CHICAGO, IL.- The July 18 and 19 Fine Furniture, Decorative Arts and Silver auction at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers featured aC. Bechstein gilt bronze mounted marquetry grand piano that sold for $173,000 against a presale estimate of $30,000 ­ 50,000. Circa 1900, information obtained from C. Bechsteinıs record archives indicates that the piano was shipped from Berlin to the firmıs London branch on May 31, 1901. Sold to a West Coast client, the lot drew international attention from 11 bidders in California, Florida, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Egypt and London.

Significantly exceeding presale estimates, the sale totaled 1,240,585. Over 1,100 lots were auctioned, including French, Continental, English and American furniture and decorative arts as well as sculpture, silver, Middle Eastern works of art and Chinese export.

Among highlights of the property sold was an 1817 George III silver-gilt tureen by Benjamin Smith II & Benjamin Smith III from the estate of Ann Downey, Palm Beach. Modeled after the Warwick vase, it sold to a private collector for $55,000 with a presale estimate of $20,000 ­ 30,000.

A 1788 George III silver epergne by Thomas Pitts sold for $28,750 with a presale estimate of $10,000 ­ 20,000 and from a private collection of a Pittsburg family. A pair of large Meissen porcelain Schneeballen urns sold for $81,250 with a presale estimate of $5,000 ­ 7,000.

Additional lots of interest include a Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted mahogany and fruitwood vitrine cabinet, likely Francois Linke, which sold for $13,750 with a presale estimate of $5,000 ­ 7,000 and a Roman marble portrait head of a woman, which sold to a buyer in Paris for $16,250 against a presale estimate of $5,000 ­ 7,000.

The Fine Furniture, Decorative Arts and Silver department at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is currently accepting consignments for its fall auction on October 18 and 19.