On the weekend of June 7-8, Stair in Hudson, NY will host a series of auctions offering an emphasis in 20th century, modern and contemporary art. Highlighted as a sale of its own, with several works finding their way into the other Stair catalogs, is a significant bounty of prints, photographs and sculptures by German avant-garde artist Joseph Beuys. A titan of conceptual art, Joseph Beuys is admired for his intimate contributions to movements such as Fluxus and Neo-Dadaism. Stair represents his breadth of work like a comprehensive syllabus where mixed media assemblages such as lot 409a, a lemon attached to a yellow light bulb and ready-mades like lot 16, a ‘Noiseless Blackboard Eraser,’ exist in the fascinating, deadpan posture that blurs art and daily life, for which Beuys is keenly appreciated.
Antique and collectible toys resonate with collectors today for their ability to evoke the power of memory and nostalgia. From holding on to your first Barbie doll to discovering a mint-condition action figure from your childhood, these objects offer a glimpse at the historical evolution of toys in our society and serve as cultural relics. Here, we explore some of the most popular childhood collectibles, including vintage toys from the 19th century through the 21st. Read on to see if your favorites make the list.
Vintage Toys
By the turn of the 20th century, technology made it possible to easily produce toys in the same manner as early cars and trucks. Before the rise of action figures and franchise-driven toys, vintage toys enthralled children all across the world. Today, toys like model trains and porcelain dolls that were once cherished items are now valuable collectibles.
Wind-up toy mechanisms first appeared in the 15th century when German inventor Karl Grod developed a mechanical fly and eagle. Later, in the 16th and 17th centuries, large-scale and toy-sized automaton figures were created with wind-up motors that were used to produce lifelike motions.
By the early 18th century, wind-up toys gained traction in Germany and other parts of Europe, and by the 19th century, a wealth of European toymakers began mass-producing tin versions. This led to a large influx of tin wind-up toys in America during the Industrial Revolution. In 2012, a rare Marklin wind-up toy boat sold at Bertoia Auctions for $264,500
First created in Germany in the 1830s, model trains were made by pouring molten brass or tin into a mold. Shortly after, the first American version was created by Mathias Baldwin of the Baltimore Locomotive Works. After the American Civil War, model trains grew in popularity, and eventually more advanced features like the section track, figure eight layout, and electric capabilities caught on. Demand for model trains began to wane in the mid-20th century, as interest shifted from trains to cars.
Diecast cars began appearing in the early 20th century when toy manufacturers started to create miniature versions of the Model T and MG sports cars. These detailed replicas provided a means for collectors and car enthusiasts alike to own the expensive models they coveted. Diecast cars reached the height of their popularity during the 1960s.
While older, rarer models can sell for thousands of dollars in the market, the most expensive example ever to sell at auction was a gold-plated 1:8 scale model of a Lamborghini Aventador, which started at a price of $7.5 million in 2013.
Antique Porcelain Dolls
First appearing in the mid-19th century, antique porcelain dolls became a popular children’s toy and are now considered cherished collectibles. To-date, the most expensive doll ever to sell was a bisque doll, which sold at Theriault’s for $300,000 in 2014. Though limited editions and dolls made before the 1930s generally sell for loftier amounts, others generally sell anywhere from $10–$2,000.
Cap Guns
Hubley Diecast Automatic Disintegrator Gun. Sold for $889 via Morphy Auctions (September 2017).
Cap guns grew in popularity towards the end of the American Civil War when the gun manufacturers that had produced firearms and ammunition prior to the war began developing toy models as a way to stay in business. Cap guns were further popularized by the introduction of fictional heroes of the American West in movies and television programs. Toy companies like Hubley, Kenton, Kilgore, Wyandotte, and others began entire production lines of cap guns, and the height of their production was a 20-year span in the years that followed World War II.
Today, collectors find the most value in mint and boxed versions, especially those in complete sets with lifelike features. Rare cap guns in their original boxes have sold for upwards of $2,000.
‘70s Toys
The rise of action figures and franchise-driven toys dominated the toy industry in the 1970s. Characters were important components in how toys were deemed relevant, and this allowed for a franchise’s multi-media reach across literature, film, and television. Vintage toys are still notable today and are coveted relics for modern collectors.
Dinky Cosmic Interceptor
The Dinky Toys company produced miniature diecast toys from the 1930s until the 1970s. Today, Dinky diecast toys are in-demand at auction: a collection of 3,500 rare car toys sold for £150,000 at Devon auction in 2016—and one of their later airplanes even increased its value at auction in 2015.
Pez
Pez dispensers are loved for both the candy inside and the playful characters on top. While the dispensers are often produced in limited editions (and thus, hard to find), sometimes Pez candy itself can be incredibly valuable. In 2012, a collection of hard-to-find Pez candies from the 1970s, in their original wrapping, sold at Profiles in History for a hammer price of $300. The candies came from the collection of Chad Dreier, one of the most avid collectors of entertainment and pop-culture memorabilia, including a swath of vintage toys, games, and action figures.
With the ability to stretch to four times his size and snap back without a mark, Stretch Armstrong was one of the most intriguing and entertaining toys to emerge from the 1970s. It was the only toy of its kind, and its unique approach made it desirable to many. Unbreakable and dexterously satisfying, this doll has been known to sell for over £300 at auction.
