Considered
a mythological creature, serpents held special significance in many pre-Columbian
civilizations. In some Mesoamerican cultures, serpents specifically represented
Quetzalcoatl, the feathered deity of wind, air, and learning. In the upcoming
Variety Sale, Artemis Gallery
will present a pair of gilded copper tupus
or pins that each resemble a two-headed serpent. They were likely forged
between 300 and 100 BCE.
A
diogenite meteorite slab from the Vesta asteroid is particularly highlighted as
well. According to the lot essay, the Vesta asteroid was one of the largest objects in the
Milky Way’s asteroid belt. As the rocks collided, this four-billion-year-old
piece landed on Earth. Also featured is an Egyptian amulet of Pataikos. In
ancient Egypt, Pataikos was believed to be a god of protection, worshipped from
the time of the Old Kingdom (2686-2160 BCE). The figure is depicted as a dwarf
with short, crooked legs and a bald head. Visit LiveAuctioneers for the complete listings and to place a bid.
This November, Bonhams will offer over 40 notable artworks by post-war and contemporary artists. Leading the sale is an oil painting from Gerhard Richter. Completed in 1988, this untitled piece comes from Richter’s Abstraktes Bild series. The series marked the peak of Richter’s career as he experimented with the idea of abstraction. In the available piece, he combined troweling, scraping, and brushing methods with his signature squeegee technique. That involves applying layers of paint and dragging them across the canvas.
The auction will also highlight a sculpture from renowned American artist Alexander Calder. He revolutionized the course of Modern art with his innovation of suspended sheet metal and wire sculptures. This particular piece, titled Little Red and Blue, is associated with 20th-century sculptural abstraction. It is one of the last pieces he completed before his untimely death in 1976. Also highlighted is a sculpture of a boxing hare by Barry Flanagan, a Welsh sculptor known for his depictions of anthropomorphic figures. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bonhams.
Hans and Florence Knoll founded the well-known furniture company Knoll Inc. in 1938. Headquartered in East Greenville, Pennsylvania, the American brand received the National Design Award in 2011 and a permanent place in museums across the country. Most of Knoll’s furniture was made in collaboration with noteworthy designers such as Frank Gehry, Maya Lin, and Mies van der Rohe. A pair of Knoll-style upholstered chaise lounges are available in the upcoming Thursday Morning at Stair auction, offered by Stair.
The event will showcase an eclectic selection of furniture and decorative art. Featured in the catalog is a pair of Regency-style painted faux marble consoles. Typically favored by the Parisian aristocracy, Regency was a transitional decorative style that originated in France between 1715 and 1723. Several pieces of fine art by Georges René Sinicki, André Minaux, and others are also available. Interested collectors can browse the entire catalog or place a bid on Bidsquare.
A well-known Nicaraguan painter, Armando Morales (1927-2011) was an acclaimed figure in Central American art. He received his first award at the Central American Painting Contest in 1956 and later exhibited at various shows in Paris. The subject matter of his paintings often referred to the Latin American region. The upcoming Latin American Art auction, presented by Christie’s, features an oil on canvas piece by Morales, titled Place de la Gare, voitures, personages, III. The piece was painted in 1999. Another highlight of the auction is a plywood and maple installation by Los Carpinteros. A Cuban artist collective formed in 1992 in Havana, Los Carpinteros was founded by Dagoberto Rodriguez Sanchez, Marco Antonio Castillo Valdes, and Alexandre Arrechea. Bringing back the traditional artisan guild system, the members of the group integrated elements of design, architecture, and sculpture in their installations.
Arturo Herrera’s untitled collage on acid-free paper is another lot of interest in the sale. The globally-renowned Venezuelan visual artist is best known for blending cartoons and collage. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Christie’s.
Leading Artelisted’s upcoming Auctioneer Picks sale is a Tiffany Studios desk set. Tiffany was long-established in the leaded glass industry when the company moved to produce items suitable for all budgets. To accomplish this, Tiffany expanded the New York-based Tiffany Furnaces factory and began producing household goods. The available desk set represents one of approximately 20 patterns that Tiffany produced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It includes a letter rack, inkstand, and blotter ends in the pine needle pattern. Other key antique lots include a Baroque-style pearl, ruby, and diamond necklace and a pre-Colombian red coral necklace.
French painter Lucie Briard is also represented in this sale. Known for her portraits of domestic animals, the artist used an Impressionistic brush to capture her subjects. Bidders may also consider a privately-printed copy of Mark Twain’s 1601, a short satire of Queen Elizabeth I’s court. It was printed by “renegade journalist and publisher” Lyle Stuart, who made a career of running controversial content. Visit the Artelisted website for the complete listings and to place a bid.
