After his graduation from Harvard University, Louis Pierre Ledoux set out for Papua New Guinea. He planned to study the Murik people of the eastern Sepik River. Ledoux enjoyed the support of pioneering cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead throughout his travels. Willow Auction House’s upcoming sale will feature artifacts, documents, and photographs relating to Louis Ledoux’s travels through Papua New Guinea. Several traditional kamdimbong figures are on offer. These statues represent Murik ancestors, heroes, and mythical figures. One available kamdimbong has a masked face, pointed nose, loincloth, and fiber armband.
Various carved masks from Papua New Guinea are also available. Sepik River masks are particularly recognizable for their long, sharp noses and spiral designs. The Kopar and Angoram people likely made several of the available masks to resemble spirits. These masks, along with a variety of anthropomorphic openwork figures, appeared in various ceremonies. Beyond artifacts, this auction will present Louis Ledoux’s unpublished manuscript and field notes. Bidders will also find photos and enlargements taken by Ledoux during his time with the Murik people. Find the full catalog and register to bid on LiveAuctioneers.
Before Johannes Kepler studied the path of Mars, many believed that planetary orbits were circular. Kepler’s findings, which resulted in his first two laws of planetary motion, showed that the orbits of the planets are, instead, elliptical. He also discovered that the planets move more rapidly as they came closer to the sun. Johannes Kepler first presented these observations in the book Astronomia nova, or New Astronomy, a copy of which is up for bid in Christie’s Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts auction. Kepler’s understanding of how the planets travel through the solar system was essential to the observations and discoveries of astronomers who followed him. Although the print run of Astronomia nova was not recorded, Kepler did not intend the few copies for a public audience.
Other scientific works in the auction include an original copy of On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, as well as a group of early maps and atlases. There are also literary rarities such as the second folio of Shakespeare’s plays, and religious items such as a leaf from the Gutenberg Bible. Bidders can also consider a book of cat drawings by French avant-garde artist Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita. View any of these lots and register to bid at Christie’s.
Mecum Auctions will present a two-day sale of classic cars and motorcycles in Chattanooga this October. The event is part of the second annual Chattanooga Motorcar Festival. Among the featured vehicles is a 1965 Lola T70 Mk1 Spyder formerly owned by automotive designer Carroll Shelby and racing driver Dan Gurney. Lola Cars, a British racing manufacturer, launched the Lola T70 Spyder to compete in American races. The T70’s small chassis was groundbreaking in the 60s and later inspired designs from Chaparral Cars and other brands. The available T70 has a two-tone exterior with aqua accents.
Several vintage cars from the 1950s are also on offer. Collectors can consider a 1958 Chevrolet Impala with a sleek black exterior. This car was an Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Grand National winner. General Motors launched the first generation 1958 Impala to celebrate 50 years of production. The design helped Chevrolet return to the top of the market. Also from 1958 is a Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a white exterior and recently restored interior. Bidders will find vintage cars from Toyota, BMW, Porsche, Jaguar, and Pontiac in the auction catalog. For the listings and to register to bid, visit Mecum Auctions.
French artist Charles-Henri-Joseph Cordier was among the most celebrated sculptors in the 19th century. Working as an ethnographic sculptor for the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle in Paris, the artist built an international following. He was best known for depicting people of varying ethnicities. Cordier drew inspiration from the Orientalist movement. A bust crafted by Charles-Henri-Joseph Cordier will lead the upcoming Hindman auction. The piece shows a young girl wearing a large hat. She gazes away from the viewer.
The sale offers a range of European decorative art and furniture pieces. One of the featured lots is an 18th-century Flemish tapestry depicting the story of Hero and Leander. This Greek myth revolves around a virgin priestess of Aphrodite, named Hero, who fell in love with Leander of Abydos. In this tapestry, Leander swims across the Hellespont to visit her. View other items and register to bid online on Hindman’s website.
As part of the ancient tributary system of China’s foreign relations, envoys sent exotic gifts as a tribute to the Chinese emperor. The foreign envoy could only trade in China after completing this ritual. Among the exquisite gifts offered to the Chinese emperors, imperial gilt bronze boxes held a special place. A Qianlong tribute box with sea pearl panels and hand chased enamel is a key highlight of the upcoming Akiba Antiques auction. The box features ruby-colored glass and mirror work. Both the lid and bottom open to reveal a hidden compartment.
Another notable lot from the Qing dynasty is a pair of yellow ground embroidered silk pillows. These bear intricate lotus and floral motifs, as well as geometric patterns. A Chinese celadon jade tray with millet and goose motifs also leads the listings. It is framed in wood with a pierced back, calligraphy inscription, and silver seal. Rounding out the featured lots is a pair of terracotta statues. These portray Greco-Roman figures seated on a square base, holding items from the harvest. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit LiveAuctioneers.
