The upcoming 80th Anniversary Charity Art Auction to Benefit the Norton Museum of Art, presented by Sotheby’s, offers 90 pieces of fine art. An untitled 2019 painting from Pat Steir is among the leading lots. Pat Steir creates her paintings by splashing and dripping color on canvas: “I began looking at Chinese Literati paintings and at Southern Song Dynasty pottery and painting, and I realized that I didn’t have to use the brush… I could use nature to paint a picture of itself by pouring the paint.” Her works mainly draw inspiration from Color Field painting, Abstract Expressionism, and Taoist philosophy.
Brendan Murphy’s Boonji Spaceman is also available for bidding. An internationally acclaimed American painter, Murphy often experiments with beauty and energy. The available sculpture, made of steel and fiberglass, resembles a person in a spacesuit taking a step forward. The figure is covered in white graffiti tags. Those interested in this or any other piece can register to bid on the Sotheby’s website.
Known for conversation pieces, furniture, and lighting, Serge Roche’s work gained popularity in the 1930s. Roche favored the Baroque style. Over the years, the artist worked for many high-profile clients, including Coco Chanel, Ali Khan, the Noailles, Arturo Lopez, and Charles de Beistegui. The upcoming sale, presented by Akiba Antiques, offers a set of Serge Roche palm tree floor lamps. These lamps feature a palm tree motif with a rock form base and single bulb outlet.
From a Pablo Picasso lithograph to a Chinese Mughal style urn, the catalog features several eclectic lots. One of the highlighted items is Demetre Chiparus’ Fan Dancer. A Romanian sculptor, Chiparus was fascinated by the Art Deco style. He often blended bronze and ivory to make chryselephantine sculptures. The artist’s recurring subjects included dancers in ancient Egyptian or modern ballet outfits. Interested collectors can view more items from the February Estate Finds sale and place a bid on LiveAuctioneers.
The Bechtler family became known for their private coining operation after moving to North Carolina from Germany in 1829. By the 1830s, the family had applied for a few patents, including one for a repeating firearm that was capable of firing eight rounds per minute. These firearms disappeared until 2016, when one was acquired by the Bechtler House. The Bechtler firearm featured in Brunk Auctions’ upcoming sale is the second known example still in existence. The 1840 double-barrel shotgun, marked with “A. Bechtler” and “N. Carolina” in gold inlay, is thought to be the personal firearm of Augustus Bechtler. There is a swirl design on the stock that resembles a wave and the trigger guard resembles a dolphin or fish, giving the shotgun an aquatic look.
Works by Jackson Pollock and Tom Wesselmann can also be found. While Jackson Pollock was known as a leading figure in Abstract Expressionism, Tom Wesselmann rejected this type of work and represented nudes, still lifes, and landscape art forms instead. Pollock’s available 1951 silkscreen features black paint on a white background. It is signed and dedicated to Alfonso Ossorio, a close friend of the artist. This is one of six silkscreens Pollock made to celebrate the Black Paintings exhibition at the Betty Parsons Gallery in 1951. Tom Wesselmann’s 1985 colored pencil piece shows the face and chest of a reclined nude. She has black hair and wears a purple necklace. To view the entire catalog and register to bid, visit Bidsquare.
John Emms, a prolific Norfolk painter, was famous for his lifelike portraits of animals. To fulfill his artistic endeavors, Emms eventually settled in London. His mastery of both painting and equestrian skills granted him multiple commissions in the city. Emms’ New Forest paintings of barn animals showcased his artistic ability and precise use of glazing techniques. The upcoming Brunk Auctions sale presents a New Forest painting of dogs and horses by John Emms. Titled New Forest Buckhounds and a Terrier in the Kennel After the Hunt, this piece demonstrates Emms’ direct approach, limited color palette, and artistic liveliness.
Also featured is a 1760s Irish George II carved mahogany side table. During the start of the 18th century, England faced the invasion of Irish immigrants as a form of protest. This led to trade associations and the migration of Irish workers. These artisans brought mainly native Irish woodworking skills to England. The available mahogany table is a strong example of these Irish woodworking techniques. With rocaille decoration, carved Venus masks, and cabriole legs, the table shows the intersection of English cabinetmaking and traditional Irish styles.
The auction will include a 1712 Queen Anne English silver Monteith bowl. Monteith bowls were first made around 1860 and used to chill glasses. The offered Monteith bowl has a detachable collar adorned with shells and a scalloped rim decoration. It also features Rococo cartouches on both sides. Interested bidders can also find paintings by John Frederick Herring Sr., Bakshaish carpets, English Delft polychrome ware, and a French Bouillotte lamp. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Born into a family of artisans, Pierre-Auguste Renoir trained under Swiss classical painter Charles Gleyre. However, he eventually preferred art that was closer to life. Renoir was known for his Impressionist snapshots of reality and celebrations of feminine beauty. Woman with Tambourine III is the last of 17 total sculptures that Renoir created in his career. Its posthumously cast variant is available for sale at the upcoming Fine Art, Russian Silver, Jewelry auction, offered by Turner Auctions + Appraisals.
The sale also highlights the work of Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros and other prominent artists. A signed piece by Siqueiros, titled Three Dancers, shows silhouettes of three dancing figures painted with gouache on paper. Several pieces of jewelry and Russian silver are available as well. Among these items is a Russian enamel and silver seven-piece desk set that includes a 20th-century inkstand with pen holders. View the full catalog for this auction or register to place a bid on Bidsquare.
