December 4, 2009

• The December 20th Century Design Auction
• Session I: The Collection of Michael Playford & Two Zero C Applied Art
• Session II: Fine Tiffany and Unique Dutch Modernism
• Session III: The Best of Lalique And Art Glass
• A Survey of Lone Star State Fine Art in Texas Art Auction
• Spring Auction Schedule in Full Bloom
• Heritage Collector's Corner: Why, and what, do you collect?
• Website Tips: Heritage Auctions Mobile
• Around Heritage
• Consign Today
• Current Auctions

Significant modern design will take center stage in Manhattan on Dec. 10 when Heritage Auctions hosts its inaugural New York City auction of Important 20^th Century Design, at 104 E. 25th St., 3rd Fl. The full day of auctions, divided into three sessions, will include more than 300 period pieces of furniture and lighting from the collection of internationally renowned dealer and collector Michael Playford (Two Zero C Applied Art Ltd.), a comprehensive offering of more than 300 lots of pre- and post-war design, the Schiller-David Dutch Modernism collection of Decorative Arts and a large collection of Lalique glass and works by Tiffany Studios.

Session I: The Collection of Michael Playford & Two Zero C Applied Art

Michael's collection, like his career, focuses intently on the finest of French Art Deco taste, but is as diverse as his career and interests. His intimate association with Japan is represented by a variety of exquisite Japanese objects of 19^th and 20^th century origin, many with direct influence on the French modern movement. Further diversity is shown in the sophisticated collection of African furniture and objects, which find a place in all the finest collections of French modern design and complement Art Deco superbly.

"The Playford Collection presents an extraordinary versatility of style," said Christina Japp, Director of 20^th Century Design at Heritage Auctions, "a quality Playford always insisted upon, and most have been carefully selected for practical use in interior design."

Oscar Wilde once said, "I have the simplest of taste; I am always satisfied with the best." In this, he might well have been talking about Michael. Only a handful of pioneers were comprehensively collecting French Art Deco and what is now known as Mid-Century Modern in the 1960s. This is an authentic lifetime collection of a standard that rarely comes to the auction market, compiled by a true pioneer of modern movement expertise.

Other highlights include:

• Sue et Mare, an Inlaid Rosewood and Walnut Bed, circa 1920-1925.
• Andre Groult, a rare Silk Upholstered Beechwood Armchair, circa 1911.
• Marcel Coard, a very rare pair of Upholstered Armchairs, circa 1930.
• Extremely Rare African Throne Chair, Abomley Kingdom.
• Josef Hoffman Winged Armchair for Kohn and Kohn, Circa 1905.
• Alvar Aalto Tea Trolley, circa 1936.
• Jean Dunand, "Roses et Fleurs," a Lacquer Panel, circa 1925.

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Session II: Fine Tiffany and Unique Dutch Modernism

Session II will be a celebration of the style, international flair and timelessness of the great designers and design movements of the century just passed, featuring names like Tiffany, Giacometti, Bertoia and Rietveld.

Leading the way in the Tiffany section of the more than 800 lot auction is a superb Tiffany Studios "Bamboo" Floor Lamp, circa 1910, with exquisite, vibrantly colored glass. The piece, estimated at $200,000-300,000, comes from a private New York collection where it's resided for the last 30 years.

"This is as fine a specimen of Tiffany as collectors are likely to see this year," said Japp, "and would be a gorgeous cornerstone to any advanced Tiffany collection."

Another of the key pieces of important 20^th Century Design in Heritage's Dec. 10 auction is a stunning Diego Giacometti gilt-bronze chair, Tabouret de Coiffeuse, designed by the famed craftsman in 1960. The chair comes to Heritage from Andrew Crispo, legendary New York collector. It is estimated at $60,000-80,000.

The Schiller-David Collection of Dutch Art Nouveau and Art Déco, 1880-1930, anchors the Dutch Modernism section of the auction, and will be the subject of a pre-auction lecture by Amsterdam-based Dutch Modernism Expert Rob Driessen.

"The Schiller & David Collection offers a unique view at the roots of Dutch Modernism," said Driessen, "which sprang from symbolism and orientalism, as well as early constructivism. We find important youth works by later De Stijl heroes Bart Van der Leck (De Farizeeers, circa 1905, a pencil and black and blue pastels on paper, estimated at $32,000-42,000) and Gerrit Rietveld, showing the influence of symbolist painters."

