Bonhams’ Fine Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts auction (also called the Continental and Decorative Arts Auction, just to make it more confusing) on May 22nd in New York has a few equestrian treasures.

I’m in love with this piece from the collection of Edward Zajac, one of the namesakes (along with Richard Callahan) of the New York firm Zajac and Callahan and among the most brilliant decorators of the 20th century:

A French eglomise [reverse on glass] painted scene, late 19th/early 20th century, sight 9″ x 11 3/4″ estimate $600-$900. Lot #1463

If you’re not familiar with Zajac and Callahan, their quirky, layered and muti-textured interiors were the hip side of 80s excess a la Denning & Fourcade or Mario Buatta.  Outrageous mirrors became one of their signatures — and Bonham’s has a pair on the block at this auction (Lot #1458).

There’s also a rather silly bronze and ivory figure of Napolean on a horse (there are proportion problems everywhere…how big is Napolean’s head for his body?…how small is the horse’s head for its body?…and how do the two heads compare in size?), created by someone in the second half of the 19th century, and mounted on a green marble base.  Of course, this is why I love auctions — because it makes the eglomise above look like such a bargain.

An exercise in disproportion that would fit nicely on an end table, 8 3/4″ x 7 3/4″ including base, with an estimate of $3000-$5000. Lot #1377

If you live somewhere cold, maybe you’d prefer this in your house to remind you how much you don’t enjoy riding outside in the cold wind like some Cossack:

Patinated bronze and marble after a model by Rene Paris and inscribed “Rene Paris,” second quarter 20th century, 17 1/2″ x 14″, estimate $1500-$2500, Lot #1148

If Cossacks are your thing, you’re really in luck, because you can also bid on this bronze of a Cossack and his maiden kissing on horseback (an activity you should definitely add to your equestrian bucket list, whether or not it’s with a Cossack):

“A Farewell Kiss” after a model by Evgeny Lanceray (Russian, 1848-1886), signed in Cyrillic “Modeled by Lanceray,” with Chopin foundry mark, height 15 1/2″, estimate $6000 to $8000. Lot #1148

If your pockets are a little deeper, how about this painting from the Greek Sale taking place in London on the same day?

Dioskouros II by Nikos Engonopoulos (1910-1985) signed in Greek and dated ’59’, oil on canvas, 92.5cm x 73cm, estimate $160,000 to $240,000

You can help restore financial balance to Europe simply by raising your hand.

If you’re tempted, here’s how to buy.  Or try to…because sometimes things run away, and sometimes it’s the most unlikely things (like that Napolean bronze).  It is an auction, after all.  If you bid and win Lot #1463, can I visit you?  If you buy the Engonopoulos painting, would you also pay my airfare?