French watchmaker Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin was an illusionist who is celebrated as the father of modern conjuring. He invented the unique “mystery” watch in the 19th century. One such clock attributed to Robert-Houdin is a key highlight of the upcoming sale by Potter & Potter Auctions. The “Series 4” timepiece features two arrow-shaped hands attached to a clear glass dial. Both the dial and bezel rest on tall clear glass tubes mounted on four beasts with tails. The arrangement rests to an ormolu platform. It is called a mystery clock since the viewers are left guessing how the hands turn when the dial is made of clear glass. The engraved bezel is connected only to glass tubes, which are detached from the base. Other offered mystery timepieces designed by Robert-Houdin include a “Series 3” piece and an arched dial clock.
Hubert Salentin’s Magic Trick with a Little Bird (Der Zaubertrick mit dem Vöglein) is an oil on canvas painting available in this sale. It depicts a magician conjuring up a bird from underneath a cover held in his hand. Startled spectators are gathered around a table in an inn. Visit Potter & Potter Auctions to view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming Magicana: Featuring the Collection of Peter Hackhofer sale.
Leading the upcoming sale of paintings, prints, and drawings from Rachel Davis Fine Arts is an oil on canvas painting by French artist Roger Mühl. Titled Jardin d’Iris (Iris Garden), this piece depicts a pastel tableau of flowers. A clump of purple irises marks the center of the composition, with pink, white, blue, and yellow blooms appearing to the sides. Mühl was fascinated by light and color in natural landscapes. He favored the South of France and frequently painted its coasts, gardens, and simple buildings. Also notable is a watercolor painting by Alice Schille, an American painter who worked in a Post-Impressionist vein throughout the 20th century. The available piece, titled Guatemalan Mother and Child, shows a crowd of colorful mothers and children. Shades of orange, pink, and green dominate the piece.
A Romare Bearden silkscreen is another key lot in the upcoming sale. This 1979 print is signed and numbered in pencil. Titled Cattle of the Sun God, this work belongs to the artist’s Odysseus suite—a cycle of 20 collages linking Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey to Black American culture. The series explored themes of dislocation and home. The offered silkscreen employs bold colors and hard edges to show the stark contrast between land and sea. Interested collectors can also consider a selection of prints, woodcuts, and etchings by Jackson Lee Nesbitt, Maurice Vlaminck, Krishna Reddy, and others. Visit Bidsquare to browse the complete Fine Art- Paintings, Prints & Drawings at Auction- Sale 261 catalog and find other online auctions.
A 1953 color engraving by British artist Stanley W. Hayter, titled Warriors, leads Swann Auction Galleries’ upcoming Contemporary Art sale. A Surrealist and Abstract Expressionist, Hayter was fascinated by the tensions within human forms. The offered piece has a gestural engraving throughout the surreal composition, along with soft-ground etching with subtle patterns and directions produced by delicate fabrics. By gouging the plate with a scorper, Hayter created three-dimensional white areas without printing. Stencils and rollers were used for applying the color. This artwork features the artist’s signature in pencil along the lower right. Another notable fine artwork is a 1967 color screenprint by Adolph Gottlieb titled Signs. In Gottlieb’s work, gestural painting has a strong presence but is simultaneously calm and contemplative. Despite appearing as Expressionist compositions, the artist’s signature forms often display primitive influences based on circles, bursts, and labyrinths. Signs is dominated by rich yellow saturation.
Additional artworks of note in the catalog include an oil on canvas painting by American painter Lynne Drexler, titled Bluescape. The artist is best known for her portrayals of landscapes in the style of Abstract Expressionism and Post-Impressionism. Drexler’s paintings are characterized by dense layers of small, repeated brushstrokes in vibrant colors. Bidders can also consider Dorothy Dehner’s engraving, titled River Landscape #4, and Mary Abbott’s color pastel work, titled Patience. Visit Swann Auction Galleries for more information on the upcoming Contemporary Art auction and to register to bid.
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Freeman’s | Hindman will offer over 150 fine art pieces by the likes of Anthony Thieme and Mary Ellen Sigsbee in its upcoming auction. An oil on canvas painting, titled Gloucester Harbor by Anthony Thieme, leads the sale. Thieme is considered one of the most influential landscape and marine artists of the early 20th century. Born in Rotterdam, Holland, he was a notable alumnus of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. This stunning painting features a seaside scene depicting Gloucester Harbor in Massachusetts. The color palette used is mainly muted shades and tones perfectly capturing the serenity of the place.
