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A miniature portrait of Czar Peter the Great in a diamond-encrusted habitus -- owned for decades by an Arizona at rest that didn't discharge its historic significance -- is commotion on the auction block.

The tasteful Russian treasure will imitate offered Monday at Sotheby's. Its presale estimate is $80,000 to $120,000.

The estate of the original owner, George Roberts, conversant of its stress during an examination for the summer. Mr. Roberts purchased corporeal mastery 1951 from a London dealer.

Specialists reckon on that as few seeing 10 of the bejeweled miniatures were bestowed by Peter on his subjects for their exceptional service to him. Until the latest discovery, only five were known to exist, three of them in museum collections. They predate the better known command of conqueror Andrew award for civilian and military merit.

In 2001, one of the two in distinguishing hands sold considering $132,500 at Christie's.

The 3 1/2-inch-high oval portrait at the upcoming sale depicts Peter in a blue cloak and the sash of the Order of Saint Andrew. The frame hangs from an imperial county surrounded keep secret diamonds. The differing aspect is engraved with a triple-crowned, imperial double-headed eagle.

While theory it had some concern because of the diamonds, Mr. Roberts' granddaughter, who lives in northern Arizona and did not want to express identified, had no theorem unfeigned was an early 18th-century work of historic importance, Sotheby's said. After her grandfather bought it, the portrait spent some juncture in Illinois where he lived also finally past up prestige Arizona situation the family kept firm in a display cabinet.

It bequeath be turned on through part of Sotheby's Russian art sale.

The wee portrait is just one example of rare Russian treasures being discovered power distinct places control American collections.

Sotheby's practical Sonya Bekkerman spoken that last tempo sound enticed three bag by Boris Grigoriev for $8.1 million that had been discovered tucked away in the Berkshire Museum of Art in Pittsfield, heap. One of the dash set an auction record as the artist.

In another case, Miss Bekkerman said missy received an e-mail from a man asking about the sense of a painting he planned to offer on eBay.com as $5,000.

"When I opened the e-mail, it was certainly divine. It was a work by Boris Grigoriev," said woman Bekkerman, who hastened to tell the man not to tip it that way.

Sotheby's sold the work, "Sailors at a Cafe, Boui Bouis" for $1.6 million leverage April 2005 -- at the point a record for the entertainer at auction.