The Met Acquires Ancient Egyptian Gilded Coffin by ArtFixDaily

The Met Acquires Ancient Egyptian Gilded Coffin

The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced Tuesday that it has acquired an ancient Egyptian gilded cartonnage coffin from the first century B.C. The highly ornamented lid of the coffin is displayed prominently in the Museum’s Lila Acheson Wallace Galleries for Egyptian Art (gallery 138), where it will be seen and enjoyed by millions of visitors.

Gilded Coffin Lid for the Priest Nedjemankh (detail).Late Ptolemaic Period (150-50 B.C.). Cartonnage, gold, silver, resin, glass, wood. Purchase, 2017 Benefit Fund; Lila Acheson Wallace Gift; Louis V. Bell, Harris Brisbane Dick, Fletcher, and Rogers Funds and Joseph Pulitzer Bequest; Leona Sobel Education and The Camille M. Lownds Funds; and 2016 Benefit Fund, 2017 (2017.255b). Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

“This beautiful and unusual coffin is extremely rare, and we are honored to welcome it to the Museum’s collection,” said Daniel H. Weiss, President and CEO of The Met. “It is an extraordinary work of art that will give our visitors the opportunity to appreciate a fascinating period of Egyptian history.”

The mummiform coffin was inscribed for Nedjemankh, a high-ranking priest of the ram-headed god Heryshef of Herakleopolis. The elaborately decorated surface includes scenes and texts in thick gesso relief that were intended to protect and guide Nedjemankh on his journey from death to eternal life as a transfigured spirit. The coffin’s exterior is sheathed in gold, which —– because of its permanent nature —– was associated in ancient Egypt with the gods and the divinized dead. According to ancient texts, the use of gold in the coffin would have assisted the deceased being reborn in the next life.

Unique to this coffin are the thin sheets of silver foil on the interior of the lid, intended to protect Nedjemankh’s face. To the ancient Egyptians, the precious metals gold and silver symbolized several things. On a general level, they could represent the flesh and bones of the gods, or the sun and the moon; on a more specific level, they were identified with the eyes of the cosmic deity Heryshef, whom Nedjemankh served.

Even more remarkably, the long inscription on the front of the coffin’s lid explicitly connects gold and “fine gold” (electrum) to the flesh of the gods, the sun, and the rebirth of the deceased. The association of the inscription with the actual use of metals on the coffin is a rare —– possibly unique —–occurrence.

Officially exported from Egypt in 1971, the coffin has since resided in a private collection. At The Met, it joins the Museum’s renowned ancient Egyptian collection, one of the finest and most comprehensive in the world.

DeCordova announces new Chief Curator

DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Gross as deCordova’s new Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs and Chief Curator. Gross is presently Seymour H. Knox, Jr., Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Yale University Art Gallery, where she has worked since 2000.

“We are excited to have a curator of Jennifer’s vision, intellect, and reputation take the helm of our curatorial program,” said Kois. “Jennifer brings to deCordova an extraordinary track record of curatorial accomplishment on the international stage, a keen interest in sculpture, and a history of finding and supporting contemporary artists early in their careers. Having set the goal of making deCordova the best contemporary sculpture park in this country, the Board and I cannot imagine a stronger curatorial voice to help make that goal a reality while also ensuring we build a robust contemporary gallery program and collection.”

The appointment is the culmination of a six-month process by an advisory search committee, chaired by the Director and composed of deCordova Trustees, Overseers, and members of deCordova’s staff. As Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs and Chief Curator, Gross will set the curatorial pace and direction for the both the Sculpture Park and the Museum, taking over a position previously held by Nick Capasso.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to deCordova’s ambitious future plans,” said Gross. “This is an exciting time in the history of this honorable and beloved institution as the staff and Board look to raise the bar for the Museum’s curatorial program.”

