1.24.11 Round Top, Texas – The Marburger Farm Antique Show is going to the dogs—- and the designers and the dads and the moms and the kids— and to anyone up for a fun way to feather their nest. The spring show in central Texas opens Tuesday March 29 and runs through Saturday April 2.

“When a show is dog-friendly,” says exhibitor Rebecca Looten of Monsoon Imports, “you know it’s also shopper-friendly.” Her yellow lab Marley will greet shoppers from one of the dog beds that Looten creates from antique altars. Buying in Rajasthstan, India for nearly a decade, Looten offers wooden and stone artifacts such as carved deities, rain cisterns, architectural fragments and marble serving platters. Looten plans to fill platters with refreshments during Marburger Farm’s benefit evening for Texas Children’s Hospital on Tuesday March 29.

Whether you bring your pooch, your pal or your kids, Marburger Farm is just plain bliss. “Spring is a luscious time in Texas,” says show co-owner Ashley Ferguson. “The pastures are full of bluebonnets and baby cows. People from all over America throw off winter and come looking for garden antiques and furniture for indoor-outdoor entertaining. Our goal is to have the best antique show in the nation, which includes giving shoppers the best memories and inspiration and enjoyment.”

With over 350 dealers on 43 acres, Marburger Farm consists of a not-so-small world of its own. Ten super-size tents and 12 historic buildings spill over with antiques from French to Fifties.

“One thing that makes for a great show is happy dealers,” says show co-owner Rick McConn. “Even with the huge truckloads of antiques coming in, we do all that we can to reduce the stress of set up. Then we do all we can to enhance the event for everyone.” This spring look for three food and beverage pavilions by Austin caterer Sterling Affairs, plus a bar in the Blacksmith Shop serving wine, ice-cold beer and “Marburitas”. An on-site shipper, free Wi-Fi, comfort stations, free parking and a parking shuttle service all add up to a stress-free event for shoppers too. “And we are packed,” says McConn, “with bloggers and shoppers coming from around the nation.”

But bluebonnets and bloggers aside, the main attraction is the stuff. What’s coming?

Ender Tasci of Elephant Walk Antiques in Orlando will arrive with a collection of 17^th – 18^th c. trunks from Spain, plus a pair of large 18^th c. gilded fragments from Italy. “The minute I leave Texas, I start missing Texas,” says Tasci. “For six months, I am living and breathing Texas to get ready for the next Marburger.” Being ready this time includes transporting to Marburger Farm all the fixtures from an old wine shop in the south of France, including wood work counters for use as buffets and nine feet tall wine storage cabinets for use as cupboards and armoires.

Al Linder of Northfield, MN also thinks big. “I’m bringing a primitive barn cupola, a full set of windmill blades, ten feet across, and a nine foot long quarter-sawn oak workbench for a fantastic kitchen island.” Why make the long trek to Texas? “In other states,” says Linder, “people look at these big industrial pieces and say to their friend, ‘What are you going to do with that?’ In Texas, people say, ‘If you don’t buy it, I will.’ I always look forward to Marburger Farm.”

Don Orwig of Corunna, IN agrees. “Spring at Marburger Farm is our top show of the year. We plan on doing a lot of business,” says Orwig, who will unload a box truck of industrial antiques, store counters and advertising signs. He’ll have factory pieces re-furbished for homes, such as work tables to be used as dining tables and bookshelves made from factory flooring with metal sides from old iron bridges. Also arriving with Orwig will be a set of 70 matching bistro chairs that he bought from a restaurant in Paris.

Paris may never be the same after the winter shopping maneuvers of a band of Marburger Farm dealers. “We’re going to shop our hearts out,” says Stephanie Talley of Fluff Antiques. “We’re all looking for wonderful smalls, art, textiles, jewelry and anything eccentric that we can get back to Marburger Farm.” Of the shopping gang, jewelry dealer Janet Waldrop of Skip 2 My Lou Antiques is the most experienced at shopping in France. “Janet keeps coaching us on how to shop without being conspicuous foreigners,” laughs Talley. “But just wait till that Texan opens her mouth!”

Single-minded shopping, months of preparation and many miles characterize over 350 Marburger Farm exhibitors who will alight near a herd of longhorns with everything from investment antiques from Sweden to mid-century modern antiques for new collectors. In the mix will be creative and mind-boggling displays in each booth, making for room settings of visual wonder.

Peg Van Dyne of French Vanilla Antiques will bring her new golden retriever, Emma, who color-coordinates with the neutral and calming tones of Van Dyne’s always-scrumptious booth. What’s coming along with Emma? “I’m starting with a clean slate and a light palette,” says Van Dyne. “I’m going on a big buying trip and coming straight to Marburger Farm full of surprises.”

