Guyette and Deeter present over 300 decoys and sporting-themed works of art in their upcoming auction. Among the featured lots is a mallard drake decoy produced by Ferdinand Homme in the 1930s. Along with his younger brother, Homme carved decoys and was a regular waterfowl hunter in Stoughton, Wisconsin. This mallard drake rests its head in a tucked pose. Details of the lot include scalloped wings and tail. Decoy collectors can also consider another mallard, in this case, a hen and drake set, crafted by Harvey Stevens. In 1876, Stevens, already a respected cabinetmaker and taxidermist, began his career as a decoy maker with this magazine ad: “Decoy Ducks — Send For Price List — Best In The World.” Distinctive features of this mallard set include a tail feather curl on the drake.
Beyond decoys, bidders will also find a model Kennebec “open gunwale” canoe. The Kennebec Boat and Canoe Company was founded in 1909 by former railroad station agent and ice cutter George F. Terry. The firm produced canoes until 1941. Those interested in this or any other lot can register to bid on Bidsquare.
The upcoming Founders & Patriots auction, presented by Morphy Auctions, offers a variety of arms, militaria, documents, and other items from the era of the American Revolutionary War as well as the War of 1812. Included in the sale is a historic silver-mounted tomahawk. The piece was presented as part of the “Clash of Empires: The British, French & Indian War, 1754-1763” exhibit at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This particular lot was inscribed with the name of Lieutenant John McCellan, a rifleman during the Revolutionary War. At that time, riflemen were required to carry a second weapon or tomahawk, as their rifles were not equipped with bayonets. The available item’s blade has a distinctive crescent edge and a shell design at the top.
The sale also offers a pair of silver-mounted pistols presented by George Washington to Captain James Chambers. To show his admiration for Chambers’ service during the Revolution, Washington presented the family with this gift of matching pistols. According to the notarized statement, the pistols have been a valued heirloom in the family for many years. They were made around 1775 by noted English gunsmith Thomas Ketland. This auction also features one of only three Fort Pitt horns. Engraved by the artist commonly known as the “Pointed Tree Carver,” this horn bears the British Great Seal. Below the seal, it depicts a hunter and his hounds chasing a deer and a hare. View more items and register to bid on Morphy Auctions.
The American silversmith Samuel Kirk was well known for introducing the repoussé metalworking technique to the United States. This involves hammering the reverse side of a malleable metal to craft a low-relief design. One of the key lots showcased in the upcoming Silver & Vertu auction, offered by Rago, is a seven-piece tea and coffee service by Samuel Kirk & Son. The set features a floral repoussé decoration with a heron, dragonfly, and fish, along with Chinese figural finials. The service includes a hot water urn, coffee pot, teapot, covered sugar bowl, cream jug, waste bowl, and kettle-on-stand. Another item of interest is a Tiffany & Co. marine-themed tankard, decorated with sea nymph, dolphin, and shell motifs. Lidded tankards originated in Germany in the 1400s and were made from stoneware. By the 1600s, these were crafted in pewter, silver, and glass.
A pair of grape candlesticks designed by Georg Jensen, the Danish silver company founded in 1904, will be available as well. Another key highlight is a sterling silver Pannocchia bowl crafted by Franco Albini and Franca Helg, from the Studio San Lorenzo. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
Chinese artist Zhang Daqian is best known for his splashed-ink landscapes and lotus paintings. Zhang’s works were influenced by individualistic masters such as Shitao and Bada Shanren. The upcoming Asian Art & Antiques – Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, Snuff Bottles sale, presented by Oakridge Auction Gallery, highlights two paintings by Zhang. While one shows a group of lotuses, the other painting depicts a bird on a rock. Both paintings are rendered in Chinese watercolor and ink.
The sale also showcases works by Chinese scholar and master of calligraphy, Yu Youren. He devoted his life to the study of cursive script and created the “standardized cursive script.” This five-character ink on paper calligraphy couplet is mounted on a silk backing with matching dowels. Also offered is a group of four Chinese paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries. The watercolor on silk landscape works depict horses and people. Beyond fine art and calligraphy, the auction also offers several lots of jade snuff bottles. Interested bidders can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Blue-colored ceramics gained significance in China during the Tang dynasty. The blue-glazed porcelain pieces got their distinctive color from cobalt, imported from Persia. At the time, cobalt was scarce and only used in limited quantities. Blue and white pottery and porcelain gained broader recognition during the Qing dynasty. A pair of blue and white porcelain bowls are among the featured items in the upcoming Asian Art & Antiques – Ceramics and Works of Art sale, presented by Oakridge Auction Gallery.
Flambé glaze, popularized during the Qing dynasty, is also highlighted. The emperor at the time, Yongzheng, commissioned potters at the imperial factory to recreate the Jun ware of the Song dynasty. However, instead of recreating the classic Jun ware, the potters accidentally produced a new glaze with red and blue streaks. An Imperial Chinese flambé vase with a Xianfeng mark at the bottom is a featured lot. The vase has a quatrefoil-shaped mouth and bears relief impressions of a peach on the front and back. Completing the auction is an early 20th-century Yixing teapot with a lion on the lid. To view these items, visit Bidsquare.
