During Japan’s Edo Period, merchants and artisans began making more money but were still confined by a strict class system. Many chose to spend their new-found wealth on entertainment. This included ukiyo-e paintings and woodblock prints, which portrayed actors, sumo wrestlers, and erotica. An album of actor portraits in the ukiyo-e style is among the highlighted pieces in the upcoming Asian Online auction, presented by Stair. The 150 portraits are by Utagawa Kunisada, who also produced book illustrations.
Representing China in this event, among other lots, is a huanghuali brush pot. The pot is made from the yellow-red wood of the huanghuali tree. Pieces made of this wood were sought by royalty and the upper-class during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Collectors of Chinese ethnographic pieces will also find a ruyi scepter. At different points in history, ruyis were used as talismans for good fortune, ceremonial items for Buddhist rituals, pointer sticks for lectures, and backscratchers. View each of these lots and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
An Abstract painting titled Great Behemoth Rock is among the featured lots of Helmuth Stone Gallery’s upcoming auction. Offered in the second session of the sale, this piece was executed in 1987 by New York and Florida-based artist Thomas Koether. The painting depicts a large rock in shades of pink, yellow and blue, set against a navy background. Koether’s style, influenced by his travels abroad to Ibiza and Paris, is characterized by reflective abstraction: “For me, the art of painting is a private expression of love of phenomena,” he describes in his artist’s statement, “a kind of cross-linking between my mind, my senses, and the world.” Also presented in this sale are works of Chinese fine art, including an original oil painting by Zhan Jianjun titled Fog in the Stone Forest. This piece was commissioned for James A. Helzer, the founder of Unicover Corporation.
Beyond the available paintings from both the East and the West, this sale will offer sculpture, jewelry, pottery, and other decorative works. A Chinese bronze censer from the 18th century is among the highlighted lots. This piece is signed at the base and would have been used to burn solid incense. Small geometric shapes decorate the two handles. Astronomical and nautical-themed works are also highlighted in this auction, including pieces by Vladimir Beilin, Chris Calle, and Dean Ellis. Browse the full catalog and register to bid for these items on Bidsquare.
Nancy Glenn was the successful owner of an interior design company based in Sausalito, California. An avid collector and philanthropist, Glenn had a particular interest in Hermès scarves and other pieces of “wearable art.” After her passing in 2019, Glenn’s family brings many items from her collection to auction through Turner Auctions + Appraisals LLC. The sale, held in mid-April, will include over 200 lots of jewelry, couture, textiles, and decorative arts. Among the featured items is a carved coral and 14-karat gold brooch, arranged to look like orange-pink roses resting on weaved branches. A gold and diamond solitaire ring is another key jewelry lot.
The available Hermès items include enamel bracelets, custom leather shoes, two cashmere and silk shawls, and a tan leather purse. The latter item has a 14-inch strap and remains in good condition. A Native American vest embellished with beadwork is also a highlighted lot. It has a red, green, and blue flower pattern. Clothing items include several Yves St. Laurent pieces and purses from Paloma Picasso, Louis Vuitton, and Bottega Veneta. Browse Nancy Glenn’s full collection and register for online bidding on Bidsquare.
A portion of the proceeds from the upcoming two-day auction, presented by Sarasota Estate Auction, will go to the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. The first day of the sale will highlight both fine art and ethnographic art. Among the key lots is an oil painting titled Independence Day Parade, by Mosengo Freque. The Democratic Republic of the Congo was governed by Belgian authorities until riots broke out in 1959. The country became independent a year later. This painting depicts the celebratory parade with Mobutu Sese Seko, then the military dictator of the new country. An official motorcade can be seen parading down the main street in Kinshasa, the capital of the Congo.
An African Chokwe Pwo mask is also highlighted. This piece likely comes from Angola or the Democratic Republic of the Congo and resembles a female ancestor of fertility and prosperity. Collectors can also view furniture items, African sculptures, and jewelry in the sale. Browse the entire catalog and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Oriental rugs are heavy carpets often made of silk, wool, and cotton. These are used for both utilitarian and decorative purposes. The carpets have been produced across regions sometimes known as the “Rug Belt,” including northern China, Tibet, Turkey, Iran, the Caucasus, India, and Pakistan. Some of the leading lots in the upcoming Oriental Rugs from American Estates auction, to be presented by Material Culture, were produced in these regions. One of the highlights is a late 19th-century Persian Serapi rug, made of pile wool, cotton warp, and weft threads. Another highlight is a Caucasian Sumak rug from the early 20th century. Sumak is a tapestry technique of flat weaving, yielding a smooth front and a ragged back.
