Massachusetts-based auction house 500 Gallery will soon present its early September sale of antique and modern paintings. Among the top lots is a 1937 oil painting of a red amaryllis flower attributed to Georgia O’Keeffe. This subdued painting is possibly a study for another work with the same subject, also produced in 1937. The piece zooms into the tiny but vibrant flower, divorcing the viewer from reality and imbuing the subject with an imposing presence. A smaller and final version of Red Amaryllis resides in the collection of the Terra Foundation for American Art. Also notable is an oil on board painting attributed to Thomas Hart Benton. A leader of the American Regionalist art movement, Benton sought to capture the everyday lives of working people in the Midwest. The available work depicts three Black American workers chopping cotton in a field.
Beyond American artworks, this auction includes several lots from European sources. This includes a portfolio of German posters from the early 20th century. Together, they show a story of a life unfolding. Bidders can also consider oil studies in the manner of Pablo Picasso, as well as works in the styles of Rufino Tamayo, Sanyu, Jean Cocteau, and Dr. Seuss. The catalog takes in the breadth of Western art history, including stoic English portraits, Op Art prints, Modernist experiments, and contemporary artworks. View the complete catalog of this and other online auctions by visiting Bidsquare.
French furniture and interior designer Pierre Paulin was well known for his work with manufacturers Thonet and Artifort. After enrolling in the École Camondo in Paris, Paulin participated in Marcel Gascoin’s workshop and was exposed to Scandinavian and Japanese design. The Ribbon chair, available in this August Designer Auction from Cain Modern Auctions, is a low-slung piece that is one of Pierre Paulin’s most iconic designs inspired by those minimalistic sources. The bold contoured design made from a metal frame with horizontal springs allow the user to adopt a number of positions while still receiving the essential support from the foam cover and stretch fabric, according to the lot essay.
Another piece available is ORG table designed by Fabio Novembre and manufactured by Cappellini. Fabio Novembre is an Italian architect and designer renowned for creating expressive furniture designs. The base of the offered lot is made of flexible polypropylene rope legs which have internal steel covered with black rope. The top is a transparent glass disc. Find various items and register to bid in this and other online auctions on Bidsquare.
While Herman Melville worked as a crewmember aboard a whaling ship known as the Acushnet, he was given a book about a ship known as the Essex. The Essex had set out for whale hunting in August of 1819, but its crew found little in the way of bounty until directed deep into the South Pacific islands. On November 20, 1820, the ship was struck twice by an 85-foot-long sperm whale. The ship was damaged, and the crew decided to head toward the western coast of South America, more than 4,000 miles away. Due to starvation and disease, only five crew members made it back to land, but the tale itself was used as source material for Melville’s seminal work, Moby Dick. Many rare editions of this book (also known simply as The Whale) and others are available for bid in the Herman Melville Collection of William S. Reese, offered by Christie’s.
Beyond books, the auction also offers many other Melville-related collectibles, such as handwritten letters by Herman to his brother Allan. There is also the complete collection of Rockwell Kent illustration proofs for the Lakeside Press edition of Moby Dick, the original Melville family shop sign advertising “SILK and FANCY FRENCH GOODS,” a log of the whaleship Acushnet, on which Melville had served, and more. View any of these lots and register to bid by visiting Christie’s.
A fancy-cut gemstone with 56-58 facets, a heart-shaped diamond is known for its optical symmetry, brilliant polish, and characteristic faceting. The shape is quite popular in rings and solitaire pendants. Two heart-cut diamonds highlight the upcoming sale of GIA-graded loose gemstones, presented by Bid Global International Auctioneers. One weighs 7.02 carats while the other weighs 10.18 carats. Each diamond has slightly rounded wings and the cleft between the lobes is levelled and sharp. Another significant lot is a Type IIa pear cut piece weighing 5.82 carats. It has one rounded end while the other is pointed. This pendeloque or teardrop shape diamond is a modified brilliant cut combining the features of Marquise and oval shapes. It is noteworthy that Type IIa diamonds are highly rare as they are considered the most chemically pure gemstones. Fewer than 2% of quality diamonds are classified as Type IIa.
A pair of round-cut diamonds weighing 8.10 carats also leads the listings. The history of round-cut diamonds dates back to the 17th century. However, perfectly circular shapes appeared only in the late 1800s after the invention of the bruiting machine. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
A bright blue and orange 2006 Ford GT Heritage edition race car is the opening lot in this Dallas 2022 Auction, offered by Mecum Auction Company. The car belongs to the Mile High collection. It has run 420 miles under one previous owner with a 5.4L/550 HP supercharged V-8 engine, Ricardo six-speed manual transaxle, and a helical limited-slip differential. The race car features a forged crankshaft, H-beam rods, BBS forged wheels, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, and Brembo 4-wheel disc brakes. Its pistons are aluminum. The interior is covered in black ebony leather and has a McIntosh stereo.
An all-green Daytona with metallic white wings is another key highlight of the auction. The 1969 Dodge Daytona is one of 503 produced. The last restoration was completed in 2002. The car ran on the Gateway International Raceway on September 8, 2002, following the restoration. It has a 440/375 HP Magnum V-8 engine with 10.1 compressions. It also features Torqueflite automatic transmission, A36 Performance Axle Package with 3.55 gears, Sure Grip, and power steering. It has rare C6W white seats and black interiors, with Music Master AM radio. The sport steering wheel segment has styled Daytona radial S/R tires with power brakes and front discs. Among motorcycles, a 2022 Indian Challenger, dark horse Jack Daniels edition is a notable lot. Proceeds from its sale will benefit Operation Ride Home working for military families. It is one of 107 motorcycles produced. The auction brings together collector cars, motorcycles, boats, and tractors alongside road art, signs, and billboards. Find the listed items and more by visiting Mecum Auction Company.
