Pasadena, CA – On the heels of their highest-grossing fine art sale ever, Moran’s forecasts their two-session March 25 Estates Auction to be the largest in the Company’s history. Featuring property from two significant estates (from Arizona and the Los Angeles area) this sale is expected to surpass Moran’s all-time record, set just last season. High-end jewelry, paintings, Arts & Crafts design, and fine Continental furnishings will be offered.

Moran’s popular afternoon no-reserve Discovery Sale will give bidders a first glimpse of the wealth of merchandise to be sold on March 25. This lively sale format has grown in popularity since its inception last year, as collectors compete for fresh, quality property without having to bid against telephone or internet bidders. The uncatalogued session will contain over 50 lots of jewelry and watches, with works by notable names such as Oscar Heyman, Bulgari, and Rolex. Silver, porcelain and glass by makers such as Gorham, Tiffany, and Lalique will also be offered, along with art works by listed American and European painters such as Kudo, Lasky, and Dali. Fine furnishings, including French bronze sculptures and lighting, will feature a rare 18th century French ormolu and boulle bracket clock. In addition, attendees will find two-dozen lots of Arts & Crafts design furniture and pottery from Rookwood, Weller, and Van Briggle.

More than 80 lots of exceptional estate jewelry will headline Moran’s evening auction. The top lot is an 11.77 ct pear-shaped diamond ring with alternate pendant mount (H color). Estimated at $150,000 - 200,000, this has been consigned by the JD Trust, Paradise Valley, AZ. Also featured is a double diamond and sapphire pendant brooch expected to fetch $40,000 - 60,000. Complementing these offerings are a 6+ct marquise-cut diamond and platinum ring; several diamond solitaire rings; two Art Deco diamond, sapphire and emerald bracelets; and watches by Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Movado.

The European furnishings section will also offer fine examples, with a pair of monumental Louis XIV style ormolu torcheres one of the high points of the evening. Measuring over 8 ft. high, this stunning set is estimated at $15,000 - 20,000. Other furnishings include pair of monumental Baroque style iron torcheres, an Auguste Moreau bronze, Louis XVI style petit commodes, a regulator, and an ormolu and kingwood vitrine.

Fine silver and porcelain will be highlighted by a Chinese Export Wang Hing silver tea service estimated at $2,000 - 3,000; a Danish Mathiesen flatware service; a D’Argental Art Nouveau cameo glass vase and offerings from makers including Black Starr & Frost, Tiffany, Gorham and Kirk.

Arts & Crafts items will feature strongly in the evening session, with furniture by Stickley and others, and lighting such as a Handel peacock lamp and a Unique apple blossom lamp. A large Rookwood Vellum-porcelain scenic vase, estimated at $5,000 - $7,000, is on consignment from a Los Angeles collector. A Newcomb College pottery vase is expected to fetch $1,500 - $2,500.

While often recognized for their market leadership in California paintings, Moran’s monthly Estate Auctions routinely feature European and American artists. Their March 25 sale will include works by Ferdinand de Braekeleer, Casimir Daele, Innocenzo Daraio, Frank Moore, and Harry Wagoner. Expected to bring $15,000 - 25,000 is a wonderfully detailed Orientalist scene entitled Arab Bazaar by Anton Robert Leinweber (Czech, 1845-1921). Signed, inscribed and dated, this canvas measures 72 by 53 inches.

Free public previews for both the afternoon Discovery Sale and the evening catalogued sale will begin at noon on Tuesday, March 25. The no-reserve afternoon session will begin promptly at 3:30 pm. The fully catalogued evening session will begin at 6:30 pm. Bidding for this session is available from the floor, by absentee, phone and internet via eBay Live Auctions / www.Live Auctioneers. A fully illustrated catalog of the evening sale will be available on their website. For more information, please call the offices of John Moran Auctioneers at (626) 793-1833 or visit their website at www.johnmoran.com

Posted: 02|23|08 at 10:06 am. Filed under: Press Release.