(BOYNTON BEACH, Fla.) – Around 150 lots from the estate of Count and Countess Claes-Eric de Lewenhaupt of Sweden will headline a multi-estate auction planned for Saturday, Aug. 10, at 1 p.m. (EDT), at the gallery of Elite Decorative Arts, located in the Quantum Town Center at 1034 Gateway Blvd. (Suite 106) in Boynton Beach. In all, around 300 lots will be sold.

Count Lewenhaupt was formerly an officer in the Swedish Royal Navy and served as a diplomat in Russia, France, Egypt and Spain. He served as director of communications for the Carillon Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla., was manager of the Barcelona Hotel and Yacht Club, also in Miami Beach, and served as vice president of Gibraltar Life Insurance Company in London.

For six years, Count Lewenhaupt was president of the City of Miami People-to-People Committee. He and his wife enjoyed life’s finer things, and that is reflected in the many items to be sold. These include fine artworks, porcelains, silver, bronzes, estate jewelry, art glass, Chinese antiquities and more. He often said, “I have bread money, but I’m working for my daily caviar.” In 1967, the Count was sent to Sweden by Florida Gov. Claude Kirk to present a gigantic silver and mahogany replica of the state seal to Sweden’s King Gustavus Adolphus IV.

Three original oil painting portraits from the Count’s estate are certain to generate keen bidder interest. One is a depiction of Oscar II (1829-1907) of Sweden, by the Swedish artist Edward Perseus (1841-1890). The work – mounted in an impressive gilded frame with a name plaque at the lower center (‘Oscar II’) – is signed and dated 1885. It should fetch $4,000-$5,000.

Another is a lovely rendering of an unnamed aristocratic lady, by another Swedish artist, Elisabeth Keyser (1851-1898). A family crest with a crown can be seen in the upper right. The 32 inch by 24 inch portrait is mounted in a heavy gilded wood frame behind a glass screen, with the original Eugene Stahl (Paris) label to the back. The painting should breeze to $2,000-$2,500.

The third is a depiction of the Swedish officer and politician Gustaf Fredrik Wirsen (1779-1827), after the original work by Johan Gustaf Sandberg (Swed., 1782-1854). The portrait was executed sometime around 1827. It is mounted in a stunning gilded frame and measures 51 inches in height by 39 inches wide, minus the frame. It is expected to command $1,500-$2,000.

Decorative accessories will feature a Ditta Torchiana & Loda 800 Italian silver repousse charger, having a stunning floral design and scalloped rim (est. $1,000-$1,200). The charger holds the 800 silver mark with the 47 MI mark, denoting Ditta Torchiana & Loda, Silversmiths and the city of Milan, Italy. Made in the first half of the 20th century, it weighs 43.4 troy ounces.

Also sold will be a beautiful antique 36-piece Swedish and English silver fork and knife set, with year marks of 1895 and 1896 and housed in a Mappin & Webb fitted presentation box (est. $1,800-$2,000). The 18 knives hold M&W maker’s marks, Sheffield town marks and a Lion Passant Guardant purity mark. The 17 forks are made of Swedish silver with JET maker’s marks. An 18th fork – an antique French 950 sterling with Minerva’s head – makes up for one missing.

Items not from the Lewenhaupts’ estate, but certainly worth noting, include an oil on canvas rendering of a landscape scene with olive trees on a plateau, by the Ukranian-Russian artist Iwan Trusz (1869-1941). The work, mounted to a Masonite board using an impasto technique, is signed and measures 27 inches by 37 inches. It should garner $8,000-$12,000.

Also offered will be a pair of 19th century Sevres French porcelain six-arm candelabra (est. $1,500-$2,500), with each candelabra showing hand-painted scenes of courting couples and landscapes and surrounded by cobalt ground. Both are signed “A. Daret.” Each candelabra is mounted on a gilded bronze lion base with scrolled floral arms and stands about 25 ½ inches tall.

Rounding out just a few of the expected top lots is a three-piece porcelain figural tea set by Irina Zaytceva (Russ., b. 1957). The set includes a covered pitcher and two footed tea cups. Each piece has a figural face and hand-handled design, with Irina’s signature style. Each piece is also initialed “IZ.” The tallest piece is 10 ½ inches tall. The tea set should sell for $1,500-$2,000.

Previews will be held on Friday, Aug. 9, from 11-5, and on Saturday, Aug. 10, the date of sale, from 11 a.m. until the first gavel falls at 1 p.m. For those unable to attend, Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com and Artfact.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted. A full catalog of all lots being sold may be viewed online, at www.eliteauction.com.

Elite Decorative Arts’ next big auction after this will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7, also at 1 p.m. in the Boynton Beach gallery. It will be a decorative arts sale. Consignments for that and all future auctions are being sought. To inquire about consigning an item, an estate or collection, you may call (561) 200-0893; or you can send them an e-mail inquiry, at info@eliteauction.com.

To learn more about Elite Decorative Arts and the upcoming Aug. 10th and Sept. 7th

auctions, please log on to www.eliteauction.com.

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