Millea Bros. Ltd.
607 Myrtle Avenue, Boonton, New Jersey 7005
973-377-1500
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Auction PreviewSaint-Gaudens $20 Gold Double Eagle Coins and Antique Furniture Lead Upcoming Millea Bros. Ltd Sale
The Saint-Gaudens double eagle is a $20 gold coin regarded as the most attractive in the history of American coinage. Named after its designer, the sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, it was struck by the United States Mint between 1907 and 1933. A pair of 1925 Saint-Gaudens $20 gold double eagle coins is a key highlight of the upcoming sale from Millea Bros. Ltd. Measuring 34mm in diameter, the gold coins weigh approximately 34 grams each. With many of the double eagles melted by the government in the 1930s, it is estimated that fewer than 2,000 Saint-Gaudens double eagle coins exist today. An antique mahogany and tulipwood console desserte leads the furniture section of the catalog. It is fashioned with a Breche d'Alep marble top, single drawer, four fluted legs and a marble under-tier with brass gallery. The late-19th or early-20th-century side table is styled in the manner of Louis XVI furniture. Another striking antique piece is a delft blue underglaze white ceramic and iron hardware secrétaire cabinet. It has an arched top and shell crest, two shelves, a larger drawer above three stacked drawers and cabriole legs. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming ABC: Estate Finds sale, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
Auction PreviewBoogeyman’s Nigerian Epku Oro, Wang Qi Porcelain, Edgar Allan Poe Books, and Josephine Baker Poster Lead Millea Bros. Ltd.’s Three-Day Estate Auction
In the culture of the Oron people of southern Nigeria, an ancestral figure or Epku Oro was presented as a status symbol to an esteemed Oron elder as a part of a ritual. The Epku represented the social standing of the elder as a guardian and keeper of a shrine, someone who would assure the well-being of their offspring. The earliest known ancient wooden carving of the Oron people dates back to 2,370 BCE. The practice stopped sometime in the 1930s. This fall, Millea Bros. Ltd. will offer a 19th-century carved wood Nigerian Epku on Day 1 of the ABC: Estate Finds Auction. It has an orb-shaped head with deeply carved facial features, a long notch-carved beard, and straight arms reaching down to a solid block base. The figure comes from the estate of Martin Wright, the Boogeyman, an American retired professional wrestler. The highlights of the three-day sale include Americana Art and illustration, fine art, decorative objects, Asian and African arts, artifacts, antiquities, a selection of English and American silver from the estates of distinguished professor Philip Gould, noted collector Martin Wright, a New York media executive, and Charles E. Sigety. The sale also offers a wide selection of furniture, modern design, decorative objects, and artworks sourced from New York City and New Jersey estates. A set of four 20th-century Chinese enameled porcelain items is another leading lot. These Republic-period polychrome famille rose plaques were painted by Wang Qi (1884 - 1937), a member of the renowned Eight Friends of Zhushan. Each plaque depicts two seated Buddhist figures. The lot comes from the collection of visual artist Lewis Stein. Another notable lot is a 1902 set of ten volumes of The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe, illustrated by Frederick Simpson Coburn, who has signed under the illustrations. The volumes were printed by G. P. Putnam's Sons. Find the complete listings of this and other online auctions on Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewFrom Museum-Worthy Renoir Paintings to Qing Dynasty Antiques, Millea Bros. Presents Three-Day Extravagant Auction
The upcoming auction by Millea Bros. is a three-day event that will showcase more than 1,000 lots. The first day features Modern art. Highlights include a Fernand Léger gouache, a Richard D. MacDonald bronze sculpture, Alberto Giacometti drawing, and works from the collection of Wolf Kahn & Emily Mason. Kahn and Mason were an inseparable couple. Both esteemed artists loved collecting art. This session includes paintings by Emily Mason, Virgilio Guidi, Jake Berthot, Guido Strazza, and Pat Adams. Highlights from modern design include two Folke Bensow Swedish Art Deco iron tables, a rare pair of Josef Hoffmann side chairs, a fine and early George Nakashima free edge sideboard, and a signed lacquered game board by Jean Dunand. The session concludes with modern fashion and jewelry, including three vintage Mariano Fortuny evening gowns. Day 2 of the Millea Bros auction is dedicated to fine art and antiques. Highlights among art are a Pierre-Auguste Renoir oil on canvas, an 1850 Edward William Cooke landscape of