Gross has organized numerous exhibitions and artist projects at Yale, including: Richard Artschwager! (2013), which was organized jointly with and originated at the Whitney Museum of American Art, before moving to the Hammer Museum where it is currently on view; Continuous Present (2009), a group show which included Francis Alys, Rodney Graham, Roni Horn, On Kawara, and Franz West, among others; and The Societe Anonyme: Modernism for America (2012–2013), currently on view in the newly-renovated Yale University Art Gallery after traveling to the Hammer Museum, The Phillips Collection, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. In addition, Gross organized Yale’s annual Malbin Symposium; was a visiting critic in Yale’s School of Art; and organized the Happy and Bob Doran Artist-in-Residence Program, which brought in artists as diverse as Janine Antoni, Alyson Shotz, Thomas Nozkowski, and Richard Tuttle.

“The Board is ecstatic with the appointment of Jennifer Gross,” stated Gerry Frank, incoming President of the Board of Trustees. “It signals a true commitment to the quality of the Curatorial program and to moving deCordova boldly forward.”

Gross has published essays on numerous contemporary artists, including: Kristin Baker, David Ireland, Josiah McElheny, Jim Nutt, Marniko Otsubo, Laura Owens, Richard Tuttle, and Rachel Whiteread. She has been a guest lecturer, advisor, and juror at cultural institutions across the country, including for the Foster Prize at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston; the Artadia Awards, Houston; The 2010 deCordova Biennial; and Harvard University.

Prior to joining the Yale University Art Gallery, Gross served as the Curator of Contemporary Art at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and as the founding Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art at the Maine College of Art, where she was also an Assistant Professor. Earlier, she was the Director of the Germans von Eck Gallery in New York.

Gross received her PhD in Art History from the Graduate Center, City University of New York. She received her Master of Arts degree in Art History at Hunter College. A native of New Jersey, Gross has longstanding ties to the local arts community.

Established in 1950 and located just 20 miles west of Boston, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is dedicated to fostering the creation and exploration of contemporary sculpture and art through a dynamic slate of rotating exhibitions, innovative learning opportunities, a constantly changing 30-acre landscape of large-scale, outdoor, modern and contemporary sculpture, and site-specific installations.

DeCordova is located at 51 Sandy Pond Road in Lincoln, MA. DeCordova’s summer hours (Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend) are every day, Monday through Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm. DeCordova’s winter hours (beginning after Columbus Day weekend) are Wednesday through Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission: $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for students (ages 13 and up), and free for children 12 and under. Members, Lincoln residents, and active duty military personnel and their families are admitted free of charge with proper ID. Public tours of the Museum’s galleries (free with admission) are offered Thursday and Sunday at 2 pm, and the First Free Wednesday of every month at 1 pm. Public tours of the Sculpture Park (free with admission) are offered Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm. Group tours for students and adults are also available. Visit decordova.org or call 781.259.8355 for further information

Georgia Museum of Art to feature works by Georgia potter

The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia will host the exhibition “Pick of the Kiln: The Work of Michael Simon” July 20 through September 8, 2013.

Simon, born and raised in Minnesota, has lived in the Athens area for many years. He attended the University of Minnesota, where he studied under nationally acclaimed potter Warren MacKenzie, then moved to Georgia in 1970. He lived at Happy Valley, a pottery commune outside of Athens established by a friend and former classmate at Minnesota. He received a master of fine arts degree in ceramics from the University of Georgia in 1981.

Simon uses a salt kiln to fire his work, which creates a varying surface and does not require a separate glazing process. Over time, his work has evolved and changed subtly, and the exhibition will illustrate some of those changes as well as Simon’s shifting interests as an artist. In the mid-1980s, Simon began keeping one pot from every kiln he fired in order to document this process of change. The selected pots make up the material of the exhibition.

Dale Couch, curator of decorative arts at the museum, said, “It provides the opportunity to fathom a leading ceramic artist’s view of his own work as it develops over time. Caroline Maddox (the museum’s director of development and the curator of the exhibition), in collaboration with Michael, has selected a body of work that is metaphorically like an archaeological trench: it simultaneously reveals the chronology of his work and the creative consciousness of the artist. These are brilliant examples of modern craft.”

