Twinight Collection Realises 3.6 Million

Twinight Collection II

With an overall result of 3.6 million euro, the auction of the Twinight Collection was a sensational success. The almost 170 lot offer of the second part of the New York collection was led by a Signed Tray with Flower Basket, Grapes, and Bird's Nest from the Vienna Imperial Manufactory, which went to a Russian private collection for 80,000 euro. (Lot 90) The decoration was the work of Joseph Nigg, who was engaged as a painter by the Viennese porcelain manufactory Niedermayer in 1800. In 1816, the year in which the tray was painted, he became the supervisor of the flower painting dept. Nigg quickly developed his typical, distinctive style and is still regarded today as one of the most prominent flower painters of his era.

A 46 cm high Vase with the Aldobrandini Wedding, a so-called nuptial vase from the Iron Helmet service of the Berlin KPM, was sold for 48,800 euro after a hot bidding battle. (Lot 40) Smaller vases were also in demand and so a Crater Vase with fleurs en terrasse from Vienna exceeded its estimated price of 2,000 to 3,000 euro and achieved 10,600 Euros. (Lot 88)

Another highlight is a Signed Porcelain Picture with Flower Vase from Vienna for 41,300 euro, which a Russian collector now calls his own. (Lot 93) Two Saucers with Flower Balls (KPM, c. 1820) increased their lower estimate tenfold and the hammer finally fell at 6,500 euro. (Lot 80) In addition, a Plate with a Fable from the Service Fond Poupre from the Sèvres manufactory went to a private French collection for 12,500 euro. (Lot 22)

The selected cups of the Twinight Collection were almost completely sold. A Rare Cup with Night Sky from the Vienna Manufactory was purchased by a New York museum for 16,300 euro (lot 19) and a Rare Cup with Circus Motifs – also from Vienna – far exceeded its estimated price of 6,000 to 8,000 euro and went to a museum collection in Austria for 27,500 euro. (Lot 20)

Prussian Sale

Heading the more than 300 lot-strong Prussian offer, reaching almost 800,000 euro, was an oil painting by Eduard Gaertner for 106,000 euros. It shows a "View of the Katharinenkirche in Brandenburg on the Havel", a typical motif for Gaertner, which he realised three times. In 1868, our version was the first painting to be created, in 1870 a second, today in the Staatliche Galerie Moritzburg Halle – and the third, the version dated 1872 which is in the possession of the Berliner Stadtmuseum, and is one of his last verified paintings. (Lot 221)

Selected services were in great demand, some of which were sold well above their estimated prices. A Déjeuner with Italian Views from the Imperial Manufactory of Vienna under Konrad von Sorgenthal tripled the estimated price of 4,000 to 6,000 euro and was sold for 18,800. (Lot 208) A Service with Micro Mosaic Painting in Original Case from Berlin achieved 37,500 (lot 209) and a Rare Coffee Service in 'Japanese Style' – also from KPM – doubled its estimate and achieved 17,500 (lot 258). A Russian Coffee and Tea Service with Russian Views from the middle of the 19th century triggered a hot bidding war between the hall, telephone and online bidders and only passed into other hands for 20,000. (Lot 233)

Two Rare Plates from the Marly d'or Service from the Sèvres Manufactory were sold for 5,800 euro to Paris (lot 202) and for 11,900 euro to New York (lot 203) and a silver rococo ladle sold for 3,000 euro. (Lot 34)