The 20th century witnessed rapid changes in furniture design as favor shifted from Art Nouveau to Art Deco, Modernism, Scandinavian, and beyond. Notable for its embrace of fresh materials such as steel, glass, and plastic, the furniture of this era offers a window into shifting tastes and values.
The upcoming fall event from Palm Beach Modern Auctions will particularly highlight furniture items from such prominent 20th-century and contemporary designers as Fernando and Humberto Campana, Paul Evans, and Mira Nakashima. Auction Daily examined some of the top furniture lots in this upcoming event.
Large Fernando & Humberto Campana BOA sofa/daybed. Image courtesy of Palm Beach Modern Auctions.
Fernando & Humberto Campana
Brazilian brothers and furniture designers Humberto and Fernando Campana rose to prominence in the 1980s and 90s for their colorful and exuberant pieces. The brothers have pushed the boundaries of furniture, often mixing their designs with other disciplines, including architecture, decorative art, housewares, sculpture, and more. Elevating Brazilian culture is a central aspect of the Campana brothers’ work. The brothers have cited their deep connection to their homeland as a source of inspiration that often manifests in bright colors and unexpected combinations. “The ugliness that is Brazil, with its mix of everything inhabiting the same place,” Fernando Campana said in a 2008 interview for Bombmagazine. “It forces you to see beauty where beauty doesn’t exist.”
The upcoming Palm Beach Modern Auctions event will highlight a large Fernando and Humberto Campana sofa/daybed composed of polyurethane, feathers, and velvet (lot #269; estimate: USD 12,000 – $18,000). This purple-hued piece is composed of braided pieces, interlaced to create a soft, organic form.
Paul Evans & Phillip Lloyd Powell dining/center hall table. Image courtesy of Palm Beach Modern Auctions.
Paul Evans & Phillip Lloyd Powell
Other key 20th-century designers with work in the catalog include Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd Powell. Both Evans and Powell were Pennsylvania furniture craftsmen whose output briefly overlapped while they shared a workshop in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Phillip Lloyd Powell was known for his cabinets and use of unusual materials; he frequently incorporated paintings and found objects into his pieces. Paul Evans was more widely recognized for his custom furniture pieces, which continue to fetch high prices at auction today.
A dining/center hall table from Evans and Powell will be available in this Palm Beach Modern Auctions event (lot #118; estimate: $9,000 – $12,000). Made of bronze, walnut, and marble, this table stands just over 25 inches high and 48 inches wide.
Mira Nakashima lamp. Image courtesy of Palm Beach Modern Auctions.
Mira Nakashima
Another designer of note who is represented in this sale is Mira Nakashima, the daughter of George Nakashima. After George Nakashima’s death in 1990, she carried on the family legacy of woodworking and continued to fill orders through her father’s company. In addition to this work, Mira Nakashima has established a reputation as an innovative designer in her own right. Her works are known for employing unusual woods and embracing natural curvature.
A Mira Nakashima lamp will come up for bid in this event (lot #114; estimate: $7,000 – $9,000). It is formed of Manzanita burl, holly, and rosewood with a parchment shade. It is signed by Mira Nakashima and bears the name of the original owner on the bottom.
Patrick Naggar Borealis coffee table. Image courtesy of Palm Beach Modern Auctions.
Patrick Naggar
An artist, architect, and designer, Patrick Naggar has been a force in French design since the 1980s. His work tends to juxtapose materials and design elements that might not otherwise be paired. “I am not driven by mere form and style; I try to connect my deep interest in ancient cultures and science to my work,” the artist told Galerie magazine in 2021. “They might seem disparate but I try to bring those realms into the pieces I design, in addition to being practical and useful.”
Palm Beach Modern Auctions will offer Naggar’s Borealis coffee table in this upcoming auction (lot #6; estimate: $3,000 – $5,000). Manufactured and first exhibited by Ralph Pucci International, this work is made of lacquered and bronze-finished polymer. A striking, flat circle supports one end of the table, contrasting with the rectangular elements in the rest of the piece.
Palm Beach Modern Auctions’ Modern + Contemporary Art, Design & Luxury sale will take place on October 26, 2024. Bidding will begin live at 12:00 PM EDT, with online viewing and participation options available through Bidsquare. Find additional coverage of this and other sales on Auction Daily.
This October, Palm Beach Modern Auctions will present its Modern + Contemporary Art, Design & Luxury – Fall 2024 sale with over 400 lots of fine art, decorative art, furniture, jewelry, and more. The event will begin at 12:00 PM EDT on Oct 26, 2024, with online bidding available through Bidsquare.
