In 1953, three brothers started producing ceramic sculptures at their home in the village of Almàssera. After a few years, they opened their first shop in Valencia and named it Lladró. They eventually pioneered the single-firing method, which also became a hallmark of the brand. It can be characterized by pastel tones and attention to detail. The upcoming Collector’s Auction, offered by Whitley’s Auctioneers, will present a hand-painted porcelain group sculpture by Lladró. This limited edition piece depicts an 18th-century carriage drawn by four white horses.
Other top lots include a Royal Doulton prototype character jug. Founded in 1815 by John Doulton, Royal Doulton is an English ceramic manufacturing company. It rose to prominence when George Tinworth, a designer and artist, joined the team. He then became known for his humorous figures and animals on jugs and vases. The available jug, titled The March Hare, depicts a hare in a bow tie and black hat. Other lots from Royal Doulton are also offered, including a character jug of Santa Claus. Interested bidders can find more information on Bidsquare.
Cloisonné enamel gained popularity in China during the early 14th and 15th centuries under the reign of the Ming Xuande emperor. This technique first arrived in the western province of Yunnan, where it became known as Dashi ware. Originally intended for the furnishing of temples, cloisonné objects were later showcased in the courts of the Ming and Qing dynasties. A cloisonné enamel tripod censer is among the featured items in the upcoming Asian Art sale, presented by Rago.
Asian art collectors can also consider a figure of Guandi. During the Han dynasty, a Chinese general named Guan Yu was captured and executed in a battle. After his death, his popularity increased among the common people. In 1594, a Ming dynasty emperor canonized Guandi as “the god of war.” He has since been worshipped as a symbol of loyalty, righteousness, and bravery. Also available is a Japanese okimono sculpture depicting an eagle spreading its wings. Those interested in this or any other piece can register to bid on Bidsquare.
The upcoming Fine Art + Design Selections event, presented by Hindman, brings to auction 274 pieces of art, furniture, and jewelry. Highlighted among these lots is a painting, titled Welders, from John Chamberlain. In the late 1950s, Chamberlain began working on scrap metal obtained from wrecked automobiles, through which he discovered his distinctive style. The artist would go on to explore a variety of media in his later years, including fiberglass, photography, and painting. Chamberlain’s whimsical style can also be seen in most of his abstract paintings. Throughout his life, Chamberlain based his work on Abstract Expressionism.
The auction offers over 214 lots of fine art, including works from David Driskell, Aaron Bohrod, and Leonardo Nierman. An untitled painting from Nierman, a Mexican abstract painter, is among the highlighted lots in the event. Inspired by Surrealism, he was best known for portraying cosmic energy and earthly landscapes. A ceiling light by Alvin Lustig is also available. Lustig was an interior and architectural designer who worked to bridge the gap between creativity and technology. View each of these lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
A 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Mike Trout card signed by the then-minor leaguer will highlight the upcoming sports memorabilia event, presented by Goldin Auctions. The card is graded MINT 9 by BGS. Trout’s blue-ink signature on the card earns a “10” from Beckett. When Mike Trout was drafted in 2009, major league scouts had a favorable outlook on his career. However, they did not expect his quick rise in the following years. “In March [2012], Trout was one of the three best minor leaguers alive. By April, he was arguably the best minor leaguer alive. By June, he was probably the best major leaguer,” summarizes Baseball Prospectus’ Sam Miller.
Baseball card collectors will also find rookie cards for both Hank Aaron and Nolan Ryan among the featured lots. The Hank Aaron card is graded MINT 9 by PSA. Goldin Auctions notes that there are only 25 examples with this grade and only two with a grade higher. Basketball fans can consider Air Jordans signed and worn by Michael Jordan during his rookie year. Those interested in this or any other lot can register to bid on the Goldin Auctions website.
Internationally acclaimed artist Joan Miró is often considered one of the leading Surrealists. However, he never officially became part of the group. A desire to express human psychology’s inner workings led Miró to pioneer a linear style of Automatism. This pursuit inspired him to develop a new artistic language of dots and lines. These elements, with a wide range of motifs such as eyes, birds, and moons, appear regularly in Miró’s work. One abstract print from Miró will be presented in the upcoming August Estates Auction, offered by Kaminski Auctions. The work combines bold colors and playful dots and lines to create a character of the imagination.
The event features over 250 pieces of fine art and decorative art. An oil painting by David Alfaro Siqueiros, titled Mexico, 1970, is one of the featured lots. Siqueiros was best known for his large frescoes and murals that helped build modern Mexican art. His work often depicted the past and current oppression of the working class, as well as landscapes and figures from Mexican history and mythology. The available piece shows a landscape, executed in a muted palette. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Kaminski Auctions.
