152nd Auction

The auction house Historia will hold its 152nd auction from January 19 to 23, 2021. The success of the last auctions led to an influx of entire collections, resulting in the current catalog containing over 5,000 items!

As usual, the event kicks off with the jewelry department, featuring 660 lots, including a charming pair of Russian old-cut diamond earrings in yellow gold (Lot 256, starting at €9,000). Nearly 90 wrist and pocket watches from renowned manufacturers like Rolex, Breitling, Jaeger LeCoultre, Lange & Söhne, etc., round out the selection.

Following this, almost 350 silver items will go under the hammer, with some extensive cutlery sets standing out.

Porcelain is incredibly well-represented in this auction, with almost 1,000 objects, not only in quantity but also in quality. Leading the offering is a Meissen Art Nouveau service with a design by Rudolf Hentschel. The opulent 12-person service starts at €10,000 (Lot 2234). A rare item is a plate from the wedding service of Princess Luise of Prussia, starting at €6,000.

Among the 150 large clocks, a striking model of the Gothic Cathedral of Reims stands out, serving as a 66 cm high clock case. This lifelike piece starts at €7,500.

Josef Thorak contributes some of the nearly 200 sculptures, the largest of which is a rare bronze sculpture of a naked woman binding a sheaf of wheat (starting at €15,000). An otter by August Gaul starts at a moderate €3,000 and is sure to attract many enthusiasts of his animal sculptures.

Nearly 380 Asian collectibles are led by two large ivory brush washers with very rare themes (starting at €8,000). Also of interest are four Chinese watercolors, each finely depicting children during festive parades or games (Lots 3570-73, each starting at €800).

The 850 collector's items include an exceptionally high-quality collection of 40 miniatures from the 17th and 18th centuries, featuring illustrious personalities from the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and other noble families. Among them are Emperor Francis I Stephen, Duke of Lorraine, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, Marie Antoinette, and King Louis XVIII. The miscellaneous section is again complemented by 340 fashion items, including numerous furs and especially ladies' handbags from Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and others.

The steadily falling prices for antique furniture make it possible to acquire Baroque secretaries and commodes, historicist chests and sideboards, or entire Art Nouveau rooms at moderate prices. For example, the timelessly beautiful and practical Empire chiffoniere (Lot 5583) starts at just €600. The 100 carpets of various origins that follow will likely attract international interest, with prices starting at just €100.

Among the nearly 1,000 paintings and graphics from the 16th to 21st centuries, a charming Dutch landscape by The Hague painter Anthonie Janszoon van der Croos stands out (Lot 7022, starting at €4,000). Two grazing cows by Heinrich von Zügel (Lot 7310, starting at €5,000) lead a collection dedicated to rural life. In addition to several Munich artists, the collection features mainly Düsseldorf artists depicting simple life on the Lower Rhine, such as Julius Paul Junghanns and Piet Leysing. The talented mood painter Louis Douzette is represented with three paintings. Among the modern and contemporary works are some major pieces by abstract artists like Peter Atkins and Norbert Prangenberg. Uwe Bremer, a representative of fantastic realism, contributes the monumental "Hokus Pokus Opus 2 - Sehnsucht nach Verkommenheit" (Lot 8093, starting at €1,500).

The team at the auction house Historia wishes you much joy and a great start to 2021.