Amelia Peláez del Casal (1896 – 1968) was considered one of the most significant Cuban artists of the avant-garde generation. Born in Villa Clara, Cuba, Peláez was renowned for her ceramics and paintings of flowers, decorative objects, and architectural motifs. The artist graduated from Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes de San Alejandro, where she studied under Cuban painter Leopoldo Romañach. A painting titled Figura (Cubist Figure), by Amelia Peláez, is a key highlight of this upcoming sale from Nadeau’s Auction Gallery. This gouache on paper artwork dates back to 1949 and has been signed by the artist. The work represents Peláez’s trademark Cubist style characterized by simplified shapes and thick black lines.
A 4.88-carat pear-shaped brilliant-cut diamond is another leading lot. This mega-sized diamond is GIA-certified and set in a platinum ring. The diamond has D color and VS2 clarity. Pear-shaped diamonds flank the central diamond on either side. Additional items of interest include Patek Philippe watches, an oil on canvas by American painter Guy Carleton Wiggins, and a nine-piece “Blossom” sterling silver tea and coffee service set from Georg Jensen. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming 2024 Annual New Year’s Day Auction sale, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
American portraitist and designer James Barton Longacre was the fourth chief engraver of the United States Mint. He was noted for designing the famous Indian Head, Shield Nickel and Flying Eagle cents, among other designs. One such coin by Longacre, a three-dollar gold piece, is a key highlight of the upcoming sale from Gold Standard Auctions. The obverse bears an image of Lady Liberty wearing a Native American princess headdress, and the reverse portrays a wreath. Another notable coin is an 1880 8/7-CC Morgan silver dollar, depicting a woman wearing a cap on one side and an eagle with its wings spread on the other. The text on the obverse reads “Liberty; E Pluribus Unum; 1880.”
An 1854 Seated Liberty dime also leads the listings. The original design was executed by Mint engraver Christian Gobrecht and drawn by Thomas Sully. It consists of the figure of Liberty in a flowing dress, seated upon a rock and holding a pole surmounted by a Phrygian cap. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming Dec 31st Colorado Conductor Coin Auction, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
The latest December 24th Colorado Conductor Coin Auction from Gold Standard Auctions will offer over 900 pieces, including foreign and American currency. Among the top lots is a 1938 Walking Liberty half dollar coin. Walking Liberty coins were issued by the U. S. Mint from 1916 to 1947. On the obverse, Lady Liberty is seen walking toward the sun while carrying oak and laurel branches, symbolizing prestige in military and civil affairs, surrounded by stars and stripes. The reverse of the coin depicts an eagle atop a mountain crag, extending its wings. Additionally, the design includes a mountain pine sapling, representing the nation. This Walking Liberty 50-cent coin contains just a modest amount of silver compared to sterling silver, with 90% silver, compared to 92.5% silver in sterling.
Collectors can also consider an 1883 Kingdom of Hawaii dime. The silver Kalakaua coinage of the Kingdom of Hawaii was put into circulation in 1883 to strengthen the pride of its people. The obverse of the coin depicts King Kalakaua I, along with the date. On the reverse, a laurel wreath surrounds the words ONE DIME, and UMI KENETA in Hawaiian. The motto of the Hawaiian people, UA MAU KE EA KA AINA I KA PONO, appears on the reverse as well. In size and purity, the Hawaiian Dime is similar to the U. S. Dimes. Visit Bidsquare to find more information on the Dec 24th Colorado Conductor Coin Auction and browse other online auctions.
Farber Auctioneers and Appraisers will present a wide range of timepieces and fine jewelry this December. Leading the catalog is a Dewitt Twenty-8-Eight Grand Skeleton Tourbillon 18-karat gold limited edition wristwatch. The offered timepiece is powered by a manual tourbillon movement in working order. It comes with a rose gold case measuring 42.5mm in diameter. While the hands of the watch are designed in the form of a double-edged sword, the stylized monogram “W” is placed at the nine o’clock position. Additional features include a bold skeleton dial and a 72-hour power reserve, a tourbillon feature. The Twenty-8-Eight Tourbillon collection, first launched by Dewitt in 2010, is an ode to Jérôme de Witt’s ancestor, Napoleon Bonaparte.
