George Inness rose to fame when he became a part of the establishment of the Hudson River School. Although the artists in the Hudson River School were influenced by Romanticism, Inness’ philosophical and spiritual themes inspired his works. Simpson Galleries’ Fine Art & Antiques auction will present George Inness’ landscape painting, produced in 1894. The painting shows a gloomy sky along with golden-brown grasses. He employs gestural brushstrokes with mostly brown hues.
Another available lot is Dorothy Hood’s Cosmic Plants. She was one of the most influential figures in the Mexican and American Modernist art movement. She studied under famous muralist José Clemente Orozco, who gave Hood her first studio. In 1961, she traveled to Houston, where she executed many celebrated paintings such as Genie. The offered lot shows cosmic plants in abstract forms. View more interesting lots in this and other online auctions on Bidsquare.
Artist David Willardson has designed a dynamic look for several Disney characters even as he maintained their timeless essence. Developing a lively graphic painting genre for 17 years, he has worked on many of Disney posters and film campaigns. A limited edition Disney serigraph signed by the artist is a key highlight of Lion and Unicorn’s Animation Art & Children’s Collectibles auction. The artwork on deckle edged paper is infused with exceptional energy and colors that exemplify Willardson’s peppy style. Another noteworthy Disney artwork is a hand-painted character animation cel from the 1937 Mickey Mouse cartoon Don Donald. It portrays Donald Duck wearing a Sombrero and driving a sports car on a Mexican street with Daisy Duck in the backseat. Both Disney lots include original certificates of authenticity from the company.
A rare Beswick Royal Doulton figurine also leads the collectibles listings. It is based on the characters from Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, a children’s book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. The piece depicts Foxy wearing a multi-colored jacket and burgundy vest and Jemima in blues and greens on her bonnet and jacket. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Lion and Unicorn.
Brunk Auctions will soon offer a rare oil painting portrait of Marie Laveau (1801 – 1881) that was said to be missing since the mid-20th century. Louisiana Creole Marie Laveau was best known for practicing Voodoo in 19th-century New Orleans despite being a devout Catholic. Although welcomed among the oppressed Black community, the white community didn’t accept Voodoo as an acceptable religion at the time. Because of this, Marie Laveau was often referred to as the “Voodoo Queen” or “Voodoo Priestess.” This work has been attributed to George Catlin based on its signature and likely origins. The painting has a rich history and reflects a rare period of American history when Black women could move freely through public spaces and exercise ample civil rights and civil liberties.
Also featured in the upcoming auction is an 18-karat gold Chanel diamond bracelet. Containing 13 baguette-cut diamonds, 34 large round brilliant-cut diamonds, and 40 smaller round brilliant-cut diamonds, the seven-inch-long bracelet has a total weight of 9.0 carats. It has been stamped “Cartier, 750, 813 894” and has the maker’s mark and French eagle head hallmarks. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete catalog and to browse other online auctions.
Paul Jenkins pioneered his approach to Abstract Expressionism by moving wet paint on the surface of his work by tilting the canvas, allowing color to move and pool. An example of his work is up for bid during Day One of the May Fine Art, Antiques, Jewelry & Silver Auction offered by Sarasota Estate Auction. The first session of the sale features modern design, fine art and antiques, while Day Two particularly highlights jewelry and silver. The art in the sale represents a wide variety of periods and styles, including more Abstract Expressionism by Syd Solomon, several examples of Highwayman landscapes by Florida artist James Andrew “Harold” Newton, a color lithograph by Pablo Picasso, and a group of mixed media works by Peter Max.
Beyond art, there are decorative and furniture items such as a Knoll Saarinen “Tulip” vintage dining table signed by the designer, a Victor Vasarely sculpture, a bronze Tiffany & Co. clock, and more. Other items of interest are original posters for several movies such as Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Jaws, and Paper Moon; handwritten letters signed by historical figures such as Daniel Webster and Mark Twain; a collection of 35 Striker lighters; and antique candelabras, chandeliers, rings, and dinner plates. Visit Bidsquare to browse the full catalogs of this and other online auctions.
