M G Neely Auction is happy to announce our upcoming Palm Beach Antique to Modern Estate Sale. Join us on Sunday, May 7th at 12pm EDT to bid on an array of decor, collectibles and furnishings from several unique South Florida estates. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, you can’t afford to miss this sale!
As usual, our sale starts off with curios including a Victorian salesman’s sample wrought iron staircase, 1910 Feeny hand pump vacuum cleaner, vintage Richard Rothbard Burl wood puzzle box, and a complete Visionaire No. 50 Artist Toys collection released by Kid Robot and including designs by Alex Katz, Chip Kidd, R. Crumb Kehinde Wiley, Tim Noble, Sue Webster, Chiho Aoshima, Rob Pruitt, Rita Ackerman, Tony Oursler, Kurt Vonnegut and Joe Petro III.
The ever-popular Mid-Century Modern decor is a staple in our auctions, and this one is no exception! Paul Evans Cityscape tables, Camer glass chandeliers, Vetri Murano lighting, Chapman, George Hollis Jones, Sergio Bustamante, Henredon, Karl Springer, and Milo Baughman are a few of the designer offerings. Classic Lucite pedestals, lamps, table bases, seating, magazine racks, and sculpture are expected to do well as usual.
Just in time for Mother’s Day, we have a gift for anyone on your list! Art Nouveau decor is prevalent throughout the sale, ranging from beautiful planters, ornate dresser mirrors, bud vases, and porcelain figurines. Fine art glass is a timeless gift, and we have pieces such as serving bowls, vases and ewers, figurines, and lamps by Murano, Orrefors, Lalique, and Stueben.
Asian decor spanning 200 years is well-represented. Diminutive cloisonne pill boxes, 19th Century Gilt and Coral Buddha statuettes, ornate altar tables, and a large Rosewood and Mother of Pearl inlaid display cabinet are just a small sampling of the stunning collection amassed by a South Florida collector.
Paintings and wall art by Curtis Jere, Bill Mack, Sante Grazziani, Peter Max, Victor Vasarely, Barry Leighton-Jones, Yaacov Agam, Leonard Lane, and James Rizzi are among the wide array of art that will be sold.
Traditional stylings include Rococo Cartel Clocks, 19th Century carved French furniture and a pair of Sevres porcelain and Bronze candelabra.
Read on for antique prices in Palm Beach County, Florida and beyond! Our auction on November 13th, 2016 was full of surprises and unique merchandise – just in time for Christmas! Our clients stocked up on holiday gifts, show-stopping design elements, and collectibles for every budget. Bidders loved the Mid Century Modern furniture and decor, as well as large Contemporary paintings. A collection of vintage and antique Oriental rugs, antique oyster plates, Sterling Silver serving pieces, and Franklin Mint Silver Proofs added variety to the sale. The market for traditionally styled furnishings seems to be making an upturn as well, much to the excitement of those who have been holding on to family heirlooms.
The Results
They say the quickest way to change the look of a room is to paint the walls. If that’s true, these Zuber & Cie panoramic wallpaper panels will breathe new life into an entire house! Sold for $5,700 to an in-house bidder, the seven panels are printed using woodblocks that are classified as historical monuments. Produced in 1829, the woodblock stamps that are used to print ‘Les Vues Du Bresil’ have survived against great odds. World War II Nazi soldiers occupying France raided the company’s 15th Century vault, using their wood blocks as fire wood.
Vues de Bresil de Plantation de Cafe
An 18th Century Russian Icon depicting Saint George and the Dragon sold for $1,250. The story of St. George slaying the dragon shows up as early as the 11th Century, and was a common motif in Russian and Georgian Icons.
Depicting Saint George Slaying the Dragon
This unique Art Deco lamp has a marble base and a Dore metal Dancer doing a split and holding a Millefiori lamp shade. In like new condition, it sold for $450.
Cast metal and marble base with a millefiori lamp shade.
