(MARIANNA, Fla.) – A gorgeous late 17^th or early 18^th century wool tapestry, measuring 71 inches by 103 inches and depicting a hunter with his bugle, dog and sword in a woodland setting was the surprise top lot at an on-site auction held Aug. 28 by Specialists of the South, Inc., of Panama City. The tapestry’s vivid colors and fine condition earned it a top bid of $4,884.

“We knew that tapestry was an old and unusual piece, but when the bidding got spirited between a gentleman on the phone and two online bidders, we knew we had something special,” said Logan Adams of Specialists of the South, Inc. “We never did learn for sure whether it was made in England, as we believed, or its exact age, but that didn’t deter people from wanting it.”

In the end, the online bidder took the prize (via LiveAuctioneers.com). The auction was held at a home once belonging to Floye E. Brewton, Marianna, Fla.’s Citizen of the Year in 2006 and a man who lovingly restored numerous historic residential properties in the area prior to his passing in March of this year. The sale featured about 150 items from the estate of Mr. Brewton.

But the auction also featured a storage unit consignment comprising Continental antiques and other items that had been kept in a climate-controlled storage facility for the past five years. While Mr. Brewton was the event’s headliner, the stars of the day were the treasures in that storage unit. The tapestry was one such treasure, and most of the top lots came from the facility.

In all, 310 lots changed hands. Only one offering – a diamond ring – failed to meet the reserve. There were around 70 people in the room, and the sale attracted 161 registered online bidders (who accounted for a 25.2 percent sell-through). Telephone and absentee bids were also taken. Ms. Adams said any fears she may have had about the sale’s success were quickly dashed.

“As soon as the auction started, it was obvious that the interest was there and the bidding was there,” she said. “Our regulars later on were so complimentary about the quality of the merchandise and the professionalism of the staff. Our team really brought it’s ‘A game’ to that beautifully restored little home in Marianna. Mr. Brewton would have been very, very pleased.” Following are additional highlights from the sale. All prices quoted include an 11 percent buyer’s premium.

The second top lot was a Gothic refectory table with eight chairs (two with arms) and a buffet ($2,387). Taking third place was a Tibetan Mahakala Thanka painting in ink and gouache on cloth, 31 inches tall by 21 inches wide ($1,887). One other lot topped the $1,000 mark. It was a bronze scalloped Vide-Poche depicting sea gods at a large shell, signed G. Michel ($1,055).

A beautiful 19^th century inlaid fall front desk with bookcase top coasted to $833; a nice Limoges porcelain hand-painted floral cachepot trimmed in gold, 12 ½ inches tall, commanded $777; and a mahogany inlaid Hepplewhite-style hunt board with two center drawers flanked by a narrow door on the right and a false front drawer opening to the back on the left garnered $666.

A 19^th century girandole mirror in a gilt wood and gesso frame featuring a convex mirror surmounted by a carved spread wing eagle (42 inches tall by 26 inches wide) achieved $605; a 20^th century Karastan floral Kerman rug (16 feet by 11 feet 5 inches) fetched $555; and a Biggs Federal-style corner cabinet with string inlay, about 26 inches wide, crossed the block for $500.

A statue signed “T. Cartier” and titled Fighting Wildcats, stamped with a fabrication seal (Paris, France, copyright by E.G.), measuring 20 inches wide by 19 ½ inches tall, soared to $472; a pair of elaborate, heavy brass 4-arm electric candelabra with marble bases and ornate acanthus leaf motifs rose to $444; and an oil on board portrait of a lady in a period dress breezed to $416.

A late 19^th century Chinese stand with scalloped bead edge and marble inlay, boasting heavy carving and measuring 25 inches in diameter and 24 ½ inches tall, climbed to $444; a mahogany game table with burl apron and vase standard with large ribbed body and large paw feet topped out at $444; and a late 19^th century Southern Chinese marriage cabinet in red and black lacquer, with gilded carved inserts featuring figural motifs crossed the finish line at $444.

An ornately carved Oriental table with finial where the stretchers meet, 21 inches square by 20 inches tall, made $333; a pair of brass leaf and glass grapes accent wall art, 18 inches wide by 20 inches tall, hammered for $222; a Victorian Revival style aluminum garden bench made in Mexico rose to $250; and a Victorian 3-drawer chest with marble top (circa 1875-1885) hit $278.

Specialists of the South, Inc., will hold another on-site auction on Saturday, Oct. 16, on Ivydell Road in Fountain, Fla. Offered will be a treasure trove of collectibles and antique items, to include butter churns, Hoosier cabinets, crocks, lady’s head vases, salt and pepper shakers, clocks, furniture and more. Internet bidding will be facilitated again by LiveAuctioneers.com.

The Specialists of the South, Inc. has been serving the Panama City community for over 30 years. The firm specializes in a broad range of services, to include estate auctions, furniture refurbishing, interior decoration, property appraisals and business liquidation services. It has been awarded the Small Business of the Month by the Bay County Chamber of Commerce.

The Specialists of the South, Inc. is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them at (850) 785-2577, or you may e-mail them at specialists@knology.net. To learn more, or to register for the upcoming auction, you may log on to either www.SpecialistsoftheSouth.com or www.PanamaCityAuctions.com.

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(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – A full slate of three auctions, including a Civil War & Militaria Auction planned for Sunday, Sept. 12, will be held by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery, in the firm’s spacious gallery facility at 1485 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield. The centerpiece of the Sept. 12 event promises to be an authentic Colt Gatling Gun, expected to bring over $150,000.

The month will kick off on Friday, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m., with an Antique Discovery Auction that will feature over 600 lots from prominent local estates and collections. Offered will be about 50 pieces from the Arts & Crafts Movement (Stickley, Limbert, etc.), a vintage clock collection, artwork, sterling silver, cut glass, coins, bronzes, art glass, cameo glass and more.

The following day, Sept. 12, also with an 11 a.m. start time, will be the Civil War & Militaria Auction. The day will be packed with nearly 500 lots of firearms, swords, Civil War items, saddles, daguerreotypes, uniforms, buckles, canteens, letters, ephemera and more, to include the aforementioned Gatling Gun. A replica model 1862 Gatling Gun will also be sold.

The third September sale will be held on Saturday, Sept. 25, beginning at 10 a.m. It will be an unreserved estate auction (everything sells, regardless of price), featuring over 650 fresh to the market items offered in two sessions. Sold will be a fine Newport, R.I., Ocean Avenue estate (name withheld per request of the heirs). All items will be transported to the gallery in Pittsfield.

The contents of the estate represent a vast array of silver, Russian enamel, period furniture, paintings, Mettlach steins, Tiffany pieces, cloisonne, carved jade, Oriental rugs, European & Asian porcelains and more.

Bidding for the Sept. 11 sale will be live, phone and absentee, with no online bidding component. Internet bidding for the Sept. 12 auction will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com, Proxibid.com and the Fontaine’s Auction Gallery website (www.fontainesauction.net). Online bidding for the Sept. 25 sale will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com and Fontaine’s website.