Large James Rosenquist SUN SETS… Print, 78″H
Leading this auction is James Rosenquist’s Sun Sets on the Time Zone, alithographic collage that is available in a framed plexiglass glazing (lot #23; estimate: USD 4,000 – USD 6,000). Known for his use of sign painting techniques, James Rosenquist created paintings that reminded viewers of American advertisements. Rosenquist’s artwork has demonstrated a deep understanding of color, line, texture, and shape, influencing subsequent generations of artists. As a result, his paintings reflect the political and cultural climate of the time they were created. The images convey perceptions about beauty, space, politics, advertising, and time. These “visual poems” struggle with words and are deeply emotional. The available piece Sun Sets on the Time Zone is part of the Welcome to the Water Planet series.
Roy Lichtenstein SALUTE TO AIRMAIL Bronze Sculpture
Another notable work in the catalog is a Chromium-plated copper multiple sculpture of Roy Lichtenstein’s Salute to Airmail from the edition of 50 (lot #20; estimate: USD 3,000 – USD 5,000). The artist was commissioned by the International Collectors Society of New York for a sculpture edition in honor of 50 years of US airmail (1968) and US international airmail (1969). There were 30 examples cast in three different metals from this edition, including this example.
Rolex GMT MASTER PEPSI Stainless Steel Watch
Collectors of luxury timepieces can consider a Rolex GMT Master Pepsi stainless steel wristwatch (lot #209; estimate: USD 6,000 – USD 8,000). Its signature blue and red bezel has earned the iconic luxury watches Rolex GMT-Master and GMT-Master II the nickname “Pepsi.” A popular model among Rolex collectors, the Rolex Pepsi is a perfect combination of style and functionality. The available timepiece features 39.5 mm (bezel), 29.5 mm (crystal), and 42.5 mm (including crown); with an inside circumference; of 7.75″ approx. and a total weight of 110.6 grams.
Another notable watch in the auction is a Cartier 18-karat yellow gold and stainless-steel Santos Ronde estate watch with an inside circumference of 6.5″ approx.,and atotal weight of 1.15″w; 47 grams. (lot #204; estimate: USD 2,000 – USD 3,000).
Other lots of interest in this sale include:
A bottle tiered mobile Chandelier by David Weeks (lot #7; estimate: USD 4,000 – USD 6,000)
An Edward Marshall Boehm Porcelain Zebra Figurine (lot #223; estimate: USD 500 – USD 700)
A Pair of Christian Liaigre Bouddha Club Chairs & Side Table (estimate: USD 2,500 – USD 3,500)
A David Yurman 18-karat Gold & Sterling Silver Estate Choker / Necklace (lot #166; estimate: USD 400 – USD 500)
In addition to fine and decorative arts, Palm Beach Modern Auctions offers a wide range of 20th-century furniture. Aside from helping clients develop collections, the auction house can also provide decorative accessories, merchandise, and select accent pieces.
This Modern + Contemporary Art, Design & Luxury – Fall 2024 sale will begin at 09:30 PM IST on Oct 26, 2024. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare. View the latest auction previews on Auction Daily.
This painting making its debut at auction, whose colors seem in joyous turmoil, was a gift from the Chinese master to Hugues Gall, former director of the Paris and Geneva opera houses. A gift from one Academy member to another…
Chu Teh-chun (1920-2014), Effervescence, 2006, oil on canvas signed, dated 2006, countersigned, titled and dated again on the back, 65 x 81 cm/25.6 x 31.9 in. Estimate: €80,000/120,000
An inscription on the back of the canvas reads “To my dear colleague Hugues Gall, as a token of friendship, Chu Teh-chun.” To the left of the inscription is the title, “Effervesence” (sic), the artist’s signature and a date, 2006. That year, the Franco-Chinese artist was made an Officer of the French National Order of Merit. He was also represented for the first time by the New York branch of the famous Marlborough Gallery, which presented several of his paintings. At nearly 90 years old, the artist was a celebrity, having exhibited in France, China and Taiwan. Above all, he had been a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts since 1997. It was at this venerable institution—he was its first member of Chinese origin—that he met the man to whom he gave this painting: Hugues Gall. The latter, who died last May, was a memorable Director of the Paris Opera, which he managed with a masterly hand from 1995 to 2004. He was elected a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 2002. Vice-president of the Nureyev Foundation, he was also a member of several boards, including those of the Château de Fontainebleau and the Musée des Impressionnismes de Giverny. After the deaths of these two men, ten years apart, this painting remains, a symbol of the friendship uniting these two impressive figures.
“His paintings are in harmony with the landscape, using both strong and soft colors, with flaming reds and fuchsias, earthy golds and yellows, sky blues and aquamarines.”
