Auctions Archives - Page 858 of 1042

Alexander Calder sterling brooch shines at Woodbury Auction

This Alexander Calder hand-hammered sterling silver brooch topped the auction, selling for $22,140. Woodbury Auction image.

WOODBURY, Conn. – An Alexander Calder hand-hammered sterling silver brooch that fetched $22,140 was the top item at Woodbury Auction presented its Early Fall Fine Estates Auction on Sunday, Sept. 16.

The auction had a diverse offering of 537 lots of estate material from three prime estates and numerous other estates and consignors. A standing room only crowd was present in the saleroom to compete for the eclectic material on offer. According to Thomas Schwenke, owner/auctioneer, in this sale the firm experienced nearly 100 percent increase in participation on the Internet with almost 700 bidders competing online during the sale and over 2,200 live Internet bids placed, resulting in over 45 percent of the catalog lots selling on the Internet and over 1,300 Internet underbids being logged.

“Our Internet clerk, my daughter Margaret, did an absolutely amazing job handling the huge volume of Internet bidding activity in this sale,” said Schwenke.

The Calder brooch, estimated at $12,000 to $18,000, was sold for an existing Woodbury Auction consignor who decided to offer the piece subsequent to the firm’s notable sale of two other original Calder jewelry pieces in its Spring Fine Estates Auction on June 17. Like those pieces, the brooch had been a personal gift from the artist – in this case to Winifred McCulloch, a prominent New Yorker with social connections to Calder – and had never before been offered for sale. The brooch was in the form of McCulloch’s first initial “W” and she had bequeathed the specially conceived pin to the consignor in 1962. Calder, the noted prolific artist and sculptor whose home and workshop were in Roxbury, Conn., was known for gifting jewelry pieces to his friends during the course of his career.

The big surprise of the sale was a small framed woodcut print by Edna Hopkins, drawn from a New Haven, Conn. Modestly estimated at $60-$80, the print inspired fierce competition from absentee bidders, Internet bidders, and several bidders present in the room. The successful bidder claimed the prize through the Internet for a final total of $9,840. As he knocked down the print, auctioneer Schwenke quipped from the podium, “I guess we were a bit conservative on that one!”

Other noteworthy lots from included an English grain-painted folk art cupboard, which sold for $5,700 after lively bidding from several bidders in the audience. A signed limited edition of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged went for $748, and a Jose Formoso Reyes Nantucket friendship basket hammered for $2,935.

Jewelry and silver performed well, reflecting the recent increase in precious metal spot prices. A lot of four diamond rings went to a LiveAuctioneers’ bidder for $738, a three piece Continental Silver tea set sold for $2,706 to the Internet, and a four-piece sterling silver tea/coffee set brought $3,565 after brisk bidding in the room.

The large collection of British campaign furniture and country furniture outperformed expectation at all levels. Drawn from the Great Barrington estate of Edward Adolph, former part owner of British Country Antiques in Woodbury, the collection included a leather upholstered Chippendale-style wing chair that fetched $2,214; a set of eight yew wood Windsor armchairs, $4,200; an oak brass bound campaign chest, $1,845; a diminutive Queen Anne oak lowboy going to the same buyer, $900; and a brass and leather campaign form folding daybed, $2,337 to an Internet bidder.

The Adolph collection included over two dozen grouped lots of vintage leather cases and automotive related picnic gear, and a like number of group and box lots of Bentley automotive memorabilia, catalogs, parts and signs. Top lots included a vintage Brooks Brothers wicker picnic case, which went to a internet bidder for $523, a group of assorted automobile parts which included a Jaguar hood ornament sold for $450 to an absentee bidder, and a large tin Pirelli Tyres trade sign went for $360.

Woodbury Auction’s next sale is Dec. 9, and additional consignments for that sale are being accepted through mid-November. Phone inquiries should be directed to 203-266-0323 and further information is available on the Internet at the firm’s website www.woodburyauction.com.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

English folk art grain-painted cupboard: $5,700. Woodbury Auction image.

Brooks Brothers picnic case: $523. Woodbury Auction image.

Brass mounted oak campaign chest: $1,845. Woodbury Auction image.

Large tin Pirelli Tyres trade sign: $360. Woodbury Auction image.

Edna Hopkins wood block print: $9,840. Woodbury Auction image.

Jose Reyes nantucket basket: $2,935. Woodbury Auction image.

Four-piece sterling silver tea or coffee set: $3,565. Woodbury Auction image.

Classics, automobilia at Auktionshaus Gut Bernstorf, Sept. 23

Rare 1931 Aston Martin International 2/4 SI. Auktionshaus Gut Bernstorf image.

FURSTENFELD, Germany – Auktionshaus Gut Bernstorf has organized in cooperation with Oldtimertage Fuerstenfeld about 200 lots of classic cars and automobilia for an auction Saturday, Sept. 23,. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding. The auction will begin at 1 p.m. local time (CEST).

There is a wide range of elegant and sports motor classics dating from 1906 to 1987.

The absolute highlight is an Aston Martin International 2/4 SI from 1931. A racing rarity of which only a few remain – this lot is not only interesting for Aston Martin enthusiasts but also for exclusive pre-war sport cars.

The collection includes the British beauty Jaguar E-Type as well as the dream of every beginning car collector: the Golf I Cabriolet.

Collectors of automobilia will be intrigued by the various lots complementing the offer of “real” cars.

For details phone Michael Lehrberger at +49-(0)8166-9932-11.