A reception for the exhibition, beginning with a group discussion at 1:30 p.m. in the museum’s M. Smith Griffith Auditorium moderated by potter Mark Shapiro, will be held August 25.

M.S. Rau Antiques and Fine Arts Celebrates 100 Years

Steeped in history, M.S. Rau Antiques and Fine Art has been a solid fixture in New Orleans through the ups and downs of a city with its own remarkable history

This exceptional, 80-piece Royal Copenhagen service exhibits the beloved Flora Danica pattern.
MS Rau Antiques and Fine Art — This exceptional, 80-piece Royal Copenhagen service exhibits the beloved Flora Danica pattern.
*MS Rau Antiques and Fine Art*

Specialists in 18th and 19th century antiques and art, Rau’s vast inventory is spread over a sprawling, two-story gallery and includes furniture from Versailles and other royal houses, including early American industrialists, massive sets of sterling silver from King George VI, and other pedigreed decorative art objects, porcelain and unusual rare items and memorabilia from American and European history.

This spring, two special exhibits have been assembled and are on view on the second floor of the gallery. The Rau for Art Foundation contest finalists, high school students who entered works of art inspired by the Crescent City, as well “Treasures of Rau” which showcases the best of the best from the extensive Rau inventory. For more information, visit www.rauantiques.com

A stunning marble sculpture of Hercules and Antaeus made by Sculptor Mahlon Dickerson Eyre for the 1876 Continental Exhibition.
MS Rau Antiques and Fine Arts — A stunning marble sculpture of Hercules and Antaeus made by Sculptor Mahlon Dickerson Eyre for the 1876 Continental Exhibition.
*MS Rau Antiques and Fine Arts*

Antique Firearms, Chinese Objects, Original Fine Art, More To Be Sold Dec. 3 By Crescent City Auction Gallery In New Orleans

Original painting by George Rodrigue titled Blue Dog is Happy (est. $25,000-$35,000)

Over 1,100 lots of mostly fresh-to-the-market items – culled from prominent local estates and collections and spanning a wide variety of categories – will be sold on Saturday, Dec. 3, by Crescent City Auction Gallery. The all-day event will be held in the firm’s spacious gallery, located at 1015 Julia Street in New Orleans, beginning at 8 a.m. (CST).

Offered will be original works of art (mostly by regional artists, but some by national and international artists as well), fine Chinese objects, antique weaponry (to include two rare and highly collectible antique guns), wonderful estate jewelry, silver, period American and European furniture, objets d’art, chandeliers, Persian rugs, Moorcroft pottery and decorative accessories.

“The auction before the holidays is always an exciting one,” observed Adam Lambert of Crescent City Auction Gallery. “We are getting an early start to accommodate over 1,100 items, but we’ll probably wrap up around 5 o’clock in the afternoon. This is the last auction of the year, and the quality of the merchandise is truly impressive.”

The two antique guns are expected to generate much bidder interest. The first is a scarce Confederate Civil War Whitworth sharpshooter’s rifle, made circa 1860. What will make this weapon so desirable to collectors is the fact that it is stamped “Natchez” on the underside, below the trigger guard. Also, it is in fine condition. The rifle is expected to realize $15,000-$25,000.

The other is a very rare V.G.W. Libeau New Orleans-made percussion cap derringer gun, manufactured pre-1845 and with the barrel engraved “V.G.W. Libeau New Orleans” (Libeau is listed as a gunsmith in the New Orleans city directories from 1832-1845, at No. 9 Camp Street). The pistol should change hands for $5,000-$7,000. Also sold will be a Japanese Samurai sword.

Original works of art will be served up in abundance. Two works expected to wow the crowd are an oil on canvas by David Johnson (1827-1908), titled Forest Landscape with Stream, unframed and signed and dated lower right (est. $5,000-$7,000); and a large (3 feet by 4 feet) oil on canvas work by George Rodrigue (b. 1944), titled Blue Dog is Happy (est. $25,000-$35,000).

