Japanese artist Shibata Zeshin’s use of black lacquer set him apart from his contemporaries. Famously known as the ‘Urushi Master,’ Zeshin created lacquerware cups, trays, and panels. The upcoming Bonhams auction presents a black lacquer tobacco tray from the Meiji era by Shibata Zeshin. The tray’s details demonstrate his command of the subori technique. Another highlight of the sale is a Mino stoneware koro from the Momoyama or Edo era. The stoneware incense burner features brown iron oxide geometric patterns with a cream and crackle glaze.
Japanese netsuke are other notable lots in the sale. Netsuke were primarily used as fasteners to hold tobacco pouches and seals. These miniature sculptures became popular fashion accessories during the 17th century. Craftspeople made netsuke using wood, ivory, lacquer, and other materials. This auction will feature a set of 14 lacquered wood mask netsuke from the Edo era. The set includes miniature versions of the Noh mask of Hannya, the mask of Otafuku, the Kyogen mask of Baku, and others.
Also showcased is a lacquer suzuri-bako (writing box) by Mochizuki Hanzan. As calligraphy became a prominent part of Japanese culture, many artists needed to transport their writing tools. Suzuri-bako acted as a safe and organized storage option. The featured Mochizuki Hanzan writing box features resin-based lacquer to protect tools from moisture. Other sale offerings include bronze sculptures, iron tea kettles, Satsuma vases, tea caddies, and scrolls. Interested collectors can explore the entire catalog and register to bid online on Bonhams.
A sgraffito redware charger by 18th-century potter George Hubener headlines the first session of this single-owner sale from Pook & Pook. Using the sgraffito technique of scratching away to reveal a second layer of color, the potter creates two intersecting patterns in green and orange. In his career, George Hubener was regarded as a perfectionist dedicated to traditional forms. “He who can make something is esteemed. The unskilled no one regards,” inscribed Hubener on one of his dishes.
Several schranks, or “clothes closets,” also headline this single-owner sale. Schranks became a popular furniture piece in Germany starting in the 17th century. Many owners painted their schranks to add a pop of color to their homes, such as the yellow and teal example on offer in this sale. Others went for a sleeker look. That includes the walnut schrank that is among the auction’s featured lots.
Beyond furniture and decorative art, bidders will find a birth certificate from the 18th century. The document announces the birth of Johanes Krum in 1780. The piece also comes with a maple frame. Those interested in this or any other lot can register to bid on Bidsquare.
Belgium-born designer William De Lillo started his career working for Cartier, Harry Winston, and Miriam Haskell. At Miriam Haskell, he met head designer Robert E. Clark, with whom he founded William De Lillo Ltd. in 1968. Inspired by the cultural changes around them, the duo pioneered ‘gender bending’ jewelry for men in the 1970s and 80s. Doyle’s upcoming Fine Jewelry auction will include Brutalist jewelry pieces by William De Lillo. The collar bib necklace, bracelet, and pair of ear clips feature rhombus-shaped sterling silver accents. Each piece bears De Lillo’s signature.
Also on offer is William Harper’s Firebird brooch. Harper began his career as an abstract painter. He later switched to enameling before finally moving to jewelry making. Harper combines enamel, fine gold, and non-traditional materials like baroque pearls, scarabs, and bones in his creations. The pear-shaped Firebird brooch dates back to 1994. It features a baroque pearl and enamels in various colors. Jewelry pieces from Bulgari, Pablo Picasso, Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels round out the sale’s offerings. Those interested in these or any other pieces can view each lot on Doyle.
Sarah Belk Gambrell was a department store heiress, businesswoman, philanthropist, and advocate. When she was not managing Belk stores in the American South or heading various charity efforts, Gambrell collected antique European porcelain. Doyle will present a selection of porcelain pieces from the Sarah Belk Gambrell Collection in an upcoming sale. An 18th-century Meissen quatrefoil bowl is among the leading lots. The bowl dates back to the 1740s and potentially belonged to French royalty. It bears painted scenes of country gentlemen reading books, riding horses, and looking toward distant castles. Only a few examples from this service still survive.
Vienna porcelain is also represented in the catalog. Doyle will offer a partial condiment set from the mid-1700s. A jubilant figure stands in the middle of the set, raising their arms in the air. A red stoneware coffee pot from Böttger is also notable. The squared pot blends Chinese and European influences with serpent details and a Baroque handle. Gambrell often collected pieces that explored such cross-cultural exchanges. These include Meissen porcelain pieces in the Japanese Kakiemon style and a Du Paquier tankard with traditional Chinese figures. Visit Doyle’s website to view more lots from the Sarah Belk Gambrell Collection and to place a bid.
The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod’s upcoming silent auction will offer a mix of fine art, decorative art, and live experiences. The timed sale will benefit a relief fund for artists and institutions impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the available experiences are a “glamping” trip in a vintage Airstream, a champagne lunch with author Anne LeClaire, and a three-night stay at the Belmond Charleston Place luxury hotel in Charleston, South Carolina.
