Equally influenced by Pop Art, the Tuskegee Airmen, and Saturday morning cartoons, Hebru Brantley’s Flyboy series takes a more lighthearted approach to social commentary. “I want to leave people with a good feeling,” says the artist of his work. “I want to engage with that light… certain people let go dim within them.” Several Flyboys by Brantley headline Heritage Auctions’ upcoming Urban Art sale. That includes a blue Flyboy that Brantley produced in 2013 for an installation in his native Chicago.
Elsewhere in the catalog, Brantley collectors will find a bronze sculpture of Flyboy and a female rendition of the character, titled Batgirl, which also leans on Brantley’s comic book influences. Other street artists represented include RETNA. His untitled diptych in this sale combines his signature pictograms with more conventional graffiti tags, such as a line of “X”s. View the full catalog and register to bid on Heritage Auctions’ website. Please note that all listed bids are current as of publication.
Round-cut diamonds are among the most popular diamonds in the world. The cut involves 58 facets, a symmetrical shape, and an emphasis on brilliance. The upcoming Exclusive | Investment Rare GIA Graded Diamonds auction, presented by Bid Global International Auctioneers, features a selection of loose round-cut diamonds.
The sale also features a 10.10-carat marquise-cut diamond. The name of the cut comes from King Louis XV of France, who appointed a jeweler to design a cut resembling the lips of his mistress, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson. Over the years, this shape came to be known as the marquise cut. Each diamond in the sale comes with a report certificate from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and a New York appraisal certificate. Each diamond also includes a GIA-certified number, which is laser inscribed on the girdle as a mark of authenticity. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
Christie’s will open the Spring 2021 auction season with a selection of post-war, modern, and contemporary art. A full-sized painting by Keith Haring leads the listings. Executed on industrial tarpaulin, the untitled red painting shows the artist’s signature dancing figures. “Vibration marks” indicate their movement. A polka-dotted spirit figure dominates the center of the piece, rising from a hole in the ground. Several works from Keith Haring’s contemporaries are also on offer, including a pink-and-black Marilyn Monroe print by Andy Warhol.
This auction presents a range of artistic styles, from Elaine de Kooning’s Abstract Expressionism to Titus Kaphar’s contemporary compositions. De Kooning’s Red Bison/ Blue Horse is notable for its deep colors and sense of movement. Inspired by prehistoric cave paintings, this work references the caves of Lascaux, France. Drawing from more contemporary influences, Kaphar’s Sacrifice painting explores themes of race and multiplicity.
Bidders will also find several 21st-century works in the auction. A 2017 nighttime painting from Matthew Wong, a neon sign by Tracey Emin that reads “Sleeping with YOU,” and a suggestive work by Emily Mae Smith finished in 2021 are among the offerings. Find the full catalog and place a bid by visiting Christie’s.
Hong Kong-based jewelry house Micheal Youssoufian Ltd. has been passed down through five generations. It started when Joseph Youssoufian was appointed jeweler to the Royal Court of Egypt in the 1920s. Today, Micheal Youssoufian runs the multicultural company. He worked with his father in Geneva and learned about antiques and vintage jewelry. An 18-karat gold Micheal Youssoufian necklace with a central fire opal pendant leads the upcoming auction from A Touch of the Past Antiques.
The sale offers more than 500 timepieces and jewels from makers such as Van Cleef & Arpels and David Webb. A brooch by David Webb, made of porcelain with an 18-karat gold frame, is among the highlighted lots in this auction. A ruby insect and 0.70-carat diamonds decorate the piece. It comes with Webb’s certificate of authenticity. A mid-century floral brooch, adorned with two vivid green emeralds, will also hit the auction block. View the entire catalog and place a bid on Bidsquare.
Items from Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Hermès headline this auction. These luxury designers are known for their fashion accessories. Alex Cooper Auctioneers’ upcoming sale will offer a selection of these couture pieces along with jewelry, silver, and currency. Collectors can consider an orange-red bag from Gucci and a Louis Vuitton leather belt. A brilliant-cut diamond ring is also among the leading lots. This 18-karat white gold ring showcases a 6.59-carat diamond with a six-prong head. Square, round, and baguette-cut diamonds flank the center stone.
A pair of martini-set diamond stud earrings will be highlighted as well. These 14-karat white gold earrings feature round diamonds weighing approximately 3.44 carats and include post and tension backs. A Turkish silver center bowl and undertray can also be found. This circular bowl has a swirling paneled decoration with an applied scroll border and trailing openwork flowers. The bowl has a gilt interior and sits on a conforming hollow foot. To view the entire catalog and place a bid, visit Bidsquare.