ADDITIONAL LOT OF NOTE

Kaminski Auctions eyes important photography sale Oct. 3-4

6100_1 One-quarter plate period copy daguerreotype of Abraham Lincoln. Estimate: $7,000-$9,000. Kaminski Auctions image.

BEVERLY, Mass. – On Oct. 3 and 4 Kaminski Auctions will hold two important evening sales of historic daguerreotypes and modern photography starting at 6 p.m. EDT each night. Over 200 daguerreotypes and thermoplastic cases are from a single 30-year collection from Rochester, N.Y. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

Dan Silverman, Kaminski Auctions’ photography specialist has also put together a exceptional assortment of occupational and political themed daguerreotypes, albumens and gelatin silver prints for the sale, including images of a period copy daguerreotype of Abraham Lincoln, Henry Fox Talbot and a rare copy plate of Henry Clay. There are also several important mid-century baseball photographs including images of Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers, a circa 1900 photo of the Boston Reds Sox, and New York Yankees team photos to name a few.

A Walker Evans (1902-1975) portfolio of 11 vintage photographs, including a cityscape, desert landscape and nine other dust bowl images is the top lot of the sale with an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.

Evans, one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century, is famous for his work with the Farm Security Administration. He documented the effect of the the Great Depression on Americans in urban, farm and small town settings.

A rare period copy one-fourth plate daguerreotype of a “beardless”Abraham Lincoln is the second-highest value lot in the sale. The image of Lincoln is reversed, from the original taken by Alexander Hesler on June 3, 1860, at the Capitol Building in Springfield Ill., two weeks after his nomination by the Republican National Convention in Chicago. It measures 4 3/4 inches by 3 3/4 inches and is estimated at $7,000-$9,000. There is also a rare outdoor view of President Lincoln, by T.S. Hacker. Lincoln is shown before the State House, at the flag raising, dated Feb. 22, 1861, identified as 1029 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. It is valued at $5,500-$7,500.

Other important daguerreotypes include a pair of rare and important daguerreotypes, one-sixth plates, self portraits of the early American daguerreotypist John Bear. The lot includes a daguerreotype of his wife, split leather case, and a copy of Bear’s autobiography Life and Travels of John W. Bear, the Buckeye Blacksmith, 1873. There is an occupational of a young photographer, a bearded gentleman with giant hands holding a telescope and an occupational lot consisting of an exceptional one-fourth plate daguerreotype of the Rev. Daniel Parker Noyes of Ipswich, Mass., in a split leather case, along with a one-sixth plate daguerreotype of him with his ID and date of birth June 3, 1888, and date of death June 4, 1920. The lot also includes a cabinet card by Hastings of Boston, with identification on back, and also includes many handwritten tuition, room and board receipts from Yale University dated 1837 and 1838.

Highlights of the vintage photography also includes a large albumen photograph of N.W. Starr’s Commercial and Collegiate Institute, Yonkers, N.Y., by Stacy, 691 Broadway, New York City, circa 1860s Civil War Academy, valued at $1,000-$1,500, a group of three Matthew Brady (American 1823-1896), Views in the Navy Ordnance Yard, Washington, D.C., June, 1866, albumen print estimated at $800-$1,200, and a fine tintype of a gentleman holding a political campaign flag and torch for the Hayes-Wheeler 1876 presidential campaign and wearing a three corner hat. The image is valued at $600-$800.

A gelatin silver print titled Melancholic Tulips, by Andre Kertesz (Hungarian 1894- 1985) tops the modern photography entries on the first evening, signed on back, the image is valued at $6,000-$8,000. There is also a second Kertesz, Melancholic Tulips gelatin silver print of a different size in the sale.

Another interesting lot is comprised of 12 panoramic photographs of the building at the Panama Canal, circa 1912-1913, by the Lock Gates Manufacturing Co., and erected by McClintic-Marshall Construction Co. of Pittsburg. It is estimated at $2,500-$3,500.

There is also a group of four Lewis Hine (American 1874-1940), vintage gelatin silver prints, circa 1900-1916. The photographs are from the Child Labor Series and valued at $1,500-$2,500.

The second evening of the sale, Wednesday, Oct. 3, includes almost 50 lots of books, records and photographs from the estate of Walker Hancock, 20th century American sculptor and teacher. The offerings include his library, records and correspondence documenting his involvement in returning stolen works of art after WWII and his distinguished career as a sculptor, including a third scale model of his James Madison statue.

The 19th century portion of the auction features a daguerreotype of Allen Kramer, pioneer banker (Kramer & Nash) of Pittsburgh, and previously owned by Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Also in the second evening is a daguerreotype of Thaddeus Hyatt, abolitionist and a mammoth albumen of Yosemite National Park by Carlton Watkins, as well as several other Watkins.

Modern photographers include New York scenes by Bernice Abbott and vintage Clarence John Laughlin photos of New Orleans. For more information call 978-927-2223.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Walker Evans (American 1903 - 1975), portfolio of 11 vintage photographs, 7 1/2 inches x 9 1/2 inches. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Kaminski Auctions image. — Walker Evans (American 1903 – 1975), portfolio of 11 vintage photographs, 7 1/2 inches x 9 1/2 inches. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Kaminski Auctions image.

Andre Kertesz (Hungarian 1894-1985), ‘Melancholic Tulips,’ gelatin silver print, 1939 printed later, signed on back, 14 x 11 inches (image). Estimate: $6,000-$8,000. Kaminski Auctions image.

T.S. Hacker, rare outdoor view of President Lincoln, before the state house at the flag raising, dated Feb. 22, 1861, identified as 1029 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. Estimate: $5,500-$7,500. Kaminski Auctions image.