The Imperial State Crown worn by Queen Elizabeth II is decorated with a large red spinel. The uncut red spinel is 170 carats and is often called Black Prince’s ruby. Red spinels are mostly found in the same mines as rubies, and the two are often mistaken for each other. A similar red spinel from Mahenge, Tanzania is available in this Fine Gems, Opals, Lapidary Arts, and Natural History auction from Bonhams. This oval-cut spinel weighs approximately 18 carats, and it is distinguished by a rare combination of excellent red color, good clarity, and its large yet well-balanced size. Its neon red color is attributed to a very high quantity of chromium in its chemical composition. Another notable gemstone from the African continent is amethyst. This phenomenal gemstone from Rwanda is a member of the “100 Carat Club.” It is cut in a fine triangular shape and weighs approximately 137 carats. This amethyst was discovered in Rwanda in 2015. It possesses good transparency and a high luster violet hue with hints of red.
For opal enthusiasts, there is a black nobby opal from Australia. It weighs approximately 17 carats. This solid oval cabochon black opal is a classic example of a “nobby” or nodule opal. Nobby opals have rich saturation of full spectral colors that can be observed from any angle. Black opals, because they are so hard to find, are one of the most expensive gemstones available on the market. Elsewhere, lapidary lovers can find a sculpted, playful clownfish duo by Peter Muller. It is a large quartz cluster with crystals and two clownfish made of bright orange eosite agate from India inlaid with striping of white quartz and black agate. In an imaginative use of minerals, as if evoking a coral reef upon which the two clownfish play. Find more information about these fine gems, lapidary works, and natural history treasures at Bonhams auction. For further coverage of this event, visit Auction Daily.
The Louis XV-style of decorative arts, adopted during the reign of Louis the Beloved, marked the advent of the European Rococo movement. Originating in Paris, the 18th century-style characterized elegance, lightness, and generous use of interlaced curves and countercurves. A Louis XV patinated and gilt-bronze mantel clock featuring a wild boar is a key highlight of the upcoming auction by Akiba Antiques. Last sold at Christies London in 2019, the French piece depicts a naturalistic cast anatomy upholding a foliate clock case with hinged crystal door. Its white enamel dial has black Roman Numeral numbering and two scrolling hands. Another noteworthy timepiece is a chinoiserie-style black Atmos clock by Jaeger LeCoultre. Invented in 1928 by Swiss engineer Jean-Léon Reutter, the timepiece is a near-perpetual movement clock that derives energy from changes in atmospheric pressure and requires no human intervention.
A black lacquer document box belonging to the Yuan/Ming era is an interesting Chinese lot. With characters inscribed in red on the inner side of the base and lid, the box is adorned with tixi grooves throughout its outer casing. In Chinese, tixi means carvings resembling the rhino horn. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Akiba Antiques.
Noted American furniture designer Paul Evans was a master in uniting craft with glamor. Active in the 1970s, his blocky designs bridged the sleek minimalism of the 1960s with the next decade’s preference for kitsch. Evans’ work has been described as “stunningly beautiful, stunningly ugly, stunningly tacky, [and] stunningly sophisticated,” a delicate balance that secured his place among the greats of American furniture design. Leading this sale from S&S Auction, Inc. is a Paul Evans sideboard in good condition. It makes bold use of color, as layers of raspberry, olive, and sky blue mingle to evoke stained glass windows. The piece is inscribed with Evans’ name and the date of production, 1968.
Other notable furniture items in the auction include a pair of Harvey Probber lounge chairs with brass frames. Probber was a pioneer of modular seating, and he worked on the near-cutting edge of Modernism in the 1940s. The available lounge chairs reflect the designer’s preference for bold fabrics and wide-ranging materials. Also among the top lots are several “Diamond” arm chairs by Harry Bertoia for Knoll, a Wm. Knabe & Co. baby grand piano in walnut, and cream-colored sofas from William Haines. Beyond the furniture, the catalog also includes a lush countryside painting signed by H. Claude Pissarro and a 19th-century set of four oval paintings celebrating the seasons. Find the complete catalog on Bidsquare, and browse other online auctions.