A selection of jewelry from Tiffany & Co. highlights Joshua Kodner’s upcoming spring auction. Sourced by an avid collector, the catalog includes several notable designs from the company. A Tiffany & Co. Tsarina necklace leads the listings. This limited edition piece from Tiffany’s Statement Jewelry Collection is crafted in platinum and features a row of Victoria diamonds and emeralds.
Another Tiffany & Co. item available at the event is a platinum and brilliant-cut diamond ring. This ring features a central 4.85-carat oval diamond of F color and VVS2 clarity. The makers designed it so light could reach the center of the diamond. A platinum ring studded with 15.26-carat Colombian emerald and GIA-certified diamonds is available. Bidders will also find fine art and collectibles in the auction listings. Browse the full catalog or register to place a bid on Bidsquare.
Sotheby’s Madeline and More: The Whimsical World of Ludwig Bemelmans auction offers a selection of paintings, illustrations, and sketches by 20th-century artist Ludwig Bemelmans. Among the available illustrations are several early Bemelmans works from his Madeline book series. This series follows the adventures of seven-year-old Madeline, a red-haired girl attending a Catholic boarding school in Paris with 11 other girls.
One of the offered art pieces was executed in 1957 for Madeline and the Bad Hat. The illustration shows Madeline and the other girls walking down the streets of Paris. It offers a window into everyday Parisian life. Another highlighted lot is from Bemelmans’ lesser-known publication titled The High World. Completed in 1954, this mixed media piece depicts the two worlds of the opulent and the poor. View the full selection of fine art and register to bid by visiting Sotheby’s.
In 1755, watchmaker Jean-Marc Vacheron founded Vacheron & Constantin. It later became the first watch company to receive the Diplôme du Prestige de la France Award. In the 20th century, the company changed its name to ‘Vacheron Constantin’ and gained popularity around the globe. Vacheron Constantin watches have been worn by the likes of Napoleon Bonaparte, Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, Edward VIII, Harry Truman, and Pope Pius XI. The upcoming Fine Jewelry sale, presented by Doyle, features a bracelet-watch from Vacheron Constantin. Set in 18-karat gold, this piece features a braided strap and a cover that opens to reveal a circular white dial.
Another featured lot from the event is a gold and enamel dome ring designed by David Webb. An American jewelry designer, David Webb is known for his use of sculptural animal motifs and geometric elements. The available lot depicts several boxes filled with red and white colors. The upcoming sale also highlights a pair of gold and enamel lion Frascarolo cufflinks and an Oyster wristwatch by Rolex. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Doyle.
Eight works on paper will come to auction with Christie’s this March. Leading the catalog is a pen drawing by Vincent van Gogh based on his La Mousmé oil painting. Inspired by Japanese art in the 1880s, van Gogh was fascinated by a young Provençale girl who lived near his Yellow House in Arles. He decided to paint this young woman with a slight pout in the Japonisme style. Van Gogh returned to the same subject after he finished the painting during a burst of creative energy. The available lot uses various stippling techniques to depict the sitter’s face and shoulders.
The upcoming auction includes several other works on paper from 19th– and 20th-century artists. René Magritte’s Journal intime gouache on paper piece is among the key lots. Executed around 1954, Journal intime shows two of Magritte’s signature bowler-hatted men standing on a rocky outcrop. Dressed in long trench coats and carrying suitcases, the figures appear to have turned to stone. The item’s lot description notes that Magritte’s “petrification” works in the 1950s were designed to challenge the viewer’s sense of reality.
Several other artists are also included in the auction. The catalog offers a darkly-shaded river scene from Post-Impressionist artist Georges Seurat, a self-portrait by Lucian Freud, and a pen-and-ink work by Henri Matisse. Find the full auction details and place a bid on the Christie’s website.
Paul Guaraglia has been collecting model trains for over 50 years, and his collection is housed and displayed in a separate room of his San Francisco Bay Area home. A selection of model trains from Guaraglia’s collection will be available at Turner Auctions + Appraisals in an upcoming sale. Among the featured lots is a Mickey Mouse Meteor wind-up. The locomotive includes graphics of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, and several other Disney characters. The auction also presents a Joy Line wind-up with a built-in key, ringing bell, copper domes, and tracks.
The sale will bring a large selection of electric models such as the Lionel 75E Union Pacific M10000, Sunoco Tank cars, Baby Ruth box cars, and brown Pullman cars. Accessories include miniature water towers, wind turbines, billboards, signs, outbuildings, and more. Rounding out the sale is a small number of framed photographs. To view any of these lots and register to bid, visit Turner Auctions + Appraisals.
