Modernist designer silver at Ravenswick auction March 31

SYDNEY, Australia – Ravenswick, Sydney’s newest boutique auction house, has been given instructions to handle an important collection of Modernist sterling silver design by Cleto Murani. This first for Ravenswick, to be held on Easter Sunday, March 31, will consist of almost 100 examples and will split into 60 lots. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.

Cleto Murani and Associates was founded in 1972, with one objective in mind, to challenge and further study form and design for the avant-garde. A chance meeting with Carlo Scarpa in the 1970s, resulted in Murani’s move into precious metals, starting in flatware and moving across into a diverse group of household objects.

This collection, sourced from a private residence in Sydney, is the rebirth of these designs in the early 1990s when the company diversified into having a retail presence.

It encompasses many of the major examples and collaborative works with some of the biggest names in modern design, including;

• Pair of Cleto Murani sterling silver carafes, Mario Botto 15/99, original pouch and box 29.5cm high, combined weight 1,904 grams, estimate: $2,500-$3,500;
• Cleto Murani sterling silver gallery tray, Mario Bellini 22/99, original pouch and box, l62cm, approx 5000 grams, estimate: $5,000-$7,000;
• Cleto Murani sterling silver “Tarabuso” carafe, Riccardo Daliso 27/249 original pouch and box, original box and pouch, 31.5cm, 767 grams, estimate: $900-$1,200;
• Michael Graves Tea and Coffee Wares, from estimate: $300-$400;
• Paolo Pottoghesi, Carlo Scarpa designed Bachelor flatware services, some in stainless steel and other wares, estimate: $120-$220;
• Trays, tea services, candlesticks, pair of ice buckets, vases, water carafes, Murani silver-mounted bowls and more.

The auction will also include the collection of a South Sydney man, further objects from the Christine A. Anthony Collection, vintage watches, Chinese and Japanese works of art, Australian militaria and ephemera (consisting of signed theater posters and selected World War I ephemera from the collection of Kevin Palmer, director of the original London production of Oh, What a Lovely War).

Inquires may be made to Alex Renwick This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 0411 308 884.

View the fully illustrated auction 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.

Cheers! Calif. vineyard goes under the hammer at Govt. Auction, Mar. 24

TEHACHAPI, Calif. – In addition to a large collection of gold coins, Rolex watches, jewelry and antiques, Government Auction's March 24 auction will present something unusual and very special to bidders – an actual California vineyard.

“Every wine aficionado has dreamed of owning a vineyard. Now there’s a chance to make that fantasy a reality,” said Government Auction’s Chris Budge.

The star of this Sunday’s auction is a California vineyard of almost 60 acres that has garnered numerous awards in recent years. The Souza Family Vineyard is located in the picturesque Cummings Valley near Tehachapi, Calif. The vineyard’s first crush, its 2005 Primitivo Zinfandel, earned a silver medal at the 2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, as well as a gold medal for its 2007 release.

The property comes with a tasting room, three living quarters that include a Victorian-era main house, caretaker's cottage and bunkhouse. The property is also used for weddings, fundraisers and other special events. Estate amenities include a large gazebo, dance floor, pergola, fountain, detached bathhouse with showers and RV hookups. The cottage and bunkhouse are fully furnished.

As always, Government Auction will offer a selection of elite timepieces, including an exceptional Rolex Submariner wristwatch. Introduced in 1953, the Submariner has been a favorite with collectors and outdoorsmen alike. Water-resistant up to 100 meters, the watch in the sale is two-tone stainless steel and 14K gold with a steel sundial and lapis blue disc. This watch comes in its original box with papers of authenticity.

Another fine luxury watch is a gold men's Rolex. The watch is a stunner with 14K rose gold band and face. This watch also retains its original box with papers of authenticity.

The auction house will also be selling an extensive selection of jewelry. A standout piece is a 9.95-carat mixed cut tanzanite and diamond ring. The piece is composed of 14K white gold with a large sky-blue tanzanite as the featured stone. The 9.95-carat stone measures 14mm x 11mm and is surrounded by 16 prong-set, round, brilliant-cut diamonds with a total carat weight of 1.34 carats. Tanzanite is a rare gemstone found only in the African nation of Tanzania. Discovered in 1967 by Tiffany & Co., the gem occurs in gray, brown, violet, blue, purple and green varieties. What makes the gem interesting is its ability to exhibit multiple changes of color when rotated.

Offered for auction in the coin category is a 1909-D $5 U.S Indian Head gold piece, a highly sought-after coin among collectors and investors. The Indian Head “half eagle,” as the coin is also referred to, was minted from 1908 to 1916 and again in 1929. Unlike traditional coins minted in this era the Indian Head gold coins featured a design where the main features of the coin were struck sunken into the coin (incuse) rather than a relief. As a result these coins exhibit less wear and usually survived with greater details intact. The coin features the profile of an American Indian wearing a full feather headdress on the obverse, and a standing eagle on the reverse. The coin was designed by Bela Lyon Pratt and contains .2419 troy ounces of gold.

Luxury handbags are an increasing popular item in Government Auction's events. Numerous styles are offered in Sunday's auction. A standout is a Prada jeweled clutch. The elegant evening purse is a vibrant green and adorned with a multitude of faux gemstones that enhance its chic design. The Prada logo is prominently featured in gold on the front of the clutch.

Additional auction highlights include a brass Model 130 NCR cash register, a 5.00-carat princess-cut diamond and an 1891-CC Morgan silver dollar.

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

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

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Jeffrey S. Evans to auction 19th century lighting March 23

Gooch, of Hopkinsville, Ky., amassed a collection of kerosene-period lighting considered of envious depth and variety. Her collection was so large, that this is the second auction of her 19th century lighting at the Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates gallery. This auction also includes the remainder of the collection of Kerry Bachler of Ontario, N.Y.

The cataloged session will include over 400 lots such as rare figural glass stems including two Sandwich triple dolphins and a dozen Atterbury Swans in a variety of colors; figural spelter stems; rare Victorian opalescent stand and finger lamps; 20 different colored Princes Feather lamps; stand lamps with matching patterned chimneys; ornate student and banquet lamps; an outstanding, large selection of parts including fine shades of all types, rare colored chimneys, good burners and setups; the Bachler library of reference materials; and more.

The uncataloged session will immediately follow the cataloged session and will consist of the Gooch and Bachler basements full of parts of all types to be sold in tray and box lots including chimneys, burners, shades, frames, etc.

The auction starts at 9:30 a.m. on March 23. For further information regarding this press release and any other public relations query, please call 917-302-1757.

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.