The Royal Doulton company was founded in 1815, and it built a legacy of craftsmanship, rarity, and charm. Today, Royal Doulton figurines remain prized collectibles. Day 1 of Lion and Unicorn’s upcoming May Collectors Auction will feature over 500 lots of porcelain figurines and collectibles, including many by Royal Doulton. Leading the catalog is a Royal Doulton H. Allen Titanian vase titled Beyond Man’s Footsteps. The cylindrical vase with a footed base depicts a polar bear walking in a glacial landscape.
A rare Royal Doulton figure, John Peel HN1408, is also available. The figurine resembles a man wearing a red jacket and black hat riding a brown horse. Also on offer is a Royal Doulton sculpture of a red flambé glazed large rhinoceros resting. Bidders will find additional collectibles from brands such as Lladró, Beswick, and more. To view the full catalog or place a bid, visit Lion and Unicorn.
The “Liberty Seated” design was the longest-running motif in the history of United States coinage. Christian Gobrecht, the third Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, executed the design based on the sketches by the well-known portraitist Thomas Sully. An 1840 Half Dollar coin with the Liberty Seated motif is a key highlight of the upcoming MYNT Auctions sale. This “no motto above eagle” sub-variety (1839-1853) is regarded as one of the rarest in the coinage series. It features the Goddess of Liberty seated upon a rock holding a pole with a phrygian cap in her left hand. Her right hand rests on a striped shield inscribed with “Liberty.” Another exceptionally unique coin is the 1879-CC $1 Morgan Dollar GSA Hoard. Named after George T. Morgan, the United States Mint Assistant Engraver, it was the first standard silver dollar struck since the introduction of the Coinage Act of 1873.
A rare airmail cover postmarked “Oct. 8-13-1923” also leads the collectibles listings. The vintage cover was carried from Lympne to Hastingleigh by the Motor Glider, manufactured by the erstwhile Air Navigation and Engineering Co. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
The upcoming auction by Millea Bros. is a three-day event that will showcase more than 1,000 lots. The first day features Modern art. Highlights include a Fernand Léger gouache, a Richard D. MacDonald bronze sculpture, Alberto Giacometti drawing, and works from the collection of Wolf Kahn & Emily Mason. Kahn and Mason were an inseparable couple. Both esteemed artists loved collecting art. This session includes paintings by Emily Mason, Virgilio Guidi, Jake Berthot, Guido Strazza, and Pat Adams. Highlights from modern design include two Folke Bensow Swedish Art Deco iron tables, a rare pair of Josef Hoffmann side chairs, a fine and early George Nakashima free edge sideboard, and a signed lacquered game board by Jean Dunand. The session concludes with modern fashion and jewelry, including three vintage Mariano Fortuny evening gowns.
Day 2 of the Millea Bros auction is dedicated to fine art and antiques. Highlights among art are a Pierre-Auguste Renoir oil on canvas, an 1850 Edward William Cooke landscape of the Villa Borghese, a Francisco Goya attributed drawing, and a group of first edition Goya etchings. Pierre-Auguste Renoir encountered art as a young boy at the Louvre. He started painting to pay the bills after becoming jobless as a porcelain maker. He couldn’t afford much, so a young Renoir often stayed with friends and borrowed materials to paint. Renoir’s oil painting of a bather arranging her hair is available in the auction. It was painted in 1893 and is signed by the artist.
Day 3 features museum-quality examples of African, Oceanic, and Pacific Northwest objects. They come from the Faith and Martin Wright Collection. Highlighted lots are an Aleut chief hunting hat, two 19th-century Haida raven rattles, a monumental figurative feast bowl, and a Santa Cruz Kapkap pendant. Aleutian people hail from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. They have lived in the region for thousands of years in extremely harsh weather conditions. Notable Chinese lots include a large Ming-era portrait fresco, finely carved jades, and a Qing-era export pedestal desk. Find the listed items and other online auctions on Bidsquare.
