American Gold Coins, Italian Art and Chinese Rosewood Create Smiles at Burchard Galleries

(St. Petersburg, FL)The June 22 sale at Burchard Galleriesfeatured an outstanding collection of American gold coins from an Orlando estatethat far exceeded the pre sale estimate in fourteen of sixteen cases. The top coinlot and the top lot of the sale was a 1905 Lewis and Clark gold $1 graded from PCGSas MS64. These coins graded better than MS62 are very rare. 35,041 of thecommemorative coins were struck at the Philadelphia mint in 1905. The odd 41 werefor mint inspection services. Of the remaining 35,000 only 10,000 were actually soldto the public for the market price of $3. The unsold balance was melted for goldstock. The coins were not perceived as being especially valuable when issued and fewwere stored carefully with many being melted in the Depression for scrap. Auctionspokesman Todd Burchard pointed out that the coins were graded MS64 some time agounder a more stringent grading system than that in use today. He expects the coinsto be regraded to a higher mark.

This MS64 Lewis and Clark had a presale estimate of $1,500/2,000. Crossing the blocklate in the sale the lot drew a surprising 17 bids. The winner was a localcollector/dealer in the room who bid $14,000 before the buyer s premium. A 1904Lewis and Clark gold $1 with a similar grade, estimated at $1,000/1,500, had ahammer price of $7,250 and a Panama Pacific 1915-S $2 gold piece, graded from PCGSMS64, brought $5,750 against the $1,500/2,500 estimate.

Other good gold included a 1913 $5 Gold Half Eagle, graded MS64, selling five timesthe high estimate at $5,000 and a 1932 $10 Indian Gold Eagle, MS64, hammering atdouble the estimate to close at $4,000.

Smiles were not in short supply on other lots either. An abstract oil on canvas byPiero Ruggieri (Italian 1930-) from the Daytona Museum of Arts and Sciences wasestimated to sell at $400/600. The 44 by 38in work, entitled Le Lampade 1956 wassigned lower right, titled and dated verso. The work was in overall good conditionneeding cleaning with some flecks of paint loss. It rounded up forty bids to closeat $11,500 to a buyer from Italy. But the real surprise in the art department cameas lot #140 in the 483 lot sale. An unsigned American Western scene, oil on canvas,also from the Daytona Museum, depicted waterfalls, a river and a chain of mountainswith three figures of Native American Indians in the foreground. This unassuming 29by 44in work had several tears and abrasions and was estimated presale at $400/600.With a very strong attribution to Alexander Loemans (Canadian ? d1898) it washotly competed in the room and online with sixty-two bids, closing at $6,500. Alsoin the American art category, an early work by Florida Highwayman Harold Newton(American, 1932-1994), a Florida landscape typical of the genre sold withinestimate at $3,750.

Good wood also would do good with a Chinese Meiji period rosewood etagere havingelaborate and fine carvings in berry and bamboo motifs surrounding open shelving andone closed compartment closing above estimate at $6,250. It was followed by aChinese carved rosewood desk, late 19th century, with a carved gallery above adrawer flanked by doors. With the matching chair, the set sold over estimate for$2,000. But the star of the furniture show was a beautifully patinated 19th centurytwo piece Federal mahogany tambour desk, banded and inlaid with upper interiordrawers and two full length drawers below. The square nails in the back attested tothe age. This elegant office in a box, estimated at $400/600 created enoughexcitement to close at $3,000. A six piece quarter sawn oak bedroom set from theMission Collection of L. & J.G. Stickley sold within estimate at $4,000.

The sale was carried live online by LiveAuctioneers.com and had 363 registeredbidders from around the world including Israel, Australia, Italy and France.Burchard Galleries, Inc. owner Jeff Burchard and his son Todd called the eight hoursale. For more information call (727) 821-1167, email to mail@burchardgalleries.comor visit the website at www.burchardgalleries.com. The Gallery is located at 252830th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33713. Burchard Galleries normally hasan auction the last weekend each month with a discovery auction on Saturday and anantiques sale on Sunday. Check the website for details.

Written by:Fred Taylorwww.furnituredetective. com800-387-6377

Source: Express-Press-Release.com

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