Color Blocks As heir to both the Western avant-garde and the Chinese scholarly tradition, Chu Teh-chun revolutionized the representation of landscapes and opened the way to a new kind of abstract painting. Although his work made huge strides starting in 1960, with an expressive vocabulary focusing on colored lines, it was only after the 1990s that these began to turn into planes and blocks of color. His paintings from the turn of the new millennium share a common characteristic: an open, atmospheric composition made up of large blocks and smaller patches of color, making play with light. Initially dark and monotonous, his palette became lighter, livelier and more brilliant. The brushstrokes became broader and more rapid, making the colors more transparent and watery, and sometimes creating dripping or running effects. “His use of wrist and gesture arises from the breathing of the universe, and his paintings are in harmony with the landscape, using both strong and soft colors, with flaming reds and fuchsias, earthy golds and yellows, sky blues and aquamarines,” wrote the famous art critic Pierre Cabane in 1993. That says it all.
A Pair of Tibetan Gilt Bronze Figures on Deer and Buffalo, 18th Century (Estimate: $4,000-6,000)
New York, NY – Lark Mason Associates is pleased to announce the upcoming auction of the esteemed Collection of James Greenfield, a distinguished editor, journalist, statesman, and avid world traveler. The collection is open for bidding on iGavelAuctions.com from October 17 through October 31, 2024.
Greenfield, known for his urbane and well-traveled lifestyle, began his illustrious multi-faceted career as a foreign correspondent for Time Magazine, covering the Korean War in the 1950s. His assignments led him to live in Hong Kong, India, Japan and Myanmar, sparking a lifelong fascination with Asia and its diverse cultures.
In 1967, Greenfield joined The New York Times overseeing international coverage, including the Vietnam War. His contributions were crucial to the paper’s Pulitzer Prize-winning publication of the Pentagon Papers, a secret Defense Department report on American involvement in Vietnam.
During his extensive travels across Asia, Greenfield forged close relationships with antique dealers in Hanoi’s back alleys, Hong Kong’s Hollywood Road, the sprawling markets of Bangkok, and Cambodia’s flea markets. With a keen and discerning eye, he unearthed small, unassuming objects that often turned out to be rare and extraordinary treasures. Collecting became a lifelong passion, a pursuit that paralleled his career in journalism and public service, which included a pivotal role in the Kennedy Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.
By the late 1960s, while working in London as a correspondent for The New York Times, Greenfield’s passion for collecting expanded to English furniture, paintings, and decorative objects discovered in the Cotswolds and Bath.
Upon returning to the United States, Greenfield continued his pursuit of art and antiques, frequenting regional auctions, tag sales, and small shops. His collection became a diverse showcase of Chinese ceramics, Southeast Asian bronzes, European bronze sculptures, and scientific instruments, many of which will be available in the upcoming iGavel Auctions sale.
Notable highlights from The Greenfield Collection include:
A Pair of Tibetan Gilt Bronze Figures on Deer and Buffalo, 18th Century (Estimate: $4,000-6,000)
A Chinese Huanghuali Table, Qing Dynasty (Estimate: $5,000-8,000)
Four Chinese Export Paintings, Interior Scenes, Gouache on Paper, Qing Dynasty (Estimate: $5,000-8,000)
Two Thai Bronze Buddha Heads (Estimate: $1,000-2,000)
Two Chinese Bronze Mirrors (Estimate: $1,500-2,000)
A Pair of Chinese Porcelain Lotus Form Libation Cups, Guangxu Mark and Period (Estimate: $4,000-6,000)
Paintings:
John Ferneley II (1815-1862), English School, Horse, Oil on Canvas (Estimate: $4,000-6,000)
Claude Lorraine Ferneley (1822-1892), English School, Hound and Horse, Oil on Canvas, signed Claude L. Ferneley and inscribed Melton Mowbray 1867 (Estimate: $1,500-2,000)
Decorative Objects:
A Chinese Export Armorial Porcelain Group with American Flag, including five tureens and three serving dishes, 19th and 20th Centuries (Estimate: $2,000-4,000)
Joseph Smith Brass Telescope and Stand, Royal Exchange, London, ca. 1820 (Estimate: $800-1,200)
New Celestial Globe, John and William Cary, London, 1816 (Estimate: $3,000-5,000)
A pair of Swedish Gilt and Painted Wood Armchairs, ca. 1790 (Estimate: $1,000-2,000)
“We are honored to present the Collection of James Greenfield,” says Lark Mason, founder and CEO of Lark Mason Associates and iGavel Auctions. “This auction offers a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire pieces with accessible estimates from the personal collection of a man who not only influenced history through journalism and public service but also cultivated a deep and lifelong passion for art and collecting.”
Other big winners: boxed Tremendous Mike robot, Buddy ‘L’ pressed-steel Tugboat, American National Packard Roadster pedal car, comical Distler Directional Policeman Car, and 1966 tin Batmobile
Marx Big Loo Charlene Prototype
WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – A comical German-made police car, pressed-steel rarities of the pre- and postwar era, and a robot that was pretty in pink were among the entries that landed in the top 10 at Milestone’s October 5 Premier Vintage Toy Auction. More than 700 high-quality lots from long-held collections took the spotlight at the company’s suburban-Cleveland gallery, with hundreds of phone and Internet competitors vying against in-person bidders to produce an exciting day of estimate-topping prices. After the hammer fell on the final lot, presiding auctioneer and Milestone Auctions co-owner Miles King confirmed that the sale had achieved a robust $861,000.
