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.
The upcoming Affordable Modern & Contemporary Art Auction, presented by Robinhood Auctions, will feature nearly 950 lots of paintings, mixed media, sculptures, posters, and more. Robert Wyland’s hand-signed original painting on canvas, titled Humpback Whale, leads the catalog. The custom-framed piece measures approximately 38 inches by 48 inches. The lot depicts a humpback whale diving in the deep blue ocean. Celebrated American artist and conservationist Robert Wyland is known for his paintings and sculptures of marine life. A selection of ocean-themed artworks by Wyland highlighting whales, harp seals, and other creatures will also go under the hammer. All his paintings include a certificate of authenticity.
Additionally, bidders can consider an original oil painting by Pino Daeni (1939 – 2010). Titled Lost in Thought, the artwork showcases a seated young lady in a pensive mood. The woman is wearing a flowy gown and her head is covered with a red bandana. Italian-American book illustrator and artist Daeni was renowned for his paintings of feminine and romantic women. He often used soft, warm colors and employed loose yet accurate brushwork. Limited editions, sculptures, and paintings by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Mr. Brainwash, Peter Max, Charles Fazzino, and more are available as well. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete Affordable Modern & Contemporary Art catalog and find other online auctions.
American glass artist Dale Chihuly is renowned for experimenting in the field of glassblowing. His famous series include Blankets, Seaforms, and Chandeliers, which include a variety of patterns, textures and colors. The upcoming Revere Auctions sale will feature a set of four “Persian Forms” hand-blown glass by Chihuly. It is a spiderweb pattern piece in turquoise blue, orange, and black colors, with one shell-like form, one large open bowl, and two cones. Another noteworthy glass creation in the catalog is a Bertil Vallien for Kosta Boda Glass, Sweden. It depicts an opaque blue glass head sculpture, most probably from the artist’s Brains series. Kosta Boda Unique 8BVAON 999857 is signed and inscribed along the underside. The Swedish glass artist worked primarily with sculpture and ceramics.
A one cent “Poison This Rat” flip ball style arcade game (c. 1941) also leads the listings. Manufactured by Groetchen Tool Co., it features slogans urging the purchase of WWII war bonds. The game is all about inserting pill balls into the opening of the moving Hitler’s head by using a control knob to turn it. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming Visual Splendor: Decorative Arts & Photography sale, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
The upcoming fashion sale from Sotheby’s will feature iconic designs and rare items from America’s renowned designers and fashion collectors. Some of the lots have been donated by Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) members. Leading the catalog is a Bill Blass floral silk crepe pantsuit. It is made of Italian heavy silk crepe with a multicolor repeating floral pattern. This classic pantsuit is the original sample from the Blass Studio created by Blass’ head tailor, Roberto Della Valle. Sotheby’s notes that the design was inspired by “Ladies Who Lunch,” and the pantsuit has been donated by Yvonne Miller.
Also available in this sale is a stretch velvet animal print dress designed in 1989 by Patrick Kelly. The American fashion designer started designing and sewing clothes in his teenage years. He became the first American member of the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter in the 1990s. His designs exude humor with references to Black folklore and pop culture. A vintage pink silk top dating back to 1970 is also available. It was made by American fashion designer Stephen Burrows, famously called the ‘King of Jersey.’ Burrows rose to prominence with his graphic, color-blocked dresses made of matte jersey in the 1970s. Visit Sotheby’s to view the complete CFDA: Defining American Style catalog and register to bid.
