From Impressionism to contemporary art, Christie’s upcoming 20th Century Evening Sale offers a wide array of fine art pieces. This early October event is led by an untitled painting from American painter Mark Rothko. Among the most prominent figures of the New York School, Rothko revolutionized Abstract Expressionism. His mature style in the 1950s can be characterized by floating rectangular forms and the use of thin washes of color. He often turned away from attempts to interpret his content. “[The paintings’] explanation must come out of a consummated experience between picture and onlooker,” he once said.
The work of Cy Twombly represents Abstract art in this sale. It was only after he traveled to the Mediterranean in the 1950s that Twombly began to embrace abstraction. His exposure to this style inspired expressive scribbles and drips in his work. Also available in the auction is a piece of a Pablo Picasso oil painting that was completed during World War II. His work, titled Femme dans un fauteuil, shows Surrealist photographer and painter Dora Maar seated on a chair. Picasso focuses on the sharp angles of her profile with the use of intersecting lines. Explore the full listings and register to bid online by visiting Christie’s.
Massimo Campigli’s Femmes Au Piano (Women at the Piano) is one of the featured lots in the upcoming Impressionist & Modern Art sale, presented by Sotheby’s. In the painting, a young woman plays the piano for another admiring woman. It shows Campigli’s fascination with the Etruscan art style as well as Roman wall painting. These early influences would remain with the artist throughout his career.
The auction offers over 100 lots of paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from some of the most prolific artists in the 19th and 20th centuries. Included in the event is the work of French artist Bernard Buffet. One of the members of L’homme Témoin, an anti-Abstract art group, Buffet created over 8,000 works in the Neo-Expressionist style. His work frequently addressed the ideas of art history, death, sexuality, popular culture, and politics. George Grosz’s Punishment (Street Scene) is also among the key lots. Considered a leader in the Berlin Dada movement between 1918 and 1920, Grosz is best known for his pen-and-ink caricatures of Weimar Germany. Executed in 1934, the offered piece depicts a chaotic scene with armed officers. Register to bid for any of these lots on Sotheby’s.
Several Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry pieces highlight the offerings from the estate of Katrina Hickox Becker, presented by Charlton Hall Galleries. This includes a Van Cleef & Arpels emerald and diamond brooch. At its center is a 3.0-carat Colombian emerald, surrounded by eight smaller emeralds and several diamonds. Also available is a platinum, emerald, and diamond ring from the French luxury jewelry company.
Fine art made available in this sale includes Ralph Eugene Cahoon, Jr.’s Interrupted Picnic. In the piece, a few aristocrats’ leisurely afternoon of fishing and drinking wine comes to a halt once they spot a mermaid. The mermaid looks out at them, befuddled by their quick escape. Also available is The Forger, attributed to Sebastiaen Vrancx. Although largely known for his paintings of battlefields, this piece is one in a series of four attributed to Vrancx depicting everyday life. Vrancx’s works were admired and collected by many of his contemporaries, including Peter Paul Rubens.
A Narragansett pattern serving set is also featured in the sale. First produced by the Gorham Manufacturing Company in 1884, the Narragansett pattern gets its unique look from the casting of real seashells in silver or gold. Because of its intricate design, this cutlery is only used for serving. Decorative art collectors can also consider a Sheraton secretary bookcase. Embellishments atop the bookcase include leaves and tassels. Those interested in this or any other lot can register to bid on the Charlton Hall Galleries website.
Marquis de Lafayette was an important figure in the American Revolutionary War. The French aristocrat served alongside George Washington in several battles. The two became such good friends that Lafayette named his only son after America’s first president. The upcoming auction of timepieces, presented by Hindman, offers a Jacquemart automation quarter repeater pocket watch once owned by Lafayette. The 18-karat tricolor gold open face timepiece dates back to the early 1800s. It was made in Austria around the time when Lafayette lived there in exile.
Another lot of interest featured in the event is an Avenue Classic wristwatch by Harry Winston. The 18-karat white gold timepiece is embellished with 112 round, brilliant-cut diamonds. A Patek Philippe yellow gold minute repeater open face pocket watch, retailed by Spaulding & Co., is available as well. It is crafted in yellow gold and features a monogram engraved case. Highlights of the event also include timepieces by luxury brands such as Cartier, Breguet, Rolex, and others. Visit Bidsquare to browse the entire catalog or register to bid.
Jasper Johns is a prolific American painter, printmaker, and sculptor known for his Pop Art and Abstract Expressionist artworks. It was in 1954 that Johns created his seminal Flag painting. During the same year, the artist also started experimenting with printmaking. Recalling his first monotype, Johns states, “While working as a clerk in a bookstore, I folded a small piece of paper, made parallel cuts into it, then applied ink, and pressed it against another sheet of paper, leaving an impression of the ink.” Johns’ monotypes involve single prints as opposed to his multiple editions, which are made using etching and lithography. The upcoming Sotheby’s auction presents an untitled monotype print by Johns. It was executed in 2018.
