Perfectly timed for Valentine’s Day, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ first auction of 2016 on February 13 and 14 will offer over 1,000 examples of fine artwork, estate jewelry, antiquities, folk art, Asian antiques, and decorative items that are certain to ignite the passion and desire of Maine collectors. The auction will begin at 11 a.m. both days.

The sale will feature a 50 ¾” high, delicately rendered Carrera marble sculpture by Chauncey Bradley Ives (NY/CT, 1810-1894) entitled “Undine Rising from the Water”, depicting the mythological water nymph emerging from the waves. This lovely piece was discovered in a Maine home.

Also found in a Maine estate is a hand colored, elephant folio lithograph by John James Audubon (NY, 1785-1851) Plate 81 from the 1830 Havell edition of Birds of America, “Fish Hawk, Male, Falco Hallaetus”.

Antonio Jacobsen’s (NY/NJ, 1850-1921) oil on canvas ship portrait of the “S.S. Horatio Hall” and an oil on canvas painting, “The Carrier,” by Stephen Etnier (ME/CA, 1903-1994) will also be featured along with a large collection of fine works by American and European artists.

Maine artists will also be well represented in the sale, with works by Will Rowland Davis, Ronal Parlin, David Tutwiler, Stapleton Kearns, Frank Handlen, Stefan Pastuhov, William Baldwin, and many others.

Featured among the 70-lot collection of fine jewelry and watches will be: an antique 18K gold ring with a 3.96 ct. brilliant cut emerald surrounded by 19 old mine cut diamonds and a 19th Century Russian (St. Petersburg hallmark) crescent form gold brooch set with 90 diamonds.

The selection of antiquities will include an 11th Century Indian bronze statue of the deity Parvati; a late 17th-early 18th Century Italian Embriachi Workshop carved marriage casket with decoration depicting the Judgment of Susanna; and a mid-15th Century French standing polychrome wooden figure of the Holy Mother.

Of historic interest will be a diverse collection of ephemera, including: 11 original Civil War albumen photographs by Mathew Brady (1822-1896) depicting Gettysburg scenes and 4 important 1960s original protest posters for the Black Panther Party and Huey Newton, consigned and designed by a woman who was a friend of Newton’s.

A group of fine marine dioramas and ship models, many from the MBNA Corporate collection, will be included in the auction, including a cased builder’s model of the “Royal Sovereign” by Robert Bruckshaw on floor stand and a circa 1918 cased diorama depicting Maine Central RR ferries, “Moosehead” and “Pemaquid” in action.

An outstanding carousel horse from a ride at Whalom Park in Massachusetts by Charles Looff will be offered. The carousel was built in 1914, and this horse was purchased by the consignor when the amusement park’s fixtures were sold at auction in April 2000.

The selection of folk art will also include: a circa 1885 “General Patchin” full body running horse weathervane from the Puritan Iron Works, and a 19th Century carved spread wing eagle plaque.

Asian antiques will include over 160 lots of Chinese, Japanese and South Asian pieces, such as fine painted scrolls, bronze sculpture, carved stone pieces, cloisonné, and porcelain items.

Decorative arts to be presented will include: a rare Boston circa 1770s Chippendale mahogany chest with its original one-board molded edge top, an 18th Century Dutch Colonial red sandalwood bench/settee with caned seat, two L.C. Tiffany bronze desk sets, plus selections of silver, early lighting fixtures and carpets. There will be many fine examples of early soft paste china, including several War of 1812 U.S. commemorative pieces; Chinese export porcelain, and American art pottery.

A complete, full color catalog, with detailed descriptions and photographs, is available, and all lots can be viewed at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ website, www.thomastonauction.com.

In addition to live bidding in the auction hall, Thomaston Place accepts bids via absentee, telephone, and on the internet (via Thomaston Live, Invaluable, or Live Auctioneers). The buyer’s premium is 15 perecent. Call 1-207-354-8141 for more information, or to reserve seats in the auction hall.

The gallery will be open for previews Monday, February 8 through Friday, February 12 from 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and again on Feb. 13 and 14 before the auction from 9 -11 a.m.

Thomaston Place Auction Galleries is Maine’s premier auction and appraisal company located at 51 Atlantic Highway (U.S. Route 1) in Thomaston.