Leighton Galleries unveils new auction facility

ALLENDALE, N.J. – On Jan. 19, Leighton Galleries showcased over 400 lots in their new gallery located at 6 Pearl Court in Allendale.

“Long in the making but worth the wait,” said owner Evelyn Leighton. “The gallery was built to our specifications.”

The 5,000-square-foot space includes a gorgeous showroom, a nice big warehouse and a “bullpen” office area “where we make it all happen."

“After being in business for over 20 years, it is nice to finally have our own space,” said Leighton. “Especially in an upscale commercial park with a great location in such a beautiful town. This has been a blessing to us.”

Due to zoning issues, Leighton is not yet permitted to hold the auctions at the site. Therefore, the auctions will continue to be held at their longtime venue, the Knights of Columbus hall in Washington Township. “That was the one caveat,” said Leighton. “Albeit, our Jan. 19 auction was a huge success. We had a strong turnout for our previews in our new gallery, as well as a full auction audience at the Knights hall that is less than 10 minutes away.”

The Thursday evening fine and decorative arts auction offered American artworks, silver, fine jewelry, designer couture, elegant glass, fine porcelains, formal furniture and a collection of Tiffany items including lamps, bronzes, silver, glass and jewelry. Bidding was highly competitive and at times fierce between Internet, phone and floor bidders, with many lots exceeding high estimate.

Among the surprises of the evening was a French bronze and champlevé regulator clock selling for $7,600 (est. $2,000-$3,000), a Hermes tricolor Kelly bag bringing $5,700 (est. $1,500-$2,000), a Chinese carved ivory tusk bridge reaching $4,500 (est. $1,500-$2,000), a pair of Russian Niello vodka cups bringing $3,600 (est. $200-$300), and a Charles Levier oil on canvas, Les Soeurs, went for $2,200 against a $600-$800 estimate.

American art offered included three Norman Rockwell works in progress including a watercolor study Browning Superposed selling for $5,300, a mixed media Dodge City bringing $4,900, and a baseball sketch realizing $3,300. A Keith Haring and Andy Warhol drawing Andy Mouse sold for $4,600, two Andy Warhol artworks including an offset lithograph Campbell’s Soup Box and a drawing on paper Merry Boot each realized $1,900, a Dr. Seuss ink drawing Cat in the Hat garnered $1,500, and a Hahn Vidal canvas painting Water Lilies reached $1,000. Antique portraits also fared well with three separate portraits by Paul Peel of the Myers family of the Ohio textile mill garnering a total of $6,000, and an oil on canvas portrait painting of a classical woman sold for $2,300.

A nice collection of Tiffany was also offered. A Tiffany Studios leaded glass and bronze lamp sold for $5,000, a French bronze regulator clock brought $1,900, a Tiffany Studios dore bronze candelabra garnered $1,400, a Favrile glass candle lamp realized $1,200, a Tiffany & Co. Makers sterling centerpiece bowl sold at $900, an Olympian ice-cream server and a pair of 14-karat cufflinks each reached $550.

Highlighting the jewelry was a platinum and diamond engagement ring reaching $3,100 (est. $1,000-$1,500), a Matl Matilda Poulat necklace and earring set bringing $1,500 (est. $500-$700), a diamond mechanical flower brooch selling for $1,400 (est. $1,000-$1,200), a pair of diamond stud earrings realizing $900 (est. $200-$300), and a Boucher bunny pin fetched $750 (est. $450-$550).

Bidding continued to be strong in the porcelain and glass category. A Lechenet majolica jardinière and pedestal garnered $2,100 (est. $800-$1,200), a 108-piece Wedgwood Florentine china set fetched $1,800 (est. $600-$800), a 150-piece Royal Worcester Cradley china set brought $1,200 (est. $300-$500), a Lladro figural group, “Seamaids Playing,” sold for $1,050 (est. $250-$350), a pair of Steuben Ivrene vases sold for $1,400 (est. $1,000-$1,500), a Baccarat Rubina Swirl lemonade set realized $1,200 (est. $300-$500), and a Rubina Swirl dresser set fetched $800 (est. $300-$500).

Other items in the sale far exceeded their high estimates. A Chinese carved ivory fu lion group realized $4,200 (est. $2,000-$3,000), a group of 265 assorted ivory poker chips garnered $2,000 (est. $1,000-$1,500), an antique carved gesso mirror sold for $1,600 (est. $500-$800), a grotto-style stool with dolphin base brought $1,000 (est. $400-$600), a German bronze sculpture of an amazon cast by Gladenbeck fetched $1,600 (est. $500-$700), a Sino-Tibetan silver and jade ceremonial ax sold at $1,050 (est. $300-$500), a Bucherer bracket clock went for $750 (est. $250-$350), and an Austrian cold-painted peacock brought $575 (est. $250-$350).

Prices shown in this report include a 17 percent buyer’s premium. To contact Leighton Galleries, call 201-327-8800.

Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.