A 10.28-carat GIA graded solitaire diamond leads the Brokers Investment Auction from Bid Global International Auctioneers LLC. It is a round-cut, D color, flawless (FL) diamond. The polish and symmetry are said to be excellent. It was appraised by AGI (Accredited Gemological Institute) at $5,582,000. Another notable lot is a pair of two emerald-cut FL diamonds. One weighs 8.01 carats and the other weighs 8.02 carats. Both emerald-cut diamonds are E color with clarity of VVS2 (Very Very Small Inclusion 2).
An oval-cut solitaire diamond weighing 9.54 carats is a notable lot. Oval-cut diamonds are rarer than other cuts because of the symmetrical proportion the style demands. Aesthetically, oval diamonds are supposed to make the finger look longer. This FL diamond has D color and also comes with a GIA report. It has been appraised at $2,432,700. Other notable lots include a 4.02-carat oval-cut diamond in natural light pinkish-brown color (with SI1 clarity) and a 5.51-carat natural orange-brown diamond. All of the available diamonds are recently cut and come with a GIA laser inscription. Find the listed items and more on Bidsquare and register to place a bid. Browse Bidsquare to find other online auctions of interest.
In April of 1950, Albert Einstein was president of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science at Hebrew University. In this role, Einstein sent a letter to Professor Hans Freudenthal (a Jewish German-born Dutch mathematician) to invite him to the institute’s first dinner and conference to be held in May. The event would also mark the 25th anniversary of the Hebrew University, and Einstein hoped to meet “…in good fellowship with men and women who share my heartfelt interest in these three institutions of higher learning and who wish to join me in the joint effort to advance the cause of science, technology and mankind’s knowledge in Israel.” This letter, signed on Einstein’s personal blind-embossed, Princeton, New Jersey letterhead and dated April 19, 1950, is up for bid in Part 2 of the Books and Manuscripts sale at Turner Auctions + Appraisals.
Other letters and documents in the group include a typed letter by Theodore Roosevelt on White House stationery, a legal document signed by Alexander Hamilton, Jr., and a French letter dated 1704. Books from the sale include a signed volume from the personal library of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) and a sammelband of 33 English plays. Beyond books and documents, collectors will find map plates from the Planisphaerium Ptolemaicum series, a large French postcard album from the 1700s, a French patent of nobility for Cajetau-Louis-Antoine de Carrara, and more. View any of these lots and register to bid by visiting Turner Auctions + Appraisals.
Russian painter and theorist Wassily Kandinsky was one of the founding fathers of Abstract Expressionism in the world of Western art. Closely associated with the influential group Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), he emphasized the power of pure hues. The artist strongly believed in the harmony and spirituality of colors and music. Kandinsky’s untitled 1923 abstract work, portraying bright color swaths, is a key highlight of the upcoming sale at Showplace Antiques. In this watercolor painting and ink drawing on paper, Kandinsky uses boldly-colored geometric shapes to evoke emotions and to communicate the spirituality of music. Another work of interest is French artist René Seyssaud’s impressionistic oil on canvas. With an intense riot of colors, the artist depicts a scene inspired by the landscapes of rural France. Being a harbinger of Fauvism, his color palette was vibrant and unrestrained.
A vintage German sterling silver automaton by Vereinigte Silberwarenfabrik of Hanau leads the decorative art listings. The box is adorned with foliage and repoussé motifs of putti playing instruments. With a bird-shaped key and switch, the oval lid opens to unveil a winged bird with feathers made of polychrome. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete catalog and other online auctions.
In the upcoming two-day Winter Sale 2022, offered by Copley Fine Art Auctions, a pair of decoys carved by Charles Wheeler will be showcased. A self-taught artist, Wheeler made elaborate decoys and ornamental birds. He spent much of his time studying the ducks’ movements in local ponds. This study aided him to produce realistic sculptural forms of ducks. The set available in this event was presented at the 1948 National Decoy Makers Contest and Exhibition in New York.
Also in the auction is a watercolor painting by Ogden M. Pleissner. His paintings can be identified by intricate details and precise brushstrokes. Native Americans, cowboys, and animals are some of the recurring subjects of his compositions. Titled Grassing the Boat, the available work depicts a hunting scene at Long Point. Other items in the sale include a black and white watercolor work by Frank W. Benson, a pair of decoys by Lloyd Johnson, and more. View any of these lots on Bidsquare, and visit the platform to browse other major online auctions.
Akiba Antiques’ March Madness auction will open with a selection of over 600 decorative art, fine art, and collectible items. Among the top lots is a three-piece sterling silver garniture set from Asprey of London. Opened in 1781, Asprey was once known as an all-inclusive retailer of luxury goods, wristwatches, and decorative art. Its clientele included European royals, the Prince of Brunei, and notable businesspeople from the Middle East. The available garniture set pre-dates Asprey’s decline in the late 20th century. Amethysts encrust each urn. They feature acanthus leaf details and a distinctly Neo-Classical style.