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Session III: The Best of Lalique And Art Glass

The 130 lots of Lalique are drawn mainly from six American private collections, including the lifetime collection of Lloyd Glasgow, who began working for the Lalique Company in the 1950s and retired as President in the 1990s. Glasgow, who still lives in New York City, was a close personal friend to the Lalique family and his collection displays the scholarship, taste and dedication to the Lalique company collectors would expect from someone who devoted so much of his working life to the designer.

Other collections in the auction focus on signature pieces from the art of Lalique, including the vases "Tourbillons," "Oranges," "Archers" and "Perruches," with the latter two represented in several colors.

Lalique perfume bottles are always highly sought after by collectors and this auction features several great highlights of the form, including the rare models "Oreilles Lezards" and "Au Coeur de Calice," both recently discovered in private hands and appearing on the market for the first time. Also to be offered by Heritage Auctions in New York City is a recently discovered and pristine example of the classic automobile hood ornament "Victoire," found on a 1935 Duesenberg in the American Midwest, which is the key highlight of the selection of fine and rare mascots.

Also unique to this auction is a comprehensive collection of sold-out, limited edition artistic pieces stored by the Lalique Company in recent years, many of which represent the last available example of the series internationally. These will be presented complete with all original packaging and certification, and include the highly prestigious "Cactus" table in amber crystal.

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A Survey of Lone Star State Fine Art in Texas Art Auction

Two paintings by Texas Impressionist Julian Onderdonk anchor the Texas Art side of Heritage Auctions' Dec. 16 Signature® Art of the American West &Texas Auction, an auction featuring a host of the best names in Texas art, taking place live at Heritage Auctions' Design District Annex at 1518 Slocum Street and online at www.HA.com/FineArt.

"Onderdonk's work has become particularly sought-after in recent years and it's easy to see why," said Atlee Phillips, Consignment Director for Texas Art at Heritage Auctions. "With the two paintings we're offering, Flag Mountain (1914) and Flying Shadows (1910), we have two diverse and beautiful paintings that demonstrate the artist's versatility while at the same time being undeniably Onderdonk."

The greats of Texas Modernism are well-represented in the auction, with Olin Travis's Ex Slave providing the key highlights. A truly powerful painting, Ex Slave us not the kind of portrait commission that Travis, and artists like him, often painted to assure a steady income. Here, using a realistic style and accentuating the sad gaze and gnarled, weather beaten face of his subject, Travis has created an image capable of eliciting a strong emotional response. It carries a pre-auction estimate of $6,000-$8,000.

Collectors of Texas Modernism will also be particularly interested in two paintings Heritage Auctions is offering from Ft. Worth painter Bror Utter. In Still-life with Roses, Apples, and Plums, circa 1950 (estimated at $6,000-$9,000), Utter presents a unique amalgamation of varying modernist influences, especially those of Matisse and Cézanne. Despite these references to French modernists, Utter's distinctive style is still recognizable in the fine draftsmanship and interesting use of color. With Mission Series, 1965, Utter presents one of the best examples of his Mexican mission scenes, a favorite subject of the painter after his frequent travels of the 1960s. It is estimated at $6,000-$9,000.

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Spring Auction Schedule in Full Bloom

We have a full slate of auctions to be held in our new Dallas Design District Annex, 1518 Slocum St., Dallas, TX 75207, this spring:

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We're well aware here at Heritage that our clientele are some of the most interesting, influential people around, and all of you come with a story. Now we want you to tell us just what that story is. Maybe it's a remembrance of why you started collecting, or a survey of how far your collection has come. We're looking for stories that can wow, make us laugh or cry, or otherwise remind us why we collect what we do. We would like to share these stories with the rest of the Heritage community, so this is an open call and a chance for you to tell your story.

Submission Guidelines:

1. Send submissions to CollectorsCorner@HA.com (You can also send ideas for other topics.)
2. Submissions should be no more than 2,000 words
3. Select submissions will be published anonymously by Heritage on the Heritage Blog, in company e-mails and in web promotion. All submissions are subject to editing and proofing. The author's name will remain confidential.

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Search, View and Bid from almost any mobile device!

