NEW YORK, N.Y.- On 29 March 2011, Sotheby’s will offer Imperial Chinese and Chinese porcelain and works of art and English and Continental furniture in the dedicated sale of Property of a Palm Beach Private Collector. The worldly collection was assembled in the 1950s and 60s, with an eclectic combination of works that reflects a sophisticated and classic American taste from that period. The sale is led by A Rare Large Chinese ‘Famille- Rose’ ‘Millefleurs’ Altar Garniture bearing six character Qianlong marks and of the period (est. $500/700,000*), as well as an group of six Rare Chinese ‘Famille-Rose’ ‘Soldier’ Vases. The sale will be exhibited in Sotheby’s York Avenue galleries beginning 23 March, alongside the auctions of Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art and European Furniture.

Property of a Palm Beach Private Collector features approximately 80 lots of Chinese porcelain and works of art, encompassing a range of style and media and with estimates ranging from $1,000 to $700,000. The sale is led by A Rare Large Chinese ‘Famille-Rose’ ‘Millefleurs’ Altar Garniture bearing six character Qianlong marks and of the period, and which has provenance going back to England at the end of the 19th century (est. $500/700,000). The garniture is also distinguished by the fine quality and rarity of its decoration, and by the fact that all five pieces have survived together.

The sale is further highlighted by A Fine and Rare Pair of Chinese ‘Famille-Rose’ ‘Soldier’ Vases and Covers (est. $300/500,000), unusually painted with female figures and animals, as well as A Very Rare Set of Four Chinese ‘Famille-Rose’ ‘Soldier’ Vases and Covers, each identically decorated with flowers (est. $200/300,000). This auction represents possibly the first time that six vases of this rare, large and highly-decorative form have appeared together in one sale. Also of note is A Pair of Famille-Rose Fishbowls, circa 1740, which has provenance going back to England in the mid-19th century when they formed part of the celebrated Chinese ceramics collection at Fonthill House, Wiltshire (est. $80/120,000).

The 29 March sale also features fine examples of 18th-century English, Italian and French furniture. English furniture highlights include A Fine and Large George II Giltwood Side Table in the Manner of Matthias Lock, circa 1750 (est. $70/100,000), as well as A Fine Pair of George III Painted Papier-Mâché, Parcel-Gilt and Polychrome-Decorated Pier Tables, circa 1780 (est. $40/60,000). The Italian giltwood furniture on offer is of exceptional quality, and includes A Pair of Italian Baroque Carved Giltwood Torchères in the manner of Filippo Parodi, Genoa, from the second quarter of the 18th century (est. $50/80,000).

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium