Between 1877 and 1950, thousands of Black Americans were victims of violence in the United States. In an attempt to give a voice to the victims and tell their stories, John W. Wilson worked to address the issues of social and racial injustice through his art. Several lithographs by Wilson will be presented in the upcoming Paintings, Furniture, Decorative Arts, & Fine Rugs sale, offered by Alex Cooper Auctioneers. In one piece, a petrified mother sits in a chair, clutching her child in the corner of a room.
American sculptor Mark Hopkins is considered among the leading artists pushing the boundaries of traditional sculpture by including expressive forms. Hopkins’ work has been called “bronze in motion” for its use of sculptural gestures. In his words, “I strive to express beyond the image, to catch the spirit, to reveal deeper emotions, and to share joy.” A bronze sculpture by Hopkins is among the leading lots in this event, portraying children hanging upside down from monkey bars. Also available in this sale is a Serapi carpet from Persia that can be traced back to the 19th century. These hand-knotted rugs were woven with silky wool to obtain quality and durability. View any of these lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
A good photograph can never be repeated, according to Harry Benson—a photographer who has captured many historical moments in his career. He has photographed scenes within the White House and outside at rallies, and captured both Hollywood and runways. Benson’s career was launched when he began photographing the Beatles in the 1960s. His famous subjects are often seen in a different light because of the way he captures them, including his photograph of Martin Luther King, Jr. taken just a foot away during the Meredith March. Reportedly, Benson’s secret to getting a good picture is letting the subject relax. A photograph of First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy with her sister Lee Radziwill taken in London in 1962 by Benson will be featured in the 2020 Benefit Art Auction, presented by the Newport Art Museum. It is a fiber-based archival photograph signed, titled, and numbered by the artist.
It All Becomes One Handmade Paper is the title of another lot of interest in this benefit sale. Its creator, Joan Hill, is a Rhode Island sculptor whose works have been featured at exhibitions across the country and abroad. The pulp painting, like many of her other installation artworks, demonstrates Hill’s love for the sea and raises awareness for the environment. Also from Rhode Island is a piece by Nicholas Benson, a third-generation stone carver from one of the longest-run family businesses in the United States. His works can be seen at historical venues such as the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. A carved stone slate piece by Benson is offered in the auction.
The carefully selected 69 lots available in this event include photographs, fine art, watercolor paintings, mixed media works, posters, and prints. The Newport Art Museum intends to support contributing artists and preserve historically significant buildings with the benefits of this sale. Help by bidding online exclusively at Bidsquare.
A cabinetmaker from London, Thomas Chippendale was well known for his meticulous take on 18th-century furniture design. With a blend of influences that included Gothic, Rococo, and Chinese styles, he attempted to create his own approach. The Chippendale style was popularized between 1750 and 1780 in England and the American colonies. A Chippendale-style walnut dressing chest will be available in the upcoming Discovery – Interiors auction, presented by Skinner. The event also brings a 1920 Sarouk carpet. Sarouk rugs, also known as Saroughs, are traditional Persian carpets woven in the village of Saruk, Iran. These carpets are mostly valued for their curvilinear and floral designs.
A Renaissance-style carved fall-front desk is another key lot. Renaissance furniture was strongly influenced by Classical architectural elements, often using motifs such as columns, pediments, and cornices. Mythological, historical, and religious themes were also incorporated in Renaissance furniture designs. View the complete catalog for this sale and register to bid on Bidsquare.
Lynn Chadwick was a leading British post-war sculptor. Trained as an architectural draughtsman, Chadwick started creating mobiles and, later, other natural forms, insects, and animals. By the end of the 1960s, he mostly devoted his time to human figures, the subject later becoming central to his oeuvre. These sculptures were influenced by both Easter Island figures and Greek mythology. The upcoming event, presented by Abington Auction Gallery, Inc., features a pair of bronze sculptures by Chadwick. Titled Pair of Sitting Figures II, the work shows two figures with symmetrically folded legs.
Also among the leading lots is an oil painting from Allen Jones. A British Pop artist, Jones is best known for his paintings and sculpture. His work is characterized by its suggestive imagery and provocative poses. Titled The Art of Allusion, the offered work depicts three figures in various positions. Beyond fine and decorative art, the auction also includes a collection of jewelry, furniture, and rugs. Browse the full catalog and register to bid on Bidsquare.
Though there is a variety of sports memorabilia offered in the August 2020 Premier sale, presented by Hunt Auctions, the event is anchored by baseball items. Among the featured lots is a poster, issued in 1889, advertising the premium “Baseball Album” illustrations from Old Judge and Dogs Head cigarettes. The poster includes vignette images from four player pages, showing athletes such as John Ward and Cap Anson. Wollfers Auction Specimen (1992) says this copy of the poster is one of the finest known examples.
Other baseball items include an archive of images related to Jackie Robinson, with some photos showing the athlete both uniformed and in street clothes. Pictured in some of the images are boxing’s Joe Frazier, Joe Louis, and Muhammed Ali; baseball’s Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle (and other Hall of Famers); as well as a sequential series of photos showing Robinson stealing home base. Also of note is a Michael Jordan Birmingham Barons baseball road jersey. The jersey retains its original black on white tackle twill team name across the front with “45” below. It is autographed by Jordan. View any of these lots and register to bid on Invaluable.
