DOUGLASS, Kan. – Woody Auction will celebrate the grand opening of its new Douglass gallery with a major antique and fine art auction on Saturday, February 24th, one that will be highlighted by several original artworks by the renowned Swedish-born Kansas painter Birger Sandzén (1871-1946), plus outstanding collections of Royal Bayreuth, Daum, Galle, Tiffany, Pairpoint, pattern glass, and furniture.

The new showroom is located at 130 East Third Street in Douglass, located just south and east of Wichita, not far from Interstate 35 and Hwy. 5/Kellogg Rd. “The February 24th grand opening will be the first of many quality auctions to be showcased in our new facility,” said Jason Woody of Woody Auction. “Like in all our past auctions, everything will be sold without reserve to the highest bidder.”

All four of the original Sandzén paintings are fresh to the market, not offered to the public in over 50 years. The McCaslin Royal Bayreuth collection of 132 items out of Indiana features many of the rarest animal forms available. A private collection from Illinois will present a great selection of Daum, Galle, Tiffany, Pairpoint, pattern glass and additional quality art glass. The period furniture collection features Meeks, Wooton, Hunzinger and more. Also sold will be bronze statues, lovely brides baskets, and more.

Birger Sandzén was born in Blidsberg, Sweden, in 1871. He studied art in Stockholm and Paris early on, before coming to Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas in 1894, to teach languages and assist in the art and vocal music departments. He remained at Bethany for the remainder of his career, becoming the principal art instructor in 1899 and retiring in 1946. He painted right up until his death, in 1954.

During his lifetime Sandzén completed more than 2,600 oil paintings and 500 watercolors. He created 207 lithographs, 94 block prints and 27 drypoints which, when the editions are totaled, amount to over 33,000 prints. He was also a skilled draftsman, filling over 80 sketchbooks. He exhibited extensively throughout the United States and Sweden and today his works are found in many museums worldwide.

The centerpiece artwork in the group of four Sandzén paintings in the sale is Cedars and Rocks, a vivid and colorful oil on canvas landscape rendering of Manitou Springs, Colo., dated 1922. The 36 inch by 48 inch painting was professionally cleaned by WCCFA in Denver in 2015 and is housed in its original frame. “It’s also the finest artwork we’ve ever had the privilege to bring to auction,” Mr. Woody said.

The other paintings are Lake in the Rockies, a 26 inch by 22 inch oil on canvas using very thick paint with high ridges (the meringue technique), in the original frame, dated 1921; Horses in Wyoming, a 20 inch by 24 inch oil on board, a subject for another painting, circa 1930; and an untitled oil on board (various references have indicated Glimpse of Mountain Lake), 36 inches by 48 inches, circa 1938.

Collectors of Royal Bayreuth are in for a treat. Lots will include a 6 ¼ inch tall unmarked candlestick holder depicting a full figure fox in a colorful dinner jacket; a 4 ¾ inch tall turtle lemonade pitcher with blue mark; a 7 ¼ inch tall Santa Claus lemonade pitcher with blue mark; a 6 ½ inch tall snake water pitcher of excellent quality, rare with a blue mark; and an unmarked 8 ¼ inch tall squirrel water pitcher.

Lamps and lighting will feature a rare and beautiful Jefferson banquet lamp, electrified, displaying a scene of a warrior riding a white stallion while holding a lance and sword, set against an elaborate mosaic style background; and a must-see Galle signed figural table lamp with a French cameo art glass shade having a carved pink and green floral design with elaborate interior floral carved highlights, set on a fine bronze base showing a woman standing and feeding three rabbits, artist signed “F. Gopnik”.

Tiffany Studios will be represented in the sale, including an all original desk lamp with signed “L.C.T. Favrile” decorated art glass shade, signed “Tiffany Studios 417” on a weighted base; and a 5 ½ inch tall Cypriot art glass vase, very rare, exhibiting beautiful colors and signed “L.C. Tiffany Favrile 8324J”.

Daum Nancy will feature a French cameo art glass vase, 4 ¾ inches tall, signed, with gorgeous colors and a fall season décor; and a 28 inch tall signed French cameo art glass vase having a pale lavender background with cameo carved white leaf and blossom overlay. Also sold will be a Wavecrest plaque with 10-inch round portrait of Queen Louisa, with green, cream and pink tones, in a gilt metal frame.

Brides baskets are a huge hit with collectors. One lot certain to get paddles wagging is the 14 ½ inch by 12 inch signed Crown Milano triangular-shaped ruffled bowl with pansy and circular designs, set on an elaborate Barbour #272 figural silverplate stand and featuring three winged cherubs – a beautiful piece.

Bronzes will showcase an original statue, 39 inches tall by 16 inches wide, titled Cerberus, artist signed “Raoul Verlet” (Fr., 1857-1923), from the Ferdinand Barbeditenne foundry in Paris, with great detail and patina; and a 24-inch-tall statue, signed by Edmond Louis Charles Tassel (Fr., 1870-1900), of a young maiden carefully crossing a stream, on a marble base, titled Passage du Ruisseau, dated 1890.

The furniture category will include a pair of original, marked Hunzinger Renaissance Revival chairs with carved female heads, curved wooden sides and ebony highlights and dated 1869, upholstered with tufted pale green floral fabric; and a two-piece Meeks rococo-style parlor set, with a laminated rosewood couch and matching chair in the Stanton Hall pattern, both with red velvet upholstery.

Also sold will be an American Renaissance Revival two-hinge, standard grade patent desk made circa 1874 by Wooton Desk Company (Indianapolis, Ind.), walnut with burl walnut and birds-eye maple highlights; and a late 19th or early 20th century hand-carved Black Forest wooden male dog, 4 ½ inches tall, showing a finely detailed male St. Bernard at rest, attributed to the Swiss carver Walter Mader.

Online bidding will be available around Friday, January 19th, by going to www.liveauctioneers.com/woody-auction-llc. Internet bidders are encouraged to register at least 48 hours in advance of the auction. Absentee bids should be submitted with a written statement indicating the amount of the bid. All absentee bids must be received no later than Thursday, Feb. 22nd. Bids may be fax’d to 316-746-2145, or e-mailed to info@woodyauction.com.

As for lodging, there are three hotels in the area.  The Comfort Inn, new to Augusta, KS (316-260-3006); the Holiday Inn Express, in Andover, KS (316-733-8833); and the Hampton Inn, in Derby, KS (316-425-7900) are all within a 15-20 minute drive from the Woody auction facility. Moving forward, Woody Auction will conduct regular auction events in the Douglass location and occasionally at other venues.

Woody Auction 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 February 24th auction, please visit www.woodyauction.com.

                                                                        #   #   #   #