The sale of a collection dedicated to the liqueur distilled by the Carthusian fathers will be one of the highlights of the “Chartreuses, Grands Vins & Alcools” sale, organized by Besch. A consecration for an alcohol whose recipe has remained a secret for centuries.
The Chartreuse, as we know it, first appeared around 1789, the same year the French Revolution started. Today, it too is undergoing a minor revolution. Interest in this liqueur distilled by the community of Carthusian fathers, whose recipe is jealously guarded, has grown “exponentially since the covid”, indicated Philippe Rochez, Sales Director of Chartreuse Diffusion, on France 3 in 2023. However, for ecological reasons, the monks decided to reduce their production two years ago. International demand has literally exploded, particularly in Anglo-Saxon countries such as the United States, which in 2012 named it the “world’s best liqueur”, and Australia, where the famous Croft Institute bar in Melbourne’s Chinatown district holds the 2015 record for bottles consumed, with an order for over 1,000 bottles! Against this backdrop, the dispersal of a collection initiated over twenty years ago by a French enthusiast can only be a major event on the spirits market.
Among the finest pieces in this collection is a commemorative 70cl “Marseille” bottle, produced in 760 examples.
“This collector, explains auction expert Pascal Kuzniewski, got hooked when he started giving his father bottles of the liqueur he loved for the holidays. An enthusiastic member of the “Club des Fous de Chartreuse”, he was able to acquire virtually all the production periods of the 20th and 21st centuries, and even had a custom-built, armored cellar dedicated exclusively to the liqueur.” Among the finest pieces in this collection is a commemorative 70cl “Marseille” bottle, produced in 760 examples with a personal certificate (€5,500/7,000), and a 100cl bottle of VEP green Chartreuse, for Extended Exceptional Ageing, distilled in 1952 to mark the coronation of the Queen of England the following year (1,000 bottles, €8,000/10,000).
An Alcohol Popularized by Quentin Tarantino
The Carthusian fathers have also paid particular attention to the packaging of their famous spirit. A short film contained in a USB key was slipped into the wooden case of a bottle soberly named Une Chartreuse (€2,500/3,000). It shows glassblowers making some of the 120 bottles in the 2018 vintage collection. “This collector preferred to sell his entire collection, concludes the expert. For him, all the bottles had a special history. It was impossible to make a selection”. A decision that will delight those who, like Warren, the bartender at Güero’s Taco Bar played by Quentin Tarantino in his film Death Proof, believe that chartreuse is a “liqueur so good that it gave its name to a color”.
Gold Standards Auctions will close out 2024 with a robust sale of rare American coins and international currency. The Dec. 31st Seattle Sage Coin Auction will begin at 11:00 AM EST on December 31, 2024. It features 450 lots. Collectors will find early coinage from the first years of the American union alongside modern variations and unusual examples from abroad.
Here are some of the top coins on offer in this New Year’s Eve event.
An 1824 $5 gold half eagle. Image courtesy of Gold Standard Auctions.
1824 $5 Gold Half Eagle
Among the top rare American coins in this event is an 1824 $5 gold half eagle (lot #316682; estimate: USD 20,005 – $30,000). The obverse depicts Liberty’s head in profile, wearing a cap. Thirteen stars encircle her. On the reverse is an eagle bearing a shield, arrows, and an olive branch. This “Capped Head” design was introduced in 1813 and was produced through 1829. For several years, this half eagle was the only American gold coin in circulation. Challenges around access to gold and the metal’s high value abroad led to many of these half eagles being melted down. Surviving half eagle coins in this design are considered particularly rare.
A 1907 high relief $20 gold double eagle. Image courtesy of Gold Standard Auctions.
1907 High Relief $20 Gold Double Eagle
Another rare American coin available in this auction is a 1907 $20 gold double eagle (lot #316696; estimate: $9,505 – $20,000). This coin was designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens as part of President Theodore Roosevelt’s project to improve the beauty and artistry of American coinage. The result of Saint-Gaudens’ efforts was a high-relief design showing Liberty stepping forward with a flaming torch on the obverse. The Sun radiates in the background as Liberty’s skirts swirl in the breeze. Saint-Gaudens intended the image to evoke progress in the 20th century.
The coin’s reverse shows a flying eagle from the side, also backgrounded by the Sun’s rays. This angle was a departure from previous designs, which tended to favor a frontal view of the bird. Unusually, Saint-Gaudens double eagles feature the minting date in Roman numerals, lending the design an antique aspect.
A 1643 silver Sweden 1 RD DAV-4525. Image courtesy of Gold Standard Auctions.
1643 Silver Sweden Riksdaler
Among foreign currency in the catalog, a 1643 silver Swedish riksdaler coin is particularly notable (lot #316685; estimate: $855 – $11,000). The Swedish svenka riksdaler was first minted in 1604 and remained in circulation until the 1870s, when it was replaced by the contemporary krona. The available riksdaler depicts Queen Christina of Sweden on the obverse. She ruled from 1632 to 1654 and was known for her refusal to marry, unconventional lifestyle, and robust support for the arts. Her likeness appeared on many coins during her rule. This particular example– with Christina appearing on the obverse and the risen Christ on the reverse– was produced for just five years. This coin includes the minted date in Roman rather than Arabic numerals.
