Auctions, Sales and Finds
The following items are either for auction, for sale by a dealer or for private sale. Desmalter.com is not affiliated with ANY sellers and is listing these because they are interesting. Occasionally, I locate what I call "Rummy on the Board" - an item that has been wrongly described and thus may end up being a bargain.
If you have an item you would like to list, send me an email with photos (the item will be listed at my discretion). There is no charge of any form for listing an item, and the buyer will contact you directly via your email in the listing.
If you have an item you would like to list, send me an email with photos (the item will be listed at my discretion). There is no charge of any form for listing an item, and the buyer will contact you directly via your email in the listing.
palace sconces
Newel Auctions, Long Island New York; March 28, 2025
Newel recently auctioned a pair of French Empire dore bronze sconces. They sold for $400 the pair. This same model is located in major french palaces, including a bedroom used by Napoleon Fontainebleau. Identical sconces were also installed in the Chambers of Cardinal Fesch, and the stairway of the Empress. These should have brought $2k at auction.
napoleon iii with hidden signature
Auctions at Showplace on LiveAuctioneers, March 3, 2024
Napoleon III Gilt Metal Mounted Mahogany Meuble d'Appui, circa 19th century, grey marble top, painting of cherubs to front, the mounts with masques and ram designs. Starting bid $325 but with an estimate of $1500 to $2500. What they don't know is that this item previously sold at Sotheby's. There it was given an estimate of $12,000 to $18,000 because it is marked under a mount Befort Jeune.
POSSIBLE GEORGE JACOB DESK?
November 23, Locati LLC Auction, PA
So, I have seen this desk before, but I am away from my refrence books and cannot find it. I am almost sure it is by George Jacob. Great veneer, unusual corner lock, side button bottom door release, it could not be better. I think the last time it sold it was around $6K.
It sold for $950. I'll research it next month.
C'est la vie.
I found it. It sold at Christies New York, 1998, for $10, 350.00. Stamped Geroge Jacob, later feet.
Important games table
May 31, 2023 William Smith Auctions
This is a rather banal example of a Louis XVI games table with a pre-sale estimate of $600-$900 dollars. It was in very good condition but what intrigued me was the statement it was signed. No pictures of a signature where included.
Imagine my surprise when I requested pictures and received not only a photo of an Empire Tuileries palace stamp but an old label showing the delivery location -the "Salon de Consul."
I resolved to buy this table only to have an emergency come up and miss the live auction. It sold for $1000.00
C'est la vie.
bargain clock
May 15, 2023 Clark Auction Gallery
This clock by Pierre Le Roy was in very good condition with excellent guiding. The mechanism was in working order. The estimate was $2000 to $3000 USD.
Pierre le Roy was the inventor of the detent escapement, the temperature-compensated balance and the isochronous balance spring. His developments are considered as the foundation of the modern precision clock.
This model (but missing the lower porcelain insert) by the same maker was at Sothebys in 2014 with an estiimate of 15,000 to 20,000 GBP.
The clock at Clark Auction sold for $2000. Someone got a bargain.
Louis XVI Secretaire
Oct 13, 2021 Doyle New York
Jean-Henri Riesener - I am sure that is the first thing that comes to your mind upon seeing this desk. Sure there are condition problems and some mounts have been regilded. But the quality of the mounts! A close look shows the bronzes only need cleaning, they are in perfect gilded condition just dirty. Most important, the few missing mounts were in a drawer. The desk had typical 18th century clover locks and fine veneer. It sold for only $1800!. When it is restored, we may see it again in a year at a major auction house for 20-30k. Another regret....
eMPIRE dRESSING TABLE
October 21, 2021 Stair Galleries
Dressing tables are among the least expensive types of furniture, allowing you to procure much a higher quality example for far less money than a comparable side table or desk. This dressing table is of excellent quality and of a very unusal design. It is seems a fair price at the high estimate, although there seems to be some repair or adjustment required on the back legs.
* Sold for $2000.
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eMPIRE deSK cHAIR
June 19, 2021, Paris
Important mahogany office chair, the backrest in gondola with headband and braces, the heads of armrest with lioness's mufle, resting on tapered and ringed feet finished by claws, the rear feet in saber; mark with the iron of the castle of Villeneuve (restorations; bronzes may be associated). An armchair of the same model is on the portrait by Jean-August-Dominique INGRES of Philibert RIVIERE preserved at the Musée du Louvre (N° inv. MI1445), painted between 1804 and 1805. The estimate is 2000 to 3000 Euros. This is auctioneer humor - he is quite droll. I think it will go for 8-12k. Sold for approximately 8k.
