2024 at STAIR
Another year Selling Interesting Things from Interesting People….
Oh, how that resonated this year! We had a series of successful sales from some of the most interesting collectors. We kicked off the year selling some incredibly special property from the Collection of Ann and Gordon Getty, followed by the Collection of Barry R. Harwood, and ending the sale season with a blockbuster group of designers in with Icons of Interior Design. We welcomed buyers from nearly fifty countries, a testament to our specialists and staff who worked to curate the most intriguing sales of furniture, fine art, silver, jewelry, porcelain and decorations.
As the year comes to a close, we’re thrilled to share the standout lots that came up for auction at STAIR in 2024. From rare masterpieces to marvels of modern design, these top lots represent everything we love about art, antiques and design.
Categories of Strength
We continue to sell interesting things in areas of the market that have been abandoned as of late, including the Decorative Arts, Old Master paintings, and Americana, with strong sales results in all of those categories.
Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000
Hammer: $175,000
This ‘Lockwood de Forest and The Ahmedabad Wood Carving Company, Indian Teakwood Model of the Windows in Sidi Saiyyad’s Mosque at Ahmedabad’ sold for $175,000 in Design from 1860 to 1910, Including the Collection of Barry R. Harwood on September 26, 2024.
Commissioned by Lockwood de Forest in 1881 and executed by the Ahmedabad Wood Carving Company, this is an exact copy of a window in the 16th century Sidi Saiyyad Mosque in Ahmedabad India, and illustrates in wood the story of one of the finest examples of stone tracery found anywhere in the world. Lot 453 came to us from the extraordinary collection of Ann and Gordon Getty.
A stunning symbol of spiritual and artistic mastery, this Tibetan gilt metal figure of Maitreya Buddha embodies exquisite craftsmanship and deep cultural significance. Rare, historically valuable, and beautifully detailed, it’s a true treasure of Himalayan art. Lot 327, pictured here sold at STAIR in The Fine Sale – Part One on October 23, 2024 for $44,000.
Albert Cheuret (1884-1966): Rare ‘Herons’ Console Table
Estimate: $80,000 – $120,000
Hammer: $160,000
A rare triumph of Art Deco design, Albert Cheuret’s ‘Herons’ Console Table captures elegance and innovation. With exquisite craftsmanship, nature-inspired sculptural details, and luxurious materials, this piece is a true symbol of the era. Its rarity, timeless beauty, and collectible status make it a treasure for any discerning collector.
Lot 25, an Albert Cheuret (1884-1966): Rare ‘Herons’ Console Table sold for $160,000 in our Art & Design sale on June 5, 2024.
Estimate: $15,000 – $20,000
Hammer: $26,000
Working in Antwerp in the second quarter of the 16th Century, the artist known as the Master of the Female Half-Lengths specialized in half-length depictions of elegantly attired young ladies pursuing leisure activities. The subject of this pair is unusual in the artist’s oeuvre and was likely originally conceived of as part of a larger group of religious subjects.
The depiction of Saint Ildefonso suggests that it may have been commission by a Spanish patron. This subject has been incorrectly identified in the past as Saint Anselm of Canterbury but is, in fact, Saint Ildefonso. Ildefonso was the nephew of Saint Eugene of Toledo, the city of his birth in 607. In 657, he succeeded his uncle as Archbishop of Toledo. He is depicted here receiving the holy vestment known as chasuble from the Virgin.
This work, Lot 489, sold for $26,000 in The Fine Sale – Part Two on October 24, 2024.
Design from 1860 to 1910, Including the Collection of Barry R. Harwood -September 26, 2024
Fine Herter Brothers Carved Walnut and Various Woods Marquetry Library Table
Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000
Hammer: $36,000
Americana at STAIR – August 1, 2024
Thomas Chambers (1808–1869): Indiaman Saluting at the Island of St. Helena
Estimate: $5,000 – $8,000
Hammer: $20,000
The Fine Sale – April 25, 2024
Highlights from Single Owner Collections
2024 saw STAIR excel in selling single-owner collections and works from important estates.
Pair of Sevres Parcel-Gilt Biscuit Porcelain Perfume Burners
Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000
Hammer: $10,000
Property from the Collection of James Grafstein – April 24, 2024
Mr. Grafstein was a well-respected dealer and a friend to many in the antiques community. Trained in France at the Museé du Louvre his knowledge of the 18th French Decorative arts was renowned. He was specifically recognized for his discerning eye for French Furniture and Porcelain. He later paid homage to the Louvre with several important donations to their collection and was granted France’s highest civilian award for his generosity.
Art Without Boundaries: The Abrams Family Collection – November 20, 2024
Stewarded intergenerationally for over seven decades, The Abrams Family Collection represents a love of collecting and a passion for living with art fostered by renown art book publishers Harry N. Abrams and his son, Robert. For over seventy years, the Abrams family has brought art into the homes of millions of readers through the publishing of beautifully illustrated and meticulously written books on art and artists.
20th Century, Modern & Contemporary Fine Art
Focusing on the fine arts of the 20th and 21st centuries, our 20th Century, Modern & Contemporary Fine Art sales in June 2024 and November 2024 included works by Modern, Post-War and Contemporary artists working in a variety of mediums and modalities.
This contemporary work by Mary Heilmann, titled ‘Mint Serape’, oil on canvas, from the Collection of Gordon and Zanne Stewart, sold at STAIR for $100,000 in our 20th Century, Modern & Contemporary Fine Art sale on June 6, 2024.
Inspired by 1960s counterculture and her California roots, Mary Heilmann brings a joyful, rebellious spirit to abstract painting. Blending Minimalist geometry with the spontaneity of the Beat Generation, her work stands out for its bold use of color, playful imperfections, and free-flowing forms. A pioneer who broke from the strict rules of modernism, Heilmann continues to redefine abstraction with her unique, expressive style.
20th Century, Modern & Contemporary Art – June 6, 2024
20th Century, Modern & Contemporary Art – June 6, 2024
20th Century, Modern & Contemporary Art – June 6, 2024
Fine Jewelry & Luxury Goods
Elegance in every detail. This Bulgari 18k Gold & Diamond Parentesi Bracelet sold for $17,000 in our Fine Jewelry and Luxury Goods sale on October 23, 2024. It is a masterpiece of timeless design and craftsmanship.
The iconic Roman-inspired Parentesi motif, combined with 18k gold and exquisite diamonds, creates a rare and collectible symbol of luxury. With the enduring prestige of Bulgari, this piece represents the best of the designer in both style and heritage.
Fine Jewelry and Luxury Goods – October 23, 2024
Fine Jewelry and Luxury Goods – October 23, 2024
None of this would be possible without you – whether you have consigned with us, bid with us, or partnered with us across the thirty-three auctions we hosted in 2024. As we continue to evolve in an ever-changing landscape, we have a very exciting lineup for 2025. We begin the year with American & European Fine & Decorative Arts, and The Collection of Sanford L. Smith in January, and 20/21, and Thursday Morning at STAIR Including the Estate of John Githens and Ingeborg Ten Haeff in February. As always, you can keep tabs on our upcoming auction schedule and easily bid with us directly at stairgalleries.com
We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!