A 1936 Albany half dollar. Image courtesy of Gold Standard Auctions.
1936 Albany Half Dollar
Other unusual coins in the sale include commemorative coins that celebrate notable events in history. This section of the catalog includes a 1936 Albany half dollar (lot #34584; estimate: $165 – $10,000). Sculptor Gertrude K. Lathrop designed this commemorative coin to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Albany’s municipal charter. Lathrop sought to emphasize the local traditions and symbolism of Albany on this coin. The obverse shows a beaver gnawing a maple branch, referencing the city’s early history of fur traders as well as New York’s state tree. Tiny maple keys separate the words “United States of America” and “Half Dollar” around the coin’s edge. On the reverse is a scene from history: New York Governor Thomas Dongan hands a municipal charter to future Albany mayor Pieter Schuyler and Robert Livingston. Lathrop intentionally included many historical details on the coin, studying 17th-century fashion, portraits of the featured founders, the Albany charter document, and a live beaver. The resulting design remains popular among numismatic collectors.
Other rare coins in the catalog include an 1883 Kingdom of Hawaii quarter depicting King Kalākaua (lot #34569; estimate: $115 – $10,000), a 1921 Missouri half dollar commemorating the state’s centennial (lot #34595; estimate: $175 – $10,000), and a 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition commemorative half dollar (lot #34454; estimate: $195 – $10,000).
Gold Standard Auctions’ Seattle Sage Coin Auction will begin at 11:00 AM EST on December 31, 2024. Online bidding and the full catalog is available on Bidsquare.
The auction, starting at 6 pm Eastern time, is loaded with over 200 lots in a wide range of categories. It showcases items by famous names and designers and makers. Bidding is via LiveAuctioneers.com.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Anyone looking for that perfect holiday gift need look no further than SJ Auctioneer’s online-only Jewelry, Silverware, Toys & Co, Buccellati, Bvlgari, Georg Jensen, Louis Marx, Orrefors, Meissen, Versace, Swarovski, Herend, Gucci, Baccarat, Yonezawa, Ichiko, Montblanc. Bidding is available online now, at LiveAuctioneers.com. Pre-bidding is also available, meaning for those who are unable to attend the online auction, they can still leave their bids now. This auction uses Autopay by LiveAuctioneers.com. A link to the catalog is here:
The upcoming Dec 31st Seattle Sage Coin Auction from Gold Standard Auctions features 450 pieces of currency, foreign coinage, and a collection of US coins. It will take place live on December 31, 2024. Online bidding options are available through Bidsquare.
1861 White Metal $5 Clark Gruber K-10 CHOICE PROOF
Leading the sale is a Clark Gruber K-10 $5 white metal coin from 1861 (lot #316709; estimate: USD 3,005 – $13,000). By the Kagin reference, this piece represents a K-10, featuring a plain edge with white metal striking of double thickness. A Liberty Head appears with “Pikes Peak” on the diadem. The date (1861) is depicted on the obverse, surrounded by 13 stars. The reverse features a federal eagle, encircled by the words “Clark Gruber & Co. Denver. Five D.” This private company transformed raw gold dust into coinage during the Colorado Gold Rush.
1889-CC Morgan Silver Dollar UNCIRCULATED
Another notable lot in the catalog is an 1889-CC Morgan silver dollar (lot #316707; estimate: $4,255 – $14,000). Morgan silver dollar coins, such as the 1889-CC dollar, were struck in Carson City as Business (MS) strikes. Despite the low mintage of all Carson City Morgan dollars, 1889-CC silver dollars are by far the rarest. The obverse features Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap, surrounded by stars and the words “E Pluribus Unum.” At the bottom is the date. On the reverse, an eagle is depicted holding an olive branch and arrows, surrounded by olive leaves. The CC mint mark below the wreath indicates Carson City mint.
1921 Silver Peace Dollar PGA MS64 HR
A 1921 silver Peace dollar will also be offered (lot #34401d; estimate: $305 – $10,000). The 1921 Peace dollar commemorated peace following World War I. In comparison with later dollars, this one was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in higher relief on both sides. The silver Peace dollar was designed by sculptor Anthony de Francisci and was minted from 1921 to 1928, as well as from 1934 to 1935. A crowned Liberty is featured on the obverse of the coin, with “Liberty; In God We Trust; 1921” inscribed around her. On the reverse is an eagle perched on a rock.
1921-S Buffalo Nickel LIGHTLY CIRCULATED
Also available in the sale is a 1921-S buffalo nickel (lot #34408; estimate: $35 – $10,000). This coin was minted by the San Francisco Mint and designed by James E. Fraser. An image of a Native American is depicted on the obverse. An American buffalo is shown on the reverse of the coin.
