ALAMEDA, CA.- Appointed fine art sale highlights in Michaan’s June fine auction present pieces from Louis Oscar Griffith (1875-1976) and the incomparable Andy Warhol (1928-1987). Oil paintings of both land and sea are offered images by Griffith in the sale. The first, titled “Sail Boats in Harbor, New Orleans” is wonderfully executed as Griffith’s impressionistic take on capturing “real life.” His rendition of the water, boats, masts and land are presented in symbiotic harmony, as is evident in not only his brush strokes but also in his use of color. A comparable New Orleans boat painting of roughly the same size of 10 x 12 inches sold last year at U.S. auction in excess of $45,000. “Sail Boats in Harbor, New Orleans” will be sold as lot 2027 at an estimate of $15,000- 25,000. Griffith’s masterful “Autumn Landscape” will accompany the piece at sale, to be sold as lot 2028 at an auction estimate of $7,000-9,000.

Griffith was quite an active artist within the United States during his career. In Chicago he was lauded for his paintings at the Artists Guild in 1914 and at the Palette and Chisel Club in both 1915 and 1920, where he received a gold medal in 1921. Griffith was also an active figure in Chicago’s Hoosier Salon, which was a platform to display Indiana based artists within the “Windy City.” The Salon garnered him with several awards won between 1925 and 1949. He was also a charter member of the Chicago Society of Etchers and was regarded as Dallas’ most important etchings artist. In 1926, the Highland Park Gallery in Dallas presented an exhibition of Griffith’s oil paintings, etchings and color aquatints. In addition, Griffith was an active and well- known member of Indiana’s Brown County artist colony.

From the controversial father of pop art comes a delightful watercolor upon lithograph titled “Two Cherubs and a Flower (from In the Bottom of the Garden)” (lot 2060, $10,000-15,000). The Andy Warhol signed work is dated to 1956 and is regarded as a one-of-a-kind piece. Each of these Warhol produced lithographs of a pair of plump cherubs hoisting a flower by its stem is of unique watercolor brushwork. A 2007 Parisian auction sale of “Two Cherubs and a Flower (from In the Bottom of the Garden)” brought over $14,500 for the print.

The Furniture and Decorations Department’s approximate 160 lot sale section will showcase items including but not limited to fine Russian porcelain and silver, impressive French and Continental furniture, 19th century French bronzes and collections of German and Austrian porcelains as well as regulator wall clocks. However, a masterfully carved Italian marble cistern stands as a highly anticipated star lot from the auction offerings (lot 2089, $6,000-8,000). The rectangular form piece epitomizes many classical design elements, including a frieze depicting raised archetypal figures enjoying a variety of leisure activities. The form is further decorated by miniature renditions of Italian theatre masks. The cistern stands upon raised corbel form supports and is beautifully finished by decorative acanthus carvings.

Multiple lot collections of Dresden and Royal Vienna porcelain in the auction display skilled artistry and workmanship, as well as a range of desirable imagery. Three Dresden porcelain plates designated as lot 2214 each center painted portraits of historical women ($2,500-3,000). Princess de Lamball, the Duchess of Devonshire and Marie Anoinette are brilliantly painted, with the latter two images rendered in the style of Gainsborough and Lebrun. Each half bust portrait shows each lady dressed in high finery, surrounded by ornamentation of flowering urns on pedestals, leafy cartouche medallions, volutes and cornucopia. Also available is a floral motif assembled service of Gardner Kuznetsov red ground porcelains consisting of two graduated teapots, two serving bowls, six luncheon plates, a salad plate and two graduated platters (lot 2112, $2,000-3,000). Rounding out the selection is a lot of two charming Kornilov fairy tale vignette porcelain chargers (lot 2117, $1,000-1,500). Founded by the Kornilov brothers in 1835 in St. Petersburg, the Kornilov factory worked on commissions for the Russian imperial court and contributed to both 19th and 20th century international and Pan- Russian exhibitions. Lastly, is a Bay Area estate collection of Royal Vienna porcelain plates grouped into 5 lots. All lots bear pieces with identifying marks, at quite a conservative estimate range from a low of $1,000 to a high of $2,000. The plates feature exquisite images of young beauties, as seen in “Solitude” signed Denalle (lot 2218, $1,500-2,000), “Daphne” signed Wagner (lot 2219, $1,500-2,000), a lot of two mythological theme wares (lot 2222, $1,500-2,000), “Brunhilde & Siegfried” (lot 2220, $1,000-1,500) and “Blumennhandlerin” (lot 2223, $1,000-1,500).

The largest diamond presented in the sale by Michaan’s Jewelry Department is found in an approximate 5.19 carat fancy yellow diamond ring. The GIA certified canary yellow emerald cut diamond is graded at a VVS2 clarity and is flanked by two baguette cut diamonds of a total approximate weight of 0.20 carats. The stones are then set in a simple 14 karat white gold mounting, letting the stunning quality of the diamonds command center stage. The fancy yellow diamond ring will be auctioned as lot 2338 at an estimate of $50,000-80,000.

Michaan’s will also present its first ever Kashmir sapphire offering in a classic ring featuring an approximate 3.70 carat cushion cut stone. The Kashmir sapphire specimen is of a lovely deep royal blue hue, flanked by both calf’s head and tapered baguette cut diamonds of a total approximate weight of 1.35 carats. The untreated, GIA certified piece is finished by a platinum mounting, to be sold at an auction estimate of $30,000- 50,000 (lot 2339). Kashmir sapphires are undoubtedly the pinnacle of the sapphire family. Their scarcity has lead many specimens to museum collections, occasionally gracing the marketplace and gaining recognition as the finest sapphire type known. As a result, Kashmir sapphires are a specialty find at even the most prestigious auction houses. In 2008, Christie’s bidders clamored for a 42.28 carat cushion cut Kashmir sapphire ring that came to brake previous auction records, selling for nearly $3.5 million.

The auction will be held on June 6, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.