Showplace Antique + Design Center presents a selection of estate and antique jewelry and decorative art collectibles in their upcoming auction. Featured is a pre-Columbian gold Sinú bird finial on a tube. The Sinú goldwork depicts animals and birds on the different jewelry pieces. Birds were considered particularly spiritual and symbolized the relationship between humans and nature. Other highlights include a 22-karat yellow gold and diamond bracelet and a pair of Le Beau “Eros” yellow gold lady bust cufflinks.
Beyond the jewelry collection, the auction also offers silverware and timepieces. The featured Towle “Old Master” tea service is a notable piece of Americana available in the sale. “Old Master,” the flagship flatware pattern of the company, was introduced in 1942. A Vacheron Constantin yellow gold wristwatch is also highlighted. Luxury watches by Swiss makers Vacheron Constantin have historically been preferred by royal patrons such as Queen Elizabeth II. The auction also presents Meissen porcelain figurines, paintings, furniture, glassware, and sculptures. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
The taler was used as a currency in Europe for almost 400 years, first minted around the mid-15th century. It acquired different forms in terms of its precious metal content and its value over the years. The Prussian taler was used as a standard by the German states up until 1857. After the formation of a united Germany in 1871, Wilhelm I was crowned the first Head of State. Heritage Auctions features currency used during his reign, including an 1867 Wilhelm I taler minted in Frankfurt.
Prussian talers predating Wilhelm I’s reign are also offered, including Friedrich Wilhelm IV talers from different years and mints. Medals marking historic occasions are another highlight of the auction. A silver medal reading “100th Anniversary of Prussia” was struck to commemorate the Prussian Kingdom’s centennial. It depicts the first five monarchs of the country. Collectors can explore the entire coin and medal listings and register to bid online on Heritage Auctions.
Yamaha made its first upright built piano in 1900. Two years later, the company introduced its first grand piano. In 1904, Torakusu Yamaha sent his piano to the St. Louis World’s Fair, where it received an Honorary Grand Prize. Today, Yamaha Corporation is the largest manufacturer of musical instruments in the world. A Yamaha G3 grand piano is among the top lots of the upcoming February auction, presented by Nadeau’s Auction Gallery.
A George II highboy is another key highlight of the sale. Made out of walnut, this 18th-century piece has pine sides and brass handles. Another notable lot is a set of 8 Queen Anne chairs. Queen Anne furniture originated in 1689; however, it did not become popular until 1720. Designed to be light and movable, these pieces were made with minimal ornamentation and embellishment. The auction also offers fine tableware and cutlery, ranging from a Gorham sterling silver cutlery set to Tiffany & Co. plates. The plates have prints, patterns, and designs that feature floral and fruit motifs. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
When Pan Am Airways requested a watch for its crew that could display two time zones simultaneously, Rolex created the GMT-Master in 1954. The watch has a 24-hour bezel that can be set against the GMT hand on the dial to track local and home times simultaneously. Pan-Am issued the GMT-Master to their crews on long-haul flights, and soon it became the official watch of several other airlines. In 1959, the original design was updated with a brown and cream bezel, earning it the nickname ‘Root Beer.’ A vintage Rolex GMT-Master Root Beer watch is a featured lot in the Early Valentine’s Estate Auction, presented by Gallery 63. Another key highlight of the sale is a Patek Philippe watch, made of yellow gold with a brilliant-cut white diamond bezel, band, and pave face.
The auction also highlights Asian works of art, furniture, and jewelry. Among the jewelry lots is a necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels. The 40-centimeter long yellow gold necklace has ten Alhambra motifs. Also among the available items is an antique Victorian-era stained glass landing window. The upper half of the window shows a lion mask with a berried laurel cartouche. The base bears columns decorated with heraldic symbols. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare.
Thos. Cornell Galleries, Ltd. presents a selection of furniture, decorative arts, and antiques in the upcoming Estate Auction. Among the available French, American, and English furniture pieces, an English Regency-style rosewood cabinet is a highlight. The marble top cabinet bears an ornament of painted metal instead of a carving, which is typically observed in other English furniture styles.
Featured in the sale are a 12-light wood chandelier and a figural marble top console table with decorated Egyptian motifs. Also offered is a ten-panel Chinese Coromandel screen depicting everyday Chinese life. The gold and black lacquer folding screens trace their origin back to the Kangxi period. A variety of rugs, Judaica sterling silverware, Meissen porcelain, Steuben glassware, paintings, timepieces, and jewelry will also be a part of the auction. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Weiss Auctions presents a collection of stamps and coins in the upcoming sale. Mint-conditon, never-hinged (NH) stamps, and ones depicting historical events are of particular interest. The second half of the David Metzler collection is among the featured lots. It includes stamps from Spain and its colonies, railway stamps, Canaris stamps, and Barcelona stamps. Many of the stamps contain their matching certificates.