In the Sept. 12 firearms auction, keen advance interest has already been expressed in the Colt Gatling gun (Model 1875, Serial No. 135, manufactured in Hartford, Conn., in 1875). At a Fontaine’s auction held Aug. 15-16, 2009, a Colt Model 1883 .45 caliber Gatling gun sold for a respectable $172,500.

The Gatling gun is named after the man who invented it, Richard J. Gatling, and was a 19^th century precursor to the modern-day machine gun. The example set to cross the block Sept. 12 comes out of the private arms collection of Peter and Patty Murray. It comes complete with carriage, trunnion and tripod. It is expected to realize $150,000-$250,000.

The gun has enjoyed two careers of sorts. Its first incarnation, of course, was as a weapon for the U.S. Army. That began when the gun was shipped by the Gatling Gun Co. (a subsidiary of Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co., Inc.) from Hartford on Oct. 13, 1875. But the piece also was used by MGM Studios in movies from the 1930s to the ‘70s, where it fired “5-in-1” blanks.

The replica model 1862 Gatling gun, while not an original, carries a handsome pre-sale estimate of $17,500-$25,000. Only 13 model 1862 Gatling guns were originally produced, and all of those were destroyed in a warehouse fire in Cincinnati after the Civil War. The replica to be sold was reproduced from the original plans by master cannon maker Gary Scott of Indiana.

Vintage rifles will also be in evidence at the sale. Expected top lots include an extremely rare and massive flintlock rampart gun with a 76-inch round barrel, just about 8 feet long and weighing 60-70 pounds (est. $4,000-$8,000); an excellent example of a Winchester Model 1886 extra lightweight rifle with a 22-inch rapid taper barrel, made in 1902 (est. $4,000-$5,000); and a nice Model 1817 U.S. flintlock rifle, .58 caliber, with 35-inch round barrel (est. $2,500-$3,500).

Other rifles expected to do well include a very nice percussion target rifle by A.P. Wood of New York City, .38 caliber with a 32.5-inch octagonal barrel (est. $2,500-$3,500); a Civil War-era carbine marked “Spencer Repeating Rifle Co., Boston, Mass., Pat’d March 6, 1860” (est. $2,000-$3,000); and one lot consisting of five pieces attributed to the 141^st Regiment of New York, to include a Belgian copy of a British pattern 1853 Enfield rifle (est. $1,500-$2,000).

Single pistols will feature a magnificent engraved and gold-filled Colt Model 1860 Army revolver, in excellent condition and with all numbers matching (est. $3,000-$5,000); a cased Robert Jones 5-shot double-action percussion pistol, made in 1864 (est. $3,000-$4,000); and a Starr Arms Co. 1863 Confederate Army .44 caliber 6-shot Army revolver (est. $1,500-$2,500).

Pistol sets always delight the crowd. Two pair guaranteed to get paddles wagging are a matched pair of large-bore flintlock sea service pistols, .69 caliber with 9.25-inch barrels, made circa 1812 (est. $2,000-$4,000); and a wonderful pair of D. Egg (London) percussion dueling pistols, .62 caliber with 5 ½ inch octagonal barrels in a nice walnut case (est. $4,000-$6,000).

Military coats and frocks will include an enlisted man’s gray shell U.S. New York Regiment militia frock coat, circa 1860, in good clean condition (est. $10,000-$15,000); a Civil war period dark blue New York State 71^st Regiment swallow-tailed full dress coat (est. $4,000-$5,000); and a Civil War-era Louisville legion style long blue wool frock (est. $2,500-$3,500).

Swords will include two examples by N.P. Ames (Springfield, Mass.). The first is a Model 1832 artillery short sword with scabbard, frog and belt (est. $3,000-$4,000). The second is a circa 1840-50 militia staff officer’s sword with 31-inch blade and scabbard, both signed (est. $1,500-$2,000). Also sold will be a lot consisting of an unmarked Confederate sword with brass guard and pommel, an English percussion revolver by Robert Adams (London), and a military letter from a Capt. Robins to Lieut. Col. Geo. H. Woods, dated 9/17/1863 (est. $2,000-$4,000).

Additional militaria will feature a metal-bodied Queen’s lancer drum, 10 ½ inches by 15 ½ inches (est. $3,000-$5,000); a Confederate leather belt with buckle and hand-made cartridge box (est. $3,000-$4,000); a small tintype portrait of Gen. George Armstrong Custer (est. $2,500-$3,500); a 1/3-scale model of a brass 6-pounder Civil War-era cannon (est. $1,750-$3,500); and a William Muir & Co. (Windsor Locks, Conn.) Model 1861 rifle-musket (est. $2,000-$3,000).

Rounding out the day’s anticipated top lots: a German SS Storm Trooper dagger with black wooden handle, brown metal scabbard and leather belt hanger (est. $1,750-$2,250); a silver-hilted German hanger, made around 1750 (est. $2,200-$2,400); a rare, pre-Civil War Rienly officer’s leather saddle, Model 1848 (est. $2,000-$2,500); and a 39-piece collection of powder horns, flasks and shot pouches, all mounted on a piece of pegboard (est. $1,500-$3,000).

Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is actively seeking quality consignments for future sales. The firm also buys antiques and entire estates outright. For more information, or to consign an item, estate or collection, you may call (413) 448-8922 and ask to speak to John Fontaine. Or, you can e-mail him at info@fontaineauction.com. For more info, log on to www.fontainesauction.net.

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(HILLSBOROUGH, N.C.) – Nearly 800 lots of fresh-to-the-market merchandise from prominent local estates will be sold at a Fine & Decorative Arts Cataloged Auction slated for Saturday, Mar. 20, at 9 a.m., by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. The sale will be held at the firm’s state-of-the-art showroom, located at 620 Cornerstone Court in Hillsborough. Online bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com and the Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. website — www.LLAuctions.com.

“This sale will complete our first year at the new gallery, and by all accounts it has been a very successful venture,” said Leland Little, owner of the firm. “It’s not only a better work facility for the team, it has provided easier access off the Interstate for customers and offers better presentation for the sellers.”

Mr. Little said the new gallery will be enhanced with a planned 50 percent expansion of the building in late 2010/early 2011. The added space will be used for more storage space, a professional photography studio, a larger gallery space for future auctions and a bigger kitchen. “The principles behind our decision to build the new gallery have proven to be successful for our company and both sellers and buyers,” Mr. Little remarked.

Since the move, the firm has experienced growth in its estate treasure auctions as well, held about 2-3 times a month. “They’ve doubled in attendance and sales results,” stated Mr. Little. “This is a reflection of the location of the new building and the wonderful presentation venue it makes.” He added, “We are continuing to attract larger estate consignments as a result of this.”

