March is quite the month. There is the tidings of luck and merriment spurned by the celebrations of St. Patrick, suspicions of foreboding betrayal in the Ides of March, and the great renewal of Spring. All of this can pretty much sum up the emotional roller coaster of a live auction as one sits in anticipation with a mind swirling with a slew of questions. Will I be the winning bidder, will I be outbid, and what new prizes await me? With Hess Fine Auctions unveiling their latest sale on March 25 you’re sure find an eclectic selection to bring out a full array of sensations. Auction Coordinator, Brandon Pierce Peck notes, “Our bidders are in for a real treat. We have tantalizing time pieces, jaw-dropping jewelry, astonishing antiques, and fabulous fine art. You’ll find well-known names such as Rolex, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Patek Philippe. There are wonders of antiquity from China, Japan, and the United States. With so many treasures to be won, there’s a little something for everybody."
Here are a few of the top lots not to miss:
This signed & numbered Van Cleef & Arpels platinum brooch with a floral motif is festooned with diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires. All four of the sapphires have GIA reports to verify they are no heat and one that is Burmese in origin.
Here is an original owner, new-to-the-market Rolex “Double Red” Sea Dweller with the box and original papers, but there’s a twist of human error that was not known to the owner since 1979. He writes, “This watch was purchased in 1979 from Lawton’s Jewelers. My name is on the papers, but obviously the serial numbers do not match (the serial numbers on the watch.) I did not realize this until the point of sale at Hess Fine Art…” When a Rolex is purchased the retailer typically will provide paperwork that corresponds to the watch sold. “It would seem in this instance the seller was at a loss and provided not just one, but two incorrect papers. I suppose you could say two wrongs don’t make a right," regaled Hess Vice President Dan Buerk.
History buffs can't miss this Starr Arms Company of NY .44 caliber, black powder, Civil War era pistol. “This is double action revolver was a major game-changer in firearms when patented in 1858,” stated Hess Associate Steve Young. The gun in this sale boast matching hallmarks throughout and remains fully functional.
Showcased here is an ancient Wazuki Wakizashi sword by Bizen No Kuni Osafune Norimitsu which dates this blade to the 1470s. Hess Auction Associate Rachel Meyer added, “Bizen No Kuni Osafune Norimitsu was a 15th century swordsmith, who was a student of Nagamitsu and continued making swords on his own for several generations into the Muromachi period.”
This massive Chinese bronze urn depicts eight scenic landscape panels with imagery such as dragons, cranes, rabbits, and phoenix. Gallerist Richard Van states, “Chinese antiques expert Lark Mason examined this at our St. Petersburg office and later commented it may have come from the Emperor's summer palace.”
Here is a signed and stamped Russian Viktor Aarne silver gilt and wonderful bright blue picture frame accented with lots of 1mm seed pearls. CEO of Hess Fine Auctions, Mr. Jeffrey P. Hess states, “This is likely a collaboration between Viktor Aarne and the Russian House of Fabergé.” The frame is set with a photograph of an unnamed girl in a large hat standing against a tree.