Quinn’s June 6 Fine & Decorative Arts Auction: A Capital Collection of Art, Silver & Style

Sale features nearly 500 lots of fine paintings, bronzes, jewelry, and global decorative art from distinguished Capital Region collections

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – On Friday, June 6, 2025, Quinn’s Auction Galleries will present a beautifully curated sale of nearly 500 lots that reflect the enduring elegance and cross-cultural taste of Washington, DC’s most refined estates. From postwar American art and Spanish modernism to Cambodian bronzes, fine silver, and estate jewelry, the Fine & Decorative Arts Auction includes a sophisticated range of property with broad appeal.

One of the most historically interesting lots in the sale is a 1980 serigraph by Andy Warhol titled Edward Kennedy. This striking diamond-dusted portrait was created as a prototype for Kennedy’s presidential campaign and hung in his PAC office until the mid-1980s, when it was personally gifted by the Senator to a senior staff member. Estimated at $4,000-6,000, the work is poised to outperform expectations. Previous examples from the series have sold for significantly more, particularly those with strong provenance. With its bold visual presence and direct link to both Warhol and Kennedy, this piece is a compelling fusion of American art and political history.

Another auction highlight is ¡Viva España!, a luminous 1909 oil-on-canvas by Antonio Muñoz Degrain (Spanish, 1840–1924). Golden sunrays burst in geometric formation across a glowing pink and violet sky above a tranquil sea, while the phrase “¡Viva España!” blazes boldly across the heavens in painted light. Romantic, symbolic and visually arresting, the painting is a patriotic celebration of Spanish identity and pride, at once lyrical and declarative.

From the Capital’s own postwar art legacy, the sale includes a bold 1967 abstract by Howard Mehring, a central figure in the Washington Color School, known for his saturated bands of color and hard-edge compositions. He is joined by fellow Color School artist Paul Reed, represented by a vibrant 1960s painting from the height of his career that showcases his precise color fields and rhythmic structure. Also featured is a work by Willem de Looper, whose atmospheric abstractions reflect his long association with the Phillips Collection and the evolution of modern art in Washington.

The auction also offers more than 50 lots of fine and estate jewelry, including a show-stopping suite of emerald, diamond, and South Sea pearls. An 18K white gold necklace and matching tassel earrings anchor this portion of the sale, which features a range of elegant period pieces, in gold, platinum, and with precious stones, from long-held private collections.

Two exceptional Khmer bronzes anchor the South and Southeast Asian offerings: a serene 13th-century Buddhist triad featuring Buddha sheltered by a seven-headed serpent, flanked by bodhisattvas of compassion and wisdom (Lot 332); and a 12th-century bronze figure of Vishnu (Lot 331), cast during the Angkor Wat period, embodying the elegance and spiritual grandeur of the Khmer Empire’s classical style. Both works reflect the refined bronze casting techniques of the time and present rare opportunities to acquire sacred statuary seldom seen outside museum collections.

A rare 13th-century bronze Buddhist triad from Cambodia’s Khmer Empire features Buddha sheltered by a seven-headed serpent, flanked by the bodhisattvas of compassion and wisdom. Cast during the golden age of Khmer art, this sacred temple piece reflects the spiritual symbolism and refined metalwork of one of Southeast Asia’s greatest civilizations. Religious bronzes of this caliber are exceptionally scarce on the market.

Additional highlights include an intricately carved Qing Dynasty cinnabar lacquer “Babao” plate and a rare early 20th-century Hopi two-horn katsina mask with ceremonial basketry detail.

“This sale reflects the broad-minded sophistication of Washington’s best collectors,” said Matthew Quinn, Executive Vice President. “It’s not just what’s valuable—it’s what’s meaningful, stylish, and deeply tied to the homes and lives of people who cared about culture.”

Closing the list of top highlights is an expressive 1983 bronze sculpture by Mimmo Paladino (Italian, b. 1948-), a key figure in Italy’s Transavanguardia movement. Titled Senza Titolo, the piece features a solitary figure holding a branch and leaning into a red dog. Poetic, surreal, and unforgettable, the work comes with gallery provenance and authentication from the artist.

The June 6, 2025 auction will begin at 12 noon ET. Bidders may participate online via LiveAuctioneers, or request phone/absentee bidding through Quinn’s. In-person previews will be held at Quinn’s Falls Church, Virginia, showroom from Monday, June 3 through Wednesday, June 5. Visit Quinn’s website for additional details: https://www.quinnsauction.com