Cowan's Auctions Winter Fine and Decorative Art Auction will take place on Feb. 25, 2012. The 500-lot sale will be held at Cowan's Auctions salesroom, and will feature pieces from the Kentuckiana collections of the late Caswell and Sara Lane, of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. The Lanes were both consummate Kentucky collectors, who specialized in silver from the Bluegrass state. Lane items up for auction include exceptional silver, sugar chests and miniature furniture.

Of particular interest is a Montgomery County Kentucky Sugar Chest, which is estimated to bring $8,000/$10,000. This sugar chest, dated to 1800, was exhibited at The University of Kentucky Art Museum in 1992. The chest is crafted from cherry with poplar secondary and features a fold-back lid with a reeded edge, which opens to three drawers over two, deep divided bins. 

“It's exciting to present a known collection and really exciting to have the broad diversity of the Lane’s material,” said Diane Wachs, Director, Fine and Decorative Art.  Furthermore, she notes that "This sale covers two centuries and several styles, both period and revival.”

Eleven lots of “Kings Pattern” sterling silver flatware will be offered in the auction. This flatware, from the Lane’s extensive collection, includes makers such as Tiffany & Co., R. W. Wilson, F. Thibault, Dominick & Haff and S.S. Culter & Co.

Additional note-worthy lots in the Lane Collection are two sets of Asa Blanchard Coin Silver Julep Cups, which are slated to bring $6,000/8,000 a piece. Asa Blanchard was a prominent silversmith, clock, and watchmaker in Lexington, Kentucky during the first half of the 19th-century. These are classic Blanchard hand-raised coin juleps, which were in the same family for several generations. All are marked, Blanchard. In addition to the juleps is a lot of Blanchard tablespoons, teaspoons and one child's spoon, all marked Asa Blanchard.  Another lot features an Asa Blanchard Kentucky coin silver ladle; which is estimated at $1500/$2000.

The auction will also feature an unsigned 19th-century oil on canvas Audubon portrait by John James, which should fetch $2,000/$3,000.

About Cowan’s Auctions, Inc.

As one of the nation’s leading auction houses with sales approaching $20 million, Cowan’s has been helping individuals and institutions build important collections for more than a decade.  The company’s seven divisions of American History, American Indian and Western Art, American and European Fine and Decorative Art, Historic Firearms & Early Militaria, Asian Art, Ceramics, and Jewelry hold semi-annual cataloged sales that routinely set records for rare offerings.  

Through its extensive mailing list of more than 35,000 collectors, dealers and institutional clients, each Cowan’s auction typically attracts more than 1,000 bidders from across the globe.  To learn more about Cowan’s visit cowans.com.