Daguerreotype, one-fourth plate, occupational of a young photographer sitting beside his camera, full leather case, 4 1/2 inches x 3/5 inches. Estimate: $5,000-$7,000. Kaminski Auctions image.

Daguerreotype, one-sixth plate, man holding a telescope, split leather case, 3 3/4 inches high x 3 1/4 inches wide. Estimate: $3,000-$5,000. Kaminski Auctions image.

Showtime to auction prominent collections Oct. 5-7

Toledo Buick pressed steel toy car in excellent, all-original condition. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Showtime Auction Services image.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The lifetime collection of Robert and Harriett Potter – a vast accumulation of firefighting memorabilia and other items, spanning 50-plus years – will be sold Oct. 5-7 by Showtime Auction Services, at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds. Around 2,000 lots of investment-grade antiques and collectibles will change hands that weekend. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 6-7.

Also offered will be Part 2 of the outstanding lifetime pedal car and toy collection of Ed and Christie Ramsey (Part 1 was sold by Showtime in the spring). Another headliner will be Session 5 of one of the best tobacco and cigar tin collections ever offered at auction. Other items culled from select collections and estates across the country will also sell. The first day of the auction, Oct. 5, will be a live audience-only session, featuring 600 lots.

“I am extremely excited about this sale,” said Mike Eckles of Showtime Auction Services. “If all we had was the Potter collection, it would be a fine auction, but when you add to that Part 2 of Ed and Christie Ramsey, plus the tobacco and cigar tin collection, plus items from over 100 other consignors, then what you have is our best auction ever.”

Days two and three (Saturday, Oct. 6, and Sunday, Oct. 7) will feature live and Internet bidding. Absentee and phone bids will also be accepted.

The auction will showcase a galaxy of items, certain to appeal to just about any collector, from the novice to the seasoned veteran. In addition to toys, pedal cars, fire fighting memorabilia and tobacco and cigar tin items, there will be country store, barber shop, a rare salesman’s sample collection, saloon, gambling, coin-op, advertising signs, cash registers and more.

Also offered will be music items (to include a Fairground band organ), many lamps (to include Tiffany, Handel and Pairpoint), farm-related items, elaborate early American furniture, showcases, a doctor’s and dentist’s cabinet (both pre-1900), rare weather vanes and more. The toys will feature pressed steel and Chein tin examples, as well as rare Fisher-Price toys and more.

“Showtime Auction Services continues to bring to the auction arena the most diverse selection of antiques ever offered for sale,” Eckles remarked. “This auction is no exception.”

One of the nearly dozen fire apparatus pieces in the sale will be a 1922 Bull Nose Mack fire chemical ladder truck (estimate: $25,000-$50,000). Vehicles of the toy variety will include a circa 1920s Gendron Willys Knight Pioneer line pedal car in all original condition (estimate: $5,000-$10,000); and a Toledo Buick pressed steel toy car in excellent shape (estimate: $10,000-$15,000).

Music-related lots will feature an 1899 Symphonium Eroica triple disc music box (estimate: $15,000-$30,000); and a Wurlitzer Model 81 jukebox on the original Model 810 Mae West stand (estimate: $7,500-$1,500). Rare slices of Americana will include an 1880s Samuel Robb cigar store Indian (estimate: $50,000-$75,000); and an 1890s running deer weather vane (estimate: $5,000-$15,000).

Two items certain to wow the crowd are a rare 1900 Koch’s salesman’s sample barber chair (estimate: $35,000-$50,000); and an equally scarce Buerger Brothers straight razor display (“The Nymph”), one of four straight razor displays in the auction. An advertising sign of note is the 1924 Johnson Drug Store leaded glass and jeweled trade sign (estimate: $5,000-$15,000).

Cigar tins will be served up in abundance (about 200 in all). A rare Home Run cigar tin is expected to fetch $3,000-$7,500.

Lamps will also be plentiful, with names such as Pairpoint, Handel and Pittsburgh. A rare Tiffany lamp with both shade and base marked should hit $10,000-$15,000. Also, a No. 6 National Cash Register with oak base is expected to make $3,500-$4,500.

Rounding out just some of the auction’s anticipated top earners: a large Pierce Cycles advertising banner measuring 41 inches by 85 inches should realize $5,000-$10,000; a Charles Fey dice spinner in excellent working condition carries an estimate of $5,000-$10,000; and a rare Mills Novelty Co. 5-cent Baseball slot machine is expected to reach $3,000-$6,000.

The auction times are Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. A hosted cocktail party will be held Friday, Oct. 5, from 5-6:30 p.m., at the Michigan Fire House Museum in Ypsilanti, Mich., not far from Ann Arbor. A complimentary lunch will also be served, on Friday, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

To learn more about Showtime Auction Services and the Oct. 5-7 auction, email MikeEckles@aol.com or phone 951-453-2415.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Extremely rare circa 1900 Koch's salesman's sample barber chair. Estimate: $35,000-$50,000. Showtime Auction Services image. — Extremely rare circa 1900 Koch’s salesman’s sample barber chair. Estimate: $35,000-$50,000. Showtime Auction Services image.

Samuel Robb cigar store Indian made around the 1880s, in great shape. Estimate: $50,000-$75,000. Showtime Auction Services image.

Wurlitzer Model 81 jukebox on original Model 810 Mae West stand. Estimate: $7,500-$15,000. Showtime Auction Services image. v

Beautiful and rare Tiffany lamp with both shade and base marked. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Showtime Auction Services image.

Charles Fey dice spinner in excellent working condition. Estimate: $5,000-$10,000. Showtime Auction Services image.

