British writer and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created the iconic fictional detective Sherlock Holmes in 1887. The character became a sensation in crime stories. The author wrote the novel Uncle Bernac to replace Holmes, who he killed off in 1894. Set in Napoleon’s era, the novel is based on a Frenchman returning to his homeland to join the Emperor’s ranks. The upcoming sale, offered by Potter & Potter Auctions, will feature an autographed manuscript of this novel. As published in the original serialization, it comprises 125 leaves and includes pagination throughout and several holograph corrections, cancellations, and alterations. It is presented in a folding wooden box with a brass plaque and latches.
The first English trade edition of The Lost World, another noteworthy masterpiece by Doyle, also highlights the auction. Published by Hodder and Stoughton, London, it features the authentic blue cloth cover and a rare dust jacket. The science fiction novel is about an expedition to the Amazon basin of South America, where prehistoric animals still survive. It was published serially in TheStrand Magazine. Visit Potter & Potter Auctions to view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming A Study in Sherlock, Part II: Including the Collections of Robert Hess and Roy Pilot sale.
Nazmiyal Auctions will present a two-day sale of antique rugs and rare textiles this February, with a variety of antique Persian rugs leading the first day. Among these lots is an antique Persian Mohtashem Kashan rug formerly from the collection of Italian gallerist Davide Halevim. Previously featured in a 2001 Christie’s sale, this low-pile rug features an elaborate center medallion and jewel tones throughout. Kashan rugs were created in central Persia, and the available lot is named after renowned 19th-century weaver and businessman Hadji Mollah Mohammad Hassan Mohtashem. Another notable lot available on the first day of this sale is a vintage Persian Tabriz Gonbad design rug. The Farsi word “Gonbad” translates to “dome,” and Gonbad rugs evoke the elaborate patterns and architecture of a mosque’s dome.
The second day of this sale focuses on textiles and couture from the collection of Lilo Markrich and Heinz E. Kiewe, amassed over 100 years. Leading this section of the auction is a Chinese Qing dynasty silk embroidered dragon robe. This piece has a dragon and cloud pattern interspersed with lush roses. Also notable is a Zoroastrian wedding shawl featuring delicate embroidery on black fabric. Bidders can consider assorted embroidered fabrics from Greece, Morocco, India, Japan, and elsewhere, as well as smaller fabric scraps and fragments. Visit Bidsquare to browse the full 2 Days of Early Antique Rugs and Rare Textiles Auction catalog and to find other online auctions.
In the latest Jewelry, Coins & Currency Auction from Brunk Auctions, over 200 lots of fine jewelry, timepieces, and collectibles will cross the auction block. Among the top lots in the catalog is a Tiffany & Co. gold pearl bracelet. With designer Paloma Picasso’s signature handwriting and an 18-karat gold buckle clasp closure, this piece features two pearl strands. Another notable piece in the sale from Tiffany & Co. is an 18-karat “X” necklace. Symbolizing love, the “X” collection is one of the jewelry maker’s most popular lines, drawn with artistic precision. Crafted from 18-karat yellow gold and weighing 62 grams, this necklace is marked “Tiffany & Co. 750” and measures a total of 16 inches.
An assortment of coins, currency, and stamp sets will also be available in this upcoming sale. This includes a 1924 Saint-Gaudens $20 gold coin. Designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and issued by the Philadelphia Mint between 1907 and 1933, the available coin is one of the most beautiful pieces ever manufactured by the United States Mint. Following World War I, the St. Gaudens $20 gold coins were primarily used in international commerce. A flaming torch and olive branch are held by Lady Liberty on the obverse. There is a flying bald eagle on the reverse, above which are the words “United States of America” and “Twenty Dollars.” Among timepieces in the sale, bidders can consider an 18-karat Ellipse wristwatch from Patek Philippe. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete Jewelry, Coins & Currency Auction catalog and browse other online auctions.
Renowned artist and sculptor Jesús Rafael Soto (1923 – 2005) was born in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. Soto was known for his significant contribution to the Kinetic art movement, and his artworks can be found in museums across the globe including Centre Georges Pompidou and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The upcoming Palm Beach Modern Auctions sale will offer one such unique artwork by Jesús Rafael Soto. The sculpture, titled Ambivalencia en el Espacio, Color 16, is a painting on wood and metal. Rendered in 1982, it comes with the artist’s signature and a letter of provenance.
