DALLAS, TX.- An intricate silver presentation frame holding a signed photograph from the Days of the Raj brought six times its pre-auction estimate to reach $46,875, leading Heritage Auctions’ two-day, $2.3+ million Estate Auction of fine art and collectibles, Feb. 23-24. The eclectic array was offered across three sessions, including one devoted to the second annual Gentlemen Collector Auction and the Brent Hyder Charitable and Education Fund collection, which brought a record crowd.

“The amount of online bidders set in-house records, but we also worked hard to invite the local community in and we succeeded – our floor was standing room only,” said Ed Beardsley, Vice President of Fine and Decorative Arts at Heritage. “We also saw a good bit of interest from beginning collectors, who are realizing that auctions are approachable and include material in all price points.”

The auction saw intense biding interest for fine European furniture and decorative arts, such as a pair of George III carved mahogany library armchairs, which sold for $43,750, a circa 1870 French walnut and gilt bronze coffee table, featuring nine porcelain plaques, that brought three times its pre-auction estimate to reach $22,500, and a circa 1815 J & W Cary George III terrestrial globe, which sold for $21,250. A circa 1900 French Louis XVI-style mahogany satinwood and gilt bronze sideboard realized for $20,000.

Numerous decorative arts far exceeded their pre-auction estimates, with a marble bust titled Proserpine after Hiram Powers (American, 1805-1873) fetching $18,750 and a Meissen porcelain figural group: Hunter on Horseback with Dogs achieving $18,125, while an American Queen Anne maple tray top tea table, offered by the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, bringing $16,250.

Auctioneer Nick Dawes disbursed 350 hand-selected lots in a little over four hours to a total of nearly $770,000 as part of Heritage’s second annual Gentleman Collector auction. Highlights include a selection of fine writing instruments as a Montblanc Qing Dynasty Precious Fountain Pen Limited Edition 8 sold for $22,500. A collection dedicated to the history of hot air ballooning was highlighted by a rare French brass and wood pendulum clock in the form a balloonist, which realized $16,250. Gentleman Collector also featured a live steam model of a Victorian shunting engine, which crossed the block for $15,625, as well as a Mark Al Harris hand built motorized model of a 1933-36 Bugatti model race car, which received hundreds of bids and sold on the phone against a collector in the room at $13,750.

Strong bidder interest for silver overlay drove prices well beyond estimate, with a circa 1900 Alvin overlaid green baluster form glass vase selling for $6,250, an American glass vase with overlay, bringing $4,375 and a Quezal glass vase with overlay fetching $4,062.

Further highlights include, but are not limited to:

A Meissen porcelain figural clock: Putti Describing Time of Day, 24 inches high. Realized: $13,125.

An American Queen Anne carved Walnut low boy: From property offered by the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Realized: $12,500.

A French Renaissance-style walnut chair: From the Elton Hyder III, Jr. Collection. Realized: $11,875.

Gladys (A Bad Pussy) 2005, by Donald Roller Wilson (American, b. 1938). Realized: $11,875.

A group of five small scale ship models and dioramas: American Marine Model Gallery, Salem, Mass. Realized: $11,250.

A Lalique glass horse head: Late 20th century, 16-1/4 inches high. Realized: $11,250.

A French Louis XVI-style bisque porcelain and gilt bronze clock: After Etienne Falconnet (French, 1716-1791). Realized: $10,625.