the Villa Borghese, a Francisco Goya attributed drawing, and a group of first edition Goya etchings. Pierre-Auguste Renoir encountered art as a young boy at the Louvre. He started painting to pay the bills after becoming jobless as a porcelain maker. He couldn’t afford much, so a young Renoir often stayed with friends and borrowed materials to paint. Renoir’s oil painting of a bather arranging her hair is available in the auction. It was painted in 1893 and is signed by the artist. Day 3 features museum-quality examples of African, Oceanic, and Pacific Northwest objects. They come from the Faith and Martin Wright Collection. Highlighted lots are an Aleut chief hunting hat, two 19th-century Haida raven rattles, a monumental figurative feast bowl, and a Santa Cruz Kapkap pendant. Aleutian people hail from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. They have lived in the region for thousands of years in extremely harsh weather conditions. Notable Chinese lots include a large Ming-era portrait fresco, finely carved jades, and a Qing-era export pedestal desk. Find the listed items and other online auctions on Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewAnzolo Fuga Glass Vessel and Lanceray Bronze Sculpture Available With Millea Bros. Ltd
In early February, Millea Bros. Ltd will offer a wide selection of paintings, furniture, decorative arts, and more. One of the featured lots on day three of the event is a Murano glass vase attributed to Anzolo Fuga. Born in 1914, Fuga studied at the Istituto d'Arte di Venezia, where he developed a fascination with stained glass. At this time, craftspeople commonly used sheets of homogeneous glass to create stained glass. However, defying conventional ways of glassblowing, Fuga employed glass fragments, murrhine, and glass rods fused with lead and acid to create a distinct visual effect. He then began a stained-glass department at the Istituto d’Arte di Venezia in 1938 and since has contributed to the development of stained glass art. The offered lot is a transparent blown glass vessel decorated with colorful murrhine. The sale also features a bronze sculpture created after Russian artist Eugene Alexandrovich Lanceray. He was fond of sculpting from a very young age. Over the years, he became associated with Mir iskusstva, a revolutionary Russian art movement in the 19th and 20th centuries. Titled Zaporozhian Cossack after Battle, the available bronze piece shows two horses and an old man. It dates back to 1874. Explore more lots and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Auction ResultAround the Auction World: November 2021
Images from around the auction world in November of 2021. Image credit from left to right: Bonhams, Phillips, and Bertoia Auctions. Collage by Heemin Moon (Auction Daily). For many, November signaled autumn’s twilight and the beginning of winter. It was also another exciting month in the auction industry as major works came up for bid in New York’s marquee sales. And beyond these record-breaking events, bidders of all stripes pursued category-specific collectibles such as antique dinnerware, Star Wars figurines from the late 1970s, and everything turkey ahead of Thanksgiving. Here are the top headlines from around the auction world this November. Sotheby’s auctioneer Oliver Barker selling the Macklowe Collection. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s. Industry Trends November witnessed exceptional sale results from around the auction world as the largest houses hosted their New York marquee weeks. Sotheby’s led the way with the hotly-anticipated Macklowe Collection. Widely regarded as a trial of resilience in the high-end art market, the white-glove auction achieved USD 676.1 million. It was reportedly the highest-grossing auction in Sotheby’s history. Other notable results arrived later in the week, including a new record for Frida Kahlo (and Latin American artists), a fierce battle for a first printing copy of the United States Constitution, and new records for emerging artists. Sotheby’s marquee week totaled a historic $1.33 billion. Competitors Christie’s and Phillips also flexed their resilience in the recovering art market. Phillips brought in $137.9 million, a house record, during its 20th Century and Contemporary Art auction. With this event, the company strengthened its reputation as a launch point for rising young artists. It established new highs for Shara Hughes, Ewa Juszkiewicz, and others. Additionally, Phillips presented the largest single-owner jewelry auction in company history at its Hong Kong location. Earlier in the month, Christie’s turned out strong results for the Cox Collection ($332 million), a 20th-Century Evening Sale ($419.9 million), and a 21st-Century Evening Sale ($219.3 million). These results reflect a degree of stability at the top of the market as companies transition back to live and in-person events. And as Collins Dictionary names “NFT” the word of the…