Even those with little knowledge of robots could have taken one look at “Charlene” – the auction’s top lot – and recognized that she was something quite special. A prototype made by Marx, the 38-inch-tall plastic robot was designed by Harry Evanhoff in 1963 as a “wife” for the legendary toy manufacturer’s male ’bot named Big Loo. Like her hubby, Charlene was designed with a green plastic body and cone-shaped head, but her eye-catching color scheme also included pink secondary and accent colors, red lips, and decidedly feminine lace and fishnet trim. She came to auction with a blue Louis Marx & Co., Glendale, West Virginia, sample tag that said 7650-X Loo and SEND GLENDALE/CHARLENE. Uniquely historical and with provenance from the Frank Bartzyel collection, the robot intended to be “Mrs Loo” sold for $21,600 against an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.
Following closely Charlene in the robot stakes was an ASC (Aoshin Shoten, Japan) tin windup Tremendous Mike Robot accompanied by its rare original box. All original, super-clean and complete – even including its easily-lost antenna – the highly desirable 10-inch robot commanded $19,065 against a pre-sale estimate of $8,000-$10,000.
Of all the vintage superhero toys favored by today’s collectors, few have enjoyed a winning streak in the secondary marketplace to rival that of Batman. The Caped Crusader packed a punch yet again on October 5th when a 1966 Bandai (Japan) battery-operated tin Batmobile glided across the auction block. In excellent condition and in working order, the 11-inch convertible with figures of Batman at the wheel and Robin in the passenger seat ended its run at $8,917, nearly four times its high estimate.
As predicted, American pressed steel made a strong showing at the auction. An elusive Buddy ‘L’ pressed-steel Tugboat, all original with vibrant red paint and intact decals, was a non-motorized version believed to have been intentionally produced that way at the fabled Buddy ‘L’ factory in East Moline, Illinois. A sizable 28 inches long and with provenance from the Fred Castan collection, it sold just shy of its high estimate at $19,680.
Oozing luxury, a rare American National Packard Roadster pedal car presented in all-original condition with rich cardinal-red paint. Milestone’s auction catalog described it as the only known example with electric headlights, leading to speculation that it might have been produced to show at the famed New York Toy Fair, where exhibitors since 1903 have typically brought their highest-quality, most-advanced examples. The Packard Roadster had a replaced battery holder but, for completeness, came with the original part, as well as a dry cell battery. A high bid in the range of $10,000-$15,000 had been anticipated, but the spiffy little convertible went the extra mile, reaching $16,605.
Another pressed-steel rarity, an all-original 27-inch-long Gendron Sampson stake truck displayed beautiful orange-and-black paint and its desirable factory decals. Miles King remarked that it was the only original example of that particular model that his team had ever seen. It rumbled past its pre-sale high estimate to settle at $10,500. Also noteworthy, a 12-inch Tonka #750 pressed-steel Carnation Milk truck whose condition compared to new-old stock sold for $3,813, more than six times its high estimate.
European tin toys were led by an extremely rare Distler tin windup Directional Policeman Car. This zany-looking vehicle has a bug-eyed driver and, on the front of the vehicle, a figural policeman figure who points his arms in the direction in which the car is turning. In excellent condition, the vehicle boasts bright colors and profuse lithography overall with a medley of graphics that includes motorcycles, automobiles, people, dogs, a double-decker bus, gas pump, buildings, street lights and more. A museum-quality toy and the only one of its type that Milestone’s team has ever encountered, it sped past its $10,000-$15,000 to apply the brakes at $18,000.
To discuss consigning antique or vintage toys to a future Milestone auction, whether a collection or a single item, please call Miles King at 440-527-8060 or email [email protected]. All enquiries are kept strictly confidential and there is never an obligation to consign. Visit Milestone online at www.milestoneauctions.com.
The upcoming sale from Auctions at Showplace will present nearly 150 lots of fine art and design. Modern sculptures are particularly well-represented in the catalog, with notable examples from the likes of Henry Moore and Michael Glancy. Here are some of the key modern sculpture lots in this upcoming event.
Henry Moore, Reclining Figure, 1983. Image courtesy of Auctions at Showplace.
Henry Moore
Henry Moore’s Reclining Figure from 1983 is among the top modern sculpture lots in this auction (lot #5; estimate: USD 60,000 – $80,000). This patinated bronze sculpture depicts a nude woman propping herself up from a resting position with an elbow. The work is notable for its smooth, curved lines that evoke a mountainous landscape.
