HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. - About 15 prominent estates and collections, featuring a dazzling array of fine and decorative arts plus other items, will be sold in a two-day, four-session sale planned for Dec. 6-7 by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. The sale - a Historic Hillsborough Auction - will be held at the Leland Little showroom, with real-time Internet bidding available.

"Our end-of-year, holiday cataloged sale is always a blockbuster, and this one will be no exception," said the auction company's owner, Leland Little. "We are proud to be able to represent these fine estates and collections...about 1,000 lots will cross the block. The assortment and quality are second to none. It should be fun."

Session I (Sat., Dec. 6, starting at 9:30 a.m. EST) will feature fine and decorative arts. Session II (Sat., starting at 3:30 p.m. EST) will feature the single-owner photographica collection of Arnold Doren and Caroline Cornish. Session III (Sun., Dec. 7, starting at 9:30 a.m. EST) will feature fine and decorative arts. Session IV (Sun., starting at 1:30 p.m. EST) will feature the outstanding coin collection Dr. Hank Landon.

Other highlights will include the collection of M. Kinard McCarrell of Charlotte, N.C.; the Rosa Spence McDonald Collection; and the estate of Elizabeth Inches Chamberlin of Chestnut Hill, Mass. About 200-300 bidders are expected to attend, while over 1,000 registered bidders will participate online through LiveAuctioneers.com. Over 1,000 absentee and phone bids are expected.

Fine art and works on paper - staples at many Leland Little auctions - will be offered in abundance. Top lots include:

• A pastel-on-silk work by Elizabeth O'Neill Verner (S.C., 1883-1979), titled Jamie, signed lower right by the artist and housed in what appears to be the original oak frame (est. $20,000-$30,000).
• An original oil-on-canvas painting (lined) by Harry Roseland (N.Y., 1868-1950), titled Tea Leaves, signed lower right by the artist and housed in a period gilt-wood frame (est. $10,000-$20,000).
• A color lithograph on laid Arches paper with watermark by Marc Chagall (French, 1887-1985), titled L'Oiseau Bleu, signed and dated (1954) in the plate by the artist (est. $10,000-$15,000).
• An original oil on canvas painting by Emile Gruppe (Mass./Fla., 1896-1978), titled Winter Brook, signed lower left by the artist and in a period carved and gilt-wood frame (est. $8,000-$12,000).
• A lithograph woven paper with two deckle edges by Grant Wood (Iowa, 1891-1942), titled Family Doctor, signed and titled in pencil at the lower margin and matted and framed (est. $3,000-$5,000).
• An unsigned, 19th-century oil-on-canvas American School portrait of a young girl, depicting the subject in a white dress and blue shoes against a romantic landscape, framed (est. $2,000-$4,000).

Tops among the period American furniture lots are a rare North Carolina paint-decorated Rowan County blanket chest (circa 1800), from the Yadkin River area and having a six-board poplar case with dovetailed construction (est. $15,000-$25,000); and a lovely Southern walnut corner cupboard (late 18th century), from Piedmont, N.C., boasting excellent form and condition (est. $5,000-$8,000).

Dr. Landon's coin collection will feature $20 gold Double Eagles, $10 gold Eagles, silver dollars (Morgan, Trade and Seated Liberty), and many other mostly American coins. No estimates have been given, because of fluctuations in the values of gold and silver. Also offered will be Dr. Landon's 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III car, all original and with just 98,830 miles (est. $20,000-$40,000).

From the silver category, a 72-piece Hector Aguilar Mexican sterling silver flatware set in the Aztec motif (circa 1948-1955), in very fine overall condition, with all pieces made by hand, totaling 152.85 troy ounces, is expected to fetch $10,000-$20,000. Also, a Tiffany & Co. sterling silver tea and coffee service (circa 1873-1891 hallmark), 72.8 total troy ounces, should hit $3,000-$5,000.

American pottery pieces - mostly from North and South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia - will be in the room. Star lots include a rare Baxter Welch signed jug (N.C., circa 1900), a salt-glaze stoneware presentation whiskey jug, with an inscription (est. $1,500-$2,000); and an Edwin Meaders decorated vase, alkaline glazed, tapered form with applied leaf and grape clusters (est. $400-$600).

From the photographica collection of Arnold Doren and Caroline Cornish: a gelatin silver print by Andre Kertesz (Hungarian, 1894-1985), titled Chez Mondrian, signed and dated (1926) in pencil on verso, in a Kulicke frame; and a gelatin silver print by Minor White (American, 1908-1976), depicting hands holding a bowl, pencil signed and dated (1957), in a Kulicke frame (no estimates were given).

Fine estate jewelry will garner oohs and aahs from the crowd. Top lots include a platinum marquise-cut diamond engagement ring with a total diamond weight of 2.5 carats (est. $1,500-$3,000), a French watch chatelaine (circa early 19th century), with most parts appearing to be original (est. $1,200-$1,800), and a late-18th-century French gilt metal sewing chatelaine (est. $1,000-$1,500).

Oriental pottery and porcelain pieces will include a set of four Chinese porcelain panels with the Ch'ien Lung mark to the left corner, each panel polychrome enameled with figures enjoying leisure activities (est. $600-$900); and an antique Chinese blanc-de-chine brush pot, cylindrical two-part molded form, two cartouches, and depicting prunus trees against a cloud background (est. $300-$500).

Also expected to attract bidder interest: an Isaac or Jacob Ribelin (or Rivilin) longrifle (Rowan County, N.C., circa 1815-1825), flintlock, 62.5 inches long, with octagonal barrel, walnut forestock, brass furniture and silver inlays (est. $5,000-$8,000); and a bronze on marble base sculpture by Charles Paillet (French, 1871-1937), titled Les Deux Arms, signed, with nice patination (est. $2,000-$4,000).

For additional information, call 919-644-1243 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . To learn more about the company and its calendar of upcoming auctions, you may visit them online at www.LLauctions.com.

Click here to view Leland Little's December 6 session; click here to view the December 7 session.