If you’re a buyer of Chinese antiques, wait till you see the opening lot in Matheson’s AA Auctions’ March 29-30 Early Asian & Fine Art Estates sale. From an incredible private collection built in the 1960s and ’70s, the auction opener is a spectacular copper-red and white 14th-century Chinese bottle of the early Ming Dynasty (Hongwu Reign). Highly important, the 14-inch vessel is expected to make 500,000-700,000.

Contemporary art of the highest quality will be offered on March 29 in Damien Leclere’s sale of contemporary art in Marseilles, France. Among the 313 lots are works by Picasso, Chagall, Georges Braque and Victor Vasarely (Hungarian, 1906-1997). Lot 40 is an oil-on-canvas painting by Vasarely titled Olkia II. Measuring 46 inches by 30.7 inches, the striking artwork is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from the artist. It is entered in the sale with a 126,000-141,000 estimate.

Smart collectors know the opportunities that can await them in Australian auctions. On March 30 (March 29 PST), the Sydney-based auctioneers Vickers & Hoad will host a 618-lot Antiques, Collectables & 20th Century Design sale, and it’s one of our special picks for this week. Lot 1504 has the look for success about it. It’s a 19th-century Russian silver and heavily enameled casket with bands of scrolling and beadwork in turquoise, cobalt, red, white and doré finish. Made by Khlebnikov, Moscow, the casket is estimated at 7,300-11,000.

In case you haven’t seen it yet, Style Century Magazine is an exciting new publication that you can read online or download in PDF format at www.stylecenturymagazine.com. This full-color, all-digital monthly is published by LiveAuctioneers’ affiliate company QM4G Media, and is packed with excellent, professionally written articles about modern design, antiques, architecture and decorative art. View the March 2008 issue or download it as a pdf at www.stylecenturymagazine.com.

Posted: 03|28|08 at 5:38 pm. Filed under: News.