On November 5-6, auctioneer Don Presley will again present a premier private collection sourced directly from a Beverly Hills estate.
The contents consist of superb clocks, silver, porcelains and other fine and decorative art from a collector whom Presley describes as having "an eye for the exquisite."
A fine jewellery wholesaler by profession, the consignor has always selected pieces of the highest quality for their collection. The Beverly Hills collection comprises 400 of the 1,000 lots to be auctioned, with 200 absolutely fresh to the market antique European and American clocks.
An array of fancy French clocks features 18th and 19th century designs, including gilt bronze figural, tortoiseshell, dore bronze, inlaid marquetry, bronze and porcelain; and elegant champleve designs, as well as many three-piece clock and garniture sets.
No fewer than 10 jewel-face miniature French clocks and a fine collection of carriage clocks, including Tiffany & Co will also appear for sale. Among the other highlights are six French boulle clocks - one of them dating to around 1710 and signed "JB Baillon Paris."
 Nineteenth century gilt and hand-painted clock with cherubs, from a |
At least two of the clocks are reportedly 'among the earliest of their type to have been manufactured.' A gilt bronze horse-drawn chariot clock with figures of two riders and a lion also dates to the 18th century.
Taking pride of place in the collection are six clocks from Tiffany & Co. including a rare bronze bell-shape clock supported by two pillars and a crossbar. Japy Freres produced the mechanism for at least one of the Tiffany clocks to be auctioned.
Elsewhere, a 200-piece selection of fine porcelain will also be offered featuring many designs by Sevres, including lavishly gilded pairs of lidded urns, clock sets and an ornately decorated tray. Among these, an Old Paris hand-painted vase exemplifies the unmistakeable aesthetic favoured by artists in Paris during the mid to latter 18th century.
Other makers represented in the collection include: Meissen, Limoges, Dresden, and Villeroy & Boch. These exalted names of golden-era porcelain are also seen in the vast array of cups and saucers to be sold.