Among furniture lots in the sale, a pair of side tables is notable. They were designed by French interior designer Jean-Michel Frank (1895 – 1941), who was famous for his Minimalist style. Frank often used luxury materials such as mica, shagreen, and intricate straw marquetry for his art objects. A chandelier with 32 snowflakes and three light sockets is another notable piece. It was designed by Paavo Tynell, regarded as the pioneer of Finnish lighting design. Collectors can also consider Irving Penn’s Woman in Chicken Hat photograph, a Rolex 18-karat gold Yacht-Master II wristwatch, and an Hermès Mini Kelly Sellier bag. View the catalog of the Modern + Contemporary Art, Design & Luxury – Winter 2024 sale and find other online auctions by visiting Bidsquare.
Gold Standard Auctions’ upcoming sale features a selection of currency, foreign coinage, and US coins. Leading the catalog is a 1900 Double Eagle $20 gold coin. The available piece is certified by A-Mark Precious Metals Inc. as MS60. On the obverse is the image of Lady Liberty and the year of mintage, while the reverse portrays an eagle’s wings along with an inscription reading ‘United States Of America’ on the top and ‘Twenty Dollars’ at the bottom. The first Double Eagle coin was issued in 1849. Made from an alloy, the coin’s composition is 90% gold and 10% copper.
A Peace Silver Dollar Book comprising 24 coins from 1921 to 1935 also leads the listings. Peace silver dollars were issued by the United States between 1921 and 1928, as well as from 1934 to ’35. Designed by Anthony de Francisci, these coins are considered valuable among collectors owing to their silver content, historical significance, and large size. The available lot features a bald eagle on the reverse and Lady Liberty on the obverse. Other notable coins in this sale include a 1924 $20 Gold Double Eagle graded by PCGS as MS64 and a set of 66 coins from a 1913-1938 Buffalo Nickel Book. View the complete catalog of this Feb 16th Vancouver Valentine Coin Auction and browse other online auctions on Bidsquare.
In this upcoming timed sale of post-war and contemporary art from Bonhams, a variety of paintings, prints, wall hangings, and other works of fine art will cross the auction block. Among the top lots is an installation piece by contemporary Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama. Composed of metal tags on charcoal jute sacks, this work measures ten feet across. Mahama often works with jute sacks, stitching them together and draping them over architectural elements. The sacks move through multiple countries and industries—from Southeast Asian factories to Ghanaian cocoa bean distributors—before they arrive at his studio. “I am interested in how crisis and failure are absorbed into this material with a strong reference to global transaction and how capitalist structures work,” the artist said about his favored material. The offered installation, titled DABI DABI, was shown at White Cube in London and was acquired there by the present owner in 2019.
Also available in this auction is a signed and dated photo collage and colored pencil on panel work by American Pop artist Larry Rivers. The offered work from 1967 is rendered in muted gray and white, with the exception of a blue outline of Africa in the center. Around the continent the artist has placed images such as a human figure standing up and camels trekking across the desert. Offered from Louise Lawler is a 2008 work titled Red, Yellow and Black. Composed of silver dye bleach printed on a museum box, this figurative piece evokes the repetitions of Warhol’s screenprints. Red chains cross over repeated images of Jesus Christ. Other key artists with work in the catalog include Kathryn Andrews, Fab 5 Freddy, and Peter Triantos. For more information on the Post-War & Contemporary Art Online sale, visit Bonhams’ website.
Van Cleef & Arpels’ Palmyre collection is known for its open structure style of diamonds, resembling water droplets. This look is achieved by combining the effect of light with a fluid design. One such 18-karat white gold bracelet with five rows of diamonds is a key highlight of the upcoming auction from Kodner Galleries. The Palmyre piece is set with 135 round brilliant-cut diamonds, measuring approximately 18.82 carats. Another noteworthy lot is a Yessayan suite consisting of a necklace, bracelet, ring, earrings, and a Piaget watch. The pear-shaped rubies together measure 35 carats, while the round brilliant and baguette-cut diamonds combined measure 65.05 carats. A white gold necklace and chandelier earrings suite also leads the listings. The pieces are designed with six pear-shaped emeralds, and round brilliant and pear-shaped diamonds.
