One Of A Kind Collectibles presents a selection of patents, photographs, and documents in the upcoming Rare Autograph Auction. Particularly highlighted is a collection of 37 original British patent letters related to Edison’s invention of the light bulb and incandescent lighting. The auction house notes, “This important British collection has the key patents related to the incandescent lamp… pav[ing] the way for the universal domestic use of electric light.” The collection includes four patents issued to Sir Joseph Swan, an English scientist and co-inventor of the incandescent lamp.
With over 150 lots, the sale also features names such as Abraham Lincoln, Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, Albert G. Spalding, and Rain in the Face. A letter written by Abraham Lincoln before his inauguration is highlighted. The letter is in response to an autograph request from an “R. M. Green.” A limited-edition photograph of the Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston 1965 rematch and a signed letter by Albert Einstein are other notable lots. View the full catalog and register to bid online on Invaluable.
In Onkel Rudi, artist Gerhard Richter uses a decades-old photograph to grapple with his uncle’s complicity in the war crimes of Nazi Germany. Rudi, who would soon die in combat, offers a smile for the camera in his SS uniform. Richter’s Onkel Rudi is among the 76 fine art pieces available in the Working from Home: Prints and Multiples event, presented by Christie’s.
Among the auction’s highlighted lots are works by noted Pop artists, including Roy Lichtenstein. An available screenprint titled I Love Liberty is one of 250 copies signed and dated by the artist. In the piece, Lichtenstein recreates the image of the Statue of Liberty as a comic book strip. It was produced in 1982 as part of a national television campaign honoring American history, the I Love Liberty Celebration.
Also available are several works by Andy Warhol, including a 1967 screen print of Marilyn Monroe. Warhol became interested in depicting Monroe shortly after her passing in 1962. He started with the Marilyn Diptych (1962) as a silkscreen painting before transitioning to screenprints. View each of the lots and register to bid in this event on the Christie’s website.
With a focus on silverware, Georg Jensen A/S is a Danish design company founded by silversmith Georg Arthur Jensen in 1904. Five years later, Jensen opened his first shop in Berlin, and in 1912, he opened a bigger workshop and retail store in Copenhagen. The Spring Inventory Sale, presented by Greg Pepin Silver, offers rare silver hollowware, jewelry, and gift items designed by Georg Jensen. One of the key lots in the auction is a 472-piece Georg Jensen Blossom “Magnolia” silverware service. Handmade in Denmark, this is likely the largest Georg Jensen Blossom silverware service ever made and was a special commission. All of the pieces are enclosed in 12 mahogany cases.
Another highlight is a Georg Jensen “Louvre” champagne bowl from 1912. It stands on a stem of leaves and berries. The hand-hammered surface is one of Jensen’s trademarks. When filled with ice, water condenses on the outside of the bowl to give it a distinct sheen. In 1914, this design was purchased by the Louvre museum in Paris for their permanent collection and is commonly referred to as the “Louvre” bowl. To view the complete catalog for this auction and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
The upcoming Maak Contemporary Ceramics’ sale will bring a selection of ceramics from the personal collection of Michael Evans, also known by his Buddhist name Dayabandhu. A former mechanical engineer and local government officer, Dayabandu’s interest in ceramics started 60 years ago when he visited two maiden aunts after church and admired their Doulton Lambeth stoneware pots. The sale will include more than 150 pieces from his collection. An oval pot by John Ward is among the highlighted items, featuring a matte black and white design over a textured surface and undulating elliptical rim. Regarded as one of Britain’s greatest potters, Ward’s style is influenced by ancient pre-glaze pottery from China and Cypress.
Also featured in the sale are two works by Gillian Lowndes, often considered one of the most daring and radical voices of her generation. To develop her Abstract Expressionist style, she brought together a range of materials and found objects. One of her works, titled Scrollscape with Nail, was executed in 2003 with layered stoneware spirals, metal nails, and fine metal threads. Also available is Lowndes’ 2005 piece titled Under Princelet Street, a sculpture made from a fork, wire, lead strip, and ceramic material. Browse the complete catalog and register to bid on Maak Contemporary Ceramics.
Contemporary painter Christopher Wool is known for his black, stenciled artworks on white backgrounds. His works involve a variety of painting techniques, including screen printing and spray-painting aluminum. The upcoming Contemporary Art Day Auction, offered by Sotheby’s, presents works by Wool and other blue-chip contemporary artists. Featured is a patterned enamel and flash painting by Wool. The black abstract design allows the viewer to observe repetition, complex procedures, and the properties of the medium.
The sale also showcases a rare painting from Brice Marden’s Basel Cathedral Window series. Window Study No. 4 was part of the 1978-1985 project to style the windows of the Basel Cathedral. Museum director Richard Armstrong has described the project as “…a catalytic experience for Marden.” The auction also highlights a spin painting titled Dark Acheron by Damien Hirst. The insect specimen and Hammerite paint on canvas piece was inspired by Hirst’s childhood memories. Also featured are works from Yoshitomo Nara and Andy Warhol, along with Sigmar Polke, Keith Haring, and KAWS. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Sotheby’s.