Notable among jewelry lots in this auction is an 18-karat bracelet designed by Gregg Ruth. The bracelet features a mix of pink and white diamonds in an intricate setting. The total weight of the gemstones is approximately 4.65 carats. Additional jewelry lots include a Lalaounis frosted rock crystal diamond lion chimera gold bracelet, a platinum gold diamond choker necklace designed by Neiman Marcus, and a Cartier France 18-karat gold turquoise pearl brooch pin. Visit Bidsquare to browse the full catalog and register to bid in this December Jewels And Timepieces event and other online auctions.
An influential figure of the 20th century, Edward Steichen was renowned for transforming photography into an art form. The American artist is celebrated for his avant-garde style and fashion photography. Steichen’s iconic portrait of film legend Greta Garbo is a key highlight of this upcoming benefit sale, presented by Sotheby’s. The gelatin silver print features the actress wearing a black outfit with her hands on her head. The image was part of a famous series published in Vanity Fair.
Another noteworthy image by Steichen is a photograph of the American movie star Gloria Swanson. It was the outcome of a photo session for Vogue magazine in 1924. Steichen recounted some interesting details about this sitting in his autobiography A Life in Photography. He mentioned that at the end of the session, he had hung a piece of black lace veil in front of Gloria’s face. She instantly grasped the idea and gave the expression of a leopardess lurking behind shrubbery and watching her prey. The resulting portrait was a collaboration between these two professionals. Visit Sotheby’s to view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming Pier 24 Photography from the Pilara Family Foundation Sold to Benefit Charitable Organizations sale.
Wiederseim Associates, Inc.’s upcoming Annual Holiday Christmas sale includes fine artworks, decorative Asian antiques, jewelry, collectibles, and more. Among the top lots is an oil on canvas painting by Julian Barrow, titled By the Gritti, Venice. A British post-war and contemporary painter, Barrow was best known for his landscapes and country houses. Whether the subject was architecture, people, or both, Barrow’s artworks reflected the artist’s enthusiasm for travel and the experience of getting to know other people. Another notable piece by the artist in the catalog is an oil on canvas work titled Royal Crescent, Bath, England. The painting depicts the Royal Crescent building, a prime example of Georgian architecture.
Beyond fine art, bidders can consider a pair of vintage cast iron Hessian soldiers with original paint. Hessian soldiers were German mercenaries hired by the British to fight their wars during the American Revolution. The majority came from Hesse-Cassel, but soldiers from other German states also joined the war. Collectors can also consider a set of 15 Dresden snapping turtle soup plates. Key Asian artworks in the catalog include a floral-decorated Japanese cloisonné vase and a blue and white teapot from Canton, China (today known as Guangzhou). To view the complete Annual Holiday Christmas Sale and browse other online auctions, visit Bidsquare.
An Art Deco Period Egyptian Revival cobra cuff bracelet pair will lead this Annual New Years Auction, offered by Nest Egg Auctions. Each bracelet is a 22-karat yellow gold cuff shaped like a snake, with the head and tail covered in gemstones. The bracelets together hold over four carats of antique rose-cut diamonds. The snake heads have red ruby eyes and diamonds. They are hallmarked for Cairo, Egypt. Over 100 Old European and rose-cut diamonds are set in a 16-inch-long late-19th or early 20th-century European diamond infinity necklace, another leading lot. The diamonds are set in 14-karat gold and 10-karat silver.
