Laurence Graff started his own company at the age of 18. Together with an experienced jeweler, he repaired Victorian jewelry. Graff made his first original piece after buying 33 small diamonds from a dealer and setting them in a single ring. Graff’s unique design sold quickly in England. Today, the jewelry house deals in all types of diamond and gemstone jewelry and has a large clientele. The upcoming auction, presented by Kodner Galleries, highlights an 8.54-carat yellow diamond engagement ring by Graff. Two shield-shaped diamonds accent the cushion-cut yellow diamond, platinum, and 18-karat gold ring.
Alongside luxury jewelry by brands such as Cartier and Fabergé, the auction also features a selection of decorative and fine art. Featured is an oil painting by Nicola Simbari titled Amelia. Simbari made colorful pastel swatches representing people and landscapes in the Neo-Impressionist style. Also offered in the sale are sculptures by Larry Mohr and Elliot Miller, timepieces by Omega and Charriol, and silverware by Tiffany & Co. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Inside the briefcase that houses a Breitling Royal Air Force Emergency wristwatch is a large printed message that reads “Warning: For Aeronautical Use Only.” This watch was designed with the first built-in personal locator beacon, allowing the wearer to send distress calls if they are incapacitated. A Breitling Emergency wristwatch from a limited-edition series will be offered in the upcoming Fine Jewelry, Silver, Glass, & Fashion sale, presented by Ahlers & Ogletree. The briefcase holds the watch, original paperwork about its operation, and several maintenance tools. An 18-karat gold pocket watch from the early 20th century will also be available, heavily engraved with floral and foliate designs on the case.
Leading the auction is a 376-piece set of Georg Jensen flatware in the “Parallel” pattern. Designed in 1931 by Danish architect Oscar Gundlach-Pedersen, this pattern is characterized by several horizontal lines stamped at the end of each handle. Several notable jewelry lots are also available, including a GIA-certified diamond engagement ring. The center diamond has K color and VS1 clarity. A vintage white gold and diamond engagement ring from the 1950s is offered as well. Explore the full listings and register for online bidding on Bidsquare.
Painter Giorgio Morandi was known for his still-life paintings of simple objects in muted colors. Morandi’s paintings were influenced by the works of Giorgio de Chirico and often feature medieval Italian architecture. The upcoming Impressionist & Modern Art Day Sale, presented by Sotheby’s, highlights an oil painting titled Natura Morta by Morandi. It shows a small assortment of dusty jars and a vase, painted in a flat matte palette to avoid reflections and letterings.
The sale also showcases works by Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Maria Au Repos (Gabrielle Assise), a 1905 oil on canvas work by Renoir, likely captures the artist’s housemaid and governess. Renoir’s Impressionist style shows his subjects in their candid element and expresses them in a saturated color scheme. Also offered is an artwork titled Le Déjeuner by the French painter Fernand Léger. This 1921 watercolor, brush, ink, and pencil on paper piece depicts female figures clutching objects that resemble tables. The fragmented frame surrounding the figures also reflects Léger’s early mechanical style. Sculptures by blue-chip artists such as Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró are highlighted as well. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Sotheby’s.
Towle Silversmiths is believed to be the first and longest operated company in the United States. In 1895, Lucien D. Cole, a designer at the company, introduced the Old Colonial pattern. Inspired by the historic Newburyport area of Massachusetts and 18th-century Philadelphia furniture, Old Colonial is Towle’s longest-running design. The pattern features a glossy finish accented with beads and a pointed tip. The handles show a scroll design with delicate piercing. The upcoming auction, offered by Leonard Auction, will present an 86-piece set of Towle Old Colonial silver flatware. Notably, the spoons have rectangular grooves in the center of their bowls.
Another highlight is a Chinese jade dragon sculpture. Ancient China prized jade as a symbol of purity and moral integrity. The available piece shows a dragon curling itself around a vase that holds flowers, Buddha finger citron, grape clusters, and leaping fish. The vase is in pale lavender with hints of light and darker green. Rounding out the auction is a selection of jewelry, modern furniture, fine art, and timepieces. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
The earliest Greco-Roman mosaics date back to the 5th century B.C. Elite Romans especially used mosaics to decorate their walls and vaults in a display of their wealth. Many early mosaics combined shells, colored glass, pumice, and other materials to depict mythological scenes and everyday life. Available in the upcoming Works of Art Through the Ages sale, presented by Artemis Gallery, are several pieces of Roman mosaics. Highlighted among them is a mosaic showing three actors’ masks. Each piece captures a dramatic character rendered in beige, seafoam green, mauve, yellow ochre, gold, black, and white.
