This February, Julien’s Auctions will present the annual MusiCares Charity Relief Auction to coincide with the 2024 Grammy Awards show. The catalog includes items personally donated by artists such as Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Paul McCartney, and Christine McVie. Proceeds from this event will support a relief fund that assists the music community with physical, mental health, and substance use needs, as well as emergency and disaster relief. Among the top lots of the catalog is a Yamaha C3 baby grand piano used extensively by Christine McVie while on tour with Fleetwood Mac. The keyboardist and vocalist played this piano while performing the track “Songbird” from 1977’s Rumours, which the band often played at the end of concerts. It comes to auction with a Fleetwood Mac concert DVD from 1997.
Several signed guitars will also be available in this year’s MusiCares Relief Auction. These include a signed Gibson Custom Shop guitar signed by the Eagles’ Don Felder. This is a limited edition 2010 re-issue of the iconic 1959 Les Paul Standard guitar. The auction lot includes a copy of the guitar sheet music for the Eagles’ hit song “Hotel California,” signed by Felder. Guitars signed by James Hetfield of Metallica, Slash of Guns N’ Roses, and Taylor Swift are on offer as well. Rounding out the sale is a selection of collectible couture, ranging from a gold sequin jacket worn on stage by Lionel Richie to a full-body gold “illusion” catsuit worn by Dua Lipa while on tour. Visit Julien’s Auctions’ website for more information on the MusiCares Charity Relief Auction and to register to bid.
Salvador Dalí was a Spanish artist and printmaker famous for his Surrealist paintings. One of the most prolific artists of the 20th century, Dalí was born into a middle-class family. He completed his formal education in fine arts in Madrid and effortlessly experimented with different art movements during his career. This includes Impressionism, Futurism, Cubism, Pointillism, and Neo-Cubism. He also created illustrations, lithographs, drawings, and more. The upcoming Robinhood Auctions sale will feature an original lithograph by Salvador Dalí, titled Damis and Durval. This hand-signed lot comes with a certificate of authenticity. A collection of marine-themed paintings by acclaimed artist Robert Wyland will be available as well. A particularly striking lot is Wyland’s original painting on canvas titled Whale Tale.
A bronze sculpture titled Twilight by artist Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) also leads the listings. It portrays an elegant Art Deco woman dressed in a flowing white and pink gown. Romain de Tirtoff (1892 – 1990), popularly known as Erté, was a Russian-born French artist and designer. Born in St. Petersburg, he was famous for his illustrations and drawings of figures decked in dreamy and colorful costumes. Artworks by leading modern and contemporary artists including Pablo Picasso, Mr. Brainwash, Peter Max, and Tom Everhart are on offer as well. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming Winter Modern and Contemporary Art auction, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
A pair of Tiffany & Co. sterling silver antique floral compote trays is among the leading lots of SJ Auctioneers’ upcoming Finds of Toys, Silverware, Collectibles sale. Each measuring 3.5 inches high and eight inches wide, these trays feature radiating lines and a delicate floral motif around their rims. On the base of each piece is a pattern number, order number, and maker’s mark, as well as a small “M” stamp, suggesting that these compote trays were produced under the directorship of John C. Moore II. Another notable sterling silver lot in the catalog is an antique floral repoussé butter dish from S. Kirk & Son. This elaborately-decorated piece dates back to the mid-19th century and includes bird motifs within the flower-and-leaf pattern.
Bidders interested in collectibles can consider a variety of lots in this sale, including a signed crouching tiger crystal figurine from Baccarat and a set of four Lalique crystal fish figurines. The offered Baccarat tiger comes to auction with its original box. A rare Chilmark pewter statue featuring the Disney characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse is available as well. The pair are shown riding a motorcycle at full speed along a cobblestone street. This statue comes from a limited edition of 950. Additional lots of interest include a vintage GI Joe doll from 1964, a sterling silver John Wendt antique footed platter tray, a Mont Blanc fountain pen, and more. Visit LiveAuctioneers to view the complete Finds of Toys, Silverware, Collectibles auction catalog and register to bid.
