WHITE JADE VASE ESTABLISHES NEW RECORD FOR ELDER’S FINE ART & ANTIQUES AND iGAVEL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 17, 2008

ELDER’S FINE ART & ANTIQUES AUCTIONS
NOKOMIS, FL
SALE OF FEBRUARY 18 - MARCH 3, 2008

CONTACT: DON ELDER
(941) 488-1005

Extraordinary Chinese white jade vase with cover and interior chain, bearing Qianlong mark, sells for $291,600.

NOKOMIS, FL – The nine inch tall, exquisitely carved vase was acquired in 1926 from S. & G. Gump Co. of San Francisco by self made American millionaire and collector William Boyce Thompson. The vase, featured in the two week online sale ending March 3 hosted by iGavel, came with the original receipt. According to the receipt, “This vase is made of the finest quality of clear perfect white water jade, possessing remarkable luminosity.” The vase was also distinctive for its 35 link, 13½in interior chain linking the cover to the vase.

This lot established a new single lot record for both Elder’s and iGavel. Auction owner Don Elder said, “I knew this piece was going to go through the roof. It was that good.” From the opening bid of $7,000 the lot moved smartly up the chart garnering 41 bids before reaching the hammer price. A private Chinese collector was the winner. Elder’s Fine Art & Antiques was a charter member when Sotheby’s began online sales in 2000 and was also a charter member when iGavel was formed in 2003.

Most of the Oriental ceramics and porcelain in the 400 lot sale belonged to a collector in North Florida and had been acquired in the 1960s and 1970s while living in Thailand, Burma, Japan and China. The collection was well received with 78 percent of the lots selling, many for far more than the pre sale estimate. A three section 19th century Thai gilt bronze with Buddha seated on a lotus throne, closed at $9,300 against the estimate of $1,000/$1,500. A 4in wide gourd form celadon water scoop, Chinese 18th century, with three gourd form feet and a fitted rosewood stand closed at $7,800 (est. $2,000/$3,000) and a pair of Qing Dynasty cinnebar table screens depicting courtyard life on the fronts and birds and blossoming flowers on the reverse with rosewood stands sold for $7,446 (est $600/$800). A woodblock print, “Village at Night,” by Kawasae Hasui (Japanese 1883-1957) eclipsed the $200/$300 estimate to close at $2,040 and six Han Dynasty gray pottery tomb attendants ranged from $1,000 to $1,624. Elder noted that while many of the oriental lots sold offshore a few were staying stateside.

But Elder’s Fine Arts had more to offer than oriental art in this sale. A Cartier jadeite, platinum, diamond and enameled 18K gold necklace sold for $13,440. Another Cartier piece, a gold folding travel clock with ribbed decoration on the body and a 15 jewel Swiss movement more than doubled the estimate at $4,440. On a more whimsical note an American Folk Art whirly-gig with four action figures sold for $1,500.

The sale also included 18 works by American painter Ben Wilson (1913-2001). Wilson was among the little recognized painters of the Abstract Expressionist school of the 1930s through the 1960s and was a veteran of the WPA. His best work in the sale, an oil on masonite entitled “Memories of Present” gathered 18 bids to close within estimate at $4,560.

Elder’s Antiques offers Asian, American and European antiques including fine art, furniture and objects d’art in a series of auctions held throughout the year. For more information contact Don Elder at (941) 488-1005 or visit the website at http://www.eldersantiques.com/. Elder’s is located at 901 Tamiami Trail (US 41) South, Nokomis, Florida 34275.

Written by:
Fred Taylor

http://www.furnituredetective.com/
800-387-6377

PHOTO CAPTIONS FOR ELDER’S FINE ART & ANTIQUES

This white jade vase with 34 link interior chain set anew record for both iGavel and Elder’s Antiques , closing at $291,600.

A 19th century gilt bronze Thai Buddha sold for $9,300.

A multi gem and gold necklace from Cartier in the 1950s closed at $13,440.

Another Cartier piece, a diaper pin with a coral head and three platinum inset diamonds brought $3,720.