Other notable lots in this auction include a Baccarat crystal table designed by Thierry Lecoule. A steel base stabilizes the table while four crystal legs twist to support the round top. Luxury goods from Tiffany & Co. and Sèvres stand out as well. One notable fine art lot is an abstract oil painting by Cuban artist Loló Soldevilla. A key proponent of geometric abstraction, Soldevilla was among the few women artists in the movement. The available painting dates back to 1959. It shows overlapping triangles, circles, and rectangles in shades of aqua, orange, white, and black. Browse the full catalog and register to bid on any of these items on LiveAuctioneers.
Norman Lindsay (1879 – 1969) was an Australian-born artist recognized for both his controversial art and his influence within the artistic community. Lindsay’s oil painting, The Castle, will be featured in NY Elizabeth’s upcoming auction of European and British fine art. The watercolor portrays a noble man and woman on horseback, presumably recently arriving or soon departing, while attendants tend to their duties. Mounted on board and framed, the artist’s signature can be seen at the lower right corner of the artwork.
Other items of interest include oil paintings from the 18th-century Italian and 19th-century English schools— a waterfall landscape and The Battle of Waterloo, respectively. Also available are oil paintings such as Belgian artist Larissa Ickx’s signed Girl with a Gun and British artist Beryl Dalton’s Impressionist-style painting of a nude woman. Visit Bidsquare to find the complete catalog and browse other online auctions.
Willow Auction House welcomes spring with paintings and porcelain decorated with flowers in its first auction of 2022. Featured lots include Meissen porcelain ewers, a Friedrich Adler Art Nouveau vase, and a Donald Sultan painting. Adler’s Art Nouveau vase was created for Zsolnay with Eosin-glazed earthenware on an Orion gilt pewter mount. The metal surrounds the pot like a vine surrounds a fruit or a flower. The gifted German artist worked mainly with glass and metal. He was killed in the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1942. Adler’s work can now be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Also featured in the March Curation Spring Fling sale is a Donald Sultan painting titled Mimosas. It is Conté crayon on paper, finished and signed on April 8th, 2006. It bears a Mary Ryan Gallery label with information on verso. This is a complete 180 from the ‘Disaster Pictures’ that Sultan is known for, which feature industrial materials such as tar, linoleum or vinyl tiles, and spackle. The sale also has a collection of Louis Pierre Ledoux furniture, rugs, silver, porcelain, and glass, as well as religious, decorative, and ethnographic items. Find the listed lots and more on LiveAuctioneers and register to place a bid.
Lladró, a Spanish company, started making porcelain figurines and decorative sculptures in 1956 and soon carved a name for itself in the art world. The company keeps most of its manufacturing ingredients a secret. However, Lladró uses hard-paste porcelain as a primary material. Over 170 Lladró items will be available for sale in Lion and Unicorn’s Beverly Hills Estate Auction. One of those figurines depicts a popular scene from the classic Cinderella fairytale when two horses are pulling her carriage. The figure is part of a limited edition of 1,500 pieces.
Also leading the auction is a figure of Saint Francis, while another is a matte-finished figurine of a tall woman with a small deer. Fine china and European decor items by other manufacturers feature as well. To view the full catalog or place a bid, visit Lion and Unicorn.
Nicholas Mongiardo is famous for his restored and Art Deco-inspired furniture pieces. Mongiardo’s elite clientele includes Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, Yoko Ono, and Donna Karan. His classic furniture designs have a smooth finish, portraying the influence of masters like Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. The upcoming Stair Galleries auction features a low table by Nicholas Mongiardo. The Macassar ebony and bone inlaid table is after a model by Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. Also showcased is a set of Juliane dining chairs by Danish furniture maker Johannes Andersen. The set of six rosewood chairs by Andersen merges Scandinavian and Danish designs.
Another highlight is a pressed floral and leaf arrangement by William Stuart Thornton. The artwork consists of plants like Gunnecaceae linden and Gunnera manicata against a white background. Thornton’s work is a detailed process, beginning with identifying the right plants to dry. The entire process can take up to six months. These pressed arrangements are notable for their natural compositions reminiscent of country landscapes. Elsewhere in the catalog, collectors will find a ‘Bird’ chair and ottoman for Knoll by Harry Bertoia, Philip Moulthrop’s wood vase, a Lalique glass ‘Charmilles’ vase, and a Louis Vuitton trunk. For more information, explore the entire catalog and register online on Bidsquare. Visit the platform for more online auctions of interest.
Rago’s upcoming Living Contemporary auction will offer a Marshmallow sofa by George Nelson. After working as an associate editor at Architecture Forum and Fortune magazine, Nelson eventually left to design furniture at Herman Miller’s company. Following the launch of his first collection in 1947, Nelson became a leading figure in the design industry. The offered lot is a sofa designed by Irving Harper and George Nelson in 1954-56. Its seats are created from upholstered circles of purple, pink, and orange. The sofa’s composition illustrates the iconography of Atomic Age design. “The Marshmallow is a precursor to the geometric purity and playfulness of Pop,” notes the lot essay.
Another lot of interest is Jean de Merry’s Cassetto cabinet. Founded in 2001 by Christian Darnaud-Maroselli and Jean de Merry, the company is known for its high-quality materials and craftsmanship. Most of its designs represent Art Deco-inspired works. The available cabinet features six compartments, each with an adjustable shelf. Explore the sale catalog and register to bid on Rago.