Even though the panther debuted in Cartier jewelry in 1914, the motif did not became synonymous with the brand until the 1940s. Cartier’s elegant feline was popularized and perfected by Jean Toussaint, the company’s director and a close companion of Louis Cartier. With the help of designer Peter Lemarchand, Toussaint fine-tuned the motif to complement the fashionable fur from big cat skins. The upcoming Estate Jewelry, Fine Art & Collectibles event, presented by Kodner Galleries, highlights a panther pendant from Cartier. The 18-karat white gold pendant features pave-set diamonds and emerald eyes.
The auction offers over 90 lots of decorative arts, including works from Larry Mohr, Karl Springer, and Salvador Dalí. A bronze sculpture titled Homage to Newton from Dalí is among the key lots. Inspired by Surrealism, he was best known for his paintings of dreamscapes and religious themes. In the available piece, Dalí honors Sir Isaac Newton for his discovery of the law of gravity. An acrylic painting by Stanford Slutsky is also available. Slutsky works with geometric and chromatic abstraction to create the illusion of movement and three-dimensionality. View each of these lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
St. Gaudens $20 gold coins are among the most sought-after American coins for their value and design. The $20 St. Gaudens coins were produced between 1907 and 1933. They were named after Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a celebrated American sculptor who was asked by President Theodore Roosevelt to beautify American coinage. The upcoming Doyle auction features a series of St. Gaudens gold coins, including a 1922 example. During the 1922 recession in the United States, production of most coins and notes was stopped. The St. Gaudens were the only coins that continued to be minted for their high value and their use in international exchange.
The Coins, Bank Notes, & Postage Stamps Auction also presents multiple George V British gold sovereign coins. As the George V gold coins were the only coinage in circulation during World War I, they are also known as “WWI coins.” The offerings will include British currency minted in South Africa and Australia as well. During the rule of the British Empire, the British gold sovereigns were in production at the Royal Mint and its branches in Australia, Canada, India, and South Africa. The auction also showcases a collection of worldwide stamps and American mint state stamps, in addition to Austrian, Mexican, and Hawaiian silver coins. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Doyle.
A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals’ upcoming Asian Works of Art auction will particularly highlight Chinese jade and porcelain works, ranging from the Yuan dynasty to the Republican period. An 18th-century vessel from the Qing dynasty covered with celadon jade is among the key lots. Designed to resemble a historical bronze gui, or ritual vessel, the base of the piece is stamped with a Qianlong mark. This period of the Qing dynasty boasted finely-crafted jade carvings that imitated ancient forms. Another Qianlong piece on offer is a porcelain bowl with blue floral roundels. It is presented with a certificate of authenticity.
Leading the fine art offerings is an oil painting from Vietnamese Impressionist Lê Phổ. A leading figure of 20th-century Vietnamese art, Lê Phổ’s paintings often showed vibrant arrays of flowers and vegetation. Traditional Vietnamese women and families were other common themes in his work. This painting, executed before the 1970s, is signed by the artist in both English and Chinese. For more information on the artist, view this Auction Daily article. A six-panel lacquer floor screen, an 18th-century Tibetan thangka painting, and various snuff bottles round out the upcoming auction. To place a bid and explore the full catalog, visit LiveAuctioneers.
In many Native American cultures, the deer is considered a messenger, a keeper of the Earth, and an animal of power. It symbolizes gentleness, safety, prosperity, and shelter. A Cherokee legend tells that the deer and the rabbit raced to see which was the fastest, but the rabbit cheated before the race. As a result, it was forced to give the deer its antlers. Among the featured lots in the upcoming Western Decorative Arts & Objects sale, presented by Santa Fe Art Auction, is an untitled deer painting from Popovi Da. In the piece, two dancing deer and a skunk are shown in movement. A tree stands in the background.
The event also includes a gouache on paper piece by Tony Da. The grandson of famed potter Maria Martinez and the son of Popovi Da, the artist supported the legacy of his family by pioneering bold innovations. Tony Da often used prehistoric Mimbres designs as subjects for his paintings. The available 1969 work is rendered in his signature style. Beyond fine art, the sale also offers pottery and rugs. View the complete catalog and register to bid on Bidsquare.
Originally a jeweler, Charles Christofle founded a goldsmith and tableware company in 1830. The Christofle company would eventually become known for exploring the electrolytic gilding and silver plating process. A silver-plated kylix from Christofle will be highlighted in Alex Cooper Auctioneers’ upcoming auction of Linda McRae Noe Laine’s estate. The late 19th-century piece was created in the style of the early Roman Empire. It shows the image of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, at the center. This high-relief piece is surrounded by a decorative palmette border.
Among the available porcelain lots are tableware items from Herend Porcelain Manufactory, which was founded in 1826. The following decade, Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph I gave the company the title “Purveyor to the Royal Court” for their services. The available hand-painted pieces include a vanity tray, a small tea tray, a double-handled square serving tray, and more. A Meissen porcelain partial dinner service and a pair of Chinese famille rose jar lamps will be presented in the auction as well. View each of these lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
