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  Sigmund Menkes (1896-1986) Figures in a Forest, Oil on canvas.

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  A Pair of Russian Silver Cake or Bread Baskets.

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  A Continental Mahogany Secretaire Abattant, 19th Century.

Cleveland, OH - Gray’s Auctioneers & Appraisers launch 2012 with their Fine Furniture, Paintings & Decorations auction, which takes place on January 26 at 11am in Cleveland, Ohio. Live online bidding for this auction is provided by Live Auctioneers.

Highlights from this auction include Lot 23 a luminous oil on canvas, ‘Figures in a Forest’ by Sigmund Menkes, the Polish American, 20th century expressionist painter.  Menkes studied in Krakow, Berlin and Paris but eventually settled in New York.  His work was exhibited widely and is in collections at several museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago to name but a few.

The world renowned Washington glass artist Dale Chihuly created Lot 189 a seven piece glass sculpture in 1988 as part of his Persian Series.  Robert Hobbs writes in the catalog from Chihuly’s Dia Art Foundation 1988 exhibition, “The compositions of the Persians look as if they occurred by happenstance, while the fragility of glass itself lends a special poignancy to these pieces because they appear to have survived time and pillaging.”  A pair of 19th century, Russian silver cake or bread baskets at Lot 202, have survived time and travel.  Created by the silversmiths Andrey Kovasky (1812-1856) and Nikolay Dubrovin (1822-1855) they elegantly portray muscular mythological figures together with a delicate acanthus motif.

In contrast to the Chihuly glass sculpture pieces, Lot 190 is a Steuben ‘Mobius Prism’, a glass sculpture by Peter Drobny inspired by the mathematical symbol for infinity.  In 1993 the Steuben Mobius Prism was presented by President Clinton to Japan’s Crown Prince & Princess Hirohito as a royal wedding gift.  At Lot 26 is Marc Chagall’s whimsical ‘La Grande Corniche’ from the ‘Album Nice et La Cote d’Azur’ on Arches, signed and numbered 32/50 in pencil.  It was originally purchased from the Sindin Harris Gallery, whose label remains on the back.

Of the myriad objets d’art featured at Gray’s on January 26, two of the most fascinating lots relate to Count Alexis de Santa Eulalia, the Portugese nobleman, diplomat and artist who married Sarah Elizabeth Stetson, widow of John B. Stetson, head of the world famous Stetson hats and Company.  Consigned by his heirs, Lot 211 is a magnificent bronze bust entitled ‘Romain’. This powerful bronze was cast in 1893 and is stamped with the Thiebault Fereses foundry mark on base together with the artist’s signature. It was exhibited in 1893 in the Salon Des Champs-Elysees to great acclaim.  Lot 210 is a portrait of the Count by Jose Valso Salgado (1864-1945) signed and dated 1895.  The Count was a larger than life colorful character and is said to have died in 1917 from a fall from his horse.  A number of other interesting lots from the family include a collection of the Count’s medals, the document of his appointment signed by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and his imperial dress sword sword.

Gray’s will be open for preview at their spacious showrooms, 10717 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio from Thursday January 19 - 25, 11am – 6pm.  The auction will take place at 11am EST on Thursday, January 26, 2011.  Live online bidding for this auction is offered by LiveAuctioneers.com.  Gray’s also accepts absentee bids and telephone bid registration on their website. Gray's Auctioneers is the only licensed, bonded and insured auction house in Cleveland holding monthly live auctions, and offering complimentary valuations every Friday between 11am – 4pm. Deborah J. Gray, auctioneer, opened her eponymous auction house in 2007 with her partner Serena Harragin, and together they have transformed the abandoned building that used to house a Citroen dealership into a driving force in the vibrant Cleveland Fine Art and Antiques auction market. The complete illustrated catalog for this auction can be found on Gray’s web site at www.graysauctioneers.com and also on Live Auctioneers.