American artist David Wojnarowicz was famous for his paintings, books, and photography skills. Wojnarowicz (1954 – 1992), was one of the most prominent figures in the New York City art world of the 1980s. He was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, where he spent much of his childhood. Largely self-taught, the artist adopted various techniques and was influenced by Surrealism, science fiction, comic strips, and mass advertising. An untitled artwork by Wojnarowicz is one of the key highlights of this upcoming auction from Swann Auction Galleries. This stencil and spray paint on newsprint work shows a burning house with a camouflage plane. It comes with a pencil drawing of a seated male.
My House III, a noteworthy color screenprint on matte custom art paper by Christopher Wool, also leads the catalog. This piece is signed, dated, and numbered 67/100 in pencil on the lower right. Wool was born in 1955 in Chicago and now lives and works in New York City and Marfa, Texas. The artist is known for his paintings of large, black, stenciled letters on white canvases. Wool uses spray painting, hand painting, and screen-printing to render his artworks. The auction also offers posters, records, photographs, fine art, autographs, books, and ephemera. Visit Swann Auction Galleries to view the complete catalog and register to bid in The Subculture Sale.
A Philadelphia Chippendale mahogany three-part desk and bookcase dating back to 1775 is one of the featured lots in this upcoming auction, presented by Pook & Pook, Inc. The bookcase is attributed to American master carver Martin Jugiez (1762 – 1815). It has a broken arch with scrolled fretwork centering a bust of renowned historian and poet John Milton. According to the auction house, only one other similar Philadelphia desk and bookcase with a bust of Milton is known to exist.
A northwest European brass Three Kings candlestick from the 15th century is another notable lot. This antique piece has a double-knop threaded shaft supporting a whirling double arm with two solid pierced candle cups. Practically designed, the drip pan is sufficient enough to shield one’s hand from melting wax. Collectors can also consider a 1760 Philadelphia Chippendale carved mahogany dressing table. It is characterized by intricately carved shell drawers, aprons, and knees terminating in ball and claw feet. Other highlights from the two-day sale include a 16th-century German brass Gothic candlestick, a rare set of four English wool on linen crewelwork curtains, and an English school oil on panel depicting a noble young girl. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming 100 Years: The Kindig Collection – Session One sale, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
![[Presidential] [Jefferson, Thomas] The Works of Aeschylus](https://auctiondaily-prod.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/01/Presidential-Jefferson-Thomas-The-Works-of-Aeschylus.webp)
Freeman’s | Hindman will soon present its February 6 Books and Manuscripts sale, which features a seven-volume set of The Works of Aeschylus from the personal library of Thomas Jefferson. This volume comes from Jefferson’s final book collection, deemed his “Retirement Library,” before he died in 1826. This was “a collection for myself of such as may amuse my hours of reading,” as described by Jefferson to David Warden in 1815. The Works of Aeschylus was put together primarily for Jefferson’s pleasure and was comprised of works and editions from authors that Jefferson held in the highest regard. Aeschylus is the father of the Greek tragedy. His surviving plays lend an understanding of earlier Greek tragedy. He was likely the first dramatist to present plays as a trilogy.
Collectors of early Americana can appreciate a beautiful and scarce copy of Peter Force’s Declaration of Independence in the auction. In 1823, to commemorate the approaching 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams commissioned William J. Stone to create an exact copy of the original document. Stone spent three years copying the original document to a copperplate. A decade later in 1833, Peter Force, a printer, archivist, and mayor of Washington, D.C., was commissioned by Congress to create a history of the United States. Force scoured the country, collecting America’s colonial origins and the foundation of the Federal government. He found the original copperplate with which the available scarce copy was printed. Additional highlights include Isaac Leeser’s The Law of God, the first Jewish translation of the Torah into English; a handsome first edition of John Gould’s Monograph of the Odontophorinae, or Partridges of America; and a striking mid-19th-century Russian album of original illustrations depicting the peoples of the Russian empire. View the catalog of Books and Manuscripts auction by visiting Freeman’s | Hindman.
The upcoming Art and Design sale from Freeman’s | Hindman will particularly highlight two notable sculptures from 20th-century artists Paul Evans and Harry Bertoia. Available from Evans is a 1972 painted, gilded, and patinated steel wall panel sculpture. Known for his distinct metal-sculpted furniture, Evans spent much of his career in New Hope, Pennsylvania, where he lived near renowned woodworker George Nakashima. His furniture items and wall sculptures embraced technology while creating a bridge to the Arts and Crafts style. The available wall panel features small shadow-style boxes that each contain a sculpted, abstract object.
