Skinner Inc. to sell diverse selection of Asian art Jan. 31

With a diverse selection of nearly 1200 Chinese, Korean, and Japanese decorative arts and antiques, the Asian sale offers a wide selection of material that will generate excitement for both collectors and interior designers alike.

Porcelain offerings include a 20th century red and blue Chinese dish depicting dragons (lot 58, estimated between $500 and $700), a pair of small 20th century Chinese covered cups decorated with diverse roundels (lot 28, $500 to $700), a 19th century Chinese red bowl with reverse bamboo design (lot 69, $600 to $800), and a pair of small, 20th century Chinese yellow Famille Rose dishes decorated with bats (lot 31, $500 to $800).

Furniture highlights include a 20th century Chinese tapered cabinet (lot 480, $1,000 to $1,200) and a low Kang table (lot 490, $300 to $500).

A fine group of paintings and calligraphy will be offered, including a pair of Chinese scrolls in the manner of Yu Youren (lot 200, $2,000 to $2,500) and a Chinese hanging scroll in the manner of Zhang Daqian depicting a landscape (lot 205, $800 to $1,000).

Notable objects include a bronze, four-faced, eight-armed figure of Buddha seated on a single lotus throne (lot 299, $800 to $1,000).

For information contact Judith Dowling, director Asian Works of Art, Skinner Inc., email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 508-970-3255.

To view the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet, visit www.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.

Government Auction features Vuitton, Rolex, gold Jan. 27

Offered for auction in the watch category is a Rolex women’s watch. This Oyster Perpetual Datejust watch is crafted in lavish 18k white gold with diamonds. The stunning timepiece is composed of silver sunray finish dial with diamond hour posts and surrounded by 46 brilliant cut diamonds. The box and all original papers are included.

A featured high-end jewelry piece is a showstopping 9.95-carat tanzanite and diamond ring. This stunner is a 14K white gold ring with 2.5 millimeter wide band. The featured tanzanite stone is an ethereal violet blue surrounded by 16 brilliant cut diamonds. The main stone is graded I-1 to I-2 in clarity measuring 14 x 11 x 8.70mm. The total carat weight of the diamonds is 1.34 carats.

For the ladies a hot lot to consider is the Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis Mirada. The sophisticated handbag is a deep burgundy color made of patent leather trimmings with golden hardware and a secure tuck lock. The design is classic retro and includes the monogramed LV design throughout. The shoulder strap is removable so that it can be worn over the shoulder or just carried with the top handle strap. The purse is one of six Louis Vuitton handbags up for auction.

Numismatics will not be left out with the large collection of rare and collectible coinage featured in the auction. A highly sought-after piece is a 1924 $20 U.S. Saint-Gaudens gold coin. Designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the U.S. $20 gold pieces of 1907-1933 are considered by many to be the most awe-inspiring coin ever produced by the U.S. Mint. The obverse features a striding Liberty with flowing gown, and the American eagle in flight on the reverse. The 1924 issues were struck at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia over 80 years ago.

For antique collectors a nostalgic piece is the 1920s Herschell carousel horse. The wooden painted horse is mounted on a brass pole stand with a wooden base for easy display. The horse is hand-painted in its original patina with shabby chic-style pink horse, a brown saddle and blue decorative pad and breast collar. These antique carousel horses were made by the Herschell Co. in Tonawanda, N.Y. The company is well-known for the quality and attention to detail in every piece made.

Another fine antique to consider is 1900s French bronze clock. The ornate antique gilt clock is in mint condition. The style is reminiscent of French Versailles and features a timely Valentines theme of frolicking cherubs and lovebirds.

Additional auction highlights include a Rolex Submarine stainless steel watch, antique Ithaca calendar wood mantel clock, hanging two-sided flange Coca-Cola sign, Seeburg Select-O-Matic jukebox and much more.

For additional information on any lot in the sale, call Debbie on 661-823-1543 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

To view the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet, visit www.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.

Carstens Galleries to sell antiques, ivory, jade, art Jan. 26

Other offerings among the over 470 lots in the first auction of Carstens Galleries in 2013, include two white marble scultures by C. Lapini, a Florence sculptor of the 19th century. Also featured, are extensive collections of old pocket watches and original Limoges hand-painted miniatures, along with Meissen- style figures and vases, Dresden vases and Tiffany-style lamps, Capo-di-Monte vases and Murano small decorations and chandeliers.

