Loie Hollowell is famous for her Tantra artworks that transition between figuration and abstraction. Often called “bodily landscapes,” her art depicts shapes like the lingam, ogee, or mandorla. Christie’s online First Open auction presents Linked Lingams in Green, Purple, and Red by Loie Hollowell. The symmetric artwork with a central axis has a three-dimensional effect, a notable feature in Hollowell’s work. The bright tones and textures showcase her mastery in manipulating space and light. Another highlight of the auction is Pink Nude in Prison by George Condo. The painting reflects the culmination of Cubism, Surrealism, and collage. The blues and yellows in the artwork are characteristic of the visual artist’s distinct color palette.
Another key lot is a broad color striped acrylic painting by abstract artist Friedel Dzubas. The 1982 piece, titled Midwest, is among Dzubas’ sensational works. It features flat patches of bold colors placed close to each other. A wood and fabric piece by Claes Oldenburg is notable among the sculpture items. The offered model is part of Oldenburg’s soft sculpture series featuring daily objects. Also available are works by Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, Alexander Calder, Georg Baselitz, Kenny Scharf, and Sol LeWitt. Interested collectors can explore the entire listings and register to bid online on Christie’s.
The Rapa Nui Indigenous Polynesian people make up a significant percentage of the population of Easter Island and mainland Chile. For most of their income and livelihood, the Rapa Nui depend on tourism, with the main attraction being their giant sculptures called moai. These sculptures resemble human figures and represent the living faces of ancestors. The upcoming American Indian and Tribal Art auction, presented by Skinner, will spotlight a 19th-century Rapa Nui male moai figure.
Other important Indigenous artifacts available in the event include a Northwest coast Chilkat blanket. Finger-woven in mountain goat wool and cedar bark warp strands, the blanket features a dyed abstract pattern. A painted wood spirit board or kwoi originating from Papua New Guinea in the late 19th or early 20th century is also available. To view the full catalog or place a bid, visit Skinner.
This mid-December sale, hosted by Bonhams, reflects on the rich culture of Asia. The collection offers a variety of paintings and decorative art. One of the featured lots is a 17th-century painting of Manjusri and Samantabhadra. The two deities with their animals frequently appear in East Asian painting compositions. In Mahayana Buddhism, Manjusri represents wisdom and knowledge, and Samantabhadra represents virtue. In the available painting, both bodhisattvas are depicted with fine ink lines and bright pigments. They gaze at the red, pink, and white lotuses that emerge from the waves below.
Another piece offered in the auction is an ink-on-paper work by Zhang Daqian. It shows a running calligraphy script on a hanging scroll. Zhang learned to paint from his mother and elder brothers. He sought to replicate as many old paintings as he could in his early years and was particularly influenced by the style of painter Shitao (1642 – 1707) and Bada Shanren (1626 – 1705). Zhang spent several years examining Buddhist murals and calligraphy in Dunhuang, which proved to be a crucial period in his artistic development. View all of these items and register to bid online on Bonhams.
An armillary sphere is a model representing celestial objects with a framework of metallic rings centered on either the Sun or Earth. These bands depict the longitude and latitude lines and other significant astronomical features. During the Renaissance period, scholars associated the armillary sphere with knowledge and acumen. Various notable figures of the age often posed for their portrait paintings with a sphere positioned next to them. A pair of mid-19th century Italian armillary spheres highlights the upcoming John Nelson Collection sale (Part II), presented by Andrew Jones Auctions. Made of Grand Tour gilt bronze, the spheres seemingly float above Fior Di Pesco and Carrara marble.
Another notable lot of Italian origin is a pair of giltwood bronze side tables. The Neoclassical tables feature Lumachella Pavonazzo veneered marble tops. Also known as “fire marble,” Lumachella is a highly rare variety of iridescent marble made of fossilized clam and snail shells. It often adorns stone or mosaic surfaces. A pair of Chinese cachepots made of celadon porcelain also leads the listings. “Celadon” describes both jade green glazed ware and transparent glazing on porcelain. The pottery originated in China and later spread to Korea and Japan. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Andrew Jones Auctions.
This December, Hindman will present a selection of works by American and European artists. One of the featured lots is N. C. Wyeth’s oil painting titled When Drake Saw for the First Time the Waters of the South Sea. The piece shows Sir Francis Drake at the top of a tree, looking out over the ocean. Wyeth (1882 – 1945) was an American illustrator and muralist. He went to Boston to learn drawing and illustration before training with artist Howard Pyle. Wyeth gradually gained popularity for his depictions of the American West. Throughout his artistic career, he produced over 100 illustration books, including children’s classics such as Treasure Island, King Arthur, and The Black Arrow.
The sale also includes Reginald Marsh’s The People’s Follies. Marsh was known for documenting urban life in the early 20th century. The offered painting shows a woman dancing for several businessmen in black suits. Art critic Emily Genauer stated about this work by Marsh, “It was [New York’s] people—and in their least attractive aspects—who fascinated him.” Explore more lots and register to bid online on Hindman.