Another notable lot in the sale is an oil painting titled Weeds by Mary Ellen Sigsbee. According to the catalog, the available canvas is being sold on behalf of the Brandywine Museum of Art to benefit future acquisitions and care of collections. Mary Ellen Sigsbee (1876 – 1960), an American artist and magazine illustrator, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was famous for her poster designs, politically-themed cartoons, illustrations, and paintings. An alumna of the Arts Students League, Sigsbee was a student of famous illustrator Howard Pyle. Several works by Pennsylvania Impressionists such as Henry B. Snell, Walter Baum, John Folinsbee, and George Sotter are available as well. View the complete catalog of the Collect: American Art auction and register to bid by visiting Freeman’s | Hindman.
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British luxury jeweler David Morris is known for crafting and producing fine jewelry and watches. Established in 1962 by David Morris, it is a family-owned business. The jewelry house has designed the Miss World crown and notable pieces for the James Bond film franchise and royal families. An exceptional sapphire and diamond necklace from David Morris is a key highlight of the upcoming Sotheby’s sale. It features graduated oval-shaped diamonds interposed with pear- and marquise-shaped diamonds. The forward-facing part is set with cushion-cut sapphires, weighing 11.37, 7.40, 7.35, 6.85, 6.73, 2.70 and 2.40 carats. The sale also includes a striking intense pinkish purple diamond ring. The fancy oval-shaped diamond, weighing 3.36 carats, is accentuated by epaulette-shaped diamonds.
Three significant Harry Winston diamond rings also lead the catalog. One is designed with an emerald-cut diamond centerpiece and flanked by tapered baguette diamonds. Another Winston ring is studded with a marquise-shaped diamond, ornamented with triangle-shaped diamonds. A faint blue-hued, pear-shaped diamond, crafted between tapered baguette diamonds, is notable as well. American jeweler Harry Winston was dubbed the “King of Diamonds”; he owned the famous Hope Diamond for a decade. Visit Sotheby’s to view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming Magnificent Jewels sale.
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Artist and inventor of the charcoal and dry pastel sanding technique, Annie Murphy-Robinson was born in 1967. She grew up in Heron, Montana. At an early age, she took art lessons from a local teacher, Mrs. Barbara Mullens. She earned her BFA from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and an MA from Sacramento State University. Robinson’s works are mostly charcoal-based, each with a unique composition. One such artwork by Annie Murphy-Robinson is a highlight of the upcoming auction, presented by the Crocker Art Museum. Soothsayer, a sanded charcoal on paper work, was rendered by the artist in 2021.
Among the other artists represented is Clay Vorhes, who lives and works in Sacramento. A bold color palette with heavy texture characterizes Vorhes’ works. Prominent galleries and museums including Skidmore Contemporary Art have featured Clay Vorhes’ work in the past. His oil on canvas titled Trapeze Show, produced in 2023, is part of the upcoming sale. The lot features trapeze artists balancing on tight ropes. Bidders can also consider a 2011 acrylic on canvas The Straits by John Tarahteeff and a ceramic by Annette Corcoran titled Gold Finch. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming Silent Auction 2024 sale, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
Sarouk rugs usually have blue weft threads and salmon or tomato red warps. The colors are mixed with ivory in a very traditional, floral style. Nazmiyal Auctions’ Fine & Decorative Antique, Vintage & Modern Rugs sale highlights a large (18 feet by 12 feet) vase-designed antique Persian Sarouk Farahan rug. The finest Sarouk rugs come from the Sarouk carpet-making region in Arak, located in West Iran. The available rug is flexible with naturalistic floral designs, resembling the finer Sarouks, produced from the 18th century to the 1920s. This old tradition has been resumed recently. This rug features a classically Persian medallion design customary on Sarouk Farahans. It has an interesting combination of suave curve-linearity and geometric styles. Persian Sarouk Farahan rugs are made of the finest weaving of high-quality wool for high durability.
