Born in Berlin, Germany in 1905, Ruth Bernhard moved to New York in 1927. There, she became a distinguished photographer capturing women and inanimate objects in monochrome. Highlighted in the upcoming Photographs Monthly Online Auction are several of her works, including her 1962 photograph titled In the Box, San Francisco, California. This photo shows a woman inside of a box, positioned on her back with her arms above and under her head. Her legs are curled with the right on top of the left.
Coming to the United States in 1881 from Luxembourg, Edward Steichen was a photographer strongly influenced by the art of Claude Monet. Steichen became widely known for his work with the Vogue and Vanity Fair magazines between 1923 and 1938. In this Heritage Auctions event is the photographer’s 1925 piece titled Sunday Night, 40th Street, New York. Other lots include Gene Trindl’s 1956 photograph of Louis Armstrong on the set of High Society, Frank Worth’s 1954 photo of Marilyn Monroe sitting in a chair, and a photograph of Ed White walking in space from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). View the entire catalog and place a bid at Heritage Auctions.
Piero Benzoni is an Italian silversmith famous for his handcrafted silver jewels and chess sets. Benzoni initially wanted to be a violinist, but due to the post-war financial crisis started working as an apprentice at silverware manufacturers. By the age of 20, Benzoni was an expert in making silver trays, amphorae, and mugs. After starting his own silverware company, Benzoni introduced a line of chess sets that explored different periods of history. The upcoming Chess Collectors International Auction, offered by Link Auction Galleries, highlights a Piero Benzoni gold- and silver-plated medieval chess set. The lost-wax technique was used to craft these chiseled and hand-finished pieces.
Also featured is a cubic wooden chess set by American sculptor Charles Owen Perry. The mathematically-inspired set is composed of natural and walnut-stained pinewood. A clear and frosted glass crystal chess set by John Paul Lejeune will be presented as well. Works from the prominent Belgian glassmaker are famous for their fluid movements and fine craftsmanship. The auction also includes a Christmas-themed chess set, wooden and ivory chess sets from India, Nepal, and China, as well as strategy books. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on the Link Auction Galleries website.
The Coin-Op & Advertising sale, presented by Potter & Potter Auctions, features coin-operated machines such as early vending machines, slots, trade stimulators, and arcade games. One key lot is a cast-iron strength testing machine from the early 1900s. The device works by inserting an old English penny, which allows the user to test their strength by squeezing a handle. This restored piece is operational and includes the original skeleton keys.
Also available are casino memorabilia and gambling collectibles, primarily from Reno establishments such as Harold’s Club, Harrah’s, and the Nevada Club. A double-sided neon sign from the latter reads: “Nevada Club / Gaming – Bar – Fine Food.” The lot includes a transformer and mounting hardware and was removed from an indoor setting. An enlarged photo showing the sign on a Reno street is included with the lot. Completing the auction are collectible pieces such as antique peanut vending machines, gumball machines, Coca-Cola advertising items, a drinking-bear automaton, and more. View any of these lots and register to bid on the Potter & Potter Auctions website.
A selection of Japanese arms and armor is featured in the upcoming sale, presented by Cowan’s Auctions. One of the swords on offer is a katana sword from feudal Japan. A symbol of the Japanese samurai tradition, katana blades served as samurai weapons in the late 13th century. Since then, katanas have been widely recognized for their curved, single-edged blades.
Among the 410 items available in this auction, an English powder horn is a standout lot. Made from an animal horn, the piece was mostly used for carrying gunpowder. Engraved on this particular horn is a depiction of battleships sailing around a small coastal town with windmills. Another lot on display is a Model 11 hammerless shotgun from Beretta. Founded in the 16th century, Beretta is one of the best-known manufacturers of firearms. Other items available in the sale include military helmets, uniforms, knife collections, and more. View any of these lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
The deification of animals in ancient Egypt existed long before its unification around 3100 B.C.E. Ancient communities worshipped images of animals such as dogs, cows, and sheep. Among the most preeminent animal cults were the bull cults, which appeared during the first Egyptian dynasty. Bulls served as symbols of courage, strength, and fighting spirit. The Apis bull cult believed that the god Ptah, the creator of the universe and master of destiny, was incarnate in the form of a bull named Apis. A silver amulet representing Apis highlights the upcoming auction, presented by Artemis Gallery. The figure stands on four hooved legs in a forward striding position. Its muscular body is adorned with incised decoration.
In Mayan culture, the greenstone represented both earthly life and the eternal life of the spirits. These stones were highly treasured as they had the same color as sprouting maize. The Maya people carved greenstone articles to emphasize the elite rank of individuals wearing them. These objects were often passed from generation to generation. A pre-Columbian Maya serpentine mask is among the key lots. The intricately carved mask features oblong eyes, a triangular nose, parted lips, and incised ear coverings. Explore these items and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Irma Stern’s Swahili Woman is one of the highlighted lots in the upcoming Modern & Contemporary African Art auction, presented by Bonhams. The 1945 oil painting depicts an East African woman in a traditional hand-painted robe, slightly smiling and lost in thought. A South African painter, Stern was known for her Zanzibar paintings, mainly portraits of Arab and East African subjects. As the auction house notes, “In Zanzibar, she found a different stimulus in the narrow streets and ancient houses of Stone Town, and the striking faces and distinctive robes of its residents.”