Artists, Auction IndustryArtist to Know: Yosl Bergner
Millea Bros. to Offer 1975 Sketch by Famed Israeli Painter While creating his allegorical works, Israeli painter Yosl Bergner drew from international sources of inspiration. Born in Vienna and raised in Warsaw, Bergner witnessed rampant anti-Semitism in his early years. He fled Europe for Australia as a young man. Bergner empathized with the oppressed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of his new home, and he mirrored the style of their artwork as he settled in the newly-created state of Israel. These critical migrations— with their accompanying heartache and political undertones— haunted Bergner throughout his decades-long career. A 1975 painting by Yosl Bergner will come to auction with Millea Bros. Ltd. on December 1st, 2021. Bidding begins at 10:00 AM EST. Before the auction starts, get to know Yosl Bergner and his art. Yosl Bergner in his Tel Aviv studio. Image by Marc Israel Sellem for The Jerusalem Post. Yosl Bergner’s father was a renowned Yiddish poet, and his mother was an opera singer. The family moved to Warsaw, Poland when the artist was one year old. There, they sought the support and culture of a rapidly-expanding Yiddish community. Bergner later recalled learning Polish from the family’s maid and eating vegetarian meals during widespread food shortages. Anti-Semitism also defined Bergner’s early life. He grew up between the World Wars amid rising hostilities in Warsaw. The widespread prejudice led many to seek a permanent homeland for European Jewish communities. Bergner’s father favored the Kimberley Plan, which proposed a massive relocation to Western Australia. The plan fell through, but the Bergner family decided to move southward anyway. Bergner studied at Melbourne’s National Gallery School before fighting in World War II with the Australian Army. Bergner quickly established himself as a leader of Australia’s rising modern art scene after he returned from the war. He immersed himself in the work of Aboriginal artists, studied Vincent van Gogh, and read the bleak writings of Franz Kafka. Each of these elements informed Bergner’s painting career. His Social Realist pieces carry shades of dark humor. Ordinary kitchen items cast sinister shadows in his compositions, often standing…
Auction PreviewMillea Bros Ltd. Fashion and Accessories Auction Features Oscar De la Renta and Hermès Items
Dominican-born fashion designer Oscar de la Renta worked with several luxury brands, like Lanvin and Balenciaga, before establishing his eponymous brand in New York in 1965. His work blended European femininity with American comfort. The Oscar de la Renta line of evening gowns and suits was a hit among socialites and red-carpet celebrities such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Michelle Obama, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Penelope Cruz. An Oscar de la Renta yellow brocade evening gown from 1968 is available in the upcoming ABC: Fashion & Accessories auction, presented by Millea Bros. Ltd. Another accessory highlighted in the event is a 6.94-carat emerald and 18-karat white gold ring. The center features an eight-prong set with a Zambian emerald and 28 brilliant-cut diamonds. The emerald weighs 5.44 carats, and the diamonds weigh 1.50 carats each. A Kelly bag from Hermès is also available. Interested bidders can view the full catalog or place a bid on Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewRare Books, Chryssa Vardea Sketches, and Estate Sale Finds at Millea Bros. Ltd.
The upcoming online-only ABC: Estate Finds & Books auction at Millea Bros. Ltd. will feature a selection of rare books from the 19th and 20th centuries. One notable lot is a first edition copy of William Faulkner’s Idylls in the Desert. Signed by the author, this issue is #304 of 400 and is a hardcover edition bound with marbled paper. Beyond books, the sale features a broad collection of fine and decorative art. Leading the available artworks is a set of six abstract color sketches by Greek-American artist Chryssa Vardea. She was best known for her work in light art and aluminum sculpture. The sketches on offer are likely preparatory pieces for her sculptures. Other art in the sale includes a painting on board in a glazed door by Jorge Eduardo, an iron sculpture of a horse head by Alexandra Athanassiades, a color lithograph by Marc Chagall, and an etching by Pablo Picasso. Collectors can also consider over 50 pieces of fine furniture, including a set of four Hans Wegner teak chairs, an Isabel O'Neill decorated kneehole desk, a Juan Pablo Molyneux green suede chaise lounge, and more. View the complete listings and register to bid on Bidsquare.
