Contemporary American artist Philip Taaffe is best known for his visually stimulating works. His art is a synthesis of cultural motifs, abstract patterns, and process-based techniques. From Islamic mosques to Japanese perforated screens, Taaffe borrows richly from his extensive world travels. His works have been displayed at solo exhibitions, including art galleries in Dublin, Paris, and Brooklyn. Taaffe’s oil on paper mounted to canvas, Anthology III, is a key lot of the upcoming Winter Southern Estates sale at Everard Auctions and Appraisals. Dated 1991-92, the painting highlights dense patterns in shades of green, purple, and pink on a pale yellow background. It is also noteworthy for its iconographic abstraction.
A portrait by Scottish artist Harrington Mann depicting his niece, Erminie Pamela Sharpe, also leads the listings. The oil on canvas depicts the young girl dressed in a blue dress and yellow tights with a hula hoop in her hands. A member of the influential Glasgow Boys movement in the 1880s, Harrington shared a collective passion for naturalism and realism. Glasgow School artists painted real people in real settings using techniques considered innovative for the time.
French glassmaker Lalique’s glass and chrome Chene chandelier (1955) is a striking decorative lot. With 12 glass leaf inserts above a domed base and three interior lights, the chandelier is designed with a frosted glass ceiling mount. Fabric covers the metal cable. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
Auguste Rodin’s fragmented metal, marble, and bronze sculptures questioned the traditional notion of beauty. They paved the way for modern sculptures. Rodin became increasingly experimental when he created works like Crouching Woman, now displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Le Penseur (The Thinker) is one of his most recognized sculptures at the Musée Rodin in Paris. A Rodin bronze with verdigris patina sculpture, dedicated to Mrs. Merrill and her daughter Sally, is available in Freeman’s February auction. Mr. Thomas Merrill and Mrs. Elizabeth Musgrave commissioned the piece in 1908. After Sally’s sad demise, Rodin created the sculpture based on photos of the mother and daughter embracing each other lovingly.
Freeman’s upcoming auction also honors Old Masters like Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Salomon van Ruysdael, Adriaen Jansz van Ostade, Hugues Merle, and others. Two paintings from Corot executed in the late 18th century are available in the auction. A notable painting by Salomon van Ruysdael depicts a 16th-century Dutch town. The landscape painter from Haarlem progressed from painting trees and dunes to spacious landscapes with broad expanses of water. The available painting shows sailing boats by a riverbank in an old Dutch town using a bold palette of blue and black. Find all the listed items on Bidsquare and register to place a bid.
Highlighted in the upcoming Thomaston Place Auction Galleries multi-day sale is an 1860s British soldier-made quilt. This U.S. Civil War-era quilt was constructed with Melton wool, possibly from soldiers’ uniforms. Featured at the center are the American flag and the British flag. The words “In God We Trust” are found above and below the flags with the UK and US patriotic shields at the sides.
Also offered is a mid-19th-century oak desk. The desk is thought to be made from the wood of the British ship Minden. Francis Scott Key was a prisoner on the ship when he wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The desk, with its original old dark stain, measures 37.5 inches high, 23 inches deep, and 24 inches across. The first day of bidding particularly features several works by American folk artist Bill Traylor and an assortment of New England portraits. The second day includes seascapes by Friedrich Nerly II, James Edward Buttersworth, and Robert Swain Gifford. View these items and register to bid by visiting Bidsquare.
Robert Colescott’s Cubism-inspired artworks convey social issues through abstract and cartoonish imagery. The unique perspectives and experiences of the viewer define the meanings of his paintings. The upcoming Bonhams auction presents an acrylic piece by Robert Colescott. White Boy demonstrates the ‘Venetian Glow’ effect with its red background showcasing the subjects of the painting. It explores social themes like identity issues and racial inequalities. It particularly highlights obstacles faced by women of color in American society. Robert Colescott was the first Black American painter with a solo exhibition at the Venice Biennale. The available painting appeared in the 1997 milestone exhibit.
The auction also features Untitled (A picture is worth more than a thousand words) by Barbara Kruger. Her collage-style photographs showcase demonstrative phrases in red text. Kruger is known for critiquing cultural establishments like identity, sexuality, and power. The available image depicts a model against the artist’s signature white background and colored letters. A 2001 bronze horse sculpture by Deborah Butterfield is another highlight. The ōhi wood cast figurine’s trompe l’oeil effect suggests the horse’s power. According to the sculptor, the horse represents the Earth and its untouched beauty. The auction also offers works by Marc Quinn, Ed Ruscha, Evan Nesbit, and Ai Yamaguchi. Interested collectors can explore the entire catalog and register to bid online on Bonhams.
Pseudonymously named England-based street artist Banksy is the subject of speculation and intrigue. His real name and identity remain unconfirmed, and his work often appears as graffiti. An active street artist since the 1990s, Banksy’s distinctive style is achieved at least in part with a stenciling technique. One of Banksy’s early motifs, known as the Flying Copper, shows a heavily armed police officer with a yellow smiley face and small angel-style wings. The Flying Copper motif first appeared at Turf War in East London in 2003, which was Banksy’s first major exhibition. Similar images have appeared often in Banksy’s work. A print of Banksy’s Flying Copper character is available in the Passion Sale of Modern and Contemporary Art, offered by Dane Fine Art.