Rare Coca-Cola tray from 1908 depicting a partially clad young woman. Estimate: $5,000-$10,000. Showtime Auction Services image.

Art, jewelry, coins draw attention to Shelley’s sale Sept. 20

Pal Fried painting. Shelley's Auction Gallery image.

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. – Shelley’s Auction Gallery will be hosting its Fall Premier Online Auction on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. EDT. There is something for everyone in this online-only auction featuring several original oils by listed artists, signed jewelry, a diverse coin collection, silver including Buccellati and Tiffany, over 45 pieces of Belleek china, and much more. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

Original oils by listed artists include Margaretha Roosenboom, Pal Fried, P. Ewert, Wesley Elbridge Webber, Franz Xavier Wolfle and others. Of particular note is the oil on canvas, Prima Ballerina, by Hungarian-American artist, Pal Fried (1893-1976), who painted this particular pose in a variety of colors. This ballerina in a yellow tutu, set against a background of blues and tans is particularly striking.

Shelley’s exquisite selection of estate jewelry includes several pieces of emerald and diamond jewelry, Van Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany & Co. Especially alluring is the one of two, signed, Van Cleef and Arpels brooches being offered. Diamonds encrust two platinum birds, watching over a nest containing their three “eggs” of diamonds, and perched atop a branch of 18K yellow gold. Rubies, one emerald, and one sapphire serve to further adorn this distinctive brooch.

For the coin, gold or silver collector, a large collection of coins, recently acquired from a longtime coin collector are coming up for auction. Several gold coins, silver coins, full and partial coin sets, commemoratives, Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, Morgan and Peace silver dollars, Walking Liberty halves, Standing Liberty quarters, wheat pennies, V nickels and much more make up the 75-plus coin lots, featuring both circulated and uncirculated coins, so meticulously maintained by this collector. As well, the complete type set Gold Coins of Mexico includes the 2 peso, 2.5 peso, 5 peso, 10 peso, 20 peso, and 50 peso, and is expected to be a favorite.

Collectors of fine porcelain and china won’t be disappointed with an offering of Nippon, Lladro, Dresden and Belleek pieces. The Belleek china comes from the estate of a local collector who cared for her collection and features a rare black mark, several other gold marks, numbered Collector’s Society pieces, and more – all in very good condition with no cracks or chips.

Other items include an Edwardian period platinum lorgnette, Civil War trepanning set, swords, pocket watches and more. For additional information, call 828-698-8485 or e-mail info@shelleysauction.com.

This will be an online auction only. View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

18K gold Audemars pocket watch. Shelley's Auction Gallery image. — 18K gold Audemars pocket watch. Shelley’s Auction Gallery image.

Emerald and diamond ring. Shelley's Auction Gallery image. — Emerald and diamond ring. Shelley’s Auction Gallery image.

Lorgnette. Shelley's Auction Gallery image. — Lorgnette. Shelley’s Auction Gallery image.

Over 45 pieces of Belleek. Shelley's Auction Gallery image. — Over 45 pieces of Belleek. Shelley’s Auction Gallery image.

Signed Tiffany and Van Cleef & Arpels. Shelley's Auction Gallery image. — Signed Tiffany and Van Cleef & Arpels. Shelley’s Auction Gallery image.

Wright’s Living Contemporary design auction set for Sept. 27

Harry Bertoia, ‘Untitled (Dandelion).’ Image courtesy of Wright.

CHICAGO – Opening the fall auction season is Wright’s Living Contemporary sale, a thoughtfully edited auction comprised of functional and nonfunctional 20th and 21st century design paired with postwar and contemporary art. The Sept. 27 sale features an outstanding selection of works by American, Argentine, Italian, Danish, French and Japanese designers.

LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding for the 333-lot auction, which will begin at noon CDT.

An iconic painting by the American artist Roger Brown figures prominently in the auction, as does two Bertoia sculptures: a rare Dandelion and a large Spray sculpture. Exceptional works of art include those by Sam Francis, Louise Nevelson, Franz Hagenauer, Marino Marini, Matt Leines, Luciano Gaspari, Robert Loughlin, Conrad Marca-Relli and Ray Potes. An important painting by Victor Vasarely, a steel sculpture by Australian sculptor Clement Meadmore and a wrought iron and glass vase by Andre Dubreuil are also among the most highly anticipated lots of the sale.

Unparalleled craftsmanship is the hallmark of American pieces featured, such as J.B. Blunk’s organic-form coffee table carved from solid buckeye burl, an outstanding wall-mounted cabinet of welded and patinated steel by Paul Evans, a monumental hand-carved cabinet by Phillip Lloyd Powell, and a Conoid dining table crafted of American black walnut by George Nakashima. Extending the legacy of modern craftsmanship into the new millennium are contemporary works such as the Modern Primitive Chair by the New York-based creators aranda\lasch, exhibited at the 2010 Venice Architecture Biennale, and three designs by the architect Steven Holl, including a stellar prototype cabinet of walnut, rubber and anodized aluminum.

Works by international designers include a cast bronze and mosaic coffee table by Grillo Demo and a Delfi dining table by Carlo Scarpa and Marcel Breuer.

For additional information about this sale, email Annie Wang at press@wright20.com or phone 312 563 0020.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Conrad Marca-Relli, ‘S-5-72 (1).’ Image courtesy of Wright.

Roger Brown, ‘Town Full of People on the Way to Somewhere Else.’ Image courtesy of Wright.

J.B. Blunk coffee table. Image courtesy of Wright.

