“contemporary” About 211

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    The Robert J. Morrison Collection

    The Robert J. Morrison Collection offered by Freeman’s Auction presents contemporary prints from numerous 20th century artists, including Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. Among 211 lots, Roy Lichtenstein’s Sweet Dreams, Baby! sets the highest estimate at $100,000. Lichtenstein’s works are composed of Ben-Day dots, following the method used by newspapers and comic strips to display gradients and texture. Andy Warhol’s Mao will also be available. Produced in 1972, the screen print is on Beckett High White paper. Warhol is known as one of the most successful commercial artists since the 1950s. He won frequent awards for his style, using his own blotted line technique and rubber stamps to create his prints. View each of these lots and register to bid online on Invaluable. 

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    Cleveland Fine and Decorative Art: Discovery Auction

    Cowan’s Auctions upcoming Cleveland Fine and Decorative Art: Discovery Auction offers a wide range of home furnishings at prices within reach for many collectors.  With bidding beginning at $25 to $250, the pieces range from antiques to contemporary objects. They are made from materials like cut glass, sterling silver, porcelain, and wood. There are large collections of Americana, Asian decorative arts along with the furniture. Highlights include two charming Staffordshire pottery pastille burners, an American train set from 1949, and a 19th-century miniature spice cabinet.  There are also several pieces of Chinese decorative art, including an ornate Chinese wedding chair, as well as an impressive Dutch oil harbor scene. To view the complete auction and register to bid, go to Invaluable .  

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    Design Signature Auction

    Design Signature Auction by Heritage Auction kicks off with a cherished item from the DeWitt & Lila Acheson Wallace Garden at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. The item is a garden bench that defies the norms and has a very unique design and structure. Such an unprecedented piece is sure to make headlines as the highest estimated item at $180,000.  To a collector's joy, this inspired selection features a variety of categories such as furniture, decorative art, sculptures, Asian art and so much more. Another noteworthy piece on the featured list is a white bronze duck that also functions as a boat by François-Xavier Lalanne. Lalanne once said, “I thought that it would be funny to invade that big living room with a flock of sheep,” and such kind of humor and imaginative perceptions can be seen through almost all of his work. With over 140 lots, one can unquestionably enjoy the beauty of the above-mentioned items and many more at Design Signature Auction. To bid and for more information visit Heritage Auction. 

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    Post-War to Present

    The Post-War to Present auction, offered by Christie's, presents fine art produced by some of the most notable artists of the 20th century, as well as emerging voices.  Andy Warhol's "Flowers" headlines with an estimated value of $1.5 to $2 million. For the leading figure in pop art, the "Flowers" series marks a more somber examination of American pop culture. The bright, chromatic pinks and reds of the flowers create a stark contrast with the black background. "When Warhol made Flowers, it reflected the urban, dark, death side of that whole movement," writes John O’Connor and Benjamin Liu in Unseen Warhol (1996). Another 20th-century icon represented in this auction is Yayoi Kusama with "Infinity-Nets (QPOW)". Kusama is originally from Japan, and her work often features influences of pop art, minimalism, and abstract expressionism. It was after she moved from her native Japan to New York that she began making the infinity net series, of which this piece is an excellent example. Those looking to acquire pieces by emerging artists should consider Nicolas Party's "Blakam’s Stone (Lime)". The piece's acrylic green gives the piece a vibrant appearance, and the stone offers an interesting, warped view of the subject. Bel Fullana's "Pool Party", meanwhile, is a fun and unabashed look at sexuality. View each of these lots and register to bid on the Christie's website.

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    Thirtyfive Works by Ed Ruscha

    “Life is more like an off-center love story than it is a straight-ahead...narrative,” says art collector Fred Clarke in an interview with Christie’s. The Thirty-five Works by Ed Ruscha auction, presented by Christie’s, comes entirely from the Clarke Collection, the private holdings of Fred and Laura Weir Clarke.  Clarke’s view of an off-center love story echoes throughout the work of Ed Ruscha.  Ruscha is a member of the pop art movement and often uses unusual text with equally unexpected typography to set the mood of his pieces. A great example, with the highest estimated value, is “Wavy Robot”, made with gunpowder on paper. The word “Robot”, which we often associate with advanced technology and the future, is written in a traditional font with very precise ridges. The black background forces viewers to focus on the relationship between the word and font.  In “Kidney Beans on Galvanized Steel”, another highly estimated piece, Ruscha plays with space along with the text. The light pink hue in the right-hand corner distracts attention away from the already cryptic text.  The art collector Fred Clarke’s first experiences with Ruscha’s work were his books. Collectors looking for a different and slightly more affordable piece should consider the lot with several of Ruscha’s books, including “Thirty-four Parking Lots in Los Angeles” and “Nine Swimming Pools and a Broken Glass”. Those interested in any of these lots should register to bid on the Christie’s website.

