Briggs Auction is pleased to offer the Ivo Ispani estate collection for auction on Friday, June 18. It includes a vast assortment of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean ceramics, bronzes, works of art, decorative arts, antique furnishings and more. This extensive collection reflects Ispanis love of the art and crafts of Japan and China, that were his lifelong passion. His scholarship and love of research is inherent in the attention to detail every piece in this collection evinces, including his extensive collection of reference books that grew exponentially over the years. This carefully curated auction is a testament to his good taste and love for the workmanship of this material, and, in a way, it all started with a pair of jeans. Ispani began his career as a waiter on cruise ships in the 1970s. On one cruise to Odessa in Ukraine, he traded a pair of jeans for a Russian icon, and that first purchase sparked his interest in antiques. He left the cruise ship to work for an antique dealer in Italy, where he learned and expanded his trade. He eventually made his way to the U.S., became a citizen, and continued as an antiques dealer with a reputation for integrity and honesty and a true enjoyment of the people he met through his business, many who became lifelong friends. Highlights of the sale will include a fine Chinese carved hardwood bench with detailed cloisonne panels; a collection of Japanese Hirado-ware sake cup stands; a scholars table screen collection; several Japanese Kano School painted screens; a collection of Japanese woodblock prints; some antique furnishings, including a Gothic carved walnut bedroom suite and a Chinese Chippendale mahogany breakfront china cabinet; a collection of contemporary art, as well as a fine selection of antique paintings and prints; and, of course, the extensive reference library. He had an excellent eye for finding hidden gems, and we are incredibly honored to handle this collection in its entirety, says Stephen Turner, owner of Briggs Auction Inc. We miss his presence in the industry keenly and hope that this auction will spur new and seasoned collectors alike to keep his spirit alive, and hopefully alight their own passion for these pieces. Bidding for this auction will be entirely online through Briggs Auctions Bid At Briggs platform and through Live Auctioneers. Pre-auction/absentee online bids will be accepted until live, online-only bidding begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 18. In-person previews will be available on Wednesday and Thursday, June 16 and 17, by appointment only. For more information, call 610-566-3138 or email info@briggsauction.com.