Artists, Auction IndustryArtist to Know: Chryssa Vardea
Millea Bros. Bring Sculptures and Sketches by Neon Art Pioneer Known as an isolated yet brilliant artist, Chryssa Vardea built a career around light. She used a mononym and helped popularize neon art during the 1960s and 70s. Her works inspired the likes of Andy Warhol and set off an avalanche of light-based fine art in the 20th century. “Neon itself signified America and its technological advances,” art critic Barbara Rose wrote in Artforum about Chryssa’s chosen medium. “But there was a darker, dystopian Bladerunner feeling about the failure of technology to produce progress, which made Chryssa’s constructions both glamorous and ominous.” Millea Bros. will present several pieces by Chryssa in an upcoming three-day auction. Bidding for Chryssa’s art, including two neon sculptures and several sketches, begins at 10:00 AM EDT on May 20th, 2021. Before the auction starts, learn more about Chryssa’s life and work. Chryssa Vardea in her New York studio. Image from Cultural Ghosts. Born in Athens in the early 1930s, Chryssa grew up during the Nazi occupation of Greece. She later started a career in social welfare, assisting earthquake victims while painting on her weekends and off-hours. Soon, her art caught the attention of a Greek critic. Chryssa followed the critic’s advice, gave up her career in public service, and moved to Paris to study art. She continued learning in California before settling in New York in the early 1950s. Chryssa found herself in an intensely foreign landscape. Abstract Expressionism rose while Chryssa experimented with paintings and sculptures. The neon blaze of Times Square and Chinatown particularly inspired her. Chryssa started gathering neon tubes to use in her sculptures, bringing the outdoors in. Many of her pieces used the Latin alphabet, Chinese characters, and Cyrillic script as a launch point. While Chryssa was not the first artist to use neon seriously in art, her perspective and timing drew the attention of the New York art world. “For a brief moment before Pop took off,” writes Blake Gopnik, as quoted by ARTnews, “Chryssa was a rising star such as Warhol still had no hope of being.” Chryssa…
Auction PreviewMillea Bros. Sale Features Anthologie de l’Humour Noir by André Breton and Wilfred Owen’s Poems
Day 3 of the ABC: Estate Finds auction, presented by Millea Bros. Ltd., will feature important historical and literary books. Leading the event is André Breton's Anthologie de l'Humour Noir. Known as a founder of literary Surrealism, Breton started developing the book in the 1930s. Breton designed it to be an anthology featuring 45 Surrealist writers. It was published in 1940 and was immediately forbidden by the Vichy regime. The available book is the first revised edition that came out in 1950. This copy bears Breton's signature and comes with a color lithograph by Joan Miró. Also featured is the first edition of Poems by British poet Wilfred Owen. Published posthumously in 1920, Poems was edited by Owen's friend and mentor Siegfried Sassoon. Considered a leading poet of World War I, Owen's best-known works discuss the horrors of trench warfare. The auction will include books by several Surrealists and modern artists, including Georges Bataille, Angel Zarraga, and Jose Herrera Petere. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewVintage Vichy Automata & Fine Art Featured in Millea Bros. Auction
Gustave Vichy was 23 years when he saved his failing family business by focusing on musical automata in place of mechanical toys. His wife sewed clothes for dolls while he handled the mechanical aspects. Merging these skills, Vichy became the first manufacturer to produce automata from a single workshop. He pioneered improved sound construction and elaborate costumes. Soon after Vichy died in 1904, the company went bankrupt. Several pieces of vintage Vichy automata will be available in the upcoming Millea Bros auction. The automata are well preserved and in working condition. The event also features an assortment of Continental, Modern, and French fine artworks. Two Pablo Picasso etched monoprints are among the leading lots. These prints reflect Picasso’s experiments with photography. Only one known image from this series has come to auction. Dated 1945, this piece indicates that Picasso’s experiments go back a decade earlier than previously believed. View the complete catalog or register to bid on Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewABC: Estate Finds, Day 3 of 4
