WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The south Florida auction scene will get a major new player when Antiques & Modern Auction Gallery conducts a grand opening auction on Saturday, Jan. 23rd, at 809 Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern time. About 250 lots will come up for bid, mostly antiques, porcelain, bronze, sterling, original artwork and Asian objects.

“It’s an exciting time to be in the auction business and this promises to be an exciting auction,” said a spokesperson for Antiques & Modern Auction Gallery. “The merchandise in our inaugural sale has been pulled from prominent south Florida estates and collections. Collectors, decorators or anyone interested in quality antiques will be favorably impressed with what is in this auction.”

Two lots in particular will be strong candidates for top lot of the auction. The first is a very rare and monumental Meissen ”Fire” porcelain ewer from the maker’s “Four Elements” series. The 19th century piece, from an estate in Boca Raton, Fla., holds the crossed swords mark to the bottom, stands 24 inches tall and weighs 16.3 kilograms. It should hammer for $12,000-$16,000.

The second is an original oil on canvas painting by Heywood Hardy (Br., 1842-1933), depicting a man and woman on horseback riding through the woods. Painted sometime in the late 19th century, the painting measures 19 inches by 13 inches (sight) and is housed in a frame. Works by Hardy are scarce and have sold for up to $50,000. This one is estimated to bring $8,000-$15,000.

Another painting by a British artist from the same period is also expected to attract interest. It’s an oil on Masonite depiction of people in a rowboat and a boat house by Robert Weir Allen (1852-1942). The painting is signed lower left “R. Allen” and is diminutive, measuring just 12 inches by 9 ½ inches (sight), plus a frame. It has been assigned a modest $800-$1,200 estimate.

Expected stars of the Asian lots category will include a Chinese jade magnolia with dragon vase carving, 6 ¼ inches tall, expected to fetch $3,000-$4,500; a Chinese jade finger citron Buddha hand carving, 4 ¾ inches long, estimated at $2,000-$3,000; and a heavy Chinese bronze vase with Taotie pattern throughout and Xuande mark to the bottom, expected to realize $800-$1,200.

Fans of silver will be in awe of the Russian guilloche blue enameled silver match case holder, having an appliqué double eagle design supported by two rampant lions on a marble plinth. The piece holds 88 silver purity marks, with workmaster and assayer marks. Standing approximately 4 ½ inches tall and weighing a total of 335 grams, the lot is expected to rise to $1,500-$2,500.

Also sold will be an impressive and large pair of Royal Vienna antique hand-painted vases with different, highly detailed hand-painted scenes in the center of each vase. Lovely hand-painted flowers are in evidence throughout both. Measuring 17 inches tall by 8 inches in width, the lot has been assigned a modest pre-sale estimate of $800-$1,200, but it could easily sell for more.

The full catalog may be viewed now by visiting www.antiquesmodern.com. Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted. Auctions will be held each month, and free appraisals are available. To schedule an appointment, interested sellers can call 561-385-0649. Specialists will be pleased to meet prospective clients in person, in their home or other location, to discuss and evaluate their items.

Antiques & Modern Auction Gallery is actively seeking fine quality consignments for future auctions. Appointments for evaluations are available Monday thru Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at 561-318-1834; or, you may send them an e-mail at info@antiquesmodern.com.

To learn more about Antiques & Modern Auction Gallery and the January 23rd auction, please visit www.antiquesmodern.com.

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