Many of the expected top lots at the Mar. 20 auction will be in the fine art category. Two works especially worth watching will be a large oil portrait of Mr. William Whiteright, Jr., by William Merritt Chase (NY, 1849-1916), signed and dated 1886 (est. $20,000-$30,000), and an oil painting of a skater by William Frerichs (NC/NY, 1829-1905), signed (est. $10,000-$15,000).

Other artworks of note will include a circa 1900 American School oil on canvas portrait of a lady, with an illegible signature and in a gilt wood frame (est. $6,000-$9,000); an oil on canvas by Claude Howell (NC, 1915-1997) titled US 17 South (est. $4,000-$8,000); and an 1830 full length figural silhouette by Augustin Edouart (Am., 1789-1861), framed (est. $400-$800).

Period furniture is also expected to do well. Examples include a fine Connecticut bonnet-top Chippendale secretary (circa 1760-1780), two-part form, cherry with white pine and chestnut secondary woods (est. $6,000-$9,000); and an early 19^th century American Federal triple-pedestal dining table with Classical elements, mahogany and mahogany veneers (est. $3,000-$5,000).

Also from the period furniture category: a North Carolina Edgecombe County china press (circa 1820-1830), vernacular Neoclassical form, walnut with poplar and yellow pine secondary (est. $3,000-$5,000); and a 19^th century Southern inlaid bonnet chest, river birch with yellow pine secondary and two deep side-by-side drawers over three graduated drawers (est. $1,200-$1,800).

Asian antique decorative arts will be plentiful. Star lots promise to be a rare and large late 19^th century Japanese Sumida Gawa masterpiece vase (est. $6,000-$9,000); an unusual pottery-themed Satsuma lidded jar from the Tasho Period (1912-1925), signed (est. $3,000-$5,000); and a 19th century Qing Dynasty Chinese ancestral portrait on silk (est. $2,000-$4,000).

From the same category: a Chinese Yongzheng bottle vase, monochromatic egg-shell blue glazed earthenware on a footed base (est. $1,000-$2,000); a Chinese Export armorial teapot in the rare bell shape, circa 1750 and made for the American market (est. $300-$500); and a Chinese Export porcelain chocolate pot, circa 18^th century and quite small (est. $300-$500).

Recently, Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. established a vintage wines department. Over 50 lots of wine will be featured in the Mar. 20 sale, an example being a bottle of 1966 Krug vintage Champagne, blanc de blanc, one of only about 500 bottles made (est. $6,000-$9,000).

Vintage clocks will include a LeRoy & Fils French Empire bronze mantel clock made circa 1830-1840 (est. $2,000-$4,000); a late 19^th century French tortoise shell mantel clock made for Tiffany & Co. (est. $2,000-$4,000); an early 19^th century English twin fusee bracket clock by Lambert of London (est. $1,000-$1,500); and a William Black bracket clock (est. $1,000-$1,500).

Silver pieces will include a Tiffany & Co. rare and monumental (circa 1894-1901) sterling silver meat platter, oval form with central well and tree (est. $1,500-$2,500); and an important 19^th century coin silver mug by B. Dupuy of Raleigh, N.C. (est. $1,000-$2,000).

Estate jewelry, a hallmark of many Leland Little auctions, will feature an onyx and diamond ring of chic contemporary form, inlaid with two black onyx stones in a fanned-out design (est. $600-$900); and a Tiffany & Co. 14kt gold tank watch with black lizard strap (est. $400-$600).

Rounding out the day’s expected top lots: a Tiffany floriform Favrile vase, signed (est. $1,000-$2,000); a Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica soup tureen, oval lidded form with applied crabstock handles (est. $3,000-$5,000); a pre-Columbian Nayarit pottery warrior made in Mexico sometime between the 3^rd Century B.C. and the 3^rd Century A.D. (est. $2,000-$4,000); a pair of early Victorian cast-iron Continental garden chairs, ornate black (est. $1,000-$2,000); and a gorgeous early 20^th century antique area rug from Northwest Persia (est. $800-$1,200).

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd.’s next catalog sale after this one will be held on Saturday, June 19, and features the estate of Daisy Wade Bridges of Charlotte, N.C. Mrs. Bridges is a philanthropist and collector of porcelains and North Carolina pottery. She has donated many artifacts of merit to the Mint Museum in Charlotte, among others. The collection will feature other North Carolina pottery, Asian items, Southern furniture, antique rugs and more.

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an entire estate or a collection, you may call them directly 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 its calendar of upcoming auctions, please log on to http://www.llauctions.com/, Updates are posted frequently.

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(ORLANDO, Fla.) – Over 300 original and reprographic works of art by some of the greatest and most recognizable names in 20^th century fine art (Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, among others) and contemporary art (by artists like Peter Max and Nicola Simbari) will be sold at a live and Internet auction scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 27, by Baterbys Art Auction Gallery, beginning promptly at 6 p.m.

The auction will be conducted live at Baterbys’ spacious Pointe Orlando gallery, located at 9101 International Drive (Unit 1008) in Orlando, and on Feb. 20 at the West Palm Gallery, located at 13900 South Jog Road in Delray Beach. The entire auctioneers’ premium will be donated to UCP of Central Fla., an organization serving children with disabilities and developmental delays in the Orlando area.

A preview will precede the auction, from 5-6 p.m. Free cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be provided by a local Cuban restaurant, creating a festive atmosphere that bidders will enjoy as they peruse artworks spanning a range of themes, to include City Scenes, Biblical and Religious, Rural Life, Abstract and Realist. Online bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com and iCollector.com.

It is the first auction of the year for Baterbys, named Best Art Gallery in Orlando for 2009 by Orlando Style Magazine and SneakySunday.com (a website dedicated to local arts and entertainment). Bidders will have the opportunity to win free works of art and other giveaways during spontaneous raffles throughout the auction. Everyone will receive a free print valued at $100 just for attending.

Between 1951 and 1960, Salvador Dali created 101 watercolor drawings to interpret The Divine Comedy, a poem by Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). Dali’s Divine Comedy series (circa 1960) will be sold Feb. 27 and comprises six signed, framed prints. All are in excellent condition. Each is an original wood engraving in color on Rives paper (about 10 inches by 7 inches) and signed in the block by Dali. Sold will be the Paternoster Suite (est. $700-$800 ea.) and the Aaliyah Suite (est. $3,000-$4,000 ea.).

Several pieces from various suites by Pablo Picasso (Spanish/French, 1881-1973) will also be sold. Picasso, probably best known for his Cubist paintings and printmaking, singlehandedly revolutionized Western art. He was born in Spain and lived there until age 19, when he moved to Paris to study the Old Masters and Classical sculpture. Baterbys has featured his works in previous auctions.

Other names from 20^th century fine art will include Joan Miro and, among others. Marc Chagall. Miro (Spanish, 1893-1893) was born in Barcelona and earned international acclaim for his abstract, curvilinear design paintings, collages and murals. Miro despised conventional painting methods and once declared an “assassination of painting.” His work has been featured in past Baterbys sales, too.