Moore was among the most famous and successful British sculptors of the 20th century. He worked primarily in cast bronze and marble. Born in Yorkshire in 1898, Henry Moore studied art formally but was most strongly influenced by European and Aztec sculpture techniques that he observed in museums. A lasting interest in family groups, reclining forms, and ambiguous curves defined his career.
Michael Glancy, Boreal Inner Star X, 2013. Image courtesy of Auctions at Showplace.
Michael Glancy
Boreal Inner Star X, a 2013 glass and copper modern sculpture by Michael Glancy, is another notable piece in this Showplace sale (lot #19; estimate: $15,000 – $25,000). This contemporary, textured piece is composed of engraved Pompeii-cut glass with a spiky bronze overlay. A curved, globular vessel rests on a flat acrylic stand, which provides a matching base for the sculpture. Michael Glancy was a native of Detroit, Michigan. He actively worked with glass for 40 years and counted Dale Chihuly as an early mentor. In addition to his glassworking, Glancy experimented with electroforming– a metalworking technique that delivers highly detailed metal forms. He drew inspiration from the macro and micro scales of the natural world. “Michael Glancy’s work is aesthetic, it is scientific, and it might be considered as growing, literally by hand, from a near-molecular vision,” wrote Tina Oldknow, former Curator of the Corning Museum of Glass. “Beginning with cell-like patterns and arcane notations jotted on paper, Michael‘s objects slowly acquire form and texture, shaped and revealed by cutting, sandblasting, and the application of copper. New forms are then made from existing forms, and the evolution continues.”
Ursula von Rydingsvard, Grzebyk IV, 1993. Image courtesy of Auctions at Showplace.
Ursula von Rydingsvard
A 1993 graphite and paint on wood sculpture by Ursula von Rydingsvard will also come under the hammer in this sale (lot #37; estimate: $6,000 – $8,000). This is a wall-mounted piece titled Grzebyk IV, or Comb IV. Like many of von Rydingsvard’s works, this piece utilizes carefully positioned wood pieces to create amorphous forms.
Born in Germany to Polish and Ukrainian parents during World War II, Ursula von Rydingsvard studied art after immigrating to the United States. While her works are abstract, their forms suggest autobiographical and emotional undertones upon closer inspection. Her largest sculptures rise organically from the ground, built by layering pieces of graphite-blackened cedar. Von Rydingsvard’s works intentionally avoid description, labels, and language, instead seeking to visualize the indescribable.
Toshiko Takaezu, matte glazed stoneware closed form. Image courtesy of Auctions at Showplace.
Toshiko Takaezu
Several vases and closed forms by influential American ceramicist Toshiko Takaezu will also be available in this upcoming sale. Notable among them is a stoneware closed form with a white and gray matte glaze (lot #83; estimate: $3,000 – $5,000). The piece stands 7.5 inches high and 5.5 inches wide. It bears the artist’s initials carved on the bottom.
Takaezu grew up in Hawaii and began working with ceramics during the Great Depression. She specialized in closed pots that served aesthetic rather than functional purposes. Takaezu intended to conceal the inner world of her vessels, allowing their outsides to speak to her vision.
These modern sculptures and assorted works of fine art, jewelry, furniture, and more will be available with Auctions at Showplace on October 20, 2024 at 12:00 PM EDT. Interested collectors may bid live and online through Bidsquare. Find additional coverage of this and other events on Auction Daily.
Featured: Paintings by Clark Hulings, Fred Williams, Anthony Palliser, Johann Berthelsen; Latin American art; American weathervanes & folk art, Asian ceramics; antique and studio furniture
Clark Hulings (NY/LA/NM, 1922-2011) Louisiana, O/C
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Everard’s October 29-31 online-only auction offers collectors and interior-design aficionados a superlative selection of fine and decorative art from notable Southern estates and tastefully-curated collections. Originality, aesthetics and provenance are the watchwords seen throughout the 1,254 lots. Highlights include property from the Ira and Nancy T Koger Estate, fine American and English furniture; paintings by Latin American artists, Boston contemporary art from the collection of Bob Herron, folk art and weathervanes from a Hamptons-based collector; and works by premier Australian artists.
Assigned an estimate of $60,000-$80,000, a rare circa-1890 gilded-copper Indian-figure weathervane is one of the auction’s star attractions. The swell-bodied standing figure in shown in a ribbed and scalloped costume with two cut sheet-copper feathers as a headdress, and holds a bow and arrow. Its height is 41 inches (74in inclusive of stand). An almost identical example was offered at Sotheby’s October 6, 2006 auction of Property from the Collection of Josephine & Walter Buhl Ford II and sold for $192,000. The stunning 74-inch-tall weathervane entrusted to Everard is part of a Bridgehampton, New York, collection of vanes, trade signs and folk art that highlights the auction’s opening session.
