Works of art from European Royal collections

Date: 04.11.2005 Source: news agency "Russian Antique"

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Carved ivory model of King Ludwig II of Bavaria▓s sleigh drawn by swans. After a design by Franz Seitz, attributed to Philipp Perron. Munich 1872√1880. Estimate ┬100,000√150,000. Sold for ┬236,000 [zoom (30k)]

The Netherlands branch of Sotheby's auction house held a two-day sale of art and furniture from European royal and noble families on October 31√November 1. Paintings, Arms and Armour, Textiles, Ceramics, Furniture and Works of Art from European Royal and Noble Families Sale totaled impressive ┬6.8 million ($8.2 million).

That result set a new record for the Amsterdam branch of the international auction house. The auction raised a total of ┬6,783,684, ╚by far exceeding╩ pre-sale estimates of 3.5 million euros, Sotheby's said in a press release. ╚The majority of the objects had been unseen for generations and were fresh to the market╩, it said.

The star item was a Bavarian carved gilded lime wood console table, made in 1725. Valued at between ┬60,000√80,000, it sold for ┬303,200. The table was carved by court ebonist J.A. Pichler probably after a design by Joseph Effner. Lot description: with serpentine moulded Tegernsee white veined red marble top above a pierced apron with central cresting flanked by trelliswork and C-scrolls, supported on abundantly carved cabriole legs with dragons and male masks wearing turbans, the scrolling foliate stretcher with central draped receiver flanked by dragons with wide-spread wings and raised on paw feet.

A XIX century ivory model of a sledge pulled by swans made for King Ludwig II of Bavaria fetched ┬236,000, almost twice its valued price. Lot description: extremely fine and profusely carved in delicate realistic detail, the seat compartment raised on two horn blowing tritons and with a female triton flanked by lanterns in front, the sides decorated with reliefs of amorous couples, king Ludwig▓s coat of arms on the back, the removable cover simulating a draped fur and enclosing a foliate relief decorated interior with seats, the slides joining high up in front of the seat compartment and are encircled by putti in various poses, some supporting a drapery, the upper two putti holding a crown, the sleigh drawn by two swans holding the flower decorated ropes with their beaks, further overall decorated with scrolled foliage, rocailles, flowers, garlands, fringes, tassels etc., on a velvet covered stand on ball feet.