Old Town Auctions’ July 17 no-reserve sale presents a celestial array of robots,

Date of Release: June 24, 2010


Old Town Auctions’ July 17 no-reserve sale presents a celestial array of robots,
space toys and futuristic TV/film collectibles

More than 800 lots span a time-travel zone from the 1930s-1990s

BUCKEYSTOWN, Md. – On Saturday, July 17, Old Town Auctions will boldly go where they’ve never gone before – selling robots, space toys, Star Wars, action figures and other quality sci-fi and fantasy collectibles. The event will be held at Alexander’s Inn Auction House in Buckeystown, a suburb of Frederick, Maryland, and convenient to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C.

Auctioneer Rick Opfer will preside over approximately 600 cataloged lots, to be preceded by 200 uncataloged lots. Toys from both groups will be offered without reserve, and each will be sold to the highest bidder regardless of price. All traditional methods of bidding will be accepted, as well as online absentee bidding, but there will be no live Internet bidding during the sale, said Old Town’s owner, Matt Protos.

The toys to be auctioned will take bidders back to the future, from vintage wind-up and battery-operated space toys to contemporary figural robot artworks by acclaimed Pennsylvania folk artist Kent Greenbaum.

Space toys include rockets, robots, flying saucers, space stations, space tanks and missile launchers, ray guns and a whole host of extraterrestrial aliens creatures and monsters – many in their original, colorfully pictorial factory boxes.

The interplanetary theme continues with an array of sci-fi toys from postwar-era films and TV shows, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, Battlestar Galactica, Aliens, Dune, Mars Attacks, Close Encounters and many more.

"Unlike previous sales where there may be a small number of exceptional items, this auction offers a large selection of desirable merchandise for the average or avid collector. There were two major consignments – one from a space toy collector and the other from a Star Wars collector – but there are good solid items in literally every category of this sale,” Protos said.

The extensive selection of Star Wars licensed merchandise traverses the incomparable 33-year franchise in the form of playsets, ships and vehicles; as well as a legion of action figures, including the Power of the Force and Power of the Jedi lines.

“There are action figures representing nearly every line of Star Wars collectibles, and many are in their original boxes or cards and in mint condition,” Protos noted.

The auction will also include robots and action figures from animated TV shows such as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Sectaurs, Masters of the Universe and more.

Back on terra firma, the toy selection features a wide variety of G.I. Joe action figures, playsets and accessories. Highlights include a vintage G.I. Joe Space Capsule, an expansive G.I. Joe Headquarters, a coveted 7-foot-long U.S.S. Flagg aircraft carrier, Terror Dome set and more.

Other action figures, accessories and playsets to be auctioned include popular Superheroes, with the list topped by Batman. Figures, toys, Batmobiles, vehicles and other collectibles associated with the Caped Crusader are offered in excellent condition – many of them mint in the box.

The unique designs of contemporary self-taught artist Kent Greenbaum have attracted considerable interest over the past few years. Greenbaum’s imaginative robot creations incorporate spare toy parts, fragments from advertising items, household objects and other pieces gleaned from unusual sources. “Each robot is completely unique. In this sale we’ll have 10 of them to offer to collectors,” said Protos.

Although it is primarily a space toy sale, Protos says there will also be an abundance of battery-operated construction toys, military toys (tanks, cannons, Jeeps) and Western items. Articles with a cowboy theme include cap guns and other highly desirable toys branded for the Lone Ranger or Hopalong Cassidy.

Dealers and collectors, alike, will have the opportunity to “buy quality in bulk,” Protos said. While the more-expensive items will be auctioned individually, there will also be a number of lots in the cataloged section containing 20 to 30 items. In the uncataloged group, some lots will contain 50 to 60 items.

Old Town Auctions’ July 17 sale will be held at Alexander’s Inn Auction House, 3607 Buckeystown Pike, Buckeystown, Maryland. The sale will start at 10 a.m., with a two-hour preview preceding the sale.

Any questions may be directed to Matt Protos by calling 301-416-2854 or e-mailing sales@oldtownauctions.com.

To view the fully illustrated auction catalog or to leave absentee bids online, log on to www.OldTownAuctions.com or at www.AuctionZip.com.

CAPTION:

Greenbaum.jpg –
One of 10 Kent Greenbaum-designed folk art robots, each unique and constructed from spare toy parts, hardware and other offbeat fragments. Old Town Auctions image.

OVER 750 LOTS OF RARE AMERICAN & EUROPEAN ANTIQUES AND FINE ART

Contact: Nicholas Thorn, info@lcainc.us
(860) 567-4661 or (646) 765-3599

OVER 750 LOTS OF RARE AMERICAN & EUROPEAN ANTIQUES AND FINE ART
WILL BE SOLD ONLINE JUNE 30-JULY 14 BY LITCHFIELD COUNTY AUCTIONS

(LITCHFIELD, Conn.) – Over 750 lots of rare American and European antiques and fine art will be sold June 30-July 14 in an Internet and catalog auction by Litchfield County Auctions (www.LitchfieldCountyAuctions.com). It is the third major sale of the year for the firm and will include property deaccessioned from Connecticut College, plus important estates and collections.

Online bidding will be facilitated by iGavelAuctions.com. An exhibition will be open to the public at the Litchfield County Auctions gallery, located at 425 Bantam Road in Litchfield, from July 9-13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A tag sale has also been scheduled. In addition, there will also be a free appraisal day at the gallery facility, on July 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The items from the Connecticut College collection had been on exhibition at The Henry Whitfield House in Guilford, Conn., and include rare 17th century English furniture pieces. The sale will also feature The Collection of Rose and Stanley Rich of Fairfield, Conn. (mostly period furniture and decorations, plus pewter and silver) and a collection of rare vintage firemen’s gear.

Early English furniture pieces include a 17th century English James I draw table with rectangular mitered top and draw-ends and scalloped apron; a 17th century Charles I oak wainscot open armchair with later elements; a circa 1700 English William & Mary two-section oak court cupboard; and a Jacobean oak bench with molded edge plank seat, molded rails and turned legs.

Later English furniture pieces will feature a late 18th century Regency mahogany slant-lid desk, English, opening to a divided interior with faux-front drawers; and a late 18th century 7-piece George III mahogany breakfront bookcase with a central section and two wings.

American period furniture will be no less impressive. Examples include a late 18th century Chippendale maple slant-lid desk, probably New Hampshire; an early 19th century classical mahogany three-part dining table with rounded ends; a circa 1790-1810 Federal inlaid mahogany fold-over card table, possibly Philadelphia area; and a late 18th century cherrywood Chippendale tall chest of drawers, probably New England or Pennsylvania, stamped “H. Ford.”

Fine art will be offered in abundance, much of it by noted, listed artists. Included will be several prints and posters by Henri de Toulouse Lautrec (Fr., 1864-1901), such as the colored and monogrammed lithograph Mademoiselle Marcelle Lender, en Buste, and the pencil-signed lithograph Guy et Mealy, dans Paris qui Marche. Both of the works are matted and framed.

Fans of Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) will be delighted to learn that two watercolors by the iconic French artist will be offered. One, titled Kneeling Nude, is a watercolor and pencil drawing, pencil signed lower right by Rodin and matted and framed. The other, Nude With Foot Resting on Chair, is also a watercolor and pencil drawing, pencil signed lower right by Rodin.

Other important artwork will include an aquatint engraving after Karl Bodner (Swiss, 1809-1893), titled Assiniboine Indians; a barnyard scene with rooster and chickens by Walter Hunt (Br., 1861-1941); an oil on canvas by Reginald E.E. Arnold (1853-1938), titled On the Ice – Holland; and a work titled Lille, Belgium Canal Scene by George Gregory (Br., 1849-1838).