Also estimated at $60,000-$80,000, an atmospheric oil-on-canvas painting by Clark Hulings (1922-2011) is titled Louisiana and has resided with the same family since its pre-1972 purchase from New York’s Grand Central Gallery. Hulings was born in Florida and raised in New Jersey. Over his lifetime, he resided in New York, Louisiana, and throughout Europe before settling in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1972. After pursuing an initial career as a portraitist in Louisiana and freelance illustrator in New York in the 1950s, Hulings turned his focus to easel painting and soon distinguished himself as an American master of his genre, with collectors, museums and corporations eager to acquire his pictures. The auction artwork, which depicts a cottage with people on the front porch and dogs and chickens in the front yard, exemplifies Huling’s ability to capture on canvas the simple pleasures of Southern rural life.
Continuing the American folk theme is Dr Buz Halo, a paint-on-metal creation by Sam Doyle (SC, 1906-1985). Doyle’s paintings typically portray residents of the Sea Island community of St. Helena, S.C., as well as iconic historic and religious figures, and modern American pop icons. One of his frequent subjects, a St. Helena root doctor named “Dr. Buz,” is depicted in the eponymous painting to be auctioned on Day 1 with an estimate of $8,000-$12,000.
Fine art highlights also include works by Australian artists Fred Williams (1927-1982) and Sir Russell Drysdale (1912-1981). Williams’ Loxton Landscape beautifully interprets the artist’s understanding of the Australian outback’s moods and unique colors. Recognized as one of the 20th century’s most accomplished landscapists, Williams was the first Australian artist to hold a solo exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Loxton Landscape is a gouache-on-paper estimated at $30,000-$40,000. Another Australian art luminary is Sir Russell Drysdale (1912-1981), whose ink-on-paper work depicting a standing Aboriginal man has an auction estimate of $4,000-$6,000. Drysdale is considered one of the first Australian artists to explore with sensitivity the relationships between the landscape and indigenous people of Australia.
The auction includes six paintings of quintessential New York scenes by Johann Berthelsen (NY/CT/Denmark, 1883-1972). The largest of the works, an oil-on-canvas titled 5th Ave Looking South from 59th St (Nocturne), Oil on Canvas, leads the group with an estimate of $3,000-$5,000. A native of Denmark, Berthelsen came to America at the age of seven when his mother and siblings crossed the Atlantic, in 1890. Originally an opera singer and voice coach, Berthelsen turned to art after the stock market crash of 1929 put him out of business. Essentially self-taught, his natural talent as an artist won him widespread acclaim. His paintings were collected by many prominent figures of the 20th century. Today his work is held in the collections of the Hirshhorn Museum (Washington, DC) and many other institutions.
A large collection of Latin American paintings from the Estate of Enrique Manuel Arias (Alachua, Florida) is also featured in the auction. Arias worked in banking and, at the height of his career, was the chief executive officer for Latin America and the Caribbean at Barclays Bank in Miami. He was an expert in Latin American economic policy and played a key role in the rebuilding of his native Panama following the US invasion in 1989. Among the paintings in his collection are a large-scale oil-on-canvas still life by self-taught artist Miguel Florido (Cuba, b. 1980-), Still Life with Gourds,which is estimated at $4,000-$6,000; and a humorous 2004 work by Cuban artist Ruben Alpizar (Cuba b. 1965-), titled Windows with Figures, estimated at $4,000-$6,000. Alpízar graduated from the José Joaquín Tejada Provincial School of Visual Arts in Santiago de Cuba in 1984 and the Superior Institute of Art in Havana in 1989. Multiple solo exhibitions of his work have been mounted in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Spain.
A stand-out furniture lot is a large mid-18th-century Swedish Rococo giltwood mirror with an auction estimate of $5,000-$8,000. The consignor purchased it at a Sotheby’s Fine French and Continental Furniture and Decorations sale in 1997. Other furniture highlights include an early-19th-century Kentucky secretary, $2,000-$3,000; and circa-1810 sugar chest, $400-$600. Both were formerly the property of Charles D Daniel Jr of Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Day 2 of the auction is notable for its variety of treasured pieces from the Ira and Nancy T. Koger Estate. There are excellent examples of Chinese ceramics, including a pair of blue and white “Aster” chargers, which are estimated at $1,200-$1,800. Also, a painting of a fish that was purchased as the work of Alfred Sisley (France, 1839-1899) comes with an unusual back story. A handwritten note, which is included with the lot, states that the painting is actually part of a larger Sisley work that was cut in two by a previous owner. The painting also retains a Christie’s label on verso and now comes to auction with a $2,000-$3,000 estimate.
