Beauty, and value, is in the eye of the beholder. The magic of auctions is sometimes you get a coveted item at a steep discount, and other times buyers pay far more than expected for hidden treasures. Charlton Hall Auctions, based in South Carolina, experienced a particularly successful 2020 with many impressive items, ranging from furniture to fine art, significantly surpassing their estimates.
Charlton Hall specializes in exclusive estate sales that include art, antiques, jewelry, sculpture, wine, and even classic cars. To consign with Charlton today, simply upload a photograph of your item and complete an easy form. You never know what your item may sell for!
In October, Charlton Hall auctioned the illustrious collection of Katrina Hickox Becker, an accomplished equestrienne and New York heiress. Many items from her estate sold for far above the estimate. Here are a few of the top examples:
Once at the Long Gallery at Bramshill, the famed Jacobean mansion in Hampshire, was this pair of George II carved mahogany armchairs covered in Soho tapestry circa 1755. Owned by Sir Monnoux Cope, 7th Bart of Hanwell and Bramshill, these chairs were designed in the Chinese Chippendale design with a serpentine crestrail, pierced geometric and X-carved splats, conforming armrests, over-upholstered seat, and reeded square legs. Estimated at $15,000-25,000, the pair sold for $125,000.
Also from the last quarter of the 18th century was this pair of George III carved giltwood and scagliola marble demilune consoles. They are topped by D-shape Carrara marble top inlaid with wreaths centering floral sprays and profile busts, on a fluted skirt with swag decorations, supported on figural cabriole legs with square feet. Expected to sell for between $7,000-10,000, they ended up selling for over 18 times their high estimate at $187,500.
Selling for double its high estimate is this royally-owned object, a French Empire silver-gilt soupière from the Borghese service by Martin-Guillaume Biennais Paris in 1798-1819, after a design by Percier and Fontaine. It is decorated with the arms of Borghese for Prince Camillo and Pauline Borghese, as engraved on the cover and tureen. Prince Camillo Borghese married Pauline Bonaparte, the sister of the Emperor Napoleon on November 6, 1803. The service came from Mrs. Charles Virgil Hickox (Mrs. Becker's mother), who donated a large selection of serving pieces flatware from this extraordinary service to the Art Institute of Chicago in 1966. It sold for $57,500, double the $25,000 high estimate.
Flemish master Sebastiaen Vrancx (1573-1647), is behind this monumental painting The Forger, which is part of a series of three other works including The Fish Market, The Bird Market, and The Fruit & Flower Market.The oil on canvas is characteristic of his genre work and depicts a metal forger working at his craft in the middle of a town square. Vrancx was known for his highly detailed and elegant background work, as typified here. It achieved $200,000, ten times its low estimate of $20,000.
Another painting that sold for above its expected price is Interrupted Picnic by Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr, an artist based on Cape Cod whose whimsical and light-hearted works chronicled family summer scenes based off folk art styles. It sold for $40,000, double its high estimate of $20,000.
A highlight of Mrs. Becker's jewelry collection at auction was this stunning Van Cleef & Arpels platinum, emerald and diamond ring. It featured a 6.5ct octagonal step-cut Colombian emerald, accented by 2.0ctw straight and tapered diamonds. With an estimate of $25,000-50,000, the ring was auctioned was for $75,000.
As these sales prove, you never know when something you consign may sell for exponentially more than expected. Consign your items now at Charlton Hall here.