Printed in 1936, Nazi propaganda ‘Trau Keinam Fuchs Auf Gruner Heid, Und Keinam Jud Bei Seinem Eid!’ sold for $800 to a phone bidder.
Is your bookshelf bare? These stunning Art Deco Burl Maple Bookends sold for $200.
Geometric form burl maple bookends.
Do you still have lucite purses in your closet? If so, dust them off and bring them in for consignment! Three vintage purses in brand new condition sold for $450.
Made by Wilardy, NY and Charles Kahn
An early prayer rug measuring 41″ x 62″ sold for $350.
Wool on wool prayer mat with geometric and architectural designs.
Mid Century Modern Furniture Value
Buyers are continuing to show strong affinities for Atomic Age design in all shapes and sizes. Aldo Tura designed this Goat Skin and Brass Ice Bucket which sold for $525.
Mid Century Modern Bar Ware.
This six-piece Paul McCobb Planner Group set sold for $1,150 and offers enough ways to arrange the components to make Ikea jealous.
Paul McCobb for Wichendon Modern Planner Group Custom Shelving Unit
George Nelson was the designer of this classically modern ‘Half-Nelson’ table lamp which sold for $675.
Mid Century Modern Half Nelson metal table lamp.
Art & Sculpture
Large Contemporary art pieces were popular in this auction. Signed ‘AKE’, this large Modernist painting sold for $975.
Contemporary painting of women dancing.
English painter Leighton Jones titled this oil on masonite ‘Reflections’. It sold for $600.
Oil on masonite depicting a clown and a woman.
Titled ‘Blue Eyed Women’, the painter of this piece went on to design the famous Playboy Bunny cartoon character. Bernard Kliban was known as a cartoonist, but this painting dated 1958 sold for $1,600.
Surrealist painting depicting two female nudes.
A 19th Century artist, Leonard Sauerfelt was a French painter who documented everyday life. This market scene sold for $450.
Oil on canvas depicting a French market scene.
Wilhelm Lehmbruck lived a short 38 years, but he became famous for his printmaking and painting. However, it was his sculptures of enlongated women that drew the most attention. An example of one such sculpture is this bust, which sold for $6,400.
German Expressionist bust of a woman.
Traditional Furnishings
Traditional furnishings seem to be on the rise, and have sold well in our last few auctions. This Executive’s desk prompted a bidding war that ending when it sold for $775. With a leather top, locking drawers, and solid wood construction it was a very good buy.
With locking drawers, leather top and sold wood construction.
Dining rooms are few and far between these days, but this set of eight Federal Style dining chairs still sold for $425.
Federal style, squar backed dining chairs. Six side chairs and two arm chairs.
A brass nameplate on this trunk reads ‘The Phoenix New Orleans 1807’, and it will be going home t
o ‘The Big Easy’ because it sold for $375.
Locking trunk with brass inlay, nameplate, and handles.
Sterling Silver
Uncirculated Morgan Dollars minted between 1878-1880 sold for $825.
Uncirculated United States Mint currency sold at auction.
The Franklin Mint doesn’t just produce money, but collectible sets as well. This 20 piece Sterling Silver medallion set sold for $1,550 and depicts the Parables of Jesus.
Sterling silver engraved coins or medallions depicting the Parables of Jesus and released in 1975.
Thank You
MG Neely Auction would like to thank you sincerely for your continued support and another fantastic sale. We couldn’t do it without you – really! Our next auction will be early February – stay tuned for more updates to our blog.
“How do auctions work?” “What is my furniture worth?” “How do I sell an estate?”
M G Neely Auction answers these questions on a daily basis. Many people have never been to an auction, and even those who frequent auctions may not have experience selling at auction. My name is Dara, and i’m the office manager, apprentice auctioneer, and second generation here at M G Neely Auction. Today, i’ll address these questions. The first step in selling an estate or single piece is to establish it’s value on the resale market. Next, you’ll need to decide how to sell the piece(s). Finally, you will have to find the right art buyer near you. With this information, you will be prepared to make an informed decision on how to sell your antiques, modern furniture, sculpture, fine art and more!
