LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. – On Dec. 7, 8 and 9, Rago Arts and Auction Center will hold its annual holiday season Great Estates, Jewelry, Silver, Coins and Currency auctions. Friday’s sale features Russian, American and Continental silver, and rare U.S. and foreign coins and currency. The Estates auction on Saturday brings a wide variety of property to market, including furnishings, fine art, porcelain and pottery, rugs, militaria, ephemera, tribal items and Asian antiques. Sunday’s annual Fine Jewelry and Couture auction features historical revival, Asian, and gem jewelry, estate diamond engagement rings, timepieces, fur coats and designer handbags.

LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding all three days. The auction will begin at noon EST each day.

“We have been asked to represent some truly exceptional pieces this December,” said Miriam Tucker, a partner at Rago’s. “Our specialists have chosen well, based on aesthetic merit, rarity, quality of construction. All the property is fresh to the market. And we’ve worked hard to make sure that the estimates are attractive, whether for pieces worth hundreds or tens of thousands of dollars.”

Friday’s sale begins with over 200 lots of silver, including a selection of Judaica, and concludes with 67 lots of coins and currency.

Featured is lot 126, a pair of sumptuous Birds on Branches gilt compotes designed by Eugene Soligny for Tiffany & Co., 1884, which are depicted in Magnificent Tiffany Silver by John Loring, page 136. Historically significant, lot 6 is a nine-piece silver desk set by Mikhail Ivanov, St. Petersburg, which was originally presented to a chief engineer of Trans-Siberian Railroad in 1896, estimated at $8,000-$12,000.

Over 60 lots of Asian items are in Saturday’s lineup. Featured is lot 694, an 18th century Chinese rhinoceros horn libation cup, which is finely carved in relief with swirling vines and mythological creatures and Kylin, estimated at $35,000-$55,000. Lot 707 is a Chinese ceremonial dagger, which is silver mounted with cabochon coral and turquoise, estimated at $1,500-$2,000.

The sale includes paintings dating from the 18th century to the 20th century. Featured is lot 567, an oil on panel by William Powell Frith, R.A., The Love Token,” from Sir Walter Scott’s The Bridge of Lammermoor, estimated at $8,000-$12,000; and lot 628, a watercolor of roses and lilacs by Raoul de Longpré, estimated at $4,000-$6,000. Notable also is lot 530, a bronze of a mounted cossack with a woman by Vasili Grachev, estimated at $6,000-$8,000.

Collectable glass pieces in the sale include items by Durand, Galle, Lalique, Tiffany, Steuben, Murano, Zsolnay and Waterford, etc. A notable lot of glass and porcelain is lot 525, an Italian micromosaic plaque, Lotta Impari, by Silvio Secchi, from the mosaic studio of the Vatican, estimated at $15,000-$25,000.

In the selection of porcelain is lot 531, an Alexander III Imperial Russian porcelain plate of a military scene, with a mark of Imperial Porcelain Manufactory, St. Petersburg, dated 1886, estimated at $6,000-$8,000.

Another highlight selling Saturday is lot 682, a narwhal whale tusk in typical spiral form with good off-white color, mounted on a display stand from the early 20th century, estimated at $12,000-$15,000.

A selection of clocks includes lot 661, a French bronze and marble mantel clock, estimated at $3,500-$5,500.

Jewelry will sell Sunday. The catalogue opens with a session of historical revival jewelry including: lot 1001, an Egyptian revival enameled gold fringe necklace attributed to Marcus & Co., 1925-1930.

For the gentlemen, there are watches, cufflinks, and even a Super Bowl ring. Lot 1127 is a Super Bowl XVIII ring presented to Kenny King, Los Angeles Raiders running back, estimated at $3,000-$5,000. A notable wristwatch in the sale is lot 1128, a beautiful Patek Philippe nautilus wristwatch, estimated at $8,000-$10,000.

The sale includes lots of Asian interest including lot 1183, a jeweled nephrite brooch, and lot 1327, a jade and diamond ring.

Colored gem jewelry in the sale includes lot 1422, a 7.5-carat sapphire diamond ring, estimated at $12,000-$18,000.

Other exceptional pieces include lot 1057, a moonstone and diamond bracelet designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany; lot 1425, an Oscar Heyman sapphire and diamond pansy brooch; lot 1426, an emerald and diamond ring by Vedura; and lot 1430, a large diamond platinum brooch by Van Clief, New York.

The sale concludes with a session of furs, designer handbags and bijoux.

For details call Rago Arts and Auction Center at 609-397-9374.

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