Leading this sale from Alex Cooper Auctioneers is a selection of paintings from an emerging artist whose life was cut tragically short. A Baltimore-based painter and a graduate of North Texas State University, Howie Doolittle was a rising star in the 1960s art world. He enjoyed several exhibitions and demonstrated an awareness of social issues that was ahead of his time. Doolittle died while serving in the Vietnam War at the age of 26. This summer, Doolittle’s socially insightful paintings were on view at Baltimore’s Hotel Indigo in association with Maryland Art Place before heading to auction. Key lots from Howie Doolittle include Everythang’s Gonna Be All Right and Million $ Parrot. Both mixed media works use printed photographs, scraps of newspaper, and expressionistic paint strokes to delivery commentary on American society.
Other notable works in this auction include two bright paintings from Pennyslvania Impressionist John Pierce Barnes. The artist worked at the heart of the Pennsylvania Impressionism movement, often drawing inspiration from parallel efforts in France and Belgium. One of the available Barnes paintings is a movement-filled depiction of a man in a blue jacket. He gazes past the viewer with a serious expression, but the background swirls with joyful color. Beyond fine art, bidders will find a range of Chinese export porcelain items, 20th-century miniature figurines, and American furniture pieces. Find the complete listings and more information by visiting Alex Cooper Auctioneers’ website.
An art dealer and author, Forrest Fenn retired from the Air Force to become a founder of the renowned Fenn Gallery. The gallery is known for its wide selection of paintings, bronze sculptures, and other works of art by Native Americans. The second part of the Lifetime Collection of Forrest Fenn auction, presented by Hindman, showcases many of Fenn’s items such as a Southern Cheyenne painted hide shield. The offered shield is made of tanned hide painted in yellow, red, black, and green. The painting in the shield depicts a Cheyenne warrior with a long feathered headdress fighting an enemy warrior who has his bow and arrow drawn.
The sale also showcases a Hidatsa doll wearing a blue necklace. The 19th-century doll has a thread-sewn body and a face detailed with beads. Decorated with a quilled yoke in beaded lines of white, yellow and red, the dress of the doll is made of hide. Find a wide range of Native American items and register to bid online by visiting Hindman.
MYNT Auctions will offer GIA-certified diamonds in the upcoming Collectible Coins, Gold, Loose Diamonds & More auction. Founded in 1931, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has set and maintained gemstone standards through its continued research and by educating both buyers and sellers. In 1953, the GIA used the four Cs of cut, color, clarity, and carat weight to establish the International Diamond Grading System, which is now universally accepted. The GIA has graded the 8.06 carat cushion diamond found in the auction as E in color and SI1 in clarity. The E is the second highest rating for colorless diamonds. The SI1 clarity rating is referring to the diamond’s “slightly included” imperfections not seen by the human eye but found under magnification.
Coins certified by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) will also be available, including a 96-98 AD Roman Empire Aureus of Nerva with an NGC-certified XF-45 grade. Although not used in the United States until the late 1940s, NGC adopted the internationally accepted Nelson scale with its establishment in 1987. This scale grades coins with a two-letter code for the strike type and a number between 1 and 70 to represent the coin’s condition. An XF-45 NGC grade is assigned to coins that have “complete details with minor wear on the high points.” Visit Bidsquare for auction details and registration, or to view other online auctions.
In earlier times, silver claret jugs were used as vessels to contain Bordeaux wine before consumption. Ever since the practice moved on to pouring the wine directly from the bottle, the jug has become more of a collectible. One such claret jug is a key highlight of the upcoming sale at SJ Auctioneers. This silver and amber crystal owl figural piece from Spain features intricate feather and eye detailing and is stamped with hallmarks. Another striking lot is an extra-large black Herend fishnet elephant measuring 14 inches long and almost 10 inches tall. Herend has been known for this style of hand-painted fish scale patterns since the mid-19th century. A passion rose vase by Daum is also a noteworthy decorative object. It is created using the pâte de verre glass casting process, which involves packing crushed glass into a mold and fusing it by firing in a kiln. Daum is the only crystal producer today using this unique French technique.
An American Flyer 20535 S Pony Express passenger set leads the vintage toys listings. It features a powered and a non-powered diesel and four lighted passenger cars with metallic wheels, trucks, and knuckle couplers. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit SJ Auctioneers.
John Moran Auctioneers will host its annual Summer Modern & Contemporary fine art sale offering works from artists such as Andy Warhol, Milton Avery, Ernie Barnes, Salvador Dalí, and Phillip Pearlstein. One of the highlights is a 1968 painting called The Linemen by Ernie Barnes. An American artist, Ernest Eugene Barnes Jr. was renowned for his distinctive use of elongated sports characters. He was also a professional football player for the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, and Denver Broncos. Barnes used his experience as a sportsman to depict his perspective of football players as they are charging on the field.
Also available is St. George and the Dragon by Salvador Dalí. The Surrealist artist was influenced by his interactions with other creators like Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró during the 1920s. In the offered painting, the artist presents a legend of the 10th century. It shows Saint George saving a town named Selem and slaying a monster. Find a wide range of Modern art, as well as Native American items, by registering to bid for this and other online auctions on Bidsquare.
