If antiques are items torn from history, then auctions are the vehicles that place them once again within the context of personal history.
As surely as Curtis Jere's fanciful wire sculpture "Three Birds in Flight" or Nathan Wasserberger's nude on blue reflect today's sensibilities, two 19th C. French bronzes-Jean-Paul Aube's "Allegorie de le Pientre" and Auguste Peiffer's Allegorical Bronze Group-echo with a timeless beauty. It will be a joy to see all find new owners.
Surveying the wealth of designer modern furniture in our gallery at 80 East 11th Street, I can almost see the set of six Afra and Tobia Scarpa side chairs with four triangulated legs evoking accolades as they make first appearance at someone's Thanksgiving table. And the Jean Charles Moreaux set of four side and two armchairs adding a nostalgic aura to an historic family gathering.
The Gerhard Berg rosewood credenza and secretary will decorate and add function to someone's home. The Karl Springer bone and glass console would make the perfect setting for the Russian enamel and silver box that arrived recently.
If I fast forward to Black Friday, I wonder why anyone with the means would head out to the retailers when, on November 12, they could secure gifts that will not fade. Antiques, vintage furniture and jewelry that have already stood the test of time grow in personal value.
For the Roland Brothers, enjoying the items that pass through the Roland Auctions NY gallery is a perk of auctioneering. It is superceded only by getting to know the buyers who allow the properties to resonate with new life.
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For complete details on the items that inspired Robert Roland's thoughts, please visit www.rolandantiques.com. The sale is November 12, and you may bid in person, by phone or absentee bid. To get a jump on the bidding process, visit LiveAuctioneers.com.
