Previews will be held November 1-3 in the firm’s gallery at 57 Lancaster Ave., in Malvern, Pa.

MALVERN, Pa. - Over 600 lots – many of them rare, highly collectible Chinese objects and antiques from other Asian countries – will be sold in a two-day, online-only auction planned for November 4th and 5th by Converse Auctions. Items may be bid on directly through the firm's website – at www.auctionsatconverse.com – or via LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com.

Start times both days will be 10 am Eastern time. Session 1, on Friday, Nov. 4, will feature 320 lots of fine Chinese porcelain, jade, cloisonné, furniture, bronzes, paintings, fabrics and jewelry. Session 2, the next day (Nov. 5) will include an additional 130 Chinese and other Asian items.

The Saturday session will also contain 160 lots of American, European and tribal items, plus numerous clocks and watches (including marked Fabergé, tall case, banjo, carriage, Rolex, Patek Philippe and pocket watches), fine paintings, sterling silver, antique toys and period furniture.

The auction has been aptly named an Important Autumn Antique Auction. Many items exude importance, such as the expected top lot, a monumental pair of Chinese cloisonné covered tripod censers with a design of lotus blossoms and tendrils surrounding the centralized longevity Shou character. The 15 ½ inch tall pair, supported on three cabriole legs, should fetch $8,000-$12,000.

Several lots in Session 1 carry identical estimates of $3,000-$5,000. One is a large Chinese hand-carved spinach green jade table screen, with carvings that depict deer and a pine tree under a sliver of a moon on the front and a village scene with a river, bridge and trees on the reverse. The custom hardwood frame is 22 ¾ inches by 14 ½ inches; the jade dark green with subtle veining.

Another is a Chinese naturally shaped and carved stone, lavishly decorated in gold on lapis lazuli (a semi-precious blue stone), 17 inches tall. The hand painting is of double dragons (done in pen and ink) and flaming pearls. A third is a Chinese spinach green jade brushpot, 6 ½ inches tall and weighing 9 pounds. The body is cylindrical and straight. The exterior depicts a pair of dragons.

The fourth $3,000-$5,000 lot is a pair of finely embroidered Chinese Kesi on gold silk, 89 ¾ inches by 29 inches, with lavish depictions and displayed in a gold gilt frame under glass. The fifth is a large Chinese cloisonné and jade ruyi (Chinese amulet in the form of a curved, lobed scepter), with the three inset jade carvings incised with calligraphy and nicely accented in gold.

A roll of Chinese tapestry silk fabric, 28 ¾ inches by 324 inches, having a dark gold background with metallic gold threads highlighting a medallion and lattice floral motif, with calligraphy and a paper seal on the outside edge, should bring $4,000-$6,000; while a Chinese blue and white celestial vase with bulbous body and two cylindrical ears, 17 ¾ inches tall, should hit $300-$500.

A pair of zitan double-dragon stacking cabinets, carved to appear as four stacked boxes, each one 23 ¾ inches by 12 ¼ inches by 18 inches, with brass patinated hardware, is estimated at $2,000-$4,000; while a Chinese Ming Dynasty wooden Buddha with glass eyes (16 inches tall), in a gilt wood shrine featuring dragons and flaming pearls (29 ½ inches tall) should reach $800-$1,200.

A 19th century Chinese Chao Zua Qing imperial court necklace of 108 round pearls with four larger lapis lazuli beads and smaller jade beads, plus glass tear-shaped pendants, 38 inches long, should command $1,000-$1,500; and a colorful pair of Chinese Qianlong enameled high cups inside an antique embroidered presentation box, 4 ¼ inches by 4 inches, should hit $800-$1,200.

Session 2 begins with a pair of gilt bronze cloisonné enamel vases of double gourd form, each 11 inches tall and featuring painted medallions of women surrounded by bats, characters and flowers (est. $8,000-$12,000); and a fine Rolex 18kt “President” Oyster perpetual day/time certified men’s wristwatch housed in an 18kt gold case (est. $6,000-$10,000).

Other watches will include a men's open-faced, fully jeweled 18kt gold dress pocket watch by Patek Philippe, with a silvered dial signed “Bailey, Banks & Biddle,” with case (est. $1,000-$2,000); and a Fabergé-style silver gilt guilloche enamel key-wind desk watch and stand, 5 ½ inches in height, with an elephant standing on the base with ruby eyes (est. $2,000-$4,000).

Antique clocks feature an early 19th century tall case clock made by David Weatherly in a distressed mahogany case with the possible original finish, and 8-day bell strike clockworks, 92 ½ inches tall (est. $1,000-$2,500); and a New England Federal banjo clock, signed “A. Willard” in cursive script on the dial, featuring reverse painted scenes of a naval battle (est. $400-$600).

Day two also includes a Chinese Yong Le Sino-Tibetan gilt bronze Buddha, the bodhisattva figure model of Tara, seated in a meditative pose with legs folded, 11 inches tall; and an elegant three-piece sterling silver tea set having an oval tray measuring 11 inches by 14 inches, with all items stamped for J. E. Caldwell. Both of these lots have identical estimates of $1,000-$1,500.

A large zitan painting table with a thick top panel and beaded single-panel aprons open-carved with geometrical line spandrels, joined by tongue and groove construction, should attain $1,000-$1,500; while a bronze sculpture of a Native American on horseback, holding up the skull of a bison, signed “F. McCarthy” and copyrighted 1988, 15 ½ inches tall, should fetch $300-$500.

Previews will be held Nov. 1-3, from 10-4, in the Converse Auctions gallery at 57 Lancaster Avenue in Malvern, Pa., in eastern Pennsylvania, not far off I-76, north and west of Philadelphia. A sliding scale buyer’s premium will be applied to all purchases. The lowest buyer's premium can be gotten through the Converse website and app for iPhone at www.auctionsatconverse.com. 

Converse Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them directly, at (610) 722-9004; or, you can send an e-mail to Todd Converse, at Todd@ConverseClocks.com. All inquiries will receive a prompt reply.

For more information about Gordon S. Converse & Company and the internet-only Important Autumn Antique Auction slated for November 4th and 5th, visit www.AuctionsatConverse.com.