French Furniture and Decorative
Arts Make a Strong Showing

 

CRANSTON, R.I. – The April 14th Bruneau & Company auction showed strong results for French furniture and decorative arts when compared to years past. “Competitive bidding brought the French Neoclassical bronze figural group to a private collection in Egypt, followed by a pair of parquetry inlaid bombe chests to Canada. You never know where things are going to end up,” said Travis Landry, a Bruneau & Company specialist.

A large, fine French Neoclassical bronze figural group showed a courting couple standing near a plant stand. The couple stood 26 inches tall but, when added to an ormolu bronze mounted rouge marble base, the overall height was 36 inches. The piece was signed “Dumege” and stamped “Made in France” and, at $5,625, was one of two other lots to top the $5,000 mark.

The other was a 19th century Italian Carrera marble fountain bowl base, which fetched $5,312. It was part of a delightful selection of exterior architectural antiques in the auction. The bowl, 38 inches in diameter and 22 inches tall, was quatrefoil form, with foliate ornamentation in relief, decorated with birds on either side. It was supported by four marble pedestals, all later added.

Another exterior architectural antique that drew much bidder attention was a monumental 18th century (or older) Indian carved stone temple doorway – about 7 feet tall by 4 feet wide ($3,438). It was sold in place, at the estate where it currently resides in Providence, R.I., and consisted of upright columns, two overhead lentils and a footer stone, with carvings of deities throughout.

More highlights from the auction included a 96-inche-tall 1880s Japanese Meiji period carved wood etagere, which went for $3,835. Profusely carved hardwood with multiple hand-decorated impasto painted panels of landscapes, the etagere had several shelves on a Kang form base. Also, a late 19th century jade rock crystal bronze shelf clock, made in China and Switzerland, with a rock crystal bangle embellished dial flanked by opposing birds clutching branches with two peaches, made $2,812.

A Queen Anne stained tiger maple highboy, made in New England in the 18th century, 76 inches tall, having five graduated drawers over two vertical over three drawers with a fan-carved center, supported by stout cabriole legs with a shapely skirt, finished at $2,500; while a fine 18th century American Chippendale carved gilt and gesso mirror with Aesthetic chinoiserie design, having a full-figured phoenix bird crest adorning a shapely pierced foliate frame, 54 inches tall hit $4,688.

Also, a late 19th or early 20th century antique Turkish Oushak Oriental wool carpet rug, 14 feet 6 inches by 12 feet 3 inches, with a central floral and tendril field and geometric borders, brought $2,250.

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