Several pieces of fine art will also be included in the auction. Among these is a William Franklin Draper oil painting from 1968, titled Bermuda Surf. Best known for his portrait of John F. Kennedy, Draper often visited Bermuda to paint. Created in an expressive style, the available piece captures the rocky coastline of Elbow Beach. Browse the full catalog for this event and register to bid on LiveAuctioneers.
The upcoming Important Paintings sale features artists such as Richard Serra, Harriet Whitney Frishmuth, and Gustav Klimt. Etchings, drawings, sculptures, oil paintings, and more can be found in this Doyle auction.
Richard Serra is an American artist who specializes in Process Art, a movement that shifts the emphasis of creation from the product to its construction. In this auction is a 1991 drawing titled Videy Drawing VI. This black and white drawing was created with a paint stick on German etching paper. A sculpture by American artist Harriet Whitney Frishmuth can also be found. The bronze sculpture has a light green patina and shows a nude woman in a diving position. It is signed and dated by the artist at the base. A 1913 drawing titled Seated Half-Nude Woman Seated Right by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt is featured as well. This pencil drawing was executed on pink-colored paper. View the entire collection and register to bid by visiting Doyle.
For over a century, Audemars Piguet has been designing and manufacturing timepieces. In the 1970s, a designer at the company named Gerald Genta revolutionalized the design of watches with a futuristic model called the Royal Oak. The novel design, unveiled in 1972, was worn by the likes of LeBron James and John Mayer. Several Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks are available in the upcoming Watches auction, presented by Sotheby’s. These automatic chronograph watches are designed with a date and bracelet.
Another highlight is a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch in white gold. The line was first introduced in 1976. With a diameter of 42 mm, this automatic wristwatch uses the natural motion of the wearer to provide energy. Also offered is a Rolex Submariner, one of the first stainless steel diving watches in the world. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Sotheby’s.
Cut glass can be traced back to 1,500 B.C. Egyptian vessels. In the United States, the first glassmaking factory was established in at Jamestown, Virginia in 1608. However, it was not until 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia that American brilliant-cut glass garnered attention. By the end of the 19th century, cut glass became a symbol of elegance and leisure. The high labor cost involved in the manufacture made it a luxury item. With the outbreak of World War I, the industry could not bear such high labor costs, ending the era of cut glass. The upcoming American & Brilliant Period Cut Glass Auction, presented by Woody Auction, offers over 450 lots of cut glass from the private collection of Mike and Mary Ann Callahan.
Highlighted in the sale is a vase by Sinclaire. Founded in 1904 in New York, the company is known for its geometric and engraved patterns. The available vase bears a holly pattern with crosscut diamond bands. A pair of table lamps by G.W. Huntley Company is also among the key lots, each with fan motifs and pattern cut bases. Ice cream trays, rose bowls, and biscuit jars are also available. Browse the entire collection and register to bid online on LiveAuctioneers.
The upcoming Fine and Decorative Art sale, presented by Revere Auctions, will include a selection of collectibles and jewelry alongside the art pieces. Featured among the jewelry items is a Cartier ring with a 1.7-carat yellow diamond. It is flanked by two white diamonds and set in a yellow gold band.
Also featured is a cartoon print of the Donald Duck and Chip and Dale animated characters in an outdoor setting. The piece is inscribed and signed by Walt Disney (“To Candy, Vicky, Lori, Patti, With best wishes, Walt Disney”) and the lot includes a letter of authenticity. Also up for bid are several rare books, including a first edition print of Sir Richard Burton’s The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night. One of the notable artworks in the sale is a photograph titled Mirtoan Sea, Sounion from Hiroshi Sugimoto’s Seascapes series. The auction house has noted that the proceeds of this lot will benefit the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Scholarship Fund. View any of these lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
A French painter and printmaker, Louis Valtat was strongly associated with Fauvism, a style of painting that emphasized fierce brushwork and the use of colors rather than realistic qualities. His oil on canvas painting titled La Mer is one of the leading lots at the upcoming Fine Art, Jewelry, Antiques, Sculpture, Glass, and Original Illustrations auction, presented by Helmuth Stone Gallery. The painting depicts a coastal scene with sailboats in the distance. Valtat suffered from tuberculosis during his life, spending many chilly seasons along the Mediterranean coast. During these stays, he strengthened his Fauvist tendencies, especially in seascape paintings. Another lot of interest is an oil on board painting by Filipino artist Fernando Cueto Amorsolo. The painting shows figures sailing with a luminous sunset in the distance.
The sale also features several private California estate collections of Chinese scrolls and snuff bottles. Featured among these is a gilt-decorated and famille rose porcelain snuff bottle bearing a Qianlong mark. It has two opposing reserves framing a ‘children at play’ motif and set against gilt-heightened flowers and scrolls. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
