Stefek’s Auctioneers and Appraisers Eclectic Summer Auction was held on Thursday, July 16th at 6:00 pm EST. The online auction was hosted through LiveAuctioneers and, for the first time, Bidsquare. Lori Stefek, president of the auction house said “This was the first time in quite a while that we tried an online only auction, and we were pleased with a great turn out of competitive bidders.”

The auction featured a diverse array of fine art, furniture, and decorative items. The eclectic sale brought out bidders from all over the world including Germany, Italy, Canada, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, China, Monaco, France and all over the United States. The auction’s most notable results were the Ico and Luisa Parisi Coffee table, a pair of swivel lounge chairs attributed to Edward Wormley, two German clocks, and a variety of jewelry.

The walnut and brass coffee table designed by Ico and Luisa Parisi for Singer & Sons was the highlight of the sale. The coffee table sold for $11,485 to a bidder in the United Kingdom. Stefek’s was excited to showcase such a unique piece. Domenico “Ico” Parisis worked in the studio of Italian architect Giuseppe Terragni and studies architecture under Alberto Sartoris at the Ecole Athenaeum in Lausanne, Switzerland. Luisa Parisi was a student of Italian architect and designer Gio Ponti at the Polytechnic University of Milan. The husband-and-wife duo was well-ensconced in Italy’s architecture and design scene, and both were members of the Alta Quota architecture group in Como, of which Ico Parisi was a founder. The pair consciously integrated their architectural training into the realm of furniture design, and the featured coffee table is a prime example of such a synthesis.

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The swivel lounge chairs attributed to Edward Wormley were sold to a bidder in Texas. The pair sold above the auction estimates in a bidding war for $1,800. Wormley was the director of design at Dunbar for over 30 years and was a force of innovation for 20th century furniture. “Furniture is needed for practical reasons, and because it must be there, it may as well be as pleasant as possible to look at, and in a less definable psychological way, comforting to the spirit.”- Edward Wormley

The eclectic auction included a variety of jewelry pieces that sold well that evening. The notable pieces were an 18k gold braided necklace that sold for $720, a ladies Hamilton diamond bracelet watch that sold for $660, a Hamilton 14k gold piping rock wristwatch that sold for $720, a coral beaded necklace that sold for $570, and a variety of 14k gold link bracelets, all selling for high estimates.

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The auction finished strong with two German made clocks that reached excellent prices. The first was a beautiful German mahogany grandfather’s clock, which realized $1,800, and then a carved German Regulator wall clock which realized $510.

Stefek’s is currently accepting quality consignments for the upcoming September 17th Auction. Stefek’s will be offering an Auction Appraisal Event on August 12th on site starting at 3:00 P.M. EST, for more information visit our website. Consignment inquiries can be sent to consign@stefeksauctions.com.

Stefek’s Auctioneers & Appraisers was established in 2008 with the goal of providing personalized service to clients while offering their items on the international market. In 2015, Stefek’s continues to fulfill its high standards of service while also focusing on the importance of sustaining the local art and auction economy. Stefek’s specializes in 20th century art and design, Michigan artists, important collections and more. If you would like more information about the auction house, or would like to schedule an interview with Lori Stefek, please call Stefek’s at 313.881.1800 or email info@stefeksauctions.com. Stefek’s is located at 18450 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, between Cadieux and Moross Road.