Other notable artworks will include an 1858 oil on board rendering by Arthur Fitzwilliam (1819-1905), titled Teepee on the Shore, signed and dated and measuring 7 ¼ inches by 16 inches (est. $7,000-$12,000); and an early 20th century pastel on board work by Fremont Ellis (1897-1985), titled New Mexico Landscape with Adobe Houses, signed (est. $5,000-$7,000).

Oriental objects will include a Chinese famille verte wine cup from the 18th century, decorated with a fisherman wading in the water (4 ½ inches tall by 3 ½ inches in diameter); and a 7-inch-tall Chinese matte white carved baluster vase made circa 18th century from the Ching Dynasty, under the Emperor Chien Lung (1735-1796), with intricate relief scenic decoration.

Furniture pieces will feature a Georgian inlaid mahogany bow-front chest-on-chest, made circa 1800 and standing 79 inches tall (est. $1,200-$1,800); a diminutive French provincial carved cherry double-door armoire, circa 1800, 82 inches tall (est. $1,000-$1,500); and a carved rosewood double-door armoire attributed to Prudence Mallard, circa 1860 (est. $1,500-$2,500).

A marvelous selection of estate jewelry will include sapphires, diamond, rubies, emeralds and pearls. Also offered will be an unusual 18kt white and yellow gold flamingo pendant brooch, made in the 20th century and modeled after the Duchess of Windsor’s example, mounted with diamonds, baguette emeralds, sapphires and rubies and signed “Blanco” (est. $9,000-$12,000).

Also offered will be a Newcomb College pottery vase, made in 1931 by Sadie Irvine in the “Moon and Moss” pattern. The 5 ¼ inch tall, 6 ½ inches in diameter vase should hammer for $2,500-$3,500. Bidders will also be treated to a nice collection of 20th century Moorcroft pottery.

Returning to fine art, examples will include a signed and dated (1925) oil on canvas by William Woodward (1859-1939), titled Oak Lawn Biloxi, 22 inches by 28 inches, titled verso on the original price tag (est. $15,000-$25,000); and a 20th century unsigned oil painting by Conrad Albrizio (1892-1973), titled Olympia Brass Band, 47 inches by 35 ¾ inches (est. 4,000-$6,000).

Other original works of art will feature an early 20th century signed oil wash landscape by Alexander J. Drysdale (1870-1934), titled Moss Draped Oak Tree (est. $2,500-$3,500); an oil on board by Gideon Townsend Stanton (1885-1964), titled Woman in a Pink Dress Walking on a Country Road, signed and inscribed (est. $2,000-$4,000); and an oil on canvas by Colette Pope Heldner (1902-1990), titled Swamp Idyll, signed lower left and titled verso (est. $1,200-$2,000).

Rounding out the artwork category is a 19th century signed work by Benjamin William Leader (1831-1923), titled Welsh River Landscape With Fishermen, signed lower left (est. $2,000-$4,000); a 1983 oil on canvas painting by William Tolliver (1951-2000), titled Bare Oak Tree in the Woods, signed and dated (est. $2,000-$4,000); and a signed and dated 19th century oil on canvas painting by Louis C. Girault, titled Cabin and Boat on the Bayou (est. $1,500-$2,500).

Also sold Dec. 3 will be a stunning 70-piece set of sterling flatware, in the “Rhapsody” pattern, weighing 87.73 troy silver ounces (est. $2,500-$3,500); other sets of sterling flatware; and a large, early 20th century cast stone fountain figure of the sea god Poseidon on a conforming cast stone plinth (est. $2,000-$4,000).

Exhibition previews will be held from Wednesday, Nov. 23, through Friday, Dec. 2 (excluding Thanksgiving day and on Sunday, when Crescent City Auction Gallery is closed), from 10-5. There will also be a late evening preview on Wednesday, Nov. 30, until 8 p.m. Online bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be taken.

