Lifestyles

Constantine & Mayer

It's time to say farewell to 2006 as Jeff Constantine stages his year-ending sale on Dec. 9, with a bill of goods that features country furniture and accessories, plus enough toys to force Santa to make an extra trip on Christmas Day.

"This is really a sequel to our last sale," says Constantine, co-owner of the Cheswick-based auction house. "The previous auction was one of our best ever. And the upcoming sale has nearly 1,000 lots of great things."

Expect this event to come at you in segments, as several notable collections go on the block. Model railroad buffs will want to make tracks as the train collection of Ed Lehew chugs out of the station. Well known for his love of rail-related goods, Lehew amassed plenty of tin and cast-iron engines and cars, including a few German-made numbers.

Artistically speaking, painting highlights focus on an oil-on-canvas work, "The Coral Necklace," by 20th-century Italian artist Gaetano Bellei, whose recent sales records includes Sotheby's and Christie's. From this side of the Atlantic, Constantine points to two pieces by Charles Gruppe and Ben Foster as standouts, as well as an unsigned American school landscape that traces its roots to Philadelphia.

Lighting, clocks, Heinz adverting items, furniture, silver, Oriental rugs, ceramic and glassware round out this 2006 finale as Constantine gears up for what he promises will be an even more rousing new year.

Previews are from 11 a.m. -5 pm. Dec. 8 and 8-10 a.m. Dec. 9, followed by the 10 a.m. sale, at 1306 Pittsburgh St., Cheswick. Details: 724-275-7190 or www.constantinemayer.com.

Concept Art Gallery

Back in action after a blowout October sale, Sam Berkovitz returns with a single estate auction in which outstanding artwork does not claim center stage. After competing with big-name players such as Sotheby's and Christie's, Concept Art Gallery won the rights to handle the estate of Jane Epstine, whose family at one time owned Pittsburgh's defunct May-Stern department store chain.

A longtime resident of Devonshire Avenue in Shadyside, Epstine later moved to the Park Mansion Apartments, between the Schenley Park Golf Course and Carnegie Mellon University campus. An avid collector and astute antiquer, her estate brings forth a strong lineup of porcelain, furniture, silver, paintings and other items that filled her nearly 8,000-square-feet living quarters.

As might be expected in a space that big, the furnishings are equally large. In fact, Berkovitz actually thought that moving a 10-foot-long by 8 1/2-foot-high English mahogany breakfront might require the removal of windows and the use of a crane. Fortunately, the piece just barely fit through the front door. Finely crafted, it still has the original glass in its many doors.

But the real focal point is Lustre ware, a style of English ceramics produced from the late-18th century through the mid-19th century. In an era when oil lamps and candles provided the only illumination in homes, Lustre ware glowed brightly in this soft light. At the height of its popularity between 1810-1840, craftsmen create Lustre by applying an acidic solution containing gold or platinum to a vessel before firing. The platinum solution produced a bright silver surface, while a gold solution yielded a copper or gold finish when applied to a dark surface. On the other hand, an iridescent pink was the result when the finish was applied on a white surface. Among the Epstine collection are many examples of pink, yellow and even silver pitchers, chargers and other items.

Of course, a few pieces of fine art will interest the usual Concept bidders. Certain to attract much interest is a still life painted by Bernard Buffet. In addition, a large selection of presidential signatures should appeal to history buffs.

Gallery hours are from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, until 8 p.m. Thursday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday at 1031 S. Braddock Ave., Regent Square. The sale begins at 10 a.m. Dec. 9. Details: 412-242-9200 or www.conceptgallery.com.

Murphy's Auction Gallery

Regulars on the local auction scene will remember Tim Murphy from his stint with the latest incarnation of Dargate Auction Galleries. Most recently, he conducted a sale at J.S. Dill Auctions, which led to his upcoming Dec. 9 event in Greenfield.

Featuring the estate of a local couple, the sale's top attractions include a circa 1810 New York State bureau secretary that has been in the family from the start, a Dutch marquetry shaving mirror, a pair of Russian Imperial chairs, eight early tiger maple dining chairs and 136 pieces of S. Kirk & Son Repousse silverware.

As a new entrant in the local auction scene, Murphy says he'll hold sales in various locations until he can nail down a permanent spot. This time around, the bidding takes place at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church Hall, 4027 Beechwood Blvd., Greenfield.

The preview is from noon-8 p.m. Dec. 8. The Dec. 9 sale starts at 10 a.m. Details: 412-335-5651 or www.murphyauctiongallery.com

J.S. Dill Auctions

You could set your clock by these guys. Almost every Thursday, the J.S. Dill crew opens it doors for weekly sales in the far north country of Butler County. This week, combined estates from Prospect, Critchlow and Butler bring to market French inlaid and mahogany furniture, Waterford crystal, Hall & Harker pottery, paintings and watercolors.

On Dec. 7, the roster includes a heavy dose of Christmas-related items, dolls and enough Lionel trains to crisscross the United States.

Previews for both sales start at 5 p.m., with auctions at 6 p.m., at 2341 Evans City Road, Zelienople. Details: 724-453-0853, 412-362-9001 or www.jsdillauctions.com.

Recent Sales

Constantine & Mayer

True to prediction, Constantine & Mayer's Nov. 18-19 sale racked up the company's second largest take with final bids bringing more than $600,000. Billed as the fifth annual "November to Remember" event, the two-day auction saw many items fetch $10,000 or more, with a bronze sculpture of Cupid and Psyche hitting the $23,000 mark. Topping $15,000, a large Pueblo polychrome pottery olla stood out among a nice selection of American Indian crafts.

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