Japanese painter and sculptor Takashi Murakami is known for his artworks blurring the gap between fine and commercial art. Often compared to the likes of Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons, Murakami’s style is a combination of contemporary Japanese and Pop art. The upcoming Contemporary Collector auction, presented by Doyle, features a 2016 sculpture pair titled Mr. DOB (Complexcon) from Murakami. Both cast resin polychrome sculptures represent the artist’s signature sharp-toothed character, inspired by animated icons such as Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse. Deriving their name from dobojite— a Japanese slang expression meaning ‘why’— Mr. DOB paintings and sculptures by Murakami are among his most popular works.
The auction also highlights Untitled (Please! Please! Please!) by contemporary American artist Barkley Hendricks. A pioneer of conceptual art, Hendricks worked in multiple mediums. The featured graphite, crayon, stamp, colored ink, and photo transfer on paper piece reflects Hendricks’ bold and realistic style. Also presented is an acrylic and oil painting by landscape artist Wade Hoefer. This luminous landscape explores the tranquil scenes of northern California. Also offered are sculptures by artists such as Olivier Babin, Harold Ancart, KAWS, and Tim Berg. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Doyle.
Leading the offerings of Kodner Galleries’ upcoming Estate Jewelry, Art, & Collectibles sale is a 169-carat diamond and platinum necklace. Designed with Old European-, emerald-, marquise-, and baguette-cut diamonds, the necklace falls in four graduated strands. Jewelry collectors can consider almost 100 lots in this auction, including an Edwardian choker necklace on a grosgrain ribbon. The Edwardian style was popular in the early 1900s and was the last significant jewelry period to be named after a British monarch. Intricate filigree work resembling flowers or lace was a key characteristic, visible in the triangular details of the available lot. Several diamond wedding and engagement rings are offered as well.
Furniture items in the catalog include an early 20th-century Louis XVI-style commode. The sides of this piece each bear bronze panels showing allegorical scenes of mothers and children. It was modeled after the work of Claude Michel or Clodion, who was said to represent “the quintessence of the Rococo style.” A René Lalique “Druide” vase will be available as well. Made of opalescent white glass, this spherical piece is decorated with bulbous berries and crisscrossing branches in relief. To place a bid on any of these lots or to view the complete listings, visit Bidsquare.
The first documented use of a diamond engagement ring can be traced to the Archduke Maximilian of Austria in 1477. Since then, the tradition has taken root in many Western cultures. Among the highlights of the upcoming Fine Estate Jewelry auction, presented by Kimball Sterling, is a diamond and platinum engagement ring. It is designed with one 3.19-carat emerald-cut natural diamond and two brilliant-cut diamonds. One of these stones exhibits a faint blue fluorescence. The diamonds are set in a platinum, hand-wrought mounting.
Another lot of interest is a diamond and sapphire bracelet. This piece was constructed with four strands of gems, each including round brilliant and Old European-cut natural diamonds. The mounting features a 14-karat white gold concealed box clasp with dual safety latches. The sale also includes a rhodolite garnet and diamond dress ring. Rhodolite was first discovered in Cowee Valley, Macon County, North Carolina. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
In 1968, the great Mexican printmaker, José Luis Cuevas, created a portfolio of 11 lithographs. The series, called Crimes by Cuevas, featured paintings describing criminality in history. An edition of that series is available in the upcoming auction of prints and multiples, offered by Morton Subastas. One lithograph from the series is titled Borgia and depicts Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia. The Borgia family came to prominence during the Italian Renaissance and was known equally for their patronage of the arts and notorious rise to political power. Each lithograph, including the title page, is signed and dated.
An etching by Rembrandt van Rijn, titled The Gold Weigher, is also featured in the event. Rembrandt’s innovative etchings made use of shadow and light to depict biblical scenes and self-portraits. The available work is signed and dated. Roy Lichtenstein’s 1966 serigraph series, As I Opened Fire, is on offer as well, along with works from other leading 20th-century artists. Browse the entire catalog and register to place a bid on Bidsquare.
The Queen Anne style began to evolve during the reign of William III of England and was popularized shortly after. The period has also been called “the age of walnut” for the extensive use of walnut wood in English furniture. This decorative style predominantly existed from the mid-1720s through the 1760s, yet some aspects of the Queen Anne style remain popular in contemporary furniture production. The upcoming Skinner auction presents a small Queen Anne chest of drawers. This 1730s piece has walnut veneer panels decorated with double herringbone borders.
This sale features over 600 lots of American furniture created between the 17th century and the 19th century. Included is a carved oak and pine chest from Hadley Furniture Company, a firm founded in 1914. It is decorated with the initials “MH” surrounded by repeated motifs of stars, foliage, and tulips. The initials may relate to Miriam Hovey, the daughter of Lieutenant Thomas and Sarah Cook Hovey. To view the full catalog and register to bid, visit Bidsquare.
In a 1985 exhibition game in Italy, a promising young basketball player named Michael Jordan dunked a ball so hard that the backboard shattered. The American turned around and watched glass fall around his Italian opponents. Jordan would go on to win six NBA championships and six matching NBA Finals MVP awards, but that play is still remembered as an early sign of what was to come. In the upcoming sale of Michael Jordan game-worn shoes, Christie’s presents the pair of Air Jordan 1 shoes he wore during the “shattered backboard” game in 1985. The left shoe still has a glass shard from the backboard in its sole.