Crescent City Auction Gallery, LLC is a locally owned and operated full-service auction house, located in a historic building in downtown New Orleans. The firm conducts auctions featuring fine art (particularly works from Louisiana or the Southern U.S.), pottery, silver, jewelry, art glass, furniture (American, English and Continental), lighting, rugs and bric-a-brac.

Crescent City Auction Gallery, LLC is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (504) 529-5057; or, you can e-mail them at [email protected]. A catalog for the Dec. 3 sale is available on request, and all lots may be viewed online at www.crescentcityauctiongallery.com.

Auction Gallery Of The Palm Beaches

PRESS RELEASE: A Trio of England’s Important Silversmiths De Lamarie, Storr, and Bateman, cross the block at AGOPB Fall auction!

Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches Inc., will hold there annual Fall auction on the evening of Monday, October 24th at 6 pm. The auction will feature an Important English 18th and Early 19th century silver collection. This local silver collection was collected over the past forty years and is most notable for selection of pieces by England’s most important and collectible silversmiths, Paul De Lamarie, Paul Storr, and Hester Bateman . This auction will be the gallery’s best silver collection to date and the most important collection to come across the block in Florida.

The De Lamarie pieces are the most prized works of English silver makers and pieces by him are rare and when available are sought after by collectors. The collection features three pieces by the silversmith master including a George II mug dated 1733, a George II snuffer tray from 1734, and a sublime George I brandy warmer dated 1719. The rarity of De Lamarie pieces is well known amongst silver collectors.

The quality of pieces by Paul Storr is well represented including a very fine George II coffee pot, dated 1817, with serpent and mask terminals; a set of four sterling silver entrée dishes and covers from 1827, and a very fine silver basket, dated 1822. The best Storr lot is a George III silver gilt cup and cover dated 1808 of campana form with chased laurel leaf bands and reeded handles ending in Bacchus masks. The piece at 14 ½” high is the largest and most impressive Storr piece ever offered by the gallery.

This silver collection has additional pieces to include an important William III punch bowl by William Fawdery, London, dated 1701,with grotesque mask ring handles; a fabulous George III soup tureen and cover, dated 1815 by William Pitts and Josh Preedy; an important George III silver gilt basket by Benjamin and Jas. Smith dated 1811, with grapevine border; and a Hester Bateman teapot, dated 1790. Additional pieces include a rare Gorham Martele Center Bowl; a large Tiffany silver tankard; a fine Russian silver tea caddy by Victor Savinko dated 1887, and several Chinese Export pieces including a Takara Bune boat.

The auction will also feature antiques and fine art from local estates to include English and American 18th/19th Century Furniture; Meissen; Herend, Bronzes, Bronze Clocks, Important Jade, Ivory, Collection of Important Zitan Objects to include A Pair of Highly Important Zitan Wood Gourd-shaped Wall Vases with Imperial Qianlong Poem Inscriptions, A Large Gilt-bronze 16th Cent. Buddhist Guardian Figure, Old Paris Porcelains, Snuff Bottles, Pietra Dura & Ormolu Box, Miyao Bronze Archer, Fine Art by William Bromley, John Francis Murphy, Joan Miro, Salvador Viniegra y Lasso, Bernard Buffet, and so much more. Over 300 lots will be offered on the evening of Monday October 24th at 6 pm.

For more information and images of this outstanding collection please see the Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches website at www.AGOPB.com or call 561-805-7115 and ask for Mr. Leslie Baker or Mr. Brian Kogan.

Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches Inc., founded in West Palm Beach in 2003, the gallery operates out of a state of the art 7,000 sq. ft. gallery in the historic Gatsby’s Bldg., a ½ block from the Norton Museum of Art and minutes from Palm Beach and the South Dixie Antique Row.

Conducting monthly auctions of fine estate antiques, art, jewelry, and heirlooms, each auction is fully cataloged, illustrated, and available to both gallery and on-line bidders.

Currently gaining a reputation for selling quality and fresh consignments from South Florida and the Florida Southwest Coast, the gallery is an alternative to the larger auction houses, where the personalized, knowledgeable, and confidential merge to offer a complete buying and/or selling experience.