Harry Bertoia is represented in this auction with an untitled Sonambient sculpture created after 1969. Made of beryllium copper and bronze, this work is composed of 25 hin rods arranged in a five-by-five layout. Bertoia started his career by creating Modernist furniture before gradually shifting his focus to sculpture. He developed his signature “sounding sculptures” on accident, when a wire he was working with snapped in half and made a sound. Bertoia began placing these wires together in grid-like patterns that would create sound with the wind or a person’s touch. Beyond sculpture, this Art and Design sale features a selection of paintings, including Tom Uttech’s 1986 landscape painting titled Kashabowie Lake and a lakeside scene by March Avery. To view the full Art and Design catalog and register to bid, visit Freeman’s | Hindman.
Toi et moi style rings became popular during the Art Nouveau and Edwardian periods (late 19th to early 20th centuries). The ring symbolized everlasting romantic love and represented the deep connection and commitment between two people. Often exchanged as keepsakes of affection, this type of ring is designed with two diamonds or gemstones fashioned side by side. The settings range from bezel and simple prong to elaborate designs. A toi et moi platinum ring, set with two old European-cut diamonds, is a key highlight of the upcoming Rago sale. Each diamond measures approximately 2.88 carats and 2.81 carats, respectively. The ring also features a platinum band studded with old European-cut diamond shoulders. Another striking piece is a rare Bulgari 18-karat yellow gold and cameo choker necklace. It is styled with a removable pendant and an agate cameo of a male profile on obverse. The reverse is engraved ‘Agate XIXth Century.’
Also on offer is Michael Manthey’s Conflict Resolution earrings set, which is composed of sterling silver and a triangular-cut cubic zirconia with a cut-out roots design. Manthey was known as the ‘Jewelry Alchemist’ and took to professional designing while recovering from his broken neck injury. Visit Rago to view the complete auction catalog and register to bid in the upcoming Jewels sale.
A first-edition set of Edward Emerson Barnard’s scientifically advanced and visually spectacular Atlas of the Milky Way will soon be auctioned by Christie’s. A prominent observational astronomer of the 19th and 20th centuries, Barnard’s atlas in two volumes marks a significant milestone in astrophotography. It was completed and published after Barnard’s death in 1924. Due to the limited number of prints (700 copies) made in 1927, mainly for scientific libraries, this rendering of the atlas takes on a greater prominence. Photographs, descriptive text, charts, and data accompanied these volumes, providing an abundance of information about the Milky Way. The mosaic of 51 photographs included in this atlas continues to be useful for the study of the star clouds, open clusters, and the Milky Way, particularly Barnard dark clouds.
A rare copy of Erhard Ratdolt’s Euclid’s Elements is another notable lot in the sale. A German printer, Ratdolt lived and worked in Venice from 1476 to 1486. Euclid’s Elements, a seminal work by Euclid, was published for the first time in May 1482 by Ratdolt’s workshop. The first printed edition included over 400 geometrical figures, which was the first comprehensive collection of its kind. Bidders can also consider a copy of the first Italian translation of Euclid’s Elements. Also of note in this auction is John Lindley’s The Pomological Magazine, complete with illustrations and descriptions of British fruit varieties. View the full catalog of the Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts including the Americana auction by visiting Christie’s.
An Allan Ramsay portrait of Willielma Campbell (1741 – 1786), one of the most prolific benefactors and evangelical activists in 18th-century Scotland, is a leading lot in this Sotheby’s auction. The Elegance & Wonder: The Jordan Saunders Collection event will offer more than 300 pieces of decorative art, dining and tableware, lighting, furniture, rugs, and more. The featured portrait by Allan Ramsay captured his subject’s demeanor on the occasion of her 1761 nuptials to John Campbell (1738 – 1771), Viscount Glenorchy. Willielma Campbell circulated in elite Edinburgh society, where she met the Viscount through her stepfather, Lord Charles Erskine Tinwald (1680 – 1763), a prominent judge. Her wedding facilitated Willielma’s entrance “into the pomp and splendor of high life,” an event commemorated by this refined painting with an elaborate frame. Ramsay’s masterful ability to render a range of surface textures and materials, including pearls, silver and pink thread, and intricate lacework is showcased in this portrait.
The Elegance & Wonder auction celebrates the interiors created by the collector and philanthropist Jordan Saunders in her Park Avenue penthouse triplex. Her collection of Old Master paintings is currently on loan to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Classic English and European furniture formerly belonging to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor will be available. Among these is a small table attributed to André-Charles Boulle. Cabinetmaker to Louis XIV, André-Charles Boulle (1648 – 1732) was renowned for perfecting the technique of brass and tortoiseshell marquetry that came to bear his name. Boulle also popularized and possibly invented two of the most iconic types of French furniture: the commode with drawers and the bureau plat in the form of a writing desk. View the full Elegance & Wonder: The Jordan Saunders Collection catalog by visiting Sotheby’s.
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.