Evel Knievel is one of the most notable stuntmen of all time. His daring motorcycle tricks seemed to defy gravity, and the merchandise that was modeled after him allowed kids (and adults) to take home a piece of the action. His “Stunt Cycle” action figure is now a tough toy to find, but an original, unused piece in its sealed box—with the original price sticker of $4.49 still attached—landed over $600 at auction in 2016.
Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels, a brand of diecast car that launched in 1968, gained traction during the 1970s. Various models were released throughout the decade, including mirrorings of drag race culture and a partnership with Marvel comics for themed cars. Though many different models and lines of the cars have been released since they first launched, earlier releasesare coveted collectibles.
Star Wars was the ultimate film phenomenon of the ‘70s and still draws a strong cohort of fans to this day. Action figures of well-known characters came to the market shortly after the franchise launched in 1977 and were beloved by fans both young and old. A near-mint vintage figure of a character with little screen time took home £8,500 at auction in 2017—main characters have been known to garner far more.
In addition to action figures, the Star Wars franchise launched a line of Marvel comic books. As a testament to the enduring appeal of Star Wars merchandise, this comic bookwas originally sold for just $0.35 in 1977. In 2016, it sold for nearly $4,000 at Heritage Auctions in 2016, indicating that interest in the franchise shows no signs of slowing.
‘80s Toys
Toys in the 1980s were a mix of classic favorites mixed with new technology. Dolls and action figures remained a quintessential fixture of toy boxes everywhere, but technological advancements saw the rise of video games and more electronically savvy toys. Their worth was defined by the pioneering spirit of these new toys and their enduring appeal today.
Koosh Ball
The Koosh Ball, still in production today, is a stretchy and soft toy that serves as a plaything for children (and is often used a stress-reliever for adults). The multi-colored ball won’t cost you more than a few dollars today, but an original with the tags intact can be worth much more.
G.I. Motorized Battle Tank
G.I. Joe action figures first came on the market in 1964 and were popular until they were discontinued in 1978, largely in response to waning support of the Vietnam War. The 1980s saw a resurgence of interest in toys of military interest due to Cold War sentiments, and G.I. Joe made a comeback, with the Motorized Battle Tank leading the way as one of the most favored toys in the line.
Teddy Ruxpin was the original talking teddy bear. He “read” children stories from cassette tapes, based on the same technology as the talking figures featured at Disneyland. Though adoration for him didn’t withstand the test of time, an original Teddy has been known to sell for three times its pre-sale estimate; worth more than just a good storytoday.
This action figure line was already on the rise, but the release of the eponymous 1990 film propelled their success. Fans still flock to the franchise today, with films, action figures, and comic books enjoyed all over the world. The value of the action figures doesn’t live in the sewers as their namesakes do, though original pieces have been known to sell for more than two to three times their pre-sale estimate.
The eponymous animated cartoon aired from 1985–88, continuing the obsession with coordinating action figures. Capitalizing on the theme of humanoids and aliens that took the decade by storm, Thundercats action figures provided a fantastical outlet for kids and are collected by nostalgists today.
Rubik’s Cube
Rubik’s Cubes are arguably one of the most iconic puzzles to ever exist. Still in production, consumers have been known to use them as casual pastimes, or to even engage in competitions—world records have been set for the fastest time to solve one. A brand new cube in its original packaging from 1980 can run for nearly $300.
Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake was a beloved character in the ‘80s. Her popularity spread through television shows and children’s books and is still a favorite today. While the world has seen an abundance of dolls to hit the market, Strawberry Shortcake’s key differentiator was that the dolls actually smelled like strawberries. This one-of-a-kind feature exponentially increased the doll’s value.
Cabbage Patch Kids
Cabbage Patch Kids were all the rage in the 1980s, and New Year’s Day in 1983 marked the sale of more than three million dolls. Today, an original toy can earn up to $375 at auction, depending on its condition. The high demand for the dolls also later served as inspiration in the 1996 Arnold Schwarzenegger film “Jingle All The Way.”
Launched in 1985, the Nintendo Entertainment System revolutionized home video games. For the first time, the excitement of the video arcade could be replicated in your living room and with the release of the Nintendo system, the video game world was changed forever. As one of the most recognized gaming systems of all time, an original, unopened version could fetch more than $500 at auction.
Nintendo took the world by storm in the 1980s, and that was just the beginning. The original Game Boy was a huge step forward for mobile gaming. Its audience included people from all ages and backgrounds, including astronauts—this particular unit sold for $1,220 at auction after it flew to space in 1994.
Since the launch of American Girl dolls under the leadership of Pleasant Rowland (The Pleasant Company) in 1986, the brand has flourished to include books, film adaptations, and brick-and-mortar stores. The success of the first three dolls is credited with the rise of the franchise, and an original Molly McIntire, Kirsten Larson, or Samantha Parkington doll could be worth more than $1,000 today.
‘90s Toys
The 1990s saw sustained interest in action figures and the rise of high-tech toys. You may still have a few in your closet or be familiar with many of the reissues that have occurred in recent years. Though not the distant past, the ‘90s still yielded a swath of collectible toys.
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering was the first trading card game released in 1993, and the phenomenon is still played today. The intricate activity has a number of unique cards to entice players and make things interesting. Each game depicts a battle between wizards known as planeswalkers who cast spells, use artifacts, and summon creatures that are seen on the individual cards.
The value of these cards depends greatly upon their rarity. Some were less produced than others in printing which increased their value in both the game and cost. A small, colored symbol on the card represents its rarity, where black is the most common and orange-red or bronze is mythic. Depending on your collection and its condition, these cards could be more valuable than just making the right play.