The sale also offers an eye-catching antique Art Nouveau Irish Donegal rug. The vibrant mix of different hues of green and orange sets the rug apart. This piece was produced around 1920. By the early 20th century, Donegal had established its reputation for creating trendy, high-quality carpets. The manufacture of Irish Donegal rugs began in 1858 in Ireland. Conventional rugs like the available example feature Neoclassical designs from the 20th century, predominantly custom-made with colors selected according to the client’s preference. The designs were based on traditional Persian carpets, but they eventually added unique Art Nouveau styles from William Morris, an English textile designer. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the Fine & Decorative Antique, Vintage & Modern Rugs sale, visit Nazmiyal Auctions.
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In the latest Private collection Jewelry and Antiques Sale from WinBids Auctions, over 500 quality lots will come under the hammer. Among the top lots in the catalog is an 18-karat white gold Tiffany & Co. hammered engagement ring. The Lucida diamond possesses a Tiffany patent for the diamond cut. Tiffany & Co’s Lucida diamond is cut-cornered and has unique facets arranged in a square shape. The available ring features a smooth gold mounting, holding a diamond with four prongs. The diamond weighs 0.10 carats and has an F color and VS clarity. Another notable jewelry lot in the sale is a Cartier Paris C Bracelet. This solid 18k yellow gold bracelet measures 7.0 x 0.55 inches with a total weight of 49.7 grams.
This upcoming sale will also offer luxury watches. Leading this section of the catalog is a rose gold-plated Omega Constellation watch. The Omega Constellation exemplifies the company’s commitment to precision and timeless design. This men’s watch has a dimension of 35mm and has a black leather strap. Additional lots of interest include an art nouveau ceramic vase from Austria, three buffalo Nickel coins, and a 26-piece WMF Germany fish cutlery set. Visit WinBids Auctions to view the complete Private Collection Jewelry and Antiques Sale catalog and register to bid.
Berlin painter Werner Scholz was best known for exploring Germany’s darker side during the interwar years with expressive and empathetic attention to the lives of the petit bourgeoisie. The upcoming Revere Auctions sale will feature two Scholz paintings. A 1932 oil-on-panel painting of two children and a motherly figure by the artist is particularly noteworthy. This piece depicts the mother holding aloft a golden cross. Scholz’s well-articulated paintings drew heavily on German Expressionism but had a dark, often melancholy undertone. Another notable fine artwork in the catalog is a 1981 oil painting by German painter Andreas Müller, depicting the Madonna. In the work, Mary wears an embroidered gold and pearl gown in red. Müller’s signature appears in the lower left corner.
Beyond fine art, this auction includes decorative art, furniture, jewelry, and collectibles. Leading this section of the catalog is a Gorham Chantilly sterling flatware set. The Chantilly design was introduced by the company in 1895. Chantilly pieces are noted for their delicate designs, scrollwork, and floral embellishments. The available 100-piece set includes knives, soup spoons, forks, teaspoons, tablespoons, and serving ware, among other items. Additional lots of interest include a Georges L’Enfant gold bracelet, a diamond and rose gold Patek Philippe timepiece, a carved wooden sculpture by Mallica “Kapo” Reynolds, and a pair of $50 platinum coins. Visit Bidsquare to browse the complete All That Glitters: Luxury Goods & Art catalog and find other online auctions.
Amelia Peláez del Casal was a notable painter of the avant-garde generation. The Cuban artist was well known for her signature Cubist compositions. She explored Baroque architecture with unconstrained black lines outlining intense color areas. A framed oil on canvas painting by Peláez, titled Vitral Con Frutas, is a key highlight of this upcoming sale from Basel Auction House. It depicts a vivid illustration of fruits placed in the foreground and a stained-glass window in the backdrop. The inspiration for Peláez’s works came from her mother’s house, where she resided after her return from Havana. The interiors were a combination of neoclassical design and traditional Cuban Creole fashion. Another key work in the upcoming auction is an acrylic on canvas by Steve Penley. Hand signed at bottom right, the painting is noteworthy for its distinct strokes, vibrant hues, and iconic American imagery.
Crocodile, an aluminum sculpture by French sculptor and visual neo-Pop artist Richard Orlinski, also leads the catalog. Orlinski’s monochromatic diamond-cut sculptures of wildlife signify the duality of the animal and human worlds. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming May Fine Art, Paintings, Furniture & Objects of Art sale, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
