Auction 1253 on 15th November 2024 in Cologne Silver, porcelain, ceramics ‒ The Heinrich Collection

Furniture by David Roentgen from the L. Collection, silver by Emil Lettré from the Katzenellenbogen Collection: the extensive offerings of the Decorative Arts auctions at Lempertz were rich in highlights. The top lot was a small table with magnificent marquetry, monogrammed by David Roentgen.

The furniture items of David Roentgen were among the finest produced by any cabinetmaker of the 18th century. The small multifunctional work table with its sophisticated mechanism thus attracted a great deal of interest. The auction ‘Kunstkammerobjekte, Möbel - Die Sammlung L.’ offered the opportunity to purchase this rare piece starting at an estimate of € 150,000 - 200,000. The table ultimately achieved a result of € 327,000*.

Many of the highlights from the extensive selection of silver on offer were to be found among the numerous pieces by the Berlin goldsmith Emil Lettré originating from the legendary Katzenellenbogen Collection. Ludwig and Estella Katzenellenbogen were among the greatest collectors and art patrons in pre-war Berlin and commissioned Lettré to produce prestigious silverware for their lavish parties, including numerous centrepieces and large platters as well as an extensive cutlery set that appears to have been custom-made according to their specifications. Valued at € 30,000, the set was raised to € 42,000 at auction and eventually acquired by a German collector. The other items from the Katzenellenbogen Collection also garnered a lot of interest during the sale. The vessels, salvers and serving plates were all the subject of fierce competition among buyers, and the 20 lots in the collection far surpassed their original total estimate of € 120,000 to achieve a final result of € 270,000.
 

The demand for high-quality Renaissance objects also continues unabated. A Nuremberg beaker by Christoph Lindenberger, dated 1569 - 1576, found a buyer for € 30,000, and an extremely rare double goblet made of burl wood sold to a museum for a result of € 50,000.

The most expensive object from the Heinrich Collection was a gold-painted Meissen budai, which realised € 20,160. Faience from the collections of Helmut Neuner and Ulrich Seiler also realised remarkable prices. A Schrezheim faience lettuce tureen estimated at € 8,000, thought to be a unique work and dated to around 1760-80, fetched € 35,000. Two rare double-gourd vases from Künersberg decorated by Anna Elisabeth Wald realised € 15,120.

*All results incl. buyer's premium

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With kind regards,

Jan Bykowski
Press and Public Relations
info@lempertz.com
Tel. 0221 925729 -57