American painter and co-founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Eastman Johnson first rose to prominence during the Civil War. Best known for his depictions of everyday life, Johnson also painted portraits of prominent Americans such as Abraham Lincoln, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. One of Johnson’s oil paintings titled Woman in a Window is featured in the upcoming Jewelry & Fine Art sale, presented by Fontaine’s. The piece shows a woman staring out of a window with a red handkerchief in her right hand.
Also among the key lots is a painting titled Le Moulin de la Galette, attributed to Maurice Utrillo. Known as the “painter of Montmartre,” Utrillo was one of the few artists to depict the bohemian quarter in Paris. The present work shows a windmill, houses, and two children playing along the sidewalk. The French flag is fluttering in the background. Also available in the event is a collection of jewelry ranging from Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco styles to more contemporary pieces. Visit the Fontaine’s website to browse the full catalog and register to bid online.
Bonhams’ upcoming manuscripts auction will offer ten historical documents that remain relevant today. Among the lots up for bid are the earliest two of Leonardo Bruni’s Platonic dialogues. Phaedo (1405) teaches of the immortality of the soul as Socrates faces death, and Gorgias (1409) looks into virtue and rhetoric. Also available is a letter by Albert Einstein to a fan group in New York, humorously accepting a role as their patron saint. In his lighthearted acceptance, he offers a motto to the members: “Seek to understand, despise no one, believe nothing blindly.” The letter is signed in his hand.
Other items in the sale include the handwritten final two lines of Walt Whitman’s “A Thought of Columbus,” along with corrections on the back of an envelope. Rounding out the auction is a photo of Mark Twain signed and inscribed to his family doctor, as well as an unpublished, autographed letter by Charles Darwin detailing his theory of evolution. View any of these lots and register to bid by visiting Bonhams.
In 1822, Howard Carter and his team discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen and all the treasures that lay inside. This discovery prompted a new interest in Egyptian jewelry. Brands such as Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef & Arpels began making Egyptian-style pieces, also known as Egyptian revival jewelry. An Art Nouveau Egyptian revival brooch from 1890 is featured in the upcoming Fine Jewelry auction, offered by Doyle. Made of 18-karat gold, the figural brooch features both bird and floral motifs and five old European and single-cut diamonds.
With over 150 lots, this sale also includes jewelry by Bulgari, Cartier, and Hermès. A Monete curb link chain necklace by Bulgari is among the key lots. Launched in the 1980s, the brand incorporated antique Greek coins into their Monete jewelry. It remains one of Bulgari’s most enduring and popular lines. The curb link chain has a central bronzed ancient coin surrounded by round diamonds. Also included is a Hermès “Chaine d’Ancre” bracelet. Created by Robert Dumas in 1938, the design is inspired by an anchor chain. Browse the complete catalog and register to bid for these items on Doyle.
M.F. Husain’s Mother Teresa is one of the highlighted lots in the upcoming Islamic and Indian Art auction, presented by Bonhams. The painting depicts a faceless Mother Teresa nestling a child and a dove of peace. Gradations of the night sky permeate her hollow form. First appearing in Husain’s paintings around 1980, the figure of Mother Teresa can be seen repeatedly in his later works. As the artist said, “I have tried to capture in my paintings what Mother Teresa’s presence meant to the destitute and the dying, the light and hope she brought by mere inquiry, by putting her hand over a child abandoned in the street.”
The auction offers over 250 lots of fine art, collectibles, and Islamic coins. Among the key items is an Umayyad gold dinar from the reign of Abd al-Malik. During the late seventh century CE, the Umayyad Caliphate did not have a currency of its own and used Byzantine coinage for commerce. It was not liked by Abd al-Malik, who then released the 77H dinar as the first Islamic coin. Another lot of interest is a gold minute repeater pocket watch by Constant Piguet for Awn al-Rafiq, Sharif of Mecca. The 18-karat gold case is covered with red Guilloche enamel and bears the initials S.A. View each of these lots and register to bid on Bonhams.
E.E. Isabel & Company, which later became known as Loring Andrews, opened for business in Cincinnati in 1805. Its long history in the city, spanning over two hundred years, began with the selling of pocket watches to steamboat passengers. Several Loring Andrews pieces are featured in the upcoming Cincinnati Collections auction, presented by Cowan’s Auctions. Among these lots is a coffee and tea service made in 1918. The six-piece set includes both a coffee server and a teapot, as well as sugar, creamer, and waste bowls. Each part of the service is made of sterling silver and has an intricate repoussé castle pattern.