Lot 1175 is a unique and authentic mammoth tusk carved by a Chinese master with about 70 individual figures of the young celebrating the company of the elders. Also, some stunning lots in jadeite jade will be represented in lots 1418 to 1422.

As usual, Carstens Galleries as a service to its bidders, specifies in its catalogs the estimated shipping cost of almost all its lots, and for very heavy or large items, requests information about possible destination of a lot to provide the buyer with correct information and coordination of shipping by Carstens Galleries.

For additional information about any lot in this sale, call Claudio Calderon at Carstens Galleries 561-393 6067 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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

Old-world beauty abounds in Frasher doll auction Feb. 2

Many wonderful French bebes by Jumeau, Schmitt, Gauthier, Gesland and others are highlighted by a “mystery doll” with unique modeling, incised “F” and is thought to representative of the exquisite doll heads of the Frayon firm.

An equally stunning early Schmitt bebe with wonderful enlongated almond eyes is another highlight.

Also included are several French poupees by Bru, F.G. and Jumeau; German characters by Kammer & Rinehardt, Marseille, and Kestner; Asian models by Kestner and Simon Halbig; French characters by S.F.B.J.; an outstanding 14-inch toddler model of Kestner Hilda and a choice Hilda baby; a Hertel & Schwab “Jubilee” googly in original suit; lady dolls by Dressel, Kestner and Simon Halbig; vintage bisque kewpies; Austrian enamel miniature furnishings; a superb offering of doll hats, shoes, dresses and accessories; along with select composition Alexander Wave and Wac portrait dolls; Dionne Quintuplets; Patsty family dolls; and Shirley Temple dolls.

All will go under the hammer at the auction in the popular winter getaway city, Scottsdale, Ariz.

For details contact Barb Frasher, phone 816-625-3786.

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.

Skinner Inc. presents full palette in fine arts auction Feb. 1

Fine Prints and Photography

The February prints and photography auction offers more than 250 works, and covers a range of styles, countries and periods. Artists include Albers, Appel, William Blake, Braque, Calder, Chagall, Corot, Dali, Dine, Dürer, Frankenthaler, Hirst, Katz, Ellsworth Kelly, Miró, Moore, Picasso, Rembrandt, Renoir, Rouault, Stieglitz, Uelsmann, Vasarely, Villon, Warhol, Whistler, and others.

A highlight of the Fine Prints auction is Helen Frankenthaler’s Drawing on Woodblock Proof I (lot 79, estimated between $50,000 and $60,000), which uses one block from Frankenthaler’s four-block Essence Mulberry. The Essence Mulberry series was inspired by the observation of a mulberry tree, laden with fruit, growing outside the studio of Frankenthaler’s publisher, Kenneth Tyler. The resplendent tree reminded her of an exhibition of 15th century woodcuts shown at the Metropolitan Museum. The faded palette of those much older works proved an enduring source of inspiration.

Several works by Andy Warhol will be offered including Liz from an edition of 300 published by the Leo Castelli Gallery, New York in 1964 (lot 201, $7,000 to $9,000), and Northwest Coast Mask from an edition of 250 published by Gaultney, Klineman Art in 1986 (lot 204, $10,000 to $15,000). The iconic “Campbell’s Soup Can” makes an appearance on a shopping bag in Campbell’s Soup Can on Shopping Bag (Tomato soup) printed by the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston in 1966 (lot 202, $3,000 to $4,000).

Chagall lithographs include Le bouquet de l’artiste from an edition of 75 (Mourlot, 410) from 1964 (lot 57, $7,000 to $9,000), Le couple devant l’arbre from an edition of 40 (Mourlot, 292) from 1960 (lot 56, $4,000 to $6,000), and four others. Rembrandt’s etching entitled The White Negress circa 1630 (lot 162, $1,000 to $1,500), Dürer’s The Virgin Surrounded by Many Angels from 1518 (lot 74, $1,500 to $2,000), and William Blake’s illustration from The Book of Job: There Were not Found Women Fair as the Daughters of Job (lot 29, $1,200 to $1,800) will also be offered.

Photographs include works by Adams, Edgerton, Siskind, Winogrand and others. Aaron Siskind’s suite of 10 photographs from the series Pleasures and Terrors of Levitation will be offered (lot 248, $10,000 to $15,000), along with classic images from Ansel Adams (lots 222 & 223), and a collection of six Garry Winogrand photographs, including Central Park Zoo (1967), Coney Island, New York (1952), and others (lot 261, $3,000 to $5,000).

