Antique desk is 'the ultimate'
Published Saturday October 11th, 2008
Q: This desk was carved by William Gibbs Rogers, an eminent English woodcarver of the 1800s, who also happened to be my great-great grandfather. He carved a cradle for Queen Victoria in 1850 and it sits today in the Kensington Palace museum in London. This desk, which my great-great grandfather signed, surfaced at an estate sale in England and an antique dealer bought it. She then sold it to my nephew for about $6,000. The carving is intricate on all sides. It has huge sentimental value, but we're also wondering if the market value is as huge.
-- Joyce, Oakville, Ont.
A: This is the ultimate in its class for a davenport desk and it's exactly the kind of thing the antique market craves these days. High caliber items like this continue to set records. The carving on this desk is phenomenal, with its lavish flowers, fruit, cherubs, various heads and winged griffins. Not only was your great-great grandfather good enough to be commissioned by the queen; he was regarded as the best wood carver in all of 19th century England. He also carved trophies, pulpits, architectural work in cathedrals, as well as furniture. An almost identical desk, also signed by him, recently sold in England for £14,000 (pounds).
Your nephew's $6,000 purchase was a good one, for both sentimental and investment reasons, since this desk is now worth about $30,000.
Q: I received this glass plate as a wedding present from my grandmother in 1951 when I was married in South Africa. The pattern is composed of overlapping swallows with their wings spread. The plate has a diameter of 37 cm (14.5 inches) and is marked 'P. D'Avesn, Made in France.' It shows no sign of wear although it has been used on many occasions.
-- Pamela, Barrie, Ont.
A: This gorgeous frosted and blue opalescent Art Deco glass plate has a very Lalique-ish look to it. Not terribly surprising since Pierre D'Avesn was not only a contemporary of some of the top designer names of the 1920s and '30s; names like Lalique, Tiffany, Gallé, Mucha and Klimpt, but he was also employed by a number of them as well -- including René Jules Lalique for a time. Schooled at the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs in Paris France, D'Avesn also managed and designed at the factories of Daum, Sevres and Verlys.
In fact, he only worked independently on his own for roughly six years, from about 1927 to 1933. Overall, his subject matter reflects the public's interest in the natural world -- hence the swallows. This beautiful piece would be an easy sell at $1,500.
Q: These two elegant matching vases belonged to my great-grandmother in the mid-1800s in London England. They're 55 cm tall (21.5 inches) and they each weight 6.8 kilos (15 pounds.) They're both marked and numbered on the bottom.
-- Audrey, Stirling, Ont.
A: What a statement these make. They're huge! This is what's known as continental majolica, which simply means they're from either France, Belgium, Austria, Portugal or Germany, and they're made of brightly coloured, ornately decorated pottery. I believe these particular vases are actually German, made in Holdensleben between 1886 and 1904 by Hugo Lonitz & Co. The ornate applied children, birds and flowers are typical of his work. Until recently, most majolica collectors were after the early -- and more expensive -- English and American majolica. Some of the interest has now shifted to continental majolica and as a result those prices are creeping up as well. These kinds of ornate vases are very prone to damage, for obvious reasons. Minor nicks are forgivable but I'm assuming these are mint, in which case they'll be worth about $2,500 for the pair, possibly more.
* John Sewell is an antique and fine art appraiser. To submit an item to his column, go to the 'Contact John' page at www.johnsewellantiques.ca. Please measure your piece, say when and how you got it, what you paid and list any identifying marks. A high-resolution jpeg photo must also be included. (Only email submissions accepted.) * Appraisal values are estimates only.
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