Willow Auction House will bring over 400 eclectic lots to the market this January during the month’s Uncurated Winter Estate Finds Auction. Among the top lots is a selection of well-traveled Persian rugs. One room-sized carpet formerly covered the ballroom of a Swedish passenger ship. Though worn in some areas, this rug features vivid colors and an intricate pattern of flowers and leaves with a central medallion. Other Persian rugs on offer feature other designs, including symmetrical shapes with tiny flowers, modern squares, and zigzags.
Elsewhere in the auction, bidders will find examples of antique silver articles. A Worcester sterling silver coffee pot is among them. It features a twisting wood handle and a bright surface. Other key brands with silver items in the catalog include Towle and Tiffany & Co. Alongside these lots are various sets of porcelain by Lenox, Meissen, and Royal Crown Derby. A set of 12 green mark Lenox plates is especially notable. The famed American porcelain manufacturer used a green stamp on its wares from 1906 to 1930. During this period, Lenox also collaborated with Chicago’s Marshall Field & Company to produce the available floral plates. View the complete catalog and register to place a bid for any of these items on LiveAuctioneers.
The dry-bodied pottery known as Jasperware was first developed by English potter and entrepreneur Josiah Wedgwood in the 1770s. Its unglazed matte “biscuit” finish and contrasting silhouettes of figures on a colored base (often a blue that became known as Wedgwood Blue) were so popular that the style was often copied by other potters. Wedgwood originals became highly collectible. There are many such Wedgwood Jasperware pieces of a variety of colors in the Decorative Pottery and Glass Sale from Lion and Unicorn. The entire catalog comes from a single collection and features over 150 items from Wedgwood, along with pieces from Royal Doulton, R. John Wright, Lladro, and more.
One of the featured glass pieces in the sale is a Swarovski Crystal Bear Figurine by glass artist Anton Hirzinger. The bear is of a yellow hue and comes with its original box, certificate, and Swarovski backstamp. Other glass items in the sale include a Lalique arabesque amber vase, a frosted glass Fougeres clock, and a Les Enfants crystal shot glass. There are also items from Waterford, Jonathan Winfisky, Harrods, and others. To view any of these lots and register to bid, visit Lion and Unicorn.
Dinky Toys were famous for their die-cast model vehicles made by Liverpool-based company Meccano Ltd. Meccano mainly produced toy trucks, cars, aircraft, tanks, and ships. The upcoming SJ Auctioneers event features a rare set of Dinky Toys petrol pumps by Meccano Ltd. The petrol pump and oil bin set was made with tinplate manufacturing rather than the typical die casting. Another highlight of the auction is a pair of Japanese Meiji silver trumpet vases. Japanese silver articles are known for their high purity and exceptional handiwork. The available trumpet-style vases feature embossed chrysanthemum details.
The auction also presents an Aurene glass bowl by Steuben Glass Works founder Frederick Carder. Aurene is a type of decorative glass with a gold finish similar to Tiffany’s iridescent Favrile glass. Aurene glass pieces are well-known for the beautiful combination of Art Nouveau patterns and gleaming colors. Collectors can also explore Rolex wall clocks, Lionel train models, GIA-certified diamonds, and gemstone jewelry. For more information, explore the entire catalog and register to bid online on LiveAuctioneers.
Christie’s upcoming auction will offer several Old Master works such as drawings, watercolors, and gouaches that date back to the 16th century. Among the collection of 75 lots is an illustration by Italian Baroque painter Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, also known as Guercino. Using pen and brown ink, this study shows a male figure advancing with his sword. Guercino was born in 1591 in the small town of Cento. Though he apprenticed under local artists, including renowned painter Paolo Zagnani, he called himself a self-taught artist. Guercino’s breakthrough came in 1613 with his first Bolognese commission painting. From that point onwards, Guercino’s work drew the attention of many.
A head study by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is another lot of interest. Figures of women were a recurring subject of his drawings. The piece, created with red and white chalk, shows a woman looking away from the viewer. Her facial features have been highlighted with white strokes of chalk. To view the full catalog of Old Master works from the 16th century, visit Christie’s.
When Percy Pierce came across a Belgian FN Four motorcycle, he became rather fascinated by its design. He took inspiration from the FN to create the Pierce Four motorcycle. This became the first four-cylinder motorcycle manufactured in the United States. It was only then that Pierce’s father’s company, which initially produced refrigerators, began manufacturing Pierce Four motorcycles. A model from 1912 will be showcased in the upcoming Las Vegas 2022 auction, hosted by Mecum Auctions. The Pierce engine features efficient side valves in a T-head engine configuration, unlike the atmospheric inlet valves of the FN.
A 1938 Brough Superior SS100 will also be highlighted in the sale. George Brough created Brough Superior motorcycles in 1919. The brand was well known for its innovation and design. The offered bike has a twin-cylinder 1000cc engine and four-speed transmission. The sale also includes a 1935 Indian Four Cylinder Magneto and a 1936 Indian 436 Upside Down Four. Explore the entire catalog and register to bid online on Mecum Auctions.
