In 1927 when René Jules Lalique released his Bacchantes vase, he was 67 years old and riding a wave of success that had lasted an impressive four decades. His eponymous glassworks, based in Alsace, France, had received extraordinary acclaim at the 1925 International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in Paris - an event which both established and gave a name to the Art Deco movement. Having launched his career in the Art Nouveau period of the late 19th Centur

The first sale each year for Garth’s Auctions in Delaware, Ohio, tends to be not only a mixed affair but also a mouthful. Described by the company as offering “American Antiques and European & Asian Furniture & Decorative Arts,” the January 14 event included all the above, but the day belonged largely to the American side of things. That’s not surprising, considering that country antiques and Americana are still the company’s strong suit. Even so, the top lot of the day wasn’