Released on: September 1, 2008, 8:27 am

Press Release Author: Fred & Gail Taylor

Industry: Internet & Online

Press Release Summary: Aberdeen-Auctions of St. Petersburg, FL achieved excellent
results in the August 2 – 3 sale of Russian artifacts.

Press Release Body: Three Russian eggs were the stars of the show at the
Aberdeen-Auctions sale of August 2-3. The top cackle rights went to a five inch tall
burgundy model with gold exterior decoration made in the manner of Carl Faberge. It
opened to reveal a small bouquet of porcelain and silver flowers. Nestled in its
custom made case with Cyrillic markings the egg brought a winner of $17,250
including the fifteen percent buyer’s premium. A diminutive four inch version made
of porcelain with a gilded body and star within a sunburst on the reverse featured
the figure of a female saint on the face. Manufactured by the Imperial Porcelain
Manufactory of St. Petersburg and signed “FNB” in unclear Cyrillic, the egg
attracted 24 bids closing at $14,950. A third egg also porcelain by the Imperial
Manufactory displaying the figure of a Russian pope, signed “KZ” in Cyrillic,
hammered at $12,650.

The 365 lot online sale carried by LiveAuctioneers.com registered 326 online
bidders, five absentee bids and 27 phone bidders representing dealers and collectors
from 28 countries.

Several pleasant surprises were recorded in the sale. One of the best was a two
volume set in Russian entitled “Travels in the East of Nicholas II, Emperor of
Russia When Cesarewith” by E. E. Ukhtomskiy, published in St. Petersburg in 1893.
From the collection of P. Dunkan, it was illustrated by N. N. Karzan and included
more than 500 lithographs. Estimated at $4,500/$6,000, it raked in 58 bids with a
winner of $14,370. Another little eye opener was a Russian silver and enamel napkin
ring enameled with colorful foliage. Circa 1902 with Cyrillic maker’s marks, the 1¾
by 2½in ring was estimated at $440/$500. It closed at $1,350.

Horses were a popular as eggs, at least bronze ones were. A 7in tall bronze figure
of a mounted peasant boy with two more horses, by Evgeni Lanceray (1848-1886),
inscribed with signature and foundry mark brought a winning bid of $14,650 against
the $11,000/$13,000 estimate. Another work by Lanceray, a 9in tall figure of a
Kirgiz horseman went for $7474 and a 9½in bronze by Vasili Grachev (1831-1905)
mounted on a rose marble base depicting a couple kissing while on horseback with a
date stamp of 1877 sold for $9,200. Substituting cast iron for bronze worked for a
Russian troika being pulled by a pair of horses, marked and dated 1912, the 18 by 10
by 7in figure set sold for $4,150 against the estimate of $1,000/$1,500.

Russian art also did well starting with a Russian gilded silver and enamel
photograph frame, the work of master Antip Ivanovich Kuzmichov, Moscow 1888. The
enamel featured colorful cloisonné and translucent royal blue enamel. The 5in frame
bore the maker’s mark in Cyrillic, the assayer mark, a Moscow hallmark and a
scratched inventory number 3955. It sold within estimate at $14,950. But the art
itself was the top lot of the sale. A 25 by 20in framed oil on canvas of theater
action by Natal’ia Sergeevna Gonchaova (1881-1962) signed lower left sold over
estimate for $20,700. It was closely followed by a pair of village scenes, oil on
canvas, by Jacopo da Ponte Bassance (Italian 1610/18 – 1593). From a private
collection in Lexington, KY the framed 46 by 70in paintings sold for $18,400. A work
by Walter Dendy Sadler (English 1854-1923),oil on canvas entitled “The Complete
Angler” dated 1884, framed 41½ by 55in, sold for $11,788.

For more information about this sale call (727) 656-2974, email
Aberdeen.auctions@gmail.com or visit the website at www.aberdeen-auctions.com.

Written by:
Fred Taylor
www.furnituredetective.com
800-387-6377



Web Site: http://www.aberdeen-auctions.com

Contact Details: Aberdeen-Auctions
Alex Turchak
727-656-2974
aberdeen.auctions@gmail.com