The Furby took the 1990s by storm, igniting the tech-toy boom. With a wide-ranging vocabulary and snarky attitude, the Furby kept kids busy and surely drove some parents insane. A characterized re-release of the toy to correspond with new Star Wars films yielded a resurgence in Furby’s popularity in 2015.
Tamagotchi
Carrying a pet around all day is a commitment, but a digital pet that fit on your key fob or in your pocket allowed kids the best of both worlds. The craze was wide-reaching in the late 1990s, and despite the rerelease of the toy in 2018, an original Tamagotchi could be worth up to $100. The revival may have something to do with its value—fans of the toy as children may be doing a bit of nostalgic collecting as adults.
Deluxe Talkboy
After it appeared on Home Alone 2: Lost In New York in 1992, the Deluxe Talkboy was a huge hit. The toy allowed friends to radio each other and keep in touch during play, and is more than just a cheap piece of plastic and wires today—an original toy is worth at least $130.
Power Rangers
The 1990s had its own wave of action figure franchises. Power Rangers toys were based off the live-action superhero television series and catapulted the action figures to the spotlight. Only a few dollars a piece would have allowed you to be part of the fun back then, but today, an original piece could be worth more than just nostalgia.
Polly Pocket
Though Mattel recently relaunched the Polly Pocket line of toys, the original collection is still highly sought after, as some parts and pieces are difficult to track down. The small figures allowed players to flex their creativity and craft a unique, tiny world of storytelling and imagination.
Super Soakers
Still enjoyed today, Super Soakers are signature features of any child’s summer. While the market has expanded to include a variety of models and designs, an original vintage Super Soaker can be valued at nearly $500. As the first toy of its kind to shoot water over 50 feet, it was a revolutionary development for pool time.
Spice Girls Doll Collection
The Spice Girls were a ‘90s girl band sensation. The five British singers were well-known globally by their unique personas and catchy songs. A complete collection of all five Spice Girl dolls in their original boxes can take home up to $600.
Mario Kart
Launched in 1992, Mario Kart was—and still is—one of the most beloved video games of all time. The racing game brought friends together for long afternoons of fun, and original versions can be worth up to $1,000 today, sought-after for their original graphics and gaming features.
Beanie Babies were some of the most desired childhood animal toys during the 1990s. Special edition Beanie Babies—such as the Princess Diana memorial bear—were not only sought out by children but also by collectors. Auctions featuring the bears during the height of the craze brought top dollar.
Hot Wheels Treasure Hunt Cars
Though Hot Wheels had been around for several decades by the 1990s, the release of the signature Treasure Hunt Cars line brought on a new obsession for the cars. A limited edition line of cars with real rubber wheels and modified designs were instant hits with collectors and are still highly sought after today.
Japanese fantasy cartoon Pokémon took the United States entertainment world by storm. Not only did it comprise a television series and video game, but the coordinating card game became popular in the ‘90s and still is to this day. Trading cards were amassed by players and collectors over the years, and some are worth far more than their original value.
While rich in sentimental value, collectible toys from decades and even centuries—ago can fetch top dollar when sold in their original condition. The evolution of toys and how much they are auctioned for—from simple wind-up toys to technologically complex video games—gives us a glimpse into how the childhood experience has changed over the decades. Such cultural relics give collectors insight into our historical relationships with toys, and provide a hint at where the future of toys is headed.
On June 9, Rago Auctions will offer for sale a rose-cut diamond button ring, the central diamond of which once belonged to the last Emperor of Mexico, Maximilian I.
This rose-cut diamond was among a set of diamond buttons (the exact number of which is unknown) owned by Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, who was installed as the ruler of Mexico by Napoleon III in 1864 only to be overthrown and executed three years later in 1867.
Pictured: Édouard Manet’s oil on canvas “The Execution of Emperor Maximilian”
Twelve of these buttons were later acquired by Col. Edward H. R. Green, son of the brilliant and miserly financier Hetty Green, the richest woman of the Gilded Age. When this voracious collector of coins, stamps and jewelry died in 1936, his collections were sold privately and at auction. Hammer Galleries (founded by famed collector Dr. Armand Hammer) acquired jewelry from Green’s collection, including Maximilian’s set of 12 rose-cut diamonds, mounted as finger rings. These rings were advertised for sale in the New York Times on October 24 and December 5, 1943.
It is Rago’s presumption that the diamond presented in lot 1037 of their June 9 Fine Jewelry Auctionis from one of these rings. Another of the diamond buttons, also adapted as a ring, sold at Christie’s Geneva on May 14, 2013 as lot 574. Both the subject ring and the one sold by Christie’s are engraved with the weights of the center stones and inventory numbers.
Not often does the world get to witness an array of art as
eclectic as the one auctioned by Mortan
Subastas. It’s
a vibrant collection of works from most celebrated Latin American artists. Far
from the rosy cheeked, congenial subjects of most paintings are the subjects of
this collection. Visually, all the items are like subtle triggers to untapped emotions
that captivate, awe and inspire, much like the works of Frieda Kahlo and her
likes did decades ago. It’s unlike any other auction most audiences are used to.
With its roots originating from Latin Americans spread globally, belonging to different indigenous cultures, the items displayed in this Bidsquare auction are the combination of their artistic expression. Some of the works go back 16th century, before European colonization. The auction houses works by Diego Rivera, Sergio Hernández, José Clemete Orozco, Leonora Carrington, Arnaldo Coen, Joaquín Torres-García, Jorge González Camarena just to name a few. For centuries Latin American art has been a changed the way the world views the expression of human emotions.