‘Diamonds Speak’ in Watch Auction HQ’s Sept. 30 auction debut

Approx. 10-carat diamond tennis bracelet, 14K white gold, H,I color, VS-SI, 39 diamonds. Est. $5,000-$6,500. WatchAuctionHQ image.

PORTLAND, Ore. – On Sept. 30, 2012, a new first-class auction resource for luxury gems, jewelry and timepieces will become available to buyers worldwide with the launch of Watch Auction HQ’s auction division. The Portland-based company was formed from the 2011 merger of a private jewelry wholesale firm and a boutique specialist in estate and privately acquired fine jewelry. Businessman Nick Dillard and a prominent jeweler/gemologist are partners in Watch Auction HQ, which deals only in fine jewelry and watches of an especially high standard, as evidenced in the selection they’ve hand-chosen for their Sept. 30 auction premiere.

“Our private clients are entertainment executives, business owners and ‘captains of industry.’ They are sophisticated buyers who expect exclusivity and a much higher level of customer support than they might receive elsewhere,” said Dillard. “For instance, we recently sold his-and-her diamond bezel bracelets to a movie industry executive and flew to Los Angeles to deliver them personally to the client’s Beverly Hills residence. We’ve tailored our auction model so it incorporates many of the white-glove extras our private clients appreciate, such as lovely cases and packaging for all goods, and complimentary Fed Ex shipment. In addition, auction bidders will have the assurance of knowing that they are dealing with a company that has already proven itself to be of utmost integrity.”

The 300-lot Sept. 30 auction titled ‘Diamonds Speak’ will be structured as a timed online auction through LiveAuctioneers.com, with additional bidding options to include phone and absentee bidding. Lots will close consecutively after the start time of 10 a.m. PST (1 p.m. EST).

Among the men’s timepieces to be offered are watches by Audemars Piguet, Omega and Rolex. Leading the ladies’ watches is a highly desirable diamond-bezel 18K gold Rolex Datejust model. Other ladies’ watches include a stunning 18K yellow gold Lucien Picard contemporary design with 48 pavé diamonds on its face, 32 diamonds on the bezel and 240 diamonds on the bracelet; and a chic 18K yellow gold Tiffany & Co. wristwatch with 134 diamonds on the bezel and diamond dial markers.

The ultimate fashion accessory that moves with ease from the country club to a formal dance is the now-classic tennis bracelet. Watch Auction HQ will offer to the highest bidder an elegant, mint-condition 14K gold tennis bracelet set with 39 diamonds weighing approximately 10 carats.

Several other bracelets are worthy of special mention. A 18K yellow gold custom design by David Freeland features a full carat of sparkling diamonds set in a row alongside a circle of gold-framed opals. Also guaranteed to turn heads is a superb Renaissance-style custom-designed bracelet of white and yellow gold set with tourmalines and both square and round diamonds – total weight: 62.2 grams. The third key lot amongst the bracelets is a hinged design of cobalt-enameled 18K yellow gold fashioned as two intricately detailed, ruby-eyed lions’ heads.

Another statement piece in the sale is an 18K yellow gold and diamond necklace designed by Gabriel Barda. Its graceful motif features gold “leaves” set with 60 round diamonds cumulatively weighing (approx.) 2 carats.

If there is a single jewel that can speak a thousand words, it is the diamond solitaire, says Nick Dillard. “When a fine diamond is cut in a special way, it shows off the jewel’s brilliance and can be the most spectacular thing.” Just such an example in the Sept. 30 sale is the marquise-cut solitaire diamond that serves as the focal point of a 14K yellow gold ring. The impressive center diamond is accented by 10 additional, channel-set diamonds within a distinctive contemporary design.

Dillard said Watch Auction HQ will be introducing many custom marketing features to its online sales, as well as a private club whose members will receive an exclusive catalog containing “pieces to dazzle even the most discriminating buyer – these items will be for members’ eyes only.”

Starting with the Sept. 30 auction, there will be a gift drawing to accompany each Watch Auction HQ sale. No purchase is required. Anyone who signs up to bid or to receive either the company’s e-mails or e-catalog will automatically be entered for a chance to win a fine-jewelry item or timepiece valued at no less than $500. The Sept. 30 auction-drawing prize is a men’s 14K gold Longines vintage watch valued at $1,000.

“What we want to stress above all else is that customer service is of prime importance to us. We answer every question and respond to every phone call, e-mail and social media contact promptly and courteously. We view each customer as a long-term business partner and want to build lasting relationships with people who like to have fun and enjoy the finer things in life,” Dillard said.

For information on any item in Watch Auction HQ’s Sept. 30 “Diamonds Speak” auction, or to arrange for a phone line on auction day, call 800-890-7780 or e-mail nick@watchauctionhq.com or info@watchauctionhq.com. Visit the company’s website at www.watchauctionhq.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet on auction day at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

To view a brief video clip previewing Watch Auction HQ’s Sept. 30 sale, click here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KGv9lefS7Sg&noredirect=1

# # #

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

18K yellow gold and enamel hinged lion-head bracelet, ruby eyes, beautifully detailed. Est. $1,500-$2,000. WatchAuctionHQ image.

David Freeland opal and diamond bracelet with 1 cttw of stunning diamonds in 18K yellow gold with opal inlay, signed DRF JR, 46.7g. Est. $3,000-$4,000. WatchAuctionHQ image.

Ladies Lucien Picard 18K yellow gold and diamond watch with braided gold bracelet and 48 pavé-set diamonds on face, 32 diamonds on bezel, 240 diamonds on bracelet. Approx. 4 cttw. Retains original inner and outer box. Est. $2,200-$3,000. WatchAuctionHQ image.

