Tiffany Studios floor lamp with a Magnolia shade, 78 inches tall (est. $300,000-$600,000). John McInnis Auctioneers image

AMESBURY, Mass. – A Tiffany Studios floor lamp with a Magnolia shade is estimated at $300,000-$600,000, an oil on canvas painting by Raffaello Sorbi (Italian, 1844-1931) and an exceptionally large Brilliant Period cut glass punch bowl made in 1905 for Tiffany & Company are top attractions in John McInnis Auctioneers’ huge two-session estates auction Oct. 27-28. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

The Friday session will get under way at 1 p.m. Eastern time and feature silver, jewelry and Asian antiques. The Saturday session, at 11 a.m., will have fine antiques, paintings, bronzes, Tiffany, continental furnishings and decorative arts.

In all, more than 800 lots will cross the auction block. The sale will feature the contents of an oceanfront estate on Boston’s North Shore that was once used as the summer White House of President William Howard Taft, items from a prominent Harvard University professor, the property of an influential and well-known 19th-century mill owner, and items from the estate of Baron Von Pantz.

The Tiffany Magnolia lamp (above) is the auction’s undisputed star. The lamp, 78 inches tall, is in untouched condition (except for a replaced light socket), and was purchased new from Tiffany between 1905 and 1910 by the mill owner in the Andover/Lawrence area. It has remained in the home ever since. The 28-inch shade has a beautiful blue background and the bronze base is of the senior variety.

The oil painting by Raffaello Sorbi, titled On the Balcony (below), measures 47 inches by 61½ inches (framed) and is signed and dated 1875. It should sell for $20,000-$40,000. Sorbi lived his entire life in Florence, Italy, where he studied design in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. He was an art prodigy. His painting took first prize at the Florentine Trienniale contest of 1861, when he was only 18 years old.

Oil on canvas painting by Raffaello Sorbi (It., 1844-1931), titled ‘On the Balcony,’ 47 inches by 61½ inches (framed), signed and dated 1875 (est. $20,000-$40,000). John McInnis Auctioneers image

The cut glass punch bowl – with dozens of cups – is considered the largest ever made, and there’s a reason why: Tiffany & Company ordered the bowl be made for its new Fifth Avenue, New York showroom in 1905, and they wanted something spectacular. The bowl is huge: 28 inches tall, 26 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick, and must weigh 120 pounds. It took a team of 15 men 110 days to complete this feat. The cost at Tiffany’s in 1905 was $3,000, which would be close to $80,000 in today’s money. The bowl is estimated at $4,000-$8,000.

Exceptionally large brilliant period cut glass punch bowl made in 1905 for Tiffany & Company, with dozens of cups, considered the largest ever made (est. $4,000-$8,000). John McInnis Auctioneers image

Session 1 will feature a pair of late 19th century Japanese sterling silver teapots, signed Konoike, to be sold as separate lots. Both are bulbous form with overall chrysanthemum repousse motif, applied dragon handle and foliated spout. Both are monogrammed and show Japanese characters at the base. One is 8 inches tall (est. $4,000-$6,000), the other 6 inches tall (est. $3,000-$5,000).

While the Tiffany cut glass punch bowl is a Session 2 star, some other lots actually carry higher estimates. These include a 17th-century oil on canvas painting by Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1618-1682), unsigned and overall 74 inches by 52 inches (est. $10,000-$20,000); and a gilt bronze sculpture by Dimitri Chiparus (1886-1947), titled Les Amis de Toujours, signed (est. $20,000-$30,000).

Gilt bronze sculpture by Dimitri Chiparus (1886-1947), titled ‘Les Amis de Toujours,’ signed (est. $20,000-$30,000). John McInnis Auctioneers image

A 17th-century Franco-Flemish tapestry, woven with children playing tag with a lushly foliated landscape and distant castles, 94 inches by 129 inches, with a few small separations, should make $8,000-$16,000.

An eight-volume set of books, comprising Cook’s Voyages and Portfolio 17 (London, 1773), in fine condition, chronicling the exploits of Capt. James Cook, the British Naval explorer, is expected to rise to $10,000-$15,000.

Eight-volume set of books, ‘Cook’s Voyages and Portfolio 17’ (London, 1773) chronicling the exploits of Capt. James Cook, the British Naval explorer (est. $10,000-$15,000). John McInnis Auctioneers image

A Gibson Les Paul Junior Sunburst electric guitar with original case, signed on the head stock and in completely original untouched condition, with some scattered chipping, has an estimate of $2,500-$5,000.

A rare salesman’s sample Arts & Crafts settee, oak, with front legs that slide open to form a bed, complete with brass tacks, antique bed ticking and velvet, is expected to finish at $1,000-$1,500.

For details contact John McInnis Auctioneers at 978-388-0400 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..