Another lot of interest is a prayer rug from Ghiordes, a northwest town in Turkey. Historically, Ghiordes prayer rugs have been held in high esteem in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. To view the complete catalog for this auction and register to bid online, visit Invaluable.
When Europe first encountered tea, it was considered a rare and valuable commodity. Tea containers were kept in living rooms, under the watch of house mistresses. These containers were, therefore, decorated in a way to suit the style of the room. Early examples of “tea caddies” were made of porcelain. The upcoming auction, presented by WR Auction Gallery Inc., showcases a Chinese Qianjiang porcelain tea caddy with a lid. The Qianjiang decoration on it displays traditional Chinese paintings on one side and verses on the other. Qing and Ming dynasty bronze sculptures of the Buddha and other religious figures are highlighted as well.
Jade is either composed of jadeite or nephrite and has immense importance in Chinese culture. After “mutton fat” or white nephrite, the second-most sought-after color of jade is green nephrite. The auction features a pair of Chinese dark green nephrite or “spinach jade” vases decorated with hand carvings. Also offered are white gold, diamond, emerald, and pearl jewelry items. Collectors can also find a selection of Chinese pamphlets, posters, paintings, silverware, and embroideries. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
American-Hungarian artist Pál Fried was known for his brushwork of female subjects, mostly dancers and nudes. Inspired by the French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Fried executed several portraits, nudes, and Parisian street scenes in pastel. His portrait of a woman in a pink dress is among the highlighted items in the upcoming Jewelers Vault auction, presented by Whitley’s Auctioneers.
The auction of 470 lots includes categories of Asian art, jewelry, fine art, and more. Featured is a 14-karat white gold chain necklace with inset diamonds. Another key lot is a set of 29 original black and white photographic plates and negatives taken by pioneering fashion photographer and photojournalist Martin Munkacsi. The lens of Munkasci captured sports, entertainment, politics, and street life from the 1920s and 1930s in Germany and Hungary. To find more information and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
Self-taught American jeweler David Webb is known for his bold statement pieces, including his dragon bracelets, animal motifs, and Maltese cross brooches. When Cartier’s creative director Jeanne Toussaint and designer Peter Lemarchand collaborated to create statement jewelry with animal motifs, Webb felt the impacts of the new trend. As Webb stated, “Everything was born from the influence of Toussaint, naturally she inspired all of us.” A gold and ruby cuff David Webb bracelet will be featured in the upcoming Jewels Online auction, offered by Sotheby’s. The gold cuff features two dolphin motifs, each with a cabochon ruby eye.
Other brands represented in this auction include Cartier, Bulgari, and Van Cleef & Arpels, among others. A Cartier Panthère ring is among the highlighted lots. The gold band features two panther motifs set with round diamonds. Notable items will also include a Bulgari, Vacheron & Constantin wristwatch in gold and blackened steel, as well as a Tambour Bijou Louis Vuitton watch in mother-of-pearl. Explore the full catalog and register to bid on Sotheby’s.
KAWS started his career as a street graffiti artist and later turned to the world of fine art. His expertise lies in paintings, murals, product design, and toy-making. However, the artist’s large-scale sculptures are particularly famous. The upcoming Urban Art Signature Auction, presented by Heritage Auctions, features several works from KAWS. These include an untitled acrylic painting and a sculpture of his recurring character, known as a Companion. The latter item is titled Dissected Companion and is made with fiber-reinforced plastic.
Featured in this auction is an untitled painting executed with ink and acrylic by contemporary artist Retna. Inventing a new script for his work, Retna combines his symbolic figures with Modernist lines. The available example of his art is made with blue paint, which drips down from the painted symbolic language. Also on display is a canvas from urban artist Mr. Brainwash. His work frequently explores cartoonish iconography and slogans. In the available piece, an ape sits on a CocaCola box while spray-painting a wall with the words “follow your dreams.” To find more items and register to bid, visit Heritage Auctions.
The upcoming book auction, offered by Morton Subastas, will present the collection of Don Lorenzo Zambrano. Perhaps best known as the CEO of Cemex, Zambrano was an engineer and philanthropist. His interests are evident in the auction, including books on the subject of luxury vehicles (Ferrari, Porsche, and Alfa Romeo, to name a few). One featured lot is a bound set of books comprising the contents of Road & Track Magazine from 1947 through 1998. Road & Track is an auto-enthusiast magazine that includes car reviews, racing news, industry trends, and more.
Offered in the sale are collecting books about modern and vintage wristwatches, including Rolex, Cartier, and Patek Philippe. There are also works about fine wines, pre-Incan textiles, the flora of Guatemala, and the birds of North America (as seen through the eyes of John James Audubon). Though there are several lots of just one or two items, many contain a set on one topic. View any of these lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