This event offers 40 modern and contemporary African fine art pieces. Among them is Athi-Patra Ruga’s Ilulwane as uNtsikana, a portrait of a male figure. Many of Ruga’s works examine the physical body related to sexuality and culture— often expressed using the artist’s own experiences. The piece shows the titular character reflected in the mirror as the visionary Xhosa prophet, Ntsikana. Those interested in modern African art can also consider Toyin Ojih Odutola’s The Original (Binary State). Executed in 2008, the work shows the use of ballpoint pens, pencils, and ink. Register to bid for these lots by visiting Bonhams.
A 1915 Panama-Pacific round coin is featured in the upcoming Regency Auction, presented by Legend Rare Coin Auctions. The United States mint created these coins to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal, and they were made available only at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. It was the first time the United States offered a $50 gold coin and, due to the high denomination, only sold 483 of them at the event. The auction house notes that there are only 13 MS64+ graded examples of the coin, including the one available in this sale.
Several Buffalo nickels will also be offered. This includes one from 1937, the penultimate year of the coin’s minting. The Buffalo nickel was part of a government initiative to beautify American coins at the turn of the 20th century. They were replaced in 1938 by the Jefferson nickel, which is minted to this day. Rounding out the featured lots is a 1926 Mercury dime. The ten-cent coin is known as the Mercury dime because many mistook Lady Liberty— depicted on the coin’s front— for the Roman god Mercury. Those interested in this or any other lot can register to bid on the auction house’s website.
In 1877, a gold and silver mining town in Colorado was named Leadville after the discovery of lead carbonite. As the mining town required fire security, a volunteer firefighter group was formed. However, it soon became necessary for the Leadville residents to organize their safety operations, and a fire chief was appointed. The upcoming Milestone Auctions event will present a P.J. Cooney fire hose carriage used in Leadville, Colorado by the fire department after its creation in the 1890s. P.J. Cooney Company was a fire equipment company based in St. Louis, Missouri that sold products to fire departments across the United States. This horse-drawn carriage is equipped with brass lanterns, fire axes, and a toolbox.
The auction also highlights a Bowser “Pumpkin Head” clock face gas pump. In 1885, S.F. Bowser created its first kerosene pump and sold it to Jake Gumper, a grocery store owner in Indiana. The kerosene pump was later modified to become a gasoline pump to measure and dispensed gasoline. The available restored gas pump by Bowser has a spinner gauge, brass nozzle, and white hose. The Railroad, Fire, & Petroliana auction, which features the collection of Brian Maiher, also offers railroad collectibles such as Gamewell transmitters, train bells, and railroad signs. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Milestone Auctions.
Traditional rattles are mostly associated with the shamans of the Tlingit Native American tribe. The Tlingit, whose name means “People of the Tides,” are indigenous to the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Featured in the upcoming Native American Art auction, presented by Bonhams, is a Tlingit rattle carved in the form of an oystercatcher. The bird has inset shell eyes and a human form on its back pulling at the bird’s horns. On the side of the bird, “1788” is inscribed in white pigment.
Also included is a Kiowa beaded cradle. The Kiowa tribe is native to the Great Plains but migrated to the Southern Plains by the early 19th century. The cradle highlighted in the auction consists of a fully beaded hood with leaf-form motifs on a blue background. It is mounted on a plain wood frame. The piece measures 45 inches in length and 12.75 inches wide. The style of the cradle has been attributed to Tahdo Ahtone. Other items found in the catalog include a Sioux beaded men’s shirt, a large Navajo crystal rug, and a Hopi Katsina doll, among others. View the whole collection and place a bid at Bonhams.
Founded by Laurence Graff, a British jeweler, Graff is a multinational company based in London. It deals in the design, manufacture, and retail distribution of jewelry and watches. The upcoming Jewels Online: Summer Sparkle auction, presented by Christie’s, features a wide variety of diamond sizes— the largest being a 20.21-carat pear-shaped yellow-brown diamond in a Graff necklace. The detachable pendant is framed by round diamonds and suspended from a graduated diamond necklace. Another highlight is a jewelry set that includes one necklace, a bracelet, and a pair of earrings with colored diamonds. The auction also showcases a pear brilliant-cut diamond weighing 5.03 carats.
The sale features a variety of diamonds from the classic colorless stones to grays, browns, greens, pinks, and yellows. One offered eternity band features 12 diamonds set in polished and brushed white gold. A Sabbadini diamond brooch designed to resemble a sculpted gold flower is another lot of interest. The Sabbadini brand is best known for its minimalistic yet eccentric themes. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Christie’s.