Fine Paintings

Alexander Max Koester’s Children and Geese in a Lakeside Meadow (lot 538, $50,000 to $70,000) presents a charming and beautifully rendered pastoral scene. Works by John Joseph Enneking include Peaches Spilling from an Overturned Basket (lot 383, $10,000 to $15,000) and Storm in the Adirondacks (lot 397, $4,000 to $6,000). Two A.T. Hibbard works, Maple Sugaring (lot 448, $5,000 to $7,000) and Docked in Rockport (lot 485, $10,000 to $15,000), and a charming landscape by Charles Daubigny, Untitled (La vallée de l’Oise) (lot 335, $7,000 to $9,000) will also be offered.

Featured modern and contemporary works include St. Tropez by Francis Picabia (lot 601, $50,000 to $70,000), Untitled (Red Nucleus) by Alexander Calder (lot 646, $25,000 to $35,000), Phenomena Broken Prism Finder by gestural artist Paul Jenkins (lot 648, $20,000 to $30,000), and a group of works by Lynda Benglis (lots 652 to 654; 662 & 665).

The enigmatic St. Tropez, circa 1937-1939, was created while Picabia was working in Southern France. It demonstrates the artist’s ever-changing approach to various painting techniques and materials. In the rolling surf and broad sky of the image, observers will notice a strong crackle-pattern that displays a multicolor ground: a prime example of the type of reworking and overpainting for which Picabia was known, and, indeed an earlier composition, probably from the late 1920s lies underneath the visible work.

A group of works by Lynda Benglis include 19th Century Blush (lot 652, $4,000 to $6,000), executed in pigmented encaustic wax on ceramic, and Left and Right Hands #4 (lot 662, $3,000 to $5,000), executed in egg tempera and gold leaf. Sculptural pieces by Benglis include an untitled work of pigmented translucent abaca paper laminate and steel wire (lot 653, $800 to $1,200), and a colorful glazed ceramic work (lot 654, $800 to $1,200).

Fine Sculpture

An impressive pair of bronze Great Danes by Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington (lot 551, $125,000 to $175,000) will be offered. These magnificent sculptures portray two Great Danes in very different attitudes and demeanors. Huntington was known for her sculpture of animals, and she created a number of Great Danes throughout her career, both in stone and in bronze.

For details about this auction contact Robin Starr, director of American and European Works of Art, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 508-970-3206.

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.

Sworders to auction rare Alvar Aalto chair, Jan. 29

The bentwood-frame chair called "Paimio" is named after the town in southwestern Finland for which Aalto designed a tuberculosis sanatorium and all its furnishings. The angle of the back of this armchair, which was used in the patients’ lounge, was intended to help sitters breathe more easily.

The chair is thought to be one of the first examples of this design and dates back to 1932. Although this is now a familiar style of chair, this particular example is likely to attract the attention of collectors and museums as being a prime example of design from the vanguard era of 20th-century modernism.

Sworders' director, John Black, said: "What’s exceptional about this piece is that even today it looks incredibly modern, but is in fact 80 years old. Back in 1932, this would have been an absolute statement piece of furniture, and that’s what makes it so attractive even today.'

"Aalto’s iconic style continues to influence mass-made production items that are still very popular – a sure sign of a good quality design,” Black continued.

The consignor of the Alvar Aalto chair purchased the iconic furnishing through eBay. He suspected it to be one of Aalto’s classic pieces, and his find was confirmed by experts at Sworders. It’s now being auctioned with a presale estimate of £5,000 to £7,000.

The sale also includes designs by Dame Lucie Rie, arguably the greatest British female potter of the 20th century. Rie was one of the leading post-World War II potters who looked to Japan for inspiration and revolutionized British studio pottery. Her iconic studio has been recreated as an exhibit in the Ceramics Gallery of the Victoria & Albert Museum. Three Rie-designed bowls and a vase are being sold with guide prices between £200 and £1,000.

The Decorative Art and Design Sale will be held at Sworders on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid 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.

Roland to conduct distinctly different auctions Jan. 26 & 29

Among the many intriguing lots in the auction, a respectable selection of modern glass and other decorations can be found. Included are examples by Baccarat, Lalique, Handel, Cenedese and other Murano makers, as well as Hagenauer, Rosenthal (studio line) and much more.