According to a Chinese legend, Hanshan and Shinde lived during the Tang dynasty and were close friends who fell in love with the same girl. When Shinde realized this, he abandoned all worldly pleasures to become a monk. Hanshan joined his friend in monkhood. Known as the holy He-He Er Xian, the symbol of the two friends together went on to represent harmony and mirth. Their statue is often gifted to newlywed couples to bestow blessings of unity. A Chinese white jade He-He Er Xian statuette from the 18th century is available in the upcoming Winter Fine Asian Art and Antique auction, offered by Oakridge Auction Gallery.
Several other artifacts of Asian provenance will be available in the event. A Chinese Chenxiang ruyi scepter dating from the 18th century is also available. The piece is carved with the Eight Immortals, a group of legendary figures in Chinese mythology. Another featured lot is a Chinese two-piece bronze vase with gold inlay. The vase features a pair of chilong handles. Browse the entire catalog or register to place a bid on Bidsquare.
For toy lovers, young and old, the FAO Schwarz Rockefeller Center Toy Store in New York is a treat. An iconic film moment when Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia jumped up and down the Walking Piano was captured there. The man behind the world’s most iconic toy store was Frederick August Otto Schwarz. His childlike wonder resulted in the FAO Schwarz emporium, which has built toys for more than 150 years. In the upcoming Bears, Dolls, and Trains Auction, vintage stuffed toys from FAO Schwarz will be offered by Turner Auctions + Appraisals.
An original Steiff vintage giraffe that was once a store display will be available in the sale. The giraffe stands eight feet tall and still has the original tag and button in the ear. Another presented Steiff animal is said to be the largest stuffed walrus at 44 inches. It has a broken tusk with signs of age. Among non-stuffed toys, an electric Lionel Legacy Milwaukee Road Bipolar is up for bid. It is a locomotive toy for those who love toy trains and tracks. It comes in its original Lionel Legacy box. View all 237 lots, including toys, fine art, Asian works of art, collectibles, and pop culture, exclusively on Bidsquare.
In late 1800s Europe, empire waistlines were out and the medieval look was in. Wealthy women began to favor an ultra-luxe style that emphasized precious metals. It wasn’t until the 1920s, however, that this style became accessible to the masses. Flappers paired their straight-lined gowns with gold mesh purses, often accented with elegant details. An example of these chainmail-inspired mesh purses will be available in Akiba Antiques’ upcoming November to Remember Auction. Collectors of jewelry and accessories will find several other notable lots in the catalog, including a star sapphire ring and a Tiffany & Co. diamond eternity band.
From Belgian artist Odile Kinart is a figural bronze sculpture depicting a seated man and woman. The pair have rounded heads and prominent facial features, a style that Kinart picked up from her studies of pre-Colombian cultures. Among the other available fine art pieces is a painted notebook by Purvis Young. A shining star of the 1970s, Young was a self-taught artist who turned the streets of Miami, Florida into a canvas. “My feeling was the world might be better if I put up my protests,” he said about his work. “I figured the world might get better, it might not, but it was just something I had to be doing.” Many of the artist’s recurring images of pregnant women, railroad tracks, and horses can be found in this notebook. Find more details on each of these lots and register to bid on LiveAuctioneers
Edward Willis Redfield was an American Impressionist painter. Working mostly outdoors, the artist received recognition at an early age for his accurate portrayal of nature. An oil painting by Redfield is featured in the upcoming Private Collections of Lynn and Tony Deering auction. Titled At Twilight, this painting shows horses walking along a dirt path. The painting is dated 1965 and signed by the artist.
Born in Prague, Czech Republic, Jakub Dolejs has been recognized as one of the most exciting contemporary photographers in Canada. Found in this Alex Cooper Auctioneers sale is a piece titled Tribune (Louvre Remix) from Dolejs. This 2006 print highlights various paintings and sculptures in different positions around a red-painted room. Other items found in the auction include a jumbo Prada travel messenger bag, a black and white Stutterheim raincoat, and an assortment of antiquarian book sets with two Bibles. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete collection and place a bid.
In Buddhism, the goddess Tara is considered an embodiment of wisdom. According to mythology, the deity guides human beings along the path to enlightenment. A Chinese gilt bronze sculpture of Tara is highlighted in the upcoming Fine Asian Art Collection, presented by Ocean Star Auctions. Along with sculpture, the sale showcases a range of Chinese Hetian jade ornaments. In Chinese culture, it is believed that the owner of the Hetian jade will be blessed with fortune, love, and health.
Another lot of interest is a landscape painting by Chinese painter, scholar, and calligrapher Wen Zhengming. He frequently experimented with the concept of realism. Later in his career, Wen drifted away from the detailed representation of landscape scenes to focus on more freely washed depictions. He was known as one of four prominent painters during the Ming dynasty along with Shen Zhou, Tang Yin, and Qiu Ying. View these items and register to bid on Bidsquare.
