DALLAS, TX.- The Lauren Stanley Collection of Fine American & Mexican Silver, a rich selection of the finest examples from the 19th and 20th centuries, brought $988,000 in Heritage Auctions ' May 8-10 Fine Silver & Vertu Signature Auction. The three-day Dallas event totaled $1.3 million and was 91 percent sold by value and by lot.

"The last 200 years of fine silver is our focus, and this auction firmly shows Heritage's continued growing strength as the preeminent house in this area" said Karen Rigdon, Director of Fine Silver at Heritage. "It was a beautiful sale with a wide range of the finest hollowware, flatware and jewelry, which brought interest and strong prices across the board."

The auction's top lot was the whimsical Tales of Michaelman, a contemporary four-piece tea service by the Massachusetts husband and wife team of Michael and Maureen Banner, which ended at $53,125 following interest from seven bidders. An 1851 William Gale & Son coin silver, two handled tray, some of the finest engraving of the period, depicting images of the four continents as well as Mount Vernon and Monticello, brought $23,750, while a graceful, eight-piece Porter Blanchard tea service, circa 1930, returned to its home state, selling to a California collector for $21,250.

Leading the deep offering of Mexican silver was a set of flatware from Hector Aguilar, of Taxco, Mexico, which sold for $31,250, a set of flatware of William Spratling's Amarres pattern, which closed at $27,500. A pair of Antonio Pineda seven-light candelabras, circa 1962-1963, sold for $16,500, and an impressive seven-piece silver and rosewood tea and coffee service by Codan S. A., of Mexico City, Mexico, circa 1950, ended at $11,562.

A large and diverse collection of American match safes from the Estate of John O. Antonelli, was led by a 14-karat-gold Shreve & Co. safe, inlaid with gold quartz and decorated with a scene of a wagon train passing through a California redwood tree, sold for $15,000, four times its estimate. Another Shreve & Co. 14 karat gold match safe, also accented with gold quartz but dated 1873, sold for $14,375. A highlight among a large selection of Gorham match safes featured a Japanese carved mask, circa 1887, which sold for $5,937.

Additional highlights include, but are not limited by:

• A seven-piece Tiffany & Co. tea service, circa 1865-1870, sold for $13,750.

• A pair of Clemens Friedell three-light candelabra with alternate center bouquet brought $12,500.

• A set of 12 chargers from Allan Adler Inc., of Los Angeles, circa 1950, sold for $9,375.

• A silver and malachite canister by Henry Petzal, circa 1979, sold for $9,375.