MELBOURNE, Fla. – An important Tyrolean carved ivory sculpture of Cain and Abel by Simon Troger (Austrian, 1694-1768), a mid-1980s oil on paper work by noted Malaysian artist Eng Tay (b. 1947), and an oil on board portrait by Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen (Dutch/U.K., 1593-1661) are a few of the expected top lots at Matheson’s Auction Gallery’s Saturday, Nov. 21st auction.

The 250-lot event is being billed as a Florida Holiday Season Sale. It will be held in Matheson’s gallery at 600 East New Haven Avenue in Melbourne, starting at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Several prominent Florida estates will headline the auction, which will consist mostly of quality antiques, dazzling jewelry pieces and fine art. Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com.

The Troger carved ivory sculpture could well end up being the top lot of the sale. Showing Cain and Abel engaged in a fight to the death alongside a lamb and on a fruitwood base, the sculpture has a pre-sale estimate of $50,000-$75,000. Works by Troger have routinely well exceeded the high estimates at auctions held by Sotheby’s and Christie’s, where his sculptures have been sold.

Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen was an English painter who specialized in portraits of Dutch (or Flemish) parentage. He was active in England from 1618 to 1643, but moved to the Netherlands in 1643 and he died there in 1661. He was a precise painter who was especially accurate when it came to clothing. The portrait in the sale, 29 inches by 23 inches, should garner $3,000-$4,000.

Eng Tay was born in Malaysia in 1947 and moved to New York City in 1968 to study art at The Art Students League and The School of Visual Arts. He maintains a studio in Manhattan today, where he paints colorful, vibrant depictions of people singing, playing music and interacting in harmony. The work in the sale is a stylized rendering of four people singing (est. $4,000-$6,000).

Other artworks in the sale will include a landscape oil on canvas by the California artist William Wendt (1865-1946), 20 inches by 30 inches (est. $18,000-$25,000); an oil on canvas of a Florida landscape by regional artist Manuel Hernandez (b. 1969, est. $4,000-$6,000); and a landscape watercolor with fishermen by Tony Offermans (Dutch, 1854-1911), signed (est. $1,500-$2,000).

An Old Master oil on canvas depiction of a nude woman standing in a pond in a garden, dated 1762 and signed “J. B. 1762” (12 ¾ inches by 8 ¾ inches) is estimated to go for $2,000-$2,500. Also sold will be a boxwood and ivory carved automaton of a whistling man leaning against a lamppost for support, unsigned, measuring 18 inches tall by 5 inches wide (est. $3,000-$4,000).

Collectors of Tiffany will be attracted to a gorgeous Tiffany Acorn pattern 14-inch lampshade (est. $6,000-$8,000); a Tiffany boudoir lamp with a gold Tiffany shade (est. $3,500-$4,500); a Tiffany Studios bronze lamp base, 10 ½ inches tall (est. $1,000-$1,500); and a snazzy pair of 18kt yellow gold cuff links by Tiffany & Company, weighing 12.9 grams (est. $1,000-$1,200).

Estate jewelry pieces will feature a Victorian-era 14kt gold and enamel brooch and earrings, weighing 26.5 grams (est. $1,500-$2,000); a pair of platinum and diamond drop earrings weighing 7.4 grams (est. $1,000-$1,500); and two Seiko men’s watches, one set in a 14kt yellow gold bracelet (est. $800-$900) and one set in a 14kt yellow gold nugget band (est. $800-$1,000).

Additional estate jewelry items will include a large and unusual 14kt yellow gold dual band and diamond cuff bracelet weighing 235.8 grams (est. $4,500-$5,500); a large and heavy 14kt yellow gold chain weighing an impressive 118.3 grams (est. $2,000-$2,500); and a Gucci-style 14kt yellow gold bracelet, 11 inches in length and weighing a total of 33.3 grams (est. $700-$900).

Furniture pieces will feature a pair of side chairs by J. & J.W. Meeks, measuring 43 inches by 18 inches (est. $3,000-$5,000); and an ornately carved Empire game table with lion’s paw feet, 29 ½ inches tall by 33 ½ inches wide (est. $700-$900). Also sold will be a carved wooden cane with measuring stick inside and ornately carved horse head handle, 37 inches long (est. $700-$900).

Decorative accessories will include a large Porzellan china set by Graf von Henneberg that will be sold as a single lot (est. $2,000-$2,500); a frosted glass vase by the renowned French maker Rene Lalique, 13 ½ inches tall (est. $700-$900); and a black 19th century Wedgwood Portland vase with depictions of Roman life encircling the body, 13 ¼ inches tall (est. $2,000-$2,500).

Good things come in pairs, like the two early Spanish 16th century multi-colored and decorated Olla bowls, both 5 ½ inches by 22 inches, being sold individually (est. $2,500-$3,500 each); and a pair of handbags, one a Louis Vuitton monogrammed handbag in the original box (est. $700-$800); and one a Judith Lieber butterfly minaudiere with comb and mirror set (est. $800-$1,200).

Historic coins will feature a set of six Mexican gold coins, all from 1924 and in uncirculated condition, housed in a Lucite holder (est. $2,000-$3,000; a 1915 Astro-Hungarian 4-ducat gold coin in nearly new condition, with just a slightly scuffed up bezel (est. $400-$700); and a 1924 St. Gaudens U.S. $20 gold coin, mounted as a pendant, with a minor bruise (est. $1,000-$1,500).

Matheson’s Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To inquire about consigning an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (321) 768-6668; or, you can e-mail them at mathesonsauctions@yahoo.com. To learn more about Mathesons’s Auctions and the upcoming Nov. 21 auction, visit www.mathesonsgallery.com.

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