Works of Le Pho, Thomas Nast, and More at Nye & Co. Auction

Over 500 lots of fine art, decorative art, furniture, and collectibles will soon be offered with Nye & Co. in the January 22nd, 2025 Chic & Antique Auction. The sale includes work by Nicholas Maes, Le Pho, and Edward Corbett, along with a unique collection of traditional Americana items.

Among the top lots of this event is Le Pho’s Mother and Child, Le Couture, oil on silk, and board work. In his paintings, Le Pho often depicted scenes from his native Vietnam in a Romantic and Impressionism style. A master of silk painting techniques, Pho’s work conveys translucency and radiance in color and texture. Le Couture reflects his Romanet period, all infused with Vietnamese spirit. The artist used oil in his mixed media paintings rather than gouache, even though ink also remained popular.

Another notable work in the catalog is a Thomas Nast ink and watercolor on paperwork titled Pure Food Exhibit (lot #309; estimate: $1,000 – $2,000). Thomas Nast dominated American political cartooning in the decades following World War I. Through Harper’s Weekly magazine, Nast used satire and caricatures to hold politicians responsible for the political corruption, economic concerns, immigration issues, and civil rights of the day. Nast’s detailed pictures often included symbolism, allegory, and literary references to make political issues more accessible to Harper’s readers. Among his illustrations are the Republican elephant, Democratic Donkey, Uncle Sam, and Pure Food Exhibit. 

Several pieces by American artist Purvis Young are on offer in this sale, including a mixed-media piece featuring figures on horseback (lot #69; estimate: $300 – $500). Purvis Young portrayed the lives and historical experiences of Black Americans in dreamy, brushy paintings. A prolific artist, Young created collages using broken furniture, old rugs, and mirrors to create his unique style.

Beyond fine art, this sale will feature a centerpiece fruit bowl crafted from New York silver wirework by William Gale (lot #3; estimate: $600 – $800). Gale was one of the most innovative silversmiths in the 19th century, working with sterling silver and coin silver. This mid-19th-century oval bowl exhibits rows of intertwining, twisting wire rising from its interior. The top rim features a die-rolled leaf design on a loop handle-lined background. Silver shields are engraved on both sides of the bowl, ornamenting the oval pedestal base. 

Additional lots of interest in this sale include: 

• A 1980 .999 yellow gold Canadian $50 maple leaf coin (lot #22; estimate: $1,500 – $2,500) 
• The Artist’s Daughter, a 1965 aquatint by Karl Schrag (lot #93; estimate: $300 – $500) 
• A Federal brass-mounted inlaid mahogany tall-case clock (lot #291; estimate: $10,000 – $20,000) 
• A 2000 bronze figure with a solar system head (lot #169; estimate: $7,500 – $15,000) 
• A high chest of drawers carved in the Chippendale style (lot #414; estimate: $5,000 – $10,000) 

Nye & Company Auctioneers is an auction house in Bloomfield, New Jersey that specializes in fine art, jewelry, furniture, and more.  The specialists have earned their reputations by working for prestigious auction houses around the world. The company also performs appraisals for insurance coverage, donations, estates, and equitable distribution. The appraisal, consignment, or auction process of clients is handled with ease by the knowledgeable and friendly specialists of the auction house. Luther Vandross, Naomi Sims, Dizzy Gillespie, and others have had their estates represented by Nye & Company. Nye’s Auction offers appraisers who perform appraisals as part of their auction sales a fee reduction, subject to auction size and composition. The USPAP-compliant appraisal team includes appraisers with experience in each of the major valuation categories, including jewelry, collectibles, fine art, and silver. As members of the Appraisers Association of America, Nye appraisers uphold the highest standards.

The January 22nd, 2025 Chic & Antique Auction at Nye & Co. will begin on Jan 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM EST. To view the complete catalog and register to bid, visit Bidsquare.