HERITAGE GALLERIES & AUCTIONEERS: AUCTION OF SILVER, ART GLASS, PAINTINGS AND DECORATIVE ARTS EXCEEDS $1 MILLION

Dallas, Texas: Heritage Galleries & Auctioneers conducted yet another $1mm+ decorative and fine arts auction on October 30 and 31, with prices realized so far of $1,008,293. A large audience of floor, phone and internet bidders competed for an exciting offering of rare silver, art glass, European paintings, furniture and ceramics. 449 bidders placed bids on the 1,162 lots offered, resulting in some lots far exceeding pre-sale estimates. Bids were accepted by mail, fax, email, telephone and proxy via Heritage's web site, as well as live bidding through iCollector, Heritage Live and eBay Live Auctions.

"We were able to include several desirable items in this sale with superb provenance, both our consignors and bidders walked away happy to have been a part of our auction," said Bryan Abbott, Director of Acquisitions. "We experienced a surge in pre-sale interest with the announcement of our offering of selections from the collections of two important American silver collectors, Dr. William P. Hood and Dr. Dale Bennett, which culminated in strong prices at auction."

A Set of Twelve American Silver 'Labors of Cupid' Oyster Forks in near-mint condition from the collection of Dr. William P. Hood, Jr. realized $2,151, while an exceedingly rare pair of American Silver 'Fountainebleau' Asparagus Tongs from the collection of Dr. Dale Bennett realized $2,739.

Mixed metal lots were particularly sought after in this sale. An American Mixed Metal Japanese Style Match Safe by Gorham, made in 1879, fetched a handsome $7,767.50, far exceeding its catalogue estimate of $1,500-2,000. The slender body in the Cairo or 'Curio' style was adorned with silver applied Japanese fisherman on the one side, and a Japanese crane standing in a marsh on the other. An American Silver Mixed Metal Japanese Style Ice Cream Slice by Gorham, c.1880, from the collection of Dr. Dale Bennett, met with keen pre-sale interest and realized $3,346. An American Silver Mixed Metal Bowl and Underplate by Tiffany & Co., c.1877, exceeded the high estimate realizing $6,572.50. Other mixed metal offerings in this sale included an American Mixed Metal Japanese Style Kerosene Lamp by Gorham, c.1880 at $7,170, and a Twenty-two Piece Mixed Metal Japanese Style Fruit Service in the original box by Gorham, c.1880 at $5,377.

Saturday evening's art glass and paintings session featured several important and collectible makers from well-known French Glass makers such as Emile Galle, Daum Nancy, G. Argy Rousseau, to desirable American Art Glass makers such as Loetz, Steuben, and L.C. Tiffany. Highlights from the art glass session include a Mold-Blown, Overlaid and Etched 'Clematis' Vase with exquisite color that fetched $10,755, and a Mold-Blown, Overlaid and Etched Vase depicting cherries that brought $10,157.50. Nearly 40 lots of Rene Lalique glass were offered, including a 'Marignane' vase that realized $7,170. Topping the evening were two paintings of exceptional provenance by famed Israeli artist Reuven Rubin that sold to an international buyer for over $121,000 collectively. The paintings were bought off the walls of the artist's home in Israel nearly twenty years ago and have been in a private collection until October 30th when they went on the block. One depicting the working class and the other depicting a dream-scape of Jerusalem, these works embody the two major themes that run through Rubin's ouevre.

Roseville Baneda was the order of the day on Sunday afternoon's session of art pottery and ceramics, two Baneda flared vases realized $1,434 each, one green the other pink. Of particular interest during this last session of the sale was a Meissen figural group of a Lady with her Moor that fetched $4,063.

"We have a strong commitment to the areas of Fine and Decorative Arts," adds Heritage Galleries President, Greg Rohan. "We have added several sales to these areas in 2005, and we are excited to be a part of this wonderful area of collecting."

Heritage Galleries & Auctioneers is currently accepting consignments for its next Decorative Arts sale slated for Spring 2004. Enquiries for silver, art glass, lighting, pottery, fine ceramics and decorative arts should be directed to Bryan Abbott, 800.872.6467 ext. 320, Bryan@HeritageGalleries.com or Karen Fedri, 800.872.6467 ext. 379 KarenF@HeritageGalleries.com. Enquiries for paintings, sculpture, photography and illustration should be directed to Ed Jaster, 800.872.6467 ext., 288, EdJ@HeritageGalleries.com.

HIGHLIGHTS TO THE AUCTION:

Lot 19320 REUVEN RUBIN (ISRAELI 1893-1974)
The Olive Tree
Oil on canvas
21.25in. x 29in.
Signed lower right: Rika/ Rubin
Provenance: From the artist's home in Israel to present owner
Realized: $59,750

Lot 19321 REUVEN RUBIN (ISRAELI 1893-1974)
Jerusalem
Oil on canvas
21.25in. x 29in.
Signed lower right: Rika/ Rubin
Provenance: From the artist's home in Israel to present owner
Realized: $62,140

Lot 20275 A 'LADY AND THE MOOR' GERMAN PORCELAIN FIGURAL GROUP
Meissen, c.1890
Realized: $4,063

Lot 18068 A SET OF TWELVE AMERICAN SILVER LABORS OF CUPID PATTERN OYSTER FORKS
Mark of Dominick & Haff, New York, c.1900
Realized: $2,151

Lot 18197 AN AMERICAN SILVER FONTAINEBLEAU PATTERN ASPARAGUS TONGS
Mark of Gorham, Providence, Rhode Island, c.1885
Realized: $2,739

Lot 18200 AN AMERICAN SILVER MIXED METAL JAPANESE STYLE ICE CREAM SLICE
Mark of Gorham, Providence, Rhode Island, c.1880
Realized: $3,346

Lot 18488 AN AMERICAN JAPANESE STYLE MIXED METAL MATCH SAFE
Mark of Gorham, Providence, Rhode Island, 1879
Realized: $7,767.50

Lot 19103 A MOLD-BLOWN, OVERLAID AND ETCHED GLASS 'CLEMATIS' VASE (Emile Gallé)
Emile Gallé, c.1910
Realized: $10,755