Additional lots of interest include:
A lightly circulated Seated Liberty half dollar from 1859 (lot #34405; estimate: $55 – $10,000)
A closely uncirculated 1927 Standing Liberty quarter (lot #34410; estimate: $35 – $10,000)
A DWM MS64 Toned 1886-P Morgan silver dollar (lot #34511d; estimate: $$70 – $10,000)
A 1936 PGA MS68 York half dollar (lot #34412d; estimate: $155 – $10,000)
A set of nine 1956 United States Mint coins (lot #34405s; estimate: $25 – $10,000)
Gold Standard Auctions is an online auction house specializing in rare coins, precious metals, and collectibles. It provides collectors with access to hard-to-find items through reliable and transparent auction practices, while educating the public about monetary history. New technology and exceptional customer service allow Gold Standard Auctions to provide collectors from around the world with quick and convenient sales solutions. The auction house’s mission is to offer collectors everywhere the opportunity to build a collection of the world’s most sought-after collectibles at competitive prices.
The Dec 31st Seattle Sage Coin Auction from Gold Standard Auctions will begin at 11:00 AM EST on December 31, 2024. To view the complete catalog and register to bid, visit Bidsquare.
Antique Teddy bears, especially those with fantastic provenance or rarity, continue to bring top dollar at auction. On December 3, 2024, Special Auction Services of Newbury in the United Kingdom presented its Teddy Bears of Witney Sale. This event featured an impressive collection of cubs and bear-related materials from the personal collection of Ian Pout, the founder of the legendary store Teddy Bears of Witney. This mecca opened its doors in 1985 and was the first retailer in the U.K. to specialize in antique to new Teddy bears. Pout’s inventory included celebrity bears as well as ephemera and materials related to some of the best-known Teddy bear fictional characters of the 20th century.
Here are some highlights from this anything-but-bear-market sale. All prices noted include the seller’s premium.
Lot #155, Happy, a brown-tipped mohair Steiff Teddy bear, was estimated at GBP 20,000 to £30,000 and sold for £56,250. Image courtesy of Special Auction Services.
The top lot in this sale was #155, a brown-tipped mohair Steiff Teddy bear named Happy. She was estimated at GBP 20,000 to £30,000. She sold for £56,250 and generated 19 bids. This fully-jointed 61 cm tall bear from 1926 featured many design details typical to her period of production, including oversized glass pupil eyes, long and soft mohair, a prominent and fuzzy muzzle, long limbs, and hand-embroidered claws and facial features. She retained her long trailing “f” style Steiff button-in-ear as her ID and was sold with a signed copy of the book The Happy-est Bear – A Biography. This book was written and self-published by Rosemary and Paul Volpp– the bear’s previous owners.
It is no surprise that this bear once again made international headlines. In 1989, she was sold at Sotheby’s in London for a new world record price of £55,000. The Volpps worked with a proxy to submit their bids; it is suspected that the underbidder was the British Royal Family. Paul bought Happy for Rosemary as an anniversary gift, which led to her name Happy, as in Happy Anniversary. Happy traveled the world with the Volpps as a goodwill ambassador and fundraiser for charities through 2000.
Lot #45, Aloysius, was estimated at £20,000 to £30,000 and sold for £32,500. Image courtesy of Special Auction Services.
Bears with ties to popular culture also broke through at this important sale. Lot #45, Aloysius, was estimated at £20,000 to £30,000, sold for £32,500, and generated 12 bids. This 64 cm, fully-jointed golden blonde mohair bear was made in America around 1907. He was detailed with simple black glass eyes and felt paw pads and accessorized with a perfectly scaled Daks of London scarf and several decorative pins. Aloysius was sold with a collection of ephemera and related items to his role in the 1981 British TV series Brideshead Revisited, where he was featured as Lord Sebastian Flyte’s Teddy bear. This now legacy series was based on the novel by Evelyn Waugh and is credited in part with catalyzing the spike in Teddy bear collecting throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Aloysius belonged to British actor and author Peter Bull (1912 – 1984), who also had an impressive collection of Teddy bears. Aloysius was gifted to Bull by Euphemia Ladd from Maine. She mailed the bear to Bull across the pond, noting the bear’s prominent back hump which had developed as he sat on the shelf of her dry goods and grocery store for over four decades. Upon receipt, Bull renamed him Delicatessen in honor of his past. The producer of Brideshead Revisited selected Delicatessen from Bull’s collection to play the role of Aloysius, immediately catapulting him forever into the hearts and minds of bear lovers worldwide.
Lot #248, a letter and drawing from Ernest Shepard, was estimated at £8,000 to £12,000 and sold for £17,500. Image courtesy of Special Auction Services.
This Special Auction Services event featured a number of important pieces of ephemera related to Teddy bears. Lot #248, a letter and drawing from English artist and book illustrator Ernest Shepard (1879 – 1976), was estimated at £8,000 to £12,000 and sold for £17,500. These materials were from 1971 and included a two-sided handwritten letter, an addressed envelope, and an ink, pencil, and watercolor illustration of a standing bear holding a honey pot.
Ernest Shepard was best known for bringing to life the characters from the Winnie the Pooh series as well as the classic children’s tale The Wind in the Willows. He based his design for Pooh on a Teddy bear named Growler from his own collection. This bear was called Growler because he had a very loud embedded noisemaker in his belly. The letter and illustration were sent to Miss Karena Elphinstone, who had reached out to Shepard by mail to tell him about the history of her Teddy bear named Emma. He responded to her note, penning this letter which gave a full accounting of the history of his Growler and how he became the basis for his interpretation of Winnie the Pooh.
