In 1770, a hand-colored engraving depicting the Boston Massacre was created by Paul Revere. The scene was often imitated by other artists over the following centuries. Revere dabbled in many political engravings to convey his outrage at the actions of the British troops. His work depicts a line of Redcoats shooting point-blank into a powerless crowd. The engraving, titled Broadside Account Of The Bloody Massacre, will be presented in the upcoming Important Americana auction, offered by Sotheby’s. This is one of only two known Revere engravings of this scene.
Among the portraiture available in this auction is Ammi Phillips’ Portrait of a Seated Child in a Pink Dress with a Spaniel and Coral Teething Ring. Phillips spent 50 years of his life creating as many as 2,000 portraits in disparate styles. His artistic style shares similar elements of plain backgrounds and the contrasting use of light and dark. Other lots featured in this sale include American White Pelican by John James Audubon, an American painter. In the early 19th century, he was known as “the young country’s dominant wildlife artist.” View the complete listings and register to bid on Sotheby’s.
The first day of the Luxury Estates and Private Collections auction, offered by Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery, will include works of fine and decorative art as well as furnishings, jewelry, and antiques. Among the key lots in this auction is a carved wood sculpture of a nude woman by Francisco Narváez. A Venezuelan sculptor, Narváez used local materials to create his works. The sculpture included in this sale is signed on its circular base.
An additional example of the included fine art is a signed work of glass by Richard Ritter. Though based in North Carolina, Ritter’s work was selected for the traveling Smithsonian Institution show titled “The White House Collection of Craft” in 1993. Other decorative and fine artworks on offer include a mechanical globe and moon model, a limited edition bronze Erte sculpture titled Rigoletto, and a bronze figurine of Lady Justice holding her scales.
Beyond art and decorative works, the presented furniture lots will include a set of Karges Venetian armchairs, a pair of French walnut and tapestry curule chairs, and wenge armchairs with bentwood seats. View the full catalog and register to bid on Invaluable.
Furniture and both fine and decorative art are available in the upcoming Americana and Other Related Wares auction, presented by Stair. Several furniture pieces from the collection of Gloria and Richard Manney are particularly highlighted. Highlighted in this sale is a Chippendale bookcase. It is made of several different kinds of wood, including poplar, spruce, and both red and white pine.
Another featured piece from the Manney collection is a mahogany console table with a marble top. The table was modeled after 18th and 19th-century cabinet maker Duncan Phyfe’s personal table. It is attributed to the personal workshop of Phyfe, who was noted for his Neoclassical style. Collectors looking for other pieces from the Phyfe workshop will find a mahogany sofa among this auction’s featured lots. Register to bid and view the complete catalog on Bidsquare.
The Haidan people, who are native to an archipelago of present-day Canada, believe that whales help travelers return home. In Haidan lore, donning the skin of a killer whale can also grant a person access to the spirit world. A ceremonial Haidan whale bowl is available in the upcoming Native American Art auction, presented by Stair. Like the whale bowl, the auction’s 165 lots represent ethnographic pieces from Native communities across the Americas.
Also featured is an Oglala Sioux journal that documents events from 1802 to 1861. A combination of pictures and written notes document the day’s pressing events, from information about horses to the violent deaths of friends and foes. Representing the Hopi tribe is a kachina or doll for women and children. The Hopi believe these dolls open a beneficial gateway between the human world and the supernatural. “They are generally bringers of clouds, rain, and all good things,” says the Dallas Museum of Art. The kachina available in this auction depicts Shalako, who is a symbol of fertility. There are several markings in her headdress, including two ears of corn, that symbolize a bountiful harvest. Those interested in this or any other piece can register to bid on Bidsquare.
Founded in 1942 by John H. Johnson, the Johnson Publishing Company became influential in the African American community by launching Ebony and Jet magazines. After Johnson’s passing in 2005, the company was handed down to his daughter, Lisa Johnson Rice. Johnson Publishing Company was one of the nation’s largest and most successful black-owned businesses until it filed for bankruptcy in 2019. The upcoming African-American Art auction sourced from the Johnson Publishing Company will be offered by Swann Auction Galleries on January 30th.
In this sale, 87 lots of oil paintings, busts, sculptures and vases created by contemporary African American artists will be presented. At the front of the auction is an oil painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner. This painting, titled Moonrise by Kasbah (Morocco), shows figures standing outside the steep walls of a Moroccan medina. Also showcased is a bronze cast by Richmond Barthé. This sculpture is titled The Negro Looks Ahead. The piece was thought to show Barthé’s support for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, of whom he said: “I believed that the Negro advanced more under him than any other President since Lincoln, so I did this piece of the Negro emerging out of his rough background with hope in his future.” View the complete collection and place a bid at Swann Auction Galleries.