Continuing in the category, also sold will be a Continental School oil on panel work titled Still Life With Fruit and Flowers (circa 18th or 19th century); a drypoint etching by Paul Cesar Helleu (Fr., 1859-1927), titled Portrait of a Young Gazing Lady; and an oil on canvas painting in a carved gilt wood frame by Karl Heller (Germ., 1849-1925), titled River Landscape With Boats.

American artists will be well-represented, too. Lots will include a pair of works attributed to Georges M. Bruestle (1872-1939), titled Dog and Cow and Lake’s Edge (both done in 1931 and both oil on cardboard); an American School oil on canvas titled Lake Landscape With Boats; and a James J. Audubon print of an American black wolf, hand-colored by J.T. Bowen (1845).

Other American artwork will include an oil on canvas figural rendering by Francis William Edmonds (N.Y., 1806-1863), titled A Sly Expression; an oil on canvas painting by Ogden Minton Pleissner (1905-1983), titled Remembrance (probably circa 1940-1945); and a 19th century oil on canvas work by J.W. Nunns, titled Landscape With Cows at a River (1875).

Bidders will be dazzled by the wide array of sterling silver. Featured will be a Tiffany & Co. gold vermeil flatware service for eight in the “Shell and Thread” pattern (American, circa 1905, 66 troy ounces); a partial Sheffield flatware set in the “Kings” pattern (1901-1902, 177.78 troy oz.); and a silver and parcel gilt beaker bearing the marks of Strassburg and dated 1612.

Additional sterling silver will include an early 20th century flatware service for 20 by the Manchester Silver Co. (224 troy oz.); a partial flatware service by Gorham in the “Versailles” pattern (late 19th century, 135 troy oz.); an assembled Dominick & Haff partial flatware set in the “King” pattern (161 troy oz.); and a Ball Black & Co. sterling hot water urn, early 20th century.

Bronze pieces will feature a group of five Grand Tour (19th century) obelisks/monuments, including Napoleon’s Column, Columna Traina, Obeliscus Flaminus, a Roman column and L’Arc de Triomphe; and a bronze work by Malvina Cornell Hoffman (1887-1966), titled La Gavotte inscribed on the base by the artist and inscribed “Roman Bronze Works New York” on the base.

Pewter pieces from the Rich collection will include a late 18th or early 19th century beaker with the mark of Ebenezer Southmayd (Castleton, Vt., and Middletown, Conn.), tapering form with incised bands and molded foot; and an early 18th century beaker with the marks of Robert Bonnynge (or Robert Bonning; Boston, Mass.), with a flaring rim and molded base.

The rare and unusual collection of 19th and early 20th century firemen’s gear will be highlighted by a fireman’s pressed felt parade hat, made in the mid-19th century by the Bethol Company, plus a fireman’s helmet, a bucket, framed documents and a parade torch. Also sold will be a Federal period eglomise banjo clock hand-crafted by Isaac Wyman of Boston, Mass.

Litchfield County Auctions is Connecticut’s premier estate auction house, featuring sales of Modernism, Jewelry & Couture, Antiquities, Asian & Ethnographic Art, American Paintings, Folk Art, Furniture & Decorations and European Antiques & Fine Art. The firm’s 10,000-square-foot gallery is located a mile south of The Green in Litchfield. Sales are held every two months and feature fresh-to-the-market property from Connecticut, New York and other estates and collections.

Litchfield County Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (860) 567-4661; or, you can e-mail them at info@lcainc.us. Their address is 425 Bantam Rd. (Rte. 202), Litchfield, CT 06759. For more info about Litchfield County Auctions, log on to www.LitchfieldCountyAuctions.com.


Chippendale desk:
Chippendale maple slant-lid desk, probably New Hampshire, circa second half 18th century.

Tiffany flatware:
Tiffany & Co. gold vermeil sterling silver flatware service for eight, 'Shell & Thread' pattern.

Rodin watercolor:
Watercolor and pencil drawing by Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), signed lower right by the artist.






Charles I armchair:
Charles I oak wainscot open armchair, circa 17th century.

Passey painting:
Oil on canvas painting by Charles Henry Passey, titled The Lane, Faldey, Surrey.

Lautrec lithograph:
Colored lithograph by the iconic French artist Henri de Toulouse Lautrec (1864-1901).

Banjo clock:
Federal eglomise banjo clock by Isaac Wyman (Boston, Mass., circa early 19th century).

George III bookcase:
Magnificent George III mahogany 7-piece breakfront bookcase, English, circa late 18th century.

BATERBYS ART AUCTION GALLERY IS NAMED BEST OF SHOW IN THE ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS CATEGORY IN 2010 NAA AWARDS

Contact: www.Baterbys.com
press@baterbys.com
(866) 537-0265




BATERBYS ART AUCTION GALLERY IS NAMED BEST OF SHOW IN THE ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS CATEGORY IN 2010 NAA AWARDS

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – Baterbys Art Auction Gallery – Florida’s premier fine art and contemporary art auction house, with galleries in Orlando and Delray Beach – has won the 2010 Best of Show award for Advertising and Public Relations by the National Auctioneers Association, based in Overland Park, Kan. Baterbys was chosen out of a field of more than 1,000 entrants.

“Any time you are singled out for excellence by an organization as prestigious as the NAA, you know you’re doing something right,” said Richard Hart, a principal with Baterbys. “The award affirms that we are creatively and innovatively communicating the promise of the 'Baterbys experience.' It's also a testament that we deliver and follow through as well, based on industry standards.”

Mr. Hart added, “When collecting fine art, a client needs to feel confident that he's getting the best deal and being given the proper information. These two aspects go hand-in-hand in the art auction business.”

Mr. Hart will receive the award together with John Magpantay, Marketing Manager of Baterbys, in the form of a plaque during the NAA Marketing Competition Awards Reception, to be held July 15 at the Greensboro Convention Center in Greensboro, N.C.

“Winning such awards works for the clients more than the auction gallery,” Mr. Hart pointed out. “Not only does it prove the auction gallery's ability to deliver on its promises, it also holds them accountable to a national body of industry professionals and authorities and will make sure they do live up to those marketing promises.”

The NAA Marketing Competition is a contest among members and allows them the opportunity to highlight their innovative creations over the past year while vying for top awards for their marketing and advertising materials. The annual competition is presented in partnership with USA Today, and this year’s competition was the most spirited in the history of the event.

In addition to earning Best of Show for the Advertising/Public Relations category, Baterbys was recognized in the sub-categories of Catalogs and Postcards (Collectibles/Specialty) and Business Promotion (for Business Newsletter). The firm was also cited for excellence in Business Promotion (Business Newsletter) and Broadcast/Audiovisual (AV/DVD presentation).

The firm’s online prowess was recognized, too, as Baterbys copped awards in the sub-categories of Internet/Member Web Site and Internet/Online Marketing Campaign. “Creative marketing and advertising in the auction is essential when it comes to the success and growth of an auction company,” NAA Executive Director Chris Longly said, in praise of all the winners.

Entries were judged by a panel of marketing professionals with backgrounds in photography, design, print and multimedia. Judging criteria included creativity, effectiveness, clarity, visual appeal and more. The July 15 Awards Reception will be held in conjunction with the NAA 61st International Auctioneers Conference & Show slated for July 13-17 in Greenville.

The National Auctioneers Association was founded in 1949 and represents nearly 5,000 auctioneers in the U.S., Canada and overseas. The NAA’s mission is to promote the auction method of marketing and enhancing the professionalism of its members through education and technology. In 2007, the auction industry posted over $270 billion in goods and services sold.

For more information on Baterbys and the firm’s upcoming live and Internet auction, log on to www.baterbys.com. To consign a single piece of art, an estate or an entire collection, you may call them toll-free, at (866) 537-0265. Or, you can e-mail them, at press@baterbys.com.