Also notable is a GIA-certified wide bracelet fashioned in the Art Deco style. It is designed with oval-shaped cabochon unheated rubies and round brilliant-cut diamonds. Considered rare precious stones, natural rubies have been historically sought for their healing properties. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming Valentine’s Day Fine Jewelry sale, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
Platinum has been a very elusive metal in the history of human civilization. Owing to its high melting point at 3221.6° F, the metal cannot be molded without softening it. Although ancient South American Indians and Egyptians bonded platinum with gold, their techniques of making it malleable were lost with time. In 1741, platinum caught the attention of European scientists, who began experimenting with it. However, the metal went on to become a popular choice for jewelry only in the 20th Century. A platinum necklace, set with diamonds weighing 75.78 carats, is a key highlight of the upcoming sale by Intervendue. A combination of rhombus setting and circular design, the piece weighs 142 grams. Another interesting platinum lot is a Tiffany & Co. Legacy diamond engagement ring. It is fashioned with a cushion-cut fancy intense yellow diamond, flanked by bead-set diamonds. The ring is designed in Edwardian style.
A Bulgari Monete eight-coin necklace also leads the listing. The Monete collection is a tribute to the rare cultural currency of Rome. The coins are marked with the eras and emperors’ names. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming Auction LVI: With Love From Intervendue sale, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
In its first sale of 2024, Copley Fine Art Auctions will present a wide selection of fine 19th- and 20th-century American paintings, etchings, carvings, folk art, and more. Leading the first day of the auction is a painting by Aiden Lassell Ripley titled Winter Deer Hunting. An avid outdoorsman and conservationist, Ripley tailored his painting style and themes to meet his interests, becoming one of America’s leading sporting artists. Due to his use of plein-air painting and drawing in the landscape he adored, Ripley’s work gives a fresh and spontaneous effect. The available watercolor painting depicts a deer hunting scene. The hunter is seen wearing snowshoes as he shoots at a leaping buck in this wintery landscape. Other notable works by the artist in the catalog include a graphite on paper work titled Grouse on Pine Bough and a watercolor painting titled Pheasant Swale (study).
The second day of this sale particularly highlights collectibles and sporting art. Among the top lots is a miniature redhead drake by A. Elmer Crowell. A famous decoy maker and bird carver, Elmer Crowell of East Harwich, Massachusetts made some of the finest decoys in history. The available carving bears a rectangular maker’s stamp, along with the bird’s species identification and the title “Reddy.” Bidders can also consider a rare miniature great horned owl by Wendell Gilley, a 1926 etching by Carl Rungius, and a bronze work by Octavio Gonzalez Gutierrez titled Humpback Whale and Calf. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete The Winter Sale 2024, Day 1 catalog and browse other online auctions.
The historic town of Alexandria, Virginia is noteworthy for its distinct pottery with cobalt blue designs. The 19th-century stoneware has been cherished by art lovers as a valuable collectible. Wilkes Street Pottery was Alexandria’s longest-running stoneware manufactory, and Benedict C. Milburn was its most esteemed potter. Milburn began working at the manufactory in the early 1830s and purchased the business a decade later. A very rare stoneware water cooler stamped “B.C Milburn / Alexa” is a key highlight of the upcoming auction from Jeffrey S. Evans & Assoc., Inc. It is one of the three recorded Milburn water coolers from Alexandria. The salt-glazed decorated piece has a cylindrical form with slight shoulder, squared rim, vertical open handles, and octagonal-shaped bung hole. It features a central stem with leafy branches yielding circular buds on both the front and reverse sides.
Another notable lot is a large format photogravure of Chief Joseph, Nez Perce by Edward Sheriff Curtis. It is a silver print on paper with copyright imprint in the negative lower left with “1903” date and ink-signed lower right. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming February 9, 2024: Steidel Collection Auction – Day One auction, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