Armand Pierre Fernandez, better known as Arman, was renowned for crafting unusual sculptures from discarded objects. Influenced by the Dada movement, the artist displayed a mix of garbage in glass boxes called “Poubelles” (“trash cans”). He was also connected to Nouveau Réalisme, a European movement created in response to American Pop art. He adopted an unconventional destruction strategy by slicing, burning, and smashing objects and then mounting fragments on canvas. Venus Hairspray (1997), one such bronze sculpture by the artist, is a key highlight of the upcoming auction from Wright. Starting with a classical female form, he slices and reassembles it into a three-dimensional collage. The artist’s deconstructive approach directs the viewer to explore a distinct abstract perspective.
Contemporary artist Shannon Finley’s oil on canvas painting titled Rhombus (Cat) is another noteworthy artwork in the sale. It’s an enigmatic kaleidoscope of striking colors, building an illusion. Inspired by Op Art, Finley constructs his own rubric expression. An oil and ink on paper collage by Barry McGee also leads the listings. Acclaimed for graffiti art, the American artist uses elements of caricature and sign art in this painting. Visit Wright to view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming 20|21 Art: The Chicago Edition sale.
The Braddock expedition, a British military expedition, was carried out in 1755 to capture Fort Duquesne from the French. Native American and French warriors from Fort Duquesne defeated the British forces. The expedition was named after General Edward Braddock (1695 – 1755), who led the British forces and died in the effort. A fine, contemporary manuscript map of General Edward Braddock’s route towards Fort Duquesne, at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in the Ohio Country, is a key highlight of the upcoming Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana auction, presented by Sotheby’s. According to the auction house, the detailed map has been lost for nearly a century and has never before been published or closely studied.
A full set of The Great and Small Voyages written by Johann Theodor de Bry is also available. Engraver and goldsmith Theodor de Bry was born in 1528 in Liège, Belgium. Born into a family of copper plate engravers, de Bry often depicted early European voyages to the Americas in his engravings. The set also includes Parts XII and XIII of the Great Voyages and Parts XI and XII of the Small Voyages, and the Appendix of the Small Voyages, making it an exceedingly rare lot. An important letter from President Abraham Lincoln to General Halleck regarding military strategy, another from President John Quincy Adams to fellow politician Ambrose Spencer, and four volumes of The Gazette of the United States stand out as well. Visit Sotheby’s to view the complete Fine Manuscript and Printed Americana catalog and register to bid.
Christie’s January Old Masters Part I sale presents a wide range of artworks spanning six centuries of artistic creation. Among the top lots is a painting by Frans Francken II titled The Adoration of the Shepherds, depicting shepherds honoring the newborn Christ in the Gospel of Luke. Over the 16th and 17th centuries, genre painting grew in popularity due primarily to pastoral scenes inspired by this theme. Frans Francken was known for landscapes, genre paintings, and historical portraiture. The available painting depicts a wintry sky with a plain background, and the greenish-brown strokes define barren hills. This rare painting is signed and dated.
Another notable lot in this upcoming sale is a 1565 work by Pieter Brueghel II. Titled Summer: The Harvesters, the painting is part of a six-piece series depicting the seasons and commissioned by a merchant from Antwerp. The paintings of Bruegel are characterized by comic pathos. The Harvesters depicts the heat of summer in the Netherlands during harvest time. Country life is organized and dominated by the landscape despite the prominence of the figures. In his artwork, Bruegel represented the everyday people of society as part of the humanist movement. An attribution certificate from Klaus Ertz, dated 23 August 2010, accompanies this painting. Bidders can also consider paintings by Michele Marieschi and Giandomenico Tiepolo, as well as works by Jan Both and Corrado Giaquinto. Visit Christie’s website for more information on the upcoming Old Masters sale and to register to bid.
American artist Thomas Hart Benton was well known for his paintings, mural art, and printmaking skills. Leading the Regionalist art movement, Benton was associated with the Midwestern United States, which he called home for a significant part of his lifetime. He also traveled across the country, creating ink wash drawings and sketches of his observations. Three artworks by Benton are key highlights of the upcoming auction from Swann Auction Galleries. These include a rare lithograph titled Running Horses that portrays horses galloping alongside a steam engine. The artist often portrayed the animal as a main subject in his works.