There is a good selection of period-style Georgian, Victorian, Louis XV, XVI and French Empire chairs, lamp, cocktail, console and occasional tables, and other examples of fine furniture. Chandeliers, sconces, lamps in a variety of styles and materials accompany the offering of furniture.

Perhaps the most sought after pieces, however, are to be found within the collection of fine art. While there is a quite varied selection of paintings, drawings and graphic works in the sale, two Erte bronzes, The Wave and Fantasia seem to be getting a tremendous amount of interest.

With all that is to be offered in the Winter Sale, one can be sure to find a good investment or two.

In the "Vintage Collectibles" auction of Jan. 29, Roland presents a single-owner collection of tobacciana and related tins as well as a collection of rare antique razors. With rarities such as the Dixie Queen "Satisfied Customer" roly-poly tin, and the wide selection of razors with Americana and western theme decorated scales, this is a must-not-miss auction for the collector.

"We're excited to handle this collection," said proprietor Bill Roland. "We try to offer a wide selection of objects for our clients, and we hope this brings some new faces to our downtown family owned and operated gallery. Please note that this special sale will be held on Tuesday evening, Jan. 29, at 5 p.m. Once again, online bidding will be available through www.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.

Gray's Auctioneers to sell rare Köllwitz drawing Jan. 30

CLEVELAND – Gray’s begins the year with their 64th auction on Jan. 30 featuring fine works of art by Rodin, Picasso and Miró, and a rare Kathe Köllwitz drawing. The sale will begin at 11 a.m. EST. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

The large-scale original charcoal drawing by German Expressionist Kathe Köllwitz titled Abschied (Farewell) was discovered by auctioneer Deba Gray to the delight of the consignor who was unaware of its rarity. Gray recognized the work as a study for Köllwitz’s etching Tod, Frau und Kind (Death Woman and Child), circa 1910.

The auction also features a whimsical watercolor by the Catalan artist Joan Miró titled Man, Moon and Tree (Lot 45). This watercolor is a wonderful example of Miró’s oft quoted philosophy “The spectacle of the sky overwhelms me. I’m overwhelmed when I see, in an immense sky, the crescent of the moon, or the sun. There, in my pictures, tiny forms in huge empty spaces. Empty spaces, empty horizons, empty plains – everything which is bare has always greatly impressed me” (from Twentieth-Century Artists on Art, 1958).

Lot 54 is a diminutive yet athletic bronze titled Mouvement de Danse C, from an edition of 12 by Auguste Rodin. It is signed “A. Rodin No. 9©” on the bottom of the sculpture’s left foot. Gray believes this to be a version cast by the Georges Rudier Foundry in 1956. It was purchased from a gallery in London in December 1956 by its current owner.

Gray’s first auction of 2013 features an extraordinarily strong selection of fine works of art. The list continues with Degas’ iconic bronze Le Tub. Cast shortly after 1919, this bronze was examined by Clare Vincent, Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who determined it was an authentic cast made by the Hébrard Foundry. Charles Millard called Le Tub “the most original, not only of his own pieces, but of all 19th century sculptures.” (C.W. Millard, op, cit., page 107).

In May 1942, Martin Fabian published the Historie Naturelle by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, illustrated by Picasso. This auction features La Langouste, a full-sheet artist’s proof on Vidalon wove paper with Ambroise Vollard watermark. It is signed and number II/V in pencil, together with an original cover page.

Other notable works in this well-rounded auction include a stunning life-size marble by William Calder Marshall titled Country Girl, signed and dated 1882 on the base, a muscular bronze by Alfred Boucher titled Le Terrassier signed on the base, and a captivating Hans Erni tempera on paper titled Boy Leaning on Table #75, signed and dated "Erni 53" on the lower left. Lot 41 is a drawing by Marc Chagall, depicting a head in profile that is signed with a personal dedication.

Furniture includes a late 19th/early 20th century English heavily carved walnut buffet. The decorative arts portion of the auction is highlighted by a pair of Louis Comfort Tiffany Favrile glass shades with a gold damascene pattern.

Gray’s Auctioneers and Appraisers conducts live auctions every month and offers complimentary valuations every day.

Condition reports and shipping quotes are provided on request. For more information please contact Serena Harragin at 216-458-7695 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Online Live bidding for this auction is offered 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.