Palm Beach Modern’s Mar. 30 auction offers top-tier modern design

“Collectors, dealers and estate executors liked what they saw at the January sale and wanted the Palm Beach Modern treatment, too. They came forward with a stunning array of modern furniture whose overall quality is unprecedented in the history of our auction house,” said auctioneer Rico Baca. Those consignments form the core of a March 30 auction of 400 vetted lots of rare, iconic pieces by premier names in Italian, French and American modern design. Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

“Sophisticated – chic – those are the words that come to mind,” Baca said. “As each shipment of merchandise arrived to us – from Belgium, France, Italy and several states – we became increasingly challenged to come up with catalog descriptions that adequately conveyed the wow factor.”

The ultimate in minimalist expression, a circa-1970 Ado Chale (Belgian, b. 1928-) bronze and metal cocktail table is estimated at $50,000-$70,000. Chale’s designs evolved from his passion for minerals, and often his inventive hybrids combine form with natural elements. The bronze top of the cocktail table offered by Palm Beach Modern was crafted to simulate a spiral-pattern wood grain. “Ado Chale designs are found in royal palaces and French museums. Everything he makes is elegant, original and perfectly proportioned. Many of his pieces are one offs,” said Baca.

Relatively few furniture designs by French sculptor Jacques Duval-Brasseur have appeared at auction in the past. His rare circa-1970 dining/center hall table of brass and glass with splay-foot pedestal incorporates a chunky natural amethyst quartz specimen into its design. Baca describes the table as “very Palm Beach in style.” It is entered with a $20,000-$25,000 estimate.

Known for his imaginative methods of blending architecture and art, sculptor Albert Paley (American, b. 1944-) was the first metal sculptor to receive the coveted Institute Honors, the highest award the American Institute of Architects bestows on a non-architect. Paley is represented in the sale by a forged and fabricated steel and wood console/sofa table. In quintessential Paley style, the wood top is fluted in the same manner as the metal legs, whose exteriors feature eccentrically pleated and mashed metal adornments. Estimate: $25,000-$45,000.

Midcentury design visionaries applied their ingenious ideas in unexpected ways. An example is the Arnold Wolf for JBL walnut stereo speaker cabinet known as the Paragon D44000. Manufactured in 1961, the symmetrically flawless furnishing is an achievement in aesthetics with an underlying utilitarian purpose. The example to be sold by Palm Beach Modern boasts Hollywood provenance, having come from the Beverly Hills estate of actor Glenn Ford (1916-2006). Estimate: $25,000-$45,000.

Another highlight of the furniture section is a quirky “Traccia” occasional table designed by Meret Oppenheim (German/Swiss, 1913-1985) for Simon Gavina (Italy). Its gold leaf over wood top is suspended by supports shaped as tall, realistically formed bird (possibly ostrich) legs. Estimate: $4,500-$6,500.

Other significant pieces include an iconic 1958 Arne Jacobsen (Danish, 1902-1971) leather and aluminum armchair with ottoman, $7,000-$10,000; a circa-1946 pea-green Eero Saarinen for Knoll “Grasshopper” chair with ottoman, $2,500-$3,500; and a circa-1950 Jacques Adnet (French, 1984-1984) desk of prescient design and superior quality.

“Jacques Adnet was in partnership with Hermes and designed for them. His ability to seam leather together was unrivaled,” said Baca. “The drawer fronts of the desk in our sale are wrapped in leather, with studs and ring pulls. This desk is a testament to Adnet’s reputation as one of the best of the French modernists.” Estimate: $25,000-$45,000.

A fine selection of modern glass is led by a circa-1998 Lino Tagliapietra (Italian, b. 1934-) Mogambo vase in seafoam green. Its African name suits the compelling pattern of black zebra stripes that follow the U-shape curvature of the vessel. “This design is consistent with all of Tagliapietra’s work, in that it is highly intricate and would require tremendous skill to accomplish. How Tagliapietra is able to space his canes so accurately within such an extreme curvature of glass is a mystery to me. Obviously, he is a truly great artist, and that’s why he is so collected,” said Baca. Estimate: $4,000-$5,000.

Also to be auctioned is a grouping of Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973) posters, including one from an important 1956 exhibition in Vallauris, France; edition of 1,000 (est. $500-$600). All of the posters came from a “very particular” collector, Baca said, and have been vetted for authenticity.

Palm Beach Modern’s Fine Art, Decorative Arts & Modern Design auction will commence at 12 noon Eastern Time on Saturday, March 30, 2013. For additional information on any lot in the sale, call 561-586-5500, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

View the fully illustrated auction catalog online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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Ewbank's to auction Francis Bacon canvases March 21

GUILDFORD, England – Canvases cut from "Screaming Pope" paintings by Francis Bacon have emerged and will be sold on March 21 by the Surrey auctioneer who sold other but unidentified fragments of Bacon works for more than £1 million. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

Five canvases, all of which have been authenticated by the Francis Bacon Authentication Committee, will be sold by Surrey fine art auctioneers Ewbank's on Thursday, March 21. They are estimated conservatively to fetch around £100,000. A sixth canvas from the same source as the others, having recently returned from America so not examined by the committee, is estimated at £5,000-10,000.

All six canvases originated from the studio of Lewis Todd from Cambridge, who as an aspiring painter, had cut them up and used them for his own paintings, which he later sold to visitors and collectors on the All Saints Craft Market and art exhibitions.

Francis Bacon (1909-1992) is known to have painted mainly on the unprimed reverse of canvases and was a ruthless critic and editor of his own work. Anything he was not satisfied with or thought too perfect he mutilated.

Lewis Todd, who died in 2006 aged 81, was well known as a caricature artist for the Cambridge Daily News, now the Cambridge Evening News. After World War II and short of funds, he was encouraged to take up painting in oils by John Kesterton, manager of the Heffer Gallery who gave him his first canvases free because they had only been used on the reverse by Bacon, whom the gallery also supplied with materials, and perfectly suitable for painting on the front side,

The gifts were conditional upon Todd agreeing to cut up the canvases before making use of them for himself. It is not known how Bacon's used canvases came to be at the Heffer Gallery in the first place.

Said auctioneer Chris Ewbank: "Todd did as he was required and cut the canvases so he could practice on them. At the time Bacon was making his name and his significance as a one of the world's most outstanding contemporary artists had yet to be widely recognized. It is fantastic to think that these pictures were once part of a much larger painting of historical importance.

Astonishingly, among them and on the reverse of at least one of the original uncut canvases was one of Bacon's most celebrated and graphic Screaming Pope images. This series of paintings was inspired by Velázquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X, and said to be Bacon's way of expressing the horror of war and its aftermath.

Comparing the fragments to the famous Bacon painting hanging in the Des Moines Art Center in Iowa – Study after Velázquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X – the similarities are self-evident. Last November, Francis Bacon's Untitled (Pope) 1954, depicting a shrieking pontiff, sold in a New York auction for a record £18.7 million.