Drafting, a noteworthy oil painting on thin board executed with a palette knife by Claude Clark, also leads the catalog. The American artist painted this unusual image of an Black American architect/student soon after enrolling at the Pennsylvania School of Industrial Arts. The printmaker and art educator explored the Black American diaspora through street life, landscapes, and dance scenes. Robert Gwathmey’s Flower Freshness is another key oil work in the auction. Gwathmey was famous for using such symbolic abstraction to convey his unique perspective. Visit Swann Auction Galleries to view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming The Artists of the WPA sale.
This upcoming auction from Doyle features a wide range of sculpture, English and Continental silver, Fabergé items, and other collectibles. Leading the catalog is a signed bronze sculpture by Mark Antokolsky. This work depicts the mythical demon named Mephistopheles, who figures prominently in the Faust legend as the Devil’s representative. Antokolsky, a prominent Russian sculptor of the late 19th century, developed his version of Mephistopheles to serve as a foil for a Christ sculpture that he was working on around the same period. “My Mephistopheles is the product of all ages, especially our age. My Mephistopheles is mystery, plague, decay, which is carried in the air; it infects and kills people,” Antokolsky wrote in 1883. The demon appears in a pensive, thoughtful pose in this sculpture with his chin and both hands resting on a knee.
Fabergé items in the catalog include a 1903-04 cigarette case from the famed Russian company. The case is crafted in jeweled gold and guilloché pink enamel. The front features the engraved image of a basket suspended from a ribbon, surrounded by leafy branches. Assorted silver and tableware will be available as well, ranging from a silver-gilt cloisonné enamel cup and saucer set to an Italian sterling silver tea and coffee service. Bidders can also consider Russian religious icons, cut glass vases, and more. Visit Doyle’s website to view the full Fabergé & Vertu / English & Continental Silver catalog and register to bid.
In Revere Auctions’ first sale of 2024, a selection of luxury jewelry will be presented alongside assorted paintings, prints, multiples, coins, and more. Leading the catalog is an acrylic on birch plywood painting by Sam Gilliam. This abstract composition was executed in 2000 and includes a three-dimensional painted wedge jutting out from the lower right corner. Gilliam was a renowned American Color Field painter who resisted popular trends in favor of pursuing his own artistic vision. He was best known for his Drape paintings, which were vast pieces of loose canvas covered in swirls and splatters; they could be freely hung from walls, ceilings, or even over other objects on the floor. The offered work by the artist includes his signature and a handwritten title on the back.
Additional fine artworks of note in the catalog include an offset lithograph and screenprint by Frank Stella titled Polar Co-ordinates II from the series titled Polar Co-ordinates for Ronnie Peterson. This piece depicts circular bands of color on a rotated, seemingly interlocked grid. Stella created this work to honor Ronnie Peterson, the Swedish racing driver who fatally crashed during the 1978 Italian Grand Prix. Stella was friends with Peterson and was working on this series at the time of the latter’s death. Bidders can also consider assorted lithographs and prints, including a piece by Robert Cottingham depicting a neon sign reading “Roxy Arcade” from 2002. An 1894 twenty-dollar gold Liberty Head double eagle coin, a “Grand Baroque” sterling silver flatware set, and fountain pen sets are on offer as well. Visit Bidsquare to browse the full January Jewels: Fine Art & Luxury Goods sale catalog and find other online auctions.
In its first two-day sale of 2024, Nye & Co. will present a variety of Silver, Fine Art, Maps, and estate collections of folk art. Leading the catalog is an engraved world map by Petrus Plancius. A distinguished cartographer of his generation, Plancius served as the Dutch East India Company’s first geographer. The map contains new information on the search for a route from the northeast through Russia into the Far East, partly taken from English sources. Furthermore, the map significantly improves the delineation of far eastern regions such as Japan and Korea, with New Guinea depicted as part of “Terra Australis,” based on Portuguese manuscripts. Its engraving was done by Jan van Doetecum, whose signature appears at the lower left corner of many of Plancius’ maps.
Another leading lot of the sale is a Chippendale mahogany and marble top pier table. Dating back to the mid- to late-18th century, this table has descended through the famed Ludlow, Powell, and Ramsdell families of New York. Also available from Chippendale is a carved walnut chest that stands over seven feet tall. Rounding out the catalog is a selection of parquetry furniture with inlaid panels, walking sticks, and canes. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete January 24th, 2024 Collectors’ Passion auction and find other online auctions.
