NEW YORK.- Sotheby’s is pleased to announce the sale of Property from the Estate of Rochelle Sepenuk, to be held October 21, 2008 in New York. The sale of approximately 230 lots represents one of the finest collections of 19th Century sculpture, furniture, decorative arts and paintings to appear on the auction market in recent history and is estimated to bring $6/9 million. The auction will include works from both Ms. Sepenuk’s private collection and her prominent New York gallery, Gallery 63.
Elaine Whitmire, Senior Vice President, head of Single-Owner sales and 19th Century Decorative Arts, said, “Rochelle Sepenuk was one of the top 19th Century dealers in New York, and was known for her excellent eye, particularly in sculpture and furniture. She sought out the greatest examples in the field, in both quality and scale. We are thrilled to be offering this outstanding collection.”
Highlights from the works to be offered include a Magnificent Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Kingwood and Tulipwood Bureau à Cylindre, circa 1860, which is estimated to fetch $200/300,000. The piece features a pierced three-quarter gallery above three frieze drawers and is flanked by figural four-light candelabrum. It rests on beautifully detailed cabriole legs with a winged female mask at each corner and lion paw feet, and shows a mask of a water nymph to the back, bordered by trophies emblematic of architecture and science.
The sale will also include a magnificent pair of bronze busts by Emile-Coriolan-Hippolyte Guillemin known as Femme Kabyle d’Algerie and Janissaire du Sultant Mahmoud II. The ornate and richly patinated male and female busts are estimated at $150/200,000.
Ms. Sepenuk loved grandeur, and often sought out large-scale works for her gallery and private collection, such as the Near Pair of Palatial Size Gilt-Bronze Mounted Sevres Style Cobalt Blue Ground Lidded Vases, dated circa 1890. Each vase measures 5ft., 9 1/2 in. high and depicts finely painted pastoral scenes of 18th century companions ringed in delicate gilt-highlight decoration; one vase also portrays a lakeside scene to the reverse. The vases will be offered at an estimate of $150/250,000.
The sale will be on view in Sotheby’s New York galleries beginning October 16, 2008, together with the October 22 sale of 19th Century Furniture, Sculpture, Ceramics, Silver and Works of Art.