Chris Ewbank added: "The discovery of these fragments of Bacon-painted canvases represent an important moment in art history. It was no secret that Lewis Todd once used discarded canvases from Francis Bacon's studio, it was even mentioned in Todd's obituaries, but to have identified authenticated Bacon pieces which feature one of Bacon's haunting pope portraits is incredible.

“It also leads to the intriguing speculation that there are more examples of Bacon's paintings in existence used by Todd for his own purposes, while someone, somewhere might even have a painting by Todd with a pope's head on the back of it. Anyone who owns a painting by Todd should take it off the wall and check the back of the canvas. Those seemingly random daubs of paint could indicate a work of far greater significance.”

Most valuable of the six oils shows the yellow, white and black edge and leg of a chair, and some of the white papal clothing, on a black and blue ground. It measures 36 by 24 inches, with an additional 3 by 4 inches obscured where the canvas is wrapped and nailed to stretchers. The "right" side shows a still life painted by Todd in 1958, and is signed and inscribed verso, "The Studio at Orchard Avenue." It is estimated at £25,000-30,000, as is another showing what appears to be the fleshy hand and arm of a Bacon pope. Also visible is the white and green arm of the chair on a black and blue ground. The painting measures 21 by 26 inches and has been removed from its stretchers. On the front is a painting of a house and tree by Lewis Todd.

Estimated at £15,000-25,000 is a canvas measuring 34.5 by 30 inches overall. It shows a set of curtain rings on a black background with three lines of a cube. The use of black as a background and apparent cube structures around figures was frequently employed by Bacon. Similar rings appear in Untitled (Pope) illustrated in Francis Bacon The violence of the real by Armin Zweite plate 10 page 116. Lewis Todd's painting on the front shows a boy reading a book.

Two other canvases are each estimated at £10,000-20,000. One shows a typical yellow and white edge of a chair from a pope portrait, on a striped purple, black, and blue ground. Bearing similarities to Bacon's Study after Velázquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X (1953), it measures 29 by 24 1/2 inches overall and bears Todd's portrait of a man wearing a hat on the front.

The other shows typical vertical black stripes in a style used frequently by Bacon as the background for his 1953-54 pope portraits. Written in pencil by Todd is the title of one of his paintings and the words "A Francis Bacon Screaming Pope" inscribed verso. It measures 27 by 21 inches overall and is painted with a still life by Todd.

This and the other four authenticated pieces were included in a PhD research project at Northumbria University sponsored by the Bacon Trust. As part of the research, paint samples from the paintings were collected and analyzed. Preliminary results confirm that all pigments and binding medium used were typical of Francis Bacon works of the 1950s and 1960s.

The sixth canvas from the same source as the others, only recently returned from America and not examined by the Authentication Committee, has deep blue and black vertical lines and is inscribed verso in pen "Apples - by Lewis Todd" and "Francis Bacon - cast off! in 1950's." The canvas measures 22 by 18 1/2 inches and is estimated a £5,000-10,000.

Lewis Todd (1925-2006) lived in Over, near Cambridge. He was educated at the Perse School in Cambridge and served in the Home Guard based in Histon. After the war he worked as a graphic artist for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAF) eastern region, and was awarded the British Empire Medal for his work.

He retired in the 1980s, becoming a "Sunday painter," describing himself as a "late Impressionist," while his style was likened to that of L.S. Lowry. He and his wife ran a stall at Cambridge's craft markets for many years.

One of his oil paintings, a scene of people punting on the River Cam behind Kings College Chapel, was purchased on behalf of the Queen Mother and believed to be in the Royal collection, while Prince Charles and Prince Philip were said to enjoy his cartoons done at the East of England Show MAF tent.

Ewbank's is Surrey's leading auctioneers of fine art and antiques. They are credited in having established the market for previously unseen and mutilated Francis Bacon canvases. In 2007, they sold a collection rescued from a skip outside the artist's London studio by electrician Mac Robertson who became Bacon's drinking partner. Estimated at around £50,000, the collection sold for £1.13 million.

Next came a further six works which were sold by Ewbank's on behalf of Ron Thomas, a porter at Bacon's dealers, Marlborough Fine Art. One of Thomas' duties was to ferry paintings between the gallery and Bacon's studio and the mutilated canvases were given to him, either to keep or to have the stretchers for his own use. They sold for a total of £32,000.

In 2008, a man who worked in the shop where Bacon purchased his art materials consigned part of one of Bacon's destroyed canvases dating from about 1985, which showed what appeared to be a "pool of flesh" spread across a black background. It sold for £12,000.

For further information, please contact Chris Ewbank FRICS ASFAV on 01483 223101 or 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.

Auction Gallery of Palm Beaches to sell Belle Epoque items March 18-19

The collection was assembled over the years by a Miami antiquarian who amassed a collector’s trove of antiques. Now in his mid-70s, the antiquarian has made the decision to look toward retirement and sell off the part of the collection. Each session begins at 6 p.m. EDT.

Each urn is a testament to the exquisite legacy of 19th and early 20th century French and Continental porcelain painters who painted beautiful allegorical scenes in the reserves. Each having a naturalistic setting with courting figures in elegant period clothing enjoying nature and her bounty and each being mounted in incredible bronze dore handle mountings in masks, tendrils and scrolls. The urn is a revered form and is coveted for embodying the bounty of life and inevitably the ashes of death. The quality and execution of the urns is the best of French porcelain.

Deserving attention are Lot 427, an important Sevres urn, and lot 487, an Important Royal Vienna urn.

Each is noted for the combination of painting, form and overall execution and design, and quite possibly done for an exhibition or palace. The Sevres urn in the traditional cobalt blue backround glaze stands a 54 inches high and the Royal Vienna urn, in a seldom-seen mustard glaze, is 40 inches high. Both have dore mounts and exuberant floral decoration. Both are prized and should bring attention from buyers around the globe. Additionally, there are Lots 445, 387 and 350, all Sevres late 19th century urns that exemplify the best in porcelain from the period.

The collection has a vast array of Asian objects including a wide selection of vintage carved pink and green quartz lamps, several French bronze candleabras and a selection of ivories including lot 365, an 18th century carving of a monk holding a shrine. There are many Vernis Martin furniture pieces with dore bronze mountings, including lots 122 and 172, each Louis XV late 19th century cabinets with marble tops. Lot 42, a Sevres 31-inch-diameter porcelain plaque depicting French kings in small reserves mounted in a giltwood carved stand.

For condition reports, assistance and information contact Mr.Leslie Baker or Kogan by calling the gallery at 561-805-7115.

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.

Converse presents Asian, antiques auction online March 23

“This is an ambitious auction, for sure,” said Todd Converse of Gordon S. Converse & Co. “At nearly 1,000 lots, it’s way bigger than most of our previous sales. But we’re excited about it because there is so much great merchandise in so many categories. There really is something for everyone. Also, shipping will be available on all but about 100 larger items.”

