Press

DENVER – Discriminating collectors who may have overlooked the Mile High City as a source of commanding artwork may have to rethink their strategy. On Feb. 21, Bruhns Auction Gallery will be hosting an antiques estate auction whose contents rival anything to be found in the finest Continental salesrooms. Exquisite items include a Jose M. Velasco landscape oil on canvas dated 1894 and a 17th century Flemish painting.

LiveAuctioneers.com will provide absentee and Internet live bidding for the 236-lot auction, which will begin at 11 a.m. Mountain time.

The Velasco in the sale is a large – 37 inches high by 53 inches wide – Mexico Valley landscape for which the artist is best known. Most of his works are in private collections in Mexico or at the Museo José María Velasco in Toluca, Mexico. This painting in its original gilt frame has been in a Mexican family’s collection for over 50 years, having purchased it from the Galeria La Granja in Mexico City.

The Flemish painting is signed and dated “D. Ryckaert 1643″ and is of the Baroque artist’s Cobbler’s Workship Series. The painting, 23 by 33 inches, was reviewed by Bernadette Van Haute, an author and authority on Flemish paintings, who identified the work as an authentic Rychaert. She also noted, “What is particularly interesting for me is the fact that it is dated 1643. This makes it the earliest version known to me of the depiction of the cobbler in his workshop – a theme of which Rychaert painted various versions.”

Also featured is a highly engraved Holland & Holland 12 gauge shotgun, finished at the London factory on Nov. 7, 1898. In near flawless condition, the firearm has an estimate of $15,000-$45,000.

The auction will also consist of art glass, American and French clocks, antique furniture, Persian carpets, antique slot machines, an Art Nouveau Loetz art glass lamp, an Art Deco Royal Dux statue, a Webb cameo glass vase, a Daum Nancy French cameo cut art glass vase, an artist-signed Limoges charger and much more.

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.