The upcoming Online Only Coins & Jewelry auction, offered by Pook & Pook, Inc, will include an example of the Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch case. Designed by Rolex in 1926, the Oyster is made of ten parts and is screwed onto the watch case. Rolex added the waterproof winding crown to protect the insides of the watch from outside elements.
The auction also features a variety of coin pieces, including an 1851 Humbert gold slug. This fifty-dollar gold coin, commonly known as a slug, was produced in San Francisco. On the front of the octagonal coin is an eagle resting upon a rock. The bird carries an olive branch and arrows in its claws. Within the circle is text reading: “United States of America Fifty Dolls.” Beyond coins, this auction will also present jewelry items. Featured is an 18-karat gold ring with three old European-cut diamonds in the center. Pocketwatches, writing instruments, brooches, and bracelets will also be offered. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
The Online Only Decorative Arts auction, presented by Pook & Pook, features pieces ranging from armoires to ethnographic art. Among the key lots is a Pennsylvania hard pine schrank. Popular in the 18th century, schranks were a type of armoire that typically held clothing and bedroom linens. One of their distinct features was a quick assembly and disassembly, in case of frequent moving. Pook & Pook notes that there are some non-period parts of this schrank.
Another decorative piece featured in this auction is a 19th-century jelly cupboard. A term originating in the Midwest, a jelly cupboard is a kitchen storage unit with two drawers and two doors. The piece retains its original blue paint with some wear. Those interested in other household items can consider a sterling silver tea service, which comes with a plated tray. Representing ethnographic art in this event is a Southeast Asian carved stone stele. View each of the mentioned lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
American gold certificates were banned in 1934 after President Franklin D. Roosevelt imposed Executive Order 6102, signed on April 5, 1933. This forbade the hoarding of gold certificates and gold coins in the continental United States. A limited series of 1934 gold certificates were issued for intra-governmental transfers, the $10,000 bill being the largest valued paper currency circulated in the U.S. Today, there are approximately 215 surviving Federal Reserve $10,000 notes from the 1934 series. The upcoming U.S. Currency Auction, offered by , offers one of these notes. The available piece was never circulated, thus retaining its original crisp and overall quality. Also offered from the 1934 series is a $5,000 MS-63 uncirculated note.
Another highlight is an 1882 $5 brown back bill from the Bank of Columbia in South Carolina. The serial numbers printed on the back of these notes indicate the date when the bank opened. The back of the featured lot bears the signature of James Woodrow, the uncle of President Woodrow Wilson. The auction also showcases Confederate and Continental currency from several U.S. states, including uncut notes and a third quarterly edition of the Hodges’ 1858 New Bank Note Safe-Guard. Interested collectors can view the complete listings and register to bid online on Stack’s Bowers Galleries.
Horologist Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin was looking for clockmaking books when he happened to receive two volumes on magic. When Robert-Houdin began to develop various magic tricks, his horology experiments with glass helped create clocks with hidden mechanisms. These clocks developed by Robert-Houdin inspired Cartier’s “mystery clocks,” created by Maurice Coüet in 1912. Shapiro Auctions presents a 1970 Cartier citrine, onyx, chrysoprase, silver, and diamond “mystery clock” in the upcoming Global Fine Art & Antiques auction.
Also offered are works from Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu, Mariano Andreu, and Andrea Marchisio. An oil on canvas piece titled Women at the Market by Modernist painter Leopold Gottlieb is notable. Gottlieb’s work went through multiple changes over time, from Polish portraits with modulated color patches and liquid borders to biblical scenes in greens and reddish browns. The offered painting exhibits Gottlieb’s mature style of the 1920s, depicting people engaged in daily activities. Diamond jewelry by Van Cleef & Arpels, a Galle Cameo glass three-light table lamp, and an Italian Renaissance-style Pietra Dura table will also be available. Interested collectors can explore the entire listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
When the United States raised the cost of European silver imports during the 1840s, John Gorham, of Gorham Silver, saw an opportunity for domestic growth. Less than 20 years later, he was accepting commissions from Mary Todd Lincoln, the First Lady of the United States. A Gorham sterling silver flatware service is among the highlighted lots in the March Decorative Arts and Antique Auction, presented by Neue Auctions. The 139-piece set includes both dinner and cocktail forks, a cake server, and other items. Together, they are stored in a mahogany case.
Another kitchen piece featured in this auction is a Georg Jensen sterling five-piece coffee service. This set includes both a coffee pot and a teapot, along with containers for sugar, cream, and hot milk. Each piece has a carved handle and scrolled paw feet. While the company is known for its ornamental style, collaborating designers such as Johan Rohde began producing Modernist pieces during the early 20th century. The style quickly gained popularity and was later expanded by Georg Jensen.