Founded in 1992, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia is one of the most important museums in Spain, as it offers visitors an extensive collection of more than 21,000 works of contemporary art. Today, we are going to talk about ten essential works in the Reina Sofía Museum.
It is considered the best complement to the Prado Museum, since it continues with the periods not covered by this other art gallery in Madrid. It stands out mainly for the large number of works by three of the greatest Spanish artists of the 20th Century: Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró.
1. A high number of works by the great Spanish artists
The collection on surrealist art, with works by Yves Tanguy, Francis Picabia, René Magritte and others, is very relevant as well. Also important is the Cubist collection, where the names of George Braque, Juan Gris, Robert Delaunay or Fernand Léger are added to Pablo Picasso’s. Furthermore, we must not forget the presence of Expressionist artists such as Francis Bacon or Antonio Saura. In addition to these, there are many other trends, by artists such as Alexander Calder, Yves Klein, Mark Rothko, Miquel Barceló, Lucio Fontana, Antoni Tàpies, etc., from which we can see the many techniques, materials and pictorial genres used throughout history.
As you can see, the huge variety of artists is key in this museum, and perhaps the main reason for it to have become, with almost four million visitors in 2017, the most visited museum in Spain, and the eighth most visited in Europe, according to a study carried out every year by AECOM.
2. The most important works in the Reina Sofía Museum
We would like to invite you to find out some of the most important works you should see on your visit to the Reina Sofia Museum, so… Let’s go!
1. Guernica, by Pablo Picasso. 1937
Guernica is undoubtedly the most famous work in this museum. It was commissioned to Picasso by the Government of the Spanish Second Republic to decorate the Spanish Pavilion at the 1937 Paris International Exhibition. It arrived at the art gallery in 1992 from the MoMA in New York, along with several sketches and photographs.
The work itself is a sharp critique of the bombing suffered by this Basque town during the Spanish Civil War, and it is considered an icon of the 20th Century, as it was able to symbolically reflect the suffering caused by war on people.
2. Figure at the Window, by Salvador Dalí. 1925
A young Salvador Dalí painted this work during his training and stylistic definition period, when Surrealism had not yet significantly influenced his paintings.
As you can see, it is a simple picture, with no decorations disturbing our sight. There is only a girl on her back in front of an open window overlooking the sea in Cadaqués (probably his sister Anna María, Dalí’s model until he met Gala in 1929), which makes us flood into a haven of peace and quietness.
3. The Great Masturbator, by Salvador Dalí. 1929
This other work by Dalí, unlike the previous one, does belongs to the Surrealist movement. Its content is autobiographical, and represents the transformation that the arrival of his lover, Gala, meant in the artist’s life.
In general terms, this painting shows the discomfort of an artist who feared losing his mind. Both the title of the work and the subject represented make very clear the artist’s sexual implications, since sex was one of his main obsessions.
4. Portrait of Sonia Klamery, by Anglada Camarasa. 1913
One of the best portraits housed in the Reina Sofia Museum is the one painted in 1913 by Hermenegildo Anglada Camarasa for the Countess of Pradère, Mrs. Sonia Klamery.
This painting draws our attention for the delicacy of the position, the Countess’ seductive gaze, the colours used… In short, the exoticism of the work. Influenced by the Viennese secession, his paintings managed to maintain a remarkable relationship with the works by Klimt, due to their decorations, and with Fauvism, in his use of colour.
This is a Modernist work of great visual appeal, highly influenced by the decorations and costumes of the Russian ballets that the artist attended during his stay in Paris.
5. Open Window, by Juan Gris. 1921
Juan Gris is considered to be one of the three great masters of Cubism. He ran into Pablo Picasso during his stay in Paris, and his main contribution to that artistic trend was the use of the technique known as “papier collé” (pasted paper), which consists of introducing elements such as newsprints, fabric, wood… in painting as if it were a collage, and the union of these type of pieces together create a final object.
In Open Window we can see that, as well as the authorship of a new iconographic model: that which incorporates in some way the outdoor atmosphere into the closed frame of a painting. It is seen from a conceptually different approach following the guidelines of Cubism.
6. House with Palm Tree, by Joan Miró. 1918
This painting is really important because it is one of the earliest works made by Joan Miró during his stay in Montroig, while he was recovering from an illness he was suffering. At that time, he made one of the most important decisions of his life: to become an artist.
In House with Palm Tree, the Catalan artist used such a realistic and descriptive treatment of landscape that this painting has been defined as a “register of objects”. This type of works, which Miró produced over a period that ended in 1922, with the creation of one of his best-known works, The Farm, have a certain dreamlike and naïve air that he gradually began to use in more clearly Surrealist works.
7. Totalizer, by Francis Picabia. 1922
In 1922, Picabia decided to move away from Dadaist proposals and presented his new works at the Dalmau Gallery, with a completely new and refined concept based on geometry drawn from circles.
Totalizer is a clear example of this stage, when Picabia made that type of highly enigmatic creations based on machines and mechanisms, in which there is an obvious interest in expressing sexual processes through a formal language derived from mechanics.
8. Carmen, by Alexander Calder. 1974
The Reina Sofia Museum houses several works by this American artist who devoted almost his entire life to providing motion to his sculptures through the use of very different materials.