14K yellow gold ring with 1-carat marquise diamond, I color, SI1, accented by 10 small channel-set diamonds. Est. $3,000-$4,000. WatchAuctionHQ image.

Ladies Tiffany and Co. 18K yellow gold watch with 134 diamonds on bezel, diamond markers on dial. Original Tiffany box. Est. $5,500-$7,000. WatchAuctionHQ image.

Men’s Cartier Tank watch, mechanical, 18K yellow gold, genuine leather band. Est. $1,000-$1,500. WatchAuctionHQ image.

Custom-designed tourmaline and diamond bracelet, 18K white gold with yellow gold setting, 62.2 grams. Est. $3,500-$4,500. WatchAuctionHQ image.

18K yellow gold necklace with 60 round G, H VS diamonds of approx. 2cttw. Designed by Gabriel Barda. Est. $3,500-$4,500. WatchAuctionHQ image.

Connoisseur’s selection of Asian, int’l art in Chait’s Sept. 23 sale

Rare antique rhinoceros-horn libation cup with inscriptions to both sides. Est. $30,000-$40,000. I.M. Chait image.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Long known for its ability to secure the rare and exquisite for its auction-going clientele, I.M. Chait Gallery & Auctioneers will present another outstanding selection of Asian and international fine art on Sept. 23 at the company’s Beverly Hills gallery. Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

The auction includes 413 top-tier lots, ranging from important Chinese ceramics and carved ivories to European paintings and fine jewelry.

An exceptional Chinese antique rhinoceros-horn libation cup – one of the top lots in the sale – is inscribed on both its sides. Translated, the front inscription reads: “Yizui Kitiandi [Intoxicated (with wine) for prayer in heaven and earth].” A gilt poetic inscription on verso loosely translates, in part: “…Use this cup for tasting wine, [may your] longevity be without an end.” Measuring 4 5/8 inches in length, the cup comes in a signed wood box and has a presale estimate of $30,000-$40,000.

Fine Chinese ceramics to be auctioned include pieces from the Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties. A superb 16th-century Wanli blue-and-white porcelain dragon vase, 16th-century Ming Dynasty, exhibits “gu” form, with a long, slim neck, flared rim, bulbous body and slightly splayed base. Decorated with peonies, foliage and writhing dragons, it carries Wanli Period marks under its base. A ceramic of major importance, it is expected to make $50,000-$60,000.

Large and beautifully painted, a 14th-century blue-and-white Yuan Dynasty charger comes with provenance from a private Japanese collection. The 15¾-inch (dia.) charger features a center motif of fruit, squash and blossoms on vines flanking a palm-like plant. It is banded with a tasteful design of lotus blossoms and meandering foliage. Highly desirable, the piece is entered in the sale with a $40,000-$45,000 estimate.

Another strong section in the sale incorporates antique Chinese lacquered wood Buddhist sculptures and Asian furniture. Two important Shibayama-type inlaid cabinets have come to auction directly from a residence in the exclusive Malibu enclave of Broad Beach. One of the cabinets is a remarkable 19th-century design of architectural form, its base carved with dragons and shi-shi with inlaid eyes, and with various other carved dragon, lion and phoenix motifs. The many panels are gold-lacquered with carved and appliqué birds; and floral elements of bone, ivory and shell. Standing 90½ inches, the antique furnishing is estimated at $12,000-$18,000. The other Japanese lacquered cabinet features carved ivory and mother-of-pearl panels with depictions of birds and flowers. Standing on a base carved with chrysanthemums, the 81-inch tiered cabinet would suit a contemporary décor as easily as it would a home decorated with traditional antiques. Estimate: $6,000-$9,000.

Chinese and Sino-Tibetan bronzes and jades were secured from several sources, including estates in Texas and Tennessee. A highly unusual Chinese carved spinach jade three-piece headboard is of a type very rarely seen in the Asian art marketplace. The central panel features the female Bodhisattva Guanyin on a lotus base, flanked on either side by rectangular panes of matching spinach jade, with gilt calligraphy poems and figural relief carvings of celestial beauties and other images. Measuring 124½ inches long (overall), the headboard is estimated at $20,000-$25,000.

Elegant jewels from two important California collections include stunning rings, necklaces and bracelets incorporating jadeite, sapphires, diamonds and other precious gems. A gentlemen’s 18K white gold and diamond ring features a central jadeite cabochon of deep apple green weighing approximately 15 carats. It is surrounded by brilliant-cut round diamonds and flanked by baguettes that, in total, weigh 1.85 carats. Accompanied by a Hong Kong Jade Laboratory certificate, the ring could achieve $25,000-$30,000 at auction.

Another jewelry highlight is a ladies ring centered with a cushion-cut oval faceted ruby of blood-red color that weighs 14.30 carats. The ruby is surrounded by 5 carats of marquise- and baguette-cut diamonds that combine harmoniously to form a chic swirling motif. Of unquestionably superior quality, the ring is entered in the sale with a $25,000-$35,000 estimate.

The auction also contains 48 lots of Chinese snuff bottles of various forms, materials and colors. A pair of highly unusual, intricately carved ivory snuff bottles depicts two Chinese boys seated on openwork waves, each cradling a cat. The stopper for each bottle is fashioned to resemble a “hair” topknot. The sale also features many other Chinese and Japanese carved ivories, as well as silk embroideries and robes that came from a private collection in Marina del Rey, California.