Several pieces from suites by Chagall (Russian/French, 1887-1985) are sure to get paddles wagging. The artist is best known for his village peasant theme paintings. Chagall was born Moishe Shagal and adopted the French spelling of his name when he became a member of the Ecole de Paris. He was a shrewd observer of the contemporary scene and had great sympathy for human suffering.

Original oil paintings and hand-embellished giclee prints by the supremely gifted artist Elena Bond will also be offered, as will works by Guillaume Azoulay (Calif., b. 1949) and Isaac Maimon (Israeli, b. 1951). Azoulay’s Le Lion (a 26 inch by 17 inch gicleee on canvas, 2009, #28 of 300, with the title and year in gold pen, lower left) is a wonderful display of cool colors, in excellent condition.

Isaac Maimon is renowned for his iconic paintings of Parisian café society. The work to be sold – La Vie Francais – is a surprising mix of colors, created with masterful lines and inspired strokes on a serigraph on paper (framed at 29 inches by 35 inches, and hand-signed in pencil, lower right, from an edition of just 125). The piece portrays the women of Paris as cultured, stylish, sensual and beautiful.

Peter Max’s work is a protean display of unabashed freedom. His paintings are visual time machines that transport viewers to the heydays of the Beatles, Woodstock and Jimi Hendrix. But some of his work resembles modern concepts, such as the mixed media on paper piece Liberty and Justice For All, which will be offered, along with six original mixed media interpretations of Lady Liberty.

Nicola Simbari (It., b. 1929) effortlessly launched his painting career while still in his 20s, with a one-man show in London. His brilliant, impressionistic style and vivid, dramatic interpretations of the Mediterranean have established Simbari as one of today’s most sought after artists. Several of his works will be included in the Baterbys Feb. 27 sale. All will be serigraphs, executed around 1990.

Baterbys offers its clients something that is unique in the industry: a lifetime money-back guarantee of authenticity for each work of art it sells. This is important to buyers looking to build a collection of art, since provenance is everything. It is Baterbys’ philosophy that gaining a buyer’s trust is key to ensuring they will become repeat customers. No other auction house offers such a guarantee.

Baterbys has over 25 years’ experience in the art world and auctioneering. The firm specializes in Internet and live auctions of world-class, authentic artwork, especially 20^th-century masters, from Dali through Chagall, Picasso, Fini and numerous post-Impressionists. Baterbys’ main concentration is in rare graphic works. The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future fine art auctions.

Baterbys produces quarterly art review books that also serve as catalogs. They are a complete reference to all the artists Baterbys sells for dealers, collectors and new buyers. The catalogs – suitable for coffee table display – feature artist biographies, discussions of the artwork, and full museum-style descriptions of all the items. The cost is $124 hard-cover, $94.99 soft-cover (less with a subscription).

For more information on Baterbys and the company’s upcoming Feb. 27 live and Internet auction, log on to http://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.

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(OCEANSIDE, N.Y.) – The original marriage certificate issued to pop legend Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of rock ‘n’ roll icon Elvis Presley, on May 26, 1994 in the Dominican Republic, when the couple embarked on their brief but highly publicized life together, sold for $70,800 at a multi-estate sale held Jan. 22-24 by Philip Weiss Auctions.

The weekend extravaganza, at which around 1,300 lots changed hands from a variety of categories in a sale that grossed more than $700,000, was held in Philip Weiss Auctions’ gallery facility, located at #1 Neil Court in Oceanside. As expected, the Jackson-Presley document was the top lot of the sale (not counting a single-owner lifetime stamp collection that made $77,000).

“This was a great way to start the new year,” Philip Weiss said of the auction, the first of 2010 for the firm. “The story with this one was pretty much the same as last year’s sales. Great merchandise sparked spirited bidding, which resulted in strong prices. It’s all about the items. If you’re fortunate to attract quality, fresh-to-the-market consignments, you’ll do well every time.”

About 200 people packed the showroom over the course of the three days. In addition, there were over 1,000 registered Internet bidders, who participated online via Proxibid.com and the Philip Weiss Auctions website (http://www.prwauctions.com/). The marriage certificate, in fact, sold to a bidder on Proxibid.com. Phone and absentee bidding was also very active all three days.

The Jackson-Presley certificate is one of the most important celebrity documents of the 20^th century, right up there with Charles and Diana’s and Monroe and DiMaggio’s wedding certificates. The 8 ½ inch by 10 ¾ inch sheet was signed by both stars and was also signed by State Official Hugo F. Perez. It had been laminated to protect it from the Dominican humidity.

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.

Philatelists (stamp collectors) were serious and came armed with cash, making the Sunday session (the last day of the sale) a memorable one. In addition to the single-owner collection that brought $77,000, a full, post office-fresh sheet of 80 stamps from the People’s Republic of China (Scott #1586), sailed past its high estimate of $55,000 to gavel for $67,250.

A page from the 1964 Beatles USA, Ltd. tour program, beautifully signed by all four Beatles and personally inscribed to the late pianist Liberace, soared to $15,800. In their light-hearted way, the Beatles signed the 12 inch by 12 inch page “to Liber-Archie” as a play on words. The photo on the page depicts the band wearing their winter coats, standing atop a wall.

The 1967 Belmont Stakes trophy, won by the late jockey and horse racing legend Willie Shoemaker when he rode Damascus into the winner’s circle, breezed to $15,350. The trophy, comprising 59 ounces of sterling silver, has three horses on a base holding up the body and is topped by a lid with a bridled horse as a handle. It is nicely embellished with leaves and acorns.

An official American League baseball, signed in blue ink on the sweet spot by Hall of Famer Tris Speaker, brought $7,910; a rare 1913 W.B. Jarvis Sporting Goods Store advertising sign featuring Hall of Famer Ty Cobb, with a New York Times article explaining Cobb’s connection to the firm, realized $7,350; and a find of E97 Briggs baseball cards made $14,000.

A pair of original works by the German-American artist Carl Rungius (1869-1959) were sold as a single lot for $9,900. The first was an oil on paper of a cowboy on a horse with snow-capped mountains in the background, with Rungius’ initials on verso. The second was an oil on canvas of a snowy landscape, featuring Rungius’ trademark thumbtack marks on each corner.

An 1892 marble bust of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir William Hamo Thornycraft, the initiator of the “New Sculptors,” went for $4,520. It is signed and dated at the bottom of the bust. Also, an oil on canvas work by Konstantin Alexeivitch Korovin (1861-1939), titled Interior of Room with People, crossed the finish line at $15,800.

Philip Weiss Auctions’ next big sale will be dedicated to Comics, Comic Art and Animation Art. It is slated for Sunday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m. Featured will be the comic collection and original art from the estate of noted cartoonist Eldon Dedini. The comics consist of 21 key Golden Age books, all unrestored, with the owner’s name and code numbers noted on the covers.

