This February, the upcoming Joseph Pytka Collection of New Mexico Art & Artifacts sale, presented by Santa Fe Art Auction, offers a variety of fine art, decorative art, and furniture. The auction compiles items from several recognized artists and brands, including Tiffany Studios and Antonio Molleno, as well as from cultures around the globe. A standout item is a spider table lamp from Tiffany Studios. Made between 1900 and 1915, the lampshade rests on a mushroom base with a spider finial.
Other featured lots include a Navajo woven chief’s blanket, from circa 1865 to 1875. The third-phase Navajo blankets are considered to be among the best Navajo textiles, mostly due to the skill of the Navajo women weavers. Beyond lamps and woven blankets, the auction will also present a figure titled Cristo Crucificado, which translates to ‘Crucified Christ.’ The hand-carved sculpture is painted with pigment over gesso. It is attributed to José Benito Ortega, an American santeros sculptor. Visit Bidsquare to browse the full catalog and register to bid online.
Sol LeWitt was a supporter of Conceptual Art, a term he coined in 1967. In his essay on Conceptual Art, the artist said, “All the planning and decisions are made beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair. The idea becomes the machine that makes the art.” LeWitt helped reinvent the relationship between artist and artwork. Numerous pieces by LeWitt will be offered in the upcoming Geometric Abstraction auction, presented by Bonhams. Highlighted among the lots is a 1996 painting titled Wavy Horizontal Lines on two sheets of Japanese paper.
Moby Dick, from the Waves by Frank Stella is also highlighted. Named after Herman Melville’s novel, the theme represents Stella’s most ambitious artistic endeavor: he produced a series of more than 200 related paintings, sculptures, and prints. The Waves, the first of the four series prints, take its title from one of the chapters of the novel. Another artist featured in the sale is Jésus Rafael Soto. Soto was a defining figure of both the kinetic sculpture and Optical Art movements. This auction represents two of his paintings from his Jai-Alai series. Taking its title from a highly popular sport in Latin America, these works manipulate both color theory and the dynamic between background and foreground. Browse the full collection and register to bid online on Bonhams.
Ferrari, Bugatti, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz are some of the brands featured in the upcoming Amelia Island Auction. Presented by Bonhams, these vintage luxury vehicles once signified brand supremacy in their respective times and markets. One highlighted car is the 1932 Bugatti Type 55 SuperSport Roadster. The car was designed by Jean Bugatti, a French automotive designer and test engineer.
A 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS with Pininfarina coachwork is also a highlight of the sale. The available Italian model was the 28th of the eventual 100 cars to ever be produced in this style. Another standout lot is a 1952 Jaguar C-type sports-racing two-seater. Praising the C-type, Paul Skilleter in Jaguar: The Sporting Heritage says, “The C-type was the car which brought Jaguar international recognition and it had been built in an extraordinarily short time.” For more information on the above items and more, visit Bonhams.
The upcoming New Now auction, presented by Phillips, will feature a work by American painter Julian Schnabel. Known for incorporating the Postmodern style, Schnabel often combines various unconventional materials into his works, including broken plates, velvet, and dirt. Schnabel has spoken about his interest in discarded materials to Artsy: “… things that are manmade that get reverted back to nature, like pieces of foam that have been used in a boat that’s been shipwrecked… you’ve got this piece of archeology that has formed.” The Schnabel paintings available in this sale incorporate oil, dirt, and wax. Fine art pieces from Peter Halley, Pat Steir, and Andy Warhol will be presented as well.
An acrylic work titled Nowhere by Peter Halley is among the leading lots. Halley, a contemporary and Minimalist painter, is recognized as a major figure of geometric abstraction. Creating a clear visual style in his work, he became an important artist in the New York art scene in the mid-1980s. Also featured is Pat Steir’s work titled The Wave. Best known for her waterfall paintings using cascading pigments, her work reflects Color Field painting, Abstract Expressionism, and Taoist philosophy. Beyond the fine art, this auction will include Asian art, antiques, collectibles, furniture, and jewelry. Browse the full catalog and register to bid on Invaluable
The upcoming sale presented by Christie’s will include 201 lots of contemporary and modern art. Among the top lots of the sale is an oil painting created by Helen Frankenthaler. The piece, titled Guadalupe, was created by staining a solid pigment onto canvas. Frankenthaler’s technique helped shape Abstract Expressionism and post-war art in the mid-20th century.
Another highlight of the sale is an untitled painting by Sam Francis, which incorporates elements from Abstract Expressionism, Color Field painting, and Impressionism. The painting shows the artist’s interpretation of color and light. Also among the notable lots is a work titled Fallen Easel by John Baldessari. A Los Angeles-based artist, Baldessari was known for his photography and conceptual work. To view the complete collection and register to bid online, visit Christie’s.
Known best as a contemporary artist of the American West, Dave McGary was a Wyoming sculptor who committed countless hours of research into his work. McGary created his art by slowly layering pieces of clay to form his figures. He first sculpted his pieces by building a layer of muscle, then a layer of skin, and finally the clothing and other accessories like guns, spears, and shields. The upcoming auction offered by Helmuth Stone Gallery will highlight one of his works, titled War Deeds.
