NEW YORK.- On May 23-24, 2005, Sotheby's is pleased to offer Important Ceramics and Objects of Vertu, Property from the Collection of Hanns Weinberg and the Antique Company of New York, one of the greatest porcelain assemblages of the 20th century. Amassed by legendary connoisseur and dealer Hanns Weinberg (1900-1976), the first sale will include vertu, portrait miniatures, jewelry, glass and a large quantity of English and European porcelain and faience. Comprising over 700 lots, the first sale is expected to bring $3/4 million and will be followed by two additional sales of ceramics over the next year and a half.

Christina Prescott-Walker, Vice President and Director of Sotheby's European Ceramics and Chinese Export Porcelain department, said: "Hanns Weinberg was an icon in the porcelain world. His lifetime and career spanned both New and Old Worlds, and he helped to ensure the spread and continuation of a rich cultural tradition of collecting and connoisseurship way beyond its original borders and time. His unerring eye, and his determination to acquire the very best, led his clients to form some of the most important post-war collections of decorative arts."

"Mr. Weinberg is remembered for his distinctive bravado and bold bidding tactics in the salesroom. Sitting in the front row, he sought out and pursued quality, and he was prepared to bid far above estimates if he felt it were worthwhile," continued Kevin Tierney, Senior Vice President and Director of Sotheby's Silver department.

Born at the beginning of a golden age of porcelain collecting in Germany, Weinberg moved to Berlin, the epicenter of the burgeoning new collecting world. He fled to London in 1938 and, at the end of the war, Weinberg opened his first antiques establishment on New Bond Street, where he quickly established an unrivalled reputation for quality and attracted a prestigious clientele including the Queen Mother, Queen Mary, Princess Margaret, the Duke of Windsor, King Carl Gustav VI of Sweden, King Umberto of Italy, and countless wealthy collectors. In 1957, Weinberg opened his second shop in a New York City townhouse on 57th Street and filled over five floors with the choicest examples of 18th century European porcelain as well as exquisite examples of Renaissance jewelry and precious gold and enamel snuff boxes. By the time of his death in 1976, Weinberg had become the link for the new generation of collectors, in both Europe and the New World, to the great collectors of the past.

The sale will include figures and wares from such factories as Meissen, Sèvres, Mennecy, Chantilly, Hoechst, Ludwigsburg, Chelsea, Bow, Derby, Longton Hall and Worcester, among others. Highlighting the sale is an Important Sèvres Ormolu-Mounted Garniture of Three Vases and Covers, circa 1780-85. Finely painted with chinoiserie figures on a pale sea-green ground, the vases are 15" high and are expected to bring $600/800,000. Also on offer is an Extremely Rare Meissen Porcelain 'Tafelaufsatz' or Centrebasket from the 'Plat de Ménage', originally modelled by Johann Joachim Kaendler for Count von Bruhl, circa 1737-40 (est. $80/120,000) and an Important Pair of Chelsea Gold Anchor Hunting Subject Candelabra, circa 1765, 14" high (est. $30/50,000).

Among the items of vertu that will be offered is a Jeweled Bronze and Silver-Gilt Equestrian Figure, circle of Johann Melchior Dinglinger, early 18th century. Entitled The Kettle Drummer, the piece is 7" high and is estimated to sell for $70/90,000. Created by Jean Formey, Paris, in 1766, an Important Louis XV Gold and Enamel Snuff Box measuring 3 ½" wide is an additional highlight in the sale (est. $60/90,000). A Finely Chased George II Gold Snuff Box, London, 1754 (2 3/8 inches wide) is expected to bring $10/15,000.