Lot #147, a Schuco Teddy Bear roller toy, was estimated at £600 to £800 and sold for £4,500. Image courtesy of Special Auction Services.
Antique toy novelties featuring Teddy bears in all forms caught the eyes of arctophiles. Lot #148, a Schuco Teddy Bear roller toy, was estimated at £600 to £800 and traded hands at £4,500. This 1920s toy was comprised of a fully-jointed rose pink mohair Teddy bear behind the wheel of a green lithographed tinplate tricycle with a steering wheel. The toy featured a friction drive mechanism and was activated by moving the wheels along a flat surface. This exact example was featured in Pout’s 1996 book, Some of Our Favourite Bears.
Schuco began making toys in the early 1900s and is especially known today for its early prewar clockwork cars, trucks, and other playthings, such as this tricycle. Schuco also produced petitely scaled Teddy bear novelties, including perfume vials, tape measures, compacts, and snuff bottles, often in jewel-toned mohair. These bears had metal heads, limbs, and torsos and were covered in plush, making them extremely durable. This delightfully hued roller toy– the best of the Teddy bear and vehicle worlds– called to Teddy bear, tin toy, novelty, and Schuco collectors, which might help to explain its impressive final price and why it generated 35 bids.
Lot #286, an original pen, ink, and watercolor illustration of Paddington bear by Fred Banbery, was estimated at £400 to £600 and sold for £5,000. Image courtesy of Special Auction Services.
This sale rounded out with fine vintage to antique bears made by companies including Steiff, Chiltern, Dean’s Rag Book, Farnell, Bing, Ideal, Terrys, and Cramer, as well as first edition books, photographs, Teddy Bears of Witney store materials, and other Teddy treats related to famous fictional cubs. Lot #286, an original pen, ink, and watercolor illustration of Paddington bear by British artist Fred Banbery (1913 – 1999) was estimated at £400 to £600 and sold for £5,000. This example from 1975 was titled Please Look After This Bear; a version of this illustration was used on the back cover of Michael Bond’s beloved Paddington Bear, which was published in London by Collins in 1975.
For more information on Special Auction Services’ December 3, 2024 Teddy Bears of Witney Auction, visit LiveAuctioneers.
Looking for more Teddy bear auction news? Check out Auction Daily’s recent coverage of the Japan Teddy Bear Association’s 34th Japan Teddy Bear With Friends Convention Charity Auction.
Dec. 5-7 event was led by circa-1905 Ray-O-Lite rifle game, $319,800; Anheuser-Busch Bevo boat auto, $172,200; 1927 Ahrens-Fox fire engine, $129,150; and drug store mortar & pestle sign, $51,550
Rare Automatic Target Machine Co. “Ray-o-lite” Rifle Arcade Game
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Part I of a fabulous personal collection of antique advertising and coin-operated machines amassed over several decades by Rich and Sharon Penn was the special highlight of Morphy December 5-7, 2024 auction in Las Vegas, which grossed $3.7 million. Acknowledged experts within the collecting world, the Penns founded Rich Penn Auctions, an Iowa business that forged a partnership with Morphy’s in May when Rich assumed a key role there as Market Development Officer.
The Penns’ private collection was described by Morphy Auctions’ founder, president and principal auctioneer Dan Morphy as “unquestionably one of the finest of its type. Every item Rich and Sharon acquired was handpicked with an emphasis on high condition, rarity and eye appeal. Based on what we heard after the debut auction this month, there’s a lot of excitement and speculation about what might be offered in the next installment of antiques from their collection.”
The December event included music, arcade and gambling machines, as well as rare antique and vintage signs promoting a wealth of products from the late-19th and early 20th centuries. Both floor and phone bidders were particularly active during the sale.
The 3-day series was led by a prized holding from the Penn collection: a circa-1905 battery-operated Ray-O-Lite rifle game made by Automatic Target Machine Co. It was an early, especially-rare version powered by a dry-cell battery. Later revamps introduced by William Gent in the 1920s were AC-powered. The auction example had nine unique target features, was in all original condition and retained its additional cord extension. Against an estimate of $100,000-$200,000, it shot to a final price of $319,800.
Two offbeat transportation lots rolled to six-figure prices at the sale. A 1930 Cadillac “Bevo Boat” manufactured for Anheuser-Busch for promotional purposes and named for its non-alcoholic beverage called “Bevo” is believed to be the only survivor of eight that were in the original fleet. Designed as an inboard-style cruiser on an automobile chassis and boasting luxurious interior appointments, the vehicle’s illustrious line of provenance began with Anheuser-Busch brewery division sales manager Jimmy Carroll Jr. Estimated at $50,000-$150,000, the Bevo Boat cruised to $172,200.
A circa-1927 Ahrens-Fox (Cincinnati, Ohio) Model MX-4 triple-combination pumping fire engine, Serial No. 1314, had undergone a first-class restoration and retained all the gear and appointments that were built with the engine. Painted and labeled for the Bristol Fire Department and ready for action, it blazed to $129,150 against a $50,000-$150,000 estimate.