The timed Christie’s auction offers 11 pairs of game-worn Jordans from his career. Representing the early years is a pair of Nike Air Ships from 1984. Jordan only wore the Air Ships in the preseason before his rookie year and in his first few games. The auction house believes Jordan wore this particular pair against the New Jersey Nets in December of 1984. Collectors interested in Olympic memorabilia can consider a pair of Air Jordan 7s he wore as a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Basketball “Dream Team.” The sneakers were given to a receptionist at the Ambassador Hotel as a thank-you for running errands for the 1992 gold-medal-winning crew. Those interested in the event can learn more about the featured lots in this Auction Daily article and register to bid on the Christie’s website.
A renowned toy company, Märklin started as a small factory that manufactured tin toys in Göppingen, Germany. In 1891, the company invented the first mass-market model train sets. A few years later, the demand for model trains reached its height in the United States. Märklin today stands as one of the leading toy companies in the world. The upcoming Summer BASICS Auction, presented by Bertoia Auctions, will feature a live steam traction engine toy from Märklin.
Another standout item in the auction is a craft speedboat toy from the Lionel Manufacturing Company. The lot features a clockwork mechanism inside the boat that operates the propeller. The boat can float on a body of water and travel a certain distance with the help of the propeller. Also available in the sale is a Metayer set of French soldiers. The 38 large figures represent musicians, officers, and infantrymen. A Kico two-cylinder motorcycle toy and a seaplane with pontoons will be included as well. View each of the items and register to bid online on Bertoia Auctions.
Mario Buccellati was one of the first Italian goldsmiths to establish a shop on Fifth Avenue in New York. He was often called the “Prince of Goldsmiths” for his popularity among the royalty of Europe. He was greatly influenced by the motifs of the Renaissance period, which ultimately became his trademark aesthetic. A pair of Italian silver octopus dishes by Buccellati will feature in the upcoming Dining In | New York auction, presented by Sotheby’s. The 20th-century silver dishes were realistically designed to resemble an octopus.
Another item of interest is an American silver flatware service, designed by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Peretti Foundation. The Italian designer created many of Tiffany and Co.’s iconic designs that have become synonymous with minimalist style. Peretti’s collaboration with Tiffany lasted over 40 years. The available piece is designed in the Padova pattern. Also available is a Victorian parcel-gilt silver dessert service from Hall & Co. The company was established in 1820 when Richard Martin and Joshua Hall formed a partnership. View any of these lots and register to bid on Sotheby’s.
Launched in 1956, the Day-Date was the first self-winding and waterproof chronometer watch by Rolex. Designed by the founder Hans Wilsdorf, the Rolex flagship model has a built-in calendar that displays the full day and date. It is popularly known as the “Rolex President” due to its symbolic bracelet and association with many eminent American leaders, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson. The upcoming auction, presented by Hampton Estate Auction, features a Rolex President Day-Date diamond wristwatch. The 18-karat gold watch has an oyster case and a winding crown that ensures a double waterproof system. Also featured is a Piaget Polo chronograph steel limited-edition watch. This luxury men’s watch has a black guilloché dial, a black rubber strap, and a changeable calfskin strap.
Another highlight is a Tiffany & Co. Peretti Diamonds by the Yard 18-karat gold necklace. Designer Elsa Peretti’s first collection for Tiffany was a commercial success and also elevated silver in luxury jewelry. Peretti’s Diamonds by the Yard collection is a fusion of delicate, thin chains and bezel-set gems that offer a different perspective for the use of diamonds in jewelry. Also featured in the auction is a David Webb ruby and emerald bracelet, as well as a gold, sapphire, and diamond brooch pendant by designer Andrew Clunn. The Fine Jewelry and Watches Auction will offer timepieces by Buccellati, Chopard, and Patek Philippe, in addition to jewels by Loree Rodkin, Beaudry, and Cartier. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
In Bonhams’ upcoming auction of Lapidary Arts, Gemstones, and Minerals Including Natural History is a notable collection of 850 Jerusalem eggs. Each egg in the collection was handmade by master gemstone craftsman Dieter Jerusalem, now retired, to the “classic” Idar size specifications of 58mm high (considered to be the perfect size of a hen’s egg). Due to either exhausted deposits or mine closings, many of the minerals used in these eggs are no longer available.
Beyond carved gemstones, there are many fossils represented in the sale, including a Claudiosaurus fossil from the Permian period. Though the Claudiosaurus was not a dinosaur, it was an extinct member of the diapsid reptile group and would have been approximately the size of a modern marine iguana. There are several ammonite fossils in the sale as well, including a large, multi-colored iridescent example from Southern Alberta. Samples from this area often display brilliant colors not typically seen in ammonites. Other offered items include an emerald-cut aquamarine weighing approximately 1,318 carats, an Indonesian table crafted of petrified wood, a mounted water buffalo skull, a string of rare California pink tourmaline beads, and more. View any of these lots and register to bid on Bonhams.