Distinguished artworks from a Beverly Hills estate include both Asian and European selections. There are two Abstract Expressionist oil-on-canvas paintings by Kenzo Okada (Japanese/American, 1902-1982), one being a winter scene; the other a composition in muted blues with cobalt accents. Each has a pedigreed gallery provenance and a presale estimate of $30,000-$50,000. Leading the Continental works is an Auguste Renoir (French, 1842-1919) wax-cast bronze nude of a kneeling woman. The figure carries an identification mark for the Alexis Rudier Foundry in Paris and is artist-signed on the plinth. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000.

I.M. Chait’s Sunday, Sept. 23 Asian & International Fine Arts auction will commence at 1 p.m. Pacific time at the company’s gallery located at 9330 Civic Center Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

For additional information on any lot in the sale, call 1-800-775-5020 or 310-285-0182; or e-mail joey@chait.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Chinese carved-ivory figure of Guanyin, late 19th century, 10½ inches high. Est. $1,000-$1,250. I.M. Chait image.

Pair of rare antique Japanese Shibayama carved and appliquéd ivory tusks, 10½ inches high. Est. $4,000-$6,000. Antique Shibayama ivory tusks

14th-century Yuan Dynasty hand-painted charger, 15¾ inches diameter. Provenance: private Japanese collection. Est. $40,000-$45,000. I.M. Chait image.

Important Chinese 16th-century Ming Dynasty Wanli dragon vase of gu form, 21¼ inches high. Est. $50,000-$60,000. I.M. Chait image.

Two antique Japanese Satsuma floral vases, circa 1900, 21¾ inches high. Est. $1,500-$2,000 (lot). I.M. Chait image.

Cambodian (Khmer) sandstone torso of male subject, circa 12th/13th century, approx. 30 inches high, mounted on wood pedestal stand. Est. $12,000-$15,000. I.M. Chait image.

Pair of antique carved-ivory snuff bottles replicating nude boys, each holding a cat, with stoppers formed as ‘hair’ topknots, each 4 7/8 inches high. Est. $1,200-$1,500. I.M. Chait image.

Kenzo Okada (Japanese-American, 1902-1982), oil on canvas, signed, 49 7/8 x 37¾ inches. Prestigious gallery provenance. Est. $30,000-$50,000. I.M. Chait image.

Gentlemen’s 18K white gold ring with 15-carat jadeite and surrounding diamonds weighing 1.85 carats, total. Est. $25,000-$30,000. I.M. Chait image.

Ladies 18K white gold ring with cushion-cut oval faceted ‘blood-red’ ruby weighing approx. 14.30 carats; surrounding diamonds with total weight of 5 carats. Est. $25,000-$35,000. I.M. Chait image.

Antique Chinese coral necklace, graduated beads interspersed with tiny pearls and eight matching openwork coral beads, approx. 18 inches long. Est. $800-$1,200. I.M. Chait image.

Southern artists, antiques head Crescent City sale Sept. 29-30

Watercolor and pen work by renowned folk artist Sister Gertrude Morgan, titled ‘Revelations.’ Crescent City Auction Gallery image.

NEW ORLEANS – Original artworks by Sister Gertrude Morgan, William Aiken Walker and Walter Inglis Anderson, a rare Tiffany lava glass lamp, Newcomb pottery pieces, a fine selection of Rolex wristwatches and more will be sold at a weekend auction planned for Sept. 29-30 by Crescent City Auction Gallery.

LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

The auction will be big – nearly 1,500 lots in all – and feature quality merchandise from numerous important area estates. Chief among these are items descended from the family of Chevalier Guy Joseph Soniat du Fossat, a prominent New Orleans figure in his day (1727-94), the estate of Buzz Harper, an antiques dealer from Natchez, Miss., and other prominent estates.

The categories will include fine Southern art, European and American antiques, lighting, rugs, jewelry, bric-a-brac and objets d’art.

Start times both days will be 10 a.m. CDT.

Artworks by the renowned folk artist Sister Gertrude Morgan (La., 1900-1980) are highly prized by collectors, and the painting offered in this sale will be no exception. Titled Revelations (1973), the signed watercolor and pen is one of the largest of the artist’s paintings ever offered at auction (21 1/4 inches by 25 1/4 inches). It was presented as a gift by Morgan to the consignor.

The signed and framed oil on board by William Aiken Walker (S.C./Md., 1838-1921) is titled Cabin Scene and measures 5 3/4 inches by 12 1/4 inches. It was rendered in the 19th century. The signed and framed watercolor by Walter Inglis Anderson (Miss., 1903-1965) is titled Horn Island (8 1/4 inches by 11 inches). It was acquired from the artist by the consignor around 1960.

The rare and unusual Tiffany lamp (circa 1900) has a fluted Favrile glass trumpet shade on a brass base with a central lava glass vase. Tiffany made lava glass for a very short period after Louis Comfort Tiffany visited Italy and became enthralled with volcanoes. Also offered will be a circa 1900 nine-piece Tiffany bronze desk set in the American Indian pattern.

Two lots are certain to attract attention, for their beauty and unique presentations. One is a parcel gilt, gesso and maple parlor harp (patent #6808), engraved “Sebastian and Pierre Erard” (makers to the Royal Family, 18 Great Marlborough Street, London, England). The harp’s fluted column depicts classical figures in relief and conforming figures below, around seven pedals.

The other is a Fisher Bodies sterling and gilt sterling coach, designed by Silver Creations Ltd. for Fisher in 1973 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The coach boasts articulated pieces, including wheels, doors, folding stairs and more. These coaches were made available to General Motors dealers for $2,000. This one weighs a staggering 99.7 troy silver ounces (or 6.8 pounds).