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    Home and Interiors

    Illuminate your interiors with the well-selected collection of furniture and other decorative collectibles in the upcoming Home and Interiors Auction by Whitley's Auctioneers. It's an opportunity for the collectors to bid on classic and contemporary furniture, unique accent pieces and accessories, rare museum pieces, ornate mirrors, silver, dining sets, gaming tables & more.  The highlight of the auction is a beautiful and whimsical piece with the highest value. It is a bronze sculpture titled Man with monkey by Swiss artist Duchess Adele D'Affry Marcello. She gained popularity in the world of European sculpture and is among the few female artists of the era.  The intricately set tourmaline hearts and sapphires set in 14kt gold is a prominent vintage brooch. A prime example of the 1950’s jewelry by legendary Trabert & Hoeffer-Mauboussin. Another pair of neoclassical malachite and gilt mount censers makes for a perfect centerpiece.  Among interior decorative, the vintage Victoria Regina post office letterbox can be used perfectly as an antique that will give a quirky look to the interiors. An early 20th -century art nouveau, tabletop, bronze clock by Stanislaus Czapeque with a figure of a man ringing a bell embossed with Latin description that translates “I call the living, I mourn the dead, I break the lightning bolts” is a perfect example of interior antiques with a historic touch.  Explore large ensembles of Dining Tables, End Tables, Secretary Desks, Dry Bars, Chests, Dressers, Cabinets, Seating, Fine Art Paintings, and register to bid online on Bidsquare.

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    Made in California

    Bonhams presents the Made in California auction. Each of the auction’s 86 lots is a piece of contemporary fine art produced by an artist with a strong connection to California. The lot with the highest estimated value is an untitled set of two hanging forms made of brass wire by Ruth Asawa. Asawa was a sculptor known primary for her wire pieces. She was an advocate for art education in San Francisco and helped found a school that was eventually named in her honor, the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts.  Like Asawa’s brass sculptures, there are other non-conventional pieces included in this auction. One of the most notable is Ken Price’s “Malformation in Blue”. Price’s signature work with clay is on display in this piece, produced by fire and painted clay. One of Price’s favorite techniques is to sand down clay to reveal colors underneath, a process that creates this piece’s striking blue square.   Those looking for a more affordable lot should consider Judith Linhares’s “Flowers”. The artist, originally from the Bay Area, uses acrylic on paper in “Flowers” to create a vibrant red that contrasts well against the paper’s color. Those interested in this or any other piece should register to bid on Bonhams’s website.

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    Important Jewelry

    Beyond the obvious beauty of diamonds is the more subtle beauty of style, which is what sets any piece of jewelry apart. Thoughtful construction and bold stylistic statements comprise the bulk of Skinner’s upcoming Important Jewelry Auction, bringing together antique, period, and contemporary pieces. Almost 200 bracelets, earrings, necklaces, brooches, rings, and more will be available in this sale. One of the finest pieces, vintage in design and dazzling in appearance is a Cartier sapphire and diamond ring. This ring was crafted in the 1950s with Kashmir sapphires in an eye-catching symmetry. A diamond sunburst brooch is also striking, heavy with both tiny stones and a glamorous history: the piece originally belonged to Mrs. Hope Goddard Iselin, an avid sportswoman and social figure of the Gilded Age.  Whether you’re looking for an autumnal wardrobe item or a piece of wearable modern art, this auction will hold options for you. An Etruscan Revival grapevine necklace displays both power and delicacy in its careful details, while an 18 karat gold brooch from Georg Jensen presents sleek, modern elegance. Whatever your style, this diverse auction will give you a multitude of options and opportunities. To view the full catalog and register to bid, visit Bidsquare. 

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    MCM Furniture, Art & Decor Auction

    Bruneau & Co. Auctioneer’s upcoming September MCM Furniture, Art, & Decor Auction features impeccably preserved mid-century pieces from several New England estates. Go straight to the MCM sources that continue to inspire contemporary designers’ work today with the classic clean lines and bold colors. The auction is a wonderful opportunity to own some of last century’s great designs in a variety of categories including furniture, paintings, sculpture.  Highlights include a pristine 1960 2PC Vladimir Kagan sofa and ottoman, a 1972 biomorphic jewelry box, and a Walter Teague for Sparton sled radio. The auction also includes works by Eames, Matthew Beardsley, and Domino Mobler, among others.  For a complete auction catalogue and to register to bid, go to Bidsquare.

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    Antique and Americana Auction

    Experience the extravaganza of American antiques in the upcoming Antique and Americana auction by Hess Auctions. We often come across a lot of antique rooster weather vanes. However, the uniquely designed galloping horse and jockey weathervane by J.W. Friske is a rare find. The copper and zinc sculpture by the American manufacturer is a prime collectible of American history.  When it comes to paintings and art Christopher Shearer is a well-known name among the American artists. The artist is most popular for his landscape paintings. The 1902 Christopher Shearer oil on canvas landscape depicting a realistic woodland path with a wood plank bridge over the stream is a featured art piece of the auction. Furniture collectibles include the Pennsylvania Chippendale walnut secretary desk, Empire tiger maple miniature chest of drawers, Massachusetts Queen Anne cherry highboy, and many others. Other featured collectibles from the auction include redware, stoneware, glass & chinaware, toys, metal ware, textiles, oriental rugs, furniture and many more. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Live auctioneers.