Featured in Skinner’s upcoming American Indian & Ethnographic Art sale is an effigy grease bowl from the American Northwest coast. This piece takes the form of a human and octopus, decorated with a bone and shell inlay. Likely made by the Tlingit people around the 1870s or 80s, the ornate details of this piece suggest it served a funerary or ritual use. Also from the Northwest is a carved shaman’s oracle sculpture from the 19th century. This piece, made of a whale tooth, resembles a clan chief wearing a traditional hat. Because shamans were believed to bridge the gap between deities and humankind, they often used carved objects to communicate their spiritual revelations.
Beadwork is also on display in this event. Especially featured is a pair of matching beaded saddlebags from the Central Plains. The front of each bag is decorated with white, red, and green Lakota designs above a long leather fringe. A beaded doctor’s bag, also from the Lakota people, is highlighted as well. Made in the 1880s, this commercial leather bag is completely covered in glass and faceted brass beads. Pottery, sculpture, and traditional weapons will also come to auction. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
In 1995, when Princess Diana visited France for the Cézanne Art Exhibition at the Grand Palais, the First Lady of France gifted her the new Dior ‘Chouchou’ bag. Later, Diana ordered one in every available color. It was regularly seen with her and the company eventually changed the bag’s name to Lady Dior in her honor. Available in the upcoming sale, presented by Chiswick Auctions in collaboration with BrandCo Paris, three medium-sized Lady Dior handbags in bubblegum pink, fuchsia, and cream python will be available. The auction will also include handbags from Hermès, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton.
One of the highlighted lots is a Hermès Kelly bag. Introduced in 1892, the bag drew attention when Grace Kelly began carrying it regularly. Hermès named the bag after the actress in 1977. The available example features palladium tone hardware, a leather body, and a double zip pocket. A Chanel Première chain watch is also featured. Launched in 1987, the design was inspired by Paris’ Place Vendôme. The available watch has a black leather and gold plated strap. Explore the full listings for this event and register to bid online on Chiswick Auctions.
The ‘hundred boys’ theme was very popular during the Qing and Ming dynasties. The ‘hundred boys’ refers to King Wen of the Zhou dynasty, who had 99 sons and adopted one more to have an even 100. Later, the theme was used to represent the desire for many sons to continue the family line. The upcoming Asian Art, Including Chinese Paintings auction, presented by Chiswick Auctions, features an Imperial Chinese hundred boys lantern vase. The piece shows images of children imitating adults, indicating the ambitions of the literati class for their sons to achieve high intellectual status and future success.
Another key lot is a luduan incense burner. The luduan, or Chinese unicorn, is a mythical beast that can detect truth. It is usually placed in pairs at either side of the imperial throne to indicate the keen intelligence and excellent judgment of the emperor. The auction also features Japanese woodblock prints by Oju Yoshitoshiga. The vertical diptych depicts Kintaro riding on a giant carp in the water. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Chiswick Auctions.
William Eggleston’s interest in photography began after his classmate gave him a Leica camera. Although self-taught, Eggleston was influenced by street photographers such as Robert Frank and Henri Cartier-Bresson. However, he soon broke away from traditional black and white photography and began experimenting with colors in the late 1960s. Considered a pioneer of color photography, Eggleston inspired a generation of future artists. Three Eggleston photographs will be offered in the upcoming auction, presented by WestLicht Photo Auction. One of them is a chromogenic print titled En Route to New Orleans. Taken between 1971-74, the photo shows a hand stirring a drink next to an airplane window.
This auction of over 150 photos includes works from Nobuyoshi Araki, Jaroslav Rössler, and Franz West. Rössler’s untitled still life piece is among the highlights. A Czech photographer, Rössler experimented with abstraction and Cubism. He is considered one of the most important Czech avant-garde and Constructivist photographers of the 20th century. The available image shows a low cylindrical bowl on the lower left. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
Isis is the Egyptian goddess of childbirth, motherhood, and power, and she was equally famous among the polytheistic worshippers of the Roman Empire. During the early Imperial Period, her worship spread far and wide among the Romans. To honor the goddess, the emperor Caligula established a procession that wound through Rome during his reign. It is believed that Caligula was so staunch a follower that he dressed in female garb for the event. Available in the upcoming America’s Frontier | Ethnographic | Ancient sale, presented by Artemis Gallery, is a Romano-Egyptian carved marble head of Isis. This detailed piece shows her head slightly tilted toward the left, with almond-shaped eyes, closed lips, and full cheeks.
Several fossil pieces will also be included in the auction. Among these is a large clutch of eggs from a 70 to 120 million-year-old nest belonging to a Therizinosaurus. This dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period is believed to have stood nearly 25 feet tall. According to the auction house, this intact clutch of eggs was likely separated from the mother via a flood, mudslide, sandstorm, or some other natural disaster.