Paintings, jade top Kaminski Asian art lineup Jan. 26

BEVERLY, Mass. – On Jan. 26, Kaminski Auctions will offer an array of beautiful Asian antiques and works of art. Including everything from fine bronze, ivory, and jade, to 20th century oil paintings, the 460-lot auction will surely have items of interest for all Asian collectors. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

Among the top lots of the auction are two jade pieces. The first is a Chinese jade brush washer, estimated to sell for between $1,000 and $1,500. A lotus flower forms the main body of the sculpted jade piece, which is further decorated with a pair of bats and a pair of peaches. The 1 1/2-inches by 5 3/4-inches piece rests on a wooden stand carved in the shape of roots. The second jade piece is similarly well sculpted. This white jade has been carefully crafted into the form of a crouching foo lion holding a coin.

In addition to the jade pieces, the auction will also offer a fine collection of 20 ivory and polychrome birds. The birds are Japanese in origin and most bear the signature of their maker. These impressive birds are estimated at $1,200 to $1,800.

A fine bronze Japanese urn of the Meiji period will also be offered for sale estimated at $2,500 to $3,000. The urn is signed on the base of the vessel. The body of the urn features a pair of dragons and a woman playing a musical instrument. Inlaid gold highlights the eyes of both dragons, as well as the surrounding flower petals. On the reverse is a phoenix amid a landscape, topped by an eagle-form cover that completes the urn.

The auction will also present another remarkable signed famille rose vase. Beautifully painted, the vessel is in the characteristic warm color palette, depicting figures in a landscape. This distinctive signed piece is estimated to sell for $2,000- $3,000. There is also a pair of 19th century Chinese famille verte vases, also estimated at $2,000-$3,000. The square baluster-form is decorated with a pair of ribbon-tailed birds and a pair of cranes, while the rest is similarly decorated with birds, flowers and insects, from a New York collector. Also beautifully decorated is a cloisonné Chinese clock from the early 20th century. This intricately enameled metal clock is estimated at $800-$1,200.

Paintings will hold an important place in the sale as well. A 20th century Chinese painting by Gao Yan, oil canvas, portrays a young woman swathed in a white dress. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the work is the inspired knife work with which Gao Yan subtly mottled the ambiguous background. This skillfully rendered painting is titled The White Dew. A Brian Coole work titled Ships in the Hong Kong Harbor, looking toward Macao” is another noteworthy oil painting in the auction. The British painter’s work is estimated to fetch between $4,000 and $6,000.

These featured items will be joined by many other noteworthy pieces, including more famille rose works, fine chests, and ivory in Kaminski Auctions’ Asian Art and Antiques auction on Saturday, Jan. 26, starting at 10 a.m. EST.

Bid online through Live Auctioneers.com. For more information call 978-927-2223.

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.

Jeffrey Evans & Associates to auction rare glassware Jan. 26

The Krauss collection, assembled over several decades, includes includes American art glass rarities by the Mount Washington Glass Co., Imperial Glass Co. and Dalzell, Gilmore & Leighton Co. of Findlay, Ohio.

The Mount Washington Glass Co. introduced its glass in 1878, when company agent Frederick Shirley was granted three patents for the production and design of so-called Sicilian ware. The patent specifically called for lava or volcanic ash to be added to the glass batch as a flux. This glass was produced in small quantities only from 1878-1880. Modern collectors refer to this Sicilian ware as Lava glass. Most examples of Lava ware feature a black ground; however, an extremely rare vase of a rose-color ground is included in this auction.

Additionally, the Krauss collection boasts a collection of Findlay (Ohio) Floradine and Onyx glass in various colors as well as 50 pieces of Amberette/Klondike.

The Krauss collection also includes an outstanding 60-piece collection of the Imperial Glass Co.’s Free Hand and Lead Luster lines of art glass, produced during the 1920s. Imperial employed five Swedish immigrant glassmakers to produce this glass. Imperial’s ads boasted “Why go to Europe, to by your fancy glassware, when a short trip to our factory will enable you to secure a better variety with a smaller investment?” The company was located in Bellaire, Ohio, and flourished during the heyday of the pre-Depression flapper.

The Evans auction also includes a few great examples of Phoenix glass from the Priscilla McBride collection. McBride lives in New York State and had assembled a collection of rare Phoenix pitchers.

