Unheated sapphires are deemed highly precious owing to their rarity. They are formed within the earth as a result of precise mineralogical and geological conditions, as well as specific temperatures and pressure. One such Gübelin-certified untreated sapphire, featured in a diamond pendant, is a key highlight of the upcoming sale from Winbids Auctions. The 1950s platinum piece is designed with a central Burmese sapphire stone, measuring 18.13 carats, flanked by 14 small sapphires, measuring approximately seven carats. It is set with 44 diamonds, measuring almost eight carats. Gübelin Gem Lab is known for examining and determining the authenticity of the gemstones used in Gübelin’s jewelry. Another noteworthy lot in the catalog is a Hammerman Brothers diamond and ruby bracelet. Styled with 129 diamonds, it is crafted by one of America’s family-owned high-end jewelers.
Two multi-strand necklaces also lead the listings. One is a clasp neckpiece designed by Mario Buccellati, the famous Italian jeweler. It features white freshwater pearls, Mediterranean coral, and diamonds. The other is a Chaumet necklace fashioned with diamond, emeralds and pearls. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming The Spring Favorite Jewelry Collection, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
American photographer William Eggleston began his photography career shooting in black and white. He is considered one of the most significant photographers of the latter half of the 20th century. Famous for his portraits, mundane subjects, and landscapes of the American South, the artist began experimenting with color film during the 1960s. Eggleston’s classic color portrait titled Memphis, 1971 is a key highlight of the upcoming Christie’s auction. This compelling portrait depicts a slender young woman seated and dressed in a royal blue dress. According to the auction house, this dye transfer print of one of Eggleston’s most beloved portraits is from the 1999 printing, made in an edition of ten. Other prints of this image are located in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Another notable lot is a gelatin silver print by Edward Weston (1886 – 1958). Pepper No. 30, 1930 is considered one of Weston’s most iconic photographs. It depicts the twisted form of a bell pepper with strong illumination from above, resembling a human figure. One of the most influential American photographers of the 20th century, Weston photographed peppers for years. Bernd and Hilla Becher’s Nine Framework Houses, Siegen Area Germany of 1989 as well as Peter Beard’s Ele Portfolio of 2008 are also presented in the auction. View the complete Photographs sale catalog by visiting Christie’s.
William Paul Jenkins described himself as an Abstract Phenomenist and was known for his post-war Expressionist paintings. The artist is celebrated for his Phenomena series, which is marked by an explosion of hues. He balanced the paint application with manipulation of canvas to unleash a flow of opacity and transparency. Phenomena High Watermark, one such work by Jenkins, is the key highlight of the upcoming Rago auction. The hues are delicate and vibrant, creating a composition that evokes perpetual motion. Painting was a meditative process for the artist, who would often pour colors directly over the canvas and use an ivory knife to wield the direction and flow. Another noteworthy work on offer is Ascension, an oil on canvas by Hunt Slonem. The American painter’s style was playful, Expressionistic and vibrant. Many of his iconic works feature repetitive imagery of butterflies, rabbits, and birds.
Cuban painter Víctor Manuel’s untitled portrait also leads the listings. The artist combined European Modern art with native Primitivism to create a Cuban aesthetic. American painter and printmaker Larry Zox’s acrylic on canvas Isla Mujeres is a Color Field work that is also of interest. Visit Rago to view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming 20|21 Art sale.
The upcoming Dazzle & Delight: Jewelry Auction from NY Elizabeth highlights 400 lots of fine jewels, pendants, rings, and more. Among the top lots is an emerald, diamond, and platinum ring. It features a 2.76-carat square-cut emerald, surrounded by smaller round and baguette-cut diamonds. Also notable is a kihei gold and diamond chain bracelet. Made with individual gold links that are twisted 90 degrees, kihei bracelets feature an identical pattern of interlocking links. The available bracelet includes a matte gold piece containing a 1.08-carat diamond against an etched star design.