The lots are eclectic and freewheeling, ranging from a box of about 12 sailing-related tools, engraved scrimshawed hangings and a damaged octant (est. $60-$120) to original Little Archie comic book art (est. $100-$200). An expected star of the vintage clocks category is a gold-toned and glass-cased LeCoultre Atmos clock dating to the early 1960s (est. $400-$700).

Fine art will feature an oil on canvas painting by Earnest Townsend (N.Y., 1893-1944), titled Bermuda Waters, 27 inches by 31 inches, housed in a later gilt wood frame and signed lower right (est. $2,000-$3,000); and an oil on canvas by Christopher Shearer (American, 1846-1926), depicting a village scene, 33 1/2 inches by 40 1/2 inches and signed lower left (est. $1,200-$1,500).

Asian (mostly Chinese) antiques, objects and furniture will be plentiful. Star lots will include a finely carved Chinese 19th century wood-carved immortal, about 15 inches tall (est. $10,000-$15,000); and a fine and impressive 19th century gilt bronze Buddha casting on a conforming attached base, 15 inches by 12 inches, showing some wear (est. $4,500-$8,500).

Also offered will be a Chinese huanghuali altar table, about 32 inches tall by 67 inches wide (est. $5,000-$10,000); Chinese scrolls attributed to Fu Baoshi and Feng Zikai (both est. $8,000-$12,000); and a pair of Chinese zitan horseshoe chairs in black lacquer (or dark finish) of dense, heavy zitan hardwood and with elaborate carved splat in bas relief (est. $5,000-$7,000).

More items from Asia include a Chinese zitan stand, 31 inches tall (est. $3,000-$5,000); a Qing Imperial jade seal in a zitan box about 7 1/4 inches tall (est. $1,000-$2,000); a Chinese zitan and jade ruyi, or curved ceremonial scepter (est. $1,250-$2,000); a stack of old Chinese currency (est. $300-$500); a set of four Tianhuang seals in a 4 1/2 inch square huanghuali box (est. $400-$600); and a Chinese blue and white Qianlong vase, 14 1/2 inches tall (est. $400-$600).

Estate jewelry items will feature a platinum Swiss-made ladies’ dress wristwatch made by the Glycine Watch Co., including a special clasp and set with sapphires and diamonds (est. $2,500-$5,000); and a hunting cased ladies’ pendant watch in “Warranted Assay 14K” gold, with a fully running stem-wind nickel-plated jeweled duplex escapement movement (est. $80-$120).

Sterling silver will include an assembled five-piece tea set, Philadelphia, with a 1 1/2 pint teapot by Gorham and sold by Bailey Banks and Biddle, a 1 3/4 pint chocolate pot, a 2-pint teapot and warmer, sold by J.F. Caldwell, and a creamer and sugar, all with combined weights of over 81 troy oz. (est. $1,000-$1,250); and a fine and multi-sided Tiffany & Co. silver bowl, 2 1/2 inches by 8 inches, marked 18165 and 5169 and weighing 16.85 troy ounces (est. $4,000-$1,000).

African objects will include a carved wooden statue, 10 1/2 inches tall (est. $100-$200).

Gordon S. Converse & Co. is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, call them at 610-722-9004 or send an email to either This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 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.

Auction Team Breker to revisit photo milestones March 23

One of the most intriguing highlights is a wet-plate “Photo Magie” camera outfit (lot 368, estimate €5,000-10,000) by Alphonse Giroux. The brother-in-law of Louis Daguerre, Giroux played a pivotal role in the development of photography when he constructed the famous cameras that his relative had designed. He was also a successful businessman, art restorer and ébéniste in his own right, who sold luxury goods, magical items and automata from his shop, Maison A. Giroux.

The “Photo Magie” outfit, comprising ebonised box camera with elegantly lettered paper label, brass-bound lens, three bottles of developing fluid and a selection of unexposed glass plates still in their paper wrappers, is beautifully preserved in its original maker’s box. This item is a rare document of the history of magic as well as of photography.

Another 19th century piece with practical as well as historical interest is a beautifully engineered projecting microscope by Marion & Co. Ltd. of London, circa 1860 (lot 227, estimate €1,200-1,600). The device features a lacquered brass pillar supporting a monorail, on which ride the paraffin illuminant, mahogany projection box, stage, tube and lenses used to reveal the wonders of microscopy for study and diversion.

From America comes the colorful 1890s “Sciopticon,” (or “Peacock,”) magic lantern by the Pettibone Brothers of Ohio (lot 455, estimate €2,500– 4,000) and the scarce Art-Deco “Selector Mutoscope” by the International Mutoscope Reel Co. of New York (lot 504, estimate €9,000-12,000), with its five selectable picture reels whose tempting titles, such as “Flitting Butterflies” and “Soaked to the Skin,” promise the user “snappy, comic, thrilling and timely” viewing experiences.

A different kind of viewer is the rare patented French “Grimatoscope” c. 1870 (lot 403, estimate €7,000-10,000) by Jules Duboscq of Paris: a hand-held optical device with clockwork motor that transforms a normal photographic portrait via a distorting glass disc, so that the face assumes alternately humorous and grotesque expressions. The viewer had a more serious purpose as well, in that it was a precursor to the “photographic transformation” theory of Louis Ducos du Hauron, who pioneered color photography.

“Le Diocinescope” (lot 505, estimate €8,000-12,000) by Huet & Daubresse of Paris was subject to patents (in France in 1899 and Britain in 1900 and 1901) for an ingenious prism aimed at reducing the “blinking” effect experienced in early motion picture films. Other examples of motion picture equipment in the auction include the iconic Bell & Howell “35” of around 1912 (lot 495, estimate €3,500-5,000) and 10 multiple lots of the increasingly popular and useable German lenses (Carl Zeiss, Schneider, Kilfitt) for motion picture cameras (lots 483-492).

In addition to motion picture cameras, magic lanterns and optical toys, the sale also showcases a comprehensive selection of classic film cameras, from 35mm “black and chrome” to Rollei, Linhof and Hasselblad. Among the over 70 lots of Leica cameras, lenses and scarce accessories, many in their original factory boxes, is a desirable olive M3 with “Bundeseigentum” engraving from 1958 (lot 137, estimate €2,800-3,800) and a superb presentation M6 Jaguar XK in mint condition (lot 151, estimate €6,000-8,000): one of a series of 50 luxury models with green leather body covering and company logo, made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the legendary English sports car in 1998.

An exclusively English attempt to compete with Leitz was Peto Scott’s “Witness” camera of 1952 (lot 196, estimate €5,000-10,000). Styled after a Leica M-series camera, the stylish chrome body sports a Dallmeyer 2-inch lens and was distributed by the Essex film-manufacturer, Ilford. The design, however, did not prove successful, and only around 350 units were ever produced – now considered a significant rarity among 35 mm cameras.