Also available in the auction are modern American coins along with antique pieces. An estate collection of 50 Greek and Roman coins is a key lot. A Greek Nero silver tetradrachm, several Roman Volusian coins, and a silver Denarius are the highlights of this collection. A U.S. 1806 half-bust quarter dollar with an eagle on the reverse is also notable. Stamps from countries such as China, Austria, and Egypt, as well as several plate blocks, will be presented as well. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Weiss Auctions.
The third part of the Collection of Victor Niederhoffer, presented in the upcoming Freeman’s auction, features books and letters of historical significance. One of the highlights of the sale is a four-volume first edition of The Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, edited by his second wife and fellow writer Mary Shelley. Published posthumously, this particular lot was inscribed by Shelley’s son, Percy Florence Shelley, to his half-sister Ianthe Esdaile. Though the senior Shelley did not see fame in his lifetime, his legacy marks him as a key lyric poet of the English language.
Also up for bid is a handwritten letter by a 23-year-old Winston Churchill. At the time of its writing, Churchill was serving as a cavalry officer in the 21st Lancers. The letter expresses his sympathy and regards for a friend and fellow soldier who had recently been killed. Another of the featured letters for sale was penned by author Ayn Rand to President Harry S. Truman, in which she argues against the Korean War.
Other featured pieces in this sale include framed notes written by Thomas Edison, a bound set of the complete works of O. Henry, a signed self-caricature drawing by Alfred Hitchcock, and more. View any of these lots and register to bid at Freeman’s.
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Though best known as one of America’s greatest inventors, it should also be noted that Thomas Alva Edison was also one of America’s savviest businessmen. Both of Edison’s professions are on display in the upcoming Books, Maps & Manuscripts auction, offered by Freeman’s. There are many Edison-related items in the sale, including letters and personally signed documents. One available item is the signed first agreement between Edison and the Western Union Telegraph Co., which funded Edison’s work on the telegraph. The letter is signed by Edison and counter-signed by William Orton, then President of Western Union Telegraph Co., as well as A.R. Brewer, the Secretary of Western Union.
Beyond the documents, a hand-made scientific instrument from Edison’s laboratory that he likely used to demonstrate electricity will be available. Other Edison lots in this sale include one of his original incandescent lightbulbs, several photographic portraits, a number of letters, a set of photos of his Menlo Park laboratory, signed stock certificates, and more. In total, there are 50 lots relating to Thomas Edison.
There is also a selection of books and manuscripts of interest in this sale, including several first and rare editions of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. There are six lots related to the franchise in this sale, each with a different appeal. One available item is a limited-edition, signed copy of The Goblet of Fire. Another includes the first American editions of two of the books from the series. There is also a large selection of children’s books by a variety of authors, many lots containing more than one book.
Presented in the sale are several complete serialized first edition sets (that were originally distributed once a month) by Charles Dickens, including Little Dorrit, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Sketches by Boz, and The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club. Also available are first edition copies of Dickens’ complete books, including A Tale of Two Cities, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, and The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit. Rare documents and artistic items presented in the sale include a photograph of Mark Twain, many hand-colored engravings by John James Audubon, a signed photograph of Winston Churchill, and a movie poster for An Affair to Remember. View any of these lots and register to bid on Freeman’s.
A cultural and commercial celebration of love and romance, Valentine’s Day has many popular legends associated with it. Among them is Saint Valentine’s purple amethyst ring that was engraved with a Cupid figure. Legend tells that he carried the piece so he could be recognized as a marriage facilitator. Amethyst finger rings are highlighted in the upcoming Online Jewelry Sale, to be presented by New Orleans Auction Galleries ahead of Valentine’s Day. The auction also features sapphire, emerald, turquoise and coral jewelry.
The sale showcases a selection of fine jewelry, watches, and accessories, especially featuring romance-themed items. Some of the key lots include heart-shaped pendant necklaces, bracelets, and earrings made of yellow gold and mounted with round brilliant-cut diamonds. A Chanel glass brooch and jewelry set and a Hermès cuff bracelet are among the key lots at auction. The sale also presents a collection of accessories, including vintage-styled full-length coats, jackets, clutches, and evening bags. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit New Orleans Auction Galleries.
The second day of the upcoming Antique and Americana Auction presented by Hess Auction Group will feature a 19th-century horse weathervane designed by Harris & Co. Weathervanes have long helped civilizations predict the weather. This piece functions through the balance of the horse on top of the axis. Styled to resemble a horse trotting, the available weathervane is made of copper.
Another featured lot from the 19th century is a pair of rose mandarin porcelain vases. The decorative panels of the vases are embellished with a group of figures in mandarin dresses, giving the vases their name. Each piece is glazed in shades of gold, red, rose pink, and blue. The auction will also showcase a carved and painted wooden figure of an eaglet. The sculpture, mounted on a green mound base, is painted in polychrome. Browse the full catalog and register to bid on Live Auctioneers.
