Land artist and sculptor David Nash is known for his artworks made from natural materials and living trees. The artist has been creating outdoor art installations since the 1970s. Nash describes this process: “As soon as you go out [outside], you are dealing with slopes, wind, air, rain. You are in another dimension. You are not necessarily in competition with it, but you are in it.” A key feature of his works is the redirected growth of the natural elements. The upcoming Ahlers & Ogletree auction highlights Wafer Vessel, a wooden sculpture by Nash. The carved wood piece displays his Formalist style.
The auction also features “the Gazelle,” a Wurlitzer model 950 jukebox designed by Paul Fuller. Most parts of the 1940s jukebox are made of wood and glass owing to the period’s short supply of metal. It was renamed “Victory” as a tribute to the returning troops of World War II. Musical instruments such as an Italian Armando Altavilla violin and an Ibanez George Benson GB10-BS guitar are available as well.
Showcased among the furniture lots is a Mid-Century Modern flip-top extending console table by Gio Ponti. The walnut table, designed for dealers M. Singer & Sons, has a rectangular form raised on four tapered legs with brass caps. The auction also offers glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly and Lucio Bubacco, Italian furniture, lamps, and photographs. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Available in the upcoming Auction Kings sale is a mixed media painting from Jean-Michel Basquiat. The piece is 22 inches high and is signed “SAMO” below Basquiat’s three-pointed crown. During his street art days, he collaborated with Al Diaz under the shared SAMO© moniker. This experience with underground graffiti helped Basquiat develop his more formal style, visible in the available painting. The piece shows two skeletal figures and a shorter man, each with his teeth bared.
Another notable lot is a mixed media on cardboard painting by Tarsila do Amaral. A Brazilian Modernist, her paintings often used vivid colors and geometric shapes to depict landscapes and cultural scenes. This painting places several pink and blue flowers against a grey and violet background. Fine art from Andy Warhol, Markus Prachensky, and Marc Chagall will also be available. Several glassworks are offered as well, including an Italian glass vase spotted with rainbow colors. Browse the full catalog for this event and register to bid on Invaluable.
For 145 years, the Massachusetts College of Art and Design has trained professional artists in the Boston area. The 31st annual MassArt Auction will benefit the college’s students by providing funding for scholarships and support for academic programs. The auction will offer a range of items, from paintings and sculptures to jewelry items. Highlighted is a lapis bracelet from Petra Class, a German artist now living in San Francisco, California. This bracelet is made of rough blue lapis and 18- and 22-karat gold.
Featured in this auction are two marionette necklaces from Yuri Tozuka, a metal artist who graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2009. She is known for using dark humor, satire, and illogical notions in her work. These 20-inch long necklaces also function as marionettes made of sterling silver, brain coral, citrine, and blue topaz. An oil painting of two ducks on a patterned tablecloth from another graduate, Maureen O’Connor, can also be found. View the entire collection and register to bid on Bidsquare.
The upcoming Stair online auction will present fine art, Chinese decorative art pieces, vintage furniture, and more from the collection of Mario Buatta. Many of the available lots reflect Buatta’s love for color, pattern, and whimsical objects. Among the featured items is a Cappelli umbrella stand by Piero Fornasetti. Inspired by Greek and Roman architecture, Fornasetti is known for his fanciful fashion items and accessories. Several stacked hats are painted on the stand.
Also among the key items is a Continental automaton birdcage with a faux bird perched in the center. A dark teal bow rests on the top of the gilt cage. A tea caddy with inlaid reverse glass painted panels will also be available, as well as a handwoven floral carpet with a coral background. View any of these items and register to bid online by visiting Bidsquare.
Stair will highlight ceramics from Mario Buatta’s collection in the upcoming auction. Known as the Prince of Chintz, the American interior designer subscribed to a maximalist design aesthetic. The presented ceramics collection includes earthenware and porcelain pieces from the 19th and 20th centuries. One key lot is a Davenport pottery set from the company’s early production period, which featured vibrant colors and naturalistic forms. The available 56-piece service is painted with flowers.
A set of porcelain lettuce mugs from Dodie Thayer is another leading lot. Starting pottery as a hobby, Thayer was popular among the likes of Jacqueline Kennedy, Frank and Barbara Sinatra, C. Z. Guest, and the Palm Beach elites. She crafted her pottery from castings of real lettuce leaves. A Wedgwood creamware service is also available. The early 19th-century set is patterned with fallen leaves. View the complete catalog and register to bid for these items on Bidsquare.
