For a species as young as Homo sapiens, every piece of fossil is a gift from the great history of our planet. Even so, this 145 million-year-old Xiphactinus might just be one of the most extraordinary fossils to be auctioned at The Gentleman’s Library by Whitley’s Auctioneers. The matrix became the final resting place for Xiphactinus, an extinct species of predatory fish, from the Late Cretaceous Period.
Also included in the auction is a large specimen of Selenite Crystal. The unusual item excavated from Brazil holds several spiritual connotations. It is believed that Selenite crystal can conjure protection and dispel negative energy. Likewise, the sale presents another piece far from the ordinary- a Japanese World War II monocular. Mounted on an adjustable wooden tripod with chromatic elements, the monocular was initially manufactured for a battleship. Find out more items and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Estate auctions are distinct from all others, each reflecting the personal preferences and taste of the collector. It is a glimpse into their world and their commitment to the collection. In the upcoming October Estate Fine Art & Antiques Auction offered by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers, several independent estates are celebrated both in their own right and as complementary parts. The reach of this auction includes fine and decorative art, jewelry, posters, and even automobiles.
The highlight of this auction is a 1994 Chevrolet Corvette roadster, a sleek sports car that looks and feels decadent inside and out. Detailed with a cherry red interior, show-quality parts, and a custom airbrush painting of a woman rising from water under the hood, this low-slung car is a collector’s dream. The work of Richard K. Loud, an award-winning American painter, is also featured in this sale with an oil painting of an American sailboat conquering the roiling seas.
An appreciation for vintage curiosities brings together numerous independent collections, adding a note of consistency to this auction. A novelty slot machine from the 20th century has kept its vivid colors and inviting façade over the years, while interested viewers can explore its complex machinery and fickle tapes of fruits, bells, and jackpots. Vintage furniture and clothing are also represented in this significant sale. To view the full catalog and register to bid, visit Bidsquare.
As its name suggests, the Collectors’ Motorcycles at the Barber Museum auction, presented by Bonhams, will be an ideal event for motorcycle and motorcycle memorabilia collectors. The most valuable motorcycle in this auction is a 1940 Crocker Big Tank V-Twin. Crocker is an American motorcycle company based out of Los Angeles, California. In 2007, for example, a 1941 Crocker Big Tank sold for $230,000. Meanwhile, the Crocker Big Tank in this auction has an estimated value of $495,000 to $595,000.
Another exceptional motorcycle is a 1974 Ducati 750SS. Produced by the Italian motorcycle manufacturing company, “the 1974 Ducati 750 SuperSport epitomizes the Italian sporting motorcycle of the 1970s,” says Ian Falloon in his 2018 book “The Ducati Story”. Those looking instead for motorcycle memorabilia should consider the “World’s Fastest Motorcycle” poster. The piece honors the Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle that broke eight world records in 1952, including the world’s fastest motorcycle. Those interested in any of these lots should register to bid on Bonhams’s website.
Before being replaced by breechloader firearms in the mid 19th century, Muskets were regarded as fashionable and artistic jewels. From the prestigious ‘Colt Signature Series’ of thousand guns, Hess Auctions presents 58 caliber Musket from 1861, in its latest Gun Auction. Muskets are a muzzle-loaded long gun that was designed to penetrate heavy armors from the start of the 16th century.
This October, Gun Auction showcases items from categories such as handguns, pistols, rifles, muskets and much more in the presentation of 324 lots. Items such as the U.S Army’s Colt model from 1917 is set to add immense value to any gun collection. It is a double-action 6 shot revolver having a smooth wood grip authenticated with the stamp of U.S. Army. As the auction progresses, onlookers will also have the opportunity to bid for Hunter Arms double-barrel shotgun and Savage mod 308 lever-action rifle; both items unique in their craftsmanship. For more information visit Hess Auctions.
It is said that any meal can be special if it is presented beautifully. Dinnerware does not always receive the attention it deserves, yet it plays an important role in making food look both appetizing and elegant. The upcoming Porcelain Sale III offered by Stair draws attention to some of the finest specimens in this oft-overlooked art.
