“October always brings our best auction,” said Charles Fudge, owner and 40-year veteran auctioneer. “We spend the Spring and Summer scouring the East Coast, from Maine to Florida, looking for estates, collections and special pieces to present in our Fall Antiques, Fine Art & Collectibles Auction, which is held on the last Saturday of October each year. We can present the cream of the crop because we’ve had so much time between auctions to hand select the best of the best. October is also the time of year when we welcome the “snowbirds” back to Florida. It is the beginning of our season. In addition to the locals and snowbirds, the fall auction, draws the year’s best attendance for online bidders due to the quality of the merchandise offered.”

This year’s auction will feature important art, antiques and collectibles from the estates of very prominent people, whose heirs have asked us to keep their identities anonymous. Highlights will include a variety of bronze statues (including Japanese, and listed artist signed and/or numbered); a wide variety of sterling silver including a coffee pot (estimate $2,000-$4,000) a milk pitcher (estimate $1,000-$2,000) and a flatware set in the Empire pattern (estimate $3,500-$4,500) by famous Italian silversmith Buccellati (a k a the Tiffany of Europe) and a plethora of other sterling silver by makers Tiffany and Co., Kirk & Sons, L.H. Vaughan, Webster, William Adams, Lunt, Gorham, Theodore & Starr, R.W. Wallace, Roger Williams, Reed & Barton; Alvin, Gorham, Eugen Ferner and Comyns & Sons; as well as a copper and sterling silver tea kettle by Joseph Heinrich (estimate $100-$200). Also to cross the auction block is an assortment of Victorian art glass, crystal, pottery and porcelain, a nice selection of Orientalia, mid-century and Danish modern furniture, estate jewelry (solid gold, silver, diamond and gemstones), antique furniture, lamps, clocks, investment-grade art, antique carved ivory, antique guns, 19th-century quilts and samplers, and many other treasures.

The auction will open with a variety of collectibles, including figurines by Hummel, Lladro, Kaiser, Dresden and Royal Doulton, as well as Baccarat, Swarovski and Lalique crystal collectibles and animals.

Many works painted by listed artists will be offered. The most impressive is the oil-on-board depiction of a clipper ship, signed by Antonio Jacobsen (1850-1921) and dated 1918 (estimate $3,000-$5,000). Another painting of note is the large, oval-shape, 19th-century oil on canvas in the manner of Pieter III Casteels depicting chicks, rooster, birds and a white pheasant (estimate $2,000-$4,000). Other paintings by listed artists include a Francis K. Buell watercolor of sailboats, an oil on canvas by Jean-Claude Brulere XX titled “Paysage De Neige” (Snow Landscape), a still life by Argentenian Impressionist Segunda Huertas-Aguiar, and a watercolor by Warren W. Baumgartner (estimate $400-$600). Parisian street scenes are depicted in a pair of oil-on-canvas paintings by Andre Gisson (each estimated at $1,800-2500), as well as a watercolor by Antonio DeVity, and an oil on canvas by Maurille Prevost (1922). Oriental art includes Japanese woodblock prints and a Japanese watercolor on paper by Ryuko Tsutaya (1868-1933) and several bronzes.

Also of note are aquatints, serigraphs and lithographs by listed artists including LeRoy Nieman, Salvador Dali and Marc Chagall, a serio-lithograph by Itzchak Tarkay (1935) and original lithographs by Joan Miro. The Dali is a signed and numbered limited edition, and the Nieman is an artist’s proof from an edition of 300. The Chagall and Miro’s come with certificates of authenticity and original Merrill Chase Galleries labels.

Mid-century modern selections include four Danish Modern chairs by Dyrlund (estimate $400-$600) and a double-pedestal dining table by Rasmus (estimate $400-$600), which pair together nicely. A cube-shape inlaid sofa table signed Tranekaer, Gorm Christiansen Design Rolf Middleboe is estimated at $400-$600. Two Mario Bellini Cab 413 leather armchairs produced by Cassina for Atelier International Ltd. carry a similar estimate.

The glass category is extensive and includes Waterford and Rosenthal Studio Line crystal and stemware, American brilliant-period cut glass, Victorian art glass by famous makers such as Webb, Stevens & Williams, Moser, C.F. Monroe, Steuben, Hobbs, Northwood, Nakara, Peloton, etc., and an impressive collection of Victorian handpainted chatelaine perfume or scent bottles. The highlight of the glass is sure to be the two Pairpoint reverse-painted bubble stems, which are shown in John Schuman’s book “American Art Glass” (estimate $500-$700 each).

Crossing the block later in the sale will be ephemera to include letters and signatures from the likes of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, J. Edgar Hoover and correspondence regarding the Attorney General and the Department of Justice. In addition, a fabulous collection of very fine canes and walking sticks will be offered. Two captain’s canes are composed of marine animal or shark vertebrae (Estimates: $100-$200), and there are canes with ivory and horn handles and a carved ivory handle in the form of a dog with jeweled eyes. A fabulous Tiffany & Co. cane with an Art Nouveau decorated silver handle is dated Christmas, 1891 (estimate $200-$300).

Additonal highlights include a 19th-century coin-operated Symphonion disc music box (estimate: $600-$800), a pair of 30-inch 19th-century hand-carved and gilded wooden whippet dogs (estimate $600-800), a 19th-century textile panel (estimate $500-$800), 19th-century antique guns including an Allen & Thurber pepperbox pistol 1845 (estimate $600-$800), and a circa-1880s Remington rolling block (estimate $600-$800). Other items of importance are Jarvie-style beta-form brass candlesticks (estimate $600-800), Art Deco onyx and bronze desk items, 19th-century Inuit whaling items including a lance, harpoon and knife (estimate $600-800); Japanese samurai swords and daggers including a WWII Japanese Wakizashi sword (estimate $1,000-$1,500), and an A.G. Kaufman gas lamp with slag glass shade (estimate $300-$500).

For additional information on any item in the sale, call 352-795-2061 or e-mail webuyit@tampabay.rr.com.

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