Featured: Ulysse Nardin Royal Blue Mystery Tourbillon limited edition platinum, diamond and sapphire wristwatch; Monumental carved Black Forest clock with five bears; Chiparus bronze, James Bard painting

DENVER, Pa., June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Those entering the preview area at Morphy’s flagship gallery in Pennsylvania can almost hear the roars coming from one of the June 11-12 Fine & Decorative Arts Auction’s most eye-catching attractions. Standing 79 inches tall and capturing its well-deserved share of attention is a monumental two-panel Black Forest clock whose case is meticulously carved with the images of five bears. Composed of linden wood, a soft wood from Germany’s natural forests that is ideally suited to carving, the clock might very well be described as a masterpiece of its genre.

The motif is a visual delight, with four differently-modeled fully-dimensional bears climbing a pine tree as a fifth bear who has reached the tree’s pinnacle gazes down at them. Throughout, the artist’s attention to detail is obvious, with the trunk and branches fastidiously “grained,” the leaves minutely detailed, and the bears themselves realistically represented with furry coats, painted red tongues and white teeth. In excellent condition, the clock comes to auction with a $10,000–$20,000 estimate.

The Clocks & Watches category shifts from Bavaria to picturesque Switzerland with a boutique selection of coveted Swiss-made timepieces. Leading the group is an exceptionally rare and important Ulysse Nardin Royal Blue Mystery Tourbillon limited edition platinum, diamond and sapphire wristwatch, Ref. No. 7990093. Only 99 watches of its type were made, and the auction example is identified as No. 1 of those 99. Superior in every way, it is expected to sell for $150,000–$200,000.

Some think of Morphy’s as “The House of Tiffany” because of its long tradition of offering rare and especially fine Tiffany Studios leaded-glass lamps. A glorious example in the June 11-12 sale is a table lamp with an 18-inch-diameter shade in the Oriental Poppy floral pattern. The motif displays multicolored reds, ranging from deep ruby red to coral and highly complex tones of mixed reds, with blues and purples interspersed. In excellent condition, the shade is signed Tiffany Studios New York 2598 and rests on a patinated-bronze Tiffany Studios Tyler-style base whose underside is signed Tiffany Studios New York 368. Estimate: $125,000–$175,000

Other noteworthy American lots include a circa-1853 James Bard (1815-1897) nautical oil-on-canvas titled U.S. Mail Paddle Steamer George Law, $40,000–$80,000; and an all-original circa-1880s Samuel Robb full-size cigar store Indian depicted holding packages of cigars and tobacco, $20,000–$50,000.

European art highlights include a 52-inch-tall Villeroy & Boch (Germany) terracotta Santa figure created in 1900, probably for a department store window, $20,000–$30,000; and a circa-1925 Demetre Chiparus (Romanian/French, 1886-1947) cold-painted patinated bronze figure of a lady with two hounds titled Les Amis Toujours (Friends Forever). Estimate: $20,000–$30,000. A possible “unicorn,” an extremely rare Amphora vase decorated with the scene of a double-headed water serpent fighting a mythological prehistoric fish has never before appeared at auction and is not illustrated in any Amphora reference book. In mint condition, it will make its auction debut with a $12,000–$18,000 estimate.

Morphy’s Wednesday/Thursday June 11-12, 2025 Fine & Decorative Arts Auction will be held live at the company’s flagship gallery, 2000 N. Reading Rd., Denver, PA 17517, starting at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Jewelry/watches preview by appointment only. All forms of bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone and live via the Internet through Morphy Live. Enquiries: call 877-968-8880, email [email protected]. Visit Morphy’s online at www.morphyauctions.com.

Media Contact:
Dan Morphy
877-968-8880, [email protected]

SOURCE Morphy Auctions