The auction also features Construct, a work by color field artist Sam Gilliam. The acrylic on rice paper piece is an example of the artist’s drape paintings. These tie-dye style paintings often involve draping paper or fabric on canvas. This Choice Works auction also features works from prominent artists such as Richard Prince, Ed Ruscha, and Sol LeWitt. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Sotheby’s.
A printed paper and mahogany cabinet from Austrian-Swedish designer Josef Frank leads the upcoming Stair sale. Designed in 1937, this cabinet is printed with various botanical studies. Frank was a leading figure in the early Swedish Modernism movement, working alongside the likes of Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius. He split from his contemporaries in some respects, however, with a willingness to sacrifice the avant-garde in favor of comfort. From the same period is a dressing table and tabouret from Eugène Printz, a Parisian designer who found fame with his Art Deco pieces.
Beyond furniture, a selection of decorative art and household items will also be available. Key lots include a globular tulipwood bowl from Philip Moulthrop, several Spanish Baroque-style rugs, and various porcelain dinner sets. This auction will particularly feature items from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. John Gutfreund. A Wall Street financier, John Gutfreund’s Fifth Avenue apartment in New York was a fashion destination in the late 20th century. Visit Bidsquare to browse the complete catalog and register to bid.
Maurice de Vlaminck’s Nature Morte Au Compotier is one of the highlights of the upcoming Impressionist & Modern Art Day Sale, presented by Christie’s. Vlaminck was a French painter whose works were central to the Fauvism art movement. The featured oil painting of a still life fruit bowl shows the artist’s preference for vibrant colors and gestural brushstrokes.
A painting by Henri Matisse is also available in this sale. Matisse is often regarded as the leader of the Fauvist movement. His breakthrough came in 1904 when he created his first expressionistic painting. Through his work, he intended to create “an art of balance, of purity and serenity.” Alongside Matisse in this auction are other influential French artists, including Aristide Maillol, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Alfred Sisley. View the complete catalog and register to bid for the above items at Christie’s.
Edward F. Caldwell & Co., a New York-based company, was established when Edward F. Caldwell joined forces with Victor von Lossberg in 1895. The decorative metalwork manufacturer was considered a leading producer of the time. They designed a range of custom decorative pieces such as lanterns, marble torchères, metal gates, and more. In the upcoming Christie’s auction, a pair of vintage American marble torchères from Edward F. Caldwell & Co. will be available. The piece depicts two half-clothed figures: a bacchante and a satyr, each holding a cherub on their shoulders.
This live auction will also bring a pair of George IV wine coolers. Using the cast and chased technique, the offered piece is engraved with mythological scenes. The Greek god of wine, Bacchus, and Cretan princess Ariadne are shown surrounded by dancers. For more information and to bid for the above-mentioned items, visit Christie’s.
Starting in the late 1930s, Oscar Heyman & Brothers became known as the “jewelers’ jeweler” for its behind-the-scenes work with brands such as Van Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany & Co. Since then, Oscar Heyman has evolved to become an independent firm, notably creating pins for the Apollo 16 flight to the Moon and jewels for Billy Porter’s 2019 Oscars look. Available in the upcoming Fall Jewelry and Watches auction, offered by Rago, is an invisibly-set ruby ring from the brand. This bombe-style ring has a maker’s mark.
Unusual jewelry items are the focus of this sale, including a diamond and gold necklace by late 19th-century jeweler René Boivin. The French jewelry craftsman is known as the jeweler of the intelligentsia. The Bovin necklace features baguette-cut diamonds as the central motif that is separated by diamonds and yellow gold scrolls. A pair of 18-karat yellow gold cuff bracelets from Barry Kieselstein-Cord also stand out. These cuffs, made in the early 1980s, are from the designer’s Caviar collection. Key timepieces in this auction include a Rolex GMT-Master wristwatch with a Pepsi bezel and a Patek Philippe annual calendar watch. Find the full catalog and register to bid on Bidsquare.
Ferdinand Porsche developed a keen interest in technology at a young age. Working on this interest, he invented the world’s first electric all-wheel-drive car in 1900. Its success drove his attention to automotive engineering. He eventually founded the Porsche brand with just 200 workers. It is now known as one of the largest car manufacturers in the world. A 1978 Porsche 911 Targa vehicle is among the highlights of the upcoming Incredible Fall Estate Auction, offered by Gallery 63.
A Rocabar wool blanket is also one of the standout lots in the sale. Rocabar by Hermès was inspired by the blankets used on racehorses in the 19th century. Launched in 1998, the first Rocabar blanket was designed with navy blue and coral stripes on a monochromatic ocher background. Since then, the style has been reproduced in cashmere and silk. A Rolex Datejust wristwatch is also offered. Launched in 1957, the Rolex Datejust was the first chronometer in the women’s collection to feature an automatic date function. The sale also presents several jewelry items, including aquamarine, tanzanite, and diamond rings. Visit Bidsquare for the complete listings.
