DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. – Why suffer through the crowds shopping for holiday gifts when you don’t have to? Pook & Pook Inc. is holding their annual Decorative Arts Sale on the Dec. 10-11. The auction house offers ample parking, comfortable seating, fewer lines and a free meal. They even offer free wrapping materials – just not the kind decorated with Santas and snowmen. Best of all, the auction doesn’t begin until 10 a.m. Eastern. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

Pook & Pook Inc. has lots of fun items for everyone.

The auction includes Pook & Pook’s usual broad range of material including American and Continental furniture, Asian objects, Native American material, paperweights, music boxes, carpets, redware, stoneware, ceramics, porcelain, metalware, decoys, woodenware, fine art, textiles, toys, advertising signs, silver and other decorative accessories.

A number of winter and holiday items are included in the sale. A sled decorated with a running horse on the seat is estimated to go for $250-$450. A large collection of toys will be sold including carved wooden toys, pull toys, cast-iron toys, steam-powered boats, over 30 antique dolls, teddy bears, still and mechanical banks, music boxes, children’s books and game boards. A beautifully made Star of Bethlehem quilt would add a distinctive ornamentation to anyone’s wall, estimate $300-$500. Other fun holiday décor items include German Christmas feather trees, kugel ornaments, a painted Santa Claus on a printer’s tray and dozens of tin cookie cutters.

Dozens of books will cross the auction block at the sale. There are several copies of Martyrs Mirror from Lancaster, Pa., as well as books on natural history, science, American history, European history and more. Fiction and nonfiction spanning three centuries will be sure to attract the attention of bookworms everywhere.

A plethora of furniture will come up at the auction. Get creative with your holiday party displays. Imagine using a painted pine store counter, which measures over 89 inches long as a server for any holiday meal. What better way to store and show off all the tasty treats of the season than in a beautiful painted Pennsylvania pine pie safe with elaborate punched tin panels ($400-$600) or a French wrought iron and nickel baker’s rack ($1,000-$2,000). Hundreds of other pieces would make great gifts including tea tables, desks, dining chairs, mule chests, cupboards, dining tables, beds, dower chests, hanging cupboards, dressing tables, a cabinetmaker’s workbench, secretaries, tavern tables, cabinets, a breakfront, an armoire, Pembroke tables, a Nutting table, a Biedermeier-style sideboard, a feed bin, jelly cupboards, stands, corner cupboards, step-back cupboards and an apothecary.

The art in the upcoming sale is an outstanding mix of realism and the abstract. Several works by Elias Friedensohn, whose career spanned most of the 20th century, are sure to catch the eye of those who appreciate modern art. Especially appealing is his oil on canvas cubist piece of an interior scene and five figures. Drawing inspiration from the historical events going on around him, Friedensohn painted in a range of styles and subjects. A piece by Itzchak Tarkay, an Israeli artist who survived the concentration camps during the Holocaust, is beautiful and unique in its use of black, white and shades of gray. An oil on canvas portrait of a woman attributed to Maria Verelst (1680-1744) is estimated to bring $1,000-$1,500. Born in Vienna to a family of artists, Verelst is most known for her portraits.

Impressive in size and composition is the 96-inch-long landscape by Franklin Eshelman. Little is known about this Berks County, Pa., artist whose works have a distinctive attention to detail and somewhat caricature appearance that collectors find whimsical and charming. Hundreds of other artists will cross the auction block along with several unsigned pieces. The scope of the art includes landscapes, snowscapes, cityscapes, still lifes, coastal scenes, charcoal sketches and woodblocks.

A huge selection of estate jewelry includes diamonds, gold, silver, pearls, and other precious metals and stones. A fantastic Tiffany & Co. gold graduated maple leaf necklace, 66.2 dwt., is expected to bring $3,000-$5,000. A heavy yellow gold bracelet with curb links and a thatched finish is also expected to bring $3,000-$5,000. A white gold double-strand bezel set diamond necklace is estimated at a conservative $10,000-$15,000, considering one strand contains 83 diamonds and the other 85 diamonds. Pook & Pook is also selling several engagement rings including a diamond ring set in platinum with a center old European cut diamond flanked by two tapered baguette cut diamonds (est. $8,000-$12,000). There is also a collection of Navajo jewelry including belts, rings and necklaces, and several lots of costume jewelry.