Other highlights include one of the few surviving examples of Christian Adrian Michel’s hand-built Swiss panoramic pigeon camera (lot 366, estimate €15,000-20,000) and an ever-stylish “Compass” camera outfit, combining engineering precision with perfect design, by Le Coultre & Cie (lot 308, estimate €5,000-7,000).

The auction is rounded off with a series of historic images, from Antoine Claudet (lot 376, estimate €4,000-6,000) to Ansel Adams (Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 1942, lot 387, estimate €5,000-10,000).

The auction takes place on Saturday, March 23.

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

(€1.00 = $1.30)

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.

Bloomsbury poster auction March 19 has cure for cabin fever

LONDON – With spring just round the corner there is still time to ski. In the Bloomsbury poster sale on Tuesday, March 19, are some fine examples of places to go: St. Moritz and Davos (lots 80, 82) in Switzerland as well as jetting off to Canada (78, 79) or the U.S. such as Lake Placid (81), Dartmouth (76, 77), New Hampshire (85) and New England (83). All have estimates in the £400-600 range up to £2000-3000 each.

LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

Travel was becoming increasingly accessible in the 1920s and ’30s; the advent of air travel meant that airlines posters will always make you dream. In the aviation section (lots 86 to 113) you will find the pioneers of flying: Air France, BOAC, Pan Am, American Airlines, United, TWA, Baltic Air and others The posters will get you to go to Hawaii (lot 106), San Francisco, (lot 108), Las Vegas, (lot 104), the Caribbean (lots 93, 94) Bermuda (lots 87, 95, 98) as well as far flung destinations as Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji and Pago-Pago; those are for more modern ways of flying. There is a rare and early 1914 Zeppelin poster, pre Graf and Hindenburg airships, the precursor of luxury air travel, lot 107, and it has an estimate of £5,000-7,000. Lot 102 promotes ELTA, the first European aviation exhibition in 1919. It has an estimate of £800-1,200.

Film posters are present with such films as the Misfits (lot 55) estimate £200-300; The Graduate (lot 62) est. £150-250; 2001 A Space Odyssey (lot 63) est. £150-250; The Godfather (lot 64) est. £150-250. James Bond is there, Lawrence of Arabia, Steve Mcqueen as well as the Fab Four with A Hard Day’s Night (lot 56) est. £300-400; and Let it Be (lot 57) est. £200-300; not to forget the British “Carry-on” classic Carry on Camping, which is signed by Barbara Windsor (lot 52) est. £3000-500.

French posters are always in demand and the Father of Posters Jules Cheret (1839-1932) is no exception with lot 9, Vin Mariani, estimate £900-1,100 as well as lot 10, Palais de Glace, estimate £900-1,100. Toulouse-Lautrec, who created 31 posters in his short life, was commissioned to do a poster for Simpson, a British bicycle company, and he depicts Jimmy Michael, a famous and race-winning British cyclist (lot 45) estimate £6,000-9,000. Steinlen is famous for his cats with (lot 41) est. £3,200-3,800. Posters were also used to advertise a wide variety of products such as early car tire posters (lot 39) est. £1,200-1,400 with an interest.ing use of a pretty woman to promote tires, Stock cubes (lot 40), Secession exhibitions (lot 43), Perrier water (lot 46) and Cacoa (lot 49).

British travel with London Underground or the railway companies have some stunning and interesting things. London Underground and the Post Office, GPO are lots 119-138. There is a group of GPO with important British artists such as Tom Eckersley, Pat Keely, James Fitton and others all from the same school. The London Underground has always been renowned for the quality of its artists and posters, with the consequence that all LU posters are sought after. The selection in the sale show the diverse way LU advertised its mode of transportation.

Most of the railway posters come from two American clients having been collected over the years and had been found in the UK. A rarity is Jersey (lot 151), apart from the boat service to the island there was Jersey Airways and before World War II the planes landed on the beach and had to depart before the tide came in. The railway companies exploited the British country side (148, 150, 156) but also industry (143), towns (141, 144, 147, 149, 152, 157) and pure travel (146).

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.

Antique textiles, Asian cultural art in Wovensouls’ Apr. 6 auction debut

SINGAPORE (LAPRS) – Discovering and learning about remote Asian cultures has long been a passion of Jaina Mishra’s. An award-winning photographer and travelogue writer, Mishra has spent the past 10 years reverently documenting what she describes as “vanishing cultures.” While immersing herself in the decade-long odyssey that took her to faraway mountains and valleys that few tourists visit, Mishra also collected tribal textiles, jewelry and folk art objects she felt were special. And although she never previously attempted to make her living from the sale of Asian cultural art, Mishra, an MBA whose fascination with distant places and people dates back to her childhood in India, is now taking that logical next step. She will share her remarkable finds with the rest of the world in an April 6 online-only auction conducted through LiveAuctioneers.com.

Mishra chose the business name Wovensouls because her collection began with textiles and later expanded to include other artforms. “Textiles are the woven expression of the soul of a tribe, so the name appealed to me,” she explained.

Before formally launching her business, Mishra tested the commercial waters by selling a few pieces privately. Then, at the end of 2012, came an important breakthrough. Mishra sold a piece to one of the world’s most prestigious museums. That particular sale was a validation to Mishra that she had achieved the level of sophistication required to identify and deal in top-quality Asian cultural art.

“It made me think, ‘If a top-class museum is buying from me, then the only thing standing in the way of Wovensouls becoming a successful venture is my own lack of effort.’ Up until that time, I wasn’t really sure if my eye was good enough. I had always bought using my eye and instinct, and only once had I bought an item solely because of its provenance or because someone else said it was good,” Mishra said.

All of the pieces offered in the April 6 auction are from Mishra’s 10-year personal collection and nearly all were obtained firsthand during her travels. The carefully assembled auction selection includes jewelry, hand-painted art objects, manuscripts and, of course, textiles. The cultures represented are largely Tibetan and Ladakh (an Indian culture influenced by Tibet), with the addition of pieces from Borneo (Dayak), India and the Golden Triangle of northern Thailand, South Vietnam and Laos. The latter region is home to the Yao and Attapeu Hilltribe peoples.

The collection also includes art from the Indian Gujarat culture. “Gujarat art is very beautiful and, I believe, undervalued,” said Mishra. “Some of the Gujarat people are descended from Romany gypsies. Their art is unique and deserves further research.”