Jeff Downing is a San Francisco ceramist noted for his emblematic and humorous sculptures. Born and raised in New York, Downing initially wanted to try his hand at music. However, his first introductory class of ceramics altered his career path. Moved by the experimental nature of ceramic art, Downing soon moved to California to study sculpture under the guidance of Stephen DeStaebler. The upcoming auction, a fundraiser to benefit the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, features a handcrafted sculpture titled Kindled Spirit by Downing. The black porcelain sculpture is composed of lightning cable and metallic wax. This piece reflects the influence of Robert Arneson and Alberto Giacometti on Downing’s art.
The Marin MOCA – Silent Auction explores books that have been transformed into works of fine art and sculpture by artists such as Katie Gutierrez, Beth McCoy, and Betsy Kellas. One highlight is The Voyager, an intricately detailed model ship by Punkie Ebert. It was made from several books, using spines for the hull and pages for the sails. Also presented are collages from Judith Danner and the Marin MOCA’s award-winning artwork by Julia Arndt. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Featured in this Fine Art, Antique, & Jewelry Auction is a minaudière from Boucheron, as well as an oil painting by Jean Paul Laurens and a 19th-century Chinese glass snuff bottle. Frederic Boucheron founded his company in 1858. Known for producing jewelry for royalty, Boucheron’s clients have included Queen Elizabeth II, Russian Prince Felix Youssoupoff, Czar Alexander III, Queen Farida of Egypt, and Queen Rania of Jordan. Found in this auction is a Boucheron minaudière, a style of strapless handbag popular in the 1930s. This 18-karat gold, enamel, nephrite, and diamond minaudière would have replaced an evening bag. The small case could hold small items and primarily served a decorative purpose.
Also found in this sale is a piece by Jean Paul Laurens, a French painter, sculptor, and popular teacher known for his historical scenes. He was commissioned by the French Third Republic to paint numerous public works that included the steel vault of the Paris City Hall and the decorated ceiling of the Odeon Theater. In this Helmuth Stone Gallery auction is a large oil painting faintly signed and dated by Laurens. The painting shows an arch with a knighted figure in the center among various statues and paintings. View the entire catalog and register to bid by visiting Bidsquare.
One of the key lots in the upcoming Jewellery, Silver, & Watches auction, presented by Elstob & Elstob Auctioneers, is an emerald and diamond ring. The centerpiece is an octagonal step-cut emerald with a four-claw mount and a diamond halo. The total weight of the diamonds is approximately 2.56 carats. Another highlight of the sale is an early 20th-century plique-à-jour and gem-set dragonfly brooch. This realistic piece is designed with plique-à-jour wings in pink, peach, and pale green. It is accented with diamonds and caliber-cut rubies. The body is set with small sugarloaf cabochon rubies, the eyes with sapphires, and the legs with textured gold.
Noteworthy among the silver items in the sale is a Fabergé silver mirror with a rim of scrolls, shells, and Rocaille ornamentation. Another silver highlight is a George II provincial coffee pot by Benjamin Brancker. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
The Genesee Brewing Company, formerly known as the Aqueduct Spring Brewery, was founded in 1938 by Louis Wehle. It was the first-ever operating brewery in Rochester, New York, and it eventually became one of the largest breweries in the United States. The upcoming William Morford Premier Auction, offered by Antique Advertising Auctions, will offer a Genesee Brewing Co. glass sign designed by Tuchfarber Co. Genesee hired Tuchfarber to create an advertising sign promoting both the brewery and their products.
A standout lot in the auction is a lithograph over cardboard sign for Wrigley’s brand chewing gum. The Wrigley’s sign shows its products of four different flavors: Spearmint, Double Mint, Sugar-Coated Peppermint, and Juicy Fruit. Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit was introduced just a few months before Spearmint was launched in 1893. Over 100 years later, the gum remains popular among many Americans. Also available in the sale are signs for Hall’s Hair Renewer, as well as Sleepy Eye Flour. View these items and register to bid online on the Antique Advertising Auctions website.
Considered a leading figure of Abstract Expressionism, American artist Adolph Gottlieb (1903-1974) significantly changed his method of painting throughout his career in response to cultural changes in America. As he once said, “The role of the artist, of course, has always been that of image-maker. Different times require different images.” Following World War II, Gottlieb responded to the horrors of war with his Burst series, which began in 1957 and continued until his death in 1974. One of the featured lots in the upcoming auction, presented by Hidden Treasures Antiques & Fine Arts, is a poster from that series. The poster shows a pale yellow orb on top and a black mass below. “Guild Hall is for Everyone” is written on the bottom of the poster.
Other highlights include works by Karl Bodmer, a Swiss-French printmaker, etcher, lithographer, and painter. One of the available Bodmer pieces is an engraving of the Sauk people. Bodmer first encountered the Sauk in 1833 when the group pleaded for the release of Chief Black Hawk from the U.S. Army. Bodmer pictures this group as they await a decision from the government. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Hidden Treasures Antiques & Fine Arts.