For more information call 610-269-4040.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

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ALTADENA, Calif.—John Moran Auctioneers will conclude their 2013 auction schedule in brilliant fashion, presenting a fully cataloged sale of fine jewelry and luxury accessories on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The 480 lots include antique, vintage and retro jewels of all descriptions from the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco and modern eras, along with high-end watches and luxury accessories by Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Chanel, Judith Leiber, Ferragamo and others. Mexican silver and signed costume jewelry will also appeal to collectors looking for quality pieces by top makers. Price points range from $300 up to $70,000 and all items hail from private collections and estates.

LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

The highest lot by value is a Harry Winston platinum tourbillon wristwatch accompanied by the original box and papers and estimated at $50,000-$70,000. Watch enthusiasts will find other big names to bid on, including Girard Perregaux, Rolex, Omega and Cartier, the latter represented by multiple examples, such as a circa 1925 moss agate pocket watch with a gold and cobalt enamel bezel (estimate: $8,000-$12,000). An 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse wristwatch, expected to bring $6,000-$8,000, is one of three watches by that maker in this sale.

Art Deco jewels, always the height of style, are offered in abundance, highlighted by a diamond and platinum brooch, circa 1925, centering a modified rectangular step-cut diamond measuring 1.98 carats (estimate: $18,000-$22,000). Dating from the same decade are a platinum ring mounted with a 3.8 ct old mine cut diamond, and a French-cut diamond bracelet set with 50 French-cut diamonds totaling approximately 15.00 carats, and graded F-G color and VS clarity. The former is estimated at $10,000-$15,000 and the latter is expected to realize $7,000-$9,000. A design by one of the preeminent masters of Art Deco, Erté, is offered with a conservative estimate of $1,000-$1,500. The exquisite ”Fireflies” necklace is composed of a flat gold chain suspending an octagonal black onyx pendant with a profile of a female head in mother-of-pearl wearing a headdress of silver, gold, diamonds and rubies. A perfectly stunning but easily wearable platinum bracelet, also made circa 1925, is composed of 128 square-cut sapphires and 66 full-cut old European-cut diamonds (estimate: $5,000-$7,000).

A gemstone that is sure to set hearts racing is a 6.80-carat oval-shaped Burmese sapphire set in a platinum ring within a two-tiered surround of 62 circular-cut diamonds. Although Burma, now called Myanmar, is better known for its rubies, it also produces superb sapphires, most notably in the Mogok area, unrivalled by all but the sapphires from Kashmir. Many Burmese sapphires are prized for a deeply saturated midnight blue color found nowhere else in the world. The ring in Moran’s December sale is accompanied by an AGL report stating that the sapphire shows no indications of heat or clarity enhancement and is estimated at $6,000-$8,000.

One among several diamond and platinum rings in the sale is a delicate example from the Edwardian era, set throughout with full-cut diamonds centering a round brilliant graded G color and measuring 2.12 carats. It is accompanied by a GIA report and estimated to realize $15,000-$20,000. A ring of more recent vintage centers a 3.06-carat round brilliant-cut diamond flanked by 26 full-cut round diamonds and two baguette-cut diamonds totaling 1.20 carats. Estimated at $30,000-$40,000, it too is accompanied by a GIA report.

Signed pieces include a large and splashy 18K gold bangle by the Viennese designer Lola Demner. It centers a large aquamarine cabochon with two rows of pyramid sugarloaf-cut cabochon amethysts and smaller sugarloaf-cut rubies, accented with emerald cabochons and fancy-cut diamond slices throughout (estimate: $6,000-$8,000). Another Demner bangle, made of mammoth ivory accented by gold studs, is estimated at $2,000-$3,000.

Other jewelry highlights include:

• An Italian floral micro-mosaic bracelet with matching brooch (estimate: $600-$800);
• An irresistible Victorian gem-set brooch of silver-topped gold with two monkeys: one of rose-cut diamond seated on a bar with seed pearl terminals, and one of emerald and silver, both with ruby eyes (estimate: $1,500-$2,000);
• Twenty-seven lots of signed silver pieces by top Mexican makers, including William Spratling, Margot de Taxco, Matl, M. Martinez, Sigi Pineda and Hector Aguilar (estimates range from $400-$2,000).

Moran’s will also present several lots of signed costume jewelry, including pieces by Ciner, Weiss, Trifari and Yves Saint Laurent. A collection of costume jewelry by Chanel is expected to sell for $500-$800.

In the category of luxury accessories, coveted items from Louis Vuitton include two monogram canvas items: an Abbesses bag and a garment bag (estimates: $500-800 each). Additional highlights include two Hermes silk scarves in the Ferronerie pattern ($150-$300 each) and a Judith Leiber dog minaudière with pillbox ($500-$700).

