BEVERLY, Mass. – Kaminski Auctions’ annual New Year’s Estates Auction will be a two-day event, Saturday, Dec. 26, and Sunday, Dec. 27. The auction will feature the private collection of a prominent Newport Beach, California, professor; as well as outstanding Art Deco furniture, important Judaica, paintings and medical books from the collection of Dr. Morton Haefitz of Swampscott, Massachusetts; items from the estate of George Gund III; and a large collection of militaria from a Whittier, California, estate.
Day One of the auction features a large selection of Asian antiques as well as an outstanding selection of Continental, English and American furniture from a New York estate. Day One of the auction also showcases the militaria from the California estate that includes a variety of uniforms, hats and weapons. The standout lot is an exceptional fall landscape by the American painter Eric Sloane (American, 1850-1936), titled Autumn Clouds, oil on artist board, from a San Diego estate.
Day Two of the sale offers collectors a wide variety of decorative arts, fine estate jewelry and Persian antiques. An extensive collection of rare and first-edition medical books, Persian silver and Judaica, an exquisite diamond necklace, a Bulgari South Sea pearl ring, Buccellati silver pieces and a bronze by Mauro Corda are noteworthy.
Art Deco furniture in the sale is attributed to Jacques-Emile Ruhlman and includes an upholstered chair having tapering macassar ebony legs, valued at $5,000-$8,000; a bibliotheque (below) with two side compartments flanking sliding glass panels revealing three shelves, in macassar ebony with mother of pearl inlaid decoration. This outstanding piece measures 63 3/4 inches high by 111 inches wide by 17 inches deep and is valued at $30,000-$50,000. There is also a desk, side table, floor lamp and a pair of Drouant Art Deco side chairs upholstered in powder-blue velour, all from the same collection.
The Art Deco theme continues with the top jewelry lot, which is an Art Deco bracelet in platinum, diamond and sapphire, with diamond weight of 11.75 carats, sapphire weight of 22.45 carats, and approximately 38 grams total weight. The bracelet is valued at $25,000-$50,000. There is also a diamond necklace in 18K white gold with 73 diamonds, approximately 24.8 carats, 41 grams total weight valued at $20,000-$30,000.
Highlights of the fine art in the sale include a abstract watercolor by Joan Miro (below) of a horn player with a Pace Wildenstein gallery label verso, estimated at $20,000-$30,000; a pair of 17th century Italian paintings, one depicting the Manna from Heaven, the other depicting Water from the Rock, oil on board estimated at $6,000-$9,000; and a portrait of a woman by Ignacio Zuloaga y Zabaleta (Basque, 1870-1945) valued at $8,000-$12,000.
Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.com.