Some of this auction’s highlights include lot 200, a baseball autographed by baseball legends “Babe” Ruth (1895-1948) and Lou Gehrig (1903-1941). This item was a local consignment purchased from the previous owners whose husband used to play catch with the ball until his father recognized its value. It remained inside a desk drawer before its debut to Slawinski Auction Company. The Sultan of Swat and the Iron Horse had a constant battle as two of the world’s best major league batters. The rivals shared a combined RBI count of over 4000 in their careers and played side by side for the New York Yankees.
Also to be offered is lot 430 which is a beautiful Sino-Chinese bronze statue of Buddha in great condition. This interesting piece was offered as a gift from the Chinese government during the end of the Qing dynasty to William Taft’s former Secretary of State Fred Warner Carpenter who served as an ambassador to China in the early 1900s. This piece resided with a farmer from Oregon and is now being auctioned off on November 13th.
We have expanded upon our Asian collection for this auction. We have over 400 lots of Asian artifacts, including lot 444 which came from a personal collection of a local family in the San Francisco Bay area. Lot 444 is a pristine painting by famous Chinese painter Xu Beihong (1895-1953) of his favorite subject; the horse. Beihong painted near the beginning of the ruling of Mao Zedong, and his art reflects the political climate of the introduction of a new modern China.
Other great finds will include jade and ivory carvings, American and Asian porcelain vases, Gorham and Wallace sterling silver flatware, Japanese woodblock prints, carved teak cabinets, mother of pearl inlaid tables, fine Chinese robes, floor screens and scrolls, Victorian and American carved furniture, diamond and gold jewelry, a fine selection of Native American artifacts, baseball collectables, Roseville and Fiestaware pieces, Persian rugs, and Picasso, Valtat, Renoir, Chagall, and Goya originals.
Previews of this auction’s selection are available at http://www.slawinski.com and http://www.liveauctioneers.com. Contact us at (831) 335-9000 or at antiques(at)slawinski(dot)com for information about online, phone and absentee bidding.
Image: Xu Beihong Watercolor