Sotheby’s upcoming Fine Watches auction will present an example of Cartier’s Crash 18-karat yellow gold wristwatch. It is a limited edition piece that was completed around 2001. Cartier’s London boutique on Bond Street created the original Cartier Crash model. The asymmetrical shape of Crash is an example of the company’s innovation. Despite its resemblance to a watch in Salvador Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory, the Crash does not have any explicit connection to the famous painting.
A. Lange & Söhne’s reference 101.021 Lange 1 is presented as well. Conceived by Adolf Lange in 1845, the company was among the first watchmakers to establish a shop in Glashutte, Germany. In his early days, Lange apprenticed under renowned watchmaker J. C. Friedrich Gutkaes. After he found his passion in watchmaking, Lange redefined traditional watchmaking techniques. View the entire catalog and register to bid online on Sotheby’s.
In 1957, David Webb created his first animal bracelet. By 1963, his collection of animal-inspired bracelets drew inspiration from horses, zebras, fish, snakes, monkeys, and big cats. Webb’s fan following soon spread to the Hollywood circuit, with celebrities and long-time clients like Elizabeth Taylor purchasing his designs. Taylor wore her David Webb diamond-studded lion and pearl jewelry in several of her films. An important David Webb platinum and 18-karat yellow gold carved coral bangle bracelet highlight Joshua Kodner’s upcoming auction.
This event will feature several jewelry pieces from seminal brands like Harry Winston, Tiffany & Co., and Cartier. Bidders will also find a few Tanzanite jewelry items. A Boucheron 1960s platinum and diamond musical note necklace is available as well. The event will also offer a chance to own decorative, Asian, and fine art pieces. Notable among these lots is a Vincent Leggiardo palatial white marble sculpture. To view the full catalog or place a bid, visit Bidsquare.
Erich Weiss, known as Harry Houdini, was a multi-talented artist famous for escape arts and illusion performances. The upcoming Potter & Potter Auctions event presents multiple pieces of illusion equipment from Harry Houdini’s career. One highlight is a rare 1901 bound Houdini Bible red-letter edition from the World Syndicate Company. Houdini used these custom-made Bibles as magic props. Using these volumes, a magician could identify which page a volunteer was flipping. Only four examples of these ‘forcing Bibles’ exist. This particular Bible is particularly rare due to its signatures from Harry Houdini, mentalist Joseph Dunninger, and famous collector Ray Ellenbogen.
Also showcased is a ladder levitation by well-known magic prop inventor Walter Blaney. The 1960s invention by Blaney is an improvised version of U. F. Grant’s levitation. These ladders were famous among performers like Lance Burton and David Copperfield. A circa 1970s club-size Okito checker cabinet with three partitions and a pagoda-like canister is another notable lot. Magician Tobias “Theo” Leendert Bamberg created these Okito cabinets. The cabinet utilizes a unique trick that lets the magician change the checkers with a rice container. The auction also offers Professor Hoffmann’s Modern Magic book, a Der Zauberer magic set, lithograph posters, and other magic props. Collectors can explore the entire catalog and register to bid online on Potter & Potter Auctions.
At first, the Daytona series didn’t sell as well as other watches in the Rolex line. Yet after the style gained a famous wearer— Paul Newman— the watch came to nearly eclipse other styles in popularity. Newman often wore his reference 6239 Daytona watch in movies and at car races, and the design eventually became known as the “Paul Newman John Player Special.” An edition of this watch is featured in the New York Watch Auction, offered by Phillips. The available John Player Special has never appeared at auction, and fewer than 300 examples of this specific design were ever made.
This sale offers a variety of Rolex watches, including another version of the Paul Newman with a champagne dial and Daytona logo. Beyond Rolex watches, the catalog presents examples of the George Daniels Edward Hornby tourbillon pocket watch, a gem-set Cartier Baignoire Joaillerie (also known as “Tutti Frutti”), a Patek Philippe reference 699/3J (retailed by Tiffany & Co.), and more. View any of these lots and register to bid by visiting Phillips.
Louis Comfort Tiffany was the son of Charles Tiffany, the founder of the prestigious Tiffany & Co. However, the younger Tiffany chose to not follow in his father’s footsteps. Instead, he found success as a painter and designer. Then, toward the end of the 19th century and after patenting opalescent window glass, he established Tiffany Studios. In 1893, the artist began blowing vases and bowls with his new “Favrile glass” technique. Using nature as inspiration, he incorporated flowers and plants into his stained glass and glass mosaics before expanding into metalworks, enamel, pottery, and jewelry. Tiffany’s contributions to the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements gained him recognition and notoriety. Featured in the upcoming Bonhams Modern Decorative Art + Design auction is a Tiffany Studios Lily Pad lamp. Manufactured around 1900, there are thought to only be 14 of these lamps still in existence. The table lamp has a green Favrile glass shade and patinated bronze base.
Other items of interest in this auction include a rare Toro vase by Pablo Picasso, an 1885 René Lalique wooden letter opener, artwork by Jean Théodore Dupas, and more. Visit Bonhams to view the whole catalog and register to place a bid.
