French jewelry designer Jean Schlumberger is best known for his whimsical designs for Tiffany & Co. Particularly noteworthy are his fanciful interpretations of birds, sea creatures, and other natural forms. Inspired by a yellow cockatoo, Schlumberger created the original Bird on a Rock design for the company in the 1960s. Ever since, this iconic depiction has become a timeless design of the luxury goods retailer. A Schlumberger Bird on a Rock brooch for Tiffany & Co is a key highlight of the upcoming Fine Jewelry auction at Doyle. The piece comprises 71 round diamonds, one cushion-shaped modified brilliant citrine, and one small round ruby eye. Another available bird motif brooch is a hummingbird piece by Marchak Paris. The clip-brooch includes 11 oval turquoise, one orange brown old European-cut diamond (approximately 85 carats), 31 round diamonds, ten round rubies, 12 pear-shaped sapphires, and one round cabochon sapphire eye.
A pair of JAR Paris ruffled gilt-aluminum earclips also leads the listings. The earclips are sculpted to resemble oversized geranium petals with gold clip-backs. New York-born jeweler Joel Arthur Rosenthal, better known as JAR, is celebrated for his creative representations of nature. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Doyle.
In the late 18th century, George and William Penrose launched a crystalware company in Waterford, Ireland. It predominantly specialized in fine flint glass that became world-renowned over the years. Waterford launched the Marquis collection in 1991. With simplistic yet contemporary designs, the collection quickly rose to popularity. The upcoming June Collectors Auction Day 1, presented by Lion and Unicorn, offers a Marquis crystal piece from Waterford. The piece is a crystal highball glass adorned with vertical and horizontal cuts and a golden rim.
Several figurines will be available during the second day of the event. Decorative art items like an antique flambé jardinière pottery piece by Bernard Moore will be presented as well. British-born potter Moore was widely recognized for his use of colored glazes. His works are inspired by the use of glazes in Chinese ceramics during the Ming dynasty. The highlighted lot is a vase decorated with several koi fishes and plants. View more lots and register to bid online on Lion and Unicorn’s website.
Though he was a talented painter, writer, gallerist, collector, and teacher, Armenian-Iranian artist Marcos Grigorian was likely best known for his “Earthworks,” in which he experimented with earth, straw, hay, sand, and clay (along with paint). His style suggested the outdoors by nature, and the desert more specifically, by using earthen materials. It resonated with the simple geometric signature of the square. The Marcos Grigorian Unearthed auction from Bonhams presents works from Grigorian’s personal family estate. Works under the gavel span time periods from early paintings to his later Earthworks.
Paintings in the sale include Cubist representations, such as Adam and Eve, and almost abstract works, such as Tree of Life. There are portraits, drawings, studies, and paintings in several styles leading up to Grigorian’s more mature Earthworks. The available Earthworks include a mixed media representation of an eclipse in which the Earth is represented by straw. There is also an exploration of the vertical and horizontal with a diptych made of compacted straw. Finally, there are five rugs designed and signed by the artist in the sale. View any of these lots and register to bid by visiting Bonhams.
The 1970 Football Association Challenge Cup Finals was ranked as one of the greatest FA cup finals and often called the most brutal game in the history of English football. The match between popular football teams Chelsea and Leeds concluded with a score of two to two— making it the first FA Cup Final since 1912 that required a replay. A unique 1970 FA Cup Final Winners’ gold medal was awarded to player Alan Hudson for making 145 first-team appearances for Chelsea FC between 1969 and 1974. This medal is available for sale in Noonans’ upcoming auction of coins and historical medals.
Over 700 coins and historical medals from a private collection comprise the catalog. An 1887 specimen set of gold and silver coins is one of the highlights. The set includes five and two pounds, sovereign and half-sovereign, a crown, and threepence. A very rare coin from the North East Thames, belonging to the British Iron Age, is also available. Visit Noonans to view the full catalog or place a bid.
Patek Philippe was the first luxury company to produce the perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch in 1941. This prototype combined the perpetual calendar and chronograph complications. Wristwatch connoisseurs can find a Patek Philippe ref. 3970EP perpetual calendar chronograph in this timed watch auction at Christie’s. This watch has a 36mm diameter platinum case, silver dial, and manual movement, as well as a perpetual calendar, moon phases, and a leap year indicator. In 2016, a Patek Philippe ref. 1518 sold for over $11 million at auction.
The next notable wristwatch comes from Bovet (Switzerland) and Pininfarina (Italy). Bovet paid tribute to Pininfarina on its 80th anniversary by creating the Bovet Pininfarina Tourbillon Ottanta convertible titanium watch— a tourbillon performing a complete turn in 80 seconds. A Limited Edition 30/80 Bovet Pininfarina Tourbillon is available in this auction. The oversized titanium wristwatch has a 514-part movement housed in a 46mm diameter case. It has a power reserve, a big date, and an oversized tourbillon. Its convertible case enables the owner to wear the watch with a titanium chain for use as a pocket watch or to transform the watch into a table clock. The look of this rare watch reflects the boldness of Pininfarina’s finest electric cars. Apart from collectible wristwatches from Patek Philippe, there are examples from Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Breguet, A. Lange & Sohne, and many more. Find the listed items and more on Christie’s and register to place a bid.