RG Munn Auctions will present the upcoming American Indian Art Auction on January 20, 2020. Much of Native art was intended to perform a service – to please a deity, soothe an angry god, placate or frighten evil spirits, or to honor the newly born or recently deceased. This art often depicts the lifestyles, cultures, religion, and environment of the various tribes. It includes pottery and ceramics, jewelry, beadwork, basket weaving, and carvings. Highlighted in the auction is a 1970s turquoise necklace with matching earrings from the Navajo artist Don (Juan) Johnson. Signed ‘Don Juan of New Mexico,’ the 18-inch 14 karat gold necklace features a turquoise shell and coral pendant. The dangling earrings are also made of gold and turquoise to match.
Another notable lot presented in this sale is a 1980s mask from the Northwest coast. This wooden mask is hand-carved and painted with purple and turquoise designs around the mouth, eyes, and forehead. The mask is topped with blonde hair. A selection of Navajo Indian textiles, a pottery dough bowl, several pieces of Wounaan Rain Forest basketry, and an antique photo of an Indian woman holding a small child will also be included. To view all 206 lots and place a bid, visit RG Munn Auctions.
Quinn’s Auction Galleries presents the works of worldwide artists and painters in the upcoming Fine & Decorative Arts Auction. One highlight of the sale is a painting titled Perseonaje Rojo (Red Person) by Peruvian painter Tilsa Tsuchiya. The artist’s Peruvian mythic paintings reflect her Surrealist style. Also featured is a bronze sculpture by Transavantgarde artist Mimmo Paladino. The sculpture Senza Titolo represents Paladino’s idea of introducing mysticism and emotions back into art, a key focus of the Italian Neo-Impressionist movement. Art pieces by Fernando De Szyszlo, Mort Kunstler, and Chang-Sup Chung are also notable.
Among the available lots of Asian art is a painting of a fisher girl by Indian artist B. Prabha. Several Roycroft copper pieces are also a part of the auction. The hammered and handmade copper articles were created during the American Arts and Crafts Movement. Chinese porcelain and pottery will be presented as well. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Quinn’s Auction Galleries.
Quinn’s Auction Galleries will offer a selection of rare books, vintage maps, and Americana in their upcoming auction. Representing Presidential and American history is an 1864 document signed by Abraham Lincoln. It confirms the military appointment of Elliot Loues. Among the available books, a key lot is Dorothy Lamour’s Life as a Phrase Book by Noelle Janaczweska. This edition is among only 25 copies that were published and includes the signature of Mike Hudson, who conceived, designed, and illustrated the book.
Also featured are limited edition copies of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass and signed books by Virginia Woolf and Andy Warhol. The auction will present over 150 maps as well. Of these, a hand-colored, engraved map of the New York area by cartographer Nicolas Visscher is notable. Firearms, atlases, lithographs, and photographs will also be a part of the sale. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Quinn’s Auction Galleries.
William T. Gillinder purchased the Franklin Flint Glass Works, Philadelphia in 1861. It would eventually be renamed Gillinder and Sons. The company saw a major success at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876 where they showcased many frosted glass pieces. The technique became popular during the last quarter of the 19th century. Around the same time, the company introduced a new pattern that featured several sculpted lions in frosted glass. Highlighted in the upcoming Winter 19th & 20th Century Glass and Lighting Auction offered by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates is an example of this lion-patterned glass. The auction also includes sugar and salt shakers, opalescent glass, a collection of Duncan swans, Italian millefiori, and more.
Among the key lots of this sale is a Burmese vase made by the Mt. Washington Glass Co. This 18th-century vase is decorated with flowers, leaves, and buds. A three face Duncan & Sons cylindrical ribbed cracker jar is another highlight of the sale. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates.
In 1980, George Rodrigue worked on a painting to illustrate a book of Louisiana ghost stories. During his research, he came across the tale of Slaughterhouse, which tells the story of an evil watchdog. Inspired by the tale, the haunted dog is seen in many of his subsequent paintings. Rodrigue’s work titled God Bless America, September 11, 2001 shows an American flag behind the blue dog. A silk-screened print of the piece will be available in the upcoming Interiors Live Auction, presented by New Orleans Auction Galleries,
An Iranian Serapi carpet will also be included in the sale. This antique piece is characterized by designs from Laristan traditions, including interlinked geometric and cross patterns. The auction will feature a painting titled Children Shrimping by William McTaggart. The artist was a pioneer of Impressionism before the movement gained popularity. He was best known for depicting the changing mood of the sea. Register to bid on any of these items by visiting New Orleans Auction Galleries’ website.
