SANTA ANA, CA.- Don Presley Auction’s New Year’s sale, Dec. 31-Jan. 1, will feature a fantastic array of items – from a 1947 Harley-Davidson Rigid Hardtail custom motorcycle to three bejeweled daggers that once belonged to a former prime minister of Iran. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.
During the two full days of selling, bidders can take their pick of more than 1,000 lots worthy of inclusion in a palace.
The daggers, believed to be from the 18th and 19th centuries, were passed down through the family of Hasan Ali Mansour (1923–1965), prime minister of Iran during the reign of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. One of the ornate daggers is gold and encrusted with diamonds. Another is gold with rubies and emeralds, and the third is silver with highly engraved gilt work and engraved bone plaques on the handle. The daggers are offered as one lot with a $200,000-$225,000 estimate. Bidding will open at $55,000.
A few of the additional highlights follow:
• A seven-piece French champlevé portrait vanity set consisting of a footed box, covered urn, pillbox, mirror, brush, comb and picture frame
• A large 19th-century Chinese famille rose porcelain bowl with hand-painted panels and decorated gilt bronze feet, base, handles and rim
• A Cristofle silvered bronze cherub centerpiece with its original crystal bowl. The centerpiece was made in the late 1800s by the famed French silversmiths.
• A Wallace Grand Baroque 100-piece sterling silver flatware service for 12, includes many serving pieces.
• A ladies platinum sapphire and diamond ring containing three natural blue sapphires having a total weight of 2.00 carats and surrounded by baguette-cut diamonds of 1.00 total carats. The ring is stamped PT900 and weighs 9.5 carats.
Unusual offerings include a rare 24-cent U.S. postage stamp issued in 1861, the steel-blue variety, Scott No. US 70-b, which is estimated at $15,000-$25,000; and the aforementioned 1947 Harley-Davidson custom motorcycle – ready to ride – which is expected to sell for $20,000-$40,000.
For additional information on any lot in the sale, call Don Presley Auction at 714-633-2437.