Included in the collection are Detective Comics #’s 1, 2, 28, 34, 38, 40, 41, 42 and 48; More Fun #60 and 62; Batman #3, 4 and 5; comic art, to include a great 1962 Peanuts baseball daily and a Herriman Krazy Kat, both fresh to the market; two fresh to the market Hogarth Tarzan Sunday pages; a wonderful early Peanuts daily; and Eldon Dedini Playboy illustrations.

Then, on Saturday, Mar. 20, at 10 a.m., another auction will be held, this one dedicated to barber shop, militaria, nautical, presidential memorabilia and advertising items. Recently arrived are an original life preserver ring, café chairs and a deck lounge chair from the ill-fated ocean liner the Andrea Doria. The advertising section will feature a nice selection of Mr. Peanut items.

In April, at a time and date still to be determined, Philip Weiss Auctions will be proud to offer The Edward Ryan Toy Soldier & Military Memorabilia Collection. Mr. Ryan was a noted author on the subject of paper toy soldiers. His collection covers paper soldiers, plus Britains, composition soldiers and important French military memorabilia. It should be a good auction.

Philip Weiss Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (516) 594-0731, or e-mail them at phil@prwauctions.com. To learn more about Philip Weiss Auctions and its calendar of upcoming auctions, to include the Feb. 28 and Mar. 20 events, click on www.prwauctions.com.

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(RAYMOND, Ill.) – A monstrous two-day auction dedicated to farm and construction toys, Lionel toy trains and vintage toys will be held the weekend of Feb. 20-21 at a former furniture store building in Raymond, Ill., located halfway between St. Louis and Springfield, Ill. In all, nearly 1,000 lots will cross the block. Online bidding will be facilitated by Proxibid.com.

The sale will be a collaboration of two auction houses: Matthews Auction Company, based in Nokomis, Ill., and Gavin Pope Auction Company, headquartered in Raymond. A crowd of around 80 people is expected for the two days, while pre-registration for Internet bidding has been brisk, according to Dan Matthews. “I expect many of these items will sell online,” he said.

The Saturday, Feb. 20 session, beginning promptly at 10 a.m. (CST), will comprise over 500 lots of farm toys and construction toys. Featured will be a fabulous John Deere memorabilia collection, to include oilers, pencils, pens, pocket knives, calendars and more. The Sunday, Feb. 21 session will boast over 300 lots of Lionel toy trains (mostly new in the box), circa 1950s-‘90s.

Feb. 21 will also feature more than 75 intriguing vintage toys, to include pedal cars, toy wagons and more. A partial listing of what will be offered both days may be viewed on the Matthews Auctions, LLC website, at http://www.matthewsauctions.com/. A full catalog will be posted online soon. A 10 percent buyer’s premium will be charged on Sunday only (none on Saturday).

The Feb. 20 session will have four primary components: custom toys, John Deere items, International and other farm toys, and construction toys. The custom toys will feature Ertl trucks, highly coveted by collectors. Sold will be a rare IH Loadstar cement mixer (possibly with box); an IH Loadstar wrecker; an IH Loadstar equipment trucks; white cab-over box trucks; and more.

The Ertl brand will cross over into the John Deere category, too. Sold will be Ertl John Deere precision models #1-25, all new in the box (including all the hard-to-find ones); an Ertl John Deere A, with drive and arcade wheels; and an Ertl John Deere A, with two-hole flywheel. Also sold will be John Deere 2-cylinder tractors (1990-2008), all new in the box, in great shape.

Other John Deere pieces to be offered include 620, 720 and 820 industrial examples; a Plow City 1010 crawler; a 430 crawler; 4320 and 6030 examples, new in the box; 4960 and 8400 MFWD; a restored 12A and 30 augur combine; a 6600 combine with metal gear drive platform; a near-mint dirt scraper; combines (Turbo and Titan II); and disk plows and other implements.

International toys will include a 5288 farm set; three Precision F-20s; 1206 and 806 models, both repainted; a 1026 gold; a model 560; an F-20 Iowa Welcome Center; several Cubs; an MTA SE; and several other pieces. Additional farm toys will feature a Tru-Scale combine; an Oliver OC-3 Crawler, new in the box; and Ertl Texaco truck and airplanes banks (No. 1 thru 22).

The farm toys category will also feature a large selection of other Texaco toys; a Buddy L Texaco tanker; a Brown Bigelow jet fuel tanker; and pedal tractors, to include a Case CA; John Deere small 60, 20, 730 and 4430 models; a small Massey model 44; and several other examples.

Custom toys will include a Weber Case with dual elevators; an Allis WD-45, with picker; a Woods Brothers one-row picker; a Cottonwood Acres State Highway truck; a Standard tank truck; a Riecke F-20; a Freiheit International Harvester Farmall 300; a Hartz-Partz John Deere 330; a Nolt John Deere L; a custom John Deere AR; and a custom Yoder John Deere model 730.

Construction toys will be abundant and feature Revell Caterpillar scrapers, graders and bottom dumps; an Ertl Cat motor grader; an NZG or Conrad Caterpillar 1/50 scale truck, almost new in the box; a 2-944 Wheel Loader NZG; D8N and D9N, silver edition; a 797 off-highway truck; a D11R track-type tractor, gold and silver edition; and a 793D off-highway toy truck.

Other construction toys certain to get paddles wagging and online bidders juiced include a 245 excavator; a 245 shovel excavator; a P-450 Profiler; a 988B wheeler loader; a 627push-pull scraper; a D400 articulated dump truck; a 615 scraper; a 769C truck; a 416 backhoe; a 966D wheeler loader; a 215 excavator; a 224 wheeler loader; and a 416 backhoe loader, silver edition.

Matthews Auctions, LLC’s next big sale after this one will be a Spring 2010 Peotone Petroliana and Advertising Auction scheduled for Friday, Mar. 5, in Peotone, Ill., starting at 12 noon (CST). Featured will be the Gulf collection of Pat Lutz. Then, on Saturday, April 24, the firm will conduct a Petroliana and Vintage Advertising Sale in Redlands, Calif., at 2 p.m. (PST).

On Saturday, May 1, Matthews Auctions, LLC will hold a Classic Car, Petroliana, Gas Pumps and Vintage Advertising Auction in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisc. Offered will be over 20 classic cars, a great selection of gas pumps and signs, and more. Then, on May 15, an Absolute Petroliana and Automotive Advertising Auction will be held, in Loveland, Colo. Featured will be the single-owner collection of Clyde Hodge. Signs, globes and other collectibles will be offered.

Matthews Auctions, LLC is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them toll-free, at (877) 968-8880. Or, you can e-mail them at danm@matthewsauctions.com. To learn more about the firm and its calendar of upcoming sales, to include the Feb. 20-21 auction, log on to http://www.matthdewsauctions.com/

To learn more about Gavin Pope Auction Company, you may call them at (217) 825-8682

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(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) – A Chalmers Catawba wine bitters bottle graded 9.8 for condition and considered one of the top five western bitters known, sold for $ 19,600 in an Internet and catalog auction that ended Jan. 18 by American Bottle Auctions (http://www.americanbottle.com/). The bottle was the top lot in a sale that saw around 325 rare and vintage bottles sold and grossed more than $275,000.