Well-heeled former hippies were invited to relive the Hendrix concert of their choice in a circa-1960 Volkswagen Westfalia camper, a conversion of the Volkswagen Type 1 sold from the early 1950s to 2003. Restored and roadworthy with a 4-cylinder standard transmission and odometer reading of only 6,598 miles, it was fitted with standard birch plywood interior panels, laminated plywood cabinetry for storage, an icebox or cold-box; a sink, water storage and a pump; electrical hookups, and seating that folds out for sleeping. Estimated at $20,000-$60,000, it took a trip across the auction block to finish at $49,200.
A witness to everyday life in the thriving city of St Louis, Missouri a century ago, an original wood horse-drawn, spoke-wheeled delivery cart for Pevely Dairy Co., Grand & Chouteau (street address), displayed its original yellow paint and attractive applied lettering. Remarkably, it still had its original interior seat, bench and fittings. Against an estimate of $1,000-$5,000, it sold for $19,200.
Two neon signs, in particular, lured advertising collectors during the second session. A circa-1930s single-sided porcelain with original neon-skin sign advertising “Rifle Range” was hard to miss with its good-looking crossed long gun graphic and impressive width of 10ft 8 inches. Estimated at a modest $2,000-$4,000, it was chased by multiple bidders who pushed it to a final price of $27,060 – almost eight times its high estimate.
An atmospheric Ozark Court double-sided neon sign from the office of a “tourist court” (precursor to a motel) was maker-marked “West Gate Neon” and emblazoned with the image of a leaping deer and conifer tree. Measuring a full 8ft by 6ft, it bounded to $20,400 against an estimate of $500-$2,000.
It is said that Andy Warhol invented the selfie. Another of his innovations, photo-strip art, is said to have been created in an Auto-Photo Model 14 coin-operated photo booth just like the one entered in Morphy’s Vegas sale. Made to accept quarters, the Model 14 booth was designed in Los Angeles in 1958 and manufactured until 1974. Only a few dozen examples of its type are currently believed to be publicly available. Presenting in all-original condition, including its original signage and advertising, the auction lot sold for $28,905 against an estimate of $2,000-$4,000.
Three of the top-finishing signs from the Penn collection kept bidding cards airborne during the sale’s closing session. A circa-1910s “Corner Drug Store” leaded-glass light formed as a mortar and pestle, with a multicolored “jeweled” center and bearing the words “Cigars” and “Prescriptions,” achieved $51,660 against an estimate of $15,000-$30,000.
Next in the trio was a stunningly beautiful circa 1910s-1920s reverse-glass corner sign, backlit and advertising “Round Oak Stoves, Ranges and Furnaces,” with a Native American graphic within an oak-leaf cartouche. It sold for $26,445 against an estimate of $8,000-$16,000.
And finally, all eyes were fixed on an outstanding circa-1910s light-up figural optometrist sign with the message “Dr. Blakey / Eyes Examined / Glasses Fitted.” Visually compelling with its reverse-painted eyeglass lenses encircling images of lidded, lash-bordered eyes, the 64-inch by 36-inch piece more than tripled its high estimate, reaching $19,680.
Other notable lots included a circa-1910 Mills Novelty Co., Dewey upright 5-cent slot machine with original music, $20,910 against an estimate of $12,000-$24,000; and a circa-1902 Caille Bros., 5-cent “Search Light” cast-iron counterwheel trade stimulator in the original operator’s woodgrain paint. With its original reel, back door and rotating base, it sold for $19,200 against an estimate of $5,000-$10,000.
To discuss consigning coin-op or gambling machines; antique advertising or general store antiques to a future auction conducted by Morphy’s, please call 877-968-8880 or email [email protected]. Visit Morphy’s online at https://www.morphyauctions.com. All enquiries are kept strictly confidential and there is never an obligation to consign.
Over 1,000 lots of posters, prints, multiples, and other fine artworks will soon come to auction with Robinhood Auctions in the Contemporary Horizons sale. Scheduled for December 19, 2024, the sale includes work by legendary artists, including Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Mr. Brainwash, as well as visionary masters like Marc Chagall, Peter Max, and Patricia Govezensky.
Marc Chagall (1887-1985), “Dan” Framed Limited Edition Serigraph with Certificate of Authenticity
Leading this auction is Marc Chagall’s Dan, a limited edition framed serigraph on paper work (lot #359; estimate: USD 1,776 – $2,220). Chagall derived inspiration from Jewish life, biblical stories, and Russian folklore. Chagall designed this image in 1964 following his work on the Jerusalem synagogue’s stained glass windows. Dark blue dominates this composition centered around a three-branched candelabrum. A diffused yellow area is created by its flaming lights in between red animals, balanced by the green space beneath. There is a horned viper entwined around the candelabrum, striking suddenly, frightening horses. Among the candelabrum’s branches stands a vermilion lion cub. In his right hand, symbolizing justice, he carries the sword of war that acts as a scale beam.
Salvador Dali- Original Color Woodcut on B.F.K. Rives Paper “Paradise 14”
Another notable work in the catalog is an original color woodcut of Salvador Dalí’s Paradise 14. (lot #72; estimate: $1,485 – $1,856.25). An important figure in the early 20th-century Surrealist movement, Dali pushed the boundaries of creativity and challenged accepted ideas. His work is characterized by a sense of mystifying symbolism and meticulous detail. Paradise 14 depicts the Apparition of Christ, part of a series of 100 engravings depicting Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. It was published by Les Heures Claires, Paris.
