This July, Akiba Antiques will offer items ranging from Patek Phillip watches to Chinese cloisonné vases in the upcoming Eclectic Collection of Estates Worldwide Auction. One of the featured lots is an 18-karat gold snail brooch from American jeweler David Webb. The artist is recognized for his distinctive take on modern design and statement jewelry pieces. Webb particularly focused on animal motifs, including monkeys, snakes, elephants, and big cats. Worn by many celebrities including Elizabeth Taylor, his work became a trend in Hollywood in the 1960s.
Also showcased in the auction is a Lalique Paris “Venice” frosted faucet set. With a history of more than a century, Lalique is known for its detailed crystal pieces that imitate sculpture. Lalique was strongly influenced by the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. A 19th-century French Empire mantel clock stands out as well. Depicting a Greco-Roman scene with Cupid, this piece is decorated with medallions and ribbons. Explore the full catalog and register to bid on Bidsquare.
Offered in the first session of the Donald Pettinelli & Harriet P. Estates auction, offered by Roswell Auctions, is a selection of Asian ceramics, furniture, paintings, and sculpture. Chinese porcelain and other works of art are particularly highlighted in the sale, including a statue of Sakyamuni. A gilt bronze statue of Shakyamuni shows the traditional representation of Buddha based on the Indian cultural concept. Other Chinese porcelain lots include a cloisonné vase accented with floral patterns and a white glazed porcelain jar.
Representing the fine art category in the sale is a painting of flowers from Liu Haisu. Combining traditional Chinese painting methods with European aesthetics, Liu’s style contributed to the New Art Movement in China. He was also one of the founders of the Shanghai Academy, the first art college in modern China. Noting his affinity for art, the Liu Haisu Art Museum writes, “He was highly recognized as a scholar fully dedicating himself to art, education, and innovation.” Explore the complete listings and register to bid for this auction by visiting Invaluable.
An untitled work from Henry Farny is one of the highlighted lots in the upcoming Capsule x Litchfield: Reflections sale, presented by Capsule Auctions. This 1896 piece shows a Native American on horseback near a water body. Originally from Alsace Lorraine, France, Farny’s family moved to the United States when he was five years old and settled in Western Pennsylvania. They lived closely with the Seneca people, which attracted Farny’s interest in Indigenous culture. Throughout his life, Farny centered his work on Native Americans, which won him great popularity and acclaim.
The auction offers over 200 lots of fine art pieces, including works by Belmore Browne, George Chambers, and Louis Moeller. Browne’s Untitled (Mountain Scene) is among the key lots in the sale. An American artist and mountaineer, Browne was best known for capturing his explorations of Alaska, Washington State, and the Canadian Rockies. The available work shows mountain peaks, pine trees, and a river. A bronze sculpture by Alexander Phimister Proctor is also available. Proctor was best known for his monumental animal bronzes. Between 1911 and 1932, Proctor placed six significant works in Oregon public places. View each of these lots and register to bid on Capsule Auctions.
Zapotec artist Rufino Tomayo brought Mexican folklore to life using motifs. There was something about watermelon that appealed to him, as it often became the subject of his works: “They [watermelons] are a smile from Mexico.” One of Tomayo’s watermelon paintings is featured in the New York City Estate Auction, presented by Showplace Antique + Design Center . The simplicity of his paintings often allowed viewers to focus on the shapes and space occupied by the fruits. His use of varying shades of red, pink, sepia, white, and gray set him apart as a leading colorist of the 20th century.
Also available is a red “Composable” chair from L’Atelier. Designed by Jorge Zalszupin, it is a faux leather chair with tufted upholstery and a metal frame. After World War II, Polish-born Zalszupin moved to Brazil with a desire to reconstruct a post-war world. While there, he honed his skills in modern architecture and furniture, combining leather with Brazilian rosewood. His designs are characterized by well-defined proportions and attention to detail. A landscape painting from George W. Water; furniture from Guiseppe Scapinelli, Joaquim Tenreiro, Sergio and Giorgio Saporiti; and an acrylic triptych from Peter Mackie will be featured in the sale. For more details on all the auction lots, visit Bidsquare.
The upcoming Christie’s sale will include a selection of post-war and contemporary art. One of the featured works is an oil on board piece from Wayne Thiebaud, an American printmaker and painter. He is known for his recurring still lifes of edible treats and everyday objects, such as vending machines, wedding cakes, and baked goods. Although he is often associated with American Pop Art, the artist mostly draws inspiration from the Abstract Expressionists and the Bay Area figurative movement. Thiebaud surrounds his subjects with multiple stripes or lines to create a halo effect. “They’re fighting for position,” he says, describing his use of colors. “That’s what makes them vibrate when you put them next to each other.”