A group of European and American art glass from a variety of consignors includes two rare examples of Loetz Federzeichung “Octupus” glass. This type of glassware typically includes large, organic flowing pearly white satin-textured lines in abstract patterns on a background of opaline soft reds, oranges; browns or burnt-yellows with gilt vermicelli highlights.

The sale rounds out with collections of Victorian opalescent glass; celery vases of all types; early American pattern glass; children’s toy glass; American cut glass and studio glass.

The auction starts at 9:30 a.m. EST Jan. 26 and goes until each lot has been sold.

For further information about this auction, call 540-434-3939. Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.

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.

Imperial Auctioneers presents long-held Asian art Jan. 24

Property in the auction comes from several sources including the family of a gentleman and scholar of Asian art, who acquired the collection in the early to mid-20th century in China. Additional items are from a prominent Canadian philanthropist and from a distinguished collector and scholar of Southeast Asian art, who acquired them in Southeast Asia in the 1970s. There will also be items from private collections from Chicago, San Francisco and Ontario, Canada.

"We are very pleased with the offering in the auction," said Mr. Hao Ji, the director of Asian Art for Imperial Auctioneers. "There is a broad selection of quality items with good provenance that have been off the market for a number of years."

Topping the list is a monumental cloisonné enamel charger circa 1900 (estimate: $10,000-$20,000). Measuring 30 inches in diameter with a beautiful mille-fleur design, this striking presentation piece is an example of the high level of cloisonné craftsmanship in Japan during the Meiji period. It is the property of a man who received it as a gift from a government delegate in the 1970s.

Another rare item is a porcelain vase that depicts birds and flowers with an en verso lithophane of Chairman Mao Zedong. The 15-inch vase bears calligraphy on the back and is imprinted with the national emblem of the People's Republic of China on the inside. Marked and dated, Jiangxi Company of Ceramic Industry, 1962, it carries an estimate of $10,000-$12,000. Vases of this type were made by order of the Chinese government and presented as gifts to dignitaries, however, examples of this quality are quite rare. It is the property of a man who received it as a gift directly from the Chinese consulate in the 1970s.

A fine piece purchased in Hong Kong in the 1980s is a 13-inch ruyi scepter made in the 18th/19th century. Exquisitely carved in high relief, the wooden scepter depicts scholars and attendants amid pine, bamboo and plum: "The Three Friends of Winter" (estimate: $4,000-$6,000).

A fine painting on silk is attributed to Qian Weicheng (1720-1772). A painter during the reign of Qianlong, Weicheng is known for his landscape paintings as well as calligraphy. This painting, 30 inches by 18 inches, is estimated at $10,000-$20,000.

Fine older paintings in the auction are from the collection of a scholar of Asian art. Purchased in China in the early to mid-20th century, the paintings have been in the possession of the family for over 50 years. From this same family collection are a couple of rare Zhou Dynasty "Warring States" bronze vessels. Well cast and elaborately decorated both items are fine examples of the bronze work from this period.

Three paintings by Lian Xue Ming (b. 1969) are in the auction. With an excellent artistic sense and great technical skill Lian Xue Ming is an important talent and an artist to watch in the current crop of fine contemporary Chinese painters, said the auctioneers.

A rare and large amber scholar's rock standing 8 inches tall and weighing more than 650 grams is estimated at $5,000-$10,000. It displays hues of golden yellow to darker brown natural colors with excellent translucency.

A collection of fine bronze Buddhas, acquired in Southeast Asia in the 1970s by a scholar of Southeast Asian art, will be in the auction. This collection features three Thai Buddhas in the "Touching the Earth" mudra, all over 24 inches in height and ranging from the 16th century onwards; a rare pair of Sino-Tibetan bronze oil lamps, 18th century; and a large (33 inches) 19th century parcel-gilt bronze Kuan Yin.

Another highlight is a fine and interesting selection of jade bangles including two jade bangles from the 18th/19th century of even, white colored stone, finely polished and carved in the form of two facing dragons with a pearl at the center (estimate: $3,000-$5,000); a couple of rare 19th century rhinoceros horn bangles (estimate: $1,500-$2,500); a finely carved jade bangle with a translucent white and blue tone (estimate $1,000-$2,000); a Ming Dynasty celadon jade bangle (estimate: $700-$1,000); and a green hardstone bangle, Han Dynasty or later (estimate: $500-$800).

Rounding out the auction will be a number of jade pieces, scholar items, ivory statues, rhino horn cups and porcelain.