So come for surprises, for the sunshine and for the stuff. The Marburger Farm Antique Show opens for Early Buying with $25 admission on Tuesday March 29 from 10 am through 2 pm, when regular $10 admission begins. Tuesday evening, extended shopping hours until 7 pm will directly benefit the Texas Children’s Hospital with a portion of  the entire show’s proceeds  benefitting Texas Children’s Hospital. Admission is good all week, with the show running on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and on Saturday, April 2, from 9 am to 4 pm. Admission is free for children 15 and under and dogs on a leash are always welcome.

See information on vendors, travel, maps, lodging, shipping and special events at roundtop-marburger.com or call Rick McConn at 800-999-2148 or Ashley Ferguson at 800-947-5799.

CONTACT:

Rick McConn  713-703-6371

rick@marburgershow.com

Ashley Ferguson  800-947-5799

ashley@marburgershow.com

roundtop-marburger.com

African-American Fine Art Auction: Feb 17th 2011, 2:30 pm

Catalogue available online

Winter Fine Art, Furniture & Chinese Auction Jan 29th 2011, 10:00 am

Preview: Jan 28th Noon-8:00 pm, Jan 29th 8:00 am – 10:00 am

The sale will include a broad spectrum of art and antiques including European and American decorative arts and furniture, fine jewelry, fine art, Chinese artifacts, Americana and bronzes, amongst other categories.

Auction: Feb 4th 2011  Noon – Early 20th C. Design/Arts & Crafts

Auction: Feb 5th 2011  Noon – 20th-21st C. Design/Modern

Auction: Feb 3rd 2011  10:30 am  &  2:30 pm

Catalogue available online

Saturday, Jan 22nd Art and Antiques meets Superheroes:  Two Great Auctions, One Great Auction Experience!

Jan Art and Antiques Auction: Jan 22nd 2011  10:00 am

Superhero Museum Collection Auction: Jan 22nd 2011  2:00 pm

Auction: Feb 6th 2011  11:00 am  &  Feb 7th 2011  12:00 pm

Preview: Feb 2nd – 5th 2011  10:00 am – 5:00 pm (open until 3pm on Feb 5th)

Artwork attributed to Vatican artist Roccheggiani remained in Tampa home for 90 years

Attrib. to Vatican master micromosaicist Cesare Roccheggiani, circa-1870s micromosaic depicting the Roman Forum, 59 inches wide by 32 inches long, estimate $100,000-$200,000. Myers Auction Gallery image.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A remarkable Italian micromosaic artwork depicting the Roman Forum and attributed to Vatican artist Cesare Roccheggiani has emerged from a Florida residence after nearly 90 years of unobtrusive display and will be auctioned on Jan. 30, 2011. The important estate discovery will be offered at Myers Auction Gallery in St. Petersburg as the star attraction in a 500-lot sale of fine European and Asian antiques.

Measuring 59 inches wide by 32 inches long and weighing over 100 lbs., the circa-1870s panoramic depiction of Rome was composed from hundreds of thousands of minute pieces of non-reflective glass. It is believed to be the work of master mosaicist Cesare Roccheggiani, who was active at the Vatican workshops from 1856 to 1864.

“While unsigned, we believe it is almost certainly the work of Roccheggiani,” said Michael Myers, founder and co-owner of Myers Auction Gallery. “An 1879 micromosaic nearly identical in size and subject matter, artist-signed by Rocchegiani, was auctioned in December at Christie’s London gallery for more than half a million dollars.”

Quite likely, the glass mosaic to be auctioned by Myers was a commissioned work created for a wealthy nobleman or aristocrat visiting Italy during a Grand Tour of Europe. “Many Italian artists capitalized on the opportunity to sell mosaic jewelry and miniatures to the influx of well-heeled visitors of that period, but few possessed Roccheggiani’s ability to produce a monumental micromosaic of such superior quality,” Myers said.

“It’s so luminous, it almost looks like a photograph. It even fooled a visitor who walked into our gallery and thought they were looking at a picture on a flat-screen TV,” added Mary Dowd, Michael’s wife and business partner.

Since the 1920s, the artwork attributed to Roccheggiani had rested above a mantel in the residence of a prominent Tampa businessman. When the home was sold in the 1980s, the buyer was given the option of purchasing some of the existing furnishings. The micromosaic was among the pieces selected. Now, through descent, the estate artwork is headed to auction with a conservative $100,000-$200,000 estimate.

Jean Ferdinand Monchablon (French, 1855-1904) oil-on-canvas wildflower landscape, estimate $8,000-$12,000. Myers Auction Gallery image.