POWELL & STUTENROTH “FAVORITE BITTERS” BOTTLE, ONE OF ONLY A FEW KNOWN, SOARS TO 64,960 AT AMERICAN BOTTLE AUCTIONS’ 50th EVER SALE

Contact: Jeff Wichmann
(800) 806-7722

POWELL & STUTENROTH “FAVORITE BITTERS” BOTTLE, ONE OF ONLY A FEW KNOWN, SOARS TO 64,960 AT AMERICAN BOTTLE AUCTIONS’ 50th EVER SALE

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) – A Powell & Stutenroth “Favorite Bitters” bottle, one of only a few known and graded 9.7 out of 10 for condition, soared to $64,960 at the 50th Internet and catalog ever held by American Bottle Auctions (AmericanBottle.com). The bottle was the top lot of the more than 300 rare and vintage bottles sold. Most dated from the mid-to-late 19th century.

The auction went online May 24 and concluded June 1. Internet bidding was brisk all week.

“Overall, the sale was a success but, as any auctioneer will tell you, auctions are a scary thing,” said Jeff Wichmann of American Bottle Auctions. “You’re only as good as your last sale. For example, we sold a Lediard’s Celebrated Bitters bottle in this auction for $1,500, but the last time we offered one it went for over $5,000. And we couldn’t give away inks and pickle jars.”

Mr. Wichmann said green pontiled umbrella inkwells that have typically sold in the $1,000 range were barely bringing $400. “Some non-bottle items,” he added, “like U.S. eagle pieces we thought would be of interest, were sluggish and fetched only a few hundred dollars apiece. That was just a sign that people want to buy bottles, not non-bottle items, at our sales.”

Overall, however, the successes far outweighed the disappointments. The Powell & Stutenroth bottle was a good example, sailing past its high estimate of $20,000 to hammer for more than three times that figure. The bottle, a precursor to the later “People’s Favorite Bitters,” still had the original cork (albeit with a hole punched through). But overall it was nearly perfect.

The auction, which began May 24 and ended June 1, featured bitters, fruit jars, medicines, historical and western flasks, western whiskeys, sodas and more – the categories collectors have come to expect from American Bottle Auctions in its 20-year history. “Like a fine wine, each auction seems to improve with age,” Mr. Wichmann said. “Let’s do 50 more!”

Following are additional highlights from the sale. All prices quoted include a 12 percent buyer’s premium.

A Bryant’s Stomach Bitters (B-242) cone bottle, the best whole one of several that were recently unearthed in Sacramento, sold for $40,320. Bryant’s is considered by some to be the top western bitters bottle. This example, a brilliant emerald green, was restored (by Marty Hall) but even close examination belies it was repaired. This bottle was made in the east, sold in the west.

A W&B Shasta Superior Mineral Water bottle (Union Glassworks, Philadelphia) brought $15,680. With original closure and all-original graphite pontil, the bottle showed just a slight amount of wear and had obviously never been in the ground. Shasta bottles are considered by collectors as one of the top western sodas, if not the top. This example boasted a grading of 9.

A Washington/Bridgeton (N.J.) bottle with sheared lip and pontil and having a very rare tobacco amber coloration (they’re rarely seen outside of aqua) coasted to $9,520. The bottle was a brilliant example, graded 9.7 and having overall good crudity and character. Only the slightest amount of wear -- not even as much as a few light scratches -- kept this bottle from scoring a 10.

A pair of bottles fetched identical prices of $7,840. One was an Old Bourbon Castle Whiskey flask (F. Chevalier & Co., Sole Agents), one of only a dozen or so known and having an applied single roll collar, a very drippy top and a light to medium amber coloration. Castle Whiskey flasks, made from 1870-75, are highly desired by collectors. This one was graded 9.4.

The other $7,840 bottle was a London Jockey Clubhouse Gin specimen with embossed horse and rider, applied top and smooth base. The bottle is one of only two ever seen with a gorgeous almond yellow, wheat and straw color combination. It was absolutely loaded with bubbles and wasn’t pontiled. With a great aura and very little wear, the bottle was graded 9.6.

A Choice Old Cabinet Kentucky Bourbon bottle, a mainstay of the western whiskey world, topped out at $5,376. The bottle, with embossed crown and applied top (Barnett-158), was superb, with light whittle and strong strike. However, it did have a ¼-inch hairline crack in the left shoulder and a 3/8-inch flat chip in the top, resulting in a price-lowering grade of 8.3.

A very early Wister’s Club House Bottle, with applied top, graphite pontil and a rare coloration that can only be described as apricot orange and pink, rose to $4,704. Wister’s bottles were made from 1851-1855 and sold only in the west, specifically northeast of Sacramento. This one had all the original graphite intact and was loaded with crudity. It was graded highly, at 9.5.

Rounding out the top lots, a Pearson Brothers hutch (or gravitating stopper-style) bottle, a relic of the once-bustling but now ghost town of Bodie, Calif., breezed to $2,912. This particular bottle is probably the most desirable of any known Bodie bottle, and only the second one seen in as many years by American Bottle Auctions. With barely a visible scratch, it had a grade of 9.8.

American Bottle Auctions’ next big Internet and catalog sale will be held sometime in the fall, probably early September (watch the website for details). But before that, the firm will hold an auction dedicated entirely to target balls, a collectible almost unknown outside the world of hunting and fishing collectibles but coveted by its devotees. The auction will be held July 15-22.

Target balls are 3-inch round spheres filled with feathers and sawdust that were shot from a spring-loaded trap. They came into being in the 1970s as practice for pigeon shooting, but were quickly replaced by skeet. The target balls that survive today can be rare and valuable. The most ever paid at auction for a target ball was about $28,000. Only 33 balls will be offered July 15-22.

The forerunner of the target ball was a type used by Annie Oakley when she performed in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. A few of her misses are still in existence today. Most 1970s balls were made in 1977. Some ball makers put advertisements on the balls. Other balls might say “Pennsylvania,” where they were made. The collectors tend to be well-to-do gun enthusiasts.

American Bottle Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single bottle or an entire collection, you may call them toll-free, at 1-800-806-7722; or, you can e-mail them, at info@americanbottle.com. For more information about American Bottle Auctions, to include the July 15-22 target ball auction, you can log on to AmericanBottle.com.


Powell & Stutenroth:
The top lot of the sale was this Powell & Stutenroth “Favorite Bitters” bottle ($64,960).

Bryants Stomach:
Bryant's Stomach Bitters (B-242) cone bottle, the best of several recently unearthed ($40,320).

W & B Shasta:
W&B Shasta Superior Mineral Water bottle, Union Glassworks of Philadelphia ($15,680).







Washington Bridgeton:
Washington/Bridgeton (N.J.) bottle with a rare tobacco amber coloration ($9,520).

Old Bourbon Castle:
Old Bourbon Castle Whiskey flask, F. Chevalier & Co. Sole Agents ($7,840).

Jockey Clubhouse:
Jockey Clubhouse Gin bottle with embossed horse and rider ($7,840).

PARIS STREET SCENE BY FRENCH ARTIST EDOUARD CORTES (1882-1960) CLIMBS TO $34,500 AT JUNE 19 SALE BY LELAND LITTLE AUCTION & ESTATE SALES, LTD

Contact: Leland Little
(919) 644-1243

PARIS STREET SCENE BY FRENCH ARTIST EDOUARD CORTES (1882-1960) CLIMBS TO $34,500 AT JUNE 19 SALE BY LELAND LITTLE AUCTION & ESTATE SALES, LTD.

