Thursday, March 12, 2009

ESTATE ART, A MUSEUM DEACCESSION AND SILVER PLATE VICTORIAN SPOON WARMERS AT MATHESONS AA AUCTION IN MELBOURNE, FL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2009

CONTACT: LLOYD MATHESON
(321) 768-6668


MATHESONS’ AA AUCTION
Melbourne, FL
Sale April 4,5, 2009


Over 150 lots of fine art to include many paintings acquired in the 1990s at Sotheby’s and Christie’s, and phase II of the deaccession of the Old School Square Museum plus 150 Victorian spoon warmers will cross the block April 4,5

(Melbourne, FL) Over 700 lots of fresh to the market art and antiques from six estates will be offered by Mathesons’ AA Auction in Melbourne, FL on April 4,5. The sale will be carried live online by LiveAuctioneers.com

One of the many highlights of the sale will be the important collection of silver plate spoon warmers from the Weinkle estate of Melbourne. The collection features over 150 Victorian late 19th century figural silver plate spoon warmers that were essential to the well run Victorian household where kitchens were often far from the dining room. The spoon warmers were filled with boiling water to bring serving spoons to the right temperature for serving hot food. Most of the items came from the silver vaults on Portobello Road in London. The figures depict several variations of the popular nautilus as well as fish, shoes, cannons, lions, tortoises, swans, shells and many more.

Also highlighted will be a fine art collection amassed in the early 1990s primarily at Sotheby’s and Christie’s as well as a large deaccession from the Old School Square Museum in Delray Beach, FL. The collection consists of over 150 lots of such works as the two 1817 portraits of Haitian royalty as children by Xavier Gazul, a student of Goya, the floral oil "Chardons Bleus" by Jean Leon Jansem (French born 1920), acquired at Sotheby’s in 1991 for $33,000, a maritime scene by Frank Vining Smith (American 1879-1967), a harbor scene by John Whorf (American 1903-1959) and silk screen by Raul Dufy (French 1897-1953). A list of eighty-eight artists represented in the sale, including Chagall, Gruppe, Picasso, Dali and Calder, is posted on the website at http://www.mathesonsaaaucion.com/.

In addition there will be an original bronze by Cyrus Dallin (American 1861-1944) entitled “The Protest,” a pair of 22in high 19th century bronzes with marble bases by H. Moreau, a 28in 19th century figural bronze clock on marble plinth “Le Meale Carpentier Font de Bronze,” an important 32in marble bust by Professor Petrelli, a suite of eight signed and numbered prints by Victor Vasarely (French/Hingarian 1908-1997) “Homage to the Hexagon,” a 19in high 16th century bronze Thai Buddha as well as ten estate oriental rugs including one palace size and a number of fine silver pieces to include Tiffany.

The sale will begin at 11:00AM Saturday April 4 and will continue at 12:00 NOON Sunday April 5. Preview will be Friday April 3 from 11:00AM to 6:00PM and two hours prior to auction time on each sale day. Matheson’s AA Auction is located at 600 E. New Haven Avenue in Melbourne, FL 32901. Seating can be reserved by phone, (321) 768-6668 or by email at aaauctions@earthlink.net. Bidders can follow the auction in real time and bid online through LiveAuctioneers.com. Bidders can also leave bids or arrange to bid by phone by contacting the Gallery. Ten additional phone lines will be run for the sale.

Selected portions of the catalog are available for viewing on the Matheson’s AA Auction website at http://www.mathesonsaaauction.com/ and at http://www.liveaucitoneers.com/. The auction will be called by 33 year veteran auctioneer and auction co-owner Lloyd J. Matheson, Jr. Phone and absentee bids are welcomed. For more information call auction owners Lloyd or Jan Matheson or Auction Manager Carey Lucas (321) 768-6668.

written by:
Fred Taylor
800-387-6377

PHOTO CAPTIONS
Large floral oil by Jean Jansem, 51 X 35in, acquired in 1991 at Sotheby’s.



Selection from the 150 Victorian spoon warmers of the Weinkle collection.



Original bronze by Cyrus Dallin, “The Protest.”


28in high 19th century bronze figural clock on marble plinth, “Le Maele
Carpentier Font de Bronze.”




Important marble bust, 32in high, by Professor Petrilli