Artists from Cape Cod and the surrounding areas created each of the available fine art pieces. An oil on canvas painting by mixed media artist Jackie Reeves is a key lot. Painted in shades of violet, yellow, and light blue, the piece depicts two figures with their arms outstretched. A young child hovers above the lake below, which the artist portrays with strokes of sky blue. Collectors can also consider an anglerfish sculpture from Rachel Paolino. Parts of a Harley Fat Bob motorcycle form the body of the fish, and an LED light illuminates the piece. Lois Castellana’s Chatham Fog and Jon Friedman’s Wellfleet Audubon, Marsh View #2387 are on offer as well. To view the complete listings and register to bid, visit Bidsquare.
Xu Beihong was one of the most influential Chinese artists and educators of the 20th century. Born in 1895, Xu learned traditional Chinese painting from his father, who was a local portrait painter. Between 1919 and 1927, the artist traveled to France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland to study oil painting. These extensive travels connected Xu to Western art. Upon his return to China, Xu began to fuse Western painting methods and classic Chinese painting. An ink and color painting by Xu Beihong will come to auction in Bonhams’ upcoming Chinese Works of Art sale. Xu completed the piece in 1937. Next to a grazing horse is a poetic couplet dedicated to Zuoju.
This auction also features a famille rose vase. Green and sepia enamels accent its pear-shaped body. Bearing a six-character Qianlong mark, the vase shows a mountain scene with stags and does between pines, lingzhi, and peach trees. To view the full listings of Chinese art and register to bid, visit Bonhams.
Highlighted in Showplace’s upcoming New York City Estate Auction is a Chinese Neolithic period jade bi disc. Dating back to the Liangzhu culture of the Neolithic period, this green jade features natural rust striations and comes with a contemporary metal stand. Also found is a vintage Cartier lady’s wristwatch. Known for using high-quality materials and precious stones, Cartier has been a luxury jewelry and watch conglomerate since 1847. The available 18-karat gold watch features a black lizard strap and a white dial. It comes with its original presentation box and papers.
A Stickley Arts and Crafts oak desk is also showcased in this auction. Gustav Stickley was known as a leader in the Arts and Crafts movement during the second half of the 19th century. The featured wooden desk has a central drawer flanked by two stacked drawers on either side. It measures 29 inches high and 42 inches wide. To view these items and more, visit Bidsquare.
The upcoming Luxe: Boutique Jewels auction, presented by Freeman’s, will showcase a selection of fine jewelry and watches. One highlighted lot is a collection of 12 gold items, including pieces by Tiffany & Co. The lot comprises three 18-karat gold brooches with round brilliant-cut diamonds and rubies, as well as a pair of 14-karat rose and yellow gold dress clips. Tiffany collectors can also consider a 1.27-carat cushion-cut diamond and platinum ring.
The auction will present a signed Mugler square bangle. The ornament features textured 18-karat gold, cabochon rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. An aquamarine, diamond, and 18-karat white gold pendant is also available. It features a pear-shaped aquamarine surrounded by round-cut diamonds. To view additional pieces of fine jewelry and watches, visit Bidsquare.
Nearly 300 million years ago, crinoids populated the deep waters of the seas. They were commonly found in the Paleozoic and Mesozoic periods. However, the species came close to extinction at the end of the Permian era. A crinoid fossil plate is among the leading lots of Lewis and Maese Auctions’ upcoming sale. The plate shows the preserved remains several crinoids, which have cup-shaped bodies and flexible arms.
The auction will include a collection of fossils, rocks, and gemstones. An amethyst geode slice on a custom metal stand is particularly notable. This slice weighs approximately 400 pounds and stands nearly six feet tall. The sale also features a polished piece of lapis lazuli from Afghanistan. Excavated from the Hindu Kush mountains, the piece holds spiritual connotations. Many ancient cultures believed lapis lazuli could dispel negative energy. Browse the full selection of fossils, gemstones, and rocks on Bidsquare.
Philip Henry Sheridan was a notable general in the American Civil War era, rising from Captain to Major General in just six months. His leadership was instrumental in the defeat of the Confederate army in Shenandoah Valley and later in Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. His personal flag, flown through the summer of 1862, is now up for auction in the upcoming American Historical Ephemera & Photography event at Cowan’s Auctions.
The sale presents over 400 collectible items. One notable photograph from the collection is a half-plate daguerreotype of a fully leather-clad firefighter of the Sansome Hook and Ladder No. 3 of San Francisco. The catalog also offers early photographs capturing Zachary Taylor, men from the Alaskan gold rush, soldiers from the Civil War period, and more. Other items of interest in the sale include a 13-star American flag, a painted cotton banner of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt’s presidential standard, and an endorsement signed by Lincoln. View any of these lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