Carmen is a monumental mobile sculpture located in the centre of the patio in Sabatini Building, formed by a fixed supporting structure and a mobile upper section in which eight riveted blades move when in contact with air, giving it a playful component, while generating a spontaneous contrast between its firm industrial base and the volatility of the upper section.
9. Woman in Blue, by Pablo Picasso. 1901
Painted under the influence of his well-known “blue phase” and during one of the brief periods he stayed in Madrid, this canvas hides a fascinating history.
He presented it for the National Exhibition of Fine Arts in 1901, where it was awarded an honourable mention, but Picasso never picked it up once the competition was over. Eventually, the painting re-appeared in 1954, after being rescued by Enrique Lafuente Ferrari, at that time director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, and from that moment on it became part of the State collection.
10. A world, by Ángeles Santos. 1929
Until recently, Ángeles Santos has been practically an unknown artist in the pictorial field, and that is once again a good example of the difficulties for women in finding their own place within an avant-garde art dominated by men.
In 1929, she painted this large canvas of 3×3 metres, for which she had to assemble two canvases to achieve the desired surface. It caused a great impact at that moment, if we consider that its author was a young woman who, far from the cultural environment of the capital, had not had the opportunity to know the development of artistic currents.
According to the artist herself, it was some verses by Juan Ramón Jiménez that inspired her for the creation of A world: “[…] vagos ángeles malvas / apagan las verdes estrellas / Una cinta tranquila / de suaves violetas / abrazaba amorosa / a la pálida Tierra” ([…] lazy mauve angels / extinguish the green stars / A quiet ribbon / of soft violets / loving embraces / the pale Earth.).
With this work we conclude this post from our Painting blog, where we have talked about ten essential works in the Reina Sofia Museum. We will talk about other great works by great artists, often present at painting auctions.
One thing is for sure, when Bidsquare bidders have their eye on the prize, they don’t give up so easily. On the weekend of May 4th, Rago hosted their much anticipated fine art auctions, ‘Post War + Contemporary Art‘ and ‘American + European Art‘ sales. Both catalogs collectively represented pivotal artists whom, in their respective movements, ranged in styles and periods like German Expressionism and American Pop Art. Monumental works such as Milton Avery’s “Girl by Harbour” brought in the highest price ever for a piece of flat art sold at Rago Auctions, selling for $564,500 and contributing towards the $3,631,406 combined total that was achieved that weekend. Online, Bidsquare bidders clicked into action securing splendid artworks in enthusiastic bidding wars, some lasting 35 turns, generating one of the strongest fine art weekends ever seen for Bidsquare at Rago.
Here are some of Bidsquare’s fine art wins from Rago Auction‘s May sales:
The top lot on Bidsquare in the ‘Post War + Contemporary Art Auction‘ was an acrylic and lead on canvas work by contemporary painter, printmaker, and photographer, David Salle. The large format diptych titled “Pauper” 1984, is a prime example of the collage-like works of which Salle is best known. The artist has explained his approach, “I have tried to get the fluidity and surprise of image connection, the simultaneity of film montage, into painting.” The $96,000 sale on Bidsquare is a grand new addition to the platform’s roster of post-auction results.
Bidsquare bidders went totally bananas for a 1991, oil on canvas work by Colombian artist Ana Mercedes Hoyos. A nod to classical still lifes and Pop Art’s commercial consumerism, seen here as the subject of bananas, Hoyos’ well defined style made her a pioneer of modern art in Latin America. Estimated between $5,000-$7,000 – lot 696 easily peeled its way past 6x the low estimate!
A key figure in the American Pop Art movement, Roy Lichtenstein, who is admired for adopting and channeling his parody themed artwork from comic books in the 1960s, also found his way to the top of Bidsquare’s charts. Known as Ben-Day dots, Lichtenstein’s manual method of patterning became a signature element of his style, which introduced the look of mechanical reproduction into the fine-art world of painting. As seen in lot 789, ‘Wallpaper with Blue Floor Interior” 1992, Lichtenstein’s transformational and reductive imagery remained an iconic style throughout the 90s, even when depicting interior scenes like the room pictured above.
Vietnamese painter, Le Pho, known for his dream-like paintings of nudes, gardens, and floral still lifes, blossomed on Bidsquare in the ‘American and European Fine Art Auction‘ sale. His relaxed brush work, playfully in line with post-impressionistic masters such as Pierre Bonnard and Odilon Redon, takes hold of both French sensibilities and traditional Chinese painting. This inviting example shined as bright as its’ buttery-yellow background on auction day, bringing in $19,200 – several petals above an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.
Bidders were plugged into and zapped by American Pop Artist, Andy Warhol, in lot 612, “Electric Chair” 1971, Screenprint in colors.Electric Chair is part of Warhol’s substantial Death and Disaster series started in 1962, which also included car crashes and suicides as illustrated in newspaper images. Warhol’s obsession with death and the role it played in our everyday lives, but also our apparent distance from it, inspired works like the above.
German Expressionist, George Grosz, who depicted Berlin life in the 1920s and later New York City upon his immigration in 1933, was a revolutionary and provocative character of early 20th century art. As a young man, Grosz gained popularity for his caricature’s of businessmen, wounded soldiers, prostitutes, sex crimes and orgies. However, after moving to America, Grosz eventually turned away from such subject matters and assumed a more sentimental tone by studying conventional nudes and landscape watercolors. The vibrant painting pictured above, lot 33, sold in the ‘American and European Fine Art Auction‘ well above the estimate of $7,000-$10,000 for $17,920.
