ATLANTA, Ga. – The museum-quality contents of a home in Tampa, Fla., that was occupied by the late cattle ranching pioneer James W. Mitchell and his late wife Dorothy – avid collectors in a wide range of categories – will headline a two-day auction planned for Oct. 24th-25th by Great Gatsby's Auction Gallery, in the firm's gallery at 5180 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Atlanta.

The Mitchell estate auction will feature over 200 original works of art, including paintings by world renowned artists Pierre Auguste Renoir, John Frederick Kensett, Jean Baptiste-Camille Corot, Albert Bierstadt, and Guillaume Seignac; exceptional pieces of 19th century marquetry inlaid and doré bronze mounted French furniture; over 40 19th century Continental carved marble sculptures, many artist signed and dated; 19th century firearms; several magnificent 18th century Flemish tapestries; and hundreds of pieces of late 19th and early 20th century German porcelains.

“I can say without hesitation that this will be one of the finest auctions to be held in our 30-plus years in business,” said Ted Tzavaras of Great Gatsby's Auction Gallery. “Mr. Mitchell was a simple and unpretentious man who presided over his 1,500-acre cattle ranch in Florida, but walking into his home was like walking into a museum. Every room in the home was impeccably decorated with well-curated antiques and art.”

Mr. Tzavaras added, “This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy fine art, rare antiques and Continental sculptures from one of the finest collections I've ever seen amassed by one individual.”

The more than 200 works of art will include several monumental canvases, among them, an oil on canvas standing portrait of Queen Anne of Britain, measuring 104 inches tall; a matched pair of oil on canvas standing portraits of Lady Jane Jenkinson and Sir George Jenkinson, both artist signed R(ichard) Buckner, (Br., 1816-1886), each measuring a palatial 92 inches in height; and an 18th century oil on canvas depicting Diana and Endymion, by a follower of J. Christophe Janneck (Austrian, 1703-1761) measuring 82 inches tall.

The star of the auction, however, will be the oil on canvas landscape painting, titled Paysage de Cagnes, artist signed (Pierre Auguste) Renoir (1841-1919), arguably one of the world's most famous French impressionist and post-impressionist figural and landscape painters. Also sold will be an oil on canvas landscape painting by John Frederick Kensett (N.Y./Conn., 1816-1872), renowned for his landscape and coastal scene paintings; an oil on canvas river landscape by Jean Baptiste-Camille Corot (Fr., 1796-1875); and an oil on canvas lake scene by Albert Bierstadt (Am./Germ., 1830-1902), famous for his romanticized Western landscape paintings; and an oversized oil on canvas painting titled La Jeune Nymphe, signed Guillaume Seignac (Fr./Am., 1870-1924), known for his classical and almost ethereal representations of the female figure.

The many pieces of 19th century French furniture will include Louis XV and Louis XVI style doré bronze mounted marble-top commodes, cabinets and vitrines, all crafted by some of the finest ebenistes of the day.

Also in the auction will be the Mitchell’s extensive collection of late 19th and early 20th century German and French porcelains, including urns, portrait plaques, and figural groupings, by such noted makers as Sèvres, Meissen, KPM, Royal Vienna, Dresden, Capodimonte and Sitzendorf.

The rare 19th century American firearms being sold are an 1851 Colt Dragoon (2nd model, .44 caliber revolver), and an 1874 Smith & Wesson (3rd model, .44 caliber) nickel-plated revolver, made expressly for the Russian Czarist army. Musical instruments will feature a rare 19th century French grand piano, gilt bronze mounted, with a satinwood and rosewood case, by Gaveau of Paris; and a very fine British-made harp manufactured by T. Dodd & Sons (London, England).

Collectors of Fabergé will have two lots to bid on: a jadeite gold and diamond mounted picture frame, and a circular open gold and diamond brooch, both acquired at auction from Christie’s European sale rooms. There are even two vehicles in the auction, both by Mercedes-Benz. One is a 1970 model 280SL, rare, with four-speed transmission, two tops and air conditioning. The other is a 2008 single-owner S63 AMG, fully loaded, with just 70,000 miles.

And, in a nod to Mr. Mitchell’s very eclectic collecting taste, the auction will even include his personal collection of nine fully restored, nickel-plated, American cast iron wood-burning stoves.

Previews will be held Thursday and Friday, Oct. 22-23, from 9-5; and on both auction days (Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25) from 9 a.m. until the first gavel falls at 11 a.m. For those unable to attend in person, online bidding will be facilitated by Invaluable.com, BidSquare.com and LiveAuctioneers.com. Bidders may also register via the website www.GreatGatsbys.com.

The team of specialists at Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To inquire about consigning a single item, an entire collection, or an inherited estate, you may call them at (770) 457-1903; or, you may send them an e-mail, at auction@greatgatsbys.com. To learn more about Great Gatsby’s and the Oct. 24-25 auction, please visit www.greatgatsbys.com. Updates are posted often.

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