Decorative Arts - Great Success For Cologne Town Hall Carpets

The three town hall carpets consigned by the City of Cologne far exceeded their estimates. The largest, measuring 1400 x 625 cm and which lay in the Hansa Room, was once trod by Queen Elizabeth and John F Kennedy, among others. There was strong bidding and it rose up to € 101,000, significantly over the estimate, and now moves to Dubai (lot 481, € 30/40,000). The same bidder also forced a somewhat smaller carpet from € 9/12,000 up to € 58,000 (lot 482), whilst the third Persian example, of similar size, climbed from the same estimate to sell for € 50,500 (lot 483), so that these carpets, made in the years 1937-1942, brought in a total of €209,000.

A further highlight of the auction was the noteworthy, lifesize marble group ‘Samson with a Philistine’ made by Pietro Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo in the first quarter of the 17th century. The group has been sold under provision for € 240,000 (lot 310).

The pinnacle of the porcelains on offer was a yellow ground Augustus Rex vase with contour Chinoiseries, attributed to Adam Friedrich von Löwenfinck. Many bidders wrestled for the result and was eventually won by a South German dealer for € 139,000 (lot 1061, € 60/70,000). A rare round Meissen dish from the Swan Service was also sought after, made in 1738/39 after a model by Johann Joachim Kaendler (lot 1051, € 15,000). Many further lots amongst the very successfully sold porcelain chapter exhibited considerable price increases, including an important teapot with an Augustus Rex mark which sold for € 44,000. It was made by Meissen around 1726–1728 and decorated by the workshop of Johann Gregorius Hoeroldt (lot 1013, € 8,000). No less steep was the rise for a Viennese toilet service in the original travel case from the Imperial Manufactory around 1760–1780 which sold for € 40.500 (lot 1068, € 13,000).

The most successful amongst the furniture were an important Munich commode from the first half of the 18th century for € 38,000 (lot 330, € 30,000) and a pair of gilt bronze Viennese appliqués with enamel flowers made in the mid-18th century (lot 358, € 18,000).

The silver saw several successful results – again with significant increases – in particular two pieces which both sold for € 60,500: a wonderful Nuremberg Renaissance goblet from the Master Hans Zeyher (1592–1594, lot 502, € 38/40,000), and an important Renaissance lidded jug, made in Augsburg by Paul Hübner in 1614–1616 (lot 507, € 45,000). A pair of table candlesticks for Prince Elector Friedrich August II von Sachsen which were made by Christian Heinrich Ingermann in around 1745 in Dresden sold to a North German private collection for € 48,000 (lot 523, € 40,000).

The top spot of the jewellery was taken by a pair of Dutch Belle Epoque diamond earrings made in around 1910. A South German collector forced the € 30/40,000 estimate up to € 88,000 (lot 56). The same collector also acquired the second highlight of the auction for € 75,600: a platinum ring with a diamond solitaire in transitional cut from the 1930s (lot 61, € 60/80,000), whilst a classical choker with 48 ct diamonds and 22 ct Columbian emeralds rose to € 53,000 (lot 153, € 30/40,000). A 2009 Vintage Kelly Bag made of alligator and ostrich leather, Sellier Autruche “28”, rounded up the offer with a rise from € 10/15,000 to € 27,700 (lot 193).

Following its first successful Watch Auction, Lempertz once again offered a high-carat selection of pocket and wristwatches. The numerous ladies and gentlemen’s models came from exclusive manufactories such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Longines, Vacheron & Constantin, A. Lange & Söhne, Frederique Constant, IWC, Omega, Bulgari, and several more. The outstanding top piece was a rare Chronograph from Patek Philippe Ref. 3971 which sold for € 133,500 (lot 206, € 80/100,000).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 0221/92 57 29–30.

Edgar Abs
Press and public relations
Cologne, November 2022