Among the most impressive items in the sale are three decorative antique peraks, or headdresses, from the Himalayas. Peraks – which can weigh as much as 29 lbs. each – are usually passed down from mother to daughter until there is a generation with no female child. In such cases, the perak is donated to a monastery after a ceremony and subsequently auctioned. Lot 102 is from the Zanskaar Valley and is embellished with old turquoise stones, coral, silver and lapis. Its two side panels are adorned with rows of pearls, which are rarely seen in peraks. Estimate: $6,000-$8,000. Another fine Zanskaar Valley perak has similar decorative elements, but with highly prized coral rather than pearls on its side panels. Its estimate is $8,000-$12,000. The third example is from the Changthang region and has pearl borders along the hood and small, suspended coral chains that serve as a veil. This particular perak could make $9,000-$12,000.

Lots 113 and 115 are 19th-century Tibetan noblewomen’s headdresses known as pat’h. “These pat’h are very rare. Once they are gone, I doubt I’ll ever be able to find any others,” Mishra noted.

Photos of Tibetan pat’h are seen in the Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford and in the Schuyler Jones book “Tibetan Nomads.” Status symbols in their culture, pat’h were used to support elaborate hairstyles and typically were enhanced with coral, turquoise and pearls. The two examples in Wovensouls’ auction are estimated at $12,000-$16,000 and $10,000-$15,000, respectively.

Presale interest has been shown in many lots containing woven Tibetan garments and accessories. They include bags and pouches, yak-wool pants, a bridal coat, kaabo cummerbund, and a costume set consisting of a coarse wool chooba and baku.

Pabuji-ki-phad are large, beautifully hand-drawn and hand-painted folk art textiles used as a backdrop mural for devotional performances by “bhopas.” Each narrates a story about the lok deva, or folk gods. Ancestral phads are passed from father to son and used over three or four generations. Lot 131, executed in stunning rose, green and blue shades, was acquired from one of the few surviving phad artists and is estimated at $5,000-$8,000. Lot 132 was created by the renowned phad master artist the late Shri Jadau Chand Shrilal, who work is displayed at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Its estimate is $4,000-$8,000.

There are seven palm leaf etchings in the collection, all from Odisha, India. Several of these fascinating hand-inscribed works narrate legends or folk tales. Others relate the story of a journey to Java Sumatra, are etched with writings about medicine, or, in one case, display content from the Kama Sutra, therefore classifying the etching as erotica.

Wovensouls’ April 6 online-only auction through LiveAuctioneers.com featuring the personal collection of Jaina Mishra will commence at 10 a.m. Pacific Time (1 p.m. Eastern). For questions about any item in the sale, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call Singapore 011 659 824 2864. Note: prompt international shipping.

Log on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com to view the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live online during the April 6 auction.

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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.

Gianguan opens spring Asia Week with auction March 17

This auction comes on the heels of high-profile publicity in the international media regarding the opening of the Kwong Lam Museum in Guangdong Province and Kwong Lam’s gift of the Sai Yang Tang Collection of antiquities to the museum’s permanent collection. Kwong Lam is proprietor of Gianguan Auctions, a noted collector and respected authority on Chinese antiquities.

Opening the auction is a superb collection of Chinese paintings, with the highlight being Lot 19, Mandarin Ducks in Lotus Pond by Northern Song Dynasty painter Xu Chogsi. The ink-and color on paper bears one artist seal, Ten Emperors’ Seals and Twelve Collectors Seals. The exquisite painting carries the provenance of the Sai Yang Tang Collection. The estimate is by request.

Lot 32 is another exceptional hanging scroll from the Northern Song Dynasty. It is a landscape titled Rain on Mountains by Mi Fu. The monochromatic ink on paper is reminiscent of the 10th century landscapes currently on view at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City. It is inscribed and signed, with one artist seal, Nine Emperors’ Seals and Eleven Collectors’ Seals. The provenance is the Sai Yang Tan Collection and, again, the estimate is on request.

Also at the top of the market is Chen Rong’s Dragon and Phoenix, Lot 24. The fiercely dramatic scene, an ink-on-paper, is inscribed and signed Suo Weng and Chen Heng. It bears one artist seal and Nine Collectors Seals and is estimated at $300,000-$400,000.

More accessible to younger collectors is a collection of contemporary scroll paintings. Contemporary Ink, as the category is known, is currently receiving widespread acclaim. It is characterized by new-wave artists working in the traditional manner, with brush, ink and paper.

Typical of the offerings in the upcoming sale is Lot 3, a colorful offering by Huang Yongu entitled Toasting. Its estimate is $4,000-$5,000.

From the afternoon session of Chinese ceramics, bronzes, carvings and works of art comes the day’s marquee item. It is an elaborate Qing Dynasty FamilleRose Butterfly vase of globular form. Its opulent purple ground is ornamented with colorful foliage and large butterflies. Gilt dragon-form handles and a gilt bud finial atop the cover add to its overall appeal. Of the period and bearing six Qianlong Character Marks, the 13 1/2-inch vase is lot 200. Its estimate is available on request.

Equally desirable is a rare copper-red Buddhist Prayer Tibetan Lanca character bowl. Encircling the center Lanca is a frieze of eight other Lancas. Also on the interior and the exterior are continuous bands of Lanca script while at the foot of the bowl there is a frieze of 10 more. Dating to the Ming Dynasty, the bowl carries the Xuande six-character double circle mark. It is Lot 205, estimated at $150,000-$200,000.

The collection of porcelains features properties for every taste and at every level from $1,000 upwards. Among the mid-range items is a pair of rare Yaozhou Celadon Chrysanthemum molded conical bowls, of the Northern Song dynasty. Carved with a central flower surrounded by stylized chrysanthemum scrolls beneath a wave band, the pair has a deep olive green glaze. The pair is Lot 253, estimated at $40,000 or better.

Meanwhile, the popularity of carved jades is highly visible in the Gianguan Auctions sale. From the Warring States Period is a white jade Tripod Ding with Mythical Beast Head spout. Of compressed globular form, the ding is supported on three tubular legs and has squared, upright handles. The form terminates in a beast head with open mouth. About 4 1/2 inches tall and 6 inches long, it is positioned at Lot 173 and carries a presale estimate of $15,000-$20,000. Also from the Warring States Period are three jade plaques and a classic bi.

Antique and decorative carved jades include Lot 273, an intricately carved white jadeite figure of Hehe Exrian with a child by his side. In one hand the figure holds a lotus stalk and there is a box releasing a Lingzhi supporting a bat. The exceptionally white jade has even white tone throughout and carries an estimate of $20,000-$30,000.

Meanwhile, Lot 274, an auspicious figural group of Shoulao, the god of longevity, with children and goat, is carved from greenish-white jade softly polished. Shoulao carries a ruyi stalk and holds a dragon staff as the children clamor with peach and sprigs of lingzhi. The catalog estimate is $20,000-$30,000.

A Qing Dynasty Hetian Jade Lion and Cub figural group is both dramatic and intricate. The lion holds the long tassel of a pierced ball between his clenched teeth as the cub clamors by his side. Detailing includes the prominent main, spiral eyebrows and curled fur. Of the period, it is Lot 281, estimated at $30,000-$50,000.