Also poised for success are several works by British artist Anthony Palliser, who is best known for his portraits of prominent figures and compelling Lowcountry scenes. Palliser lives in Paris but is a frequent visitor to Savannah and also Charleston, South Carolina. His large-scale portrait of James Lord – a fascinating man who lived with Picasso muse Dora Maar and wrote a biography of Giacometti – is estimated at $3,500-$5,000.
The auction’s closing session, on October 31, includes property from the collection of Bob Herron, an avid collector who has resided in Boston, Paris and Savannah. A striking image from his collection is photographer Peter Vanderwarker’s Type C print titled Near Marfa, Texas. A depiction of the famous “Prada Marfa” pop art installation located in remote West Texas, it carries an estimate of $2,500-$4,000. Bob Herron’s collection is also the source of an unusual pair of bronze snake-form candlesticks by studio furniture artist Judy Kensley McKie (Mass., b. 1944-). They are initial-signed and dated 2009 and each is numbered 2/8 under its base. The eye-catching serpentine duo stands 12¼ inches tall and is estimated at $9,000-$12,000.
For the ceramics enthusiast, Everard suggests any of 14 works by Japanese American artist Toshiko Takaezu (1922-2011). Toshiko is widely acknowledged as having been instrumental in establishing ceramics as a fine art. During her lifetime, her work was exhibited throughout the United States and Japan. In fact, a current traveling retrospective curated by the Isamu Noguchi Foundation showcases 200 ceramics, paintings, weavings and cast-bronze sculptures. The vessels in Everard’s auction were inherited by the consignor’s mother, a close friend and former student of Toshiko’s who acquired the pieces directly from the artist.
Everard’s October 29-31 Fall Southern Estates Auction will start at 10 am EST on all three days of the series. Bid absentee or live online via Everard, LiveAuctioneers, Bidsquare or Invaluable. The public is invited to an October 22 preview reception from 5-7pm at Everard Auctions’ gallery, with additional previewing available October 23, 24 or 25, or by appointment. For more information on any item in the auction, call 912-231-1376 or email [email protected]. Everard is located at 2436 Waters Ave., Savannah, GA 31404. Online: http://www.everard.com/.
This October, Auctions at Showplace will present its Important Fine Art & Design Auction with nearly 150 lots of fine art, decorative art, furniture, jewelry, and more. This event especially features a screenprint piece by Andy Warhol and a glass and metal sculpture by Michael Glancy. The sale will take place on October 20, 2024, with online bidding available through Bidsquare.
Andy Warhol Flowers (Black & White) Screenprint
An original silkscreen version of Andy Warhol’s Flowers (Black and White) leads the auction catalog (lot #103; estimate: USD 3,000 – $5,000). It is one of ten screenprints created by Warhol from images featured in the Interpretive Flower Designs wallpaper catalog. Images in Flowers (Black and White) are presented in black and white to highlight the lines and composition in the artwork. The subject matter of flower imagery repeatedly resurfaced throughout Warhol’s career across various media. The piece has a unique hand-drawn quality and a different stylization than many of Warhol’s other subjects, demonstrating the artist’s versatility as an artist. The offered wood-framed screenprint was printed by Alexander Heinrici, New York and is hand-signed in pencil by Warhol on the lower right. The auction will also include a screenprint of Andy Warhol’s Electric Chair, from 1971(lot #1; estimate: $10,000 – $20,000).
Michael Glancy Boreal Inner Star X Sculpture
Beyond fine art, this sale will feature sculptures by Michael Glancy, including Boreal Inner Star X (lot #19; estimate: $15,000 – $25,000). The glass and metal pieces created by Glancy make a powerful statement despite their compact size, with intricate patterns and unexpected shapes, in keeping with his unique and flamboyant style. An underside signature, title, and date are included on this Pompeii glass vessel and base plate.
Cartier Cle de Cartier Stainless Steel Watch
Collectors of luxury timepieces can consider a Cle de Cartier stainless steel wristwatch from Cartier (lot #42; estimate: $2,000 – $4,000). The crown has a rectangular shape, a nod to traditional 19th-century winding keys. The name comes from the word clé, which means “key” in French. The available Cartier watch features a silver opaline dial, Roman numerals, and a date display at six o’clock. Another notable Cartier timepiece in the auction is a Cartier Tank 18-karat yellow gold and diamond wristwatch with a white dial and black Roman numerals (lot #41; estimate: $6,000 – $8,000).
Additional lots of interest in this sale include:
An art glass sculpture by Michael Estes Taylor
A mid-20th century Murano Glass chandelier attributed to Barovier
A Fritz Hansen camel-tone leather-covered egg chair by Arne Jacobsen
A pair of 18-karat yellow gold Trinity diamond earrings from Cartier
A Wurlitzer Art Deco butterfly baby grand piano
Situated in the Flatiron District of Manhattan, NY for over two decades, Auctions at Showplace holds bi-weekly auctions of luxury items, fine art, design, jewelry, and antiques. Items include fine and decorative arts, interior decor, furniture, antiques, artifacts, fine jewelry, designer fashion, art glass, ceramics, silver, lighting, sculptures, bronzes, and paintings. In-house shipping is not available at Showplace. Item pickup or shipment must be completed within ten days of the auction.