A selection of necklaces, pendants, earrings, brooches, and other jewelry items will also be available in this sale. Leading this section of the catalog is a fancy yellow diamond, white gold, and platinum necklace. It measures just under 17 inches long. The yellow diamond features a teardrop cut and is accented by several smaller white diamonds. The chain includes an “Italy” stamp. Interested bidders can also consider several whimsical brooches, including a piece depicting Mont Saint-Michel by Japanese jewelry house Nobuko Ishikawa. It depicts the famous French abbey located atop an island, accented by blooming flowers and a crescent moon. Another key brooch is composed of cat’s eye, diamond, and platinum and resembles a flower. To view the complete catalog for the 2429 | Dazzle & Delight: Jewelry Auction and register to bid in other online auctions, visit Bidsquare.
A large etching of Alexander von Wagner’s painting Chariot Race in the Circus Maximus is among the top lots of 500 Gallery’s upcoming Prestige Collection 19th and 20th century art sale. In this piece, a Roman chariot race with quadriga is portrayed in front of Emperor Domitian at the Circus Maximus. Viewers are placed right in front of the galloping horses, whose hooves seem to leave the ground at once. With meticulous detail, this etching illustrates ancient Rome’s chariot races. Also available is a lithograph by Italian artist Paolo Boni. Titled Third World, the print depicts abstract figures arranged in overlapping circles against a geometric plane. The artist’s signature appears in the lower corner.
An additional artwork of note in the catalog is a limited edition gravure and lithograph by Claude Monet, titled Venice, Rio de Santa Salute. Created in 1908, this print offers a magnificent view of the river alongside the Santa Salute church. This artwork brings together the beauty of Venice with Monet’s Impressionistic style. Bidders can also consider Pablo Picasso’s gravure on paper titled Portrait of Clovis Sagot and illustrations by Audrey Skaling. To browse the full Prestige Collection 19th and 20th Century Art catalog and find other online auctions, visit Bidsquare.
Ball Player is a significant, mid-career painting by Hughie Lee-Smith, and it leads the upcoming African American Art auction, presented by Swann Auction Galleries. This oil on linen canvas was painted in 1970 and depicts a youth playing handball in a particularly desolate urban space. Lee-Smith effectively created a new type of American landscape – an existential urban space in which the Black figure was the protagonist. His protagonists stood out in figure paintings in a social-realist surrounding. Lee-Smith often portrayed youth playing or improvising games, from balancing sticks and tires to flying kites and playing ball games. This painting depicts an essential aspect of his oeuvre, where the subject finds moments of pleasure and escape despite their environs.
Also available is a glazed terracotta vessel, an early sculpture made by Simone Leigh in the 1990s. Simone Leigh’s water pot sculptures reference traditional forms from Africa and the diaspora. Her interests in African and Black American art manifested in these robust vessels 30 years ago. Chronicling an early period of Simone Leigh’s life, Calvin Tomkins of The New Yorker describes the critical development of Leigh as a young artist. Leigh’s early practice was focused on these traditional forms. Leigh told Tomkins: “For ten years, I was obsessed with these water pots. It was a kind of a perfect form, and it was something women had been making all over the world for centuries, this anonymous labor of women.” Leigh continued this practice, calling it “important work” despite struggling to get the attention of either the pottery or art worlds in the 1990s. The upcoming auction will feature contemporary art to be sold to benefit the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation from works donated by Derrick Adams, Hank Willis Thomas, Carrie Mae Weems, and more. Visit Swann Auction Gallery to view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming African American Art sale.
Contemporary, modern, and luxury furniture, as well as a selection of fine art, will soon be available with Billings. Among the top lots of the company’s upcoming sale is a nine-piece Camaleonda sectional sofa from Italian architect and designer Mario Bellini. The offered example was produced in the 1970s and is composed of warm brown leather, stained wood, chrome, and nylon cording. Now considered an icon of Italian design, the Camaleonda sofa is composed of moveable square seating units that could easily accommodate side tables and multiple arrangements. It was manufactured by B&B Italia until 1979. Another notable modern furniture lot in the catalog is a PK80 daybed by Danish designer Poul Kjærholm. It is made of leather and brushed spring steel, featuring clean lines and smooth surfaces. Inspired by the Bauhaus design movement, the PK80 daybed attempted to both engage with history and simplify furniture down to its essence.