(HILSBOROUGH, N.C.) – An oil on canvas Paris street scene by the renowned French painter Edouard Cortes (1882-1969), titled Boulevard des Capucines, sold for $34,500 at a two-session Fine & Decorative Arts Catalog Auction held June 19 by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., in the firm’s new gallery located at 620 Cornerstone Court in Hillsborough, N.C.

The painting was one of the top earners of the nearly 800 fresh-to-the-market lots that crossed the block. Over 200 lots alone were dedicated to the private collection of Daisy Wade Bridges, a collector of fine porcelain and North Carolina pottery. In addition, the entire second session was devoted entirely to fine and vintage wines, a burgeoning genre on the auction circuit.

From the wine category, 12 bottles of Pauillac Chateau Latour (1995) gaveled for $4,600; 10 bottles of the same wine but from the 1994 vintage realized $2,070; 12 bottles of Saint-Julien Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou (1995) brought $1,380; 9 bottles of Pomerol Chateau L'Eglise-Clinet (1995) fetched $1,092; and 9 bottles of Saint-Emilion Chateau Tertre Roteboeuf (1995) hit $805.

“There was as positive a response to this sale as we have seen in the past two years,” said Leland Little of Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. “We had 250 people – standing room only – in the gallery, to go with a heavy load of telephone, absentee and online bidding. We were very fortunate have acquired such strong merchandise, which bidders aggressively pursued.”

Online bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com.

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

The collection of Daisy Wade Bridges was “very well received,” Mr. Little said. Tops among the North Carolina pieces were a jug made by Daniel Seagle (1805-1867) from the Catawba Valley region ($5,520); a wood-fired stoneware jar by Mark Hewitt ($3,430); and one lot of three B.B. Craig miniatures (a pitcher and two face jugs) that brought a record $2,530.

Also from Ms. Bridges’ collection: one lot of 16 wonderful Asian jade articles ($11,500); an 18th century Portuguese blue and white tile plaque comprising 35 tiles affixed to a wooden frame board ($6,325); a portrait of sitter W. Boyce by Allan Ramsay (Br., 1713-1784), framed and unsigned ($4,830); and an early 20th century Turkestan tribal carpet with wool base ($3,910).

Moving on to other consignments, the rare and vintage cars that came up for bid really fired up the crowd. A pair of overachievers were the 1990 Ferrari Testarossa two-door coupe, white with red interior and just 20,302 miles on the odometer ($44,725, making it the top lot of the sale); and a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500, red, with a 390 engine and only 36,180 miles ($11,500).

Continental silver commanded high prices, too. A nice William IV sterling figural wine centerpiece (London, 1833) fetched $16,100, while a Victorian sterling “Warwick” wine cooler rose to $13,225. In American silver, a Southern coin silver footed cup by Leinbach reached $4,830, and a “Federal Cotillion” sterling flatware set by Frank Smith commanded $4,140.

In American art, an oil on canvas by Francis Speight (NC/PA, 1896-1989), titled Steamboat (1819), coasted to $14,950; a mixed media work by Jane Peterson (1876-1965), titled Breton Village, brought $6,900; an oil painting by George L. Noyes (MA, 1864-1954), titled Early Spring, hit $2,760; and Comet, an oil painting by Thomas Van Zant (NY, 1814-1886), realized $2,990.

Decorative arts featured a pair of patinated bronze statues after Emile Picault (Fr., 1883-1915), depicting ancient Egyptians ($8,050); a pair of French 19th century bronze and ormolu figural candelabra, three light form ($2,415); a figural bronze by Andre Hogommat (Fr., b. 1925, $1,495); and a bronze puma by Charles C. Rumsey (NY, 1873-1922), signed ($1,725).

Asian objects were offered in abundance. Top lots included a Chinese curio box with an objets d’art collection inside ($9,488); a pair of antique Chinese porcelain bowls ($5,060); a 7-inch Chinese vase with Qianlong mark, signed on underside ($3,910); two Asian soapstone Foo Lion bookends, male and female ($1,610); and a Chinese green jade Guanyin statuette ($1,725).

Continental furniture wowed the crowd. A diminutive French Empire abattant, mahogany with mahogany veneers and a verte marble top over a frieze inlaid with classical elements, went for $9,200; a circa 1830s William IV serving stand, mahogany with rectangular shelves, brought $2,990; and a pair of circa 1900 inlaid Belle Epoque side tables with oval marble top hit $2,185.

American furniture was a hit as well. A gorgeous Southern Chippendale chest of drawers (likely Western North Carolina), early 19th century, walnut with yellow pine secondary, fetched $13,800; a rare 18th century Queen Anne drop-leaf table (North Carolina), walnut and pine, sold for $3,680; and a 19th century Southern Moravian School sofa (Forsyth Cty., N.C.), made $3,450.

Estate jewelry dazzled bidders. Examples included a Breitling Colt chronometer Swiss-made wristwatch with original box ($1,725); a Mikimoto-designed fine Akoya cultured pearl necklace, with 99 cultured pearls ($1,610); a pair of Retro-style moonstone and sapphire earrings centering on a round sapphire ($1,035); and a simple setting 1-ct. diamond solitaire ring ($920).

Rounding out the day’s top lots: a 1985 prismatic Steuben Glass sculpture by Bernard X. Wolff, titled Balloon Rally, hit $6,900; an 1866 Currier & Ives Western lithograph titled Life of a Trapper/A Sudden Halt breezed to $4,830; a mid-18th century stoneware salt-glazed teapot (Staffordshire) went for $3,105; and a group of Indo-Persian armor and weapons brought $3,105.

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.’s next Fine & Decorative Arts Auction is slated for Saturday, Sept. 18, at 9 a.m. The one after that will conclude the year, on Dec. 4.

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them at (919) 644-1243, or you can e-mail them at info@LLAuctions.com. To learn more about Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., and the calendar of upcoming events, please log on to www.LLAuctions.com.



Cortes painting:
Original oil on canvas Paris street scene by renowned French artist Edouard Cortes ($34,500).

Ferrari Testarossa:
The top lot of the sale was this sleek 1990 Ferrari Testarossa 2-door coupe ($44,725).

Tertre Roteboeuf:
One lot of 9 bottles of 1995 Saint-Emilion Chateau Tertre Roteboeuf brought $805.






Asian jade:
One lot of 16 wonderful Asian jade articles crossed the block for $11,500.

Chippendale chest:
Early 19th century Southern Chippendale chest, likely western North Carolina ($13,800).

French abattant:
Diminutive French Empire abattant, mahogany with marble top over inlaid frieze ($9,200).

Silver centerpiece:
William IV sterling silver figural wine centerpiece with 1833 date letter ($16,100).

OVER 500 LOTS OF PETROLIANA WILL BE SOLD FRIDAY, AUG. 6, BY MATTHEWS AUCTIONS ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE 2010 IOWA GAS SHOW IN DES MOINES, IA.

Contact: Dan Matthews
(217) 563-8880 or (217) 259-7059
danm@matthewsauctions.com

OVER 500 LOTS OF PETROLIANA WILL BE SOLD FRIDAY, AUG. 6, BY MATTHEWS AUCTIONS ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE 2010 IOWA GAS SHOW IN DES MOINES, IA.

(DES MOINES, Ia.) – More than 500 lots of petroliana items – mostly gas and oil signs but to include globes, cans and a great collection of rest room signs – will be sold by Matthews Auctions, LLC, on Friday, Aug. 6, at 9 a.m. (CST). The auction will be conducted at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines, on the final day of the 2010 Iowa Gas Show, held at the same venue.

“The Iowa Gas Show is a hugely popular annual event, and it’s our good fortune to be able to cap the festivities with an auction of this high caliber,” said Dan Matthews of Matthews Auctions, LLC. “We’ve got a lot of rare items in this sale, a wide variety of fresh to the market petroliana collectibles. There will be something for just about everybody. Plan to spend the day.”