There have been many descriptions of Las Vegas and certainly they are all very similar: “Las Vegas is the capital of neon and casinos, it’s extravagant, it’s tacky, but it’s fun” or, as Tom Wolfe said, “Las Vegas is the American Monte Carlo, but it doesn’t have the luxurious mustiness of the European aristocracy, it’s the capital of another kind of luxury, the place where nouveau richness has to dissimulate”.
That’s how it is made known, and how it is known. In addition, travel guides emphasize the same idea, “clearly these are not cultural holidays, but fun”, taking for granted, not only that culture cannot be found in Las Vegas, but also that cultural tourism and fun are opposites, and that’s what says one of the most renowned American guides, Frommer’s.
Today, we want to show you that Las Vegas is a cultural and artistic destination as well as an amusing one. Although it was conceived as a resort, as a playground, its luminous extravagance finally attracted not only fortune seekers and party tourists, but also a number of artists and writers.
So let’s leave these prejudices behind for once, because yes, ladies and gentlemen, in Las Vegas there’s art too, and it’s worth getting to know it. In recent years, the city has become crowded with museums, art galleries and exhibition centres, from classical museums with important collections by great masters, such as the Bellagio Gallery, to galleries that showcase emerging local artists or contemporary experimentation spaces. Don’t you believe it? Let’s take a look to some of them below.
1. The Arts Factory
The Arts Factory is a huge shopping mall full of contemporary art galleries and spaces aiming to promote local artists, including photographers, painters, graphic designers, and others. It is also a perfect place to discover the city’s artistic scene and atmosphere and to unwind from noise, as it is located in Gateway, one of the quietest areas for lunch or dinner at the well-known Bar+Bistro.
Also, every first Friday of the month there is a party event in which local artists are introduced and their works are exhibited, as well as art-oriented businesses, with live music, performance and other cultural events and activities.
2. P3 Studio The Cosmopolitan
P3 Studio is located on the third floor of The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, and it is a large glass studio where artists work on residency programs.
The originality lies in the artists, who create a kind of “interactive art”, in which anyone can come and interact with them, ask them questions, and even participate in the creation itself of their works (usually from 6 to 11 and from Wednesday to Sunday).
3. The Gallery at CityCenter
Many of you may not be familiar with the name of Dale Chihuly, the genius who filled the Bellagio lobby with crystal flowers, probably one of the most photographed art facilities in Las Vegas.
Chihuly is a leading American sculptor, known for his specialized works in blown glass. His fascination for abstract shapes from nature and his love for the ocean and its marine creatures are reflected in his art, exploring not only the so-distinctive colours of his works, but also design and assembly.
Currently, many of his creations can be found in different museums worldwide, as part of an architectural ensemble. However, it is here in Las Vegas, and specifically in The Gallery at CityCenter, the best place to see the largest collection of works made by this artist.
4. Marjorie Barrick Museum
The past of Native Americans comes to life at the Marjorie Barrick Museum, the former Museum of Natural History.
Here you will find pieces ranging from handicrafts, masks, ceramics by indigenous cultures —such as Mesoamerican, pre-Columbian and Native American cultures— Mexican dance altarpieces, Guatemalan and Bolivian textiles… among many other treasures.
The Marjorie Barrick Museum is also known for the many temporary exhibitions held in its different spaces, and for promoting its commitment to visual arts in a broad community that includes students, professors and staff from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
As a curiosity, it has a beautiful garden made up only of plants that can survive in the desert surrounding the city.
5. Martin Lawrence Galleries
In The Forum Shops at Caesars, among stores that pretend to be immersed in a Roman forum, there is one of the nine branches of one of the most prestigious galleries in the world, Martin Lawrence Galleries, the only place in Las Vegas where visitors can enjoy and meet face to face original and unique works by the main masters of the 20th Century, such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Keith Haring, Joan Miró, etc.
Furthermore, it is the only gallery that can boast about having a complete set of Marilyns by Andy Warhol, and the largest oil painting by Salvador Dalí. More than 2,500 square meters, located in the Caesars Palace, adorned with neon, replete, as we said, with the best works of art from the last 100 years, which are not only available to admire, but also to acquire.
6. Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
But if you really want to talk about art, just name the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, the city’s main exhibition space and the jewel in the crown. Actually, when Bellagio decided to open its own art gallery, many people responded with disbelief (how is it possible, Las Vegas is fun!), but a few years later, the casino itself had to double the exhibition halls because they were too small.
From time to time, the BGFA undertakes to hold intimate exhibitions with works by some of the world’s most important artists, including Picasso, Roy Lietchteinstin, Paul Cézanne, Andy Warhol, Monet… Tickets are often expensive, but after all, it is the Bellagio.
7. The Art of Richard MacDonald
Also in the Bellagio there is another gallery, The Art of Richard MacDonald, the result of a collaboration between the famous figurative sculptor Richard MacDonald (1946) and Guy Laliberté (1959), founder of the Cirque du Soleil.
Both said they shared the same “creative purposes,” and launched an exhibition that currently comprises more than 100 bronze works by this sculptor, many of them of large dimensions, which include representations of the artists of the Cirque du Soleil, classical dancers, and mythological figures. All of them are focused on the energy and passion of the moving human body. Certainly, a spectacle to our eyes!
Opening May 2, Heller Gallery in New York will present Salacia, the gallery’s third solo exhibition of new work by award-winning, Philadelphia-based artist Amber Cowan. The exhibit continues to June 15, 2019.
