AMSTERDAM.- A fascinating three-day auction of works of art, consigned by European Royal and Noble families, will be held at Sotheby’s in Amsterdam on Tuesday 18, Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 February 2002. The sale comprises some 1200 lots of paintings, furniture and tapestries, works of art, ceramics, carpets, glass, silver, clocks and objects of vertu, all of which were originally made for or owned by royal and noble families in Europe. Estimates range from €80-120 for three porcelain plates with the monogram of Queen Olga of Württemberg, through to € 50,000-80,000 for a large painting Adoration of the Shepherds by Raphael Anton Mengs.

The sale at Sotheby’s Amsterdam will provide a fascinating glimpse of the fashion and tastes of a bygone era, illustrating life at the castles and palaces of many great illustrious families. Dr. Philipp Herzog von Württemberg, Managing Director of Sotheby’s Germany, and Heinrich Graf von Spreti, president of Sotheby’s Germany, were instrumental in bringing this sale together. They said: "We are delighted to offer collectors this rare opportunity to acquire works of art directly from distinguished families, who have often owned them for generations. Many of the works have never been seen on the market before. The objects that will be offered at auction are consigned by royal, princely, ducal and grandducal families, as well as nobility from several European countries."

The upheavals in Europe during the first half of the 20th century - together with the dissolution of the monarchies in Germany, Austria and Russia - caused many of the ruling families to cede a substantial portion of their possessions to the state. The division of Germany after the Second World War also resulted in large amounts of works of art being put into storage. Many noble families gave up one or several of their grand houses, and consequently furniture and works of art had to be moved to other properties in different parts of the country. Often there was insufficient room to accommodate the surplus and so excess furniture, paintings and works of art were put into storage where they remained largely unseen and, in many cases, forgotten.

A prominent name amongst the consignors is that of the Princes of Liechtenstein. The Liechtenstein dynasty dates from the 12th century and was named after their castle Liechtenstein, south of Vienna. Members of the family have since made their mark as sovereigns, landowners, financial magnates, art collectors, patrons, politicians and military figures. The principality of Liechtenstein is situated between Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Amassed over some 400 years, the Liechtenstein art collection is renowned for its scope and quality. Apart from Luxembourg, Liechtenstein the only nation that has The large Gallery of Castle Rossau, 1902 maintained its historical position in central Europe.

Of the hundreds of objects from the Liechtenstein Collection included in the sale, many have not been seen for decades - some have never even been on display. The main reason for the sale is the reorganization of the two Viennese palaces, the Gartenpalais, situated in the Rossau district of Vienna, and the Neue Palais, in the Alser district of Vienna, where new exhibition spaces are to be created for the world famous collection. Large numbers of new acquisitions have meant that the collection has grown quickly over the last few decades and the paintings, porcelains and pieces of furniture now on offer are superfluous. Another substantial part of the objects on offer come from Schloss Feldsberg in Lower Austria and from the Neo-gothic Schloss Eisgrub in Moravia - a Liechtenstein property since 1249.

Among other notable properties in the sale is that of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the inventor of the famous air vessel of the same name. His very name evokes visions of giant passenger ships that could circle the world in 12 days, voyaging across land and sea. The golden era of these airships has now passed but the importance of the Zeppelin lingers on. Other property with illustrious provenance includes that of Baron von Lernici and Catinca Baronesse von Casapu (Schloss Sigmaringen), Elise Freifrau von Gienanth née Engelhorn and the daughter of Friedrich Engelhorn, founder of the chemical group BASF(1852-1920), the Counts vom Hagen (Schloss Niedergebra), Baron and Baroness Iwicki (Schloss Wildenburg), the princely family of Salm-Reifferscheidt (Schloss Dyck), Princess Marie zu Hohenlohe-Schilligsfürst ( 1829-1897), Carl Friedrich 3rd Prince of Wrede (1828-1897) and the Royal House of Wittelsbach.

The paintings include many landscapes such as a Forest Landscape with a Castle by Jan van der Heijden (€32,000-50,000), a Winterlandscape with skaters by Rafael Govertsz Camphuysen (panel, €25,000-35,000) and a Riverlandscape by Pieter van Asch (oil on panel, €6,500-10,000). There are also portraits, rural scenes and biblical subjects, such as a large Adoration of the Shepherds by Raphael Anton Mengs (253 by 163 cm, € 50,000-80,000) and Christ and the Samaritan at the Well, attributed to Rafaellino Garbo (€32,000-50,000).

19th Century Paintings include a fine portrait of Auguste Amalie, Princess of Bavaria (1788-1851), who was married to Napoleon’s stepson Eugène Beauharnais, Viceroy of Italy, Duke of Leuchtenberg and Prince of Eichstädt, and a series of fourteen Bavarian views, including a scene in the Nymphenburg park, by Infanta Maria de la Paz of Spain (1862-1946).

For the first time, Sotheby’s will also offer rare groups of signed Royal photographs. These include photographs of the ’Kaiser’ at Huis Doorn (Netherlands), and other members of the Prussian Royal family, as well as the ill-fated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Alongside these is a 1953 Cecil Beaton coronation photograph of HM the Queen Elizabeth II and HRH, The Duke of Edinburgh, in its original frame.

Furniture and works of art feature prominently in the sale with a large selection of chairs, sofas, tables and ornate mirrors. Among these is a small ebony Kabinettschrank, richly decorated with gilt bronze mounts and trophies. Made and signed by the Parisian ébéniste Lejeune, the piece was specially commissioned for Schloss Sigmaringen. From there it was taken to Rumania where in 1939 it was offered in a special auction held for a select audience at the royal palace in Bucharest. It was then bought by Baron von Lernici and Catinca. Further items include a rare set of six South German rococo chairs, with provenance reaching back to the first owner, Graf Berchem, an important 18th-century Bavarian statesman. Other items include a remarkable portrait in wood marquetry work from around 1812 , thought to depict Jerôme Bonaparte, Napoleon’s brother. There are also a number of good tapestries in the sale, all once owned by illustrious royalty.

Further pieces of interest include an impressive German walnut and ebony parquetry cabinet on stand, possibly by Hoese, made in Dresden circa 1720 (€ 40,000-60.000) - a very similar cabinet is in the museum of Pillnitz near Dresden and included in the book "Dresden Möbel" by the museum’s former director Ms Gisela Haas (Leipzig, 1993). An attractive early 18th century cradle, covered in Chinese material, is estimated at €2,000-3,000. A fine collection of Art Deco vases and bowls by different makers, including works by Gallé, Daum, Dorras and Lalique, carry estimates ranging from € 160-240 to €1,100-1,600, and three charming gilt lead reliefs with war scenes, possibly by H. or W. Jamnitzer, date from the 17th century.

Among the clocks is a rare and fine Empire regulator mantel clock, signed Lepaute and dating from circa 1815. The clock, from the collection from Count Hugo Ewald von Kirchbach, was originally made for the Château St Cloud in France (€ 18,000-26,000). A very attractive German table-clock by W. Köberle, Eichstätt is estimated € 8,000-10,000.

Porcelain and glass constitute a large part of the sale. Notable items include a rare Meissen dinner service from circa 1790, decorated with battle scenes. Equally rare are three Berlin Eggs, to be used as perfume bottles. A collection of finely engraved glasses includes pieces from the silver and ruby glass service that was once a present from the Russian Emperor Nicolas I to his daughter, Grand Duchess Olga.

Horse fittings are rare and remarkable adornments. The sale offers a unique opportunity to acquire a collection of gilt and enamel metal horse "jewelry", richly set with sapphires, emeralds and sweet water pearls (€25,000-35,000).