From The Collections of Mike and Annie Gaither, US Navy 1959-1982. With a sense of duty for his country Mike joined the US Navy in 1959 the idea was to see the world and obtain an education that would propel his future. The opportunity to become part of the submarine fleet was compelling and once involved it became his career path of choice. In 1964 he married his lifelong partner Annie Nix. And to this day they are still happily married. While in the Navy he specialized in communication and electronic repair and was able to obtain the rank of Radioman Chief Petty Officer during his time in the service he supervised crews of up to 25 in high speed communications, repair and records and Department Chief coordinating 8 repair divisions. Analyzing commands to discover systemic difficulties and training to resolve difficulties. Additional fields include intercultural and race relations, Drug and Alcohol training. With a long career in the Navy his desire to visit many foreign countries was fulfilled. His desire to be a leader in the open markets directed his path into the pastoral leadership where he was able to train and work with people in Italy Guam Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands, Republic of Palau, with visits to such countries Germany, and Asian Countries. With the opportunity to be in such places also provided the knowledge and ability to obtain collectables from the area. Reaching a point where one feels that it is time to downsize and realign their assets this has opened the door for others to add these items into their private collection. The quality is exceptional, pristine and highly sought after. The Collections of Mike and Annie Gaither presented and offered up to auctions from Lot-140 through Lot-153, continued from Lot-268 through Lot-324, continued from Lot-415 through Lot-429, and Lot-439.
15th C. Ming Dynasty Emperor Yongle reign period Chinese Tibetan gilt bronze seated Bodhisattvas Buddha figure of Thinking Avalokiteshvara. Incised Yongle six-character mark and of the period (1403-1425) The finely cast and curvaceous figure seated in rajalilasana on a waisted lotus base, the right arm resting on the lowered right leg with hand in Dhyana mudra, the other elbow resting on the raised left knee with the hand supporting the inclined head in a pose of relaxed contemplation, wearing a finely-detailed lotus tiara surrounding a miniature figure of the Buddha Amitabha and a profusion of beaded jewels around the neck, arms, waist and ankles, two lotus stems rising from the base, the hair pigmented blue, the eyes black and the lips red, the cold gold gilding a deep golden yellow in tone. Extensive gilding remaining on surface, with trace of blue pigment on hair. The underside with incised Quatre-foil flori-form petals visvavajra mark surrounded the centralized DaiJi. The upper facade of throne seat bear six incised characters in Kaishu script reign mark, Made In The Year of Emperor Yongle Reign Period of The Great Ming.