Collectors interested in Loring Andrews can also consider a silver serving tray available in this auction. This piece was produced in the early 20th century and bears a repoussé pattern along the edges. Rounding out the featured lots are a Louis Vuitton steamer trunk and a pair of banjo clocks. Both clocks are decorated to celebrate American presidents. Those interested in these or any other items can register to bid on Bidsquare.
Robert Graham spent most of his adult life in America but his work was heavily inspired by his Mexican roots. Graham was noted for his large scale public displays and sculptures of bare-skinned women in individualistic poses. One of Graham’s bronze nude sculptures titled Gabrielle will be available in the upcoming Fine Art + Design Selections auction, presented by Hindman. The piece shows a woman welded atop a pedestal, her arms folded from the elbows and crossed behind her head. The overall height of this piece is over 60 inches.
Several works of fine art will be featured as well, including Sioux Flat 424, a 1977 piece by James Havard. The style of Abstract Illusionism can be seen in the painting’s shadows, artificial light sources, and play on perspectives. Together, these techniques create a three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. Also available in the event is a collection of designer furniture and decorative arts. Visit Bidsquare to browse the full catalog and register to bid online.
A well-known American actress, dancer, and singer, Mitzi Gaynor was born Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber on September 4, 1931. Her notable movies include South Pacific and There’s No Business Like Show Business. She also performed in nightclub and concert venues across the United States and Canada. Highlighted in the upcoming sale of costumes and couture from the Mitzi Gaynor Collection, offered by Bonhams, is a Gaynor gown worn for a 1978 CBS television special. Designed by Bob Mackie, the gown has a mint green fitted bodice, a full skirt, and arm puffs. Another available piece designed by Mackie is a two-piece lavender dress with waterfall sleeves and a large skirt. The dress is embellished with white and pink flowers and metallic leaves. Channeling Marie Antoinette with a white wig, Mitzi wore this piece for a musical comedy sketch titled “The History of the Dance.”
This auction will also present a group of Gaynor vintage jade figures, porcelain snuff bottles, and small hardstone carvings. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bonhams.
From a sofa and chair set by Alberto Rosselli to a signed Art Deco walnut sideboard, the upcoming Design, French, Italian, American auction offers furniture from various countries and periods. Co-founder of the Association for Industrial Design, Rosselli was an Italian architect, designer, and teacher. Available in this sale, offered by Kamelot Auctions, is his sofa and pair of chairs in Missoni fabric. The tan-colored set, titled The Confidential, is patterned with rectangles and plants in brown, red, and green.
Also highlighted is a carved wood bench with green details, made around 1910 by Ettore Zaccari, an Italian carver and frame maker. An Art Deco carved and painted wood server will be available as well. This 1930s piece has an arched mirror with a marble top and two painted wood drawers. It stands over 65 inches tall and 50 inches wide. View the entire catalog and register to bid on Invaluable.
Jean Baptiste Armand Guillaumin was a French Impressionist painter and lithographer. In 1891, after he won a sum of 100,000 francs in a state lottery, Guillaumin was able to leave his government job to pursue his passion for painting. A friend of Paul Cézanne, Camille Pissarro, and Vincent Van Gogh, he influenced the early stages of the French Impressionism movement. A key lot available on the first day of the Important Summer Estates Auction, presented by Crescent City Auction Gallery, is a coastal landscape scene painted by Guillaumin.
A platinum engagement ring is among the featured jewelry lots. This piece is set with a 3.83-carat diamond, flanked by two tapered diamond baguettes. The ring comes with an official GIA report, with a VS-1 clarity grade for the center diamond. Another key lot is a white gold and diamond link bracelet. It has interlocking links and a clasp set with 39 round diamonds. A late 19th-century dining table in the Louis XVI style will be presented as well. For the complete catalog and to register to bid, visit Bidsquare.
Joseph Niépce, along with his brother, produced the first positive image from a photographic negative in 1816. The brothers created cameras that could record film in a larger format. This style of photo remained popular throughout the 19th century. Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers will present several vintage and large-format camera accessories in the upcoming camera auction. Over 600 items from a single owner will be on offer, including large-format cameras designed by the Niépce brothers. One key lot is a Portrait Series Camera by L.F. Deardorff & Sons. The camera comes with an Ansco Studio stand and four backs in varying sizes.
A Wollensak Vitax Portrait No. 3 lens from Wollensak, an American manufacturer of audio-visual products, will be available as well. The Vitax lens is best known for its speed of f/3.8 and high image quality. Introduced in 1906, it was also called the Royal Portrait lens. Another featured item from Wollensak is a Varium lens with a speed of f/3.5 and No. 5 Studio shutter, introduced in 1926. For more information, visit Bidsquare.
