One of the world’s leading collectibles gallery and auction houses in the world of automobilia, l’art et l’automobile, after over 30 years of success in New York State, has headed South West, relocating to the Hill Country of Texas. Owner Jacques Vaucher says that the move is one that will better serve his customers all over the United States by being more centrally located to many of the major automotive events where they often exhibit their rare and often hard-to-find collectibles. Most welcomed by the staff is the move from their East Hampton gallery to the enlarged facility, known as the […]
One of the world’s leading collectibles gallery and auction houses in the world of automobilia, l’art et l’automobile, after over 30 years of success in New York State, has headed South West, relocating to the Hill Country of Texas.
Owner Jacques Vaucher says that the move is one that will better serve his customers all over the United States by being more centrally located to many of the major automotive events where they often exhibit their rare and often hard-to-find collectibles.
Most welcomed by the staff is the move from their East Hampton gallery to the enlarged facility, known as the K-J Ranch. With the new facility it is possible to properly display the objects that are currently being offered for sale including large posters, banners and on occasion, full size automobiles. Located just outside of Harper, Texas, near the popular tourism destination and historic city of Fredericksburg, the operations of the company have been set up in a restored barn.
“We have started from scratch,” said Vaucher, “which has allowed us to decorate the barn totally with an automotive theme.”
With beautiful scenery and a number of ideal roads for touring, this part of Texas is a very popular area for car clubs to visit, and l’art et l’automobile hopes that in the near future they will be able to host events on their 80 acre ranch.
Enzo Ferrari’s le briglie del successo est. $1500-2000
One of the highlights of l’art et l’automobile’s annual schedules are the four auctions they conduct each year. Their biggest catalog sale ever, featuring over 500 lots, is currently being conducted set to close just in time for the holidays on December 14, 2006. In this, their first auction from the new location, over 150 lots of rare and very desirable automotive books are just one of the highlights of the offerings, which includes the always-popular prints, posters, original artwork, and badges.
Several large acquisitions of very desirable items from major collectors have also been added to the stock with many of the lots offered in this sale coming from these and including items that have never been offered for sale through the auction process.
Considered the “star” of this sale is a beautiful bronze sculpture entitled “The Whisperer” by Charles Sykes, the same artist that created the famous “Spirit of Ecstasy” mascot used on Rolls-Royce automobiles since 1912. This statue is a large-scale replica of the one created for Lord Montagu of Beaulieu in 1911 for the exclusive use as his personal mascot on his Silver Ghost. Among some of the other unusual sought after items being offered for bid in this sale are a large selection of original European coachbuilders’ nameplates from such firms and Britain’s Maberly and Thrupp, Connaught, and from Paris, Henry Binder.
Jack Juratovic’s PIII and Mallard est. $225-275
“During all of our previous sales,” Vaucher stated, “we have never had a selection of very difficult to locate identification plates like this before, and I am quite excited to be able to offer them to those who take part in our auctions.”
Information about the current auction is available on-line at www.arteauto.com, or by telephone at (830) 864-5040 during the regular business hours of 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central time, Monday through Friday. Jacques Vaucher has also extended an invitation to collectors and vintage car fans who are visiting the picturesque Hill Country of Texas, to call ahead and get directions to the K-J Ranch and visit this world famous gallery.
For more information, contact Julia Cole Opella at (830) 864-5040 or email us at info@arteauto.com.
l’art et l’automobile
176 KC 433
Harper, TX 78631
Phone: (830) 864-5040
Fax: (830) 864-4677
Email: info@arteauto.com
Website: http://www.arteauto.com