Headlining the sale will be three major collections, consigned by Ray and Mary Sue Seider of California, the late Ace Feeks of Oregon and Ron Ueberhein of Lincoln, Neb. Other consignments will also be featured. Online bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com and Proxibid. “We’ll need two Internet platforms to keep up with the action,” Matthews said.

Several Mobil signs will be offered, to include a Mobil Marine double-sided porcelain sign with Pegasus graphic, 30 inches, with original base, rated 9+ out of 10 for condition; a Mobil Pegasus cookie-cutter single-sided porcelain sign, dated 1954, the 4-piece version (8.75); and a Mobil Pegasus single-sided porcelain die-cut sign with great color and gloss (9.75).

Gas signs will be offered up in abundance. Highlights include a rare Bulko porcelain sign with elephant graphic and white background, 12 inches by 12 inches (rated 9+); an Associated Gasoline “More Miles to the Gallon” single-sided porcelain sign with pitcher graphic (8.9); and a Washington Chief Gasoline double-sided porcelain sign with full headdress Indian profile (8.9).

Other gas signs of note include an early Conoco double-sided porcelain sign with ethyl logo, 26 inches, with great color and gloss (rated 7.9); another Conoco double-sided porcelain sign, this one with the Minuteman logo, 26 inches, also with great color and gloss (8.4); and a Red Hat Motor Oil Gasoline double-sided porcelain sign with logos, 32 inches, rated 8 and 7.5.

Motor oil signs should do well, too. Leading the pack will be an RPM Motor Oil single-sided tin sign with Mickey Mouse graphic, 23.5 inches, dated 1939, rated 6.9; another RPM Disney-themed sign, this one showing Donald Duck, saying “A Knockout For Winter” (9); and a Socony Air-Craft Oils Standard Oil Company of New York single-sided porcelain sign rated 8.5.

Other signs expected to pique bidder interest include a Super Chevrolet double-sided porcelain die-cut sign marked Walker & Co., 42 inches by 48 inches (rated 8.9 front, 8+ back); and a Veltex Company Fletcher Oil single-sided porcelain truck door sign, 18 inches (9). Also sold will be an Indian Motorcycle by Valvoline 1-gallon flat metal can with great graphic (7.5).

Petroliana thermometers will feature a Champion Spark Plugs “Dependable in All Weather” tin thermometer (user spins the wheel to tell what needs to be done to his car); and a rare Ace High & Wil-Flo Motor Oil porcelain thermometer, 38 inches by 8 inches (8.75). Also offered will be a Sunoco double-sided porcelain rest room sign with man and lady logos (8.5).

A pair of Hood Tire Man single-sided tin signs, both 36 inches by 12 inches, are expected to get paddles waving. One is a dealer sign with a straight tie graphic, rated 9; the other features a bow-tie graphic and is rated 8.9, with great color and shine. A top lot in the gas globes group is a Midway New Navy Gasoline 15-inch perforated globe with metal lenses in a metal body (7.5).

Other globes worthy of mention include a super rare Veltex Motor Oils Gasoline 15-inch globe with single lens in a metal body, 19.5 inches by 17.5 inches, rated 8+; a Clipper 15-inch single-lens globe with airplane graphic in a metal repainted body (9); and a Little Bear Gasoline gill single-lens globe in a gill glass body, with the lens rated a high 9+ and the body a solid 9.

A Mule Battery “It Has Kick” double-sided tin sign with a great graphic in the original wooden frame (24 inches by 24 inches) is rated 8.25 on the front, 7 on the reverse. Other signs include a Snowboy “Picked For Flavor” single-sided porcelain sign, 20 inches, rated 9; and a BP single-sided porcelain sign with a graphic of early cars and planes, 24 inches by 40 inches (7.9).

Rounding out the day's expected top lots: a Richfield and State of New York “Don't Pass on Hills” cloth poster, 42 inches by 28 inches, rated 8.5; a Red Rooster Fruit & Produce single-sided porcelain sign with great graphic and super gloss and color (8.9); and an Arden Protected Milk porcelain die-cut flange sign with a wonderful bottle and boy graphic, both sides rated 9.

Matthews Auctions, LLC's next big auction after this one will be held on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 10 a.m. (CST), at 13002 Kentucky Road in Independence, Mo. Sold will be the single-owner lifetime collection of Mr. Paul Wilson. Offered will be hundreds of lots of petroliana (neon, porcelain and metal signs, globes, gas pumps and more); automobilia (a Sprint car, several Ford flat head V-8 engines); vintage toys (to include several race car-style toys); and much more.

Matthews Auctions, LLC, is based in Nokomis, Ill. The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (217) 563-8880, or you can e-mail Dan Matthews at danm@matthewsauctions.com. To learn more about Matthews Auctions, LLC, please log on to www.matthewsauctions.com.


Bulko Gasoline:
Rare Bulko Gasoline porcelain sign with elephant graphic and white background, rated 9+/10.

Washington Chief:
Washington Chief Gasoline double-sided porcelain sign with full headdress Indian profile.

Hood Tire Man:
Hood Tire Man single-sided tin die-cut sign, 36 inches tall by 13 inches wide, rated 8.9/10.

Red Hat Oil:
Red Hat Motor Oil double-sided porcelain sign, 32 inches, rated 8 and 7.5, great color and gloss.

Red Rooster:
Red Rooster Fruit & Produce single-sided porcelain sign with great graphic, 36 inches, rated 8.9.

RPM Motor Oil:
RPM Motor Oil “A Real Knockout For Winter” single-sided tin sign with Donald Duck graphic.

QUITE POSSIBLY ONE OF THE TOP TEN R.S. PRUSSIA AUCTIONS EVER ASSEMBLED WILL BE HELD JULY 24 BY WOODY AUCTION IN ST. LOUIS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jason Woody
(316) 747-2694
info@woodyauction.com

QUITE POSSIBLY ONE OF THE TOP TEN R.S. PRUSSIA AUCTIONS EVER ASSEMBLED WILL BE HELD JULY 24 BY WOODY AUCTION IN ST. LOUIS

(ST. LOUIS, Mo.) – Hundreds of pieces of R.S. Prussia – the cream of the crop in the antique porcelain world, and enormously popular among collectors – will be sold without reserve (everything sells, regardless of price) on Saturday, July 24, by Woody Auction at the Holiday Inn Airport West (3700 Rider Trail So.) in St. Louis. The auction will begin promptly at noon (CST).

“This sale could very well be one of the top ten R.S. Prussia auctions ever assembled,” said Jason Woody of Woody Auction, based in Douglass, Kan. “And since it’s being held in conjunction with the International Association of R.S. Prussia's annual meeting, at the same venue, it provides the finest location for collectors interested in this quality line of porcelain.”

Reinhold Schlegelmilch produced R.S. Prussia porcelain at his factory in Suhl, Germany, from the late 1800s through the beginning of World War I. Pieces bearing an “R.S. Prussia” mark in red lettering, surrounded by a green wreath, were made at the turn of the last century. This “red mark” is the most popular and recognized by collectors of R.S. Prussia porcelain.

The July 24 auction will feature the lifetime collection of Stephen and Susan George, along with additions from four smaller private collections. Online bidding will be facilitated by Proxibid.com. “Over 250 lots of some of the highest quality porcelain will be offered at this public auction,” Mr. Woody said. “Anyone interested in R.S. Prussia is encouraged to attend.”

Following are some expected highlights of the sale. For a complete listing of all the lots, along with color photos, log on to the Woody Auction website, at www.woodyauction.com.

