The McNally’s ready for estate auction

RANCHO SANTA FRE — In Rancho Santa Fe, Connie and Bill McNally are regarded international antique dealers.  Like most businesses, though, the antique dealing world has also changed with the Digital Age. Responding to those changes, The McNally Company located in the heart of the Village, has added on a new enterprise named McNally’s RSF Estate Auctions, Inc.

While taking part in LiveAuctioneers.com, this duo is also hosting their “Inaugural Estate Auction” on June 21 and 22 at the picturesque Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club.

The doors to their shop opened 23 years ago, but the couple have been in the antique business for more than 3 decades.

“We have noticed the business changing with the Internet,” Connie McNally said.  “There are more auctions, so we decided to join them because there is no real auction in Southern California, south of Los Angeles.”

The couple thought it would be an ideal opportunity to host an auction and the response has been incredible.

In general, Bill said, people love auctions.

“This is going to be a good one and there is not a good auction in our area so we are going to fill this need,” he said.

While auction items for the “Inaugural Estate Auction” have already been chosen, people are in line to have their antiques consigned with the McNally’s for the next one.  It’s Connie and Bill’s plan to host a quarterly auction.

“Quite a few of our clients are sizing down and their children may not want their things, so they don’t know what to do with them,” she said.  “So rather than consign them out or put them in storage, we decided to present them with an opportunity to put the pieces on auction.”

This is filling a niche, since some big auction houses won’t procure anything under $5,000.

At the upcoming auction, there is something for everyone at every price point.

Their 56-page catalogue lists 395 items for the “Inaugural Estate Auction.” A couple days before the auction, attendees may peruse the items at the Garden Club.  If some items strike their fancy, they can pencil in the auction date(s).

Connie said 220 items will be auctioned on Saturday, and the remaining 175, on Sunday.

The couple mentioned they have a wide range of items on the auction roster including furniture, artwork, silver, art glass, porcelains, lamps, rocking horses, new designer furniture, and 17^th century antiques.  A wide spectrum of Japanese, Chinese, Dutch, French, Italian, English and American pieces will be on hand.

Attendees will notice an array of items such as an Art Nouveau gilt bronze jewelry box valued at $150 to $300 fanning to a Louis XV-style Vitrine valued at $15,000 to $25,000.

The Louis VX-Style Vitrine piece is just stunning,” said Connie, noting how it’s a bronze mounted kingwood silk brocade lined vitrine with inlaid satinwood diamond-shape parquetry on six legs with ormolu sabots.

Auctioneer for the event is Steven Lewandowski, who is also the announcer for the San Diego Polo matches.

“We feel this auction will be something really fun and great for the community,” Connie said

Giving back, proceeds from the auction will be filtered to different Rancho Santa Fe charities.  For this particular event, the McNally’s have chosen Country Friends.

For years, people have entrusted Bob and Connie with their beloved possessions.

“One of our consigners said that if only all the pieces could talk and the stories they would tell,” she said.  “He is so happy that we are handling his pieces because he knows that we find them good homes.”

To learn more about the “Inaugural Estate Auction,” preview dates, absentee bids and more, call (858) 756-2701 or visit                           rsfauctions.com.