Based in Chicago, Imperial Auctioneers is dedicated to the research, acquisition and sale of Chinese paintings and Chinese fine arts. The company was founded on the promise of high-quality expertise. Specialists Hao Ji and Aaron Liu are well-respected experts in the field of Asian Art. They are sought after as consultants and lecturers for private and institutional clients. With a focus on Asian Art, coupled with a serious scholarly interest in the subject and exacting professional standards, Imperial Auctioneers pledges a level of service and expertise beyond what is usually found in traditional auction houses.

For more information phone 866-886-7912 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet by logging on to www.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.

Luxe estate jewelry, Queen Anne secretary at Quinn & Farmer, Jan. 19

The 377-lot auction will open with a wonderful selection of antique, vintage and custom-designed jewelry valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars. A star lot is the pair of signed Cartier platinum, diamond and sapphire drop earrings. The focal point of the design is the two natural, unheated, matched blue Ceylon sapphire briolettes, weighing 9.20 carats and 10.42 carats, respectively. They are enhanced by two square diamonds, each weighing approximately .12 carats, and 109 single-cut diamonds, each with a .80 carat weight. The superbly designed earrings may realize $20,000-$30,000 at auction.

An example of graceful 18th-century American furniture at its best is the rare circa 1760-1780 three-piece Connecticut Queen Anne cherry secretary/bookcase on frame. It features a bonnet top with three finials, cabinet doors that open to a five-compartment interior, and a fall-front desk that opens to envelope slots and small drawers. The piece also has four graduated drawers with brass pulls, a carved shell skirt and claw-and-ball feet. It stands 50 5/8 inches tall and is estimated at $10,000-$15,000.

For information on any lot in the sale, call 434-293-2904 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid 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.

Love at First Bid expands its offerings for Jan. 23 sale

Since their first sale, barely a year ago, the auction house has expanded from a couture and jewelry specialty house to become a recognized source for exceptional art and decorations, Asian decorative arts, as well as continuing as a consistent source for estate jewelry and designer accessories and clothing.

This sale brings to the market a fine collection of designer and artisan jewelry, featuring such makers as Spratling, Miriam Haskell, Kenneth Jay Lane, Theodor Fahrner, and Lalique. Fine gold and diamond jewelry by Tiffany and other makers, as well as a selection of gold and silver enameled cases, comes just in time for Valentine's Day.

Among the fashion accessories is a memorable collection of whimsical handbags in forms ranging from Chihuahua and pug to a Maud Frizon flowerpot bag. A classic selection in crocodile, leather and lizard is also included in the mix.

Fine table wares from a venerable New York City estate include a Buccellati modernist sterling flatware service, a Wallace sterling tea and coffee service, a set of imposing Mexican sterling goblets, a set of Waterford stemware, an Art Deco painted porcelain coffee urn and more. Other examples are as varies as a large bouquet of hard-to-find Czechoslovakian glass tulips to an important menorah by Aharon Bezalel.

Some Asian objects culled from another formidable New York City estate have garnered a great deal of attention from bidders in the U.S. and abroad. Highlights include pairs of porcelain urns, rock crystal foo dog and other fine carvings, and  an extraordinary Ming Dynasty altar table. Also, a framed collection of Japanese gold and silver coins has generated interest among collectors.

Still, it is the art collection that is, perhaps, causing the biggest buzz. "After the tremendous response to a collection of drawings from the estate of Jack Tanzer in our last sale, we were concerned that we wouldn't be able to top that," said director and founder Annegret von Winterfeld. Her concerns were unfounded, however, as collections of noteworthy art came pouring in. With paintings, drawings and prints by such luminaries as Edouard-Leon Cortes, Walt Kuhn, Hunt Slonem, Paul Emile Lecomte, Frederick Judd Waugh, John Chamberlain, Henry Moore, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Marcel Vertes, and circles of Abraham Brueghel and Jacques Callot, it is sure to be an exciting day at the auction.

Online live bidding is available through www.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.

Montecito Auction to sell Asian antiques, estate jewelry Jan. 19

From lavender jadeite to a 19th century officer chair to an early Victorian four-piece jewelry suite well preserved in the original box and from a Hoinam jade flowerpot to an Edwardian 1920s diamond pendent, there is no shortage of variety.

