Search the Auction Exchange for auctions, news, and more!
Recent Stories
Hand-held mirrors have reflected fashion for centuries
Toy outboard motor revved to $110 at Durocher
Winnie the Pooh has been telling stories for a century
Contents of early country stores live on in today’s décor
Barn find ‘57 Harley unearthed with a $16,000 bid
Capodimonte: 300 years of excellence
Norwalk Tires sign rolled off with a $79,000 bid at Matthews Sign Auction
It was all fun and games for bidders at RJM auction
Collectors are in love with the detail of Brooklin Models
The groovy ’70s live on with ‘The Brady Bunch’
News Article  
Desirable art, furniture auctioned at Schmidt''s
By Barb Van Loo

YPSILANTI, Mich. — The periodic gallery auctions held by Schmidt Antiques in Ypsilanti, Mich., feature wonderful pieces of art, furniture, glassware and a host of additional highly desirable items. These auctions provide the opportunity for collectors to add to their collections or for one searching for just the right piece of art or furniture or accent piece. With Chuck Schmidt presiding at this gallery auction, attendees had the opportunity to add one or more of these pieces to their home.

It was impossible to miss the large oil-on-canvas depicting a mother checking on her sleeping daughter who was holding her doll in her right hand. Seeing the caring look of the mother and the peaceful look on the little girl gave one a sense of contentment. This piece was titled Sweet Dreams and was painted by Sophie Gengembre Anderson (French-born British, 1823-1903). After intensive bidding for this beautiful piece, the hammer fell at $32,000.

A 19th century hand-colored engraving titled Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus Buccinator, Young also found many admirers and sold for $6,500. This piece was printed on watermarked paper Whatman, Turkey Mill, 1837. Annotated on this piece was “Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon F.R.S.F.L.S.” on one side and “Engraved, Printed and Colored by R. Havell, 1837” on the other. This would be a great addition to any home.

An ink colors-on-paper painting depicted three maidens sitting in front of a window preparing their hair and makeup. This piece was by Lin Fengmian (Chinese, 1900-1991), and spirited bidding for this piece resulted in a final bid of $22,000. A set of four Chinese porcelain plaques in molded hardwood frames with hand-painted landscapes in the Famille Verte palette was also popular with the bidders and crossed the block for $19,000. A pair of Chinese circular embroidered panels with multi-color designs with central dragons saw a final bid of $8,500.

There were several pieces of art to appeal to a variety of tastes. Examples of these included a 19th century oil-on-canvas by James Salt depicting a Venetian scene with boats and gondolas along a busy canal that sold for $2,400; an oil-on-artist’s board Impressionist landscape of a small pond in a wooded setting by American artist Hudson Mindell Kitchell (1862-1944) that crossed the block for $950; and a pair of oil-on-canvas landscapes with hunting dogs and huntsmen by Dutch artist Adiraen Cornelisz Beeldemaker (1618-1709) that earned $3,500.

An interesting abstract bronze sculpture titled Simple Beauty by Allan Houser (Haozous) sold for $2,275; a turn-of-the-century figure of a crouching tiger earned $850; and a 19th century bronze sculpture of a standing nude woman by American Dian Weeks titled Reverie saw $375.

For the one who wanted a Buddha’s tummy to rub, there was a large Chinese porcelain Buddha with polychrome floral decorations that crossed the block for $1,900.

An 18th century English George II period figured walnut chest sold for $1,600; a late 18th century George III Period mahogany chest on chest earned $1,200; and, also from the 18th century, an English Queen Anne Period walnut lowboy saw a final bid of $850. An oval drop-leaf table with a single drawer and gate-leg base, a piece from the late 17th century English William and Mary Period, sold for $900.

Among the 19th century pieces, a Chinese carved rosewood pedestal table with an inset marble top sold for $850; a Chinese Ming-style rosewood altar table earned $1,600; and a Classical period settee with a quad-chair back design with carved crests, shaped arms and an upholstered seat earned $1,000.

Named for Captain Davenport, a Davenport desk is a small-case desk with a slanted and/or pull-out top and a row of drawers on each side. It is thought that a Davenport desk was originally intended to be used onboard a ship or on military campaigns. This desk also became popular with many people and is widely desired. The fine Davenport desk presented at this auction sold for a final bid of $500.

A British Raj Period mahogany campaign chest was from the late 19th century. This was a desk that could be broken down and was made for British officers. It came in two sections, had inset brass corners and handles, and forged iron lifts. This piece had many vying for it, resulting in a final bid of $1,200.

An American Louis XV-style figured walnut bedroom set with finely cast bronze mounts was composed of a gentleman’s six-drawer tall chest, a lady’s dresser with a tilt mirror, a lady’s vanity and a pair of bets. The final bid for this set was $3,250.

There were two pairs of neoclassical armchairs. One, with top carved crests, gilded detail and caned seats, sold for $950; the second set had a painted finish with scenic back panels, gilded detail and caned seat and earned a final bid of $650.

There was a pair of French Art Deco Period rosewood bedside chests with inset marble tops above a single door that opened to reveal an interior fitted with drawers and compartments. This pair earned a final bid of $1,200.

The pair of Mid-century Modern Arne Norell Ari lounge chairs brought back memories to many. This pair of chairs had leather cushions with straps and buckles on chrome-plated steel bases and sold for $5,500. A Mid-century Modern Herman Miller lounge chair and matching ottoman was of bent rosewood construction with black leather cushions and on a metal base and earned a final bid of $2,100.

It was impossible to miss the Mid-century Modern armchairs that crossed the block – one was bright red, the other bright fuchsia. The red chair had been designed by Paul Volther for Erik Jorgensen and had a three-segment upholstered back with a conforming seat on a steel swivel base. This sold for $2,000. The fuchsia chair had been designed by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen. This eye-catching chair sold for $1,300.

A small Chinese table screen with a carved jade medallion depicting a scholar and an elephant caught the eye of several attendees and sold for $5,000.

From the turn of the (20th) century, there was an Apace leather doll. Dressed in a fringed leather dress with beaded detail and having tall beaded boots and beaded “hair,” it sold for $6,000. Other items from the turn-of-the-century included a Native America basket that sold for $2,100 and a Russian Plique du jour goblet having a bowl with a floral design that crossed the block for $800.

A pair of Chinese lamps in the Famille Rose pattern sold for $7,000. The bases for this pair were made from a pair of vases. An American iron floor lamp from the 1920s sold for $2,000. This lamp had a Ruba Rhombic shade and was from the Consolidated Class Company.

Other items procuring healthy interest included a large scale 19th century Davenport earthenware Odd Fellows jug commemorating the Samaritans Pride Lodge, Salford. This piece had a white body with the Masonic emblems and Odd Fellows crest(s) and sold for $2,300. This piece is now on its way back to England, purchased by an Internet bidder.

Be sure to watch for future gallery auctions held by Schmidt’s Antiques as well as the monthly Friday night auction held on the last Friday of each month. For additional information, contact the company at (734) 434-2660 or visit www.SchmidtsAntiques.com

4/18/2014