Innovating many notable jewelry designs since 1896, Van Cleef & Arpels has long been known for its minimalistic style. Their jewelry has been worn by style icons such as Farah Pahlavi, the Duchess of Windsor, Grace Kelly, and Elizabeth Taylor, among others. A Ludo Hexagone bracelet from Van Cleef & Arpels will be available in the upcoming Magnificent Jewels sale, presented by Christie’s. This particular piece first appeared in Van Cleef & Arpels’ collections in 1935. Its name, “Ludo,” is a reference to Louis Arpels, one of the founders of the jewelry house.
Among the other noteworthy highlights is a cattail brooch by Suzanne Belperron, one of the most influential Art Deco designers of the 20th century. As she created her signature style, Belperron’s work was rather distinctive from that of her contemporaries. Also offered in this sale is a diamond ring with an orange sapphire weighing 5.32 carats. Triangular-cut diamonds accent the sapphire on this Tiffany & Co. piece. With over 250 lots, the event also includes jewelry by Bulgari, Cartier, JAR, and Verdura. To view the entire catalog and place a bid, visit Christie’s.
18th-century powder horns served as both utilitarian items and canvases for art and political dissent. One of the leading American powder horn carvers of the time was Jacob Gay, a craftsman who signed many of his pieces with his initials. A powder horn from 1758 attributed to Gay will be available in the upcoming Firearms, Militaria, & Ephemera auction, presented by Pook & Pook, Inc. Inscribed on the horn is a message to the horn’s owner, Samuel McNeill: “this horn made at Fort Edward May ye 15th, 1758 – Samuel McNeill – I powder with my brother ball most hero like doth conquer all.” Another powder horn, made for the American Revolutionary War, is also on offer. This horn was owned by a Massachusetts minuteman and is covered in mermaid, ship, and scroll carvings. With this item is a newspaper article published in 1772.
Ephemera pieces available in this auction include a handwritten letter from George Washington requesting four Albany ships to transport his sick troops to Orange Town. Signed works from Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, and others are also listed. Collectors of vintage militaria can consider an 1840 Henry Allien & Co. Marine Corps sword, an early 20th-century Colt nickel-plated revolver, and more. Explore the complete catalog and place a bid for these items on Bidsquare.
Kangxi, the fourth emperor of China’s Qing dynasty, was one of the longest-reigning and most powerful Chinese emperors in history. A significant achievement in the porcelain from the Kangxi period is the mastery of underglaze copper red pigments. Among the earliest pieces successfully fired in the era were porcelains painted in underglaze cobalt blue and copper red. Monochrome copper red glazed items soon followed them. The upcoming July Estate Auction, presented by Fine Estate, Inc., offers Kangxi period porcelains in copper red, copper blue, and peach bloom colors. A pair of Kangxi marked dragon bowls is among the highlighted lots. These bowls feature several five-clawed dragons striding through clouds.
Also available is a mixed media work by Japanese artist Takesada Matsutani. A key member of the post-war Gutai group, Matsutani is best known for his techniques utilizing blown air and vinyl glue to produce bulbous forms on the surfaces of his works. In the available piece, titled A White Spot, Matsutani has divided the canvas into two halves – black and gray, with a white oval spot in the gray area. A Caucasian rug with a geometric design on a bright orange background will be presented as well. Interested bidders can register on Bidsquare.
Whitley’s Auctioneers presents fine and decorative art in the upcoming Decorative Arts & Collectibles Auction. Two featured lots come from Italian craftsman Sandro Vacchetti. Raised in a family of artists, Vacchetti became a ceramist and specialized in female portraiture. In 1922, he became the artistic director of a famous doll company, Lenci. He later formed a partnership with the ceramist Nello Franchini and created a new company: Essevi. During the 1930s, Vachetti’s factory specialized in hand-painted models that captured the freedoms and glamorous occupations enjoyed by the wealthy. The offered lots include a figural group titled Leda and the Swan and a bust sculpture with a polychrome glaze.
Other highlighted ceramic pieces include Doulton Lambeth’s Victorian figural group modeled by artist George Tinworth. A skilled sculptor, designer, and artist, Tinworth was best known for his anthropomorphic figure groups for Doulton Lambeth. The available group titled Scandal, from the 1890s, depicts three women trading news over tea, while a monkey and a cockatoo bird look on. Toby jug collectors will find a Winston Churchill character jug by Royal Doulton among the event’s offerings. The handle of the jug features two cigars mimicking Churchill’s ‘V for Victory’ sign. Interested bidders can find more information on Bidsquare.
The upcoming Christie’s First Open sale brings original works by well-known and rising artists from the 20th and 21st centuries. One key highlight is a piece titled Peace Goddess on Wood by Shepard Fairey. An American artist, Fairey became widely known as the designer behind the Hope poster for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. He originally emerged from the skateboarding world and is now known for his street art, graphic design, activism, and as the founder of the OBEY clothing line.
Other lots by well-known artists include a pair of works by Damien Hirst, one representing his signature spin paintings. The work in question is untitled but signed with the inscription “for Zoe Damien Hirst 2009 BALI” in the lower left of the painting. Hirst is an English artist and among the leaders of the Young British Artists group that emerged in the 1990s. Other artists with works in the sale include Gerhard Richter, George Shaw, Yoshitomo Nara, Venessa Beecroft, and more. View all lots and register to bid on the Christie’s website.
