James Tormey Painting, Philadelphia 76ers Ball Signed by George Erving Available at Willow Auction House

To American painter James Tormey, few things are more powerful than a still life. This often-overlooked style is sometimes dismissed as boring or unoriginal. In Tormey’s hands, however, still lives are vehicles for values, ideas, and imagination. His signature style places fruits, vegetables, and eggs in bright and airy spaces, then surrounds them with stately architectural details. As noted by John A. Parks for Artists Network, “Instead of being presented with a saint or a Madonna within such a context, we are given a fully realized, but quite ordinary, vegetable.” One such painting by James Tormey will be available in Willow Auction House’s upcoming June Estate finds event. The available still life places three golden pears beside a round vessel. In the background, an arid desert scene is visible below a clear blue sky. 

Other notable lots in this auction include a signed basketball from the 1976 Philadelphia 76ers. The 1976 to ’77 season was an exciting one for the Sixers—Julius Erving (“Dr. J”) was sold to the team for $3 million. The American Basketball Association (ABA) had just merged with the National Basketball Association (NBA). The available signed ball contains the signatures of Erving, George McGinnis, and 12 others. Interested collectors will find a selection of furniture items in the catalog, including an Egyptian inlaid settee from the 20th century and a set of three Mid-Century Modern style club chairs. To browse the full catalog, visit LiveAuctioneers.