The bottle — trademarked Sutters Old Mill, Spruance Stanley & Co., Proprietors — had an applied top and boasted loads of whittle, in a brilliant bluish aqua color. “This one had a solid strike and we can’t imagine a better example,” said Jeff Wichmann of American Bottle Auctions. “This very same bottle sold in one of our earlier auctions, and it set a record price. It’s the real deal, the very best.”

It was the 49^th Internet and catalog auction for American Bottle Auctions, which specializes in rare and vintage bottles mostly made between 1850 and 1900, the period most desired by collectors, when superior embossing techniques were employed. Nearly 5,000 people registered to bid, but only a fraction of that total (around 300 people) actually submitted bids. Of those, 175 were winning bidders.

“The market right now is as strong as I’ve ever seen it,” remarked Mr. Wichmann. “Every sale we have seems to be better than the one before it. This auction was certainly one of our best ever. I attribute that to the tremendous variety of merchandise, and the response to that merchandise by our bidders. Historical flasks and bitters did especially well. They’re sitting atop the bottle market now.”

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

A “For Our Country/Eagle” pint flask, over 150 years old, with sheared lip and pontil, in a color best described as tobacco green with striations of olive, soared to $14,560. The bottle was graded 9.8 and depicted a 20-star flag surrounded by six ribs. Also, a Baltimore Sunburst half-pint (circa 1840-50), graded 9.8, in a light to medium pinkish copper color and a superior high-quality example, hit $11,200.

A spectacular Bridgeton New Jersey-Washington bottle with sheared lip and jagged tubular pontil, graded 9.8 and with an outstanding medium to deep amber coloration near the base, climbed to $10,080. Also, a flawless Miller’s Extra E. Martin Old Bourbon trademark, probably the most desired of the Cutter fifths, with strong embossing and an overall beautiful patina to the glass, rose to $8,960.

A Washington/Baltimore Glassworks portrait pint flask showing the Baltimore Monument and a bust of George Washington (circa 1830-50), with rolled lip and pontil, graded 9.3, medium green and somewhat crude, with surface irregularities, breezed to $8,400; and a Corn For the World quart flask with embossed corn and the Baltimore Monument on the reverse, graded at 9.8, commanded $7,840.

A trademark Lightning quart jar, with Putnam 328 on the base and a replaced top and painted lid, boasting overall nice whittle and emerald green in color (one of only six such jars in this shade), graded 9.8, coasted to $7,280; and a J.H. Cutter Old Bourbon (E. Martin & Co., Sole Agents) banded pint flask, with a popular crown on the shoulder and a single roll top, graded 9.3, gaveled for $5,376.

A National Bitters (with Patent 1867 on the base) bottle, with an applied top and, remarkably, still with the original label, rare for its beautiful and brilliant ruby red coloration, graded 9.9, climbed to $5,152; and a Jesse Moore (Hunt & Co., Sole Agents) western whiskey fifth bottle with gorgeous pint banded flask, wonderfully embossed but with some condition issues, graded 9.7, topped out at $3,808.

A Pineapple bitters bottle, unembossed, with applied top and smooth base, green with some yellow and graded 9.8, hammered for $4,928; a Henley’s Wild Grape Root Bitters bottle with tooled top, in a highly whittled aqua-teal variant and filled with bubbles, demanded $4,256; and a Bryant’s Stomach Bitters bottle with applied top and sticky ball pontil, brilliant emerald in color, fetched $4,032.

A National Bitters (Patent 1867 on the base) bottle, with applied top and colored a brilliant yellow with a touch of green (almost transparent yellow toward the top, becoming a more vibrant hue near the base), graded 9.8, sold for $4,032; and a Harkness Fire Destroyer extinguisher (circa 1865-85), with ground lip, 6 ¼ inches, unusually colored in sapphire blue and pure oxblood puce, brought $4,032.

A trademark Lightning half-gallon jar, showing Putnam 368 on the base and with the original closure, in a stunning olive color and graded a respectable 9.8, went to a determined bidder for $3,808; and a Dr. A.W. Coleman’s Anti-Dyspeptic and Tonic Bitters bottle, 9 ¼ inches, made in Mobile, Ala., and in a beautiful green hue, graded 9.3, an example of one of the earliest bitters made, brought $3,808.

American Bottle Auctions was founded in 1990 by Jeff Wichmann, a native Californian who has been collecting antique bottles for nearly 40 years. Over time, the firm grew and underwent a name change, but the focus has remained the same: American Bottle Auctions specializes in appraising, brokering, consigning and auctioning antique bottles and glass. Bottle collecting is a burgeoning genre.

Mr. Wichmann has personally researched, appraised and estimated the values of thousands of antique bottles and related items. He is often called on to appraise antique bottles and glass for private individuals and businesses. In 1999, he wrote and published The Best of the West – Antique Western Bitters Bottles, a top research guide. He has also written many articles on the subject of antique bottles.

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. The next auction is tentatively slated for late April or early May. Already, fresh groupings of bitters and historical flasks have been consigned, and marbles may be sold.

To learn more about American Bottle Auctions, please log on to http://www.americanbottle.com/.

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 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Richard D. Hatch

(828) 696-3440

HUGE TWO-DAY ANTIQUE AUCTION TO BE HELD FEB. 26-27 IN FLAT ROCK, N.C, BY RICHARD D. HATCH & ASSOCIATES; SEVERAL IMPORTANT ESTATES WILL BE SOLD

(FLAT ROCK, N.C.) – A spectacular two-day, multi-estate auction will be held the weekend of Feb. 26-27 by Richard D. Hatch & Associates, at the firm’s spacious gallery facility located at 913 Upward Road in Flat Rock. Over 1,300 lots in a variety of categories will cross the block, as several prominent local estates will all share top billing. Previews will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Included will be mostly fresh-to-the-market items from the estates of Theodore Weisse, Jr., a famous decorated World War II Hump pilot; the late Southern artist George W. Beattie, Jr., whose merchandise has been in storage since his death fifteen years ago; and Wilfred and Francis Ogg of Hendersonville, N.C., who accumulated fine New England period furniture and other antique items.

Also sold will be the contents of Sherwood, a historical mansion in Flat Rock. Offered will be a palace-size antique Farahan-Sarouk carpet, measuring 14 feet by 25 feet six inches. Other wonderful rugs will also be sold, to include Heriz, Hamadan, silk Sumac Kazak and many more. “This auction has the finest antique Oriental rugs it has ever been my privilege to offer for sale,” said Richard D. Hatch.