This Important Fine Art & Design Auction sale will begin at 12:00 PM EDT on October 20, 2024. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare. Find more auctions and news on Auction Daily.
The Musée d’Orsay is proud to be the first non-Scandinavian institution to honor Harriet Backer, the Norwegian painter who created a modern synthesis of pleinairism and interior scenes. Curators Leïla Jarbouai and Estelle Bégué have selected seventy-four major works, almost…
The Musée d’Orsay is proud to be the first non-Scandinavian institution to honor Harriet Backer, the Norwegian painter who created a modern synthesis of pleinairism and interior scenes. Curators Leïla Jarbouai and Estelle Bégué have selected seventy-four major works, almost all of which are held in Norway — notably at the National Museum in Oslo — and are presented in a chronological and thematic sequence, sometimes accompanied by musical extracts composed by Backer’s sister Agathe Grøndahl. The exhibition thus focuses — somewhat repetitively — on the artist’s passion for music, her social circle, her landscapes and still lifes, to the unfortunate exclusion of the importance that literature and writing also played as sources of inspiration for Backer. It also struggles to pinpoint the origins, values and scope of “plein air en intérieur” (‘outdoor painting indoors’), that subtle oxymoron already analyzed by art historian Nils Ohlsen in Skandinavische Interieurmalerei zur Zeit Carl Larssons (Scandinavian Interior Painting in the Age of Carl Larsson) in 1999. Above all, the exhibition seeks to demonstrate the extent to which capturing the play of light — echoing music — was the artist’s lifelong objective. While most of the works produced during her training, in Munich and then Paris between 1874 and 1888, are characterized by a cold tone, something changes with Blue Interior, from 1883: a sensitive space with joyful colors. The rest of the exhibition shows how, on her return to Norway in 1888, Backer favored a light touch and a harmonious palette. The shimmering windows in her domestic and church interiors of the 1890s, which are bathed in diffused light, plunge us into spaces radiant with colorful rays. The last room, reserved for still lifes and interiors from the 1910s, proves just how insightful an artist Backer had become, and how much she had become the flower of the Norwegian soul: emotion is at its peak, like a little romantic music finally mastered.
Worth Seeing “Harriet Backer (1845-1932). La musique des couleurs” “(Harriet Backer (1845-1932). The Music of Colors),” Musée d’Orsay, Paris VII. Until January 11, 2025 musee-orsay.fr
While his portraits have gone down in history, Fantin-Latour’s still lifes played a very special role in his career. The painter elevated this ‘minor’ genre to a high level of excellence.
Henri Fantin-Latour (1836-1904), Nature morte au raisin dans une coupe de verre et panier d’herbes, (Still Life with Grapes in a Glass Bowl and Basket of Herbs), 1882, oil on canvas, signed and dated, 37 x 53 cm/14.56 x 20.86 in. Estimate: €100,000/120,00
“The simplest things, the most banal in appearance, have an interesting character; they must be rendered”, declared Henri Fantin-Latour. The painter has put this into practice with this canvas from 1882. For this sober composition, he chose modest herbs, perhaps a branch of hawthorn, placed in a wicker basket to accompany a glass bowl garnished with white grapes. As typically found in his still lifes, the artist is interested in the contrasting textures of the elements and their ability to reflect light. He makes do with a neutral background, so that nothing stands in the way of this poetic vision. Although Fantin-Latour was influenced by the realist movement, he detached himself from it whenever he could to offer the viewer a dreamy contemplation of the miracle of the living world. Romanticism and a form of modernity, which can be found in his ability to render a fragile, ephemeral nature, are also present in his work. Yet he remained a studio painter, composing his reality with what he found around him, whether in his Paris studio at 8, rue des Beaux-arts, or in the family home of his wife Victoria Dubourg—also a painter of flowers—in Buré, Orne. Although his first arrangements were somewhat opulent, from the mid-1870s onwards Fantin-Latour focused on simpler compositions, combining more diverse but always perfectly chosen elements. This led Zacharie Astruc to say at the 1870 Salon that Fantin-Latour painted “still lifes worthy of Chardin”. A fine and just compliment at a time when this genre was still considered minor in comparison with history painting. A member of the bourgeoisie, the artist felt right at home in the hushed, delicate world of his canvases, as did English high society, which first fell in love with his work. Henri Fantin-Latour regularly traveled to the other side of the Channel, accompanied by his friends the painter Whistler and the art patron-dealer Edwin Edwards, who acted as intermediaries for his loyal and welcome clientel.
