ALAMEDA, Calif. – Michaan’s final estate auction of the year, on Sunday, Dec. 2, holds a variety of treasures. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. PST.

The fine art department features American artist Edward August Bell’s (1862-1953) Still Life with Oranges & Cherries. Bell is most readily known for his elegant and idealized portraits of women, but is also recognized for his genre, interior and still life works. Bell was a celebrated artist and an influential figure in the Peconic Art Colony, located on the North Fork of Long Island. The oil painting for auction is a vibrant and rich depiction of groupings of lush fruits surrounding the base of a graceful turquoise vase with a trellising floral design. The painting measures 20 x 16 inches and is signed in the lower right corner “E. A. Bell” (lot 116, estimate: $3,000-5,000).

Other noteworthy American art works available in the sale include Ray Strong’s San Miguel Hills, 1965 which was acquired directly from the artist (lot 088, $2,000-2,500), Theodore Morrow Criley’s Tabletop Still Life (lot 091, $2,000-3,000) and Michael David Ward’s Second Star to the Right, 1992 (lot 166, $3,500-4,500). Highlights from the European selection include Louis Justin Laurent Icart’s Coursing III, 1930 (lot 052, $1,500-2,500), Thomas Maillard’s Belgian Electric (lot 017, $1,500-3,000) and Franz Rederer’s tribute to his wife in Portrait of Margaritte, 1944 (lot 005, $2,000-4,000).

The jewelry department presents a 260-lot sale featuring a myriad of gemstone pieces, numerous certified jades and over 30 lots each of coral and pearl offerings. Impressive diamond pieces in the auction are seen in a diamond and platinum ring featuring a lovely old European-cut stone set in a platinum mounting (lot 421, $900-1,200) and a diamond and 14K white gold covered ladies wristwatch (lot 431, $800-1,200). Reflecting the breadth of property available from the department is a handsome 14K yellow gold and wood presentation cane (lot 449, $400-600) as well as a beautifully carved meerschaum cameo that doubles as a brooch or pendant (lot 219, $350-550).

A standout piece found in the sale lies in a jade, diamond, 18K white gold and platinum necklace (lot 392, $800-1,200). The jade plaque measures approximately 30 x 20 x 2 millimeters and bears a delicate green hue. Stylized carvings of a perched bird among flora and fauna decorate both sides of the piece. The plaque is then set in a diamond accented, 18K white gold linked bail of geometric form. The pendant hangs from a delicate platinum, open-link 16-inch chain, subtlety complementing the overall look. The necklace is accompanied by an original, leather bound box, denoting “Pentington & Batty, Diamond Merchants, Liverpool & Manchester” on its interior.

Pieces of Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Tibetan origins will be a part of the Asian department’s offerings. Scholars’ objects, scrolls, furniture, statuettes, jade carvings and porcelains will be among the represented works of art in the 130-plus-lot sale. Notable are decorative vases of various forms, including a creamy turquoise-blue crackle-glazed stoneware vase of moon flask form (lot 574, $700-900), a landscape gilt painted porcelain vase bearing a Qianlong six-character mark (lot 552, $450-650), an enamel painted porcelain vase depicting village fishermen (lot 564, $700-900) and a pear-shape vase featuring a dragon and phoenix upon a bed of peony blossoms in an iron red hue (lot 548, $1,200-1,800).

Highlighting the sale’s Asian decorative objects is a hardwood table screen with a hardstone embellished serpentine plaque (lot 507, $1,000-1,500). Detailed carving workmanship is clearly seen throughout the piece, in both wood and stone alike. A delicate woodwork pattern borders the serpentine stone inset nature scene, complementing it beautifully. The plaque’s three-dimensional carvings center a long tail bird perched on a blossoming peony tree. Rock formations, additional foliage and a soaring butterfly complete the scene, wonderfully bringing it to life.

Period furniture and decorations features over 270 lots primarily composed of 19th and 20th century European and American pieces. However, a fine selection of international carpets and rugs is highlighted by substantial Persian carpets. Pieces include a Kashan carpet of dense weave bearing an intricate design in lovely tones of red and blue (lot 747, $3,000-5,000), a Kerman carpet measuring an approximate 14 x 21 feet (lot 746, $2,000-3,000) and a vibrant floral motif Sarouk corridor carpet, also offered at an estimate of $2,000-3,000 (lot 815).

Categorically, silver is often a top performer at auction and this month’s selection also appears to be quite promising. Available in the sale are lots from Tiffany & Co. (lot 658, lot 648, lot 662), Gorham lot 653, lot 660, lot 644) and Georg Jensen (lot 696). A collection of seven silver lots of Scandinavian origins from flatware to cups will also be sold, with estimates ranging from $200 to $800.

Unique is a mid-19th century suite of Schulz & Fisher sterling flatware in the Cleopatra pattern (lot 643, $6,000-8,000). The set is in excellent condition, originally given as a wedding present. The pieces are presented in a custom-made retail box with Aesthetic Movement silver embellishments to the exterior. The interior is lined, complete with a decorative chenille flower. A lower drawer pulls out to reveal spoon sets. The entire collection’s silver weight measures 92.8 troy ounces.

For details call the front desk at 510-740-0220.

Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.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