This woodblock print by Kawasae Hasui went for $2,040.

The painted wood whirly-gig with painted blades that make a man chop wood and a lady wash clothes on a washing board. Two men on horses to either side. This atop a pole seated in a painted boxwork frame on a small green painted stool. It sold for $1,500.

SNOWY “FIFTH AVE” TAKES THE LEAD IN WEST PALM BEACH FINE ART AND ANTIQUES SALE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2008

AUCTION GALLERY OF THE PALM BEACHES
Sale February 25, 2008
West Palm Beach, FL

The painting by American Guy Wiggins was the top lot at Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches at $28,080.

A Vero Beach estate provided plenty of action for the 555 registered bidders who participated in the February 25 sale at Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, FL. The sale attracted an unusually high amount of online activity through LiveAuctioneers.com because of the quality and volume of the inventory according to Auction owner Brian Kogan. The 100 inhouse registered bidders were joined by 455 who signed up though LiveAuctioneers.com along with 80 phone and absentee bidders. Overall 25 percent of the 372 lot inventory was won by online bidders.

Art led the way to the top lot in the form of an oil on canvas board, 16 by 20in, from American painter Guy Carleton Wiggins (1883-1962). His Impressionist painting of an urban snow scene entitled “Fifth Ave” sold to a local collector in the room for $28,080 including the buyer’s premium (est $20,000/$30,000). Following close behind was an original painting in acrylic and ink by Joan Miro (Spanish 1893-1983) which was included in the book “MIRO LITHOGRAPHS II,” preface by Raymond Gueneau, Leon Amiel publisher, New York 1975. The signed work and the copy of the book sold in the room for $24,750. A 17½in diameter disk, bronze with verdigris patina, signed by Alexander Archipenko (American 1881-1964) featuring Russian peasant figures was a protest work inscribed with a Ukranian poem referring to Stalin. Estimated at $10,000/$15,000, it sold on the floor for $23,400.

Other works of art included an oil on canvas in the manner of Jean Marc Nattier (French 1685-1766). “Mother and Child with Dog” was a 49¼ by 38in 19th century paining in a gilded frame. Estimated at $2,000/$3,000, it closed at $8,482 and a Spanish School oil on canvas, “Portrait of an Officer,” circa 1800, estimated at $1,000-$1,500, it was hammered down to an Internet bidder for $6,710.

Both period and reproduction furniture was strong. A set of four walnut George III Irish Chippendale chairs had some old restorations but generally were in very good condition. They found a new home with a floor bidder for $16,380 (est $6,000/$8,000). Need a table for those chairs? Along came a George III mahogany triple pedestal dining table with a satinwood crossbanded top, oval ends and vase shape standards raised on downswept reeded legs ending in brass caps and castors, circa 1800. The 89in by 41in table with two 20¾in extension leaves closed at $8,190 (est $4,000/$6,000). A George III style mahogany tall case clock, American circa 1880 with a movement stamped twice “Walter Durfee, Providence R .I.,” a hood with broken pediment and a dial signed by Henry A. Turner & Co, Boston, estimated at $5,000/$8,000, sold for $9,360.

Louis XVI 20th century reproductions were popular. A French Louis XVI style bureau plat with gilt bronze mounts and frieze brought $2,808, well above the $1,200/$1,600 estimate. A French Louis XVI chest, circa 1900, with four long drawers raised on short circular legs sold for $2,574 (est $500/$700) and a French Louis XVI gilt bronze mounted mahogany game table, circa 1910, 44½ by 25¼in, went for $2,223 (est $800/$1,200).

Fancy lighting was in heavy demand. A pair of Empire style gilt and patinated bronze figural six light candelabra, French 19th century, each cast as a semi-nude Grecian female holding aloft a vase issuing candle arms, 39¾in high, raised on a gilt marble mounted plinth, estimated at $3,000/$5,000, had extremely heavy phone bidding but sold in the room for $11,700. A rare pair of George III cut glass two light sconces, English circa 1775, with a provenance from Shreve, Crump & Low of Boston, roared over the estimate of $500/$800 to close at $4,914.

