The very healthy results from John Moran Auctioneers' September 20 Auction featuring 600-lots of jewellery, decorative and fine arts were highlighted by an important silver centrepiece designed by Philippe Wolfers and Isidore de Rudder.
They were two of the leading lights in the Art Nouveau movement.
The asymmetrical, two-tiered ''surtout de table aux Maraudeurs'', styled in a hybrid of Louis XV revival and naturalistic Japonisme motifs, is a masterwork from an innovative line of Wolfers designs dating from the 1890's depicting putti engaged in playful pursuits.
 The Belgian .800 standard silver Louis XV revival centrepiece |
An identical example was included in the catalogue of the Ghent (Belgium) Design Museum's 2006 - 2007 show ''Wolfers Dynasty: from Art Nouveau to Art Deco''.
The piece at Moran's, which arrived from a private Southern California collection, attracted heavy floor, absentee and telephone bidding from around the globe and realised $96,000, almost five times the pre-sale estimate (all prices include 20% buyer's premium).
Other standout results from the exceptional group of silver offerings included a pair of ornate Hanau Silberwaren Manufaktur .835-standard figural candelabra, circa 1890 (estimate: $7000 - 10,000) which realised $12,000.
Elsewhere, a late 19th century French neoclassic style jardiniere by Robert Linzeler (estimate $5000 - 7000) achieved $9000.
