BEVERLY, Mass. - Kaminski Auctions, one of Massachusetts' premier antiques and fine art auction houses, has announced details of its Holiday Estates Auction. The sale features a diverse array of fine art, antiques, collectibles and fine 18th- and 19th-century Italian furnishings from descendants of Conte Gennaro Balamo. Furnishings from early settlers of the Massachusetts towns of Salem, Hamilton and Wenham are also to be offered.

The auction will take place Saturday and Sunday Dec. 27 and 28 at Woodman's Function Hall, 122 Main St., Essex, Mass. Bidding commences at 10am each day, and preview periods are scheduled Friday, Dec. 26, 4-8pm; and 8-10am on the days of the auction. A complete catalog will soon be available online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com, and the auction will feature live online bidding through eBay Live Auctions.

Highlighting this exciting auction is a painting by 19th-century American artist John Leslie Breck. The painting (Est. $10,000-$20,000), a colorful landscape with haystacks, is a prime example of Breck's avant-garde Impressionist style. The artist lived in Giverny, France, for the majority of his career and worked under the tutelage of Claude Monet. He and Monet had a close relationship, and Beck even became romantically involved with Monet's stepdaughter, Blanche Hoschede-Monet.

A marble sculpture (Est. $20,000-$40,000) by Italian artist Cesare Fantacchiotti crosses the block at this two-day auction. The statue measures 54 inches tall and is titled "Rosi." Fantacchiotti's sculptures are highly sought-after and regularly achieve five figures at auction.

A Gorham sterling silver tea set (Est. $2,500-$4,500) is also featured. The set includes a long serving tray weighing a substantial 113 troy oz. The pieces are monogrammed "VWC" and weigh 224 troy oz. in total. Gorham silver has a distinguished history, counting First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, Admiral George Dewey and President George W. Bush among its admirers and collectors.

Furniture offerings include three lots of 18th-century Italian walnut furniture. A pair of two-drawer night stands ($3,500-$5,500) boasts canary marble tops and brass handles and feet. Two desks (Est. $3,000-$5,000 and $3,500-$5,500 respectively) each feature fine brass hardware and burlwood and marquetry inlay.

"This two-day auction event gives us the opportunity to wrap-up on an incredibly successful year," comments Frank Kaminski. "We are always looking for items to feature in upcoming auctions and can take consignments in any volume, from a single piece to an entire estate."

For additional information, visit www.KaminskiAuctions.com or call 978-927-2223.

Click here to view Kaminski Auctions' Dec. 27 catalog; click here for Dec. 28.