For more information about this sale and upcoming sales including the Chess Collectors International chess sale in May call (561) 805-7115, email info@agopb.com or visit the website at http://www.agopb.com. The Gallery is located at 1609 South Dixie Hwy, Suite 5, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401.

Written by:
Fred Taylor
http://www.furnituredetective.com/
800-387-6377

PHOTO CAPTIONS FOR AUCTION GALLERY OF THE PALM BEACHES

This 16 by 20in oil on canvas board by Guy C. Wiggins was top lot at
$28,080.

This bronze disk entitled “Ukraine 1931” was signed by Alexander
Archipneko. It closed above estimate at $23,400.

An acrylic and ink work by Joan Miro brought $24,750.

A pair of George III walnut Iris Chippendale chairs in good condition doubled
the $6,000/$8,000 estimate to close at $16,380.

This magnificent pair of 19th century French Empire style candelabra
soared over estimate closing at $11,300.

This fine pair of William IV English Sheffield coasters was made by K.G. &
Co in 1834. Estimated at $800/$1,200, they sold online for $2,928.

MOSER, GALLE’, BACCARAT, STEUBEN AND TIFFANY ART GLASS, ALONG WITH WATERFORD CRYSTAL TEAM UP WITH GORHAM, FISHER, WALLACE & TIFFANY STERLING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2008

PROFESSIONAL APPRAISERS & LIQUIDATORS
Crystal River, FL
Sale March 29-30, 2008

Name dropping art treasures from the estate of Dr. Charles William Inman of Lakeland will dominate the March 29-30 sale in Crystal River, FL of more than 1,000 lots. ABSOLUTE SALE! NO RESERVES!

The estate of Dr. Inman has chosen a pair of veteran Florida auctioneers, Charlie Fudge of Crystal River, FL, owner of Professional Appraisers & Liquidators and Kale Albritton of Lakeland, FL, to facilitate the sale of Dr. Inman’s fabulous collection of art glass, silver, fine art, music boxes and antiques. Albritton, who knew Dr. Inman for over thirty years, said “Dr. Inman was very much an astute collector. He was a student of the subject – a collector with a method.”

Added to the 700 items from the Inman estate will be 300 more quality lots from various estates with names like Doulton, Limoges, R.S. Prussia, Fenton, Fulper and Northwood plus antique German dolls, works by listed artists, gold and silver coins and estate jewelry as well as paintings by 19th and 20th century listed artists.

More than twenty art glass lots bear signatures of L. C. Tiffany, LCT and Tiffany Studios and include a Cypriote Spot vase, Favrile vases including a special order green cased vase with pulled leaf and vine decoration, a rare blue Jack in the Pulpit vase, a Favrile compote, a Favrile Aurene bowl and many more. There are over fifty pieces of signed Steuben glass (some signed by the master, F. Carder) including bowls, art glass shades with fleur de lis signature, vases, a dresser jar, a flower frog and twenty three pieces of Selenium Red. There are Moser works with the Karlsbad signature, several pieces of signed Emile Galle’ cameo glass vases, over twenty-five pieces signed R. Lalique or Rene’ Lalique, Baccarat paperweights, Swarovski crystal including animals, cars and a train, over seventy-five pieces of Waterford crystal including a chandelier, lamps, bowls, plates and stemware and many pieces of American Brilliant Period cut glass signed by T. G. Hawkes, J. Hoare and Sinclair.

Artwork will include an oil on board by A.Y. (Alexander Young) Jackson (Canadian 1882-1974). Jackson was an Impressionist painter who belonged to the Group of Seven, a band of Canadian artists who painted native landscapes. There also will be an Impressionist landscape by A. Paul Madeline (French 1863-1920) plus works by D. R. Sellars, Ernest Fredericks (American 1877-1927), a great Florida scene by original Florida Highwayman Robert Butler and many more important 19th and 20th century paintings.