The sale consists of over 1,000 lots, most of them modern and contemporary prints and multiples. Modern highlights include works by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró, and more. Contemporary works include three originals by Banksy, a Navaho mask painting by James Havard (along with five more works by Havard), several KAWS prints, works by Jeff Koons, and more. View any of these lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
Showplace’s New York City Estate Auction will present an Etruscan-style bracelet for online bidding. The piece is set with round cabochon-cut rubies. For a time, Etruscan art illustrated disparate influences similar to those seen in Greek art. The Etruscan civilization was particularly known for its craftsmanship with gold. At the time, gold jewelry was popularly used as funerary objects. Mostly depicting mythological creatures, such as sphinxes and griffins, Etruscan pieces can be characterized by intricate patterns.
Collectors can also discover Bueche-Girod’s 18-karat yellow gold timepiece. Featuring a mechanical movement, the ladies’ dress watch has an oval tessellated dial. Bueche-Girod was a watchmaking company that was founded in 1947. It was well-known for creating innovative components such as the moon phase and plain calendar. Shortly after its inception, founder Vital Bueche began producing watches for Cartier and Bulova. Also available in the sale is a crystal chandelier and ormolu side table in the style of Louis XVI. View a range of lots and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Ansel Adams had a vision of preserving America’s wild and scenic areas. He achieved this as a photographer and an environmentalist. In 1930, Adams met American photographer Paul Strand. After viewing Strand’s work, Adams adopted simplicity in his images. In 1932, after Adams founded the Group f.64 association of West Coast photographers, sharp black and white images became synonymous with the group’s identity.
In its upcoming auction, Sotheby’s will present the David H. Arrington Collection of Ansel Adams Photographs. Some of these works are rare to find and have been sourced directly from Adams’ family. An edition of Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico lived in Adams’ family home. It will now be presented at auction for the first time. Most of Adams’ work depicts the hidden geographies of the American West. Many pictures that depict Yosemite National Park will also be available. To view the full catalog or place a bid, visit Sotheby’s.
American painter Gertrude Abercrombie was known as “the queen of the bohemian artists.” The imagery in her paintings had an enigmatic connection to her dreams. Abercrombie once dreamed of an ostrich egg, and it mysteriously appeared when someone gave it to her in reality. The egg became a distinctive personal reference in three of her most significant paintings. One of them, The Dinosaur, is a key highlight of this upcoming Hindman auction. The oil on panel image of a barren landscape with a tiny dinosaur and a large ostrich egg characterizes Abercrombie’s surrealistic style. This work shows a three-dimensional composition with a small black cloud above the dinosaur and a large white one over the egg.
Another noteworthy artwork is an ink and acrylic on panel by visual artist Clarence Morgan. The Crucible, Offline Composite, The Elegant Science, and Harvest Turn illustrates his focus on biomorphic forms. Morgan created intricate patterns of abstract shapes having their own visual tempo. Yannis Gaïtis’ My Side-Your Side also leads the listings. The oil on wood and canvas depicts repeating images of men identically dressed in plaid jackets and hats. The Greek artist celebrated this modern representation of men throughout his body of work. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Hindman.
Born in 1853, David James was an influential but little-known Marine painter. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1886. James was fond of painting the sea from the shore. Much like Henry Moore, the artist studied the sea waves instead of topographical coastal views. A key painting by David James will cross the auction block in the forthcoming sale from Associated Estate & Appraisal. The oil on canvas work is a seascape with gulls in the frame.
Demetre Chiparus’ work is also represented in this February auction. He was born in Dorohoi, Romania. The renowned sculptor used the Art Deco style in many of his works. Using a technique known as chryselephantine, Chiparus’ sculptures frequently depicted women dancers in ancient Egyptian attire. Chiparus took inspiration from Serge Diaghilev’s sculptures of Russian ballet dancers. The offered lot depicts a couple dancing to the music of matching cymbals. Explore more lots and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Rago’s next auction is a feast for the eyes and mind. The auction house presents property from the Collection of Seymour Stein. The influential music executive was the Chairman of Sire Records and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. Along with music, Stein has a keen eye for art and anything artistic. His estate auction starts with George Tooker’s Sleep. The tempera on board shows a man sleeping on a comfortable-looking bed with his arm covering his eyes. The background also looks calming, but there is something about the sleeping man that makes the viewer feel like he isn’t entirely comfortable. Tooker spent much of his childhood in Brooklyn and Long Island, later graduating from Harvard with an English degree. However, it was the art he was interested in. Tooker’s works like Subway (1950) and The Waiting Room (1957) are influential for their haunting depiction of everyday urban life.
Another notable lot from Seymour Stein’s collection is a composition by Jean Dunand. This piece is stucco with gold leaf and lacquer over wood that depicts fishermen on a boat pulling the fish in. Jean Dunand was one of the few Western artists who mastered Japanese lacquer techniques. He created unique patterns called Dunand’s eggshell, an example of which is available in this auction. The catalog also offers floor lamps from Edgar Brandt, glass panels from René Lalique, vases from Charles Catteau, and cocktail shakers from J. A. Henckels. Find the listed items and the auction catalog by visiting Rago.
