Affluent Naples, Fla., takes spotlight in Auctions Neapolitan sale, Jan. 23

NAPLES, Fla. – The quietly uber-wealthy Gulf Coast enclave of Naples, Fla., is replete with homes whose contents reflect the refined tastes of well-traveled individuals. When antiques or artworks from the region’s many collectors come to the marketplace, it is often with the assistance of a local firm that casts a wide net internationally – Auctions Neapolitan. The company’s Jan. 23, 2010 sale, which will reach a global community of buyers through Internet bidding facilitated by LiveAuctioneers, is a varied offering that includes several intriguing Chinese antiques, a very rare Black Forest carving of St. Bernard dogs, and a Charles Vital Cornu bronze.

“All of the consignments are from local sources – either private collectors or estates,” said Auctions Neapolitan’s owner, Kathleen Pica. “We always get a nice turnout at auctions featuring Chinese antiques, and there are some very interesting examples in the upcoming sale, so we look forward to seeing how those items will be received.”

A set of four early to mid-20th-century hand-painted and glazed, wood-framed plaques consists of four different depictions of robed Chinese men engaged in various activities. Among the subjects are travelers, a musician wearing the mask of a woman’s face, a tiger, a man with the image of a radiant Buddha on his belly, men with beads, and more. Each signed plaque measures approximately 16¾ inches by 12½ inches. The set is estimated at $1,200-$1,600. Another interesting Chinese ceramic to be auctioned depicts jockeys on racehorses in full gallop, estimate $300-$500.

An antique Chinese Qing Dynasty table screen of heavily carved celadon jade and camphor wood with mirror depicts within its carving a fowl trapped in undergrowth. Pica believes the oval jade medallion may be even older than the frame. The lot is conservatively estimated at $400-$600.

Dating to around 1900, an important Black Forest wood carving of a St. Bernard dog with her three puppies is possibly the work of Swiss artisan Walter Mader. Each dog has naturalistic glass eyes and a carved collar and “fur,” with limbs that feature hand coloring. The appealing canine tableau, which weighs 33 lbs., is 13 inches high, 39 inches wide and 20 inches deep. It is expected to make $6,000-$8,000 at auction.

Another decorative-art highlight is the large (15¾-inch) Lalique Cote D’or charger with three graceful nude nymphs surrounded by grapevines as its central theme, and with a bas-relief grape-cluster motif adorning the edge. Titled Trois Figurines et Raisins, this rare, early work is engraved with the Lalique signature on verso and is estimated at $2,000-$3,000.

The top bronze in the sale is a 31-inch-tall allegorical scene featuring Victoire, created by Charles Vital Cornu (French, circa 1851-1927). Made during the late-19th or early-20th century, the 57-lb. sculpture is signed in the base, has a foundry stamp and rests on a later green marble base. The work is entered in the sale with a $6,000-$8,000 estimate.

Considerable attention is being paid to listed artists from Florida like Wayne E. Thorsen, of Naples. One of four Thorsens to be offered in the auction, a contemporary oil on canvas titled The Trapper’s Cabin features a cabin against a sunset landscape, and a man in a canoe in the foreground. Measuring 24 inches by 34½ inches, it is estimated at $1,400-$1,800.

Other categories in the sale include sterling silver, Royal Doulton, crystal, Limoges, more than 20 pieces of early Staffordshire, Baccarat and elegant Depression glass, and a large selection of compacts and costume jewelry. An Anglo-Indian carved table and a Syrian table will be auctioned, as will Maurice Rousseau’s circa-1890 oil-on-canvas painting titled Sheepfold. Retaining its original gilt frame, the artwork will carry a presale estimate of $1,000-$2,000.

All forms of bidding will be available during the 400-lot sale, including absentee and live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.com. Auctions Neapolitan’s gallery features ample parking and is located at 1100 First Avenue South, Naples, FL 34102. The 400-lot event will start at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.

For additional information about any item in the sale, call 239-262-7333 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet through www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Click here to view Auction Neapolitan's complete catalog.