All items in our auctions are guaranteed as described. With this assurance, the auction gallery has quickly become a leader in Florida and the country.

New Venue for The American Art Fair

The American Art Fair moves to a new venue as it celebrates its fourth year and will be held November 28-December 1, 2011 at the Bohemian National Hall, 321 East 73rd Street, New York City. The gala preview on Sunday, November 27, marks the beginning of American Paintings week in New York. Inaugurated in 2008 at the National Academy of Design, the fair focuses on the grand tradition of American art established early in the 19th century and gathers more than 300 works including landscapes, portraits, still lifes, studies, and sculpture.

Robert Henri (1865-1929) Mary Patton in Rose Smock, 1926. Oil on canvas, 24 ¼ x 20 inches. Hammer Galleries.

The Fair assembles the premier specialists in 19th and early 20th century American art. Returning exhibitors include Adelson Galleries, Alexander Gallery, Avery Galleries, Debra Force Fine Art, Gerald Peters Gallery, Godel & Co. Fine Art, Hammer Galleries, Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Menconi & Schoelkopf, Questroyal Fine Art, and Thomas Colville Fine Art. New exhibitors include Babcock Galleries, Conner – Rosenkranz, Gavin Spanierman, Jonathan Boos, John H. Surovek Gallery, and Meredith Ward Fine Art.

Harriet Hosmer (1830-1908) Daphne, c. 1853. Marble, 28 ¼ x 19 5/8 x 11 ½ inches. Signed: Harriet Hosmer/Fecit Romae (rear of socle). Courtesy of Conner - Rosenkranz. — Harriet Hosmer (1830-1908) Daphne, c. 1853. Marble, 28 ¼ x 19 5/8 x 11 ½ inches. Signed: Harriet Hosmer/Fecit Romae (rear of socle). Courtesy of Conner – Rosenkranz.

The Bohemian National Hall was completed in 1897 in the Renaissance Revival style and was designated a New York City Landmark in 1994. After a five-year renovation by the Czech government, it re-opened into three institutions-the Consulate General of the Czech Republic, Czech Center New York and Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association in late 2008. Designed by William C. Frohne, the BNH is a wonderful example and rare survivor of one of the many social halls built in the nineteenth century for New York City’s immigrant ethnic communities. Today, the Bohemian National Hall represents a significant reminder of the major working-class ethnic enclave that once flourished in Yorkville and stands as a monument to an important aspect of the history of immigrants in New York City and the United States.

Fair hours are 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and to 8 p.m. on Monday, November 28. Admission to the preview is by invitation; and admission from November 28-December 1 is complimentary. For details, please visit www.TheAmericanArtFair.com.

Charles Biederman (1906-2004) #1 Paris, New York, 1937-38. Painted wood, 52 x 41 x 3 inches. Meredith Ward Fine Art.

Summer Estate Sale Planned For Saturday, Sept. 10, by Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery in Atlanta, Ga.

*Stained glass window titled Koi Pond by Steven Steltz*

A fine estates auction featuring hundreds of fresh-to-the-market lots of English, French, Continental, American and Asian furniture, plus fine and decorative arts, will be held Saturday, Sept. 10, by Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery, beginning promptly at 11 a.m. (EST), in Great Gatsby’s Gallery, located at 5180 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Atlanta.

“This sale will feature property from prominent estates and collections from around the world,” said Marie Kowalik, president of Great Gatsby’s, adding, “Live and absentee bidding, with live audio/video streaming, will be accessible on the Great Gatsby’s website, at www.greatgatsbys.com.” An online preview with live online bidding will be available beginning Aug. 25.

Furniture pieces of note will include a massive 19th century carved oak buffet, attributed to Alexander Roux and believed to have been made for the 1853 Crystal Palace Exposition (125 inches tall by 105 inches wide) ; a monumental mid-19th century French carved oak buffet (145 inches tall by 114 inches wide); and an early 19th century Irish Chippendale mahogany console.