A large selection of sterling silver, over seventy-five pieces, will cross the block. Among them are a Fisher sterling five piece tea set, a Tiffany sterling tea set, Tiffany three-handled loving cups, Gorham three-handled cups and a 73 piece flatware service in Strasbourg pattern as well as a number of sterling silver trays, pitchers, compotes, bowls, serving pieces and sterling silver plateau with applied grape and vine.

One of the estates has over seventy-five three handled items, including the ones mentioned above by Tiffany and Gorham but also including items from Doulton Lambeth, Lenox (with silver repousse’ top), Limoges, Fulper, several Moser pieces, Henry Kohn and Sons (sterling cup) as well as a sterling cup with three handles made of stag horn marked “Made for Tiffany”.

This outstanding opportunity, noted by Fudge to be “The biggest one I have ever done in my thirty five years in the business,” will be presented as an absolute auction with no reserves. The sale will be held at the facility of Professional Appraisers & Liquidators beginning Saturday March 29 at 1:00PM and will continue Sunday at 1:00PM. Preview is Friday March 28 from 1:00PM – 6:00PM and Saturday and Sunday 10:00AM – 1:00PM. Both sessions of the sale will be carried live online by Proxibid. Professional Appraisers & Liquidators is located at 811 SE Highway 19, Crystal River, FL, 34429. Absentee and phone bids are welcomed. Reserve seating is available on a first come, first served basis by reservation by phone. For more information contact the auction at (352) 795-2061, (800) 542-3877, email to webuyit@tampabay.rr.com or visit the website at www.charliefudge.com.

Written by:
Fred Taylor
http://www.furnituredetective.com/
800-387-6377

PHOTO CAPTIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL APPRAISERS

Oil on Artist Board Painting by A.Y. Jackson (Alexander Young 1882-1974). 8’ X 10’ oil on artist board depicting single lone tree on hillside, signed Lower Right A.Y. Jackson in gilt mold frame of the period - Estimate: $10,000 to $15,000

L.C. Tiffany Favrile Vase. Special Order Green Cased Favrile with Pulled Leaf & Vine Decoration, 11 1/2 “ high, signed – Estimate: $6,000 to $8,000

L. C. Tiffany Favrile Cypriote Vase. 4 ½” h X 7 ½” w decorated with Cypriote spots and applied threading on purple ground, signed L.C.T. 017451 – Estimate: $8,000 to $10,000

Moser, Karlsbad Marqueterie Sur-Verre Vase – Auction Estimate: $2,000 to $4,000

19th Century Cylinder Music Box by A. Jaccard du Grand Swiss Orchestra Bell & Drum Cylinder with Enameled Butterfly and Bee Strikers. Forte-piccolo Tambone Timbres, measures 31 ½ X 10 ¾ X 14 ¾. A ten-tune box with floral inlay to top and front. Excellent working condition - Estimate: $5,000 to 7,500

Tiffany Studios Desk/Harp Lamp with dark brown and green patina having a gold aurene shade, 18 ¾” h X 9” w, stamped Tiffany Studios New York 424 – Estimate $2,000 to $4,000

INCREDIBLY WELL RESEARCHED COLLECTION OF ASIAN ARTS ACQUIRED IN THE 1960S AND 1970S TRAVELS TO FLORIDA FOR SALE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2008

MATHESON’S AA AUCTION
Melbourne, FL
Sale March 29-30

Part of the collection of Lillian Watson, previously exhibited at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art in New York, will be sold at Matheson’s AA Auction in Melbourne, FL.

MELBOURNE, FL - For the first time in its history Matheson’s AA Auction of Melbourne, FL will conduct an auction event live online through LiveAuctioneers.com. Auction owner Lloyd Matheson said, “We owe it to our consignors to open up this sale to the world.”

And what is so special about this sale? The 800 lot sale on March 29-30 will begin with thirty-five pieces of Asian art and antiques from the collection of Lillian Watson, noted collector and world traveler. Twenty of the thirty-five pieces were exhibited at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and were insured for over $5,000,000 in 1997. Matheson’s will offer the thirty-five pieces sequentially as the opening lots of the sale.