Carved using traditional methods such as carborundum sand and soft tools, the lavender jadeite piece resembles a dragon on top of fruit, blooming flowers and a frog on a scepter. The heavy piece rests on a carved rosewood base. “The naturally occurring green veins make the piece so much more interesting as the fruits are carved over those green layers inside the lavender stone,” said auctioneer Cyrus L. Santoriello.

The authoritative design of Victorian period is evident in the gorgeous early Victorian buckle bracelet with seven rose-cut diamonds. Four folded golden leafs and four rings are supporting a center diamond surrounded by six smaller rose-cut diamonds. The buckle type band is adjustable to fit almost any wrist.

Carving a hard stone such as jade to hollow out shape of plants, requires delicate and meticulous workmanship and it is revealed in the 18-inch-tall Hoinam jade flower urn filled with birds on flowered stems and filled leafs. The master who carved this piece used the different colors of the jade to place most of the birds and the blooming flowers in the spot where the veins occur naturally, making it as if someone painted the piece to look real. It is carved in two separate pieces. The top flower fits inside the urn and the piece is supported by a carved wooden base.

Today’s trend in jewelry is judged more on how big the stone is or the weight of the gold, and the workmanship has taken the back seat. The antique Victorian four-piece suite, still in the original box, is filled with precious stones such as diamonds and rubies. It also presents its prized craftsmanship in gold and silver, diamond and garnet. It includes pair of pierced earrings with safety clip backs, ring with single oval ruby in the center and diamonds around, and broach in medallion diamond cluster floral design with ruby teardrops in the middle. All the diamonds are rose cut, in a fitted original box.

The 19th century officer chair in original condition is one of the highlights of this auction. The name “officer chair” is given to it because of the unusual brace on the front legs serves as a footrest as well. “We believe it is made of rosewood but we are not certain because of the age and variety of the wood species,” said Santoriello. The simple construction and carving is another suggestion it has been used in an office. The catalog listing on Liveauctioneers.com pictures the bottom and views from different angles.

“Again, this is a small auction but there is no shortage of variety,” said Santoriello. “We even have some recent calligraphy by Master Zhuang Li-Wai with Chinese government honorary certificates. There are three pieces by this calligraphy artist listed at the end of our catalog for this auction, as it was given to us in the last minutes.”

For details contact the Montecito Auction Co. auctioneer Cyrus L. Santoriello via email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 805-630-0970.

View the complete catalog at Liveauctioneers.com – using this link: www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog_gallery/36204 .

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.

Ethnographic items important part of Jenack auction Jan. 27

The auction will open with items from our ethnographic portion with items from several African cultures, Inuit, Aboriginal, New Guinea and others. Lots of interest are a Cameroon/Grass Lands bronze ceremonial sword and scabbard, estimate $500-800; Mambila, Cameroon carved and painted initiation mask with stand, estimate $200-300; Yoruba beaded throne chair, estimate $300-500; Asmat carved and painted shield, estimate $200-300; Makonde carved hardwood portable chair, estimate $300-500; Kuba culture Congo carved grain grinding vessel, estimate $200-300; vintage Sepik River (New Guinea) turtle shell, shell inlaid polychromed mask, estimate $160-250; vintage Warega carved wood mask, estimate $200-300, along with many others.

Artwork will include a large canvas by Chinese-American artist Zhang Hong Nian. The canvas measures 40 by 70 inches and depicts Union Square Park in New York City with people enjoying the area, estimate $8,000-12,000; abstract pastel by Woodstock, N.Y., artist Charles Rosen, signed and dated 1948, estimate $300-500; a coastal landscape by George Luks, estimate $1,000-1,500; an oil on canvas, zinnias, by Ellen Robbins, estimate $600-800; oil on canvas, Catskill landscape by John Edward Costigan, estimate $2,000-3,000; and an oil on canvas, Le Lapin Agile Paris by Josep Maria Vayreda Canadell, estimate $800-1,200.

Furniture will include a mix of period and revival pieces from the early 20th century including Pennsylvania pine Chippendale-style cupboard, estimate $600-900; country pine corner cupboard, estimate $500-800; country Hepplewhite hunt-console table in red wash, estimate $200-300; Elizabethan-style carved oak sideboard, estimate $160-250; Arts & Crafts-style Howard Miller tall-case clock; Victorian carved walnut marble-top stand, estimate $200-300; Renaissance Revival-style carved oak court cupboard, estimate $300-500.

As with most of Jenack’s sales there will be Chinese porcelain and artwork, Oriental carpets, bronzes and decorative accessories.

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