Tiffany Favrile lava glass vase hits $62,100 at Leland Little Auction

A stunning early 20th century Tiffany & Company Favrile lava glass three-handled vase soared to $62,100 at a two-session multi-estate auction dedicated to Fine Wine and Fine & Decorative Arts held Sept. 17-18 by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. The event was held in the firm’s new, state-of-the-art gallery, at 620 Cornerstone Court.

The vase was the top lot in a sale that saw more than 100 fine wine lots change hands in the Sept. 17 session and around 550 lots cross the block the following day. Overall, the auction grossed $750,000.

Leland Little of Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. remarked that Asian objects, estate jewelry, fine art and ceramics were all strong performers in the sale, while English and American furniture prices (which aren’t being as rewarded financially due to tepid demand) didn’t do quite as well. “But even there,” he added, “we saw exceptions at the top level of merchandise. In the end, quality will override a soft market.”

He cited as an example an American Classical stencil-decorated center table, made in the 1820s, mahogany with mahogany veneers, attributed to Deming & Bulkley, New York cabinet makers. It went for $9,200, about triple the high estimate. Also, a Renaissance-style American marble-top buffet, made around the 1870s, walnut with poplar and pine, also did well at $4,140.

The Tiffany vase was the undisputed star lot of the auction, wowing bidders with its organic baluster form and rich gold overlay on a bluish-purple body. Another Tiffany decorated Favrile glass vase, baluster form with a green ground and pulled gold decoration, made $7,475, while a signed Daum Nancy French art glass low vase with nice forest scene garnered $3,680.