Among the fine and decorative art, furniture, and jewelry items found in Auctions at Showplace’s New York City Estate Auction is a 1972 Steinway & Sons Model L grand piano, serial number 429905. In 1853, after immigrating himself and his family from Germany to Manhattan, Henry Engelhard Steinway (1797 – 1871) founded Steinway & Sons, a dominant piano manufacturer globally recognized for its high-end quality and superb sound. Steinway pianos are also the preferred choice for musician greats such as Lang Lang, Billy Joel, and Elton John. The Model L, produced from 1923 to 2005, is considered a ‘baby grand’ or ‘living room grand’ piano in size. Measuring 39 inches high, 58 inches wide, and 71 inches in diameter, this model is the fifth largest of the seven basic Steinway grand pianos.
Also available in the auction are several paintings by French artist Kayo Lennar (b. 1923) that include Straw Basket, Oysters, Shy Fish and Shells, and a colorful still life oil painting of flowers. Straw Basket from 1990 shows a brown and red colored basket overflowing with yellow, orange, and purple flowers placed on a table in front of a vibrant background. View the entire contents of this sale on Bidsquare and check out more online auctions.
Akiba Antiques’ latest sale is a destination for Disneyana collectors. The June event includes over 600 lots from one of the largest Disney figurine collections in the world. The catalog presents items from the Disney Classics, as well as pieces designed by Italian artist Giuseppe Armani and brands such as Swarovski and Lladró. One leading lot is an eight-piece set of Disney and Lladró figurines from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Each figure bears Lladró’s signature gloss, as well as comical expressions that reveal their personalities and names, from “Grumpy” to “Sneezy” and “Bashful.” Also notable is a limited edition Disney and Giuseppe Armani figure group from Beauty and the Beast. The hand-signed piece shows Belle and her prince sharing a tender moment on the balcony.
Part of the auction is devoted to animation maquettes, three-dimensional sculptures used by artists to test ideas and visualize their work. The available Disney maquettes are limited editions that reveal the early iterations of beloved characters. One example shows “Mufasa” from The Lion King regally standing on Pride Rock; another depicts a young “Tantor” from Tarzan. Other lots of interest include Swarovski crystal versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, a sericel created to commemorate the 30th anniversary of The Haunted Mansion attraction, and miniature figure scenes from Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland. Explore the complete catalog and register to bid on LiveAuctioneers.
Henry Ford, the co-founder of Ford Motor Company, was born in Springwells Township, Michigan to Mary and William Ford. His journey into the automotive industry started at the age of 12, when he showed an innate skill for mechanics. Henry Ford’s career as an automobile builder started in the winter of 1893 when he constructed a small one-cylinder gasoline model. A Ford Mustang Coupe is a key highlight in Mecum Auctions’ upcoming Tulsa sale. The model was first launched in March of 1964.
A 2007 Cadillac XLR Convertible also leads the sale. The offered lot is powered by a 4.6L V-8 engine. Cadillac introduced the XLR Convertible at a Detroit Motor Show in 2003. It was the brand’s only automobile that featured radar adaptive cruise control at the time. Explore more lots of interest and register to bid online on Mecum Auctions.
French-born artist Paul Jouve was known for his wildlife paintings inspired by the Art Deco style. With cats as his primary subjects, the artist’s works show a study of the movement and muscle structure of his sitters. The upcoming Modern Decorative Art + Design Auction from Bonhams offers Paul Jouve’s Lionne et Lionceaux, which demonstrates his signature style. This oil on canvas shows a lioness resting beside her cubs.
Tiffany Studios’ Angel Window, produced around 1905, also leads the collection. Placed in the First Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, the piece was designed by Frederick Wilson, designer of figurative windows at Tiffany Studios. Wilson employed drapery and feather glass in the wings and gown of the angel. Another key lot is George Nakashima’s Conoid dining table. Nakashima was one of the most influential furniture designers of the 20th century. Produced in 1972, the piece’s top features Persian walnut while its bottom is made of American black walnut. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bonhams auction and browse other online auctions.
Dale Chihuly is inarguably one of the most successful and widely-known glass artists of the last century. Co-founder of the Pilchuck Glass School, his work has been shown all over the world and is notably celebrated in the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit at the Seattle Center. Several of Chihuly’s works from the collection of Alice Rooney, former director of the Pilchuck Glass School and Allied Arts of Seattle, are up for bid in the Modernism and Northwest Fine Arts auction, offered by MBA Seattle Auction House. Among the available lots is a Seafoam Basket in fire orange.
Beyond Chihuly, the sale includes more sculptural works, paintings, multiples, and other fine art from artists such as Margaret Keane, Z.Z. Wei, and William Ivey. There are also furniture pieces such as a turned leg dining table by George Nakashima, a Saarinen for Knoll marble tulip dinette table, and contemporary teak line credenza. There are also a variety of pieces by Spokane artist Harold Balazs, a punch bowl by Patti Warashina, a set of three Eames for Herman Miller covered shell chairs, and more. Visit Bidsquare to browse the full catalog of this and other online auctions.
