There have been a number of exciting stories for furniture collectors this week.
Some of the details of the Suzanne Saperstein collection at Sotheby's were announced, Americana week at Christie's reach $24.8m, largely on the strength of the furniture, and an antique William and Mary cabinet brought $112,575 in Pennsylvania.
Now a Chicago auction house has also demonstrated that worldwide demand for fine and rare property remains powerful, as their January 22-24 sale of property from O'Hara's Gallery realised $1,54m.
Internet bidders were crucial to this result, with an average of nearly 800 bidders per day.
 The evocative antique Chinese carved hardwood opium bed |
Naturally French antiques and art works are always going to draw interest, and a suite of French giltwood parlour furniture decorated with Vernis Martin lacquer work sold for $23,180. Chandeliers are always impressive, and a daunting pair of Empire gilt bronze 36-light examples brought $21,960.
A pair of gilt bronze mounted cobalt urns brought $10,370; and a French champlevé and porcelain mounted mantel clock brought $9,300. Fine European furniture also realised exceptional prices.
As is often the case now though, it was the Chinese antiques which really got a buzz going.
The top lot in the sale, which sold to a collector in Hong Kong, was a Chinese carved hardwood opium bed. Boasting inset marble panels it left the stage for $53,680 after some frenzied bidding.