Also featured in the auction is the work of George Condo. He refers to his style as “psychological Cubism” for its comedic take on real-life subjects. The available oil on canvas painting depicts a chef with unusual facial symmetry. The auction also presents several works by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Philip Guston. View any of these lots and register to bid on Christie’s.
Shakespeare’s Macbeth was originally printed in the First Folio of 1623 and was not offered separately until 1673. A copy of that first 1673 printing will be presented in the Fine Books and Manuscripts auction, offered by Bonhams. A 1939 census of Shakespeare’s plays found only three of the offered edition in existence. The provenance of this copy includes actor Charlton Heston, who played Macbeth on both stage and screen. Other early Shakespearean works in the sale include The Tempest, Julius Caesar, and a collection of forgeries.
Beyond Shakespeare, there is a first edition copy of Compleat Body of Gardening by John Hill. Originally published as a weekly guide to seasonal flowers and plants, this collected version is heavily illustrated. Other notable lots in the sale include a handwritten letter by Franklin Delano Roosevelt on White House stationery, a Pacific Railroad survey “to Ascertain the Most Practicable and Economical Route for a Railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean,” several religious works, and more. View any of these lots and register to bid on the Bonhams website.
Schtockschnitzler Simmons was a woodcarver well-known for his carved wood bird trees. Simmons was known to travel around Berks County in Pennsylvania selling canes and bird trees along with two fellow pedlers. His bird trees were made from dogwood due to its high strength after drying. The carved birds were often mounted on thin branches or even on cut down bedposts. The upcoming auction, presented by Pook & Pook, Inc., highlights a carved and painted bird tree by Simmons. Mounted on a bedpost base are eight birds painted in green, yellow, and red.
Another highlight of the sale is a 1976 pine slide lid box painted by John Drissel. Decorated with wavy, ivory-colored bands on a salmon background, the box shows Drissel’s signature style. A winter landscape painting of children skating in the snow by Hattie Klapp Brunner is also featured. A celebrated self-taught artist, Brunner’s works often depict the country life of the Pennsylvania Dutch. The auction also offers books, timepieces, quilts and coverlets, Wagner redware sculptures, and traditional decorative folk art. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Thierry Hermès founded the Hermès brand in 1837 as a harness workshop in Paris. Originally, he intended to provide saddles, bridles, and other leather riding gear for European noblemen. Between 1880 and 1900, the French brand extended its offerings to include leather handbags, travel bags, and its signature scarves. An Anemone Togo Birkin leather bag from Hermès is one of the leading lots at the upcoming ABC: Fashion & Accessories auction, presented by Millea Bros. It features gold-tone hardware, rolled handles, and a flap pocket.
The auction also features a 1967 Krugerrand gold coin. Depicting a springbok antelope, the Krugerrand was the first modern gold bullion coin ever produced in South Africa. In the 1980s, as the demand for gold bullion soared, it became one of the most popular bullion coins in the world. Another noteworthy item is a 20th-century diamond ring set with cabochon-cut jade. It features a 1.85-carat baguette diamond and round diamonds of S12 clarity. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
Pablo Picasso influenced many art movements during his lifetime, including Modernism and Cubism. In the upcoming Fine Art + Design Selections: Online Only sale, offered by Cowan’s Auctions, is Picasso’s 1955 earthenware piece titled Lampe Femme. This work features a feminine form in blues and browns. It has been stamped Edition Picasso and inscribed 180/200 on the underside.
Also highlighted in the auction is an oil painting by Hideaki Kawashima. A Japanese artist, Kawashima is known for his exaggerated proportions, androgynous figures, and minimal palette. Offered in this sale is his 2007 oil painting, titled Lily. This piece shows a female figure with a lily flower. Though unsigned, it is titled and dated on the back. Also included is a gelatin silver print by Mexican artist Graciela Iturbide. This piece, titled Cholas-Harpys, East L.A., is dated 1990 and signed in pencil. To view more of the collection and register to bid, visit Bidsquare.
A Black American sculptor, Richmond Barthé (1901–1989) was closely associated with the Harlem Renaissance and remains well-known for his representation of Black subjects. One of the leading lots in the upcoming Works on Paper & 3-D sale, presented by Black Art Auction, is a bronze sculpture of Senegalese dancer Féral Benga by Barthé. The sculptor completed this work after he moved to New York City during the Great Depression. Living downtown gave him exposure to vibrant cultural and social experiences. At a time when most artists were struggling to survive, Barthé accomplished several significant works, including the available work. Another key lot is an abstract dried pigment on gessoed paper piece by Ed Clark, an American Abstract Expressionist painter. Clark was among the early developers of shaped canvases in the 1950s.
Other highlights include works by Sam Gilliam, a color field painter and Lyrical Abstractionist. One of the available Gilliam pieces is titled Insight 3, made with acrylic, aluminum fasteners, and machine-sewn thread on die-cut paper. This work is mounted on plywood and can be hung vertically or horizontally. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Black Art Auction.
