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Heritage Auctions

Heritage Auctions’ silver and vertu sale Oct. 18 appears up to snuff

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Rare and important Christian Maas Swedish 20K gold and enameled snuffbox, by repute from the collection of a royal family, Stockholm, Sweden, circa 1786. Estimate: $70,000-$90,000. Heritage Auctions image
Rare and important Christian Maas Swedish 20K gold and enameled snuffbox, by repute from the collection of a royal family, Stockholm, Sweden, circa 1786. Estimate: $70,000-$90,000. Heritage Auctions image

 

DALLAS — A rare and important Christian Maas Swedish 20K gold and enameled snuffbox, from a private Texas collection of fine gold and enameled snuffboxes, leads a stellar collection expected to realize a combined $500,000 in Heritage Auctions’ biannual Fine Silver and Objects of Vertu auction. The auction’s nearly 600 lots span American, English, Continental, Russian and 20th Century Design Oct. 18.

Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

“Our Silver and Vertu auctions are always filled with spectacular finds, but this season’s offering of snuffboxes are particularly strong,” said Karen Rigdon, director of Silver and Decorative Arts at Heritage. “The entire selection is a wonderful survey of the art of the subject with a fine selection of Swedish, Swiss, French and German.”

The private Texas collection of fine gold and enameled snuffboxes alone is expected to fetch more than $500,000.

The Christian Maas box (above) dances with gold paillon stars floating above the translucent sapphire-blue enamel ground (est. $70,000-$90,000). It is just one in a collection of nearly 30 Swedish, Swiss and German gold boxes, such as a Swiss enameled 18K gold snuffbox (below) with a finely executed harbor scene (est. $30,000-$50,000) and a Les Freres Toussaint German 18K gold snuffbox, from Hanau, Germany, circa 1780 (est. $30,000-$50,000).

 

Swiss enameled 18K gold snuff box with harbor scene, circa 1790. Estimate: $30,000-$50,000. Heritage Auctions image
Swiss enameled 18K gold snuff box with harbor scene, circa 1790. Estimate: $30,000-$50,000. Heritage Auctions image

 

Additional objects of vertu include a Faberge pig bell push, a whimsical piece made by the renowned work master Julius Rappoport (est. $30,000-$50,000).

American silver makers are highlighted in the sale. An historic and important Whiting etched trophy bowl for the 1883 National Horse Show — one of the finest examples of late 19th century acid etched design may sell for $15,000.

 

Whiting Mfg. Co acid-etched silver trophy bowl for the National Horse Show Association of America, New York, circa 1883. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Heritage Auctions image
Whiting Mfg. Co acid-etched silver trophy bowl for the National Horse Show Association of America, New York, circa 1883. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Heritage Auctions image

 

Additional examples of American silver ranges from a Monumental Mauser vase with a fluid bronze base (est. $7,000-$9,000); to a fine selection of coin silver, featuring a six-piece S. Kirk & Son tea and coffee service (est. $6,000-$9,000); and two rare trophies from the Tournament of Roses Parade (est. $2,500-$3,500).

 

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.