Sunday, April 22, 2007

THOUSANDS OF PIECES FROM A LIFETIME MIAMI COLLECTION OF DECORATIVE ARTS TO CROSS THE BLOCK AT ALBRITTON

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2007


ALBRITTON AUCTIONEERS
LAKELAND, FL
Sale May 18,19, 2007


The first in a series of sales to dispose a very large collection will be conducted in Lakeland, FL on May 18 and 19 by Kale Albritton.

Veteran Florida auctioneer Kale Albritton, owner of Albritton Auctioneers in Lakeland, FL, met with the family of a deceased Miami collector several years ago to begin the dispersal of the thousands of antiques and collectibles in the estate. He held two small initial sales after that but could never get the family organized enough to complete the task. When he retired four years ago he still held out hope that he would get the opportunity to conduct the entire sale. That opportunity has now presented itself and Albritton has come out of retirement for this series of sales.

He has worked for months out of a series of storage buildings and houses where the collection has been stored for the last thirty years and still has no idea how many total lots will be in all the sales. The first sale on May 18 and 19 will consist of approximately 600 lots of art, antiques, silver, art glass and bronzes. Albritton has identified at least 92 bronzes and 75 lots of art glass, including Tiffany, Galle and Daum and large selection of period American and English sterling hollow and flatware to be included in the first sale.

The silver will include sterling bowls by Tiffany, a wine cooler, serving bowls, compotes, a 240 piece service of "Faneuil" flatware, a Samuel Kirk tea and coffee service (c.1840), Sheffield silver, Britannia casters, sterling serving trays, goblets, standing salt cellars, Georgian serving spoons by Peter, Ann and William Bateman, coin silver, 167 pieces of Francis I flatware, ornate plated/crystal epergnes, sterling vases, trays, goblets and many others.

Significant art includes a work by Edward W. Cooke (English 1811-1880) entitled "Good Luck Fires" painted while Cooke was on vacation in New Mexico. Other works include "Calais Pier" by Thomas Bush Hardy (English 1842-1897), "Sheep in Pasture" by G. C. Wiggins (American 1883-1962) and "Young Girl" by Charles T. Phelan (American 1840) plus many more.
The art glass and crystal category includes a 17in tall Favrile lamp signed "L.C.T." on the base, Steuben Rosaline engraved plates, a pulled feather design art glass epergne with Sheffield silver plated base and flint glass inserts, many pieces of Moser, an acid-cut Baccarat vase, five Galle vases, a major three piece center set of a dark amethyst glass pedestal and an 11in by 6in bowl with a matching pair of 13in candleholders decorated with gold cameo bands of Amazon warriors, signed Moser, Karlsbad.

The sale will include three Audubon Elephant books entitled "Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America" lithographed and printed by J. T Bowen, Philadelphia, 1845, a good selection of Majolica, a Tiffany desk lamp, many bent slag glass lampshades with table, floor lamps and ceiling fixtures, many stained and leaded glass shades and bases, a pair of Sang de Boeuf table lamps, Kutani table lamps, wicker floor lamp, Phoenix glass table lamp and Galle lamp, figural bronze lamp of a lady marked P. Terczkszuk (Austrian) with an 8 x 4¾in Galle shade among others. Also crossing the block will be a wide selection of 18th, 19th and early 20th century furniture including game tables, stands, desks, work tables and much more.

This will be an absolute auction conducted without reserve. It will be held at Sikes Hall in the Lakeland Center, 701 W. Lime Dr. in Lakeland, FL beginning at 5:00PM Friday May 18 and will continue at 10:00AM Saturday May 19. Preview will be at the Center on Thursday May 17 from 1:00PM to 8:00PM. Seating can be reserved by phone at (863) 686-7653 or by email to kalealbrit@aol.com. Phone and absentee bids will be accepted. For more information call the number above or visit the website at www.albritton.net.

PHOTO CAPTIONS FOR ALBRITTON
Sale May 18,19, 2007

Cooke – "Good luck Fires" by Edward W. Cooke, O/C, 20 by 16in.

Colinet – Bronze and ivory dancer by Claire J. R. Colinet (Flemish 1880-1950), 18 by 7½in.

Desk – Walnut slant front desk, circa 1800.

Epergne – Epergne with Sheffield silver plate base and flint glass inserts.


Lamp – 17in Favrile lamp signed on the base "L.C.T."


Tiffany – Large sterling center bowl by Tiffany