A Pre-Columbian shamanic scepter belonging to the Mapuche culture will be offered as well. This mask is hand-carved from mottled brownstone with light and dark inclusions. A suspension strap is threaded through a pair of piercings near the temples. Mapuche shamans symbolically wore this mask during religious ceremonies and rituals. Visit LiveAuctioneers for more information and to register to bid.
The Royal Doulton company started in 1815 as a small pottery firm along the banks of the Thames. The company launched various products over the years under the leadership of John Doulton, who was succeeded by his son, Henry. It was under his leadership that the company employed multiple artists from the Lambeth School of Arts on an experimental basis. The company soon gained recognition for its salt-glazed bone china and stoneware articles. The upcoming auction, presented by Whitley’s Auctioneers, presents a wide range of Royal Doulton figurines and porcelain. A hand-decorated tea service for two is a highlight. The bone china service shows characters from the British holiday book titled The Snowman by Raymond Briggs. Character figurines from Walt Disney’s first feature animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs are also showcased. A limited-edition set of three Schmid commemorative plates for the golden anniversary of the film is another notable lot.
A miniature coal shed by David Winter Cottages is also featured. The hand-painted miniature building has a removable metal roof and an authentication certificate from the John Hine Studio. Also offered are Goebel Hummel and Royal Albert character figurines from children’s books such as Brambly Hedge, Peter Rabbit, and Bunnykins. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Following a Pennsylvania silversmith apprenticeship in 1815, Samuel Kirk began a shop of his own in Baltimore, Maryland. Kirk was best known for his technique of creating shapes and designs on hammered silver. A Kirk sterling silver bowl from 1903 is featured at the upcoming Fine Estate Jewelry, Sterling Silver, & Coins Auction, offered by Leland Little.
The sale will include a collection of vintage furniture, jewelry, coins, and contemporary art. Jewelry items such as an 18-karat gold and amethyst pendant necklace will be especially highlighted. According to Greek mythology, amethyst is dyed purple by the tears of Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry. A Spanish colonial silver cob coin set in a pendant is also included in the sale. The coin was created in Mexico City during the 1650s. It shows Spain’s coat of arms on one side, with castles and lions on the other. This item, a classic “Piece of Eight,” has the dark coloring and slightly rough surfaces associated with salvage from a shipwreck. Find more of these items and register to bid online on Invaluable
Known for his dedication to the documentation of social inequality, Bruce Davidson has been a member of the prestigious Magnum Photos agency since 1958. Since the 1980s, Davidson began to shift from black and white to color photography. Subway, his first color photography series, captured the gritty vitality of the New York Metro underworld. The series is an important historical document of New York City’s social history. The upcoming Photographs Monthly Online Auction, presented by Heritage Auctions, will feature two photographs from Davidson’s Subway series. One of them shows the New York City skyline in the evening while the other captures a snowy winter night from the window of a train.
Another key lot is titled Petit’s Mobil Gas Station, Cherry Hill, New Jersey by George A. Tice, an American photographer best known for his dramatic black-and-white prints of his home state of New Jersey. His works capture a general feeling of Americana. Devoid of distinct figures, Tice’s urban landscapes capture a vaguely narrative scene. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Heritage Auctions.
The Maximinus II is an ancient coin named after Galerius Valerius Maximinus, who rose to become a junior Eastern emperor after a split in Roman politics. The coin depicts Maximinus as Caesar. Such pieces were issued from 310-313 A.D. Along with many other ancient coins, this piece is available in the fourth part of the upcoming Ancient Coins Selections from the Morris Collection sale, offered by Heritage Auctions.
Also available is a Gaius (Caligula) coin. Gaius Caesar, commonly known as Caligula or “Little Boot,” succeeded Tiberius as a Roman emperor in 37 A.D. He ruled for four years before he was assassinated by Roman senators in 41 A.D. at the Palatine Games. The item shows a portrait of the emperor on the front with a Roman inscription underneath. Historic coins such as a Judaea Bar Kokhba Revolt and a Domitian piece are also presented in the auction. Find the complete catalog and register to bid online on Heritage Auctions.
The Wodehouse Collection of William Toplis, offered by Freeman’s, is made up exclusively of items owned by or related to the British writer P.G. Wodehouse. Perhaps best known as the creator of the fictional gentleman Bertie Wooster and his valet Jeeves, Wodehouse was one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century. He was a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and more.
Several of the lots up for bid are in the Jeeves canon, including a first edition, first issue copy of the book Carry On, Jeeves. This collection of ten short stories by Wodehouse was first published in the U.K. in 1925. The first story in the book is titled “Jeeves Takes Charge” and describes the arrival of Jeeves as Wooster’s new valet. Also in the Jeeves canon is a typescript of Do Butlers Burgle Banks, which includes extensive handwritten revisions and annotations by Wodehouse. The lot also includes a copy of the first American edition and the first English edition of the final book.
Beyond Jeeves’ material, there are also portraits of the author’s family members, his personal scrapbook, an autobiographical typescript, and more. View any of these lots and register to bid on Freeman’s.
