Hindman is pleased to announce the April 7 Palm Beach Collections auction featuring European and Asian furniture and decorative arts from the Michael Hall Collection, Miami Beach. By all accounts, Michael Hall, actor, collector and art dealer, was a memorable character who led a truly remarkable life. Michael was also a very serious collector with an inquisitive nature, extremely passionate and opinionated concerning his chosen field of Renaissance and Baroque Works of Art, and was always willing to share his vast knowledge.

Michael was mentored by Wilhelm Valentiner, a specialist in Italian Renaissance Art and then a consultant to what would become the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Through Valentiner, Hall was introduced to Sir John Pope-Hennessy and Sir Kenneth Clark, and formed friendships with a number of authorities including Rudolf Wittkower, H.W. Janson and Francis Watson.

In 1963, Hall moved to New York, and with William Mills, opened a gallery at 6 East 79^th Street. His clients grew to include among others, Charles and Jayne Wrightsman, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Art, Boston, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Detroit Institute of Art.

Highlights from the collection of almost 200 lots include a fine Italian carved marble table, the supports elaborately carved with winged rams and cherubs in the manner of Francesco Antonio Franzoni (Italian, 1734-1818, estimate $8,000-12,000), an Italian Rococo parcel-gilt and polychromed settee dating from the second quarter of the 18^th century (estimate $2,000-3,000), an imposing Italian parcel-gilt walnut bookcase reputed to have been purchased from William Randolph Hearst, (estimate $2,000-3,000) an Italian Baroque style parcel-gilt and painted armchair carved in the manner of Andrea Brustolon (Italian, 1662-1732, estimate $2,000-3,000) and a pair of Italian Rococo polychromed candelabra (estimate $3,000-5,000).

Bronze sculpture by such artists as Alexandre Joseph Falguière, Andrew O’Connor, Jr., Jean Jacques Pradier, Charles Francois Nanteuil-Leboeuf, and Albert Carrier-Belleuse will be offered as well as a large selection of Chinese blanc de chine porcelain figures.

Live / Palm Beach