Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. is proud to offer over 700 lots of fine offerings from regional estates at their upcoming March 18th & 19th two day Spring Catalogue Auction.  Floor, absentee, telephone, and live online bidding through Live Auctioneers will be available both days.  The sale will be conducted at the LLAES, Ltd. Gallery, located at 620 Cornerstone Court, Hillsborough, NC.

2010 was a record sales year for the gallery, both in sale volume and quality.  2011 has started strong for LLAES, Ltd. with seven Estate Treasures Sales as well as preparations for the Spring Catalogue Sale.   LLAES, Ltd. has also launched a new and updated website.  Visitors can download the print catalogue for the Spring Catalogue Auction.  

LLAES, Ltd. will continue the two-day auction program, which proved successful in 2010, starting with 106 lots of fine wine on Friday, March 18th at 6PM.  The Fine Wine Department, the most recent at LLAES, Ltd., consistently represents quality offerings and has garnered an international following.  This sale will feature vintage 1990, 1998, and 2000 Chateau Lafite Rothschild.  The 2000 vintage has been described as, "...A compelling wine, with extraordinary precision, great intensity, and a seamlessness..."  (est. $1500 to $3000).  This sale will also feature vintage 1964 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, 12 bottles (est. $1,000 - $1,500), vintage 1973 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, 12 bottles (est. $2,000 - $3,000), as well as other Chateau Mouton Rothschild vintages from 1973, 1982, 1990, and 1998.

On Saturday, March 19th at 9AM, 600 lots of art and antiques will be offered.  The jewelry department at LLAES, Ltd. continues to grow with leaps and bounds and has been entrusted to represent exceedingly fine estate jewelry and watches.  One of the most exciting lots of the sale is the Important Purplish Pink Sapphire and Diamond Ring (est. $40,000 to $60,000).  The color stone for this ring falls into the category of less than one percent of color stones worldwide.  The GIA Report describes the sapphire as Purplish Pink with no heating and having a geographic origin of Sri Lanka.  The diamonds on this ring are described as "transparent near colorless."  Other lots of interest are a Wide Diamond Band, Cartier (est. $2,500 to $4,500), a Lady's Diamond Wristwatch, Bertolucci (est. $3,000 to $5,000), a Diamond and Sapphire Ring (est. $2,500 to $3,500), a Large Natural Fancy Color Diamond Ring Pendant (est. $8,000 to $12,000), and a Rare Sterling and Amethyst Necklace by Fred Davis, Mexico (est. $1,000 to $1,500).

A series of 19th century porcelain plaques, from the estate of Mrs. Jacqueline R. Stroupe of Pinehurst, North Carolina, will enhance the sale.  One such lot, a Berlin (KPM) Painting on Porcelain Plaque (est. $3,000 to $5,000) depicts a young woman in remarkable detail and pleasing tones.  Other porcelain lots of note include five lots of Herend, including the "Market Garden," "Black Dynasty," and "Chinese Bouquet Green" patterns.

Asian consignments at LLAES, Ltd. continue to be exciting and bring outstanding fresh lots to market.  One lot to watch is the Chinese Flambe Glazed Meiping Vase (est. $1,000 to $2,000).  This bold Meiping form with a bottle neck has a purplish crimson glaze and milky blue drips.  Other fine lots are the 18th century Chinese Rose Mandarin Large Punch Bowl (est. $3,000 to $5,000) and the 19th century Chinese Export Porcelain Garden Seat (est. $800 to $1,500) from the Estate of the Late Charles Williams of Washington, DC.

LLAES, Ltd. continues to have strength and consistency in their fine art offerings, leading off early in the sale with Edouard Cortes' (Fr., 1882-1969), The Pantheon (est. $12,000 to $18,000).  LLAES, Ltd. is privileged and excited to offer two fresh to the market Elliott Daingerfield (NC/NY, 1859-1932) works -- Allegory (est. $5,000 to $7,000) and "Sunset at Blowing Rock" (est. $7,000 to $10,000).  Another lot to watch is Elizabeth Verner's (SC, 1883-1979), Flower Vendor (est. $5,000 to $8,000).  This work is signed "E. O'N Verner" on the lower right.  The verso retains the mailing label from the Studio of Elizabeth O'Neil Verner.  A work by John Coughlin (NY, 20th c.), Leatherheads (est. $1,000 to $2,000) has garnered much interest.  Other very strong lots of note are a pair of still lifes by George Goodman (est. $4,000 to $6,000) and Eugene Thomason's (NC, 1895-1972), "Still Fishing" (est. $2,000 to $4,000).

The Mid-Century Modern Furniture Department at LLAES, Ltd. continues to grow.  Offerings include lots such as Milo Baughman's Mid Century Bedroom Suite, six pieces (est. $2,000 to $2,500) and Philip & Kelvin LaVerne's "Chan" Cocktail Table (est. $3,000 to $5,000).  American Furniture will be lead by an Important North Carolina Inlaid Corner Cupboard from Davidson or Guilford County, NC, circa 1820 (est. $15,000 to $25,000) and a North Carolina Federal Semi-Tall Chest of Drawers, circa 1800-1820 (est. $1,000 to $3,000).

Fine Silver will be strong as usual, with offerings such as the George III Irish Sterling Silver Jug (est. $600 to $900), a Set of Four Silver Gilt Salt Spoons by Paul Storr (est. $400 - $600), an Elkington Silverplate and Cut Glass Epergne (est. $2,000 to $3,000), and a Set of Twelve American Sterling Silver Julep Cups by Manchester Silver Co. (est. $1,000 to $2,000).

A highlight of note includes the offering of a fresh to the market collection of very rare 19th century Italian Pole Puppets.  Proceeds from the sale of these lots will benefit the American Dance Festival of Durham, North Carolina.

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.'s Summer Catalogue Auction will be held on June 17th and 18th, 2011.  LLAES, Ltd. is always seeking quality consignments, whether it is an entire estate or a significant item. If you would like to discuss selling please call at 919-644-1243 or email at info@LLAuctions.com.  To learn more about Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. please visit their new website at www.LLAUCTIONS.com.