Sotheby’s upcoming auction of Master Works on Paper from Five Centuries will offer drawings, watercolors, and gouaches that span five centuries of European art. The selection of over 70 artworks captures the evolution and development of different facets of European art over time. This event is the second edition of the Master Works on Paper from Five Centuries sale in London.
Included in the catalog is Head of a Young Woman Looking Down, an important work created with black and white chalk by Fra Bartolommeo. Created in the late 1490s, it is one of the earliest drawings available in the event. Another rare and notable drawing is an 18th-century piece, titled Portrait Jacob Tronchin, by Jean-Etienne Liotard. Given his choice of color palette, Liotard was considered the Swiss master of pastels. An 1886 work by Edgar Degas, Hélène Rouart in her Father’s Study, is on offer as well. To view the full catalog or to place a bid, visit Sotheby’s.
Paintings from Léon Herbo and Retna will lead the Eclectic Eye auction, presented by Akiba Antiques. A multi-colored watercolor on paper piece by Retna depicts symbols in colorful hues that the artist once gifted to his personal assistant. Marquis Lewis, better known as Retna, is a contemporary artist known for his eclectic graffiti art. He has developed a constructed script which he uses in his art. Recently, Retna’s work illustrated the album Purpose by Justin Bieber. This event from Akiba Antiques also brings a painting from Léon Herbo (1850 – 1907), a Belgian painter commissioned to paint famous people of his time. Featured in the catalog is The Charmer by Herbo. It depicts a brunette woman with two birds hovering above her.
Among jewelry, several carved jadeite lots are notable. An early 20th-century carved Chinese jadeite plaque with fine moth carvings is available in the auction. The jadeite rests in a 14-karat yellow gold mount. Other interesting lots include a Royal Copenhagen porcelain dinner set, a St. Dupont limited edition James Bond 007 lighter, crocodile-skin combination lock briefcases, furniture, glassware, and more. Find the catalog on LiveAuctioneers and register to place a bid.
Royal Doulton, the English ceramics maker, is well known for manufacturing tankards, storage jars, stonewares, and bathroom ceramics. The company produced its wares with the “Doulton and Co.” mark until it received a royal warrant in 1901. It subsequently switched to the “Royal Doulton” stamp. The earliest Doulton pieces featured the artist’s signature or monogram underneath. One such highly rare figurine of a bearded man in blue with a plumed turban is a key highlight of the upcoming two-day sale from Lion and Unicorn. The backstamp, which reads “Potted by Doulton and Co.,” indicates the piece belongs to the pre-royal warrant period. Another very rare Royal Doulton figurine on offer is a red flambé glaze ape character with a dunce cap and book. The deep red with smudges of purple and turquoise results from a distinct firing method that utilizes copper.
The sale also offers a glazed piece by artists Charles Vyse and Barbara Waller. The earthenware figurine depicts the legend of St. George, picturing the knight atop his horse and slaying a dragon. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Lion and Unicorn.
Avid antique books collector Holbrook T. Mitchell nursed a diverse range of interests, from opera to classic cars. Those interests were reflected in his collection of books, documents, and historical manuscripts. Turner Auctions + Appraisals will bring 85 lots from Mitchell’s collection to auction in late January. One key lot among the listings is an illuminated 15th to 16th century prayer book bound in Morocco leather. This medieval book of hours served a functional purpose for Christian laypeople. Its owner would pray the Latin verses while looking at the elaborate illustrations, which were designed to inspire devotion. The available volume includes 34 illuminated vellum leaves and gilt edges. Another illuminated manuscript on offer is a 19th-century Qur’an written in Arabic. This version has over 250 illuminated leaves.
Beyond illuminated works, this auction presents a wide range of classic and antique books that cross the boundaries of genre. An English translation of Commentaries of Caesar is available alongside a collection of leatherbound Mark Twain novels. Of historical significance is a book personally owned by Marie Louise of Austria, Napoleon’s second wife, as well as fragments of Egyptian papyrus with black hieroglyphics. Interested collectors can learn more about this sale by visiting Auction Daily. Register to bid online on Bidsquare.
It would be difficult to speak of the state of modern art glass without at least mentioning Dale Chihuly. The artist cofounded the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State, from which many renowned glass artists have been launched. Chihuly has been the recipient of 12 honorary doctorates, his work can be found in more than 200 museum collections, and Rago’s upcoming Modern Design auction highlights several of his works. One of the featured Dale Chihuly lots in the sale is a Persian skylight installation that includes over 120 glass-blown elements encased in a glass frame. It is registered with Chihuly Studio as number 00.942.in1. Though most modern glass design focuses on blown works, there are also pieces in the sale such as a Jon Kuhn crystal chandelier made of ground, polished, and laminated glass with brushed steel. The chandelier had only one owner before coming to auction. They purchased the piece directly from Kuhn.
Beyond the glass items, the auction also features 20th and 21st century American and European furnishings, decorative art, studio ceramics, and more. There are several pieces of American craft furniture by George Nakashima, two steel standing willow sculptures by Harry Bertoia formerly found in the Seattle First National Bank, and a plaque designed by Pablo Picasso. View any of these lots and register to bid by visiting Rago.
