(Atlanta, Ga.) – Fine estate jewelry, antique guns and other weaponry, rare and vintage automobiles, artwork by important artists and more will be sold in an anniversary estate sale to be held Sunday, March 16, by Gallery 63. It’s been just about a year ago to the day that Gallery 63 relocated from its previous location about five miles away, as rapid growth dictated the need for more space.

“It’s been quite a year,” said Paul Brown of Gallery 63, surveying the building that once housed a church fellowship hall, at 4577 Roswell Road in the fashionable Buckhead section of Atlanta. “In just twelve short months, we sold a $300,000 diamond, uncovered a previously unseen Civil War document and moved hundreds of pieces of furniture, paintings, jewelry and other estate merchandise.”

The March 16 sale will be in keeping with the Gallery 63 tradition of offering outstanding items in a broad range of categories. “As usual, we’ll be offering fresh-to-the-market, world-class art, antiques, furniture, architecturals, jewelry, collectibles and decoratives,” Mr. Brown said. “We’ll have dozens of antique weapons, fine jewelry and watches, some beautiful carpets and select automobiles.”

Where to start? Why not rare and vintage cars – a staple at most Gallery 63 sales. Sure to jump-start the crowd will be a snow crest white 1959 Corvette with red interior, 4-speed transmission and (perhaps most important) matching numbers. The Corvettes made between 1956-1962 are deemed by collectors the most desirable, and this one – in outstanding condition – is even fully dated correctly.

Another show-stopper is a bright red 1939 Ford Tudor Standard, completely rebuilt and restored to better-than-new condition. The motor looks like it’s auditioning for a spread in Hot Rod Magazine (and likely cost a small fortune to build). The paint was lovingly applied by a master, right down to the “ghost flames” on the fenders. “This one won’t take long to cross the block,” Brown said.

Other cars in the sale include a bright red 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible – one of the grand-daddies of the muscle car class, and a rag-top no less – with black hood trim, new black top, 350 cu.-in. engine and a full frame-on restoration; and a 1984 Mercedes 380SL with low miles and in super clean condition. The car isn’t old, but the 1984-85 Mercedes Benzes are considered classic collectibles.

One of the stars of the weaponry and militaria category promises to be a Colt Bisley single-action revolver with mint ivory grips and finely detailed engraving on a nickel finish. The classic Colt single-action was introduced in 1873 and it remains in production today. Theodore Roosevelt once remarked, “Every ranchman carries a revolver, a Colt or Smith & Wesson — by preference the former.”

Another revolver certain to attract keen bidder interest is the cased Tranter in near mint condition that once belonged to Confederate Gen. Francis T. Nichols. The gun, still sporting the New Orleans Agent’s mark engraved at the top of the barrel, was presented to Nichols by his wife. He lost an arm in the Civil War, but recovered well enough to eventually serve as the Governor of Louisiana.

Other vintage weapons to be offered include a late 18th-century silver mounted Flintlock pistol, long barrel, inlaid at the stepped breech with silver and gold signature in the inlaid panel; a rare Civil War musket made by Savage and stamped 1863, with excellent stock and beautiful patina; and a Short Cavalry single-shot trap door Remington rifle, a favorite with Indian fighters and buffalo hunters.

Also to be sold will be a rare 1863 Confederate infantry tower musket (a favorite with CS sharpshooters); a matched pair of early 18th-century Italian dueling pistols by the famed gun maker Vincenzo Comminazzo, converted to percussion in the early 1800s; and American Indian weapons (circa 1870-90), including a hand-forged tomahawk, hand-forged Chief’s knife and decorated war club.

Marvelous estate jewelry pieces will include a 3.86 carat cushion cut sapphire set in 18k white gold and flanked by 2.5 carats of trillion cut diamonds; a 4.50 oval cut emerald in 18k white gold with 48 diamond bezel setting; a 3.25 carat, H color VS round brilliant diamond in an 18k necklace; and an 18k white gold designer pendant with 2.50 carat sapphire and 3 carats of emerald cut diamonds.

The sale will also feature an exceptional collection of men’s collector and designer watches, to include a Cartier Santos in platinum; a Patek Philippe in 18k gold; and a Corum watch with $20 gold coin face. And collectors will be hot to bid on a pair of Pippo chronographs, both in gold and both with diamonds. The consignor reportedly chose to buy these watches rather than make a mortgage payment!

Fine art will include a signed pastel-on-paper by the American Impressionist Arthur Clifton Goodwin (1864-1929); an original hand-colored drypoint pencil etching by Louis Icart (French, 1880-1950); several works by the British-born Atlanta visual artist Paul Chelko (1934-2008); and original oil paintings by John Grabach (American, 1886-1981) and Alfred Thompson Bricher (British, 1837-1908).

Rounding out the day’s offerings will be an original 45 rpm record commemorating the sale of the song “Eight Days a Week,” signed by all four Beatles; a Harry S. Truman signed letter; a Grace Kelly autograph on the cover of Time magazine; a rare piece of original scrimshaw on a sperm whale tooth; an all-original Louis Vuitton valise and suitcase; and a John A. Broadwood & Sons grand piano.

The sale will begin at 11 a.m. and end around 7 p.m. A preview will be held the entire week prior, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Gallery 63 has begun backing up its bigger Sunday auctions with smaller, follow-up sales on Tuesday evenings. They are generally held the second Tuesday following a regular Sunday auction. So, after the March 16 Sunday auction the next Tuesday night sale will be March 25.

The Tuesday evening sales have a start time of 4 p.m. and usually end around 9 p.m. They are held across the parking lot from where the Sunday auctions are held, in a converted church facility. For details and directions, click on the website at www.gallery63.net. Gallery 63 is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. Call (404) 252-2555, or e-mail to rbaron2@bellsouth.net.

Times Argus Online
January 7, 2008
By Rhonda J. Miller, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“LAKE WORTH, Fla. – 2008 is likely to be the year of the purple pearl for George and Leslie Brock of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.

Sure, it was the tail end of 2007 when George discovered the beautifully round, lavender pearl in a mouthful of his lunch of steamed middleneck clams on Friday.

…Reached in the frenzy was Vermont gemologist Antoinette Matlins, author of “The Pearl Book: The Definitive Buying Guide.” Someone e-mailed her a photo, knowing her reputation as the examiner of the most famous of the rare purple quahog clam pearls on a Victorian-era brooch reportedly bought for $14 in a Rhode Island antique shop and now a headliner in international jewelry exhibits.”

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Yahoo! News
Mon Oct 8, 10:03 AM ET

“HONG KONG (Reuters) – One of the rarest gems in the world, a flawless blue diamond, has sold for US$7.98 million (3.91 million pounds) at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong, making it the most expensive gemstone in the world, per carat, sold at auction.

After intense bidding, the 6.04 carat, internally flawless blue diamond fetched $HK61.9 million (3.91 million pounds), or US$1.32 million per carat. The price smashed a 20-year-old record held by the “Hancock Red” — a red diamond, which fetched US$926,000 per carat at the time, Sotheby’s said.”

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Yahoo! News
By Mike Collett-White
Thu Sep 27, 2007

“LONDON (Reuters) – A set of pearls once belonging to Marie Antoinette and taken to Britain by a friend for safekeeping will go on sale in December, and are expected to fetch up to $800,000.

Now part of a diamond, ruby and pearl necklace, France’s last queen gave a bag of pearls and diamonds to Lady Sutherland, the British ambassador’s wife, before she fled revolutionary France in 1792, a year before Marie Antoinette’s death.”

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