AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Auction Gallery is pleased to host its Spring Estates Auction March 17 and 18, 2012 comprising over 800 lots of antiques, jewelry, firearms, fine art, and Asian antiquities from several collections. Each day commences at 11 a.m. Central Time with Internet live bidding provided through LiveAuctioneers.com.

Saturday’s offerings include modern and antique firearms, fine and costume jewelry, fine art and antique furniture. The Sunday session heavily comprised of Asian ivories, porcelains and jade sculptures, a selection of religious and fine art, fine jewelry and lighting.

Several highlights among the 40 firearms to be offered include a U.S. Springfield Trapdoor 1884 Cadet estimated to bring $600-800, a 9mm Vis Random pistol bearing Nazi symbols, a Sears Roebuck Antonio Zoli & Company, over-under 12 gauge shotgun and a North American Arms Model Talo Riverboat revolver, .22 caliber, presented in a travel case complete with playing cards, dice and gambling chips. It is estimated at $200-$400.

The fine art category for Saturday is comprised of portraits, still life’s and landscapes by many Texas artists including A.D. Greer (Aubrey Dale Greer, Oklahoma, Texas, 1904-1998), James Ivey Edwards (Texas, 20th/21st c.), Ken Fleisch (Texas, 1943-2008 and Carl J. Smith (Texas, b. 1928); Sundays religious and fine art offerings are led by a large oil painting by Emilio Grau Sala (Spain, France, 1911-1975), dated 1956, the abstract figural and floral scene is presented in a heavy gold frame and expected to sell for $12,000 to $18,000.

A collection of Asian snuff bottles will be offered over both days. Examples include a Chinese snuff bottle executed in 14kt gold of flattened shield shape carved with a continuous band of beauties in a garden terrace. Weighing 127 grams, the bottle with apocryphal Qianlong mark is expected to fetch from $3,000 to $5000. Another highlight is a Chinese white jade snuff bottle with figural decoration reversed by a 22-character poetic inscription. The body embellished with ink, pigment and mother-of-pearl. A very conservative estimate of $300 to $500 has been assigned to this piece.

Sunday’s Asian antiquities are from several collections, including that of an esteemed retired Texas college professor who traveled the world collecting Ivory carvings of remarkable taste and the New Mexico estate of the late Arleen Anastos-Kerbs, New Mexico, who traveled and collected extensively in Asia during the 1980s.

Among the collection are over 300 lots of antique art, cloisonné vases and pots, porcelain urns and dishes dating to the Qing Dynasty including several lots of Chinese ‘Nanking Cargo’ porcelain, c. 1750, originally purchased from Christies in Amsterdam in 1986.

Large Asian ivory carvings are also plentiful in Sunday’s sale. Stand out lots include an intricate Chinese polychrome painted ivory figural carving, featuring a dragon boat with a pavilion superstructure flanked by celestial maidens, famous heroes, deities and a large phoenix on the stern, all applied with colorful pigments and floating above cresting waves issuing flowering lotus, the wooden base also carved with stylized waves and with silver wire inlay, the base with the character ‘chuan,’ 24″w, 6.5″d, 10″h (estimate: $3,000-$5,000) and an impressive Japanese Meiji period Shibayama style inlaid ivory container decorated with butterflies and birds hovering above flowering plants, reversed by a flower vase with peony and cherry blossoms, all executed in inlay of ivory, tortoise shell and mother-of-pearl with lacquer accents, one side with a signature cartouche reading Seiko/Masamitsu, fitted with an elaborate pierced wood stand with reticulated aprons and raised on five cabriole shaped supports (estimate: $4,000-$6,000).

Other lots of note to be offered on Sunday include several Schonbek crystal chandeliers. The star being a 36-light ‘Contessa’ chandelier conservatively estimated at $4,000-$6,000. The jewelry category contains costume pieces by Chanel and Miriam Haskell, while the fine jewelry is led by a ladies platinum and diamond estate ring set centered by a round brilliant cut diamond, 1.56ct., clarity: VVS2, color: I-J-K (estimated to bring $6,000-$8000).

For additional information on any item in the auction, call Austin Auction Gallery at 512-258-5479 or e-mail info@austinauction.com.

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

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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.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE