The Grace Garcia Estate Goes Up For Bid On June 4 At Turner Auctions + Appraisals, Featuring Fine & Decorative Arts
Eclectic Array of Over 330 Lots from Around the World Also Includes Jewelry
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, May 19, 2022 – Turner Auctions + Appraisals is pleased to present the Grace Garcia Estate, Part I, on Saturday, June 4, 2022. It features a wide array of paintings, religious items, and decorative arts from the personal collection of the late Grace Garcia, a passionate collector of beautiful things and avid world traveler. Known as Gracie by her many friends, acquaintances, and customers, she was owner of Gilroy Antiques in Gilroy, California, for over 30 years. Part II of her collection will be offered in early summer. This auction also includes jewelry, a silver water pitcher, and several other items from other California estates.
Items of fine art and decorative art in this sale from the trust of the Grace Garcia Estate are diverse and eclectic, mostly from the 18th to 20th centuries. They include paintings, marble sculptures and busts, glass and porcelain vases, ceramic wall plaques, needlepoint and crewel work, Gothic candlesticks, birdcage automatons, trinket boxes, French jewel caskets, painted miniatures, Staffordshire figures, Limoges boxes, Chinese ginger jars, sterling flatware and decorative items, Victorian wool work, an antique teaching skull, and much more. Among the religious lots are paintings, icons, monstrances, reliquaries, a ciborium, sacred hearts and plaques, carved statues and figures, crucifixes and crosses, Thai buddhas, Hindu deities, and Buddhist statues. Jewelry items for women and men include necklaces, bracelets, pendants, brooches, cufflinks, wrist and pocket watches. Many are in gold or silver set with gemstones. Designers include Tiffany, David Yurman, and Judith Ripka.
Turner Auctions + Appraisals begins its online auction on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at 10:30 am PDT; sale items are available for preview and bidding now. The auction will be featured live on multiple platforms: LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Bidsquare, iCollector, and Turner Auctions + Appraisals’ free mobile app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Apps (“Turner Auctions”). All are easily accessed through ‘Upcoming Auctions’ at the company’s website: www.turnerauctionsonline.com/upcoming-auctions.
Grace Garcia (1939-2022) was born in Campbell, California, to a family with roots in San Francisco. She graduated from Campbell High School, married in 1957, and had four children. As a young bride with a limited budget of $25 a week, Gracie could not afford to shop in stores with new furnishings. As a result, she began to pursue antiques and other beautiful old things that were less costly. While she is quoted as saying she “became a collector at birth,” Gracie began collecting in earnest in the early 1960s, shopping for beauty, not price. Over time, her collection grew dramatically, with items acquired from her travels, antique shows or stores, in advance of estate sales, or from people who knew she would appreciate their gifts.
Her job brought her further into the sphere of antiques. As manager of the Main Street Exchange in Los Gatos, California, Gracie worked until the store closed in 1989 due to the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake. Soon after, she decided to launch her own shop, Gilroy Antiques, and on her own terms: she was only open the first 20 days of each month, reserving the last 10+ days to travel the world or visit friends and family. In fact, for over 30 years, her store provided two sources of great pleasure – there she was surrounded by her antiques and met people who visited, making many friends and connections along the way.
In addition to her store and meeting people, travel was a vital part of Gracie’s life. From 1986 to 2019, she made 43 trips throughout the world. Of those, 35 were international trips – with visits to China, Russia, Mexico, myriad countries in Europe, and other places in Southeast Asia including India, which was a favorite. According to her children, David Garcia and Tika Burns, “she was fearless.” She often traveled on her own, with neither a cell phone nor a computer for assistance, and felt comfortable going anywhere, intentionally getting lost in cities to embrace the place and its culture. “She was not afraid of people or places or to buy things: if it was beautiful, she’d buy it.” In fact, Gracie would regularly travel with a big, empty suitcase filled with bubble wrap in anticipation of beautiful objects yet to come! Her newest passion, said Tika, was birdcages. Sadly, with Gracie’s passing, her planned trip in 2022 to Budapest was not to be.
A large part of Gracie’s personal collection has a religious flavor, perhaps inspired initially by the splendid works of art and adoration found in the Vatican. Although she was not religious in the traditional sense of the word, she was spiritual and embraced items from various religions around the world. She appreciated the art, dedication and craftmanship that went into the pieces. Gracie’s large house was filled with her collection, then when it grew too large, expanded into the apartment above her antique store. The many religious items were woven and displayed throughout her living spaces, and particularly her bedroom, where Gracie cheekily noted that she had had “more priests in her bedroom than anyone else.”
Grace Garcia was a down-to-earth, self-made woman: she paid off her house, raised a family, made countless friends, and ran a successful business. She lived for beauty, appreciated quality and value, and was an intrepid traveler. It was said her passion for antiques was surpassed only by her passion for life. Now, as her personal collection goes to auction, the acquisitions of Gracie’s life well-lived are sure to enhance the lives of others.
Here are some highlights of the upcoming sale (see details in online catalog):
Lot 19: After Raffaello Sanzio Urbino (Raphael) (Italian, 1483-1520). Title: Madonna of the Chair, 1514. Probably a 19th-century copy; original in the permanent collection of the Palazzo Pitti, Florence. In an elaborate 19th-century giltwood and gesso Renaissance-style frame. Medium: Oil on canvas. 28 x 28 in. (image); 62 H x 50 W x 7 D in. (frame). Condition: craquelure throughout; frame in very good condition aside from minor defect. Estimate $5,000-$7,000.