What is my estate worth? Is my antique valuable?
We tend to use ‘antique’ as a very broad term when discussing items of considerable age, however an antique is classified as an item at least 100 years old and less than 50% restored. But wait! Does that mean something has to be 100 years old before it has value? Of course not! While age is definitely a factor in an items’ value, you must also consider designer, aesthetic value, cultural importance, and current trends when assessing an item’s worth. Mid Century Modern is a great example of today’s current design trends. George Nelson, Milo Baughman, Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, Charles and Ray Eames are just a few examples of popular designers from this era, spanning from the 1930’s to the 1960’s.
With so many factors at play, where do you begin? I recommend you start by joining several free websites. Live Auctioneers, Invaluable, and eBay are popular, reliable sources for researching your antiques and collectibles. Once you are a member, you have access to the auction results of thousands of items like yours. Be wary of retail-based antique websites, as the prices advertised are typically negotiable and do not reflect true market value. These sold prices are a good guideline for appraising an items’ value, but are not all-inclusive.
Where do I sell my antiques?
Now that you’ve established your item as having resale value, you can take the next step. For the purposes of this article, I’ll assume you’re liquidating an estate. (However, the same logic applies to selling one or two pieces.) There are several ways to sell an estate. You can sell privately, with an estate sale or tag sale. This is essentially a yard sale, and is the most labor intensive option. You will need to advertise, organize, price, and inventory the items, in addition to recruiting friends or family to help you manage the sale. The risk involved with this method lies in the ability to mistakenly price items, either to high or low, and you are left with money on the table and the remnants to pack, donate or store.
Do you want to consign your estate?
In this scenario, you can find an auction house or consignment shop who will house, market, and sell your items for a commission. A consignment shop is the best destination for gently used modern furniture and household goods. Before you consign, you should find out how long your item will be consigned, what the commission is, and how your items are priced. This avenue is great for items that are too modern or mass produced for an auction, but still have resale value.
Consigning with an auction is the best way to sell antiques, fine art, vintage decor, sculpture, art glass and unique items. Before you consign with an auction, you want to ask several questions. Does the auction take place online? When is the next auction? What is your commission? Auction houses who market online have the benefit of millions of potential buyers to view, bid on, and purchase your items for the highest market value. The fastest and easiest way to liquidate personal property is with an auction house who is willing to purchase the full estate for a cash value. This is usually the method of choice for families who are out of state and have only a few days to settle their loved one’s estate. This is also great if you need cash fast, and can’t wait for your items to sell to get paid.
Who will buy my antiques?
The final step in downsizing or liquidating your assets is to find an auction house or consignment shop to take your piece. There are several ways to do this. Word of mouth is a great way to find a reputable business. Talk to your friends and neighbors, and you might be surprised at how many of them have bought or sold at auction or consignment. Take to the internet. Research, research, research! Try googling phrases like ‘local auctioneer’ ‘palm beach county auctions’ ‘consignment shops Boynton Beach’ or ‘antique estate buyer’. Do they offer a free appraisal? You want to make sure you have the same expectations as the auction or consignment shop. How long have they been in business? This helps ensure both trustworthiness and customer base. Auctions are a great way to liquidate personal property and estates. Though they’ve been around since 500 B.C., the 21st century has probably been the most monumental for auctions. Customers can find exactly what they’re looking for, and bid live against people worldwide.
I’ve given you a lot to think about, but I hope I’ve been helpful in clarifying some options for selling antiques, uniques and estates. We’re always happy to answer any questions, and can be reached at sales@neelyauction.com
Stay tuned for our next blog post where we will discuss how current trends are effecting the secondary market.