Detail, Amber Cowan, YOUNG LOVE RESTING IN GRAY MEADOW, 2019, flameworked American pressed glass/mixed media, 22 x 19 x 11 in. Heller Gallery
Cowan’s fantastical, wall-sculpture assemblages are made out of collected and re-worked American pressed glass once commercially produced in the best-known, but now defunct, glass factories in the United States. Through the transformative powers of devotional-like practice, knowledge and imagination, her work asks universal questions about rebirth and desire.
Salacia, Cowan’s exhibition title, honors the mythological Roman female divinity of the sea. Her name is derived from the word ‘sal’ (Latin for salt). A pressed glass cup with a motif of the goddess dating back to the 1920s (based on a 1690s painting by Italian painter Sebastiano Ricci) appears in two of the exhibition’s pieces: the smaller, blue Goddess in Sky Vase and the larger, narrative sculpture Snail Passing through the Garden of Inanna.
The major new pieces presented in Salacia delve deeper into Cowan’s narrative work and are populated with character-objects she has collected over years. Realizing their finite and diminishing numbers and prizing her emotional investment in these objects, she has created spectacular settings for them, which often echo the intricacy and exuberance of Rococo grottos and paintings.
Amber Cowan, Nautilus in Crown Tuscan, 2019. 8 x 4 x 12 in. Amber Cowan / Instagram
In a recent interview for the online design & architecture platform Yatzer, Cowan described the work she was making for Salacia as follows: ‘The pieces that I am gravitating towards lately are creating story scenes. In them I build a narrative around the collected [objects] and intermix them with personal visions, dreams and stories of travel from my own life. The piece I am excited about the most right now has ballerinas, fish, swans and a view of the coast driving down the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Barbara to LA.’
Amber Cowan received her MFA from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art in 2011. She is the 2014 recipient of the prestigious Rakow Commission from the Corning Museum of Glass. Her work has been published in the Corning Museum’s New Glass Review, the New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Craft Magazine and Glass Quarterly and featured in museum exhibitions across the United States, in Europe and in China. Her work is included in the collections of the Toledo Museum of Art, the Corning Museum of Glass and the Rhode Island School of Design Museum. In 2018 Cowan was honored by UrbanGlass for her contributions to the field.
Heller Gallery, founded in 1973 in New York, provides a curated platform for studio artists whose practice incorporates glass and whose work with the material broadens the horizons of contemporary culture. We identify, nurture and represent emerging artists as well as prominent international masters.
Numerous artworks have entered preeminent public collections as a direct result of Heller Gallery’s exhibitions and advocacy. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and Museum of Modern Art have acquired works from the gallery as has The Corning Museum of Glass, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and numerous museums worldwide, including Victoria & Albert Museum, Musee des Arts Decoratifs de Louvre, and Hokkaido Museum, among others.
The card was found in 1992, but wasn’t appraised until now.
This 1916 M101-4 Babe Ruth Rookie Card was found stashed in a player piano and could now fetch upwards of $100,000 at auction. Photo courtesy of Goodwin Auctions.
Ellen Kelly discovered the collectible in a stash of baseball cards wedged inside the pedal of a player piano that once belonged to her aunt. Kelly had admired the instrument as a child, but was never allowed to play it—until she finally bought it for $25 at her family’s estate sale in 1992.
Along with the Ruth card were about 112 other vintage baseball cards, presumably hidden and later forgotten by Kelly’s father or uncle. Ruth’s card, which has a blank back, dates to his time as a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox, and comes from the historic M101-4 set, which featured photographs, rather than illustrated portraits of the players, as was done in earlier cards.
“I don’t guess I realized what they were worth when I found them,” Kelly told Sports Collectors Daily, noting that family friends had long urged her to have the cards appraised. “Best $25 I ever spent.”
The Ruth card has been given a 2.5 rating (out of a possible 10) from Beckett, a company that grades cards based on their condition and authenticity, in part because it has a print line running across Ruth’s chest. But according to the lot listing, the card “presents much nicer than the BVG 2.5 grade it received at first glance.” The sale runs through April 25.
Dale Ball bought this 1921 Babe Ruth W575.1b card produced by Shotwell Manufacturing Co. for just $2, but he now claims it is authentic. Photo courtesy of Dale Ball.
Last month, another Ruth rookie card—this one with a near-mint 7 rating from Professional Sports Authenticator—sold for $600,000 at Robert Edward Auctions. Separately, collector Dale Ball announced that he had authenticated a 1921 Ruth W575.1b card produced by Shotwell Manufacturing Co., a Cracker Jack competitor, that he had purchased for just $2. The seller, Action Sports Cards and Coin in Sparks, Nevada, had thought it was a fake.
“I was told by an auction place back East that the beginning bid would start at $1.5 [million] through them and that it would probably go for $4.5 [million] and up,” Ball told a local ABC station. “It deserves to be on the wall of Yankee Stadium, right next to Babe Ruth’s statue. It deserves to go home.”
Fresno State anthropology professor John Pryor examined the card using a fiber ID process and found the composition matched another card from that era—but without a stamp of approval from one of the three major sports authentication services (Beckett, Professional Sports Authenticator, and Sportscard Guaranty LLC), it may prove difficult for Ball to achieve the big-ticket sale he has predicted.
This T206 Honus Wagner set a new world record price for a baseball card, selling for $3.12 million at Goldin Auctions in 2016. Photo courtesy of Goldin Auctions.