Mr. Hatch remarked, “This auction truly has something for everyone,” adding, “Even during the Great Depression, people bought fine and beautiful items. They represented an investment in culture and in history, something that could be passed down from generation to generation. I feel right now is a great time to buy. People can get so much more for their money than they could just a few years ago.”

Mr. Hatch said some of those great deals would be in the February auction, starting with the fine array of Tiffany, Pairpoint “Puffy,”, Handel, Duffner & Kimberly, Steuben and other rare and vintage lamps; then continuing with early Meissen figures (including a set of the “Four Seasons”); and other porcelains, such as Sevres, Old Paris, Herend, Limoges, Lenox, KPM plaques, Wedgwood and more.

The glassware selection will feature names like Tiffany Favrile, Steuben, Baccarat (to include a rare bronze and crystal centerpiece), Lalique, Loetz, Moser, Venetian and others. The array of sterling silver and silverplate offers a glimpse as to how the wealthy entertain, from sets of fine flatware to candelabra, trays to wine trolleys, Tiffany to Georg Jensen. Also sold will be a superb clock collection.

The estate jewelry is breathtaking. Items include a vintage platinum necklace with diamonds totaling 50 carats, an emerald and diamond necklace with earrings that total 70 carats, diamond and gemstone rings, diamond and gemstone bracelets and Rolex watches. Also sold will be Black Forest carved items and what Mr. Hatch called “the finest New England period furniture we’ve ever had.”

Fine artwork will cover every inch of the gallery walls. Featured will be a work by Andre Gisson (N.Y./Conn., 1929-2003), best known for his landscapes, still lifes, portraits and figural paintings. Some sources cite Mr. Gisson (real name, Gittelson) as a French painter, but in fact he only claimed to be French to more closely align himself with the Impressionist movement, born in France.

Art collectors from Charleston will be treated to three original etchings by Alfred Heber Hutty (N.Y./S.C., 1877-1954), who actually worked for Tiffany Studios in Woodstock, N.Y., before moving to Charleston to be in a warmer climate. He was a leading figure in the Charleston Renaissance group of artists, active from 1915-1940. He was best known for street landscapes, genre paintings and etchings.

Other artists of note who will have works in the sale include Robert H. Nisbet, Stephen Voorhees, Maria Gianni, Leonid P. Baikov, Charles H. Hayden, M. Garms, C. Soer and Charles J. Burdick. There will also be works by Old Masters, portraits, a collection of Surrealism by Helmut Preiss, etchings by Louis Icart and Pierre Bonnard, paintings from the Hudson River School and more.

Bronzes will range from the 19^th century to Erte and feature a Bergman lamp. A nice group of Southern pottery will also be offered, to include Roseville, Rookwood, Weller and even a couple of pieces by Pablo Picasso. Also to be sold will be samplers, quilts, coins, primitives, Biltmore Industries bellows, fine china, a collection of carved ivory, Black Americana, military items, music boxes, crystal, sconces, Art Deco items, a Roycroft signed bookcase with books, and more.

Previews will be held on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 25-26, from 1-6 p.m., and on Saturday, Feb. 27, from 9:30-11 a.m. Live Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com. Phone and absentee bidding will also be accepted. All sales will be subject to a 10 percent buyer’s premium (in-house and absentee bids) and 15 percent (online and live phone bids). Dealers and public are welcome.

Flat Rock, N.C., is located off exit 53 of I-26 (then go north one mile). Richard D. Hatch & Associates is always accepting quality items for future sales. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them, at (828) 696-3440, or you can e-mail them, at hatchauctioninfo@yahoo.com. To learn more about the firm and the upcoming Feb. 26-27 sale, click on http://www.richardhatchauctions.com/.

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(IVOR, Va.) – Over 400 lots of antiques and collectibles in a wide array of categories – important stoneware pieces, furniture items, jewelry, good used guns, decorative accessories and more – will be sold at a multi-estate sale planned for Saturday, Feb. 6, by Tom’s Auctions & Appraisals of Suffolk, Va. The sale will be held at the former Ivor High School building in Ivor.

Headlining the event will be Part 2 of the estates of the late Col. Carl Moulton and the late Anne B. Jennings, both former residents of Virginia. Part 1 of their estates was held Jan. 1, New Year’s Day, also in Ivor. The pair were dedicated collectors who amassed such large and diverse collections, their estates had to be split up into multiple sales. Up to four are planned.

Mr. Moulton was an antiques dealer and auctioneer. He owned and operated Carl’s Antiques in Chesapeake, Va., maintained booths in area malls and even owned a local pawn shop. He was a larger than life figure who was known and liked by everyone. He specialized in jewelry, coins, period American furniture, stoneware pieces, collectibles and vintage weaponry.

Mrs. Jennings (the former wife of the late renowned physician Dr. W. Stanley Jennings, known as “The Father of Chesapeake General Hospital”) loved primitives, but her estate also included stoneware, baskets, quilts and country collectibles. “Mrs. Jennings was a discriminating buyer and she had the means to buy the best,” said Tom Perry of Tom’s Auctions & Appraisals.

More than 130 pieces of stoneware will cross the block. Certain to pique bidder interest is a Washington County (Va.) incised jar, 8 inches tall, made around the 1820s and inscribed with a woman’s name. Also sold will be pieces by E.B Taylor (Richmond, Va.), J.F. Taylor (New Bern, N.C.), Paul Dryzmalla (Philadelphia), A.P. Donaho (Parkersburg, W. Va.), John Bell and artists Herman and Rinehardt (1935). Pieces from Charlestown and Edgefield will also be sold.

The stoneware category will also feature some highly collectible examples from the Catawba Valley (N.C.) region, a fertile breeding ground for some of the best Southern potters who ever turned a wheel. Sold will be a probst jug, a molasses jug and a ring jug. Also sold will be an Eastern Valley crock with blue decorations and a 2-gallon crock with blue decorations.

The guns from Mr. Moulton’s collection are mostly Colts – a name synonymous with vintage weaponry collecting. One piece in particular that will generate crowd buzz is a Colt .45 frontier pistol (circa 1875-1890), all engraved and with two handles – one mother of pearl steer head handle, plus the original sterling silver engraved handle. The gun is housed in a beautiful hand-carved, artist-signed box, highly decorated and a wonderful complement to a fine pistol.

Other lots from the militaria category include a clean set of “saloon girl” spurs, an Ames Navy Cutlet Civil War-era sword, and a framed photographic print showing Civil War soldiers.

Furniture pieces will include a marvelous Southampton County (Va.) primitive cupboard (circa 1800-1810), with original paint and nails; an antique wooden bed with red milk paint; a gorgeous primitive cupboard made in Smithfield, Va., with the original paint; a primitive stepback cupboard; an antique pie cupboard; and a vintage wood barrel with the original label. Also sold will be an old doll cradle, an antique apple butter stirrer and a North Carolina milk pan.

The jewelry category will feature a dazzling lady’s Tiffany 18kt gold and diamond watch; a .54-carat Marquise diamond ring; and a 14kt gold Tiffany gold ring with a .49-carat diamond stone.

