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Karen's Picks
Karen Rigdon | Vice President, Fine Silver & Decorative Arts
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When Odiot silver appears, one
expects excellence - but few works capture the height of French dining culture
like this monumental 618-piece Grimaldi Pattern Flatware Service, crafted by
Maison Odiot, Paris, circa 1900. The sheer scope of the service - accommodating
ninety-six guests - embodies the Belle Époque ideal of
abundance, artistry, and refinement.
The Grimaldi (or "Pearls") pattern was favored by
European royalty and remains one of Odiot's most
elegant designs. Complete services of this magnitude rarely survive intact,
making this ensemble an extraordinary testament to Odiot's
craftsmanship and the grandeur of French taste at the turn of the century.
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Peter Bentzon, born free in the Danish West Indies and
trained in Philadelphia, stands as the only early American silversmith of
African descent whose silver bears a personal hallmark. His known pieces number
fewer than thirty and reflect the technical precision and mastery of the
restrained English forms favored in early nineteenth-century Philadelphia. This
rare pap bowl embodies Bentzon's refined craftsmanship and his
remarkable place in history - a free Black artisan whose legacy endures in the
silver he left behind.
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This four-piece mixed-metal tea set, created at the height
of Japanese influence on Tiffany & Co. silver, is a captivating expression
of the firm's late nineteenth-century innovation - transforming everyday ritual
into art. Its hammered silver surfaces shimmer with engraved seagrass and
applied motifs in copper and bronze: the kettle alive with gilt butterflies,
the teapot adorned with a bronze finial and ladybug, every handle uniquely
conceived. A masterful union of texture, movement, and natural form, the set
embodies the perfect harmony of artistry and technique achieved by Tiffany's
craftsmen at their creative height.
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Stephen O'Meara was a silversmith of rare brilliance - a
sculptor, art dealer, and aviator whose passion for beauty found its highest
expression in silver. His work revives the grandeur of America's golden age of
silversmithing while bearing the unmistakable mark of a modern master.
Trained in traditional techniques and inspired by travels
through Europe, Russia, and Japan, O'Meara united precision and imagination in
every piece. Each object - from table silver to sculptural forms - reveals a
devotion to craftsmanship seldom seen today. His legacy endures in luminous
works that speak to the timeless power of art and the enduring allure of the
handmade.
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Carolyn's Picks
Carolyn Mani | West Coast Director, Trusts and Estates
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Curator's Picks: The Paul Storr Collection
The name Paul Storr-synonymous with refined
elegance and superior craftsmanship-continues to still the soul of silver
collectors around the world. As one of the most prestigious silversmiths of the
18th and 19th centuries (indeed, perhaps of any century), Storr's work represents
the pinnacle of artistry and design in silver.
Working with a collection such as the one featured in this
sale is both a great honor and a personal milestone. I first met the collector
nearly twenty years ago while assisting with the estate of a mutual friend.
During our conversation, he shared his passion for fine silver and spoke with
great pride about the collection he had assembled over the years. A deeply
private individual, he spent decades building this remarkable grouping,
selecting only the finest examples. Recently, he made the thoughtful-if difficult-decision
to divest, entrusting Heritage Auctions and myself with this momentous task. It
represents a relationship founded on trust, respect, and a shared admiration
for the legacy of master craftsmanship.
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The highlight of the collection, without question, is an
extraordinary pair of Paul Storr Silver Wine Coolers, London, 1817. Embellished with the Order of the Garter insignia and
bearing the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense, each cooler also features the family motto Humani
nil alienum-a shortened form of the Latin
phrase Homo sum: humani nihil a me alienum
puto ("I am human, and I think nothing human is alien to me").
A brilliant fusion of elegance and regal design, this
pair-crafted circa 1814-displays all the hallmarks of a Royal Commission.
Today, most works of this caliber reside within the world's most prestigious
institutions and museum collections. The opportunity to acquire such an
important example of Storr's artistry on the private market is exceedingly
rare. With its impressive history and impeccable pedigree, this pair is certain
to captivate collectors across the globe.
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Other notable highlights from the collection include:
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This beautiful pair of covered tureens, exhibit the refined
elegance of the Regency period. With figural handles these stunning examples of
the Nobel Coat of Arms will be the center piece for any holiday table.
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This large tray is a stunning example and exhibits the
restrained design and exquisite engraving that was created to commemorate the
wedding of two important families. The size and breath of this example are of
an enthusiastic scale and is a stunning addition to any collection.
The collector's discerning eye extended beyond English
silver, encompassing important examples from Tiffany & Co., Buccellati, and other master silversmiths.
