Pickard, Wave Crest, Royal Bayreuth, Limoges and even toothpick holders will be sold without reserve Saturday, Oct. 23rd, at the St. Charles Convention Center in Missouri by Woody Auction

ST. CHARLES, MO, September 23, 2010 (Press-News.org) An important estate auction featuring the Dorothy and Malcolm Reich collection, plus an outstanding Pickard collection from the Chicago area, will be offered without reserve (everything sells, regardless of price) Saturday, Oct. 23, in the Junior Ballroom (lower level) of the St. Charles Convention Center. The auction will begin at 9:30 a.m. (CST).

Conducting the sale will be Woody Auction, based in Douglass, Kan. In addition to the Pickard selection, bidders will be treated to a wide array of art glass, Royal Bayreuth, Wave Crest, toothpick holders and more. Online bidding will be facilitated by Proxibid.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted. A 7.45 percent sales tax will be collected on all purchases.

Pickard is named after the man who started the company in 1894 that bore his name - Wilder A. Pickard (1857-1939). He assembled a group of highly skilled men and women china painters, many of whom had emigrated from Europe, to create a uniquely American style of hand-painted china. The firm produced a high-quality line of giftware, artware and dinnerware.

Pickard became wildly popular, as the buying public - then and now - fell in love with the exquisite patterns, elegant gold and platinum borders and artistic renderings of flowers, fruit, figurals and scenics that typified Pickard china. Today, Pickard, Inc., continues in the family tradition of producing ivory and white porcelain for individuals, governments and corporations.

A few Pickard pieces expected to do well in the auction include a beautiful two-handled hand-painted "Velum" vase with a fall scene tree and lake decor (signed Challinor); a 9-inch water pitcher (signed Falatek) and four matching tumblers (signed Challinor) with peacocks; and a wonderful 16-inch two-handled jardinière (artist signed Ruery) with "Bordure Antique" decor.

Wave Crest, also hugely popular with collectors, is a type of glassware that was made by the Pairpoint Manufacturing Company, then hand-painted by the C.F. Monroe Company of Meriden, Conn. (which also fashioned Nakara and Kelva pieces). Wave Crest commonly used flower transfers and occasionally scenes and cherubs, often in pastel shades, to create an effect.

Royal Bayreuth is recognized today, as it has been for over 200 years, as Germany's finest producer of quality porcelains. Founded in 1794 and still operating at the same factory in the tiny town of Tettau, Royal Bayreuth makes fine dinnerware, dining accessories, coffee and tea sets, figurals, rose tapestry, scenic pieces and unique novelties like the SunBonnet Babies.

Limoges pieces will also be offered in the sale. Expected top lots include a rare 16-inch hand-painted dresser tray with an Arab on camel scenic decor and gold trim (signed Weiss); a hand-painted round plaque with detailed scene of a young girl picking flowers (signed Heidrich); and a 14 ¾ inch dragon-handled hand-painted tankard with "Falstaff" portrait (signed Heidrich).

Toothpick holders will feature an extremely rare 2 ¼ inch plated amberina example in excellent condition and with great coloring; and a 2-inch signed Daum Nancy cameo cut piece with a winter scene decor, also in excellent condition. Belleek will also be offered, including a 16-inch hand-painted vase (artist signed K. Ryba) covered with a highland cattle scenic decor.

Lamps will illuminate the room with offerings like a 25 inch by 18 inch Steuben 5-light hanging pendant lamp with original fixture, four bell-shaped globes and one center bullet-shaped shade in a pulled green feather design with gold highlights; and a 9 ½ inch Art Deco figural lamp with a nude looking into a mirror in front of a Gothic arch glass window, all on a marble base.

Vases of note will include a beautiful 20 ½ inch Royal Bonn hand-painted floor vase with a scene of a monk and priest, titled The Scandal; a signed Kew Blas art glass vase, iridescent gold with green pulled feather design, 10 ½ inches; a signed Aurene #2744 gold iridescent three-stem bud vase; and an 18-inch Austrian two-handled hand-painted vase, signed Osborne Studios.

Rounding out the day's top lots: a 10-inch Ginori hand-painted tankard with figural mermaid handle in brown tones with vintage decor and gold trim (artist signed Campri); a 12 ¼ inch marked beehive plaque, gold with cobalt blue trim (artist signed F. Holzel); and a 14-inch Pairpoint bride's basket with glossy peach blow cased bowl and nice blue bird and acorn decor.

For lodging, the Embassy Suites Hotel is connected directly to the Convention Center (for reservations, call 636-946-5544). The Fairfield Inn is located directly across the street (for reservations, call 636-946-1000). Many other area motels are also available. Absentee bids will be accepted with a written statement indicating the amount of the bid (deadline date is Oct. 21).

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 Oct. 23 auction in St. Charles, please log on to http://www.woodyauction.com.