Available in the upcoming Palm Beach Collections Session II sale, presented by Hindman, is a sculpture in steel from Tony Rosenthal. He is primarily known for his public art sculptures, created over seven decades. His outdoor pieces can be seen in several city spaces, including New York. Over the years, Rosenthal began working on a series of freestanding steel sculptures, designed to resemble sketches floating in space. By adding one unit to another, the artist welded each element into place, forming Accumulation Sculptures in large and small sizes. The available piece, titled Mozart Prelude, shows each unit connected to the others.
Collectors interested in 20th-century paintings can find a piece by Lowell Nesbitt. He is recognized for his paintings of flowers on patterned backgrounds. However, Nesbitt drifted towards abstraction in 1962, depicting subjects such as piles of shoes, dogs, empty studios, and urban buildings. The available painting shows a collection of shoes in vibrant colors. Also among the highlighted pieces is a Reuge music box in a piano form. The 20th-century piece is set with amethyst and pearl. Marked by Reuge, the music box is also mounted with emerald green. Fine art from Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and David Shapiro will also be available. Those interested in these lots can register to bid on Bidsquare.
A particular highlight in the upcoming 21st Annual Memorial Day Auction, presented by Leland Little, is a recently rebuilt 1971 Chevrolet Nova Yenko Clone. Chevrolet was founded with the partnership of Louis Chevrolet, an automotive engineer, and William C. Durant, the founder of General Motors. The available vehicle was built as a replica of a Yenko Nova. Painted in red and black, its interior includes vinyl seats.
Beyond automobiles, musical instruments are also available in the upcoming event. Among them is a 2006 Gibson Les Paul electric guitar. Instruments from Gibson Les Paul are often associated with popular figures in the music industry, such as Jimmy Page, Bernie Marsden, and Keith Richards. Made in Nashville, the guitar is designed with a bound maple top with a cherry-red sunburst finish. A French bronze mantel clock will also be available. The piece, dating back to the 19th century, is enameled with Roman numerals on the brass face. View more items and register to bid online on Invaluable
With over 500 lots, the upcoming Toys, Trains, Diecast, & More sale, offered by Weiss Auctions, will include a selection of vintage action figures, toy automobiles, and train sets. One of the key pieces in the auction is a boxed Batman action figure. The character, created by artist Bob Kane, was first introduced in Detective Comics #27 in 1939. Later appearing in stories published by DC Comics, the Batman character eventually became a pop culture icon. This vintage toy comes with the original instruction sheet, grapple, and sliding cord.
Another item on offer is a Lionel Factory Prototype 1964 Hudson. Joshua Lionel Cowen, the co-founder of Lionel Corporation, got his start in the industry by designing model trains such as the Electric Express. After a few years, he went on to establish the Lionel Manufacturing Company. Also highlighted in the sale is a Marklin Gauge 3 Live Steam American set from 1910. The complete set includes a hand-painted “kaiserliche” postal car, a French restaurant car, and a French sleeper train. View the complete catalog for this auction by visiting Invaluable.
Winston Churchill became the Prime Minister of Great Britain on May 10, 1940, soon after Germany invaded France. On the 80th anniversary of this occasion, Sotheby’s, in partnership with Chardwell Booksellers, presents Churchill in Charge, an auction of rare books, manuscripts, and photographs from Churchill’s life and career. Included in the sale is one of the most famous photos of Churchill, in which he appears to be scowling at the camera (The Angry Lion). The image was captured by Yousuf Karsh, and the print is signed by the artist. The auction house states that this image is rarely seen at this scope and scale.
Among the rare volumes up for bid is a presentation set of the first English edition of The War Speeches. The set includes a note written by Churchill: “Inscribed by Winston S. Churchill, 18 February 1941, For Mrs. Johnston, In these great days.” Epistolary items from the sale include a typed letter to Than Von Ranck, an editor at The New York Journal-American. In this letter, Churchill tells Von Ranck that the story of his having been struck by a car in New York was a closed matter. Also for sale is a personal note written four days after the birth of Churchill’s first child, thanking Lady Pentland for her letter and declining an invitation to dinner. View any of these lots and register to bid by visiting Sotheby’s.
Roy Lichtenstein was commissioned to paint the Oval Office as part of the Artists for Freedom of Expression project, which benefited the Democratic National Committee during the 1992 Clinton/ Gore campaign. Lichtenstein studied the interior of the Oval Office in the White House to include as many details as possible. He released the print in 1992, which was later chosen by the Presidential Inaugural Committee as one of six commemorative posters. The upcoming Fine Prints & Photographs Online sale, presented by Skinner, features The Oval Office by Lichtenstein. The print employs black outlines, primary colors, and Ben-Day dots, typical of Lichtenstein’s works.
Jasper Johns’ technical experimentation and style place him at the forefront of American art. His paintings laid the groundwork for Pop Art, Minimalism, and Conceptual art. An untitled piece by Johns is one of the highlighted lots in this event. The auction also showcases a portfolio of 24 photographs by Danny Lyon and Marc Chagall’s 1952 piece titled Mère et enfant devant Notre-Dame. Explore these lots and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
