s, pursuing his finds at galleries from Santa Monica, CA, to Chesaning, MI, to Great Neck, NY. The total collection is expected to achieve over $700,000 at auction.

Rare and collectible Tiffany Lamps

Additional highlights include the ever-popular luminescent lamps from Tiffany Studios, including several excellent examples that beautifully illustrate the vast range of artistry present at the firm.

More Tiffany decorated Favrile Glass Vases, also dated to circa 1900-1910

The "Snowball" Leaded Glass and Bronze Table Lamp (c. 1910; estimated at $100,000-150,000) with its domed shade boasts a wealth of overlapping leaves and flora that exude a sublime naturalism characteristic of its shape.

The "Dragonfly" Leaded Glass and Bronze Table Lamp (c. 1910; estimated at $50,000-70,000), exhibits the fauna aspect of Tiffany's organically inspired forms, and has applied filigree on the dragonfly wings and body that made this lamp one of the most difficult and expensive to produce.

Watch this space for more news on the sale.

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Images: Christie's