Landscape oil on canvas painting by the French painter Jean-Baptiste Armand Guillaumin (est. 30,000-$50,000). A.B. Levy’s image.
LiveAuctioneers.com will facilitate Internet live bidding.
Start times will be 1 p.m. Eastern both Sunday and Monday.
“We expect this to be one of the best antiques and fine art auctions we’ve ever held,” said Albert Levy of A.B. Levy’s. “We are fortunate to have been entrusted with these heirlooms and treasures. It’s all fresh and estimated to sell.”
Headlining the sale will be fine items pulled from the estate home in Palm Beach that was recently purchased by radio personality Howard Stern.
Certain to attract keen bidder interest is a pink, white and blue cameo glass vase, made by Thomas Webb & Sons and stamped Tiffany & Co. (est. $20,000-$30,000). The vase, 10 inches tall, was displayed at the Paris Exhibition of 1889 and was depicted in the book English Cameo Glass by Ray and Lee Grover. It is a truly stunning piece.
Just as magnificent is a rare and important pair of Meissen porcelain pate-sur-pate rose-pink and teal ground vases with covers (est. $7,000-$10,000). The front of each shows a maiden and putti playing musical instruments, while the back shows a putto, flanked by lion scroll handles. Pate-sur-pate is a porcelain firing technique developed by Sevres in the 1800s.
A strong candidate for top lot of the sale is untitled landscape oil on canvas painting by the French painter Jean-Baptiste Armand Guillaumin (1841-1927). The work, measuring 15 inches by 18 1/4 inches, is expected to realize $30,000-$50,000. Guillaumin was one of a group of talented young French artists who organized the first impressionist exhibit in 1874.
Three original paintings by the Hungarian-born French artist Francois Gall (1912-1987) will also come up for bid (est. $3,000-$6,000 each). An example is the oil on canvas titled A. Montparnesse, signed and titled by Gall and measuring 18 inches by 10 1/4 inches. Gall was an impressionist artist in the true French tradition. He attended the National Academy of Fine Arts.
A potential sleeper in the fine art category is a signed and untitled oil on canvas rendering of a ballerina by German artist Wilhelm Hempfling (1886-1948). The painting, 28 inches by 22 inches, carries an estimate of $2,000-$4,000. Hempfling was an artist and printmaker who painted all over Europe. He’s best known for his impressionist landscapes, portraits and nudes.
Levy is calling the selection of silver “the best we’ve ever had.” Lots 3-5 on day two will feature three silver lots designed by Martele and manufactured by Gorham Mfg. Co. They are a serving tray weighing 154 ounces (est. $3,000-$5,000), a kettle and lamp stand weighing 69 ounces (est. $2,000-$4,000), and a teapot weighing 36 ounces (est. $1,500-$3,000).
A Japanese six-piece silver and enamel tea set, crafted circa 1900 and signed Musashiya sei, is expected to reach $7,000-$10,000. The set – “the best enameled tea set we’ve ever seen,” according to Levy – consists of a hot water kettle with comforting stand and lamp, a creamer, a covered sugar bowl and tongs. Each piece is enameled in a floral design and butterfly finial.
Asian decorative arts will feature a special Chinese famille rose porcelain bowl from the Qing Dynasty, carrying the six-character iron-red mark of Guangxu (1875-1908) and showing painted phoenix birds (est. $2,000-$4,000); and a 19th century Chinese Canton porcelain bottle of compressed globular form, 12 3/4 inches tall, with cylindrical neck (est. $1,000-$1,500).
Just over 500 lots will come up for bid at the auciton, which will be held both days in the Flamingo Building, located at 1921 S. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. A buyer’s premium of 20 percent will be applied to all purchases up to $100,000 (15 percent beyond that).
A.B. Levy’s is accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single piece, an estate or an entire collection, phone 561-835-9139 or email them at info@ablevys.com.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Landscape oil on canvas painting by the French painter Jean-Baptiste Armand Guillaumin (est. 30,000-$50,000). A.B. Levy’s image. Pair of Meissen porcelain pate-sur-pate rose-pink and teal ground vases, with covers (est. $7,000-$10,000). A.B. Levy’s image. White and blue cameo glass vase, made by Thomas Webb & Sons and stamped Tiffany & Co. (est. $20,000-$30,000). A.B. Levy’s image. Chinese famille rose porcelain bowl from the Qing Dynasty, with six-character mark of Guangxu (est. $2,000-$4,000). A.B. Levy’s image. Sterling silver serving tray designed by Martele and made by Gorham Mfg. Co., 154 ounces (est. $3,000-$5,000). A.B. Levy’s image. Circa-1900 Japanese 6-piece silver and enamel tea set, signed Musashiya sei, 81.49 ounces (est. $7,000-$10,000). A.B. Levy’s image.