In 1990, John O’Brien published the semi-autobiographical novel Leaving Las Vegas to critical success. Unfortunately, O’Brien died by suicide just a few weeks after selling the novel’s movie rights. The movie was later nominated for four Academy Awards. A rare advanced reader’s copy of John O’Brien’s tragic novel is up for bid in Artelisted’s upcoming Consignment Opportunities auction. Other books of note in the sale include an American Civil War memorial titled The Fallen Brave (1861) by John Gilmary Shea, a first edition signed copy of The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty, and first-edition Pogo books by Walt Kelly.
Beyond books, the auction includes a selection of vintage photos. Subjects of these photos include sports teams as well as individual athletes. The catalog also offers postcards of auto racing pioneers, aviation pioneers, and humorous French pin-ups. Antique lithographic prints by Aubrey Beardsley, Pierre Fournier, and Edouard Travies, as well as collectible buttons and vintage trading cards round out the offerings. View any of these lots and register to bid on Artelisted.
While looking at Louise Nevelson’s works, one onlooker commented on the creativity required “to make something beautiful out of nothing.” Wooden scraps like dowels, spindles, and furniture parts fill stacked boxes of Louise Nevelson’s Sky Cathedral (circa 1958). The sculpture, her first in black, is now hosted by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Barridoff Galleries’ International Fine Art Sale brings two of Louise Nevelson’s major pieces to auction in February. Moon Zag III showcases her fascination with the color black.
Another sculpture with notable black elements is John Bisbee’s Large Circle. Hammered and twisted steel nails are welded together to form a big circle. About the medium he uses for his sculptures, Bisbee says, “Anchored only by its form and materiality, I revelled in the nail’s infinite possibilities.” Other notable artists in the sale include Pablo Picasso, David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Amos Ferguson, Anthony Thieme, Louis Schanker, and Wolf Kahn. This fine art auction also offers curated items from Dahlov Ipcar, Carl Sprinchorn, Neil Welliver, Elena Jahn, Robert Indiana, and Marguerite. Rounding out the catalog is a selection of photographs, including Edward Weston’s Pepper P38. This piece was widely exhibited in the Netherlands in the early 1950s. Find the full catalog and place a bid on Bidsquare.
An Italian painter who studied in Florence and settled in Tuscany, Giovanni Battista Torriglia was best known for painting the country life of peasants. This theme was popular across Europe in the 19th century. Giovanni Battista Torriglia’s oil on canvas titled Lullaby from a New York City collection is a key highlight of the upcoming Valentine’s Estate Auction, presented by Clarke Auction Gallery. It depicts a peasant family with strong visual details, lively colors, and a striking narrative character. Another available oil painting with a strong color scheme is B. Prabha’s Three Musicians. An Indian artist who was inspired by celebrated modernist Amrita Shergil, B. Prabha began painting when there were very few women artists in the Indian art scene. Three Musicians demonstrates Prabha’s signature elongated figures of rural women. The auction also showcases a striking lithograph by Henri Matisse titled Repos sur la banquette (1929).
One of the notable jewelry lots in the sale is a platinum bracelet inlaid with brilliant-cut, pear-cut, marquise, and straight baguette diamonds. The total gemstone weight is approximately 26.5 carats. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
A still life painting from French artist Bernard Cathelin, titled Bouquet de Vera Cruz, will lead the upcoming New York City Estate Auction, presented by Showplace Antiques. Well-known for his oil paintings and lithographs, Bernard Cathelin’s distinguished style separated him from his peers. He primarily used brushes and palette knives to achieve rich colors and textures. Still lifes, landscapes, and portraits of women were recurring themes in Cathelin’s long and successful career. The available painting, executed in 1964, features a bright palette of red, orange, yellow, pink, and blue.
The auction also features a painting by French Cubist painter, art critic, and teacher André Lhote. Lhote’s works combined the geometric forms of Cubism and the bright palette of Post-Impressionism. He once said, “To use color well is as difficult as for a fish to pass from water to air or earth.” The offered lot is an example of the artist’s Cubist work. The painting shows a woman in a sitting posture. A pair of Art Nouveau silver candelabra are also featured in this sale. Made by Lazarus Posen Witwe, a German silver manufacturer, the available lot features five iris flower candleholders that emerge from a tall grass standard. The candelabras stand on a curvilinear whiplash base with winged cherubim accents. View the full listings and register to bid on Bidsquare.
The demand for round-cut diamonds erupted in the early 1900s, replacing the previous favorite, the Old European cut. Several examples of the round-cut diamond will highlight this upcoming Bid Global International Auctioneers sale, including a 10.28-carat unmounted diamond. This piece earned a “D” color grade, the highest grade. This indicates the diamond shows next to no unwanted color, even under magnification. Elsewhere in the catalog, bidders will find a 10.03-carat diamond. This gem has an “E” color grade, meaning the unwanted color is visible only through magnification.
Another popular cut represented in this sale is the heart-cut diamond. The cut’s history can be traced back to the 16th century. Queen Elizabeth I was among its early adopters. This auction features both a 15.18-carat diamond and a 14.01-carat heart-shaped unmounted diamond. Both of these examples earned a VS1 clarity, meaning any imperfections are very slight and unlikely to appear without magnification. View each of the lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
