Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 35

Manuscript and Collectibles Auction

Objects de Vertu

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 544		Important Sea Treasure from Brazil, 18th century. A Gold Crucifix. The cross formed of hollow tubes, with mold-formed sheet figures of Christ and Mary, with lozenge-shaped nimbus above Christ. Encircling Christ is a wonderful filigree nimbus suggestive of peacock tail feathers. Complete, and well preserved. Height: 4-3/4" (17.7 g). Rare!! A fine devotional object of royalty. Estimated Value $12,500 - 15,000. From the wreck of an unknown merchant ship, sunk while entering the harbor of Puerto de Praia, Brazil. Comes with certificate denoting authenticity, import, and exhibition history. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 545		Important Sea Treasure from Brazil, 18th century. A Pendant Necklace (Escapulary). Two rectangular openwork plaques comprise the pendants of a long necklace. Each well crafted in a high karat gold: one with Crowned Virgin and Child Christ; other with crowned arms. The chain of heavy small loops of a somewhat lower karat, brownish gold. Complete, and well preserved. Plaques: 1-7/8" x 1-5/8"; Length: 22" (35.8 g). Rare!! Charming. Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000. From the wreck of an unknown merchant ship, sunk while entering the harbor of Puerto de Praia, Brazil. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 546		Important Sea Treasure from Brazil, 18th century. A Smaller Pendant Necklace (Escapulary). Another, shorter necklace very much like the preceding, but plaques by a different maker. Again: one with Crowned Virgin and Child Christ; other with crowned arms. All of consistently colored gold. Complete, and well preserved. Plaques: 1-1/2" x 1-3/8"; Length: 10-1/2" (17.1 g). Rare!! In a more sophisticated style. Estimated Value $4,500 - 5,500. From the wreck of an unknown merchant ship, sunk while entering the harbor of Puerto de Praia, Brazil. Comes with certificate denoting authenticity, import, and exhibition history. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 547		Important Sea Treasure from Latin America, 1730-1733. A Gold Reliquary Pendant. This pendant with charming hanger formed as two kissing doves; the locket substantial, with openwork frame, and domed covers engraved with floral motif (pomegranates?). Ornate locking screw finial at bottom for opening piece. In quite pristine condition. Length: 2-1/4" (18.0 g). Rare!! Charming early jewelry for the region. Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000. Famed 1733 Treasure Fleet; no. 1733-102. Comes with certificate. The Nueva Espana fleet of treasure ships left Havana on its annual return voyage to Spain. Its departure date of Friday the 13th, in July of 1733, certainly lived up to the reputation in terms of bad luck for this fearful date. The fleet was made up of King's ships, merchant ships, an advice ship, plus two ships that were only going as far as St. Augustine, but sailed with the fleet for its protection. The laden vessels of course were carrying the treasures of the New World back to the seat of the Spanish Empire. Anyway, a hurricane struck fiercely next day, on the 14th, after the ships had sighted the Florida Keys. Only one ship escaped safely back to Havana. The others were scattered and wrecked among the Upper Florida Keys. The Spanish authorities salvaged a fair amount of what treasure they could over the next few years -- perhaps up to 30 percent. Then these shipwrecks were forgotten until being rediscovered in the 20th century. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $6,038
Lot 548		Important Sea Treasure from Latin America, 1730-1733. A Gold Pendant or Reliquary. A quaint jewel with a pin-backed hanger shaped as an embroidered ribbon bow. The pendant with nimbate Madonna, hands in prayer, and removable bezels for glass covers. The locking screw for the bezels absent. Length: 1-7/8" (11.9 g). Rare!! Charming early jewelry for the region. Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000. Famed 1733 Treasure Fleet; no. 1733-103. Comes with certificate. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $5,175
Lot 549		Handsome Crucifix in Silver and Wood. Colonial Latin America, perhaps Peru, c. late 18th - early 19th century. Carefully crafted provincial rendition of Christ on the cross -- his body of silver, and twisted to the left, wearing a loin cloth and crown of thorns. The cross of dark wood, with floriated terminals and nimbus in silver. The upright terminal with loop on back for hanging. In excellent condition. Height: 8-1/2". The quaint rendering of Christ reminiscent of the earlier Romanesque versions. Said to be from Peru. Estimated Value $1,750 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 550		Brazillian Butterfly Ensemble Tray. Beautiful iridescent tray made from butterfly wings, with inlaid wood handles, 17¾"x29". Purchased in Brazil in 1936; partial original label is still on the reverse. The artist was "Santos". The designs are scenes of Rio: water, mountains, palm trees, the beach, as well as a statue with a cross on top. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $288
Lot 551		Mid 19th Century Italian Micro Mosaic Decorative Lapel Button. A charming and finely made postage stamp-sized micro mosaic rendition of 4 doves at a water bowl resting on a base, the bowl in gold and the birds in various colors, this scene set into a panel of molded and cut black glass. 22mm x 16mm. Items such as this were popular tourist souvenirs for those making the Grand Tour of Italy during the 19th century, with this particular theme likely based on a similar ancient Roman painting found at the Villa of Hadrian. Estimated Value $350 - 450. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $253
Lot 552		Persian Lacquer Painted Box. Qajar 19th century papier-mâché, 12¼" long x 8" wide x ¾" deep. With interesting ethnographical paintings: the lid shows a birthing scene on one side and a nursery scene on the other; the bottom of the box shows a circumcision. Edges of lid and box are scuffed. The owner paid $156 for this box in 1966. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $575
Lot 553		Art Nouveau Bronze Sculpture. A late 19th-early 20th century bronze sculpture, indistinctly signed at lower right "Pamomicci" (?), depicting a beautifully rendered semi-nude maiden in repose atop a rocky crag, her left arm resting on her forehead suggestive of exhaustion, grief or despair. Height 16", width over 18", the bronze nicely patinated. Estimated Value $1,400 - 1,800. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,610