American Art Pottery Takes a Spotlight at Treadway

by Kate Nixon

 

In a sale that included ceramics works, lighting, art glass and fine art spanning multiple movements, a large variety of Tiffany Studios works, Stickley furniture, and  ceramic works by Newcomb College, Fulper Pottery and other American art pottery firms were highlights in this quarterly auction from Treadway Gallery, Cincinatti, Ohio’s own 20th Century Art and Design auctionhouse.

The October Decorative Arts auction took place on the 17th at 11 AM Eastern and while the gallery was closed to the public, the auction bidding took place over the phone, absentee and virtually through LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable. Aside from the many Tiffany Studios, Louis Comfort Tiffany and european art glass works offered, works from a number of important collections, like the Larry Wiist Collection and the Richard Gere collection, all contributed high quality works to the auction and went make their mark. The latter of those two collections contributed two Gustav Stickley Billiard chairs – each signed with red decal labels – that sold beyond their estimates at $2,750 and $3,125. Additionally, a signed Gustav Stickley rocker with original finish sold for $1,250, an L & J.G. Stickley settle sold for $4,062.50 and a marked L & J.G. Stickley chair with recent leather cushion sold for $2,500.

The Arts and Crafts lighting offerings had a high seller in the Tiffany Studios Linen Fold lamp, a perfect example of the company’s impressive lamps, estimated at $12,000 to $17,000 and sold for $27,500. Additional examples of lighting that sold well was a metallic Handel lamp with a glass shade ($1,300) and a glazed ceramic Fulper Vasekraft lamp ($7,150) in “excellent condition.”

However, a majority of the Arts and Crafts offerings came in the form of ceramic works from Fulper Pottery in multiple glazes, excellent examples of Grueby Pottery including rare examples, vases in different shapes, sizes, color glazes and price ranges. Newcomb College examples nearly all sold over their high estimates: one tall vase designed by Marie de Hoa LeBlanc circa 1907 sold for $26,250. This example was featured in a 1980s exhibit organized by Newcomb College and the Smithsonian Institute. Works by Newcomb College artists Anna Frances Simpson, Emilie LeBlanc and Sadie Irvine were also offered and sold above what they were estimated to. Fulper Pottery vases had a fantastic representation in Sunday’s auction with nearly all examples selling impressively more than the high estimates and the iconic Grueby green vases sold well: in many cases, more than $500 above the high estimate and in one case, a nicely sculpted example with a high quality glaze and impressed mark, sold for $3,750, $2,000 above the high estimate. An impressive amount of Rookwood and Roseville Pottery works were additionally up for bid, selling for affordable prices making them perfect examples for collectors at the beginner’s level.

Items of note (all prices are realized):

• A Grueby vase sold for $3,750 – a $2,000 increase over the high estimate of $1,750.
• Two signed Gustav Stickley Billiard Chairs from the Richard Gere collection each sold above their high estimates ($2,750 and $3,125)
• One of a number of Newcomb College vases offered that sold above their estimates, designed by early Newcomb artist Emilie LeBlanc sold for $8,750, nearly $5,000 more than the high estimate.
• Another Newcomb College vase – numbered and signed by artist Marie de Hoa LeBlanc – sold as a high-selling vase for $26,250, surpassing the $20,000 high estimate.
• A Copper and enamel box made by Gertrude Twichell in original condition sold for $13,750, nearly $6,000 than its estimate of $8,000.
• Another Grueby vase, an unusual form with a high quality glaze in “excellent condition,” sold for $3,000, a $1,250 difference of $1,750.

Here are a few more high sellers:

Lot 87

Tiffany Studios Linen Fold lamp
New York, NY
bronze, glass
impressed mark
Measures 25″h x 19″dia

Estimates: 12,000-17,000

Sold for $27,500

 

 

       Lot 218

      Grueby vase
Boston, MA
glazed ceramic
impressed mark
Measures 5.5″h x 4.5″dia

Estimates: $1,250 – $1,750

Sold for 3,750

 

 

 

Lot 228

Newcomb College vase by Emilie LeBlanc
New Orleans, LA
ceramic glaze
artist signed, numbered
Measures 3″h x 3.25″dia

Estimates: 3,000-4,000

Sold for: $8,750

 

 

Lot 242

Newcomb College vase by Marie de Hoa LeBlanc
New Orleans, LA
glazed and carved ceramic
signed, numbered
Measures 11.25″h x 4.5″dia

Estimates: $15,000 – $20,000

Sold for: $26,250

 

 

Lot 272

Gertrude Twichell box
Boston
copper, enamel
unmarked
2.2″h x 5″dia

Estimates: $6,000 – $8,000

Sold for $13,750

 

 

Please click HERE to view realized prices for Treadway Gallery’s catalog.