A rare thousand-dollar bill featuring a portrait of Grover Cleveland, with signatures by William Alexander Julian and Henry Morgenthau Jr., from a 1934 series is another notable lot in the sale. The American bill is reported to be in good condition with no major creases, no edge tears, and no pinholes. Stephen Grover Cleveland (1837 – 1908) was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States and also served as a mayor and governor in New York, winning fame as an anti-corruption crusader. Cleveland is the only president in U.S. history to serve a non-consecutive presidential term as a Democratic president in an era when Republicans dominated the presidency. View the complete catalog of the Annual New Years Auction and find other online auctions by visiting Bidsquare.
Robinhood Auctions will soon present its Modern & Contemporary Art Auction, featuring nearly 1,000 lots of mixed media, paintings, prints, posters, and more. Leading the catalog is Damien Hirst’s 2022 five-piece screenprint series titled The Empresses Suite. Each piece measures approximately 39 inches by 39 inches and is decorated with glitter. Depicting dark red and black butterflies in radiating geometric patterns, each print in the series is named after a notable empress from history. Hirst released The Five Empresses as both prints and NFTs. Another notable work in the catalog from a contemporary artist is an original mixed media on paper piece by Mr. Brainwash, titled Cover Girl. This composition is among the artist’s most famous; it depicts British model Kate Moss beneath splashes of bright color.
Additionally, bidders can consider an original, hand-signed drawing by Dr. Seuss. Executed in Dr. Seuss’ signature whimsical style, this drawing shows a two-color creature with a hairy body and the head of an elephant. It comes to auction with a letter of authenticity. A signed lithograph by American contemporary artist Yuroz, a framed limited edition lithograph by Joan Miró, and assorted ocean-themed works by Robert Wyland are also available. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete Modern & Contemporary Art Auction catalog and find other online auctions.
Locati LLC’s upcoming auction, held this December, presents a wide variety of sculptures, paintings, furniture, jewelry, and more. Leading the catalog is a bronze sculpture signed by Bessarabian Jewish medalist, sculptor, and graphic artist Moissey Kogan. The sculpture titled Madchen mit Huftschleier depicts a young woman posing with one hand on her shoulder and the other down towards her hips. Kogan (1879 – 1942) excelled in figurative art and modern art styles. He was famous for his depictions of abstract feminine figures. The offered work stands on a wooden plinth. Another notable lot in the catalog is a bronze plaque titled Têt de Femme à la Mèche Bleue by Joseph Czaky (1888 – 1971). Hungarian artist and sculptor Joseph Czaky was one of the most influential sculptors of early 20th-century Paris.
Paintings attributed to the likes of George Bauer Dunbar, Van Day Truex, and Anthony Thieme are available as well. A portion of the auction catalog is dedicated to prints. This includes a selection of rare prints related to the Philadelphia Waterworks. Among furniture, a pair of teak and caned chairs by Danish furniture designer Hans J. Wegner is notable. The chairs carry the manufacturer’s logo and label that reads ‘Johannes Hansen, Copenhagen Denmark’. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete Locati LLC December 2023 Sale catalog and register to bid in other online auctions.
Popular in ancient China, a lei is a large bronze wine jar, designed with two handles and a narrow neck. It was widely used from the late Shang dynasty rule to the Eastern Zhou dynasty period. The unique vessel was crafted in both square and round shapes. The upcoming sale from Hotspot Auctions will feature a rare gold and silver inlay bronze lei. The jar is richly adorned with brocade-like geometric patterns and bird and animal motifs. Another noteworthy Chinese inlay lot is a Hetian jade hardstone vase. Valued for its durability and splendor, jade is historically associated with spiritual essence and immortality. Equally interesting is an antique rosewood jade inlaid table screen. In previous eras, such screens were placed on the table to shield from breeze or to provide privacy.
A gilt bronze Manjushri statue also leads the listings. Manjushri is believed to be the embodiment of wisdom in Buddhism. After renouncing his kingdom and other worldly affairs, he received bodhisattva vows and eventually attained enlightenment. To view the complete catalog and register to bid in the upcoming December Fine Asian Works of Art Session sale, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