Victor Vasarely- 3D Wall Sculpture/object “Cinetiques”
Beyond fine art, this sale will feature a three-dimensional wall sculpture of Victor Vasarely’s Cinetiques from circa 1973 (lot #122; estimate: $780 – $975). A sculptor and painter recognized as the father of Op Art, Victor Vasarely’s contemporary works are often characterized by geometric shapes and bright colors that create a sense of depth. From the portfolio Vasarely Cinetiques, the offered piece was published by Edition Du Griffon Neuchatel and printed in Switzerland. Also available is a 1975 heliogravure print from Vasarely with a signed letter of authenticity from the artist (lot #75; estimate: $264 – $330).
Additional lots of interest in this sale include:
Nachum Gutman’s Small Carriage, an original lithograph, numbered and signed by the artist (lot #5; estimate: $180 – $225)
Andy Warhol’s Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 335 from Sunday B Morning, a silkscreen on museum board, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity (lot #9; estimate: $2,400 – $3,000)
Poppies Vase, a David Gerstein free-standing sculpture (lot #59; estimate: $336 – $420)
A limited edition silk screen print on paper of Mr. Brainwash’s Love Above All (lot #111; estimate: $3,492 – $4,365)
SHOPPERS IN MAMILA A, a mixed-media aluminum cutout (lot #48; estimate: $11,200 – $14,000)
Based in Las Vegas, Robinhood Auctions is an online auction house that offers fine art, collectibles, and jewelry sales. A wide range of items is available through Robinhood Auctions, including sculptures, paintings, limited editions, and collectibles. Many well-known artists are represented in the company’s inventory, such as Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, and Marc Chagall. Approximately two weeks before an auction, a listing is posted for bidders to investigate and ask questions. Buying items through Robinhood Auctions is easy through either the website or the app. Live bids or advance bids are both available. Bidding requires registration by clicking “Register to Bid” next to the item or catalog. The items sold at Robinhood Auctions come with a money-back guarantee. Clients are also provided with information to aid in decision-making.The Contemporary Horizons sale at Robinhood Auctions will begin at 1:00 PM EST on December 19, 2024. To view the complete catalog and register to bid, visit Bidsquare. Find more auction previews on Auction Daily.
This London-based collector is particularly fascinated by the objects, illustrations and educational aids used to teach the natural sciences in the 19th century. Part of this collection of 300 pieces is to be exhibited in Venice.
How did your collection come about? I’ve always been a collector, but I never consciously chose a particular field: I just began collecting. As a child, my love of woodwork led me to collect objects connected with this art. At university, my interest turned to the caricatures of James Gillray and Thomas Rowlandson. When I lived in Indonesia from 1969 to 1971, I became fascinated by Ming Chinese ceramics. I began collecting seriously in the late 1970s, while working in the banking sector. With help from a Dutch artist friend, I decided to focus on young contemporary artists, which fuelled my need for something visible and concrete I wasn’t finding in my work.
How did you move into the world of cabinet of curiosities? I used to describe my collection as a leisurely trip down a river, looking to left and right at what was happening on either bank, selecting an artist here and there and accepting that I might miss an important one hidden among the others. I’d say it was like “taking the outer curve of the river, looking for deep water”, trying to acquire difficult works often lying around unsold in a gallery’s storeroom. I wasn’t really looking for a new area of collecting. It just happened. I confess I gradually lost my enthusiasm for contemporary art when I felt I really wanted to know more about science. So I read a lot of books by and about Darwin, Wallace, Cuvier, Lamarck, Bates, Haeckel and so on. And I was struck by some of the visual elements, illustrations and models these 19th-century scientists used for presenting their discoveries. I was dazzled by the beauty of some of them, and I began to search for this kind of thing in museum and university storerooms. Over the years, I must have visited around 50 in different countries: all fascinating places. I focused on what was produced in the 19th century for teaching — educational material on the life sciences — and on pieces I found aesthetically pleasing or that had a particularly interesting history.
What are your outstanding pieces, and your favorites? My first purchase was a set of display stands for teaching children in French primary schools. Entitled “Leçons de choses” (“Object Lessons”), it was designed by one Mr. Pitoiset, and this became the title of my book, published in 2015. My pride and joy are my two glass Blaschka pieces: the man o’war jellyfish and the Serpulidae model. Leopold Blaschka and his son Rudolf were German glassworkers famous for their glass representations of invertebrates (species that are difficult to preserve because they lose their color) and flowers for the Harvard Museum of Natural History. I also love Robert Brendel’s botanical models, various globes from Japan, some wax models of plants and fruit from Northern Italy and a set of Japanese fish paintings. We know relatively little about the creators of these objects. It’s rare for the illustrator of a 19th-century publication to be mentioned when people talk about a life science book or teaching material. I love the way designers grappled with different and sometimes new techniques and materials, from wax casting to cyanotypes.
