(BOYNTON BEACH, Fla.) – About 300 lots of fine decorative arts and Chinese works will be sold at a year-end auction planned for Saturday, Dec. 21, by Elite Decorative Arts, in the firm’s gallery in the Quantum Town Center at 1034 Gateway Boulevard in Boynton Beach. The first gavel will fall promptly at 1 p.m. (EST). Previews will be held on both Friday and Saturday.

Original artworks, fine estate jewelry, beautiful antique clocks and a wide assortment of wonderful decorative accessories should all command center stage. “We want to end the year on a high note, and this sale will definitely get us there,” said Scott Cieckiewicz of Elite Decorative Arts. “The merchandise is top-shelf, and many items would make fabulous holiday presents.”

A perfect example is an exquisite Cartier platinum ring, featuring a large South Seas pearl and surrounded by sprays with marquise and brilliant round cut diamonds (2.70ctw). The inside of the size 6 ½ ring is marked “Cartier” and “Plat” and included is a Cartier red suede presentation pouch. The ring, with a total weight of 9.1dwt, should sell for $20,000-$30,000.

Two decorative accessories would look great under any tree. The first is a Russian enameled silver Povchinikov figural sailboat sculpture, with sides having an enameled shield crest design. The base has a scrolled column design. Overall, the boat is 18 inches tall and 10 inches in length and weighs in at 47.19 troy silver ounces. It should garner $15,000-$20,000.

The second is an antique Sevres French porcelain box made circa 1754 depicting cherubs in forest scenes with flowers to the exterior over a light blue ground (est. $5,000-$7,000). The box is signed “G. A. Shulz” to the lower right of the scene on the cover. The interior is lined with silk. The box’s dimensions are 6 inches tall by 10 inches long and it weighs 2,264 total grams.

The fine art category will feature a pair of works by Dox Thrash (Am., 1893-1965), two paper mixographs by Rufino Tamayo (Mex., 1899-1991), an oil painting by Roberto Marquez (Mex., b. 1959), and a wood and paper collage mixed media work by Louise Nevelson (Am., 1899-1988). The Nevelson is signed and measures 16 inches by 20 inches (est. $8,000-$12,000).

Dox Thrash was an African-American artist and printer with a back story as compelling as his artistic creations. Born in Griffin, Ga., he left home at age 15 in search of work up north. He worked in vaudeville and a circus before landing in Chicago as an elevator operator. At night he attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he began to develop a unique style.

The Dox Thrash works being sold include an original watercolor titled Cats Under Tree (1941), artist signed and measuring 13 inches by 9 ¾ inches (est. $7,000-$9,000); and an original pastel painting titled Banjo Player, measuring 9 ¾ inches by 9 inches (est. $4,000-$5,000). Dox Thrash fought in World War I as a member of the black brigade known as the Buffalo Soldiers.

Rufino Tamayo was born in Mexico to a shoemaker father and a seamstress mother, but when both his parents died when he was 11 he went to live with his aunt in Mexico City. She enrolled him in art school and he immediately took to his lessons. Tamayo was influenced by Cubism, Impressionism and Fauvism, but he gave his artistic creations a unique Mexican feel.

The two paper mixograph works by Tamayo in the auction are titled Nino Con Sombrero (or Boy With Hat), executed in 1980; and Hombre Con Coraje (or Man With Courage). Both have pre-sale estimates of $3,000-$5,000 and both are signed, numbered and mounted in wooden shadowboxes with glass screens. And both are sizable, measuring about 36 inches by 28 inches.

Roberto Marquez also has ties to Mexico City. He was born there, but moved with his family to Guadalajara in 1972.  There, he studied sculpture at the School of Fine Arts, as well as poetry and architecture at other schools. His degree is in architecture, but his heart is in art. His paintings incorporate dreamlike images from literature, Mexican history and his life experiences.

The Marquez work in the auction is an oil on canvas, depicting a man standing by a tiled wall with the words, “Bailo Hasta Caer Con Mi Sombra En La Pared” (“Falling to Dance with my Shadow on the Wall”). It’s titled Dancing with My Shadow and was executed in 1989. The large, 72 inch by 60 inch work is mounted in a silver tone wooden frame (est. $7,000-$9,000).

Three clocks are expected to get paddles wagging. The first is a French Japy Freres bronze mantel clock with a figural design depicting mythological beasts. Griffins with balls monitor the bottom of the case, while flying dragons protect the cupid finial. The late 19th century clock, with scrolled raised designs throughout, should hammer for $7,000-$9,000.

The other two have identical pre-sale estimates of $4,000-$6,000. One is a Pavel Buhre Russian silver pocket watch clock with white enamel face and black enamel Arabic numerals. The 11 ¾ inch tall clock has a total weight of 18.72 troy ounces. The other is a Louis XV-style tall wooden case clock clad in gilt bronze, displaying three winged cherubs with flower garlands.

Two names known to everyone are Pablo Picasso and Louis Vuitton. This auction has both. A Pablo Picasso Madoura original round ceramic plate, titled Nature Morte a la Cuiller (Still Life With a Spoon) is 13 ¼ inches tall by 12 ¾ inches wide, with a verso holding impressed marks and numbered The plate, weighing 1,403 grams, is expected to sell for $3,000-$5,000.

A high-end Louis Vuitton trunk having a brown leather monogram design and original Louis Vuitton black fitted over cover, complete with keys, should breeze to $4,000-$6,000. Also, a fabulous ladies’ 18kt yellow gold ring set with rectangular cut natural emerald green gem quality jadeite cabochon, surrounded by about 50 accent diamonds, should bring $3,000-$4,000.

Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com (formerly Artfact.com). The auction previews will be held on Friday, Dec. 20, from 11-5, and Saturday, Dec. 21, the date of sale, from 11 a.m. until the first hammer falls at 1 p.m. Elite Decorative Arts is currently accepting consignments for its Jan. 18, 2014 auction, which will feature fine artwork, porcelain and bronze. The deadline for consignments will be Jan. 10, 2014.

Elite Decorative Arts is always seeking quality consignments for future auctions. To inquire about consigning an item, an estate or collection, you may call them at (561) 200-0893; or, you can send them an e-mail inquiry to info@eliteauction.com. To learn more about Elite Decorative Arts and the upcoming Dec. 21st auction, please log on to www.eliteauction.com.

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