Rounding out a partial list of some of the day’s expected top lots: a 3-section printer’s tray; a faceless black doll; a rare and unusual umbrella inscribed on the handle with the name of the original owner (Chester Dorman Hubbard, a prominent Civil War-era Virginia legislator); an early cheese press; an original advertising print for Cream of Wheat cereal; a genuine oak wall telephone; an early wood candle box; a Dobbs hat box; an early document box; a Harness Soap Dressing tin; an old goat cart; a lard paddle; a corn bread pan; and an antique wood block puzzle.

The old high school building in Ivor is located at 8430 Bell Avenue, off Route 460. The sale will begin promptly at 10 a.m. A preview is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 5, from 2-6 p.m. To learn more about the auction, and for directions to the venue, log on to http://www.tomsauction.com/. Many photos of the items to be sold have already been posted, and more images were being added at press time. There will be no online bidding, but phone and absentee bids will be taken.

Tom’s Auctions & Appraisals is one of the premier auction houses in the mid-Atlantic states. The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them, at (757) 539-2498, or (757) 617-9647. Or, you may send them an e-mail, at tombuys@tomsauction.com. For more info, log on to tomsauction.com.

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(ABERDEEN, Miss.) – Two estate sales comprising over 1,000 mostly fresh-to-the-market lots will be held Jan. 23 and Feb. 20 by Stevens Auction Company, at the firm’s gallery facility located at 609 No. Meridian Street in Aberdeen. The Jan. 23 sale will be a strictly in-house event, with no online bidding component. Internet bidding for the Feb. 20 auction will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com.

The Saturday, Jan. 23 auction (starting promptly at 10 a.m.) will be a multi-estate sale, featuring beautiful antique furniture, china, silver, hand-made rugs, fantastic lamps, original oil paintings, many pieces of old Victorian glassware and collectibles. The merchandise was consigned from five prominent local estates. A preview will be held on Friday, Jan. 22, from 10-6. Doors will open on Jan. 23 at 8 a.m.

The Saturday, Feb. 20 auction (also with a 10 a.m. start time) will be dedicated to the lifetime collections of the late Roy Clyde Gardner of Neshoba County, Miss. Over the course of his long and fruitful life, Mr. Gardner accumulated hundreds of pieces of art glass, original works of art, furniture, metals and ceramics. A preview will be held Friday, Feb. 19 from 9-6. Doors will open Feb. 20 at 8 a.m.

Mr. Gardner was, first and foremost, an accomplished floriculturist. He had an abiding love for his garden, but he also embarked on a lifelong journey in search of the finest arts and the best antiques. He frequented antiques shops, flea markets and estate sales in search of treasures. With each passing year, his collections grew in size and sophistication. They will be fully showcased in this estate auction.

The Jan. 23 multi-estate sale will be top-heavy with marvelous period furniture. These include a rosewood rococo sewing stand with bird’s-eye maple interior, attributed to J. & J.W. Meeks; a rosewood round turtle-top center parlor table with white marble, made circa 1850 by Alexander Roux; and a circa 1820 Empire rosewood marble-top center table with trumpet base, original marble and a curved skirt.

Other furniture pieces include a walnut Victorian double-door bookcase with burl walnut trim (circa 1875); an acanthus carved oval library table with gadrooned edge (circa 1880); a walnut Victorian étagère with white marble base (circa 1860); an acanthus carved 7-drawer Empire chest with original stenciling; a rococo-style rosewood marble-top Victorian shaving stand; and a Duncan Phyfe tea caddy.

Still more furniture pieces will include a mahogany Empire banquet dining table, 12 feet long by 5 feet wide, with acanthus carved base and claw feet (and part of a 10-piece suite); a mahogany Federal love seat with eagle heads, cornucopia scroll, claw feet and wonderful styling; and a walnut Victorian slant-front Victorian secretary desk, 99 inches tall by 42 inches wide and beautifully crafted circa 1870.

Beds and bedroom suites – staples at most Stevens Auction Company estate sales – will be featured at this event, too. Anticipated top earners include a gorgeous two-piece rosewood Victorian bedroom suite, featuring a bed and marble-top dresser; and a mahogany Empire drop-side baby bed, 48 inches long by 25 inches wide, made circa 1850. Many other furniture pieces will also cross the block.

Lamps will also be featured. These include an old Sevres porcelain banquet lamp in perfect condition, made circa 1860 and standing 32 inches tall; and a bronze astral lamp with 8-inch prisms, original shade, 30 inches tall, made circa 1850 by the Cornelius Lamp Company. In the art category, a possibly pastel portrait of a Victorian child in a white dress, in a large gold Victorian frame, will be sold.

The Feb. 20 Roy Clyde Gardner estate will be loaded with artwork, much of it framed portraits. These will include a framed oil on canvas work of a young boy with a catch of fish (45 inches by 60 inches); an unframed oil on canvas rendering of a European male dressed in black, with an ornate collar (39 inches by 51 inches); and a tempera on wooden panel painting of two apostles in an ebonized frame.

Additional artwork will include a framed oil on canvas portrait of Judge John Girard, attributed to Sir Thomas Lawrence; a framed oil on canvas portrait of a female in black lace with a red flower in her hair; a framed oil on canvas work of a female in a green dress; and a framed oil on canvas painting of three men smoking pipes signed Deniers. Also sold will be a Swiss music box with rosewood cabinet.

The name Tiffany will be chanted often that day, and that is certain to delight bidders. Expected top lots include a Favrile art glass vase, made by Louis Comfort Tiffany in the peacock feather design; a Tiffany art glass centerpiece, comprising an iridescent bronze stand with center glass vase and two glass side bowls; and a lovely Tiffany art glass vase, iridescent green in color, with upward threaded design.

A Tiffany desk set will be split into three lots. These will include an ink well, bronze, with slag glass; a desk tray, also bronze with slag glass; and a matching pair of desk pads (or blotter ends), bronze. Also offered will be a Tiffany art glass center bowl, green with bronze organic casting. Also sold will be an iridescent amethyst Vanhauten art glass vase, and a porcelain art vase with flower horn set in griffin.

For accommodations in Aberdeen, call the Best Western Aberdeen Inn, at (662) 369-4343. If they’re full, you may review a list of lodgings and restaurants in nearly Columbus, Miss., by calling the Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau, at (662) 329-1191. Columbus is located 23 miles from Aberdeen. Terms of sale are cash, major credit cards and good checks. The buyer’s premium will be 12 percent (with a 2 percent discount for cash, business/personal checks with proper ID, and wire transfers).

Stevens Auction Company is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them directly, at (662) 369-2200, or you can e-mail them at stevensauction@bellsouth.net. To learn more about Stevens Auction Company and the upcoming sales slated for Jan. 23 and Feb. 20, you may log on to http://www.stevensauction.com/. Updates are posted often.

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