Michaan's Auctions
Live Auction

December Gallery Auction

Fri, Dec 12, 2025 01:00PM EST
  2025-12-12 13:00:00 2025-12-12 13:00:00 America/New_York Michaan's Auctions Michaan's Auctions : December Gallery Auction https://auction.michaans.com/auctions/michaans/december-gallery-auction-20758
Auction: Friday, December 12th | 10 a.m.; Preview: Sunday, December 7th | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Thursday, December 11th | 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Friday, December 12th | 9 a.m. - end of auction.
Michaan's Auctions info@michaans.com
Lot 3117

Five Meissen Porcelain Figures

Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000
Starting Bid
$500

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $1
$5 $5
$50 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,500
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000

Five Meissen Porcelain Figures, comprising Putto shoveling on a Rococo scroll mounded base, a Sultaness, standing on a low mounded base, with one foot on a tree stump, a figure with Huntress and Musician, with a putto between them, on a scroll shaped base, female gardener, standing on a low mounded base, and youth Hades with Persephone. Each painted with polychrome enamels and gilding. To underside bases of each, underglaze blue crossed swords, various incised and impressed numbers. 

{Approximate dimensions:  4 7/8" high - 8 3/4".}.  

Light wear overall includes surface scratches, minor loss to gilt, some wear and discoloration to base undersides. Male figure with some dark flecks to base and back, small firing flaw to back, small chips to blue flower. Female figure with minuscule nicks to base edge, garment fringe, small chip with repair to front of right shoulder, small losses to bouquet leaf tips. Trio with chip to flutist's hat, small chip losses to leaves, small black spot to putto's rear. Boy figure with two leaves cracked, loose and one leaf loss to back, light finish loss to rake.

Available payment options

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Amex
  • Diners
  • Discover
  • JCB
  • Union Pay

Shipping Provisions, including insurance, packaging, and handling of purchased lots is at the risk and expense of the purchaser. MA shall not, under any circumstances, be liable for the loss, theft or damage to property, including, but not limited to selection of shipper, the acts or omissions of any shipper or the acts or omissions occurring in packing for shipment. Post sale determination of shipping costs does not constitute grounds for cancellation of any purchase made at auction. The Purchaser is responsible for any insurance of the shipment.

 

Property from the Collection of Frances and Ronald Dutro. San Francisco. Ronald Dutro was born in Oakland and began his lifelong opera career as a teenager with the San Francisco Opera. Frances Thanash was born in Fresno, and was a highly regarded singer in her right. After Ronald Dutro won the American Opera Auditions in 1959, he made his European debut at La Scala, Milan, Italy. The Dutros ended up staying in Europe for twenty-five years, where Ron sang baritone roles. The last fifteen years of their Continental sojourn, the Dutros lived in Berlin, Germany. There, they entertained a large variety of singers, including David Bowie.

 

The Dutros returned to San Francisco in the 1980s, where they re-installed their notable Salon room, filled with Meissen and other Continental Porcelains, Art Nouveau and later cameo glass, and their large collection of artwork by German Artist Richard Muller. Ron Dutro died in in 2006, Frances died in 2020.

D