ITEMS FROM THE OLD COLLECTORS CORNER SHOP IN LOUISVILLE, KY., WILL BE SOLD NOV. 12th & 14th

The November 12 auction is live-only. The November 14 auction is live and with online bidding. Online bidding will be provided by Proxibid.com/brokersunlimitedinc. Both days, 250-300 lots.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A 14kt gold Kentucky Derby-style unengraved mint julep cup, a 14-inch-tall exquisite Asian bronze vase with dragon encircling a basket, a lovely Rose Medallion bowl and a dazzling 3.55-carat three-diamond and platinum ring valued at $15,000 are just a few of the many fine items that will come up for bid on Thursday and Saturday, November 12th and 14th.

They are part of the estate of Delores Campbell, who operated the high-end antiques shop The Old Collectors Corner in Louisville (at 1613 Bardstown Road), before taking space at the Derby City Mall. She was also a fixture at the antiques and collectibles shows throughout the city and region. Now, the many items gathered by her over the years will be sold to the highest bidder.

Both auctions will be conducted by Brokers Unlimited, Inc., with locations in Louisville and Providence, R.I. They will be held at 215 West Breckenridge Street in Louisville, in a 2,000-square-foot gallery in the rear of a building occupied in front by GuardiaCare. Both dates will be absolute auctions: everything sells to the highest bidder, regardless of final price, no reserves.

Items for the live and online auction, on Saturday, Nov. 14, may be previewed the day before, from noon to 3:30 p.m., and on auction day from 9 a.m. until the first gavel falls at 11 a.m. For those unable to attend, internet bidding will be provided by Proxibid.com/brokersunlimitedinc. Absentee bids will also be accepted, with a fully refundable deposit if not the winning bidder.

A live-only auction will be held on Thursday, Nov. 12, also at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Preview inspections will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11, from noon to 3:30 p.m., and on auction day from 9-11 a.m. That session will feature pocket watches, carved jade, vintage costume jewelry, books, artwork and miscellaneous assorted box lots. Both days will feature about 250-300 lots.

“This promises to be one of the finest auctions of antique and collectible items ever held in this area,” said Theodore Loebenberg of Brokers Unlimited, Inc. “Delores Campbell was truly one of the grande dames of Louisville’s vibrant antiques and collectibles scene. The items being sold will appeal to collectors, dealers or anyone looking to appoint their home with a superb piece.”

The 14kt gold unengraved mint julep cup was manufactured in Shelbyville, Ky., by Mark J. Scearce and carries his mark at the bottom. It’s also marked “DDE” (for Dwight D. Eisenhower), indicating it was made during his administration in the 1950s. The cup is pristine and ready to be engraved with anything that might befit a fan of the Kentucky Derby, or his or her favorite horse.

Genuine and hard-to-find Kentucky Derby glasses, one from 1949 and one from 1956 (two-star, no tail) will also be sold. The diamond ring valued at $15,000 features one diamond weighing about 1.60 carats (with K color and S12 clarity), and two side-stone diamonds of around 0.75 carats each (same color and clarity grading). The ring comes with an official, recent GIA appraisal. All fine jewelry items (to be sold Nov. 12) will come with a recent GIA appraisal.

In addition to the abovementioned Asian bronze vase, other bronze pieces will include a bust of the iconic French figure Joan of Arc, shown beside her horse and holding a flag, signed “Sally James” (1916), 19 ½ inches tall; and a pair of Empire-style French candlesticks on red marble bases, with candle mounts, 21 ½ inches tall. The Rose Medallion bowl is 16 inches in diameter.

Jewelry items will be beautiful and plentiful. One of the nicer pieces is an 1800 Georgian 10-14kt gold and silver brooch with red garnet adornment and accented with round diamonds weighing 1.09 carats. The piece has an overall total diamond weight of 7.5 carats and is 2 inches in length by 1 ¼ inches wide. In addition to fine jewelry there is also costume jewelry in the sale.

An Italian white marble bust of a young girl with a pensive expression, made in the 19th century and 22 inches in height by 16 inches wide at the shoulders, is certain to attract keen bidder interest, as is the large selection of carved jade and carved coral pieces, a Mary Hadley piece, Rookwood bookends and vase, a Rosenthal piece (with seal) and fine examples by Limoges.

Also sold will be a Chippendale-style table with mirror, a 1950s-era pressboard die-cut witch (16 inches tall, as-is), a green Leprechaun figure and other related green collectibles, a collection of vintage Stag magazines from the mid-20th century, soapstone pieces, original artwork and more.

Brokers Unlimited, Inc., was established in 1948, initially as a scrap brokerage firm, but over time it expanded into other fields. Today, the firm focuses on seven areas of business: auctions, liquidations, appraisals, office supplies and new and used furniture, corporate gifts and business forms. Owner, president and CEO Theodore Loebenberg became a licensed auctioneer in 1963.

Brokers Unlimited, Inc., is always seeking quality consignments for future auctions. To inquire about selling an item, an estate or a collection, you may call Mr. Loebenberg at (401) 727-1930; or, you can e-mail him at brokersun@aol.com. To learn more about Brokers Unlimited, Inc., and the Delores Campbell estate auction, Nov. 12 and 14, log on to www.brokersunlimitedinc.com .

-Review by Ken Hall