Beyond the kitchen, bidders will also find several pieces of jewelry. These include a diamond engagement ring in 14-karat white gold. Also available is a sapphire and diamond ring. The center sapphire stone is flanked on both sides by diamonds. Like the previous piece, this ring is also set in white gold. Those interested in this or any other lot can register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Birkin handmade tote bags were first introduced in the 1980s by Hermès, the French luxury brand. A turquoise leather Birkin bag by Hermès is a highlight of the upcoming Spring Fashion and Accessories auction, to be presented by Hindman. It is designed with silvertone hardware and includes a vinyl rain protector. The Birkin bag was named after English actress and singer Jane Birkin. In 1983, Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas was traveling by flight to London with the actress-singer seated next to him. Birkin mentioned to Dumas that she hadn’t been able to find a suitable leather weekend bag. The following year, Dumas created a black leather bag for her and the line was named “Birkin.”
Another highlight is a Mariano Fortuny peplos dress belonging to the early 20th century. The pink silk pleated dress has a satin pull cord at the neckline, as well as hand-painted Venetian glass beads. The method of pleating used to create this dress remains unknown. Another interesting lot is a collection of designer costume jewelry from the 1960s to the early 2000s. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Hindman.
New Haven Auctions presents items from both established and rising artists in the upcoming Online Discovery Auction. The sale also offers silver, jewelry, Asian works of art, and ethnographic art. One featured lot is a set of 11 painted folk art gameboards, each with varying designs and game formations. This collection, from the 19th and early 20th centuries, uses various colors on the boards.
Of the available artworks, two signed enamel and porcelain on copper pieces stand out. The works illustrate two floating women wearing white dresses; one holds flowers and the other holds a box of jewelry. The auction also features an array of Native American handmade items, including a vintage beadwork lot. Included in this set is a beaded turtle amulet, a pair of beaded moccasins, and more. View all of these items and register to bid on Bidsquare.
Scholar’s rocks, which first emerged during the Tang Dynasty, have long been appreciated by Chinese academics. These rocks were often prized for their resemblance to mountains and caves, as well as birds, human figures, and mythical creatures. The upcoming auction, to be presented by Bonhams, will feature a 22-inch scholar’s rock on a custom stand. The auction also showcases a vivid pink spinel. Until the 19th century, spinel stones mined in Tajikistan were commonly mislabeled as rubies due to their deep red coloration.
A large blue star sapphire is also highlighted in the sale. Blue star sapphires exhibit a star-like phenomenon under natural light. Also available is a bullseye malachite box, associated with success in trade and longevity. Malachite bullseyes are created by slicing a stalactite to reveal its interior pattern. Collectors can also view vases, tables, jewelry, and more in this event. Browse the entire catalog and register to bid online on Bonhams.
Shades of opaque pink and carmine distinguish famille rose wares in Chinese pottery. The colors were originally foreign in China and were introduced from Europe around the 16th century. Famille rose gained popularity during the Qing Dynasty. A pair of famille rose round plaques is among the featured items in the upcoming Asian Decorative Arts sale, presented by Oakridge Auction Gallery.
Jade, considered an imperial gem in China, is also highlighted in the auction. Jade symbolizes goodness, preciousness, and beauty in Chinese culture. A silver box with eight jade square plaques from the Ming dynasty is a featured lot. The jade plaques depict dragons among Ruyi and floral tracery. A white jade belt buckle with a carved chilong (hornless dragon) will also be available. The hook is shaped like a dragon head.
Two items from the 19th century will be on offer as well: a wooden tray with a blue phoenix, butterflies, and flowers, and a sculpture of the Budai in turquoise robes. In folklore, the smiling Shiwan kiln Budai is admired for his happy nature and wisdom of contentment. Completing the auction is a terracotta red Yixing teapot dating to the Republic period. To view these and similar items, visit Bidsquare.
After producing a string of horror movies that found success in the box office, including Dracula (1931) and Frankenstein (1931), Universal Pictures greenlit an adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel The Invisible Man. An original ‘style-B’ one-sheet poster for The Invisible Man (1933) is among the featured items in the upcoming Movie Posters event, offered by Heritage Auctions. Designed by Universal Pictures art director Karoly Grosz, the poster introduces the titular character to moviegoers in the haze of a bubbling test tube. The Invisible Man soon joined Universal Pictures’ recurring villains, which included the Mummy and Frankenstein’s Monster.
A lobby card for the 1931 adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is also available in this auction. The card depicts Frankenstein’s Monster ripping through the card and reaching out to the viewer. Bela Lugosi, who played Dracula for Universal Pictures the same year, was originally chosen to play Frankenstein’s Monster in this production. However, he believed the monster had too few lines and declined the role. Instead, it is Boris Karloff’s depiction of the character that appears on this card.
Also featured is a six-sheet advertisement for The Jazz Singer (1927). Heritage notes that the available lot is the only known example of the ad. The Jazz Singer was the first feature-length sound film, which ended the silent-film era with its first spoken line: “Wait a minute, wait a minute, you ain’t heard nothin’ yet!”
Bidders can also consider the movie poster for Clint Eastwood’s A Fistful of Dollars (1967). The poster was designed by Fred Otnes, who was also known for his collage work. Otnes’ artistic background can be seen in the Dollars poster with overlapping images from the movie’s various scenes. Those interested in this or any other piece can register to bid on the Heritage Auctions website.