Among fine art lots, an untitled sculpture by Beverly Pepper is particularly notable. The American artist was particularly known for her monumental sculptures and installations. Her large works of iron and steel embraced abstraction and elegance. The offered sculpture by Pepper is made of cast aluminum and marble. Its form evokes the image of a vase resting on a pedestal. Interested collectors can also consider a variety of “weed pots” by Doyle Lane. These clay pots are round and bulbous with a small hole at the top. Lane was a prolific artist whose pots were especially well-known in California starting in the 1950s. To browse the complete Spring 2024 Modern Art + Design sale and register to bid, visit Billings’ website.
An 18-karat white gold ring will headline Fine Estate, Inc.’s latest auction. The ring centers an oval-shaped Ceylon sapphire and is accented by 32 baguette diamonds. The diamonds measure approximately 5.25 carats. According to the GIA report, this center transparent sapphire measures 7.60 carats and originates from Sri Lanka. Also leading the listings is a vintage Rolex GMT Master ‘Pepsi’ ref. 1675. Produced from 1959 until 1980, the Rolex GMT Master 1675 watch features a round-shaped dial and the iconic red/blue Pepsi bezel insert.
Bidders can also consider a fancy 18-karat yellow diamond ring. It includes a cushion-modified brilliant-cut fancy intense yellow diamond measuring 1.36 carats. Additionally, it has another 40 full-cut diamonds set in the mounting, together totaling approximately 0.42 carats. The center stone has VS2 clarity and strong blue fluorescence. Those looking for fine art pieces in this Fine Estate, Inc. sale will find Clark Hobart’s Little Convalescent. This painting, which shows a seated young girl, was rendered in 1914. Born in Rockville, Illinois, American artist Hobart studied at the San Francisco School of Design, the Art Students League, and in Paris. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete catalog of the Fine Art, Jewelry & Timepieces, Furniture & Decorative Art, Asian Art sale, and other online auctions.
A limited-edition Michael Jordan-autographed “Wings” upper deck, panoramic print is coming to auction this spring with Potter & Potter Auctions. The Entertainment, Toys, & Collectibles sale will offer more than 600 lots of photographs, prints, advertisements, comic books, Disneyana, and more. In this limited-edition panoramic poster, Jordan extends his muscular “wings” in his Chicago Bulls jersey. The poster, printed in 1996, is numbered 282/500, with a large and bold autograph in black at the lower right. The upper margin has a quotation from William Blake that says “No bird soars too high/if he soars with his own wings.”
Another notable lot is a Walt Disney (1901 – 1966) signed copy of “Walt Disney’s Sketch Book of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” The creation of the animation Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was a game-changer in the industry, winning Disney several awards. The front page depicts the Seven Dwarfs marching toward their cottage. This copy illustrates Disney Studios’ sketches of Snow White characters with a dozen mounted color plates. It also contains the publisher’s original linen and dust jacket. This was a first edition copy printed in 1938, boldly signed by Disney in blue ink in the year of publication. Among collectibles offered in the sale are The Blues Brothers’ life-size statues. This pair of fiberglass figures depict Dan Aykroyd (Elwood Blues) and John Belushi (Jake Blues), from the 1980 film. Visit Potter & Potter Auctions to find the listed items and register to place a bid in the Entertainment, Toys & Collectibles sale.
French painter Félix Ziem was associated with the Barbizon School and Orientalist art. After a visit to Italy in 1841, the artist was completely in awe of the city of Venice. The place inspired several of his works, including a variety of landscapes and waterscapes. The upcoming sale from Sarasota Estate Auction will feature one such oil on board by Félix Ziem portraying a Venetian canal scene. Another painting of interest in the catalog is Eric Sloane’s oil on Masonite titled Cochiti. It depicts a brown pot on a shelf with black patterns on it. The work is based on Cochiti pottery, noted for its natural motifs with mineral, plant-based or black hues on cream pots with an orange base.
Javier Calleja’s set of two figures titled Do Not Touch and The Bearded Warrior also leads the listings. One is a monochrome piece portraying a Chibi-style human in a hoodie and shorts. The other is a tiny figure of Guanyu in green clothing holding a spear. Jorge Blanco’s painted aluminum piece titled Bunny is an interesting collectible on offer that exemplifies his distinctive sculptural language. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming Day 1 – Modern Design, Fine Art & Silver sale, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