During his time in the military, Ian Fleming felt inspired by a British secret agent who went by the code name ‘White Rabbit.’ This inspiration led to the creation of the James Bond series that features a fictional intelligence officer. Flemings’ first book, Casino Royale, was published in 1953 in the U.K. A copy of Casino Royale will be presented on the third day of the upcoming Millea Bros. ABC: Estate Finds auction. It comes in a set of 13 other James Bond novels, including Live and Let Die (1973), Moonraker (1955), and Thunderball (1961). Interested book collectors can also find library edition volumes from Victorian author Charles Dickens. He was recognized for his contributions to classic English literature and social advocacy. The writer was best known for his novels, which included A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist, and David Copperfield. A 30-volume set of Dickens’ books is offered in this sale. The available books were published by Bradbury, Evans, & Co. in the late 1800s. The auction will also bring a sterling silver flatware set from Gorham Manufacturing Company. The company was established in 1831 following the partnership of Henry L. Webster and Jabez Gorham. The company would eventually become a leading Art Nouveau silverware manufacturer. View the full catalog and register to bid for these items on Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewABC: Estate Finds, Day 2 of 3
Hans van Hoek’s oil painting is one of the highlighted lots in the upcoming Live Virtual Auction, offered by Millea Bros. The piece uses light and dark colors to show a nude figure against a landscape scene. Van Hoek is particularly recognized for his expressive works. For several years, he studied nature and people, which gradually led him to develop his distinctive style. Borzo Gallery describes the content of his paintings as a “balance between form and content, harmony in color and composition.” Another mass media work, titled Dionysis Dinner, is from Sandro Chia. A renowned Italian artist, Chia creates works associated with the Italian Renaissance and Futurism movement. He was also among the leaders of the Transavanguardia Neo-Expressionist movement. The available piece shows a woman surrounded by fire. Also offered is a pair of Japanese lidded Imari jars from the Edo period. This ceramic style is named after a city in Japan. The polychrome enameled porcelain is decorated with panels of flowering trees and dogs. Explore the full catalog for this auction and register to bid on Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewABC: Estate Finds, Day 1 of 3
The upcoming auction, presented by Millea Bros., features several Afghan and Persian rugs. Among the highlighted items is an Oushak carpet from the early 20th century. Made in the town of Oushak, these rugs are known for their Persian influences and hand-finished details. The available decorative carpet is decorated with red and gold leaf motifs surrounded by an ivory border. In the category of classical antiquity, collectors can find an Egyptian ushabti pottery piece. Ushabti figures are often found in ancient Egyptian tombs. According to traditional burial practices, the ushabti represents a servant figure who would serve the deceased in the afterlife. This ancient art most likely dates back to 400 to 300 BCE. Another featured piece is an oil painting attributed to Johann Mongrels Culverhouse. Best known as a 'candlelight' painter, Culverhouse’s works often feature night scenes illuminated by candlelight. Executed in 1868, this painting depicts two women holding hands under the light of a candle. View each of the lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewABC: Fashion & Accessories
Thierry Hermès founded the Hermès brand in 1837 as a harness workshop in Paris. Originally, he intended to provide saddles, bridles, and other leather riding gear for European noblemen. Between 1880 and 1900, the French brand extended its offerings to include leather handbags, travel bags, and its signature scarves. An Anemone Togo Birkin leather bag from Hermès is one of the leading lots at the upcoming ABC: Fashion & Accessories auction, presented by Millea Bros. It features gold-tone hardware, rolled handles, and a flap pocket. The auction also features a 1967 Krugerrand gold coin. Depicting a springbok antelope, the Krugerrand was the first modern gold bullion coin ever produced in South Africa. In the 1980s, as the demand for gold bullion soared, it became one of the most popular bullion coins in the world. Another noteworthy item is a 20th-century diamond ring set with cabochon-cut jade. It features a 1.85-carat baguette diamond and round diamonds of S12 clarity. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