M G Neely Auction will hold it’s next Palm Beach Estate Auction on Sunday, May 1st at 12:00pm. As always, buyers are welcome in-house, at 838 S. East Coast Avenue Lantana, FL 33462, over the phone at (561) 585-8511, or online via LiveAuctioneers.com or InvaluableAuctions.com. Expect the catalog to be live within the next two weeks!
Our May 1st auction features ancient relics, modern furniture and decor, antique bronze sculptures, fine art, gemstones, jewelry, and sterling silver from South Florida and Palm Beach estates.
Our oldest item in the sale is a pedestal mounted stone Buddha head, recovered from Thailand’s Ayuthia Period, 1450 AD. Interestingly, this is the oldest item our auctioneer Mark has sold! The earliest Buddhist texts date from around 1st Century CE, but not all religions are quite so ancient.
Up for auction are framed pieces of Mormon history. Mormonism was founded by Joseph Smith in upstate New York in the 1920’s. From the Toronto estate of Dorothy Kopper Seixas, a lot of four 19th Century miniature portraits on Ivory depicting Joshua James Seixas and his family.
M G Neely Auction specializes in fine art, antiques, mid century modern furnishings, and designer decor. We are always buying Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Miami Beach, and Delray Beach estates.
Paintings are by far the most common item brought in to our gallery, primarily because it can be very hard to tell the difference between just a beautiful painting and valuable artwork. These two Antoine Blanchard oil paintings are an example of the latter.
Antoine Blanchard (1910-1988) was the pseudonym of French-born ‘School of Paris’ movement artist Marcel Masson. Under this name, Blanchard produced his immensely popular Parisian street scenes from the 1950’s. The pieces in our upcoming auction are classic examples of his work, a bustling sidewalk in 19th century Paris. Flower sellers, carriages, and pedestrians share wet streets, movement is conveyed well in his art.
The Arc de Triomphe is prominent in this scene painted from Avenue des Champs-Elysees, known as the most beautiful street in the world.
This oil on canvas depicts one of the four Grands Boulevard, Boulevard de la Madeleine. The Grands Boulevard are considered the most beautiful streets in the Boulevards of Paris, considered the benchmark of the leisurely Parisian culture, lined with cafes, artisan shoppes and renowned architecture.
From a Palm Beach estate, these popular Antoine Blanchard French art paintings will be sold as separate lots, and bidding will start at $400 USD (no reserve). You can bid with us online, phone bidding, or in house. Contact us at 561-585-8511 or sales@neely auction.com for estate appraisals, estate buying, and auction registration.
As our January 17th, 2016 Palm Beach Estate Auction comes to a close, we are preparing for our next auction, featuring some unique finds! Please note all consignments must be in by the Ides of March (March 15th, 2016) to make it in our Spring Auction. Call us at (561) 585-8511 for South Florida antique appraisals and estate consignment.
Palm Beach County Auction House Proudly Serving Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Palm Beach, Broward and Miami – Dade Counties.
We had an excellent sale! The nineteenth century Chinese Sandalwood screen sold for over $12,000! This piece is mounted in an ornate and finely carved Rosewood frame and under glass. The frame has a unique bamboo form, which is realistically and beautifully carved. The Sandalwood screen itself depicts a high relief carved mountain village scene, done in expert fashion.
This 17th century oil on board painting from the grand tour era was in excellent condition, and was kept lovingly for the last 200 or so years. It sold for over $6,000 – here’s to another 200!
Painted on the ‘Grand Tour’, a time period during the 17-1800’s, in which artists emulated the Renaissance Masters of the 14th and 15th centuries.
Canadian-based home decor company Rougier was most famous for it’s ornate acrylic lighting. Perhaps the most popular in their collection is the ‘Tube Lamp’. Available in mushroom form, ovoids, and wall sconce, these modern antiques are featured in several Star Trek films! This one sold for over $2,000 at our January 17th Palm Beach Estate Auction!
Mid Century Modern Rougier Lighting Tube Lamp
One of the Rougier lamps featured in Star Trek.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more auction updates, as well as regular spotlight features on our most fascinating items!