In 1900, Joshua Lionel Cowen established the Lionel Manufacturing Company and constructed his first train, the Electric Express. However, Cowen originally designed the train to be a display piece for toy stores instead of a child’s plaything. By 1906, the company had designed the three-rail track. This year also saw the first transformer, various steam locomotives, and an assortment of cars. SJ Auctioneers will offer a rare Lionel train #6557 in the upcoming Prewar and Postwar Toy Auction. This 1947 limited edition illuminated caboose features a smoke generator. Puffs of liquid smoke float from the stack as the train moves along the track. The reddish-brown die-cast metal housing comes complete with metal wheels and axles.
Also available is Volume 28 of the comic book The Haunt of Fear by EC Comics. Because of its low production, this Golden Age comic is considered rare. Other items include a 15-inch 1971 Raggedy Andy doll, a collection of five Matchbox vehicles in their original boxes, and a 1920s Schoenhut Barney Google character. View the full catalog and place a bid by visiting LiveAuctioneers.
A Nepalese gilt copper alloy figure of Vasudhara will lead the upcoming Asian Arts auction, hosted by Freeman’s. In the ritual text of Hindu culture, Vasudhara is known as the deity of wealth. The available figure wears a large crown and bodhisattva jewelry pieces. She is seated in a varadamudra position atop an ebonized wood stand.
Also included is a Chinese blue and white porcelain ‘rouleau’ vase. This style is also commonly known as bangchuiping in Chinese. French scholars coined the term ‘rouleau’ to describe the style’s cylindrical shape and straight narrow neck that rises from an angular shoulder. This type of vase first emerged during the Kangxi period. A large Chinese polychrome stucco fresco panel from the Yuan or Ming dynasty is also available. Its center shows a celestial goddess wearing luxurious garments and an elaborate phoenix crown. She holds a sword in her left hand. Find other key Asian art lots and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Augustino, Annibale, and Ludovico Carracci comprised the Carracci family of painters. In 1582, the Carraccis founded an art academy to spread their original artistic theories and rebel against the highly stylized works of Mannerism in the Italian art scene. The iconic ceiling of the Gallery of the Palazzo Farnese in Rome is the cornerstone work of Annibale Carracci, the most popular of the Carracci family. The upcoming Christie’s auction of Old Master Paintings and Sculpture highlights Annibale Carracci’s work, titled The Annunciation. The available painting was unseen in the auction world before its reemergence in 2013.
Another lot of interest, titled Master of the Wallraf Triptych, depicts several biblical scenes. Named in honor of its earliest known owner, Ferdinand Franz Wallraf, the creator of the piece remains unidentified. The painting features the original molded frame and hinges. Works by Henry Fuseli, Lucas Van, and other Medieval to Neoclassicist artists are available for sale. To view the full catalog or to place a bid, visit Christie’s.
California Style School artist Dong Kingman was among the seminal watercolor painters of America. He was famous for his cityscapes depicting the urban lifestyle in San Francisco and New York City. The upcoming Leonard Auction event presents Guanajuato, Mexico, a watercolor landscape by Dong Kingman. The available painting portrays a scene at Plaza de la Paz as people and cattle linger around the Our Lady of Guanajuato statue. It is a prominent example of the artist’s post-war artworks with an abstract geometric style and complex themes. Fine art collectors will also find a still life by Henry Faulkner portraying a bunch of roses in a vase against a pink background. The oil on Masonite piece depicts Faulkner’s colorist and Surrealist style.
Also showcased is an Ecrou de Cartier bracelet inspired by Cartier’s iconic jewelry designer Aldo Cipullo. The 18-karat yellow gold bracelet reflects a mix of industrial design innovations. Another auction highlight is a Gorham sterling silver Melrose flatware assortment. The company defined this 1948 Rococo Revival pattern flatware series as a symbol of the “American way of living.” The scallop-design flatware features a combination of classic scroll leaves and floral patterns. Additional lots include a Persian Hamadan wool rug, a Waterford Crystal assortment, and Rado timepieces. Interested collectors can explore the entire catalog and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Roy Lichtenstein turned images from popular culture to art, much like his contemporaries Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg. Several works by Lichtenstein are available in Rago’s upcoming Prints + Multiples auction. Pop Art received criticism for focusing on mundane mass-produced objects and imagery. Lichtenstein changed that by drawing attention to objects that are often overlooked. The available collection of ten screenprints and collages by Lichtenstein comes from his Entablature series. Tyler Graphics published the prints in 1976.
Another notable artist with work available in the sale is Julian Opie. Like Lichtenstein, Opie uses simple lines to create his subjects. His portraits and animated walking figures have made their way to the Dentsu Building in Tokyo, City Hall Park in New York, and Regent’s Palace in London. A set of six screenprints, together titled Elena and Cressie get ready for the party, are available in the auction. Opie used an inkjet background to bring out the playful colors of the prints. Also on offer is Pablo Picasso’s Femme Couchée et Homme à la Guitare, a color linocut that depicts a reclining woman and a man wearing a hat. It is signed and numbered ‘47/50 Picasso.’ View the complete catalog and register to bid by visiting Rago.