Also offered will be a mid-19th century George III-style Cuban mahogany double-door linen press (84 inches tall by 51 ½ inches wide) and a monumental 19th century carved oak fireplace mantle, with mirrored overmantle (130 inches tall by 70 inches wide). Chairs will feature a pair of 18th century American carved mahogany Chippendale side chairs and an oversized early 19th century Venetian rococo carved oak throne chair, tall at 73 inches in height.

From the Asian items category, two lots expected to do well are a Chinese carved wedding bed (100 inches tall by 82 inches wide) and a pair of antique Asian woven hats (including one rattan Chinese military foot soldier’s hat from the Qing Dynasty, 11 inches diameter; and one World War I-era woven coolie hat, 23 inches in diameter).

Artwork will be offered in abundance. A few expected star lots will be a mid-20th century mixed media work by Xie Zhi An, titled and dated en verso Early Spring in the Commune (1964); an early 18th century oil on canvas on panel depiction of the Holy Family; and a 19th century Italian bronze sculpture of Mercury (75 inches tall, 12 inches in diameter at the base).

Also sold will be an oversized early 18th century oil on canvas portrait of Sir Thomas Covenry (52 inches by 42 inches); a pair of oversized 20th century oil on canvas landscape panels, each one measuring 101 inches by 69 inches; an oversized late 19th century Continental oil on canvas portrait of a nobleman (55 inches by 43 inches); and a very fine 18th century Continental Old Master oil on canvas portrait of a royal in a suit of armor.

Decorators looking for a gorgeous room divider are in luck. The sale has two: a massive 19th century pierce carved rosewood center-of-the-room divider, depicting dragons chasing the flaming pearl (101 inches tall by 75 inches wide); and a mid-20th century hand-painted five-panel room divider decorated with bright tropical foliage and birds (96 inches tall by 105 inches wide).

Folks in the hunt for a rug or tapestry will also feel fortunate. The auction will feature a nice grouping of finely woven, 100 percent silk Persian rugs, ranging from a palace-size Tabriz (magnificent at 13 feet by 20 feet) to something more modest (about 8 feet by 10 feet); as well as an early 18th century French verdure Aubusson tapestry (114 inches high by 164 inches wide).

Stained glass windows will also change hands, to include a 20th century American stained glass window crafted out of two- and three-layer art glass by Ken Phillips Studios (48 inches tall by 24 inches wide); and a 20th century American stained glass window titled Koi Pond, crafted of three- and four-layer art glass and artist signed Steven Steltz (44 inches high by 44 inches wide).

Rounding out just some of the day’s expected top lots will be an early 19th century British military officer’s campaign trunk with brass bound strapping; three 19th century needlepoint valances with a central petite point heraldic crest, mounted for hanging; a pair of late 19th century oversized English porcelain hand-painted vases (28 inches tall and 9 ½ inches diameter at the base); and a mid-19th century Continental iron shield with a well-detailed figural battle scene.

Great Gatsby’s specializes in conducting successful personal property sales. The firm’s global marketing strategy and international clientele ensures the personal property it represents receives the far-reaching exposure it deserves.

Leila Heller Gallery To Present Monumental Sculpture By Alexis Laurent At Artmrkt Hamptons July 14-17, 2011

Leila Heller Gallery, New York, is presenting a site specific monumental new work by San Francisco-based sculptor Alexis Laurent at artMRKT Hamptons, a new modern and contemporary art fair, debuting Thursday, July 14 through Sunday, July 17, 2011, on the grounds of the Bridgehampton Historical Society in Bridgehampton, New York.

Alexis Laurent, Billboard, 2011. Cor-Ten steel and succulents, 88 x 360 x 4 inches. Courtesy the artist and Leila Heller Gallery, New York

The sculpture, entitled BILLBOARD, 2011, forms a U-shaped wall (15 feet long and 10 feet wide) made of more than 600 weathering steel boxes containing more than 1,000 plants including ten varieties of succulents. Seven small windows allow viewers to look though to the other side of the work. The slogan “We need to think outside the box more than ever,” is emblazoned on one side of BILLBOARD.

