Ancient Chinese jade bear could bring $10-$20 milllion at Elite auction A rare and magnificent Chinese solid nephrite jade bear (475-B.C.-220 A.D.), is expected to bring $10-$20 million at a multi-estate auction scheduled for Dec. 10 by Elite Decorative Arts in Florida.
transparent colorless diamond baguettes in a yellow gold fancy cocktail ring mounting. The size 6 ½ ring comes with a GIA certification from 1967 and has a diamond total weight of 21 carats.
A visually arresting blown art glass clam and platter sculpture suite by the master artisan Dale Chihuly should change hands for $15,000-$20,000. The piece features stunning violet color to the interior, with yellow rim, and a pink and white mottled design to the exterior. The platter is 26 inches long by 24 inches deep; the clam sculpture measures 24 inches wide by 14 inches high.
A pair of palace-size Sevres French hand-painted porcelain and bronze Celeste Blue urns, manufactured in the mid-to-late 19th century, are expected to sell for $70,000-$90,000. The urns boast painted scenes on the front and back, depicting courting scenes with one male and two females, plus landscape scenes. The urns are sizable; each is 40 inches tall and 20 inches wide.
An original oil on canvas painting of a famous French tapestry by Raimundo de Madrazo y Garretta (Span., 1841-1920) carries a pre-sale estimate of $50,000-$70,000. The work is signed lower right and is dated 1879. It depicts two men and two women with a horse near a village. Its provenance can be traced to Samuel P. Avery, the first director of the Metropolitan Museum.
A marvelous pair of antique Italian Carrara white marble figural urns with pedestals are expected to realize $40,000-$60,000. The late 18th or early 19th century urns are 86 inches tall by 18 inches wide. They were featured at a Sotheby’s sale in the ‘90s and have meticulously carved raised figural designs depicting nude females with fish. Both urns have figural bust handles.
One lot of six original Salvador Dali etchings from the Cosmos I series, pulled on Rives paper at Imprimerie Bellini in Paris in 1975, is expected to finish at $10,000-$20,000. Each work has been individually pencil signed in the margins on the front lower right by Mr. Dali. Also, all have “E.A.” artist proof pencil marks in the margins. Each is 29 ½ inches tall by 22 inches wide.
Previews will be held Friday, Dec. 9, from 11-5, and Saturday, Dec. 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Elite Decorative Arts’ next big auction after this one will be a Decorative Arts Sale slated for Saturday, Jan. 14, with a start time of 1 p.m. (EST). The firm is currently accepting quality consignments for its next Oriental sale, to be held in early 2012 (time and date to be determined).
Elite Decorative Arts is an established, third-generation, full-service antique and auction gallery, specializing in fine decorative arts, paintings, estate jewelry and more. The gallery is located in the Quantum Town Center, located at 1034 Gateway Boulevard (Suite 106) in Boynton Beach, Fla. A full-time, knowledgeable staff is on hand Monday-Friday, from 10-6.
Elite Decorative Arts is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign a single piece, an entire estate or a collection, you may