Chocolate pots are always a hit with collectors and this sale’s got several of them. A few examples include a 9-1/4 inch mold 584 pot with rare 3-scene décor (turkey, swan and bluebird); a 10 ¼ inch ribbon and jewel mold pot with green luster background and melon eaters scenic décor; and a 9-inch icicle mold pot with six matching cups and saucers and swan scene décor. Tankards will be plentiful. Top lots should include a 15-inch unmarked Prussia lily mold tankard with peacock Tiffany finish border with Potocka portrait décor and gold trim highlights; a 14-inch R.S. steeple mold 7 tankard with iridescent Tiffany background, gold highlights and figural décor; and a nice 11 ¾ inch R.S. Prussia icicle mold tankard with turkey scenic décor.

Additional tankards will include a 14 ¼ inch point and clover mold tall tankard with a dark green background and dice throwers scenic décor; a 13 ¼ inch carnation mold tall tankard with yellow, lavender and peach coloring and fall season portrait décor; and a carnation mold tall tankard with white and lavender satin finish and summer season portrait décor, 13 ¼ inches tall.

Vases will also be offered in abundance. Examples include a 9-inch Royal Vienna floral mold vase with iridescent Tiffany background, gold highlights and medallion figural scenes; a 9 ¼ inch unmarked Prussia two-handled vase, strong cobalt blue with heavy gold and a Recamier portrait; and a 10 ¼ inch jewel mold two-handled vase in green tones with melon eater décor.

A pair of gorgeous mold #1 Royal Vienna two-handled vases will cross the block, each one 13 inches tall. Both are cobalt blue with gold stencil highlights. One vase has a lady with fan scenic décor, the other depicts a woman feeding chickens. Also sold will be a rare-sized 9 ½ inch mold 456 water pitcher with a peach background coloring and a great fall season portrait décor.

Bowls will feature a rare 10 ½ inch mold 90 bowl with a cream center, blue domes, pink poppy décor and seasonal scenes; a fall season portrait berry set with 10 ½ inch iris mold bowl and four 5 ½ inch dishes; a 10 ¾ inch ribbon and jewel mold bowl with iridescent finish and melon eater scenic décor; and a mold 202 scalloped bowl with stag scenic décor and great finish.

Plate collectors will be impressed with the rare 10 ¼ inch Os Germany plate, boasting numerous scenes from the 1924 Olympics, fine gold with small rose highlights. Also offered will be an 11-inch mold 304 two-handled cake plate with four-scene décor (turkey, swan, pheasant and bluebird), and a 9 ¾ inch icicle mold two-handled cake plate with snowbird scenic décor.

Keyhole plates are sure to wow the crowd. Kee
p an eye on the four magnificent 8 ¾ inch mold 343 plates, heavy gold with pink rose highlights and a Tiffany finish border. Each one has a seasonal portrait décor. And finally, tops among biscuit jars will be four 7-inch iris mold jars with colorful satin finishes and each one depicting one of the four seasons as its portrait décor.

There is no buyer’s premium at a Woody Auction, but a sales tax of 6.85 percent will be collected on all sales (bidders with a current sales tax number are exempt). Absentee bids will be accepted with a written statement indicating the amount of the bid. All absentee bids will be charged an additional 10 percent of the selling price, plus shipping, and must be received by noon, July 22. Bids may be fax’d (to 316-747-2145) or e-mailed (to info@woodyauction.com).

Woody Auction is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (316) 747-2694. Or, you can e-mail them at info@woodyauction.com. To learn more about Woody Auction and the upcoming calendar of events, to include the May 22 and June 5 auctions, please log on to www.woodyauction.com.



Tall tankard:
Exquisite 13 ¼ inch R.S. Prussia carnation mold tall tankard, white and lavender satin finish.

Keyhole plate 1:
R.S. Prussia 8 ¾ inch mold #343 keyhole plate with fall season portrait décor.

Keyhole plate 2:
R.S. Prussia 8 ¾ inch mold #343 keyhole plate with winter season portrait décor.

Keyhole plate 3:
R.S. Prussia 8 ¾ inch mold #343 keyhole plate with summer season portrait décor.






Keyhole plate 4:
R.S. Prussia 8 ¾ inch mold #343 keyhole plate with spring season portrait décor.

East meets West June 26-27 as Austin Auction Gallery presents European antiques and religious treasures of French colonial Vietnam

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date of Release: June 13, 2010

Whit Hanks collection includes 19th-century Indochinese Catholic artifacts

AUSTIN, Texas – The stellar Whit Hanks collection of European antiques and Vietnamese French Catholic religious relics serves as the centerpiece of Austin Auction Gallery’s June 26-27 East Meets West cataloged Estates Auction. A total of 600 lots will be offered, 350 coming from the Hanks collection.

Owner of a high-profile antiques center located in Austin’s original Coca-Cola bottling plant, Whit Hanks is also a real estate developer known for rescuing and relocating two complete 19th-century Vietnamese churches to a country property in Dripping Springs, near Austin.

“Mr. Hanks is an antiques icon in Austin and always ahead of the next collecting trend,” said Austin Auction Gallery associate Chris Featherston. “He owns the city’s premier multi-dealer gallery and is known for his impeccable taste in European antiques and Mexican religious art, which he bought and sold for nearly 30 years before discovering the colonial treasures of Vietnam.”

Initially drawn to antiques after inheriting his grandfather’s lavishly furnished New York apartment in the 1970s, Hanks made dozens of trips to Europe in pursuit of architectural antiques. “He would bring back spectacular stained glass and monumental mirrors, similar to the 8½-foot-tall gold leaf mirror with a carved putto and wolves’ heads that’s included in the June sale,” said Featherston.

The auction’s inventory list is also rife with evidence of Hanks’ attraction to offbeat items that aren’t standard fare in an antique gallery – things like the 30 to 40 antique terra-cotta olive jars acquired in northern Spain, each of substantial heft and standing 3½ feet tall. “If Mr. Hanks saw something he knew was special and there was a shipping container large enough to accommodate it, he would buy it,” Featherston said.

Whit Hanks’ appreciation for religious icons began in the 1980s, Featherston said, and some of his purchases were made at sales conducted by Austin Auction Gallery. “At that time, we’ve been told that it was possible to buy retablos in Mexico, six for $10. The interest in these objects was not all that great back then, but now those same retablos may be valued at $2,000 to $3,000 apiece.”

In 2007, while visiting his son who lives in Asia, Hanks discovered and made an immediate connection with the French-influenced religious antiques and architecture of Vietnam. He began to buy the relics with the same fervor that spurred his earlier trips to Europe and Mexico. Now headed to auction, the Asian collection includes more than 40 antique French colonial statues up to 45 inches tall, several relief-carved religious panels – one of them after a 15th-century Italian painting – carved altar adornments and stone heads; and a compartmented Vietnamese marriage box with lacquered faux-tortoiseshell lid. These beautiful artworks would find a fitting home in either of the two French religious cabinets to be auctioned.

The sale also features property from several distinguished estates, including art and ivory from the Marshall estate, formerly of New Orleans. Thirty pieces of Chinese and Japanese ivory will cross the auction block, including an extraordinary chess set whose “kings” each measure 12 inches tall, a profusely carved censer on tripod feet, and other fine carvings featuring deities and elders. A walking cane collection includes examples that are entirely of ivory as well as some that feature carved-ivory heads of dogs and other creatures.

A small but highly select collection of swords includes an early 19th-century showstopper of Indo-Persian origin. The sword’s decorative gilt grip and guard terminate in a three-dimensional horse-head form with jeweled ruby eyes. A foliate-decorated scabbard completes the regal presentation of this connoisseur’s edged weapon.

In the fine-art section of the sale, one of the most sought-after names in Texas regional art, Julian Onderdonk (1882-1922), is represented by a signed, oil-on-canvas landscape painting of a quintessential Hill Country scene. Handsomely framed, the artwork titled Springtime II, Texas, Bexar County measures 11¼ inches by 8½ inches and is additionally signed and titled on verso.