The two-session auction will be conducted on Tuesday, Dec. 10, beginning at noon Pacific.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

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NEW YORK – Lofty.com is proud to announce its first-ever online auction, which features a trove of fine and decorative arts and goes live on the Internet at 2 p.m. Eastern / 11 a.m. Pacific on Friday, Dec. 6. More than 24 lots, all viewable online and drawn from a dazzling spectrum of periods and disciplines, await connoisseurs and collectors of furniture, paintings, jewelry and other decorative arts. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

“At Lofty, we are thrilled to be making our auction debut on LiveAuctioneers,” said Mark Lurie, founder of Lofty. “With the holidays in full swing, we’re glad that Lofty is giving buyers even more to celebrate, thanks to low estimates that make it easy and affordable to purchase outstanding, one-of-a-kind gifts.”

Launched in 2013, Lofty is an expert-vetted online store for valuable fine arts, antiques and collectibles. Every Lofty item is reviewed and evaluated by Lofty’s scrupulously selected network of specialists.

Among the top highlights of Lofty’s premier online auction kicking off on Dec. 6 are:

Still Life with Flowers, a beautiful mid-20th century oil on canvas painting in cheerful yellow, chartreuse and magenta hues by the German artist Anna Sophie Gasteiger (1878-1954), is Lot 14 (estimate $2,000-$2,500).

Two remarkable midcentury jewelry sets made and designed by the Surrealist Italian fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli will also be offered in the holiday auction: a demi parure including a bracelet and matching pin, and a costume brooch with ear clips. The signed bracelet and pin demi parure, Lot 19, dates to the 1950s and features elegant multicolor jewel tone drops dangling from a whimsical offset gold tone knot design (estimate: $400-$500).

The Elsa Schiaparelli costume brooch and ear clip set is also signed and is composed of iridescent golden glass stones set in an a classic circular arrangement. These were created between the 1940s and 1950s, and are Lot 18 (estimate $350-$450).

Lot 13 is a fine silver Navajo squash-blossom necklace, circa 1950s-1960s, set with 18 natural coral cabochon stones. The magnificent naja pendant measures 3 1/2 inches in diameter (estimate: $800-$1,000).

A rare Charles Sorlier (1921-1990), after Marc Chagall (1887-1985), color lithograph, Carmen, created for the Metropolitan Opera, New York, 1967, is Lot 7. The work is signed “Chagall” and editioned “140/150” at lower right (estimate: $10,000-$12,000).

A watercolor on paper by the American artist Paul Sawyier (1865-1917), Landscape of a House with Well and Pond, appears to be in the original period frame. Signed lower right, this work is Lot 8 and the estimate is $7,000-$8,000.

A 20th century oil on canvas painting by another American artist, Ella Fillmore Lillie (1884-1972), Woman and Children Bathing at the Water’s Edge with Mountains, is Lot 9. The painting is signed lower left and framed (estimate: $700-$900).

An English 19th-century rosewood and brass writing desk on stand is Lot 5. The rectangular box is hinged at the top and opens to reveal a fitted interior and writing surface on a conforming stand raised on straight legs with H-stretcher (possibly later). The desk, which has a $500-$600 estimate, is fitted with brass mounts and includes a key.

Lot 20 is a beautiful Peruvian sterling silver tea and coffee service, circa 1940s. The set comprises a coffee pot, teapot, creamer, sugar bowl, strainer and stand, three tiny bowls, and a tray, each piece stamped “INDUSTRIA PERUANA PLATA STERLINA 925 CAMUSSO.” The entire service weighs approximately 145 troy ounces, and was purchased in Panama during the 1940s (estimate: $3,000-$4,000).

Portrait of a Young Gentleman, Lot 12, is a traditional oil on canvas painting by an artist from the British School, circa 1830s. The work, which supposedly depicts a young John Buckingham, is unsigned, and is fitted with an oak period frame. The consignor inherited this work from her mother, who probably purchased it during a trip to England (estimate: $300-$400).

Simon Bull (English, b. 1958) painted Lot 10, The Gifts You Give, a colorful floral still life done in acrylic. This work is circa late 20th century, and is framed (estimate: $800-$1,000).

A pair of Chinese portraits of an emperor and empress painted in the early 20th century, comprise Lot 4. The frames and portraits are carved from one piece of wood, which is overlaid with gesso and decorated with lacquer, gold leaf and polychrome details. The emperor appears to be Tui-Tsung of the Tang Dynasty, and the backs are finished with black lacquer (estimate: $400-$600).

For more information, contact support@lofty.com, or call our office at 646-679-6510.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

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