“I was thinking of the fact that billboards are all over cities but that it would be fun to have just one made out of plants. I am interested in integrating art into the urban landscape and how to use art to make the urban world a better place. This is a fantasy of a billboard by a highway, delivering a message about the environment with its array of flora,” explained the artist.

Alexis Laurent lives and works in San Francisco. He was born in Poissey near Paris, France. His work has been on view recently in Southampton, New York, Houston, and San Francisco, as well as at Art Dubai and the VIP Art Fair.

Also on view at their booth, 101, at artMRKT Hamptons, Leila Heller Gallery will show work by Shoja Azari & Shahram Karimi, Kezban Arca Batibeki, Alexander Calder, Damien Hirst, Rachel Hovnanian, Marilyn Minter, Takashi Murakami, Shirin Neshat, Chris Ofili, Martin Saar, Andy Warhol and Albert Watson.

Avenue Shows Antiques, Art & Design At The Armory

This year, the fall antiques season kicks off with the newly re-branded AVENUE Antiques, Art & Design at the Armory featuring over 50 international dealers specializing in high quality art and antiques from a wide range of disciplines and eras. Connoisseurs and neophytes alike will enjoy world-class French, English, Italian and Continental furniture from the 17th century through mid-century modern; fine art from 19th century European to Contemporary; fine silver including early American, Tiffany, Jensen, Art Deco and Modernist; Russian antiquities; antique enamels; rugs and tapestries; English and Chinese export porcelain; ceramics; pottery; sculpture; antique, vintage and fine jewelry; vintage handbags, rare books and much more.

Picasso "Owl" vase, AVENUE SHOWS ANTIQUES, ART & DESIGN AT THE ARMORY, Sept. 22-25, 2011. — Picasso “Owl” vase, AVENUE SHOWS ANTIQUES, ART & DESIGN AT THE ARMORY, Sept. 22-25, 2011.

Dealers include: Alexander’s Antiques, Antique American Wicker, F. L. Braswell Fine Art, Calderwood Gallery, Camilla Dietz Bergeron, Ltd., Dallas W. Boesendahl, David Brooker Fine Art, Dinan & Chighine, Domont Jewelry, FraMonT, N & I Franklin, Galerie Curial Fine Art, Gallery Afrodit, Gary Rubinstein Antiques, Hamshere Gallery, Haynes Fine Art of Broadway, Hollis Reh & Shariff, Il Segno Del Tempo, J. Lohmann Gallery, James Infante, John Atzbach Antiques, John Jaffa Antiques, Joyce Groussman Estate and Fine Jewelry, Knollwood Antiques LLC. , Lobel Modern, Linda Gumb, Lynda Willauer Antiques, M.S. Rau Antiques, LLC, Macklowe Gallery, Marion Harris, Mark Helliar 20th Century Design, Michael Pashby Antiques, Michael S Haber Ltd., Milord Antiques, Moylan-Smelkinson/The Spare Room, Nula Thanhauser, Ophir Gallery, Pat Saling New York, Percy’s Silver, Philip Chasen Antiques, R.M. Barokh Antiques, Richters, Robert Lloyd Inc., Sabbadini of America Inc., Scott Estepp Gallery, The Silver Fund, Stephen Kalms Antiques, Valentin Magro, William Cook Antiques.

Antiques, Art & Design at the Armory will open with a private VIP preview on September 21 and run daily through September 25. Show programming will include exclusive Royal Oak Foundation lectures and designer roundtable discussion, including Decorating with Antiques in the Modern World, moderated by Susanna Salk.

Dates: Thursday, September 22 – Sunday, September 25, 2011

Location:Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue at 67th ST, NYC

Hours: Thursday – Saturday 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM

Sunday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Tickets: $20

Information: 646.442.1627/www.avenueshows.com

For more information and images please contact: Barbara Goodwin, Show Director, AVENUE SHOWS at [email protected] or 212.284.9728.

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