When World War II ended in 1945, the post-war period saw a sea of artists whose concepts and works would outlive their makers. Solomon (Sol) LeWitt was one of those artists. Believed to be one of the founding members of Conceptual art and Minimalism, he stated that every artwork must begin with an idea, no matter the medium. During his career, LeWitt created over 1,200 artworks but is best known for his large-scale wall drawings, including the one in the Centre Pompidou-Metz, France. LeWitt would vaguely direct an assistant or a group of assistants to produce a work of art, challenging the fundamental belief that the artist must be in control. His wooden sculpture titled Cube Without a Cube will be presented by Hindman this July in the How Soon is Now | Post War Art & Design auction.
Karel Appel was known for his involvement in Cobra (a short-lived postwar avant-garde movement) and his spontaneity, famously saying, “I just mess around.” In many of his paintings, Appel used simple forms and vivid colors. The Dutch painter, sculptor, and poet was inspired by children’s drawings and primitive art that, according to Appel, were unspoiled and pure. The available Appel painting is titled He Is Too Late. Visit Bidsquare to view the entire catalog and place a bid.
In 1878, Edward C. Moore, design director and head of the silver workshops at Tiffany & Co., created a champlevé enamel after-dinner service. Champlevé is the technique of removing silver from an item’s surface to create a space for enamel. Moore’s Saracenic designs, which used shaded and matte-finished enamels, were launched at the Paris Exposition of 1889. Later, Tiffany’s champlevé enamel silverware was exhibited at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. One of the leading lots in the upcoming auction, presented by Skinner, is an after-dinner coffeepot shown in the latter exposition. The coffeepot combines acid-etched silver, hardstone accents, and enamel in a cohesive Art Nouveau form.
Known as the “Oak Man of Greenwich Village,” antique collector George Way began his quest to assemble a 17th-century chair collection at the age of 16. Later, he broadened his collection to include artwork and decorative objects from the same period. The auction offers over 200 items from his collection, including paintings, furniture, decorative art, and other household goods. Highlighted among them is an oak tester bed. The headboard of this intricately carved piece shows the arms of Edward VI and both male and female caryatids. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
The velvet blue Kashmir sapphire was first found in the 18th century and is among the most highly-valued sapphires on the market today. Kashmir sapphires were discovered in the Himalayan mountains at a height of 4,500 meters. Mining operations from 1882 to 1887 led to the discovery of high-quality large sapphires. However, production soon began to decline. The Maharaja of Kashmir sought the help of British geologists to carry out mining surveys in the hope of finding more sapphire deposits. Unfortunately, the geologists declared the mines were depleted and confirmed no more deposits of sapphire in the adjoining areas. Bonhams’ upcoming New York Jewels Auction presents two unmounted Kashmir sapphires. One of them, offered with a high estimate of USD 775,000, is an AGL-certified, 9.23-carat, cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire.
Another highlight is an 18-karat gold, ruby, and enamel Serpenti Secret watch by Bulgari. Hidden under the blue and green snakehead is a self-winding movement Jaeger-LeCoultre watch. Also showcased is a gold and gem-set ballerina brooch by John Rubel Co. and a pair of sapphire, emerald, and diamond bracelets by Oscar Heyman & Brothers. Timepieces by Patek Philippe & Co., Rolex, Piaget, and Audemars Piguet, and jewelry by Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Tiffany & Co. complete the auction. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bonhams.
Raised in a Venetian family, Rosalba Carriera was one of the leading pioneers of the Rococo style in France. In her early years, she specialized in portrait miniatures; however, her later works became known for their pastel colors. One of her pastel pieces is featured in the upcoming Old Master & British Drawings and Watercolours Auction, presented by Christie’s. The painting depicts a bust-length portrait of a young woman with blue and white flowers in her hair.
Another available lot is a set of floral paintings from Peter Brown. He developed an interest in urban architecture and its effect on human interaction in Bath, where he graduated from Manchester Polytechnic in the mid-1980s. Brown captures daily life in the city and the countryside as his subjects: “I start with what tickles me, and this is likely to be a certain play of the light, weather, space, and everyday life.” The sale also features a watercolor painting from Thomas Girtin, a British painter. He was best known for his recurring subjects, including abbeys, castles, and ruined cathedrals. The featured lot depicts the interior of Exeter Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in England. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Christie’s.
Several jewelry pieces highlight the upcoming New York City Estate Auction, presented by Showplace Antique + Design Center. This includes an 18-karat yellow gold hollow link chain necklace. Jewelry collectors can also consider a charm bracelet, with individual pieces symbolizing achievements in the original owner’s life. The charms represent the owner’s high school graduation and their membership in both a New England Judaic organization and the National Honor Society, among other milestones.
Bidders will also find fine art pieces among the featured lots, including a portrait of Reverend Charles Parker Price. The auction house identifies Reverend Price as the Vicar of Oxbridge, a term that refers to the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge collectively. Reverend Price writes with a quill pen and looks directly at the viewer. Also available is a pair of Neoclassical plaques. The lot was previously sold in a Christie’s event in 2006. Interested bidders can register on Bidsquare.
