The Impressionist movement was a major shift in the way the art world perceived skill, technique, and style. Its emphasis on short, defined brushstrokes and abstraction should not be mistaken for a lack of skill. In the upcoming Impressionist and Modern Art Works on Paper auction presented by Christie’s, sketches, subject studies, and other paper works explore the complex methods of Impressionism and future art movements. Sketches include Paul Gauguin’s study of several cats, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s pencil drawing of two horses, and Berthe Morisot’s pastel and charcoal profile of a young girl.
Salvador Dalí, the Spanish Surrealist, has become a household name equally for his artistic whimsy and his personal oddities. Featured in this sale is one of his watercolor paintings from 1953, made in the twilight of his career. Dancing women in Femmes aux Papillons wear elaborate dresses made of butterfly wings, making this painting a fitting gift for American fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert. Several of Pablo Picasso’s works will also be available in this sale, including a pencil sketch of a nude created in the summer of 1921. His early realism stands in contrast to his later contributions to Cubism, seen in Le Peintre II and Mousquetaire et nu assis. Paintings and sketches from Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Paul Klee, and others will also be on offer. Visit Christie’s to view the complete catalog and register to bid.
“In our life, there is a single color, as on an artist palette which provides the meaning of life and art. It is the color of love.” This quote from Marc Chagall relates the passion of love to the paintings he created. The upcoming Impressionist and Modern Art Auction, offered by , will feature two works from Chagall that align with this romantic theme. Le Bonheur du jeune couple aux fleurs applies Chagall’s signature style to two lovers floating above a town. Dominating the painting is an enormous bouquet of flowers.
Along with paintings and fine art pieces, the collection will also include sculptures from Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, and others. Rodin’s Le Baiser is a bronze sculpture of two embracing lovers. The piece was inspired by Canto V of Dante’s Inferno as part of a larger commissioned work. Moore’s Pointed Legs is a semi-abstract bronze figure of a reclining woman, an image that recurs in almost half of his artworks. Also available is Nu assis sur un canapé près de la fenêtre, a painting by Henri Lebasque. For more information visit Bonhams.
Allure Auction Company will offer designer jewelry from Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Gucci, and Tiffany & Co. in their upcoming Estate Jewelry Russian Silver Bronze Auction. Particularly highlighted is a 15-inch diamond necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, whose jewelry has been worn by such icons as Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor. The necklace features 69 graduating diamonds centrally set around three round diamonds. The bow clasp is set with a central marquise-shaped diamond and several baguette-cut gems.
Also showcased is a size 6 ½ Alexandrite platinum ring featuring a brilliant-cut oval stone and diamond accents. A pair of Cartier 18-carat diamond hoop earrings and a 7-inch Tiffany & Co. Victoria Line diamond bracelet will be available as well. One lot of interest is a diamond engagement ring designed by Ivanka Trump. View the complete selection and register to bid on Bidsquare.
Elaborate headrests allowed wealthy people across Oceania and Africa to display their status. More practical purposes for the headrests included allowing nomads to guard their heads against the dirty ground. Bonhams will present over a hundred headrests from across these continents and regions in their upcoming auction. Each piece comes from the personal collection of Graham Beck, who is also known for his Western Cape wine estate.
One of the featured lots is a two-headed headrest from the Twa people. The two faces stare in opposite directions, their hair connecting them and forming the headrest. Another highlighted lot is a Shona headrest. The Shona are a Bantu ethnic group native to present-day Zimbabwe. Headrests are one of the art forms the Shona people are most known for. This particular piece was once displayed at the Royal Academy of Arts in London as part of the exhibit Africa – The Art of a Continent. View each of these lots and register to bid on Bonhams’ website.
In 1886, Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of the iconic jewelry company Tiffany & Co., unveiled a new setting in rings, calling it ‘The Tiffany Setting’. In this process, diamonds are placed into a six-prong setting, lifting the gem above the band. He marketed rings made from “The Tiffany Setting” as engagement rings, and soon it became the dream engagement ring for many women. Even today, Tiffany Setting is one of the world’s most popular cuts for engagement rings. One such ring is on display at the upcoming Bonhams sale, along with several other rings and pieces of fine jewelry.
Highlighting the auction is a 32 ½ in diamond Rivieré necklace mounted in 18k white gold which holds the highest estimate . Another highlight of the auction is a rectangular step-cut diamond ring, mounted in platinum with an adjustable shank and weighing 4.24cts. For the vintage lovers, the auction offers a 22k gold Pablo Picasso ‘visage au carton ondulé’ pendant crafted in 1955-56. These examples just skim the surface of the collection offered at ‘California Jewels’ auction by Bonhams in Los Angeles. Browse the entire collection and register to bid on Bonhams.