Mrs. Watson normally traveled with art and antiques specialists to advise her on her purchases. Among those advisors were Dr. Marty Young, curator of the Johnson Museum, Dr. Mary Linda, curator of the Rockefeller collection, Dr. Richard Howard of the Birmingham Museum and Dr. Richard Gramley. The descriptions of the individual lots in this sale from the Watson collection were provided by the committee of experts that vetted the display for the Museum. Mrs. Watson also purchased items from C. T. Loo in Paris and New York and the Aladdin Gallery.

Lot 01 of the sale will be a 14in high underglazed copper red and white pear shaped bottle, 14th century, from the early Ming Dynasty, Hongwu Reign. When this bottle was first exhibited in the Museum in 1997, on loan from Mrs. Watson, it was insured for $2,000,000. A bottle with the same design, underglaze and similar provenance, one inch shorter, sold at Christy’s Hong Kong in 1997 for $2,800,000. Matheson will open the auction with this lot at $100,000 with no reserve!

Among other items from the collection are a 10½in Imperial Chinese yellow enamel saucer dish, underglaze blue and overglaze yellow, with a floral decoration from the Ming Dynasty bearing the Emperor Chenghua mark (1465-1487), a 19½in tall Chinese Famille Noire glazed vase with court scenes from the Qing Dynasty with Kangxi mark (1661-1722) and a life size Khmer Baphuon sculpture of a male, Baphuon period, 10th century, 49in tall with base.

Following the initial group of Watson lots will be what Matheson is calling a “Discovery Asian Art” session featuring another thirty to forty Asian artifacts from other collections. This may be the opportunity, according to Matheson, for someone to find an undiscovered treasure. This section will include items like an 18th-19th century Qing Dynasty flambe’ glazed vase, 9½in tall, an eight panel Ming Dynasty blue and white table screen and six important early Japanese tiles framed together, each one signed.

In addition to Oriental art the sale will feature some significant American and European art as well as estate jewelry and select furniture items. One piece of artwork that is of special interest in this sale was previously sold by Matheson’s a little over two years ago. It is a work by American painter Ernest Lawson (1873-1939). Lawson was one of The Eight, a group of Impressionist painters working in New York after the turn of the century. The painting at hand is an Impressionist work of a young girl in a forest.

When originally offered at Matheson’s the unusually large painting by Lawson seemed to be covered by a white film. The consensus in the room was the painting had been “skinned” by over zealous cleaning. The painting sold for $40,000 plus buyer’ premium and the buyer sent it to a restorer where the film was determined to be a discoloration of over varnish. The original buyer has now consigned the fully restored colorful painting to Matheson’s to be sold without reserve.

The sale will begin at 9:30AM Saturday March 29 and will continue at 11:00 AM Sunday March 30. Preview will be Friday March 28 from 11:00AM to 6:00PM, Saturday 8:30 – 9:30AM and Sunday 9:00 – 11:00AM. Matheson’s AA Auction is located at 600 E. New Haven Avenue in Melbourne, FL 32901. Seating for 180 can be reserved by phone, (321) 768-6668 or by email at aaauctions@earthlink.net. 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 & Gail Taylor
http://www.furnituredetective.com/
800-387-6377

PHOTO CAPTIONS FOR MATHESON’S MARCH 2008

This 14th century Ming Dynasty bottle with copper red underglaze was insured for $2,000,000 while on display at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art.

This 30in diameter Baccarat crystal and dore bronze centerpiece was made for and owned by Gen. Porfirio Diaz, President of Mexico 1876-1911. It bears his seal.

This painting by Ernest Lawson sold for $40,000 plus buyer’s premium in unrestored condition two years ago. In professionally restored condition it will now be offered without reserve.

This 15th century Ming Dynasty Imperial Chinese blue and yellow saucer bears the Emperor Chengua mark of the period.

This life size Khmer Baphuon sculpture is from the 10th century.

An 18in tall porcelain and dore bronze vase is impressed “Boch” on the bottom.