Among the paintings on the auction roster are a Jean Ferdinand Monchablon (French, 1855-1904) oil-on-canvas wildflower landscape estimated at $8,000-$12,000; and a pre-1920 Edouard Leon Cortes (French, 1882-1969) gouache on board street scene of Paris in wintertime, from the estate of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Douglas Moore (1893-1969). Its estimate is $8,000-$10,000. The fine art section also includes a pair of handsome equine paintings by British artist Harry Hall (1814-1882), each estimated at $1,500-$2,500.

Approximately 30 lots of Asian and European carved ivory works are scheduled to sell. Within the grouping are fans, figures and four extremely desirable 19th-century miniature portraits, each depicting a member of Russia’s Romanov family.

Albert-Ernest Carrier-Beleuse, bronze sculpture titled Allegory of Friendship, 22 inches high, estimate $4,000-$6,000. Myers Auction Gallery image.

A selection of period European bronzes is led by two Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (French, 1824-1875) sculptures, including the 22-inch-high Allegory of Friendship, $4,000-$6,000; and Jean Baptiste Carpeaux’s (French, 1827-1875) Winkle Gather, 28 3/8 inches high and estimated at $4,000-$6,000. The category also features a 31-inch bronze rooster by Jules Moigniez (French, 1835-1894), $2,000-$3,000; and a collection of 19th-century Austrian cold-painted bronzes of Arabs, animals and other figures.

An extensive array of excellent-quality 18th- and 19th-century European sterling silver will be offered, with highlights including a 1797 George III sterling tea caddy by Daniel Pontifax, London; an 1819 Rebecca Emes, London, sterling decanter set; and a variety of ornate hollowware and flatware by various Continental makers. Four hallmarked sterling serving platters by Jean Emile Puiforcat (French, 1897-1945) will cross the auction block, as well. Three will be auctioned as one lot with an estimate of $3,000-$5,000; while a fourth platter will stand on its own with an estimate of $1,500-$2,000.

A featured attraction in the sale is the selection of antique Japanese cloisonné by master makers, a category that Mary Dowd said “has really been bringing premium prices lately.” A Namikawa Sosuke (1847-1910) artist-signed tray to be auctioned is similar to one that sold for $33,000 in 2008. Other Japanese highlights include samurai swords, sterling silver, scrolls, and silk embroidered with monkey and tiger motifs.

Other Asian antiques include an exquisitely carved rosewood Chinese throne chair with possibly original silk damask upholstery; Chinese carved stands, and an altar table. A beautiful assortment of Asian porcelain reveals designs by Imari, Satsuma, Canton and Rose Medallion. Estimated at $3,000-$5,000, a pair of 19th-century Chinese blue and white double-gourd vases stands 29 inches tall.

European ceramics by Meissen, Royal Vienna, KPM, Sevres, Dresden and Delft will go under the hammer. Several sets of ornate service plates are included in the grouping, as is a George Jones majolica doves centerpiece, estimated at $1,000-$2,000.

Circa-1825 bracelet by Austrian Crown Jeweler Piote et Kochert, enameled 18K gold set with stones and bearing an Islamic inscription, estimate $4,000-$6,000. Myers Auction Gallery image.

A top lot within the selection of 19th- and early 20th-century gold gemstone jewelry is a circa-1825 bracelet by Austrian Crown Jeweler Piote et Kochert. The enameled 18K gold bracelet is set with stones and bears an Islamic inscription. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000.

The auction offering is completed with a lineup of fine 18th/19th-century European clocks and more than 25 fresh to the market 19th- and early 20th-century Oriental rugs, all from estates. Among them are Tabriz, Kashan and room-size Chinese and Persian carpets. A noteworthy addition to this portion of the sale is an early Kai-tag Daghestan Persian textile.

Myers Auction Gallery conducts only two sales per year. “We’re very particular about what we sell,” Mary Dowd explained. “We would rather take our time and present only top-quality estate material. It takes a commitment to do this properly, but it’s the reason we have such a faithful following of buyers.”

All forms of bidding will be available for the Sunday, Jan. 30 auction, including live in the gallery, absentee, phone and live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.com. For additional information, call 727-823-3248 or 727-823-3249, or email auctions@myersfineart.com. Visit Myers online at www.myersfineart.com.

From delicate period jewels to bold contemporary designs, the first jewelry auction of 2011 comprises a wide selection of styles to ensure therei s something for every taste and occasion. Amongst the important diamond highlights is a classic Harry Winston ring set with a 16 carat emerald cut diamond and a Oscar Heyman 9 carat heart shaped diamond and ruby ring. There will be unique jewels by David Webb, Tony Duquette and Michele della Valle as well as timeless jewels from Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier.

Auction January 19th-20th, 2011

Over 1000 lots featuring Antique Furniture, Decorative Arts,Antique Porcelain, Fine Art, and more.