The furniture category is led by a circa-1880 Eastlake bedroom suite with marble-top dresser, a Victorian half-tester bed, and numerous pieces of French furniture, including a large oak vasselier.

An Italian crystal chandelier of near-diamond shape has a drop length of 38 inches and a width of 34 inches. Another lot expect to light up the gallery on auction day is the late-19th-century bronze chandelier with six lights on arms formed as winged griffins.

Additional items of note include a pair of marble lions that formerly guarded the entrance to a palace in India, 2-ft.-tall Murano millefiori glass eggs converted to lamps, several 18th-century French clocks, a pietre dure table, a circa-1900 Ernst Plank (Germany) magic lantern with 23 colored-glass slides, and a selection of Native-American art highlighted by a circa 1200 A.D. to 1350 A.D. Southwestern pottery bowl. An actual cage-style elevator from a Paris building would be a guaranteed conversation-starter in any home.

All forms of bidding will be available for Austin Auction Gallery’s June 26-27 East Meets West sale, including live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.com. For additional information, call 512-258-5479 or e-mail info@austinauction.com. View the fully illustrated catalog online and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com. Visit Austin Auction Gallery’s Web site at http://www.austinauction.com/.


CAPTIONS:


American half-tester bed. Austin Auction Gallery image.

Examples from a selection of more than 40 antique French colonial religious statues from the Whit Hanks collection. Austin Auction Gallery image.







French 8½-foot-tall gold leaf mirror with a carved putto and wolves’ heads. Austin Auction Gallery image.

Antique cage-style elevator from Paris building. Austin Auction Gallery image.

Antique swords in the auction include an early 19th-century Indo-Persian example (center) with gilt grip and guard terminating in three-dimensional horse-head form with jeweled ruby eyes. Austin Auction Gallery image.

Julian Onderdonk (1882-1922), Springtime II, Texas, Bexar County, 11¼ inches by 8½ inches, oil on canvas, signed lower right, signed and titled on verso. Austin Auction Gallery image.

An extensive selection of carved Chinese and Japanese ivories will be auctioned. Shown here is a tripodal censer with dragon motif. Austin Auction Gallery image.

Circa 1200 A.D. to 1350 A.D. Southwestern Native-American pottery bowl. Austin Auction Gallery image.

Four examples from a grouping of 30-40 antique earthenware olive jars acquired from northern Spain, each of substantial weight and standing 3½ feet tall. Austin Auction Gallery image.

Carved-ivory chess set with “kings” standing 12 inches high. Austin Auction Gallery image. Austin Auction Gallery image.

FINE ART, ANTIQUES AND MID-CENTURY MODERN LEAD THE WAY FOR AUSTION AUCTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date of Release: April 28, 2010

The hip furniture designs of Mid-century master Paul Evans took top honors in Austin Auction’s April 18 sale.

AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Auction Gallery chalked up a solid $260,000 total with its April 18, 2010 Important Spring Estates Auction, led by a keenly pursued selection of Mid-century dining room furniture designed by Paul Evans (American, 1931-1987).

The 10-piece sculpted-bronze dining suite consisted of a large ‘Stalagmite’ glass-top table, eight chairs upholstered in purple micro-suede, and a long, sculpted-bronze server set with two slate slabs. The consignor had purchased the suite in 1970, from the Chicago showroom of Directional Furniture, for whom Evans designed.

The Evans set was offered in three lots with a total estimate of $17,000-$23,000, but bidders knew an opportunity when they saw one and pushed the aggregate price to $59,225. The table made $10,925, while the coveted complete set of chairs soared to $29,900. Completing the ensemble, the sideboard closed at $18,400. All prices quoted in this report are inclusive of 15% buyer’s premium.

“We had nine or ten phone bidders, from all over the country, who were interested in the Paul Evans set,” said Austin Auction associate Chris Featherston, “but amazingly, it all went to a buyer from our own hometown here in Texas. One of the phone bidders, who was from New York, was surprised that he had been outbid by someone from Austin.”

An 18th-century, Louis XV-style marble-top carved console from the same estate that produced the Paul Evans furniture also met with success in the sale. Heavy phone participation boosted its closing price to $8,625.

The fine-art section of the sale included a special collection of eight artworks by John Strevens (British, 1902-1990). Strevens exhibited regularly at the British Royal Academy, Royal Society of British Arts, the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, and the Paris Salon.

“The owner of the paintings had her portrait painted by Strevens and bought additional works by the artist,” Featherston explained. “The eight paintings sold for a total of $26,996, with individual prices ranging from $1,150 to $5,463.”

A category that garnered considerable interest was Asian art. “Since we have been online with our sales, we have gained quite a few buyers out of China,” said Featherston. “Last year many of those buyers were conspicuously absent from our sales. This year the Chinese buyers were back in force, especially for the red coral pieces in the sale.”

Featherston explained that because of over-harvesting and polluted ocean waters, raw red coral has become a scarce commodity. “Even 20th-century pieces like some that we auctioned attracted a lot of attention,” he said.

A group of four small red coral snuff bottles representing a woman, an urn with a relief image of a deer, and two eggplant forms with beetles in relief sold for $1,725 (estimate $200-$400); while a diminutive (4¼-inch-tall) red coral figure on an elephant made $1,265 (estimate $300-$500). Yet another example of Asian art that surpassed estimate was the 2½-inch-tall hornbill snuff bottle with dipper that garnered $1,725 against expectations of $200-$400.

Fashionistas swarmed to bid on the 13 lots of designer clothing by such notable names as Halston, Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass and Richilene New York. In total, the wardrobe of classics earned $7,619.

Featherston said he was disappointed that the sale’s star lot – an opal, diamond and pearl necklace that reputedly belonged to America’s first interior designer, Elsie de Wolfe – did not find a new owner. “The necklace didn’t sell, but it made a lot of people aware of us and the level of quality we offer in our sales,” said Featherston.

Austin Auction Gallery will hold its next cataloged Estates Auction on May 22-23. For additional information, call 512-258-5479 or e-mail info@austinauction.com. Visit Austin Auction Gallery’s Web site at www.AustinAuction.com.

Captions:

Paul Evans (American, 1931-1987) 10-piece sculpted bronze dining suite, made in 1970 featuring Stalagmite glass-top dining table, set of eight dining chairs with purple micro-suede seats and backrest; sideboard with two slate tablets and bi-fold doors concealing interior shelves. Signed “PE 70.” Offered as three lots, total selling price: $59,225. Austin Auction image.

A selection of couture ensembles and evening gowns was offered, including designs by Halston, Oscar De La Renta, Richilene and others. In all, the clothing made $7,619. Austin Auction image.

Evening Party, one of 11 artworks by John Strevens (British, 1902-1990) sold by Austin Auction Gallery on April 18. Signed and titled, measuring 40 inches by 50 inches (sight), it hammered $5,463. Austin Auction image.

A Chinese carved red coral figure of a young beauty seated atop an elephant, 4¼ inches inclusive of stand, likely 19th century, realized $1,265. Austin Auction image.

Carved in the Rococo taste with trails of flowering vines, an 18th-century, Louis XV marble-top console table features an opulent pierced and carved base. It sold for $8,625 against an estimate of $3,000-$5,000. Austin Auction image.

NEARLY 800 FRESH-TO-THE-MARKET LOTS WILL BE SOLD AT A 2-SESSION CATALOGED FINE & DECORATIVE ARTS AUCTION ON SATURDAY, JUNE 19, IN HILLSBOROUGH, N.C,

Contact: Leland Little
(919) 644-1243
leland@llauctions.com

NEARLY 800 FRESH-TO-THE-MARKET LOTS WILL BE SOLD AT A 2-SESSION CATALOGED FINE & DECORATIVE ARTS AUCTION ON SATURDAY, JUNE 19, IN HILLSBOROUGH, N.C,

The auction will be conducted in the gallery of Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., at 9 a.m.

