Gold and silver coins, R.S. Prussia, Lowell Davis figurines, more will be auctioned Sat., Jan. 22

WICHITA, KS, December 23, 2010 (Press-News.org) Woody Auction will ring in 2011 with a blockbusting multi-estate sale on Saturday, Jan. 22. It will be an absolute auction (everything sells regardless of price) held in the 4H Hall of the Sedgwick County Extension Center in Wichita. Sold will be gold and silver coins, Lowell Davis figurines, R.S. Prussia and more. The auction will begin at 9:30 a.m. (CST).

Headlining the event will be the estates of Gloria Gugel of Kansas (who collected items in all the categories listed above) and Russell Cunningham of Nebraska, who specialized in rare and collectible R.S. Prussia pieces. Other merchandise will also be sold. The Sedgwick County Extension Center is located at 7001 West 21st Street, at the corner of 21st Street and Ridge Road.

Gold and silver coins are expected to generate tremendous bidder interest, as the values of these metals continue to climb in a fragile and volatile economy. An example lot is a 2003 proof gold coin called Natura the Lion, one of only 200 minted from the Lion Park series. The coin is one ounce of .999 percent pure solid gold and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Other gold coins will include a proof 2001 2-oz. Gold Kangaroo coin, consisting of 62.265 grams of .999 percent pure gold, one of a limited release of 300 minted, featuring Queen Elizabeth on the obverse and kangaroos on the reverse; and a 3-oz. gold coin tribute to the Lewis & Clark expedition, the world's first 3-oz. .999 percent proof gold coin, one of only 300 minted.

Silver coins will include a proof 2-kilo Moby Dick silver coin minted in 2001 and with a $500 face value, .999 percent fine silver and with an effigy of Queen Elizabeth on the obverse and Moby Dick on the reverse, one of just 600 made; and a set of six uncirculated Carson City Morgan silver dollars (dated 1880-1885), graded MS-65 and with a certificate of authenticity.

Lowell Davis (sometimes referred to as "the Norman Rockwell of rural art") lives on a farm in southwestern Missouri. His creations - centering on farm life and farm animals - include paintings and prints, figurines, bronzes and storybooks. His art appeals to collectors because it recalls a simpler, slower time. Also, his sense of humor shows through in his porcelain figurines.

Mr. Davis made his creations never thinking they would garner broad mass appeal, but he was wrong. Today, Lowell Davis figurines are highly prized among collectors. Two limited edition figural groups in the Woody Auction sale are titled Christmas at Red Oak and From a Friend to a Friend. The latter group is large. Other works by Mr. Davis will also cross the block.

Reinhold Schlegelmilch produced R.S. Prussia porcelain at his factory in Suhl, Germany, from the late 1800s through the beginning of World War I. Pieces bearing an "R.S. Prussia" mark in red lettering, surrounded by a green wreath, were made at the turn of the last century. This "red mark" is the most popular and recognized by collectors of R.S. Prussia porcelain.

Many wonderful pieces of R.S. Prussia - from the lifetime collections of both Gloria Gugel and Russell Cunningham - will be sold Jan. 22. Examples include a rare 14-inch Mold 556 tankard, satin with a fall season portrait decor and in outstanding condition; and a 15-inch Carnation Mold centerpiece bowl, cobalt blue with floral decor and great gold stencil highlights.

Other R.S. Prussia pieces include a hard to find 8 ¾ inch plate with brown tones and ostrich scenic decor; a high-quality 9 ¼-inch tankard with peach and yellow coloring with fall season portrait decor; and a Carnation Mold serving set comprising a chocolate pot, creamer and sugar, four cups and six saucers, unmarked, in an outstanding cobalt blue with gold highlights.

Still more R.S. Prussia will include an 11 ¾-inch two-handled vase with iridescent bronze Tiffany background, gold highlights and fall season decor; an 11 ½-inch Mold 342 two-handled cake plate in cream with lavender tones, a gold tapestry center and fruit and wine glass decor; and a 10 ½-inch unique mold bowl with a pink poppy decor and cobalt blue tulip highlights.

Online bidding will be facilitated by Proxibid.com. Absentee bids will be accepted no later than Thursday, Jan. 20, with a written statement indicating the amount of the bid (bids may be fax'd, to 316-747-2145). A sales tax of 7.3 percent will be collected on all purchases (current sales tax numbers exempt). The preferred area lodging is Hawthorne Suites (ph: 316-729-5700).

Woody Auction is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (316) 747-2694. Or, you can e-mail them at info@woodyauction.com. To learn more about Woody Auction and the upcoming calendar of events, to include the Jan. 22 auction in Wichita, Kan., please log on to http://www.woodyauction.com.