Lot 198: Pair Delft-Style Tulipières. Each blue and white decorated stepped spire in two parts. 48in. h. Condition: Very good, no chips or cracks. Note: Large/heavy for shipping. Estimate $3,000-$5,000.
Lot 130: Singing Bird Automata, Music Box and Clock. Continental, unmarked. The domed cage enclosing three birds above a hexagonal base inset with scenic ceramic panels and a clock. 22in. h. 12in. diameter. Condition: Works not warranted. Estimate $3,000-$5,000. (Photo, page 2, right)
Lot 221: Large Silver-mounted Altarpiece Crucifix, c. 18th Century. The carved and painted Jesus on a stained wood cross with sterling silver rays and scrolling floral mounts; the bottom of the cross has a peg insert for a stand. No marks. 31in. x 22in. Condition: Craquelure and chipping/loss to paint on figure. Estimate $1,000-$2,000.
Lot 14: Ferdinand Georg Waldmuller (Austrian, 1793-1865). Title: Bride of the Brigard (sp). Medium: Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 16 x 13 in. (image); 20 x 17 in. (frame). Condition: Craquelure throughout with minor losses. Accompanying this lot is a letter from Professor Johann Dieckmann, Cologne, dated August 30, 1926, providing detailed information about the subject and stating the painting is signed “F.W. 1833” (not located). Estimate $3,000-$5,000.
Lot 260: Dominick & Haff Aesthetic Movement Silver Water Pitcher. Inscribed on bottom “FH / Oct 26, / 1881”; maker’s mark “925 [in rectangle] [circle] 1881 [in diamond]”; and “Sterling 75.” 868 grams. 8 1/2in. h. x 6in. w. x 7 1/2in. d. Good condition; some slight/ faint surface scratches. Estimate $2,000-$3,000.
Lot 284: Concord Gem-Set and 14k Gold Ladies’ Wristwatch. 17j, rectangular case with white dial, the lugs set with two shield-shaped aquamarines weighing together an estimated 5.00cts., accented with 10 round brilliant-cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.20ct., to a textured crescent link bracelet; signed on dial, case, and movement; gross weight approximately 33.8 grams; overall length 6 1/4in. Estimate $1,000-$1,500.
Lot 207: Collection of French Souvenir Jewel Caskets. Five Beveled Glass and Ormolu Caskets, the tops painted with images of Lourdes, Fatima, and Cathedrals. Greatest height 3in. Condition: All very good. Estimate $600-$800.
Lot 299: Judith Ripka Gem-Set, 18k Gold and Leather Necklace. The toggle clasp and detachable pendant-enhancer set with 14 round brilliant-cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.28ct,. with multi-shaped multi-color garnet and tourmalines, completed by a woven leather cord; signed JR 18k; gross weight approximately 59.5 grams; length 18in, pendant length 1 3/8in. (light wear). Estimate $800-$1,200.
Lot 71: Victorian Domed Still Life with Bird. The glass dome containing an exotic taxidermy bird among porcelain and silk flowers. 25in. h. 9in. d. Condition: Very good. Estimate $700-$900.
Lot 182: A Gilt Bronze Altar Candelabra. A figure of a saint supporting scrolling branched candle cups. 42in. h. Note: Large for shipping. Estimate $600-$800.
Lot 237: Chinese Giltwood Processional Box. Overall pierce carved with figures. 14in. h. 15in. w. 8in. d. Estimate $400-$600.
Lot 76: Victorian Wool Work Dog Memorial. The shadow box enclosing a wool work wreath centering a photo of a beloved dog. 13 1/2in. w. 13 1/2in. l. 4in. d. Condition: Very good. Estimate $250-$350.
Lot 315: David Yurman Gem-Set, Silver & 14k Gold Cuff Bracelet. This classic back-hinged cuff with faceted amethyst terminals, square-cut pink tourmalines and cabochon green onyx; signed D Yurman 925 585; inner circumference 6 1/4in, wrist opening 3/8in. Estimate $300-$500.
Lot 114: Gilt Pink Jardinière Stand. The tapered column with a latticework rest, on a base with two side pocket vases. 26 1/2in. tall; base 13in. x 9in.; top 14 3/4in. diam. Good condition; no cracks/chips found. Note: Large for shipping. Estimate $200-$300.
Lot 59: Pair Victorian Hunt Trophies. Each relief carved with a deer and quail above hunting equipment on oak clusters. 30in. h. 17in. w. Condition: very good. Estimate $300-$500.
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ABOUT TURNER AUCTIONS + APPRAISALS
Based in South San Francisco, Turner Auctions + Appraisals was founded by Stephen Turner to expand and complement the capabilities of Stephen G. Turner Associates, an auction and appraisal consulting firm founded in 2004. Turner Auctions + Appraisals presents online auctions in diverse categories of personal property (www.turnerauctionsonline.com). Among them are Fine Arts, Decorative Arts, Asian Arts, Toys, Jewelry, Militaria, Ethnic Arts, and others. The company offers a range of auction and appraisal services for buyers, sellers, and collectors. Online auctions are held several times a month. Working with leading live and online auction houses on the West Coast since 1991, Turner is a professional appraiser of personal property and seasoned auctioneer. His areas of expertise include fine art, decorative arts, antiques & residential contents. The company welcomes consignments and appraisals.
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Stephen Turner, President
Turner Auctions + Appraisals, 461 Littlefield Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080
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