(HILLSBOROUGH, N.C.) - Nearly 800 fresh-to-the-market lots in a wide variety of categories will be sold at a two-session Fine & Decorative Arts Catalog Auction slated for Saturday, June 19, by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. The auction will be conducted in the firm's spacious new gallery, located at 620 Cornerstone Court in Hillsborough, N.C. The first session will begin at 9 a.m.

Headlining the event will be the private collection of Daisy Wade Bridges. Over 200 lots will be dedicated to Ms. Bridges' lifetime collection of porcelain and North Carolina pottery. She previously worked for Josiah Wedgwood & Sons, where she was introduced to the world of ceramics and their manufacture. A philanthropist, she donated many artifacts of merit to the Mint Museum in Charlotte.

Ms. Bridges collected, studied and wrote about Wedgwood for many years, until one day she noticed that great ceramists and great history were just as alive and interesting in the U.S. as they were in Europe. She proceeded with considerable enthusiasm to study the wares from our country and the remarkable ash and salt glaze traditions in North Carolina. She has written extensively on the subject.

In addition to Ms. Bridges' collections, Session I will also be dedicated to Asian objects, collector cars, antique clocks, American and European silver, American and Continental paintings, American and Continental furniture, porcelains, bronzes, antique rugs, fine jewelry and a wide array of decorative arts. The second session, starting at 6 p.m., will be dedicated entirely to fine and vintage wines, a burgeoning genre on the auction circuit.

“This auction will be a great way to wrap up the first half of 2010, which has been very successful,” said Leland Little of Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. “The merchandise in this auction is very strong, and we expect the inventory to remain consistent into the fall.” Online bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

The North Carolina pottery in the sale – mostly from Ms. Bridges' collection – will feature a rare Pisgah Forest baluster vase with pewter overlay and aubergine glaze; a monumental Billy Ray Hussey lion figure with multi-color glaze and abundant curly clay to the mane and hind-quarters; a rare form Burlon Craig face wig stand; a pair of contemporary lidded vessels by Donna Craven; and a Mark Hewitt large lidded jar with ash glaze.

Porcelains will include a pair of Delft lidded garniture vases from the late 17th or early 18th century, with polychrome glaze and figural decorations; a fine pearlware center bowl (likely Leeds, England, circa 1750s), circular with scalloped trim; a mid-18th century English stoneware salt-glazed teapot; and Staffordshire pieces: a pair of squirrels, a rabbit form soup tureen and a grouse form tureen.

The fine wine session will feature one lot of 10 bottles of Chateau Latour Pauillac (1994) with an opaque dark ruby/purple color and an intense nose of walnut and cassis scents; one lot of 12 bottles, also Chateau Latour Pauillac (1995), medium to full-bodied, with original tissue; and one lot of nine bottles of Chateau Tertre Roteboeuf Saint-Emilion, dense and full-bodied, with intense layers of fruit.

Decorative arts from the Daisy Wade Bridges collection will include a late 19th century Federal style 25 ½-inch girandole mirror surrounded by a gilded concave frame decorated in floral relief; an early 19th century English Sheraton rent table with a revolving circular top and an old tooled leather surface; and a Historical Blue Staffordshire ship plate with an E. Wood Burslem mark (circa 1820s).

Continental art will be offered in abundance. Examples include an oil on canvas by James A. Walker (Br., 1841-1898), titled Siege of Paris; an oil on canvas by Robert Mols (Bel., 1848-1903) of Antwerp Harbor; an oil on canvas portrait of Catherine of Braganza from the circle of Sir Peter Lily, late 17th century; an oil on canvas portrait of “W. Boyce” attributed to Allan Ramsay (Br., 1713-1784); and an oil on canvas rendering of an evening street scene in Paris by Edouard Cortes (Fr. 1882-1969).

American art will be no less impressive. Works include an oil on canvas of the Grand Canyon by Dawson Dawson-Watson (Tex., 1864-1939); an oil on canvas half-portrait of John Bispham (circa 1834) by Thomas Sully (Pa., 1783-1872); an 1819 oil on canvas steamboat painting by Francis Speight (N.C./Pa., 1896-1989); and an oil on canvas spring rendering by George L. Noyes (Mass., 1864-1954).

American furniture will feature a rare 18th century Southern Queen Anne drop-leaf table from North Carolina; a mid-19th century mahogany rocking chair and foot rest attributed to Thomas Day; an early 19th century Southern Chippendale walnut chest of drawers, likely western North Carolina; and an early 19th century diminutive walnut and yellow pine Southern cellaret, also likely North Carolina.

Continental furniture will include a 19th century Venetian sofa with fruitwood frame, camelback with outswept rolled arms and Dupioni silk upholstery; a pair of inlaid Belle Epoch side tables (circa 1900), with highly figured rouge marble oval top with pierced brass gallery; and an early 19th century Georgian breakfront bookcase, carved mahogany with double cove-molded cornice over four doors.

Asian objects are certain to get paddles wagging. Expected top earners include an important large bronze Buddha (19th century or earlier), a solid cast figure seated on an integral hollow lotus plinth; a large early 20th century hand-painted Japanese screen, four panels with wooden frames; and a Chinese porcelain eight-panel table screen from the 19th century, with 13 tiles and a mahogany frame.

Continental sterling silver will include a Victorian “Warwick” wine cooler (Sheffield, with Walker & Hall sponsor's mark) and a William IV figural wine centerpiece (London, 1895 date letter). American silver will feature an important Southern Coin cup by Leinbach, footed with applied handle; and a Tiffany & Company ice cream server in the “Blackberry” pattern, made between 1902 and 1907. Also to be sold June 19 will be a pair of figural bronzes by the French artist J. Clesinger (1814-1883) and a 19th century Marti & Cie tortoise shell key-wound mantel clock.

Several collector cars will cross the block, to include a 1990 Ferrari Testarossa two-door coupe, white with red interior and 20,302 miles; and a 1995 Bentley Brooklands four-door sedan, light blue with cream interior and 27,450 miles.

Previews will be held Saturday, June 12, from 10-3; and Thursday and Friday, June 17-18, from 10-6. Also on Friday, June 18, at 3 p.m., there will be a presentation on “The Artistic Legacy of Thomas Day: Master Craftsman and Free Man of Color,” given by Patricia Phillips Marshall, curator of decorative arts for the North Carolina Executive Mansion and the North Carolina Museum of History.

The remaining 2010 Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. catalog sales are scheduled for Sept. 18 and Dec. 4.

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (919) 644-1243, or you can e-mail them at info@LLAuctions.com. To learn more about Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., and the calendar of upcoming events, log on to www.LLAuctions.com. Updates are posted often.



Hussey lion:
Monumental Billy Ray Hussey lion, a must for collectors and a fine example of North Carolina folk pottery.







Cortes painting:
Oil on canvas painting by Edouard Cortes (Fr., 1882-1969), titled Rue Madeleine, a Paris street scene.

Walker painting:
Oil on canvas painting by James A. Walker (Br., 1841-1898), titled Siege of Paris, signed and dated.






Staffordshire plate:
Historical Blue Staffordshire ship plate with an E. Wood Burslem mark, made circa 1820s.

Vintage wine:
One of nine bottles of Chateau Tertre Roteboeuf Saint-Emilion (1995), all in good condition.

Ferrari Testarossa:
1990 Ferrari Testarossa 2-door coupe, white with red interior and just 20,302 miles on the odometer.

Bronze Buddha:
Important large 19th century bronze Buddha, solid cast figure seated on an integral hollow lotus plinth.