A few of the better furniture pieces will include a French carved rosewood brass inlaid bronze ormolu three-piece bedroom suite, crafted around 1900; a circa 1840 carved walnut Louis XV-style armoire, 106 inches tall, with a stepped arch Chapeau de Gendarme crown; and a 19th century inlaid burled walnut and mahogany cave a liqueur set with four cut crystal decanters.

Returning to artwork, Sister Gertrude won’t be the only noteworthy folk artist to be represented. A pair of works by the revered Clementine Hunter (La., 1886-1988) will also be sold. One is a circa 1960 oil on board titled The Baptism With a Bell (16 inches by 20 inches). The other is a circa 1955 oil on board titled Buzzards (also 16 inches by 20 inches).

Collectors of works by the Louisiana painter Robert M. Rucker (1932-2001) will be pleased to learn that multiple works of his oils on canvas will cross the block. One is titled Ancient Oak on Bayou Lafourche (18 inches by 24 inches, framed and signed lower left). Another is titled Along the Levee at Jackson Barracks (20 inches by 24 inches, framed, signed).

Other works of note will include a magnificent 17th century Scottish School oil on canvas portrait of Alexander, 4th Lord Elphinstone, High Treasurer of Scotland (titled lower left, framed, 30 inches by 25 inches); and an early 20th century signed oil wash on cardboard by Alexander J. Drysdale (La., 1870-1934), titled Moss Draped Oaks (9 1/2 inches by 29 2/4 inches).

Also offered will be three Italian wooden santos, carved in the 18th century; a dazzling selection of estate jewelry (to include diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, pearls and more); a collection of Steele Burden ceramic groups; a Mardi Gras ball invitation dated March 3, 1908, unframed; and a Mardi Gras parade bulletin from February 1923 titled A Fantasy of the Sea.

For details about the Sept. 29-30 auction or consigning quality antiques and art, email Crescent City Auction Gallery at info@crescentcityauctiongallery.com or call 504-529-5057.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Rare and unusual Tiffany lava glass lamp, circa 1900, 21 1/2 inches tall, etched 'L.C.T.' Crescent City Auction Gallery image. — Rare and unusual Tiffany lava glass lamp, circa 1900, 21 1/2 inches tall, etched ‘L.C.T.’ Crescent City Auction Gallery image.

Parcel gilt, gesso and maple parlor harp made by Sebastian and Pierre Erard, London. Crescent City Auction Gallery image.

Original watercolor painting by Walter Inglis Anderson, titled ‘Horn Island,’ artist signed. Crescent City Auction Gallery image.

The auction will feature a fine selection of handsome Rolex wristwatches. Crescent City Auction Gallery image.

Many examples of Newcomb pottery will be offered. Crescent City Auction Gallery image.

Kamelot opens hefty fall schedule with stylish sale Sept. 22

Late nineteenth century Rococo-style marble-top console table. Image courtesy Kamelot Auctions.

PHILADELPHIA – Kamelot Auctions will open its fall 2012 auction season with a stylish sale of decorative arts, antiques and 20th century furnishings. The sale will take place on Saturday, Sept. 22, starting at 10 a.m. EDT. LiveAuctoineers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

More than 600 lots will be offered including many elegant Continental antiques, collections of Jansen chandeliers and furniture, some good antique oil paintings, Asian antiques, mid-century modern furniture and fine art, mirrors, vitrines, servers, bookcases, many pairs of upholstered chairs, French beds and some good quality rugs.

It is an eclectic sale that even includes some fine American and European Victorian pieces, such as the elaborately carved Aesthetic Movement cabinet, lot no. 140. Signed “Gabriel Viardot,” this lot bears distinctive Japonesque carvings throughout a stylized pagoda design, with dramatic bronze mounts and ivory inlay. It will be offered with estimates of $2,000-$3,000 at approximately 11:30 a.m.

The sale will open with a strong series of Continental antiques. Lot no. 12 is a generously sized antique sienna marble-top gueridon with bronze trim to be offered with estimates of $1,000-$2,000. The large 19th century console that is listed as lot no. 13 has a shaped serpentine marble top over a Rococo-style gilt wood carved base. More than 6 feet long and over 3 feet wide, this lot bears estimates of $1,500-$2,500. The next item, lot no. 14, is a set of eight Italian Neoclassical painted and parcel gilt dining chairs from the 18th century. The set will be sold with estimates of $2,500-$3,500. Bidders who engage this early in the sale will have the opportunity to compete for a remarkable 18th century Italian gilt wood carved console table listed as lot no. 125. Having a book-matched veneered marble top, medallion studded apron and turned and tapered legs, this nearly 5-foot-wide attractive antique table will be offered with estimates of $5,000-$7,000. And, as the sale progresses into the afternoon, many more fine examples of Continental designs will be featured along with large collections of Jansen and other French furnishings. Many lots of very decorative lighting will be interspersed, including some great chandeliers and a fine bronze hanging lantern listed as lot no. 219, offered for $800-$1,200.

Buyers seeking fine art and decorative arts will also find plenty of inspiration for enhancing their collections. Still Life with Game is an 18th century framed oil painting, lot no. 477, by John F. Francis to be offered at $5,000-$7,000. There is a lovely Tiffany art glass bottle (lot no. 573), several good bronzes, a collection of Chinese art (lot no 514, for example) and many fine Asian decorative arts too. There is an exquisite signed German bronze and ivory statue listed as lot no. 562 by Otto Poertzel, bearing estimates of $5,000-$8,000. Lot 530 is a more humble but particularly handsome antique Chinese stoneware vase having deco-style foo dog handles.

For more information, call 215-438-6990.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

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