From Tiffany Silver to American Impressionism: Six Auction Highlights to Watch

Sarasota Estate Auction closes out August with two expansive sales bringing together fine art, studio glass, jewelry, silver, furniture, and decorative arts. Taking place August 29 and 30, the auctions offer more than 2,300 lots across two days, with works ranging from late 19th-century Tiffany & Co. silver to American landscapes and monumental Chinoiserie furnishings. 

Presented by Sarasota Estate Auction, the first day, Modern Art, Glass, Silver & Jewelry, takes place August 29, followed by Fine Art, Porcelain, Furniture & Antiques on August 30. Here are six highlights to watch.

Featured Auction Highlights:

14K Gold, Ruby, Sapphire & Diamond Bracelet (Lot 35)
A colorful statement piece from the 1960s or 1970s leads the jewelry selections. Crafted in yellow gold, the bracelet is set with 36 small round-cut rubies totaling approximately 3 carats and six sapphires totaling approximately .30 carat. Measuring 7 inches and weighing 62.4 grams, the substantial bracelet carries an estimate of $3,000–$5,000. 

Its combination of richly colored gemstones and warm yellow gold captures the bold approach to jewelry that defined the period, making it an appealing choice for collectors looking for a piece with both visual impact and vintage character.

Estimate: $3,000–$5,000 | August 29 (Day 1)

Tomáš Hlavička, Akvarium (Lot 15)
Contemporary Czech glass is represented by Tomáš Hlavička’s striking 2006 sculpture Akvarium. The elongated rhomboid form is suffused with bluish-green glass, while undulating gold and tan strands evoke sea grass moving beneath the surface of the water. Wave-like forms along the upper edge further reinforce the sculpture’s aquatic inspiration. 

Born in Prague in 1950, Hlavička initially trained as an architect before studying glassmaking under his father-in-law, noted Czech glass artist Pavel Hlava. His architectural background remains visible in his sculptural approach, which combines layered float glass with precious metals including gold, silver, and copper. Akvarium, signed and dated 2006, measures 22 1/4 inches long and carries an estimate of $6,000–$9,000. 

Estimate: $6,000–$9,000 | August 29 (Day 1)

Late 19th-Century Tiffany & Co. Sterling and Mixed-Metal Vases or Candle Holders (Lot 26)
Among the decorative arts highlights is an unusual pair of late 19th-century Tiffany & Co. sterling and mixed-metal pieces dating to approximately the 1880s or 1890s. Their hammered surfaces are embellished with applied lizard or gecko motifs, while tall, slender tripod-style legs give the small-scale objects a particularly sculptural presence. 

The pair also demonstrates Tiffany’s experimentation with contrasting metals during the period: one incorporates sterling and bronze, while the other combines copper, gold, and sterling. Measuring 6 1/2 inches high, the pair has a gross weight of 13.615 troy ounces and is estimated at $6,000–$8,000. 

Estimate: $6,000–$8,000 | August 29 (Day 1)

Walter Farndon, White Boats (Lot 1203)
The August 30 sale turns toward fine art with White Boats by Walter Farndon (1876–1964), a New England plein-air painter known for his energetic harbor and coastal scenes. Executed in oil on paperboard, the work depicts boats resting on vivid blue water, with loosely rendered architecture and greenery beyond. The painting is unsigned but bears the Estate of Walter Farndon inkstamp on the reverse as well as a label from Vose Galleries in Boston. 

Farndon studied at the National Academy of Design and with Robert Henri, later becoming an Associate of the Academy in 1928 and an Academician in 1937. His distinctive use of impasto and Impressionist, and at times near-Expressionist, brushwork was particularly well suited to the shorelines, harbors, and boats that became recurring subjects throughout his career. White Boats has a sight size of 12 by 16 inches and an estimate of $5,000–$7,000. 

Estimate: $5,000–$7,000 | August 30 (Day 2)

Bayard Henry Tyler, The Palisades Hudson River (Lot 1201)
Another American landscape highlight is Bayard Henry Tyler’s The Palisades Hudson River. The oil on canvas captures the imposing cliffs and hills overlooking the Hudson from the New York side beneath an expansive, cloud-filled sky. Signed at the lower right, the painting retains a label on the back of its gilt frame from the Society of Washington Artists dated 1922. 

Born in Oneida, New York, in 1855, Tyler studied at the National Academy of Design under Theodore Kaufmann and William Merritt Chase. He later became associated with organizations including the Art Students League of New York, the Salmagundi Club, the Lotos Club, and the New York Watercolor Society. His Hudson River landscapes became an important part of his body of work. Measuring 25 by 29 1/2 inches by sight, The Palisades Hudson River carries an estimate of $4,000–$8,000. 

Estimate: $4,000–$8,000 | August 30 (Day 2)

Pair of Early 19th-Century Palace-Size Chinoiserie Mirrors (Lot 1212)
At nearly seven feet tall, this pair of early 19th-century Chinoiserie mirrors is among the most visually commanding offerings of the weekend. Each features an arched, multi-tiered crest and shaped shoulders surrounding a tall beveled mirror plate. Against the dark ground, hand-painted gilt decoration depicts Asian-inspired landscapes, figures, and floral motifs. 

Beyond their scale and decorative presence, the mirrors come with notable provenance: according to the catalog, they descended through the family of the founders of the Jordan Marsh Company in Brookline, Massachusetts. Each measures 79 by 28 inches and the pair carries an estimate of $4,000–$6,000. 

Estimate: $4,000–$6,000 | August 30 (Day 2)

Two Days of Collecting Across Categories

Together, Sarasota Estate Auction’s two August sales offer an unusually broad collecting opportunity. Day one moves from vintage gemstone jewelry and contemporary Czech glass to Tiffany & Co. silver, while day two shifts toward American painting, antiques, and statement furniture. The six highlights above capture that range, from objects small enough to wear or display on a tabletop to a pair of Chinoiserie mirrors designed to transform an entire room.

Sarasota Estate Auction’s Modern Art, Glass, Silver & Jewelry sale takes place August 29, 2026, followed by Fine Art, Porcelain, Furniture & Antiques on August 30, 2026. Bidding is available through Bidsquare.com.