Traditionally, the Yombe people of southern Africa believed that power figures hunt down thieves and those who use magic to cause illness. An example of one such sculpted power figure is among the lots available in the upcoming African, Oceanic, and Pre-Columbian Art auction, presented by Bonhams. Its composition, from its forward-leaning shoulders to the boar’s tusks in its gut, is meant to intimidate wrong-doers. Each of the auction’s 127 lots represents civilizations across Africa, Oceana, and the Americas.
A leading lot in this auction was sourced from the collection of James Thomas Hooper. After fighting in World War I, Hooper realized it was increasingly hard to acquire ethnographic pieces from around the world. Worried about their preservation, he hunted through markets across the U.K. to find ancient art. Despite collecting pieces from numerous distant civilizations, Hooper never left his native England. Representing Hooper’s collection in this auction is a pendant from the Maori people. The right eye is made from paua shells and sealing wax to create the illusion of a pupil. Greenstone gives this piece its striking color.
The auction’s featured lots will also include a mask from the Bobo people, an ethnic group who mostly live in Burkina Faso. Historically, the Bobo lived in dry areas and believed they needed to be forgiven of sins before receiving rainfall. Masks, including the one presented in this auction, were used in rituals to earn this forgiveness. This particular mask’s long face is paralleled by its long horns and is decorated with red, white, and blue pigments. View each of these lots and register to bid on Bonhams’ website.
“A life of art finally allows me time to create my most exciting, original, emotional art.” – says Susan Pelish, a glass artist based in Florida. The artist’s exciting and original works are famous for being imaginative. One of her works ‘Art Glass Colossal Sculpture’ stands out at the Decorative and Modern Design Auction by Uniques And Antiques Auction. The piece is an etched & colored plate glass congregated in the female form.
Along with creative glass arts, the auction is home to categories such as fine arts, musical instruments, decorative art, and mostly, designer furniture. A Baby Grand Piano is another noteworthy item in the lot. The black lacquered piano is from one of the most popular companies that creates grand pianos, Steinway & Sons. The piece is estimated to fetch the highest value in the auction. Other highlights also include an inbuilt speaker in a ‘Pair of figural horse floor Sculptures’. The horses are brass, armored with the base cabinets holding interior speakers. For more information visit Invaluable
Grease, the classic 1978 film, has become a beloved feature of American culture. Though full of catchy songs and a star-studded cast, one of the most memorable scenes is the final transformation of the girl next door. Julien’s Auctions will present the iconic motorcycle jacket and matching tight black pants used in the film in an upcoming memorabilia auction. This sale of over 500 items is sourced from the personal collection of Olivia Newton-John. Fashion and accessories stand out in this sale, worn both in Newton-John’s films and in her personal life. A Pink Ladies jacket, a jewel-studded bracelet, and her 1984 custom wedding ensemble are all featured lots.
Beyond the garments, this auction also includes numerous awards and RIAA-certified platinum records. Pages of handwritten lyrics including a sheet written by John Farrar of his Academy Award-nominated song, “Hopelessly Devoted to You” is a note-worthy lot. A portion of this sale’s proceeds will benefit the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia. To view the complete catalog and register to bid, visit Julien’s Auctions.
In the history of over 20 years, Bently Motor Company has created stylish and consumer-friendly cars. One of their products, the 2007 Bentley Continental was an appreciated car upon its release. Today, after years of the first edition, Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery features 2007 Bentley Continental GT convertible at the Luxury Estates and Private Collections.
Offering 450 lots, the second day of the auction is governed by vintage furniture along with automobiles, fine arts, collectibles and more. At 99’’ height, a Chinese carved jade and diamond throne temple might intrigue buyers with the precision of its making. The carved temple is made up of 5 porcelain pagodas and a custom wooden base with a staircase leading towards the top. Also, vintage pieces such as emerald diamond necklace and walnut Savonarola chairs from the 19th century are amongst the notable lots for their distinctive designs and artistry. To find more on the items please visit Invaluable.
Albrecht Dürere is credited with bringing the Renaissance to Northern Europe through his works. One of his famous engravings will be presented at Old Master Through Modern Prints Auction by Swann Auction Gallery. In his engraving Adam and Eve, the couple is seen in near-symmetrical poses on either side of the Tree of Knowledge. Dürer brought idealized detail to the medium of this engraving.
Like Dürer’s work, the other pieces in the upcoming auction offers fine art by artists who are considered as seminal figures in the history of art. Some of the names that bidders might find through the catalog are Rembrandt van Rijn, Pablo Picasso, and Joan Miró. One of the lots in the collection is an etching entitled “Landscape with A Cottage and A Large Tree” by Rembrandt. The artist is also regarded as a painter of ‘light and shade’, who favored an uncompromising realism in his art. His works led some art critics to claim that he preferred ugliness to beauty. To find these lots and more, visit Invaluable