How is the cabinet of curiosities market faring? It’s not easy to find these objects. There are very few dealers specializing in this field. Any schools and universities that used them in the 19th century no longer do so. They are usually not allowed to sell them, anyway. I spent a lot of time visiting the storerooms of schools, universities and museums, to get an idea of what was made in the 19th century and what I should be looking for. But finding material is largely a matter of luck, and the people you know. Getting the opportunity to buy an object is a rare event, crowning a long and arduous quest. Art dealers who manage to obtain them have a limited stock, which they can only replenish with difficulty. Pieces appear by chance in medium-sized auction houses, as the larger ones have moved upmarket. So it’s a niche market, with little information circulating about it. This can be an advantage for collectors.
Your collection will soon be on show at the Palazzo Grimani in Venice: how will it be displayed? The Palazzo Grimani provides an ideal setting, because of its historical link with Giovanni Grimani, a famous collector who had an encyclopedic interest in art and science. I gave the curator, Thierry Morel, carte blanche to work on my collection. He was assisted by Flemming Fallesen in designing the circuit. This aims to create a bridge between past and present, and a sensory experience that is both evocative and surprising, offering visitors a unique pathway to connect with history, nature and art. The public will start by entering a 17th-century princely cabinet, as it existed in the Palazzo when the Grimani family lived there. When they look at the ceiling decorations, they will immediately realize that my interests echo those of the Grimani family over four centuries ago.
Part of the exhibition is devoted to reconstructions of two Wunderkammer. What does the concept of “cabinet of curiosities” mean to you? A “cabinet of curiosities” literally embodies the ideals of collecting in the Renaissance and Baroque periods: a time when art, science and the natural world were seen as interconnected. Voyages of discovery had brought astonishing, unfamiliar objects back to Europe. These cabinets were not only collections, but also mirrors of the collector’s mind. They ran counter to our modern tendency for specialization, with the idea that everything in the world is interconnected and can interact. Essentially, a cabinet was a material representation of a collector’s mind, aspirations and dreams. It was a truly personal space, where each object resonated with their inner world.
What would a 21st-century Wunderkammer look like? It would be difficult to create one because, in theory, there would be nothing unknown, no real surprises regarding the precious objects on display. Perhaps objects from outer space? Or from the depths of the ocean? The real wonder would certainly come from the way the objects were presented: a job for curators like Thierry Morel.
Worth Seeing “A Cabinet of Curiosities. A Celebration of Art and Nature. The George Loudon Collection” Museo di Palazzo Grimani, Venice December 15, 2024 to May 11, 2025 museiveneto.cultura.gov.it
Making its auction debut, The Milan Plain is a late oil by the Franco-Czech painter, whose mental landscapes, born of sensory experiences, hark back to the early days of Surrealism and Le Grand Jeu review.
Joseph Sima (1891-1971), The Milan Plain, 1962, oil on canvas, 60 x 73 cm/23.6 x 28.7 in. Estimate: €100,000/150,000
The canvas soon coming up for sale in Boulogne-Billancourt is a work from Sima’s last decade, a period when he was at his peak, marked by profound pictorial developments, with paintings composed of linear and geometric signs and transformed light-matter. Close to Surrealism in its early stages, Sima’s art evolved into imaginary landscapes, which between 1960 and 1965 explored variations of form in the same chromatic range, where light dissolved matter to reign alone on the surface. His work did away with all external references and no longer conveyed any message. The experience is solely poetic. Its expression was akin to Rothko‘s contemplative explorations: Sima’s paintings became mental landscapes, the result of an inner vision, where the contemplation of nature and the state of mind become one. When he arrived in Paris in 1921, the painter embraced the ideas of the review L’Esprit nouveau, directed by Le Corbusier and Amédée Ozenfant. Their purist aesthetic inspired him to simplify his forms, without moving into abstraction. In the 1920s, his landscapes began to shift towards somewhat muted shades and synthetic representations where light played an increasingly important role. In The Milan Plain, he reduced forms to their most elementary geometry, suggesting an immaterial representation of the earth. Jean-Louis Chantreau (1908-1991), a printer in Nantes, bought the oil painting from the Argos Gallery in Nantes on the advice of his brother-in-law Jean Le Guillou (1909-1985), a shrewd connoisseur and collector. It has remained in his family to this day, and has never before gone to auction. From 1950 onwards, Sima further developed the work on light he had begun in the 1920s. This 1962 work features floating horizontal formations and levitating cloud-like quadrilaterals.
“I think that for painters, lightning, fire and light are elements they must never lose.”
The painting could illustrate his experience of lightning during a storm on a summer’s night between 1924 and 1925, when he was staying with Pierre Jean Jouve in Carona, near Lugano. He referred to it again much later, in a letter dated September 10, 1959 to his friend, the artist Jií Kolár (1914-2002): “I think that for painters, lightning, fire and light are elements they must never lose. […] the subject of my painting is light and the unity of all things. And the unity of all things is the unity of matter, of which light is the most subtle expression—light not as a mysterious fluid illuminating objects, but as a force constituting the existence of objects.” The central part of The Milan Plain could be this lightning, this white with its shifting, thick, translucent duality, which strikes when you least expect it. Sima never engaged in a spiritual quest for light, but in the sensory experiences lying at the root of all his work. Abandoning dark colors, he used lighter shades of ocher and sky blue, which enabled him to reveal the essence of light as a transcendental journey. After the war, he returned to the philosophy of Le Grand Jeu which held that 20 centuries of rationalism and science had killed innocence. He then turned his attention to the unconscious, archetypes, myths, Eastern philosophy and pre-Socratic ideas.