Paul Evans’ work was created one piece at a time under his supervision. Evans started his career making copper chests and sculpted steel-front cabinets. An example of his wall-mounted cabinets is available in the upcoming Modern Design auction, presented by Rago. It is a patinated steel and brass cabinet with 23-karat gold leaf, signed and dated 1975. His signature black and white Argente pieces will be available as well.
George Nakashima also handcrafted his furniture pieces. Highlighted in this sale is a custom 1971 coffee table. It features a dramatic burl top with a continuous free edge and two rosewood butterflies. A white Nakashima-driven 1966 Ford Thunderbird is also available in the auction. A leader of the American craft movement and a prominent furniture designer, Nakashima was influenced by his practice of Integral Yoga. He learned it as a disciple of Sri Aurobindo while staying at the latter’s ashram in Pondicherry, India.
The sale also offers furnishings, decorative art, lighting, contemporary glass, and studio ceramics from 20th and 21st-century artists, including Pablo Picasso, Beatrice Wood, and Dale Chihuly. Lots 263 and 274 are from the Smithsonian Visionary Benefit Auction. For more details on the mentioned items, visit Bidsquare.
Morton Subastas’ upcoming Online Only | Morton Weekly auction offers several works from Mexican artists along with vintage furniture, jewelry, and more. Leading the furniture lots is a 19th-century two-bodied cabinet and a Quadrilongo piano with a mahogany finish. The former item is the work of Sergio Bustamante, a Mexican sculptor. Bustamante is known for his depictions of animals and inventive humanoid creatures. His works are typically made of papier-mâché, wood, or bronze.
The work of artists such as Carlos Poveda, Henry Moore, and José Manuel Schmill Ordóñez can also be found. Poveda’s painting, in particular, is one of the highlighted items. This piece is made with oil paint and sand on canvas. The artist often experiments with unusual materials such as sand to add texture to his paintings. For more information and to register to bid, visit Bidsquare.
From the 1750s to date, the Chippendale style has been popular in furniture design. It is characterized by simple and elegant designs, a departure from the French Rococo style. Its popularity helped Thomas Chippendale become one of the leading cabinetmakers of the 18th century. The upcoming DuMouchelles auction features a Chippendale-style mahogany dining set from the 1920s. The complete set includes a table with claw feet, two armchairs, four side chairs, a sideboard, and a china rack cabinet with four glass doors.
Over 350 lots will be presented in this sale, including jewelry, decorative art, weavings, and furniture pieces. A pair of 14-karat white gold and diamond earrings is especially highlighted. Each diamond is set in a halo motif. Flatware and tea services will also be available, as well as a Persian Tabriz wool rug woven with a Biblical scene. It shows Lot’s wife being turned to stone as Lot and his daughters proceed away from Sodom. View the complete catalog and register to bid on DuMouchelles.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, indoor plumbing was a rarity. To maintain basic hygiene, dry sinks were considered a kitchen and washroom essential. The construction of dry sinks was simple, typically involving a hardwood cabinet with a basin on top. Available in the upcoming Country Americana & Decorative Arts Auction, presented by Garth’s Auctioneers & Appraisers, is an American dry sink from the 19th century. This piece features two bowfront dovetailed drawers above double doors.
Beyond furniture, the sale also offers over 50 lots of fine art. Leading these is a painting by Alister Austen Deans, titled Mt. Sinclair & Mesopotamia Downs. A New Zealand painter, Deans is known for his landscapes and his combat work during the Second World War. The available piece shows the mountain in the background in blue, brown, and yellow hues. A Caucasian rug is also available. These rugs are best known for their bold geometric and tribal designs in primary colors. Explore the full catalog for this auction and register to bid on Invaluable.
Giuseppe Dangelico, better known as Pino Daeni or simply Pino, was a figurative artist who revolutionized the illustration industry. His paintings are often set on vibrantly sunny Mediterranean beaches, similar to where he grew up. Pino’s style, known as Contemporary Realism, is characterized by softly lit subjects, warm colors, and flowing strokes that show detailed hands and faces. In his 20-year illustration career, Pino created more than 3,000 book covers, movie posters, and magazine illustrations. Highlighted in the Spring Fine Art, Antique and Ethnographic Auction, presented by The Cobbs Auctioneers, is an oil painting by Pino showing a group of four girls on a beach.
The sale also includes a selection of tribal and ethnographic works, including several pre-Columbian artifacts from Central America. Among these is a Tairona gold lidded vessel with a seated figure on top. Tairona gold figures are made by casting a meltable mixture of gold, silver, and copper into intricate molds. Through controlled corrosion, the copper is removed from the surface, giving the appearance of solid gold. View each of these lots and register to bid on Invaluable.