Announcing a mobile version of our award-winning website, HA.com. Now, you have the opportunity to search for, view, and bid on any lot in any of our current auctions from almost any mobile device with a web browser — anywhere in the world!

To reach the new Heritage Mobile site, simply type in the URL www.HA.com. You can immediately search by keyword for something that interests you, such as "1909-S" or "Thomas Moran". To limit the results to one type of collectible, choose it from the "Category" dropdown.

Click on any of the resulting search listings to examine the item more closely or place your secret maximum bid. Bids placed through Heritage Mobile are handled exactly the same way as if you placed them through the regular Heritage website — you will immediately be notified if you are the high bidder or if you've been outbid by another bidder's maximum bid.

Heritage Mobile also includes our popular MyBids page, which allows you to review your bids at any time. Just click on any of the listings to place another bid.

More innovations are on the way, so check back often.

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Fine Jewelry and Timepieces For The Holidays

The Holiday Season is upon us! Our Fine Jewelry and Fine Timepiece auctions present a wonderful opportunity to acquire that one-of-a-kind gift that someone special will be sure to treasure. Whether diamonds or colored gemstones, sparkly Judith Leiber purses, Rolexes or rare clocks are your forte, we are the source. Enjoy the convenience and confidentiality of bidding from any location on HA.com and Heritage Live!

Here are just a few highlights of our Jewelry auction:

Highlights From These Auctions

Diamond, Enamel, Platinum, Gold Bangle, Schlumberger, Tiffany Estimate $13,000 - $16,000 Colored Diamond, Diamond, White Gold Ring Estimate $20,000 - $30,000 Diamond, Gold Bangle, Jose Hess $15,000 - $20,000 Magnificent Diamond, Jade, Pearl, Coral & Rock Crystal Mystery Clock Estimate $70,000 - $80,000 F.P. Journe Rare Platinum "Octa Lune" Chronometer Wristwatch Estimate $30,000 - $35,000 Minute Repeating Pocket Watch With Split Seconds Chronograph Estimate $35,000 - $38,000 Sapphire, Diamond, Platinum Ring, William Ruser Estimate $12,000 - $15,000 Turquoise, Diamond, Gold Jewelry Suite, David Webb Estimate $10,000 - $15,000 South Sea Cultured Pearl, Diamond, Gold Convertible Earrings, Flato Estimate $15,000 - $20,000

Our Jewelry and Timepieces auctions are scheduled for December 7-9 in Dallas and over the Internet at HA.com/Jewelry. Be sure to place your bids soon!

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Prospective consignors and sellers of rare fine art are invited to call to discuss consignment options. Sell your quality art in our high-profile Signature Auctions.

Or visit www.HA.com/FineArt.

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Fine & Decorative Art Auctions

2009 December Signature 20th Century Design Auction #5032 December 10, 2009 View Lots Session II: A selection of fine Tiffany and other important examples of 20th Century Design December 10, 2009 Part of Auction #5032 View Lots Session III: A selection of rare Lalique and other art glass December 10, 2009 Part of Auction #5032 View Lots 2009 December Signature Art of the American West & Texas Auction #5026 December 16, 2009 View Lots

Other Signature Auctions

2009 December Houston, TX US Coin Auction #1132 December 3-6, 2009 View Lots 2009 December Signature Jewelry Auction #5027 December 7-9, 2009 View Lots 2009 December Signature Timepieces Auction #5028 December 8-9, 2009 View Lots 2009 December Signature New York Rare Stamps Auction #1111 December 11-14, 2009 View Lots 2009 December Signature Arms & Militaria Including Civil War Auction #6021 December 12, 2009 View Lots

Other Internet Auctions

Sunday Internet Movie Poster Auction #59121 December 6, 2009 View Lots Sunday Internet Sports Auction #49121 December 6, 2009 View Lots Sunday Internet Comics Auction #191210 December 6, 2009 View Lots Sunday Internet Coin Auction #29122 December 6, 2009 View Lots Tuesday Internet Currency Auction #39122 December 8, 2009 View Lots Tuesday Internet Coin Auction #29122 December 8, 2009 View Lots  Monthly World Coin Internet Auction #69121 December 13, 2009 View Lots Internet Rare Stamp Auction #99121 December 27, 2009 View Lots

Auction Schedule | Order a Catalog

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