Released on: July 9, 2008, 8:40 am

Press Release Author: Fred and Gail Taylor

Industry: Internet & Online

Press Release Summary: The June 22 sale at Burchard Galleries, Inc in St.
Petersburg, FL featured inventory from the Daytona Museum of Arts and Sciences, the
JP Morgan Collection and two mid Florida estates.

Press Release Body: (St. Petersburg, FL)The June 22 sale at Burchard Galleries
featured an outstanding collection of American gold coins from an Orlando estate
that far exceeded the pre sale estimate in fourteen of sixteen cases. The top coin
lot and the top lot of the sale was a 1905 Lewis and Clark gold $1 graded from PCGS
as MS64. These coins graded better than MS62 are very rare. 35,041 of the
commemorative coins were struck at the Philadelphia mint in 1905. The odd 41 were
for mint inspection services. Of the remaining 35,000 only 10,000 were actually sold
to the public for the market price of $3. The unsold balance was melted for gold
stock. The coins were not perceived as being especially valuable when issued and few
were stored carefully with many being melted in the Depression for scrap. Auction
spokesman Todd Burchard pointed out that the coins were graded MS64 some time ago
under a more stringent grading system than that in use today. He expects the coins
to be regraded to a higher mark.

This MS64 Lewis and Clark had a presale estimate of $1,500/2,000. Crossing the block
late in the sale the lot drew a surprising 17 bids. The winner was a local
collector/dealer in the room who bid $14,000 before the buyer's premium. A 1904
Lewis and Clark gold $1 with a similar grade, estimated at $1,000/1,500, had a
hammer price of $7,250 and a Panama Pacific 1915-S $2½ gold piece, graded from PCGS
MS64, brought $5,750 against the $1,500/2,500 estimate.

Other good gold included a 1913 $5 Gold Half Eagle, graded MS64, selling five times
the high estimate at $5,000 and a 1932 $10 Indian Gold Eagle, MS64, hammering at
double the estimate to close at $4,000.

Smiles were not in short supply on other lots either. An abstract oil on canvas by
Piero Ruggieri (Italian 1930-) from the Daytona Museum of Arts and Sciences was
estimated to sell at $400/600. The 44 by 38in work, entitled "Le Lampade 1956" was
signed lower right, titled and dated verso. The work was in overall good condition
needing cleaning with some flecks of paint loss. It rounded up forty bids to close
at $11,500 to a buyer from Italy. But the real surprise in the art department came
as lot #140 in the 483 lot sale. An unsigned American Western scene, oil on canvas,
also from the Daytona Museum, depicted waterfalls, a river and a chain of mountains
with three figures of Native American Indians in the foreground. This unassuming 29
by 44in work had several tears and abrasions and was estimated presale at $400/600.
With a very strong attribution to Alexander Loemans (Canadian ? - d1898) it was
hotly competed in the room and online with sixty-two bids, closing at $6,500. Also
in the American art category, an early work by Florida Highwayman Harold Newton
(American, 1932-1994), a Florida landscape typical of the genre' sold within
estimate at $3,750.

Good wood also would do good with a Chinese Meiji period rosewood etagere having
elaborate and fine carvings in berry and bamboo motifs surrounding open shelving and
one closed compartment closing above estimate at $6,250. It was followed by a
Chinese carved rosewood desk, late 19th century, with a carved gallery above a
drawer flanked by doors. With the matching chair, the set sold over estimate for
$2,000. But the star of the furniture show was a beautifully patinated 19th century
two piece Federal mahogany tambour desk, banded and inlaid with upper interior
drawers and two full length drawers below. The square nails in the back attested to
the age. This elegant office in a box, estimated at $400/600 created enough
excitement to close at $3,000. A six piece quarter sawn oak bedroom set from the
Mission Collection of L. & J.G. Stickley sold within estimate at $4,000.

The sale was carried live online by LiveAuctioneers.com and had 363 registered
bidders from around the world including Israel, Australia, Italy and France.
Burchard Galleries, Inc. owner Jeff Burchard and his son Todd called the eight hour
sale. For more information call (727) 821-1167, email to mail@burchardgalleries.com
or visit the website at www.burchardgalleries.com. The Gallery is located at 2528
30th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33713. Burchard Galleries normally has
an auction the last weekend each month with a "discovery auction" on Saturday and an
antiques sale on Sunday. Check the website for details.

Written by:
Fred Taylor
www.furnituredetective.com
800-387-6377


Web Site: http://www.burchardgalleries.com

Contact Details: Burchard Galleries
2528 30th Ave. North
St. Pete, FL 33713
727-821-1167