Chinese artist Han Meilin’s Doves will be available as well. Characterized by its adherence to traditional Chinese art techniques, this piece depicts a pair of doves in flight. The long, fan-shaped tails of the doves are accentuated. The auction also includes an AIG- and GIA-certified diamond platinum ring. A 4.8-carat emerald tops the piece, surrounded by a thin layer of diamonds. Pieces from Stanley Spencer and Dean Ellis will also be highlighted. View the full catalog and register to bid by visiting Bidsquare.
The upcoming Antiques Auction, offered by Morton Subastas, will include sacred art, landscape art, and European furniture. One notable lot is a portrait of an Italian knight from the 17th century that has been attributed to Tiberio Titi. Titi was the son of Santi di Tito, a Mannerist Italian painter. Titi was best known as a portraitist, especially for the Medici family. Among the sacred art available is an ivory carving of a woman’s head. Though the work is unsigned, it has been attributed to Jesús Reyes Ferreira. Also known as Chucho Reyes, Ferreira was primarily known as a painter and collector of fine art and antiques.
Other religious works in the sale include traditional paintings of Jesus and Mary, as well as several versions of the radiating Virgin of Guadalupe. There are also many landscapes, portraits, crucifixes, and some sculptural works. Beyond art, a selection of furniture, clocks, chandeliers, antique guns, and a collection of small Italian figurines will be offered. View any of these lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
The upcoming Auction of Books and Documents Pertaining to the Wars of Intervention in Mexico will be offered by Morton Subastas. One example of the books on offer is The War Between the United States and Mexico: Illustrated, Embracing Pictorial Drawings of All the Principal Conflicts, by Carl Nebel. Though Nebel was a German engineer, architect, and draughtsman, he is best known for his paintings and lithographs of the battles of the Mexican-American War, which can be seen on the pages of this book. Also in the sale is a single copy of his lithograph portraying of the Battle of Cerro Gordo. Up for bid is a first-edition copy of the first printed political constitution of Mexico, the full title of which translates to the Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States, Sanctioned by the General Constituent Congress, on October 4, 1824.
Other than books, there are also a number of documents in the auction, including a handwritten invitation by Hidalgo y Costilla to Colonel Narciso de la Canal. The letter relates to the armed independence movement. Costilla was a Spanish Roman Catholic priest as well as a leader of the Mexican War of Independence. Also represented in the sale are a number of photographic lots, including one framed set of individual portraits of Maximilian I of Mexico and Carlota (or Charlotte, Empress of Mexico), as well as a collection of postcards from the war. Included titles in the set of postcards tell the story of their content: Killed in Front of Hotel Diligencias, Burial Scene After the Big Battle, Executed in Mexico, Horse and Man Killed in a Cavalry Battle in Mexico, and Body of Col. Enrique Portilla Executed in Juarez, Mex.
Interested bidders will also find military medals for sale, such as a few military merits and a legion of honor medal. View any of these lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
The founder of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Charles Brinckerhoff Richards, was assigned the task of designing a new conversion mechanism for Colt. The demand of the U.S. Army for metallic cartridge revolvers led to the design of the “Richards Conversion.” The upcoming O’Gallerie auction highlights a Colt model 1860 Army revolver implemented with the second model Richards Conversion. The 1871 revolver consists of a .44 caliber, six-shot cylinder with an engraving of a naval scene.
Also presented is a collection of wine and spirits. Showcased among them is a 1994 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru by wine manufacturer Domaine Dujac. The auction will also feature Marie No.1, Lips, a gelatin silver print by photographer Jan Saudek. A combination of painting and photography techniques is among the distinguishing features of Saudek’s work. Collectors can also explore Chinese Famille Rose porcelain, Persian Kashmar rugs, diamond jewelry, and sculptures. View the full listings and register to bid online on Invaluable.
The Kangxi period was often considered the height of decorative Chinese screen production. Among the most famous screens produced during this time are Coromandel screens. Although made in China, these screens received their name from India’s Coromandel coast, where they were shipped to Europe. Coromandel screens were made by applying lacquer in even layers over a softwood core. In the next step, designs are carved into the screen’s surface, and the recesses are filled with scenes. A Chinese Coromandel screen is one of the leading lots of the upcoming February Auction, to be offered by Leonard Auction. The six-panel screen belongs to the Kangxi period. It is carved on both sides; one side depicts figures in a courtyard while the other features trees and waterfowl.
Another notable lot in this sale is a jadeite pendant. Because of its limited production in Burma, as well as its translucency and quality of reflection, jadeite is highly prized in the Eastern market. The available heart-shaped pendant has a circular jadeite disc surrounded by a gold and opal filigree. The auction will also present a Mills 25-cent slot machine with a figural stand by Royal Bell. The machine is included in the ‘Rock n’ Roll Singers’ collection produced by the company. View these lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.