A collection of carved jade Guanyins hold exceptional appeal. Lot 282 is a finely carved jadeite Guanyin in a rock grotto with an acolyte boy seated on a lotus pad. The Guanyin figure holds a lingzhi sprig. Carved of white jade, the group should fetch between $15,000-$20,000.

Another Guanyin, Lot 262, of exceptionally white stone with even tone, features the figure reading a book and holding a whisk while a child acolyte is by her side. The reticulated carving portrays a flame halo that conveys the illusion of divine light. The commanding jade sculpture is estimated at $6,000-$8,000.

Lot 263 provides a stylized depiction of Guanyin with halo. Spare in its form, the carving portrays the figure seated with one knee drawn up and stepping on a lotus pad. She holds a ruyi stalk and has downcast eyes. With some inclusions, the estimate on the modernistic jade interpretation is $6,000-$8,000.

An outstanding cloisonné Meiping with windows of flaming dragons takes the podium at Lot 308. Of baluster form, it is flanked by ruyi heads with intricately enameled dragons and scrolls set against a yellow ground. Of the Qing Dynasty, it bears the Qianlong six character impressed mark and is estimated at $20,000-$30,000.

The live auction is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. EDT.

For condition reports, call the gallery at 212-867-7288.

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.

Country store collection headlines Showtime sale April 13-14

Headlining the event will be the outstanding lifetime collection of Bill and Kathie Gasperino. The couple is well known in antique circles as having one of the finest country store and advertising collections in the United States. Also sold will be Part 2 of the Robert and Harriett Potter firefighting collection and Part 3 of the Ed and Christy Ramsey collection of pedal cars and toys.

“This is shaping up as our best spring auction ever,” said Mike Eckles of Showtime Auction Services, based in Woodhaven, Mich. “Country store and advertising collectors will be astounded by what the Gasperinos have gathered over the years, the Potters have a vast accumulation of firefighting equipment, apparatus and memorabilia spanning 50-plus years, and the Ramsey collection covers 35 years.”

In addition, bidders will be treated to the usual lengthy list of categories that have come to typify a Showtime Auction sale: country store, advertising signs, store tins, soda fountain, Coca-Cola, Western, Native American, farm signs, whiskey, breweriana, match safes, drug store, barber shop, general store, saloon, post office, coin-op, arcade, scales, gambling, cigar and tobacco tins, cash registers, petroliana, showcases, store fixtures, millinery and more.

One of the expected star lots is an 1880s cigar store Indian with forged iron wheels, with attributes suggesting it was carved by Thomas Brooks (est. $50,000-$75,000). The figure is 83 inches tall, including the base, in very good condition and with most of the original paint intact. Also selling will be an excellent 1870s zinc cigar store Indian by William Demuth of New York.

Just two of the many rare and desirable automobilia and petroliana items being offered will include a Kelly Tire tin sign in good original condition, 24 inches in diameter (est. $15,000-$25,000), and a Hudson neon outdoor dealer sign in near-mint condition (est. $12,000-$15,000).

Bidders will be impressed by the rare Mills Silver Cup trade stimulator slot machine, one of only four known and in excellent, restored working order (est. $30,000-$50,000); and a full set of War Eagle slot machines with various denominations represented (est. $10,000-$15,000).

West Coast breweriana collectors will doubtless do battle over the Bellingham Bay Beer reverse glass sign, housed in its original frame, 19 1/2 inches in diameter (est. $20,000-$30,000); and a rare Buffalo Brewery reverse glass corner sign with factory scene (est. $30,000-$45,000).

Certain to garner attention is a spectacular saloon back bar with four fancy columns with cast-iron embellishments, impressive at 12 1/2 feet by 9 1/2 feet (est. $25,000-$50,000). The back bar boats high relief applied trim, beveled mirrors, marble top, slag glass cameos and original lights. Also selling will be a bank wall with teller window, post office, hardware wall unit, soda fountain front and back bar, plus many other desirable turn-of-the-century store fixtures.

Vintage cars will roar off with new owners at the wheel. These include a fresh-to-the-market 1948 Pontiac “Woody” eight-cylinder station wagon with four-speed Hydramatic transmission, mechanically sound and ready for a road trip (est. $30,000-$40,000); and an eye-catching 1947 Fleet Mfg. “cabin car” wood teardrop travel trailer, 14 feet in length (est. $3,000-$5,000).

If cash registers are your collectible of choice, this auction features more than 15 rare National Cash Registers, ranging from $1,000 to $7,000 in value. One is sure to stand out, though. It's a National Cash Register Model 6, commonly known as “the barber shop model,” and it has been fully restored to its original condition, with an extended oak base (est. $3,000-$4,500).

Native American items will include an 1890 Sioux beaded horse saddle blanket in excellent condition (est. $2,500-$4,500). The early saddle blankets are some of the rare beaded pieces available for collectors. Also being sold will be many other beaded Native American artifacts, to include moccasins, gauntlets, pipe bag, a complete suit and a baby's cradle.

Many rare store displays and products will come under the gavel, such as a Munsingwear tin die-cut store display in excellent condition, with 9 1/2 inch square base and 45 inches tall (est. $2,000-$4,000). It is one of four Munsingwear tin displays to be sold, along with other makers.

The first day of the auction, Friday, April 12, will be for the live audience only – no phone or Internet bidding. The hours will be 10 a.m.-6 p.m. EDT. Auction hours are Saturday are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (with uncataloged items for floor bidding only from 8-10 a.m.).

To order a full-color 208-page printed catalog, call Amy at 734-675-6265.

To consign an item, an estate or a collection, call Michael Eckles at 951-453-2415 or email him at 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 as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Carved ivories, Old Masters highlight Carstens sale March 14

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Carstens Galleries will present its Old Masters, Ivories and Antiques Auction on Thursday, March 14, commencing at 5 p.m. Eastern. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

This event will present a special collection of 18th and 19th century paintings from Clarence Roe, Francis Wheatley, Jean Capeinick, James Burrell Smith, Gertrude Cutts, Ignacio Gil y Sala, Francisco Ribera Gomez, Johan Zoffany, Cornelis Petrus T’Hoen, and oils on canvas from the Hudson River School and the Reynolds School among others.

For collectors of Oriental ivory sculptures, there will be excellent examples of old carvings and some very nice netsukes. Lot 371 is a unique and authentic mammoth tusk carved and signed by the Chinese master with about 70 individual figures of the young celebrating the company of the elders. This lot is a world rarity for its size and quality.

Other offerings among some 300 lots in this auction include a Bruno Zach sculpture, Johan Loetz vases, a Javier Marin sculpture and Famille Rose plates. Also present, a choice selection of old pocket watches and wristwatches by Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet and Longines. To complement the auction, offerings of sterling objects, Murano glass, Sevres porcelains and original Limoges hand-painted miniatures will surely be of interest to bidders.

