The Leo Lerman-Gray Foy Majolica Auction Results at Doyle

The Leo Lerman-Gray Foy collection we wrote about a couple of weeks ago went under the hammer at Doyle New York earlier this week and I must say, the majolica sold quite reasonably.

The biggest surprise was the unusual Wilhelm Schiller & Sons pine cone molded majolica glazed Jardiniere which was appraised at $500-$700 but brought, with premium, $2000

The biggest price brought by a lot of majolica was no surprise--the pair of Minton monkey vases which brought $4688.

Both the Wedgwood Argenta Lincoln umbrella stand and the Adams & Bromley heron centerpiece brought $988 each.

The George Jones cheese stand brought $1375, the Minton foliage jardiniere brought $2000, and the unmarked monkey figurine brought $813, all with buyer's premium included. 

The entire sale totaled $831,519 against a pre-sale estimate of $413,600-630,600.

For complete auction results go to the Doyle New York Web site.

The Leo Lerman & Gray Foy Collection at Doyle

Doyle New York is offering a small but lovely group of majolica pieces in their upcoming auction of the fabulous Leo Lerman & Gray Foy Collection of decorative arts later this month.

Leo Lerman was an author and editor at Conde Nast and his partner, Gray Foy was an artist, taste maker and bon vivant. Together they were the at the center of New York society in the last half of the Twentieth century. A whirl of celebrities like Callas, Graham,  Dietrich, Fonteyn and Nureyev frequented their home.

We first posted an image from their collection in November of 2010 in a post about decorating with majolica. Then we wrote about their collection of majolica last year after the publication of a lovely New York Times magazine photo essay. At the time Mr. Foy was about to celebrate his 90th birthday in the home that he and Mr. Lerman shared  in New York. His companion since Mr. Lerman's death in 1994 was Joel Kaye who lived in the home and cared for Foy until his death last December.

Now the entire collection of decorative arts from their fabulous apartment at the Osborne has been consigned to Doyle New York.
Majolica by Minton, George Jones and Wedgwood are included in addition to a large collection of pineapple majolica.

In addition to the majolica is a marvelous collection of rare books, Tiffany lamps, furniture and other decorative arts.

If you'd like to learn more about the Leo Lerman and Gray Foy Collection auction you can download the catalog here or view it online at the Doyle site.

The auction takes place in New York on September 24, 2013.