WICHITA, Kan. – Fresh from the first of a planned five-part series of auctions to liquidate the lifetime collection of mostly porcelain and fine art glass gathered over the course of five decades by the late Dr. Ernest Rieger and his wife Karin, Woody Auction will now turn its attention to the Part 2 sale, to be held Thursday, May 29th, at the Double Tree (Airport Hilton) in Wichita.

Part 1 was a huge success, as 400 lots came up for bid in an auction that grossed $1.3 million – and that only represented a fraction of the Riegers’ collection overall (plus the couple’s period antique furniture items, which were displayed in their Wichita home and will be sold at Parts 3 Aug. 1-2) and 4 (date to be determined). Part 2, starting at 1 p.m. (CST), will feature 432 lots.

“Part 2 will be equal to Part 1 in terms of quality of merchandise,” said Jason Woody of Woody Auction, based in Douglass, Kan. “We literally pulled items for Part 1 from the left side of the Riegers’ many display cabinets, and the items for Part 2 will come from the right side of the cabinets. Part 3 will feature what still remains in the cabinets, plus the cabinets themselves.”

The Riegers were discerning, serious collectors, seeking out only the finest names in porcelain and glass, such as Tiffany, Galle, Meissen, Webb, Daum Nancy, KPM and  others. “This is by far the finest antique collection we’ve ever offered, and it might be the finest ever offered in the state of Kansas,” Mr. Woody said. “All items will be sold to the highest bidder, without reserve.”

Thomas Webb & Sons was founded in England in 1842 by Mr. Webb. It was known for the high quality of its cameo glass. Examples in the sale will include a finely carved cameo art glass vase, signed “G. Woodall 1887”; a cameo art glass vase also signed by G. Woodall, showing a young woman and a bird; and a 21-inch gem cameo vase signed by Tiffany & Co.,  and Thomas Webb.

Emile Galle (1846-1904) was a founder of the French Art Nouveau movement and a master glass designer. Galle pieces in the auction will feature an 18-inch signed French cameo art glass vase, dark green, with a forest and insect décor and a Victor Hugo quote around the base; and a signed French cameo appliqué and marquetry two-handled bowl having a clear and amber background.

The name Tiffany will be chanted throughout the day, especially Favrile, the metallic iridescent art glass produced by the firm. Examples will include a bulbous 4-inch signed red paperweight vase; an 11 ½ inch signed art glass pedestal vase with green body and Egyptian design around the neck and foot; and a 7-inch signed art glass wide shoulder vase with blue translucent body.

Additional Tiffany Favrile pieces will include a 7-inch signed decorated art glass vase with an iridescent red body and gold iridescent design; a 13 ½ inch signed iridescent art glass vase having a wonderful iridescent body with golden hues and four sections of pulled feather raised décor; and a 13 ¾ inch signed decorated red vase with red iridescent body and Egyptian décor.

Still more Tiffany Favrile lots: an 8 ¾ inch signed art glass vase with iridescent blue background and green-gold heart and vine décor; a 7-inch signed art glass vase with a cobalt blue body and iridescent Egyptian décor; a 17 ¼ inch signed art glass vase with red body and green iridescent decorated neck; and a 12-inch signed art glass vase with green iridescent exterior and leaf design.

Daum et Cie was the French glassworks firm established in 1875. Nancy is the town in France where it set up shop, producing wonderful cameo and art glass pieces. Daum Nancy in the sale will feature a 14-inch signed French cameo art glass boudoir lamp with winter and blackbirds scenic décor; and a 9 ¾ inch signed French cameo art glass vase with a great fall season décor.

Other Daum Nancy pieces will include a 10-inch figural bronze lamp base with a figural young girl in a dress holding a lantern, artist signed “Leo Laporte-Glaizsy”; a 6-inch signed four-color French cameo art glass pedestal vase having a carved vintage décor with spider web background; and an 11-inch French cameo art glass blown-mold vase with a blue and black dark forest décor.

Mount Washington, the art glass factory founded in Massachusetts in the 19th century, will also be represented in the auction. Pieces will include a 22 ½ inch Royal Flemish kerosene lamp with figural cherub metal base and camel scene decoration; a 12 ½ inch decorated “Monkey” vase with rare monkey and ape décor; and an 8 ½ inch glossy Burmese lyre stem candlestick holder.

Fans of French cameo art glass will be impressed by a pair of vases, both signed “Muller Freres Luneville” (one 14-inch, white and yellow with dark brown winter scene showing wild boars, the other 13 inches, with an Asian-style scenic “windows” décor featuring cranes, lake scenes and Geishas). Also sold will be a magnificent 25 ½ inch by 20 inch KPM porcelain plaque, artist signed (“Pfeiffer”) and showing a detailed scene titled “The Sacrifice of Jephthah’s Daughter.”

Two lots expected to spark a fierce bidding war are 37 ½ inch signed Moser two-part pedestal vase having a yellow opaque background with extensive multi-color leaf and applied acorn décor (the finest piece of Moser ever offered by Woody Auction); and a 6 inch by 11 ¼ inch marked Wedgwood Fairyland luster pedestal punch bowl with poplar trees exterior and mermaid interior.

Rounding out just some of the auction’s expected top lots are a rare 8-inch figural French enamel “Windmill” music box (jewel box) with nine individual panels featuring various courting scenes (the music box does not play); and a 5 ¼ inch Russian enamel egg-shaped covered box boasting an embossed swan design with colorful enamel highlights and inset with seven “Ruby” jewels.

The Double Tree Airport Hilton is located at 2098 Airport Road in Wichita, Kan. The hotel has blocked room rates of $99 per night; the deadline to receive this special rate is May 12th. Other area lodging is also available. Previews will be held Wednesday, May 28th, from 6-8 p.m., and May 29th, auction day, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. For those unable to attend in person, internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com. Absentee bids will also be accepted (but no phone).

Woody Auction is based in Douglass, Kan. The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (316) 747-2694. Or, you can e-mail them at info@woodyauction.com. To learn more about Woody Auction and the upcoming Parts 2-5 of the Rieger collection log on to www.WoodyAuction.com.

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