Christie's annual art nouveau sale is a good indication of the market and the hammer price for many lots was above estimates, writes Joe Armstrong

An art nouveau auction that realised more than £250,000 sterling (€409,000) gives a good indication of the current state of the market for collectors of decorative art.

The recent annual art nouveau sale at Christie's, London, included ceramics, glass, furniture, works on paper, metalwork and sculpture. Art nouveau incorporates many styles dating from the 1890s into the early 20th century.

Highlighting the sale was a pair of Orivit silvered metal candlesticks, with matching jardinière used for food or flowers.

Five-sconced, the central columns of the 44-centimetre candlesticks were interspersed with clear glass elements. The candlesticks were stamped "Orivit 2569", with the resilvered 57-centimetre jardinière stamped "Orivit 2568".

Mr Daniel Gallen, specialist in European decorative arts at Christie's, told The Irish Times that the piece was exceptional, not least because it is rare to get a complete set of two candlesticks and jardinière from the period. Estimated at £12,000 to £15,000 sterling, its hammer price was £12,000, plus 17.5 per cent buyer's premium, plus VAT.

Another highlight was a white metal cutlery service in a carved mahogany chest with four drawers. Its hammer price was £8,500 sterling, twice its estimate of £4,000 to £6,000.

In the glass section, a large Gallé glass vase, enamelled with giant flower-heads and leaves, the surface mottled with gilt and standing 74 centimetres high, fetched a hammer price of £6,500, above its estimate of £3,000 to £5,000.

Meanwhile, a very rare 1890 Gallé cameo and enamelled glass vase fetched a £1,600 hammer price, four times its lower estimate of £400 to £600. A Gallé mould-blown glass vase was acquired for £4,700, including the premium, against a pre-sale estimate of £4,000 to £6,000.

In the ceramics section, a Zuid-Holland polychrome pottery-charger with an unusual pattern, painted by Elert van der Werf in the style of Alphonse Mucha, fetched £2,800 sterling, more than twice the upper estimate of £800 to £1,200.

In the sculpture section, a gilt bronze and ivory figure, cast and carved from a model by Walter Schott, on striated cream onyx base, standing 35 centimetres high, fetched £3,600, in line with its estimate of £3,500 to £4,000.

However, in the works-on-paper section, none of lots 102 to 108 sold, despite a full page of pictures devoted to these items in the auction catalogue. Others of these unsold lots comprised various colour or black-and-white plates of designs, varying in estimate from €820 up to €4,900.

Irish Stamps, a business unit within An Post, is preparing its new website. It will provide collectors with a direct link for buying stamps online and access to its free mailing list for information on all Irish stamp issues. The address is http://www.irishstamps.ie.