Sima’s Interpretation of Magic Realism Sima came to a new understanding of the phenomenon of light, distancing himself from any reference to external concerns in a monistic conception of the world. Seeking new directions in his work, he materialized light, making it solid and crystalline: “I saw light as matter, and this confirmed my early intuitions. At first I painted landscapes lit up by this electrical storm, then, much later, light itself became the substance of my paintings.” Sima was one of the few Czech painters whose work significantly contributed to the history of art outside their own country. Born in 1891 in Jaromer, 100 km north of Prague, he was raised by a father who taught drawing and was highly involved in local cultural life. Josef spent a year at the capital’s Academy of Fine Arts. Here he was profoundly influenced by his teacher, Jan Preisler (1872-1918), founder in 1896 of the review Volné smëry (“Free Directions”), who was fascinated by Gauguin, and close to Mucha and the Symbolists. Sima played an active role in the Prague art scene, mingling with the avant-gardes and helping to found the Devtsil group on October 5, 1920, which among other things took up the magic realism theories of German art critic Franz Roh (1890-1965). The artist’s work during the interwar period provides a glimpse into his creative process. He processed the sensory perceptions arising from his poetic imagery and reflection, moving indefatigably from descriptive drawing to the purification of form. He transformed his inner world, childhood memories, dreams and experiences into a unique language at the meeting point of Surrealism and poetry. He succeeded in making the suprasensible world visible through the four guiding principles of symbolism, dissolution, geometrization and light. Light, identified as an absolute principle, became the sine qua non for any expression of the suprasensible.
Iconography from American pop culture has long inspired visual artists, from the brands and celebrities that adorned Andy Warhol’s screenprints to the references that characterize contemporary street art. The upcoming Contemporary Horizons sale at Robinhood Auctions will showcase a selection of artworks that embrace pop culture. The sale will begin on December 19, 2024. Check out some of the top lots before the bidding begins.
Invader, Invaded Cube (NVDR1-1). Image courtesy of Robinhood Auctions.
Invader Cube
French street artist Invader is known for his pixelated artworks that reference pop culture from the 1970s and 80s. An urban artist who moves comfortably between mediums, Invader creates mosaics on city walls in addition to wall hangings and video art. His work references video games such as Space Invaders, Pac-Man, and others. American cartoons such as Hong Kong Phooey and Popeye also make appearances in Invader’s public art. The artist has notably engaged with Rubik’s Cubes as well, riffing on the colors and structure of the iconic puzzle toy that was popularized in the United States and internationally during the 1980s.
One such Rubik’s Cube-inspired artwork by Invader will be offered in this upcoming sale from Robinhood Auctions (lot #355; estimate: USD 6,400 – $8,000). Measuring 40 inches square, this wall hanging is composed of Diasec-mounted Giclee on an aluminum composite panel. Depicting a three-by-three grid of colored squares, the piece is anchored by Invader’s logo in the center box.
Other works inspired by American pop culture include Kenny Scharf’s Kalorzi, a 2020 screenprint that is numbered and hand-signed by the artist (lot #852; estimate: $5,556 – $6,945). This limited edition piece depicts a grinning, rainbow-colored smiley face, complete with sparkling teeth and three bulging eyes.
An American artist, Kenny Scharf began his career in the 1980s. He painted alongside Keith Haring (with whom he shared an apartment) and Jean-Michel Basquiat in New York’s East Village, creating graffiti rooted in satirical commercialism. Cartoons are referenced often in his work, as well as a unique cast of characters imagined by Scharf himself. He describes his art as “Pop Surrealism,” a nod to its roots and otherworldly charm. The offered screenprint appears to reference the smiley face ideogram. Scharf elaborates on the classic image by adding the garish, toothy smile and extra eye.
Craig Alan, Populus: How About a Magic Trick, giclee on canvas. Image courtesy of Robinhood Auctions.
Craig Alan Painting
Other aspects of American pop culture that have filtered into the fine art world include comic books. Both the style and characters from this classic medium have entered the popular lexicon. While some artists continue to create new comic books and superheroes, others embrace the existing canon by leaning into nostalgia or offering a fresh perspective.
Contemporary artist Craig Alan is among those who have worked in this genre. He is best known for his Populus series, which views groups of human figures from the air as they form an image. The style winks at Pointillism, with its emphasis on acknowledging the whole picture rather than individual marks (or people). Pieces from this series have recreated works by Robert Indiana and Roy Lichtenstein, as well as real celebrities and fictional comic book characters. Belonging to the latter group is Alan’s Populus: How About a Magic Trick, a framed Giclee on canvas signed by the artist (lot #772; estimate: $4,176 – $5,220). Using Alan’s signature aerial technique, the piece depicts Heath Ledger as the Joker in the 2008 film The Dark Knight. Outlined in black, the character’s mouth is a slash of red.
Each of these items will be available in Robinhood Auctions’ Contemporary Horizons sale. Bidding will begin at 1:00 PM EST on December 19, 2024. To browse the complete catalog and register to bid, visit Bidsquare.
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