$47,800 American Union Porcelain Vase brings five times its sale estimate
More than 100 extraordinary objects formerly displayed in the Forbes Galleries in New York City drew frenzied bidding from around the globe to help Heritage Auctions reach a total of more than $1m earlier this month.

The sale was its Signature Decorative Arts & Design and Gentleman Collector Auctions at the company's Design District Annex in Dallas.

"The Forbes property was 100% sold," said Nicholas Dawes, Vice President of Special Collections at Heritage, "and most lots went well within or above estimate."

The collection was split between two auctions, held back-to-back during the day, with most offered in the 'Gentleman Collector' afternoon event, which featured diverse property from several other American and European private collections.

American Union Porcelain Vase
Colourful and beautiful - the American Union Porcelain Vase

This included a fine group of vintage walking canes, an important collection of motoring mascots, exquisite French boxes, ocean liner memorabilia and a fascinating group of period decorative objects related to the sport of golf.

Malcolm Forbes titled this main collection "Mortality through Immortality," a variety of objects commemorating and celebrating long-gone - and long-forgotten - heroes from distant historic, military and civic endeavours and events.

"It was his personal time machine," said Dawes, "able to transport you to a precise moment in history through tangible contact."

The most spectacular sale was an American union porcelain works centennial vase. Listed at just $6,000-$9,000, the colourful and spectacular piece eventually sold for over five times that at $47,800.

 

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