TEAPOTS AT BONHAMS Our Coverage Sponsored by Maine Woolens
Maine Woolens is a weaver of blanket and throws located in Brunswick, Maine. We work primarily with natural fibers, like cottons and worsted wools and are committed to using renewable natural fibers from American growers whenever possible. We do piece dyeing and package dyeing in house and the combined experience of our excellent employees exceeds 300 years. Our wool and cotton blankets and throws are 100 percent machine washable, soft and luxurious to the touch, cozy warm and comfortably light. We have many styles to choose from. Our clients are very positive about our products and happy to support a Made in Maine, USA company. Jo Miller is a Mover and Shaker:
Visit our website at www.mainewoolens.com
We have been highly recommended by Whom You Know:
Maine Woolens, affordable luxury and tradition.
***
November sales for two different departments at Bonhams produced astonishing prices for two exquisite teapots.
A very rare Meissen teapot and cover, circa 1725-30, once in the famed von Klemperer Collection of Meissen porcelain, was sold in the Fine European Ceramics and Glass sale on 26 November. Carrying a pre-sale estimate of £30,000-50,000, it achieved £128,500 including premium, more than double the top estimate.
Nette Megens, European Ceramics Specialist at Bonhams, said, “This is a truly magnificent piece. Its well known shape is eclipsed by its extraordinary decoration. Together with its solid provenance, it is a very desirable piece. It just goes to show, great things can come in all sizes and shapes!”.
The rarity of this teapot surely helped contribute to its success, as opportunities to purchase fully intact items from the von Klemperer Collection - most of which was destroyed or damaged as a result of bombing during World War II - are few and far between.
And in the Fine Japanese Art sale on 6 November, a gold-inlaid iron tetsubin (kettle) and cover by Asai of Kyoto, from the Meiji Period, produced another staggering result. Originally estimated at just £1,200-1,800, the tetsubin sold for an incredible £92,500 after a flurry of competitive bids.
Suzannah Yip, Head of Japanese Art at Bonhams, commented, “Japanese art is one of the few areas of the market where conventional valuation often fails to reflect intrinsic merit and collector appeal. In this case it looks as though some well informed buyers at our sale were bowled over by the unusually high quality of the teapot and were determined to have it, driving the price up and giving us this amazing result”.
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. Today, the auction house offers more sales than any of its rivals. The main salerooms are in London, New York and Hong Kong. Sales are also held in the UK in Knightsbridge, Oxford and Edinburgh; in the US, in San Francisco and Los Angeles; in Europe, in Paris and Stuttgart and in Sydney, Australia. Bonhams also has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of forthcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com.