This sale represents not only an exceptional opportunity to
acquire world-class silver, but also a chance to celebrate the enduring
artistry of Paul Storr-whose timeless designs continue to define elegance two
centuries later.
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Xenia's Pick
Xenia Amaya | Cataloguer, Decorative Arts
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This charming Tiffany & Co. silver box perfectly
captures mid-century elegance with a touch of whimsy. Its sleek, mirror-like
surface is beautifully contrasted by the finely modeled turtle finial, a symbol
of longevity and grace. I love how the piece balances modern simplicity with
organic form; the turtle seems to glide effortlessly across the polished cover.
This is certainly a piece that will always invite admiration.
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This striking suite by William Spratling embodies the bold sophistication
of modernist Mexican design. The interplay of warm 18K gold and rich dark wood
creates a beautiful contrast that's organic yet architectural, earthy yet
refined. I love how Spratling's signature geometric forms give the pieces a
sculptural presence while remaining effortlessly wearable. Truly a collector's
dream!
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Shaped like a woven basket, it's alive with detail from the
golden frog clinging to the side to the intricate lid teeming with finely
chased fish. I love how the artist combines texture, form, and mixed metals to
create a sense of movement and life. It's both playful and masterful, a work
that bridges art and nature with effortless grace, a true conversation piece!
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Elinor's Pick
Elinor Chalmers | Cataloguer, Decorative Arts
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Stephen O'Meara's silver tunn
shell showcases his talent for rendering natural forms into enduring works of
art. Merging artistic sensitivity with technical mastery, the piece stands as a
testament to his reverence for the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
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Designed in 1955, Georg Jensen's matching Vertebrae necklace
and bracelet exemplify the sculptural grace of Danish modernism. Composed of
interlocking silver links that echo the rhythm of the human form, the pattern
demonstrates the firm's enduring balance of innovation and elegance-timeless
pieces that feel as contemporary today as when they were first created.
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This eight-piece tea set masterfully unites form, function,
and playfulness. With its hand-hammered surfaces, applied glass bees, and
inlaid hardstone florals, it captures a charming vision of nature in metal and
celebrates artistry as vibrant and alive as the world it depicts.
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Ben's Pick
Ben Windsor | Cataloguer, Decorative Arts
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A spectacular meeting of function and fantasy, this Chinese
export ewer transforms the utilitarian vessel into a mythical creature. Its
fierce dragon head spout and winged serpent handle animate a body densely
worked with narrative scenes, each figure and architectural detail rendered in
crisp repoussé.
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Uniting the whimsy of the classic cat and mouse rivalry with the artistry
of daily-use design, this Whiting Mfg. Co. match safe brings so much life to a
functional object. It's a delightful expression finding beauty and humor in the
useful, turning a practical accessory into a tiny work of art.
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Continuing with the animals + functional works theme, this playful yet
masterfully made silver cow-form creamer by Neresheimer
& Söhne captures the delightful intersection of sculpture and service. Its
naturalistic modeling transforms a simple table vessel into a figure brimming
with character.
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Rebecca's Picks
Rebecca Campbell | Associate Specialist & Lead Cataloguer
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One of my favorites is lot 74091.
This silver ice bucket offers a sterling example of Whiting Mfg. Co.'s late
19th-century craftsmanship, quite literally. This piece, circa 1883, gleams
with crisp elegance and a subtle frosty motif befitting its function. Whiting's
silversmiths had a talent for transforming practical forms into objects of
sculptural beauty, and this piece captures that blend of refinement and whimsy
perfectly. It's a cool nod (pun fully intended) to an era when even an ice
bucket could exude Gilded Age sophistication.
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I'm always a fan of Johan Rohde's designs for Georg Jensen,
and lot 74195 is
a wonderful example of why that is. These beautiful candelabras bring a touch
of Nordic poetry to the dinner table. These are candelabra that don't just hold
candles; they hold court. Light them up, and suddenly your evening feels a
little more luminous, a little more Scandinavian, and a lot more stylish.
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Karen Rigdon
Vice President,
Fine Silver &
Decorative Arts
KarenR@HA.com
(214) 409-1723
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Carolyn Mani
West Coast Director,
Trusts and Estates
CarolynM@HA.com
(310) 492-8614
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Xenia Amaya
Cataloguer,
Decorative Arts
XeniaA@HA.com
(214) 409-1907
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Elinor Chalmers
Cataloguer,
Decorative Arts
ElinorC@HA.com
(214) 528-3500
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Ben Windsor
Cataloguer,
Decorative Arts
BenW@HA.com
(214) 409-1142
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Rebecca Campbell
Associate Specialist and
Lead Cataloguer
RCampbell@HA.com
(214) 409-1948
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