Boynton Beach, Florida.- Around 400 quality lots of fine artwork, decorative art and Russian works will cross the block on Saturday, February 25th, at Elite Decorative Arts. The auction will be held in the firm’s spacious gallery facility, located in the Quantum Town Center at 1034 Gateway Boulevard (Suite 106-108) in Boynton Beach. The action will begin at 1 p.m. Two works of art are expected to fetch $80,000-$100,000. The first is a large acrylic on canvas rendering of a reclining woman on a settee with flowers by the iconic American artist Peter Max (b. 1937). The 60 inch by 73 inch work is signed upper right and the reverse (verso) side states, “Copyright Peter Max 1992 #1127).” Max became famous in the ’60s as a Pop Artist. The other work is an original oil on canvas by American artist Franz Kline (1910-1962). The abstract design with four black stripes was executed circa 1958-1960 and was signed lower right. It measures 12 inches by 20 inches and is matted and framed. Best known for his large-scale black and white works, Kline was a prominent artist in abstract and non-objective styles.
Two lots of decorative art are expected to attract keen bidder interest. One is a stunning antique Chinese Qianlong hand-carved ivory mammoth tusk depicting an epic warrior battle scene (est. $50,000-$60,000). The piece boasts 70 figures clashing in a relief-carved scene, with 13 cavalry warriors, spear men, swordsmen and men carrying mask shields. It is 45 inches tall. The other lot consists of a pair of 18th century French dore bronze-mounted red marble urns (est. $25,000-$35,000). Each urn is finely crafted, with red marble bodies and base clad with gilded bronze decorations depicting two lion busts with hanging lion fur. Each one is about 20 inches high by 11 ½ inches wide and the combined weight of the two urns is about 75 pounds. Collectors of fine Russian works will not be disappointed. One outstanding lot is an Imperial Russian enameled silver and agate boar’s head cup with cabochon ruby jewels set to eyes and the Faberge Cyrillic mark with double-headed eagle (est. $40,000-$50,000). The 7 ½ inch tall cup has 88 silver purity marks and comes in a handsome fitted wood presentation box.
Another piece sure to get paddles wagging is an Imperial Russian enameled silver plique a jour Judaica spice tower centerpiece, with 84 silver purity marks and Pavel Akimov Ovchinnikov workmaster marks to the side of the base (est. $35,000-$45,000). The 17 ½ inch tall by 6 ½ inch wide centerpiece has red cabochon stones set to eyes and weighs 33.2 troy ounces. Two Russian lots have identical pre-sale estimates: $30,000-$40,000. One is an Imperial Russian enameled silver and agate kovsh bowl, magnificently designed throughout, with scrolled designs and holding the Faberge mark to the bottom of the handle. The bowl has three cabochon cut ruby jewels set to the handle and front, is 4 ½ inches in height and weighs 38.9 troy ounces. The other is an antique Russian silver and enamel kovsh bowl made around 1900, having the Moscow town mark and holding the Orest Fedorovich Kurliukov maker marks (plus 84 Russian silver and town marks on the bottom). The 7 ¼ inch tall bowl features beautiful enamel miniature depictions of a man and a woman presenting items with a building in the background.
One other Russian object of note is an Imperial Russian silver and enamel desk clock with the back signed Faberge in Cyrillic and with the mark of workmaster Michaell Perchin (1860-1903). The clock features a white enamel dial and black Arabic numerals and notches. It also has gold scrolled hour and minute hands. The 8-day movement clock stands 4 ½ inches tall. Returning to fine art, a bronze sculpture by Francisco Zuniga (Mex., 1912-1998), titled Silvia Agachado and depicting a seated nude female with her head lowered, is expected to bring $24,000-$28,000. The 15 inch wide by 10 inch tall work is from a limited edition and is marked “V/VI” (5/6). It is also signed and dated (1967) on the figure’s left thigh and weighs 27 pounds. An abstract acrylic on canvas by Jules Olitski (Am., 1922-2007), titled No Objects 4, signed and dated 1982 to the back of the canvas, carries a pre-sale estimate of $20,000-$30,000. The work is substantial, at 117 inches wide by 40 ½ inches tall. Olitski experimented with spray painting onto canvases and sculptures, but his later work was marked by thick impasto surfaces. Rounding out a short list of the day’s expected top lots is an abstract acrylic on canvas work by Larry Poons (Am., b. 1937), signed and dedicated on the reverse, “To Val, Love L. Poons 1984” (est. $15,000-$20,000). The 33 inch wide by 16 inch tall painting is guaranteed original. Poons was a prominent figure in Optical Art and the Color Field school of painting.
Elite Decorative Arts is an established, third-generation, full-service antique and auction gallery, specializing in fine decorative arts, paintings, estate jewelry and more. The gallery is located in the Quantum Town Center, located at 1034 Gateway Boulevard (Suite 106) in Boynton Beach, Fla. A full-time, knowledgeable staff is on hand Monday-Friday, from 10-6. Elite Decorative Arts is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. Visit the auction house’s website at … www.eliteauction.com.