The most expensive baseball card of all time is the extremely rare T206 Honus Wagner, featuring the dead-ball era Pittsburgh Pirates star, and produced by the American Tobacco Company from 1909 to 1911. In 2016, the “Jumbo Wagner,” named for its oversize lower border, set a new baseball card record with a $3.12 million sale on an even loftier $5 million estimate from Goldin Auctions.
The most famous example of the card, once owned by National Hockey League star Wayne Gretzky and thus dubbed the “Gretzky T206 Wagner,” sold in 2007 for $2.8 million to Ken Kendrick, owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite being officially graded as being in near-mint condition, the card was actually trimmed to give it sharper corners by sports memorabilia auction fraudster Bill Mastro. He admitted to doing so in October 2013 while pleading guilty on charges of mail fraud, for which he was sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is here with some of the most unique items in the collection. The grand auction is happening ‘live’ on Tuesday, 23rd April 2019. The auction involves fine arts, decorative arts, furniture, collectibles, watches and Asian works of art that you will find quite noteworthy. We highly recommend going through the catalog on Bidsquare that features items of all kind. You might want to get ready to make a bid on the artifact that you find admirable because we are sure you will find one!
Let’s begin with the painting that has captured the maximum attention in the auction collection. The painting Two Sporting Dogs Beneath a Tree is work of a widely known artist Hugo Anton Fisher (1854-1916). He has established a remarkable reputation among art enthusiasts for a long time. He was mainly known for his absolutely impressive skill in watercolor.
The impressionist painter has carefully studied his subjects in the painting and has captured it in the paper as though it were a photograph. The watercolor depicts two dogs lying around in a garden beneath the shelter of a huge tree. With an estimated price of $200-$400, the starting bid for the painting is $100
When we first saw this piece, we couldn’t take our eyes off it! Leslie Hindman auctioneers feature this masterpiece painted by an American painter, Helen Frankenthaler. The abstract expressionist painter became quite famous in around the 1950s. The artist gave a new life to abstract expressionism. Her work is associated with her sense into artistic purpose. Helen Frankenthaler expresses herself by pouring into a large canvas with violent gestures. She was prominent for her unique use of the color-stain technique.
The canvas, Flotilla, 2006, consists of figurations of varied elements in a landscape. Her painting reveals an abstract climate. With an estimated price of $3000-$5000, the starting bid for the painting is $1500.
Another eye-catcher is A Painting depicting a Mastiff after Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) which a copy of The Five Eldest Children of Charles I. Sir Anthony Van Dyck was a Baroque Artist and a leading painter in the England court, during the Dutch Golden Age. The starting bid for the painting is $2500
Marc-Aurele once said, “All artists are influenced by others in their technique, in their craft. But a real artist preserves his Ivory Tower, which is impenetrable. The Ivory Tower is the area of inspiration, it’s where the artist goes to get his ideas about art.” He was a painter as well as an inspiration to many artists.
The painting Marc-Aurele Fortin, View of Hochelagadepicts a beautiful scene of Hochelaga. He enjoyed playing with colors, mostly on landscapes. He had experimented with the pure colors with grey background in the watercolor. It has given the painting a brilliant shade. His art transports us back in the time to Hochelaga. With an estimated price of $1000-$1500, the starting bid for the painting is $500
This particular drawing, Scene au Cafe, 1912, is done by George Grosz who has a major contribution to the New Objectivity movement. His artworks mostly depict the different sides of on-going life. This is a sketch you’d want to invest in!
The sketch reflects a social scene in a café with are men enjoying their meal. Even his quick sketches are good enough to tell us a story about the environment in the drawing. He has drawn this piece with quick yet conscious hand movements. With an estimated price of $1000-$2000, the starting bid for the painting is $500
An exclusive piece of furniture which dates back to 1680, the William and Mary Walnut Chest of Drawers stamped H. Beard, comes with three short drawers over three long drawers, raised on spherical feet.
With an estimated price of $1,000-2,000, the starting bid for this beautiful item is $500. It comes from the Estate of Ann and Paul Arenberg in St. Louis, Missouri and is in an overall stable condition.
Another vintage piece of furniture is A Directoire Style Mahogany Bureau Plat which dates back to the 19th/20th century. It comes with a leather inset top and five drawers which are raised on fluted tapering legs.
Ben Shahn is a celebrated painter and graphic artist whose work expresses great emotional power. His ability to communicate his art through emotions is what brought him fame. The painting displays a mixture of realism and abstraction. It depicts a certain part of the social issue in our world. He has used a monotonous shade of tan to articulate the feeling of the man.
The crying man has his hand over his head showing that his mind is filled with nothing but sadness. The starting bid begins with only $50 and the estimated price for the painting is $100-$200
Lot 234 presents a wonderful bowl from our collection. This fine and magnificent piece was originated in the 20th centuries. The Chinese export porcelain Bowl is decorated with flowers, leaves, and birds in cobalt blue color that adds glow to the bowl. The circular rim has a border designed with two consecutive lines and florals in between. Its height is 5 1/2 diameter, 12 inches.
We guarantee to all the porcelain-lovers that this Chinese bowl is going to be one of your most prized possessions! With an estimated price of $40-$60, the starting bid for is $20.
You can also check A Pair of Worcester Porcelain Trays, from the early 19th century each with a crowned “C” monogram. With an estimate of $100-200, the starting bid is $50.
The auction consists of over 600 magnificent items and each item is unique and distinctive in its own way. For further information, you may visit St. Louis Spring Auction. Have fun making your pick!
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