Michaan’s October Gallery Auction
October 20, 2023
Auction: Friday, October 20th | 10 a.m.
www.michaans.com
Preview: Thursday, October 19th | noon – 5 p.m.
Friday, October 20th | 9 a.m. – end of auction
Main Gallery, 2751 Todd Street, Alameda, CA

ALAMEDA, CALIF. — Michaan’s October gallery auction is an esoteric grouping ranging from an electric automaton drinking bear to examples of Meissen porcelain. A map engraving from the 1600s alongside a modern acrylic resin sculpture, “Two Waves,” by Shlomi Haziza will cross the block, and the jewelry section is shining with brand names like Tiffany & Co and Rolex. There is also a collection of Asian porcelains, coral and huanghuali furniture.

The furniture and decorative arts section has a large collection of silver with one of the top lots being an American Thauvet Besley marked sterling silver teapot ($1,5/2,500). There is also a plethora of traditional Meissen pieces; a pair of busts of Prince Louis Joseph de Bourbon (1751-1761) and Princess Marie Zephirine de Bourbon (1750-1755) ($1/1,500).

Michaan’s has also had the good fortune of receiving deaccessioned property from the Filoli Historical House and Garden. Filoli was originally built as a private residence in 1917. It is now open to the public and site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. One of their featured pieces is an Eighteenth Century chinoiserie tall case clock ($600/800).

The fine art section has a strong American presence. William Keith is always a crowd pleaser, with a serene pasture scene. There is also a bronze “Transcendence of Man” by Erwin Binder ($900-$1,200). Also, a Dong Kingman watercolor “Washington Park Scene” ($1,5/2,500) has notable provenance. This piece has remained within Vera Jones J. Bright family. Bright established her gallery in 1928 at 165 Post Street in San Francisco where Kingman hosted his first solo exhibit.

The jewelry section features a Tiffany & Co Elsa Petretti 18K yellow gold heart necklace ($400/600) and a lady’s Rolex Oster Perpetual Datejust 18K yellow gold wristwatch ($3/5,000).

The Asian art section is offering celadon glazed porcelain vases, including a large Chinese Longquan celadon glazed vase with phoenix handles ($6/8,000). There is also a carved coral piece of a standing Guanyin figure ($1/1,500). A pair a Chinese Huanghuali/mixed wood horseshoe armchairs is accompanied by a tea table ($1,5/2,500).

The October Annex Auction is being conducted Monday-Wednesday, October 16-18. This venue gives collectors a wide variety of jewelry, fine art, decorative arts, furniture, Asian art, stamps and coins to choose from. The auction includes more than 2,500 lots, most estimated under $300.

Michaan’s is at 2751 Todd Street. For more information, www.michaans.com or 510-227-2505.

WILLIAM KEITH (American, 1838-1911) Pasture Scene. Estimate: $1,500 / 2,500
Large Chinese Longquan Celadon Glaze Phoenix Handle Vase. Estimate: $8,0001 12,000
18th Century Chinoiserie Tall Case Clock. Estimate: $600 / 1,000
ERWIN BINDER (American, 1934-1989) Transcendence of Man. Estimate: $900 / 1,200
Pair Meissen Porcelain Busts of Prince & Princess de Bourbon. Estimate: $1,000/ 1,500
Chinese Coral Carving of Standing Guanying. Estimate: $1,000/ 1,500
Ladies Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 18k Yellow Gold Wristwatch. Estimate: $3,000 / 5,000