Ivory, clocks, decorative treasures in Don Presley’s Feb. 4 auction

ORANGE, Calif. – Beautiful estate pieces from some of southern California’s most exclusive neighborhoods comprise the 535-lot offering to be presented by Don Presley Auctions on Saturday, Feb. 4. The sale will take place at Presley’s gallery in Orange, Calif., with Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com.

A particularly strong selection of decorative art will start the day, with porcelain, glass and cameo vases and other vessels by such makers as Galle, Sevres and Baccarat. A Galle chalice standing 5¼ inches tall could make $200-$400. A rare black horse’s head designed by Tauni de Lesseps for Baccarat is expected to make $300-$700, while a Baccarat perfume bottle signed ‘Guerlain’ carries a $100-$300 estimate.

Nine pedestaled Roseville jardinières – each in a different motif and colorway – will cross the auction block. A 10-inch brown with lavender and green Wisteria jardinière on an 18-inch pedestal is a standout. Estimate: $1,200-$1,800. Another pottery highlight is the monumental 3-piece Japanese Satsuma covered urn with stand, circa 1920s, estimated at $3,500-$5,500.

Attributed to Bustamante, a hand-hammered three-dimensional brass elephant stands 45 inches tall and measures 58 inches long. It is estimated at $700-$2,000.

Almost every Presley sale featuring antiques includes fine Asian ivory. This sale is no exception. An especially nice carved ivory lounging lady with wood stand reclines to a width of more than 12 inches. It is estimated at $1,500-$3,000.

Thirty clocks will be auctioned, including many fancy French timepieces, American and French carriage clocks, garniture sets, repeaters and mantel clocks. A prized entry is lot 156, a 19th-century French ormolu clock with enameled Roman numerals. Estimate: $3,000-$6,000.

Four Handel lamps have been consigned, including a piano lamp, desk-model lamp with “goose” neck and pendant-style shade, and a filigree panel lamp. Having the highest estimate of the group is a 26¼-inch ‘Sunset’ table lamp with the Handel signature on the shade. It could reach $4,000 on auction day.

An item with great historical provenance is the 17th-century silver relief footed chalice urn monogrammed “E” for the Puritan missionary John Eliot (b. Widford, England 1604, d. 1690). Eliot served as a missionary to Native Americans in New England and was known as “the Indian apostle.” The 9-inch chalice is highly detailed with rams’ heads on each side. Estimate: $1,500-$2,500.

For additional information on any lot in the sale, call Don Presley Auctions at 714-633-2437 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 at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.