Frederick Judd Waugh was a marine painter and camouflage artist for the U.S. Navy during World War I. A member of the National Academy of Design, Waugh is best known for his dramatic depictions of crashing surf. The upcoming April Fine Estate Auction, presented by Briggs Auction, features two oil on canvas pieces from Waugh. Respectively titled Rocky Shoreline and Surf, they both show waves crashing on rocks.
In the 1950s, the husband/ wife designer duo Charles and Ray Eames took on a project to design a luxury chair. Charles Eames wanted a chair with “… the warm receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt.” The Eames Lounge Chair grew out of that vision. Unveiled in 1956 on Arlene Francis’ Home television show, the Eames lounge chair and ottoman became a popular status symbol. Offered in this sale is an Eames and Herman Miller rosewood chair and ottoman. The auction will also offer several textiles, including a room-size Heriz carpet with a center medallion. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on LiveAuctioneers.
This April, Leonard Auction will present a collection of fine art, sterling silver, vintage timepieces, minted coins, and other items in the Online Only Auction. A standout lot is a bronze figure titled Torero, which evokes the abstract image of a Spanish bullfighter. The sculptor, Venancio Blanco, and his bullfighter have appeared in various auctions and exhibitions around the world. Other highlights include sterling silver flatware in the ‘La Scala’ pattern from Gorham. Since 1831, the silverware and sterling company has created the America’s Cup for yachting and the Davis Cup for tennis.
A cityscape coffee table by Paul Evans is also available in the sale. Evans was one of the leading figures in the mid-century Brutalist furniture movement. The birdseye maple burl coffee table features chromed steel and a square glass top. An oil painting by Robert Kipniss is presented as well. Best known for his monochrome and shadow-filled compositions, Kipniss often captures trees, cottage-style interiors, and countrysides in his works. The available lot by Kipniss is titled The Trees. For more information, visit Bidsquare.
Influenced by both Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, Alfonso Michel was a leader of the Generación de la Ruptura (the Ruptured Generation) artistic movement. One of his paintings using muted, earthy colors will be available in the upcoming Painting, Drawing, and Sculpture Auction, offered by Morton Subastas. This painting, titled La Fotógrafa, is a portrait of Mexican photographer Lola Álvarez Bravo.
Another lot of interest is an angel sculpture by Jorge Marín. Active for more than 30 years, Marín is regarded as a prominent figurative artist in Mexico. He is best known for his depictions of mythical creatures, often executed using oxidized bronze and mixed metals. This sale also includes an oil painting by Sergio Hernández, a Mexican contemporary artist. His work has been shown at the Palazzo Delle Esposizioni and the Latino Art Museum. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
French artist Gaston Sébire is known for his landscapes, seascapes, still lifes, and flowers. Although he began painting at the age of 18, Sébire did not gain recognition until his forties. An engraver and painter of theater decorations, Sébire’s works did not follow industry trends but rather focused on beauty, light, and colors. The upcoming New York City Estate Auction, offered by Showplace Antique + Design Center, will feature a floral still life painting by Sébire. The piece shows a spray of flowers in a blue and white vase.
A Renaissance painting by Francesco Curia is also highlighted. Titled Ascension of Christ, the painting shows the apostles kneeling in prayer. Curia frequently worked for the churches of Naples and a note that comes with the painting describes his continued popularity in the city. Also available is a 75-piece Gorham Etruscan flatware set from 1913. The symmetrical Etruscan pattern was a forerunner for later Art Deco designs. Browse the full catalog and register to bid on Bidsquare.
This April, Elstob & Elstob will present the upcoming Fine Art, Antiques & Jewellery auction. Among the highlighted lots is a tiger orchid brooch by Tiffany & Co. Paulding Farnham, Tiffany’s designer, created 24 of these orchid brooches for display at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle. The enamel brooches were highly admired and helped to win a gold medal in jewelry for the company—the first such award ever given to an American firm. The available piece from 1890 features yellow, brown, and orange enamel petals.
Another key lot is an Omega Speedmaster bracelet watch from 1961. Initially intended as a sports chronograph, the second Speedmaster generation became the first watch to be worn in space and was certified by NASA for use in 1965. The auction also features an oil painting by Ernest Higgins Rigg, titled Taking A Rest. A member of the Staithes group of artists, Rigg is known for his oil landscapes, portraits, and coastal scenes. Interested collectors can explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