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 the auction company at 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.

Skinner to auction 'Metropolitan' textiles March 13-14

Skinner will offer textiles that formerly belonged to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The collection features printed, embroidered and woven garments from the 18th through 20th centuries including shawls, scarves, head coverings, wraps, and veils from cultures and regions around the world.

Multiple paisley and piano shawls will be offered, as well as a large assortment of lace. Highlights include an early embroidered silk apron panel (lot 590, estimated between $300 and $500), a 19th century polychrome pieced and appliquéd Kashmir shawl with allover embroidery (lot 575, $800 to $1,200), three multicolored woven silk sashes (lot 576, $300 to $500), and a 19th century American printed silk and wool scarf (lot 600, $200 to $300).

Rare designer pieces from the collection include a multicolored Sonia Delaunay-Terk shawl titled A Damiers, France, c. 1977 (lot 556, $600 to $800) and a multicolored Mondrian-style printed silk chiffon scarf by Yves Saint Laurent (lot 553, $200 to $300).

Estate silver includes a pair of Wallace sterling silver candlesticks (lot 74, $300 to $500), a George Gebelein Arts & Crafts hammered silver and copper footed center bowl (lot 66, $100 to $200), a Gorham sterling silver gold-washed pail (lot 61, $200 to $300), a Victorian sterling silver eggcup holder by George Fox (lot 111, $200 to $400), and an International "Wedgwood" sterling silver partial flatware service for 12 (lot 101, $2,000 to $3,000).

Notable jewelry lots include a blackened 14K gold, diamond, emerald, ruby, and seed pearl pin (lot 312, $200 to $300), a four-strand onyx and 14K gold bead necklace (lot 398, $200 to $400), and a pair of Georg Jensen sterling silver cufflinks (lot 381, $100 to $150). A pair of 14K gold and reverse-painted intaglio game bird earrings (lot 205, $250 to $350) and a sterling silver and bone bracelet and earclips (lot 348, $400 to $600) will also be offered.

From furniture to paintings and home décor, the March auction offers a fine assortment of antiques for Americana collectors. Highlights include a classical tiger maple wardrobe cabinet (lot 985, $800 to $1,200), a 19th century American school portrait of Angelina Pattison Kirkham and her baby (lot 610, $400 to $500), a late 19th century pieced and appliquéd cotton quilt with a floral wreath design (lot 645, $600 to $800), a carved and painted wooden duck drake decoy (lot 766, $600 to $800), and a white-painted rococo-style cast iron garden settee (lot 835, $400 to $600).

For details contact Cara Elmslie, director of Skinner Inc.’s Discovery auctions, phone 508-970-3290 or email 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.

Palace-worthy furnishings pack John Moran auction March 12

Many of the 200 cataloged lots were carefully culled from a fabulous private estate in Las Vegas, and are fit for a palace large or small.

In the category of fine furniture a number of standout pieces promise to turn out the bidders in full force. A stunning 18th century North Italian walnut cassone, ornately carved overall in foliate and floral designs and peppered with putti, is estimated to realize $2,000-$3,000 at the auction block. Also estimated to bring $2,000-$3,000 is a handsome rosewood and ebony-inlaid late 19th century Renaissance Revival library table featuring carved griffins and Corinthian column-form legs. In the Louis XVI-style is a pair of ormolu chenets, each cast as ewers with dolphin-form handles (estimate: $3,000 to $5,000), and a wonderful marble-top, ormolu-mounted cabinet by the renowned Parisian ébéniste Joseph-Emanuel Zweiner, bearing his stamp and also the stamp of the retailer Jansen. Moran’s is offering this marvelous example of the German/ French maker’s fine craftsmanship consigned from a private Southern California collection, for $3,000-$5,000.

Two Italian marble sculptures are alluring 19th century works of art. The first, a seated maiden in a flowing, sheer sheath, poses with an open book to her side. Signed “A. Fulli,” the sculpture carries an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000. The second work, by Vittorio Caradossi (1861–1909), is offered at $10,000 to $15,000, and portrays a classical maiden inquisitively inspecting two doves that have alighted nearby.

Smaller decorative pieces are also sure to turn heads. An enchanting boxed set of cloisonné enamel tea pieces by noted Moscow maker Maria Semenova, composed of a sugar bowl, tongs, and creamer jug, exhibit an attention to detail (estimate: $3,000 to $5,000). A gorgeous Edwardian Boulle-style bronze-inlaid rosewood desk set will most likely find a buyer for a price of $2,000 to $3,000, and a Naploeon III ormolu-mounted, lapis-inlaid table casket from the Parisian firm of Tahan is expected to realize $2,500-$3,500.

Perhaps one of the most show-stopping pieces slated for sale is a monumental silvered bronze figural centerpiece, with ship’s prow-form handles at each end, and female allegorical figures perched atop each of the piece’s four corners. Measuring more than 3 feet across at its widest point, the centerpiece is estimated at $20,000 to $30,000.

High quality Continental porcelain will also be well represented at the auction. A pair of Sevres-style white ground porcelain urns, decorated overall with polychrome floral garlands within cobalt and gilt borders and topped with foliate finials, is estimated at $4,000 to $6,000. A silvered and gilt bronze-mounted porcelain casket with a cherub-headed scroll handle and painted with vignettes of courting couples in the manner of Watteau, is expected to achieve $7,000 to $9,000 at the block. Also included is a fantastic ormolu-mounted bisque porcelain centerpiece, depicting a goddess attended by three maidens and two cherubim (estimate: $7,000 to $9,000), and a very large and ornate Berlin / KPM covered vase depicting soldiers in various uniforms ($5,000 to $7,000).

Additional highlights include:

– An intriguing photographic print of Abraham Lincoln, taken by Moses P. Rice, showing the president at three-quarters view, looking directly into the camera lens (estimate: $800 to $1,200).

– A Victorian library globe by W. & A.K. Johnson, circa 1893, featuring a wood and paper equatorial rim carved with calendar and zodiac, a brass meridian ring, and a compass, centered at the base (estimate: $5,000 to $7,000).

– An Austrian cold-painted bronze lamp by Anton Chotka and modeled as a Bedouin and his musically inclined monkey (estimate: $1,500 to $2,000).

– A fine Parisian Street Scene by Edouard Cortes, titled Place Republicque, hailing from a private estate in San Diego (estimate: $7,000 to $9,000).

– An owl-form polychrome-glazed ceramic vase by Pablo Picasso (estimate: $5,000 to $7,000).

The cataloged session of this sale will begin at 3 p.m. PDT, with the uncatalogued Discovery Session to follow.

Interested parties are welcome to contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 626-793-1833.

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.