From full dinner services to single wares, this auction covers a broad range of ceramics and porcelain. Regal designs depicting fruit, birds, and golden flowers cover the leading pieces from Herend, the brand that generations of royals chose for their dinner tables. A ‘Coronation’ patterned dinner set allowing service for twelve is a particular highlight of this sale. Not every dish is decorated with traditional forms, however: several are covered in swirling colors, wild in their chaos but delightful in their art. These works from Pascale Mestre, a prominent French ceramicist, are sure to catch the eye at any meal.
Some lots are filled with whimsy and color, while others are more studious and deliberate. A lush group of Wedgwood majolica dishes represents several leaves and vines in every shade of green. Another set features printed pictograms, intricate symbols and words telling a full story right below lunch. To view these lots, explore the catalog, and register for online bidding, visit Bidsquare.
Fine timepieces offered by Hindman is bound to astonish auction buyers with the display of 146 items. This October, the curation presents prestigious brands like Patek Philippe and Rolex with over 90 wristwatches and 45 pocket watches. Displayed at the highest estimated value of $30,000 is an 18-karat white gold wristwatch from Patek Philippe. As a brand with a history of nearly 180 years, Philippe is the last family-owned Genevan luxury watch manufacturer with vintage products and designs. Philippe formulates, mixes and improves its material rather than relying upon the suppliers, which makes its items valuable and worth investing upon.
Similarly, the next item on the list provides a closer look into the class as well as the style possessed by Rolex. The 18-karat yellow gold and diamond ‘Pearl master’ wristwatch, from Circa 2001 is wonderfully crafted for any collector to enjoy. Since the brand has not failed to leave a lasting impression on its users, Rolex increases the value of the auction tremendously. One can also bid for these items and more like such at Bidsquare.
Pook & Pook returns with another auction filled with unique collectibles, furniture, and decorative arts. Their Americana & International auction will be split into two parts. Lots 120-565 will be auctioned on October 4th, and the other lots will be auctioned the following day.
A Wilhelm Schimmel carved eagle headlines the auction’s most valuable lots. The German company is known primarily for their pianos. That is why this particular eagle stands out as from their regular offers. The bald eagle, America’s national bird and symbol is celebrated for its speed, agility, fortitude, elegance and impressive wingspan captured well by this sculpture.
One of the most eye-catching lots in this auction is a blue Staffordshire pitcher. Painted into the pitcher is the scene of Marquis de Lafayette visiting the grave of Benjamin Franklin in a distinct blue color. Additional Staffordshire pieces are also available.
One affordable and distinct decorative art piece is a telephone and clock sculpture by Marcia and Bill Fink. The surreal piece shows three clocks balancing on a baby doll’s head. Below the head, as if it were the doll’s body, is a telephone. The ruffles of a skirt and petite legs continue the illusion that the phone is the doll’s body. Register to bid online and view each lot on Bidsquare .
The October Eclectic Auction presented by Garth’s Auctioneers & Appraisers presents an opportunity to view the breadth of American culture. Its categories are diverse, yet connected by an underlying wonder about the past. Decorative art, furniture, dolls and toys, fine art, and much more is included in the sale. From the grandest statement pieces to the most unusual oddities, this auction reaches every corner of American history.
Vintage flatware takes center stage in this sale with an elegant set of Towle pieces. The “King Richard” pattern was patented in 1932, showing its timeless elegance to be in excellent condition. Cast iron toy motorcycles make a strong showing, with colorful toys marking the optimism of the early 20th century. Numerous antique dolls are also highlighted. Not every lot focuses on childhood’s playfulness, though, with several furniture and jewelry items available. Two vintage diamond rings are of particular interest, each with a blue stone center surrounded by small round diamonds. View these items and many more by visiting Invaluable.
The wilderness of Africa captured by the lens of Peter Beard cannot be admired enough. His work demonstrates how the beauty of a continent and its wilderness is diminishing due to industrialization. Such emotive works are being offered at Photographs Signature auction hosted by Heritage Auctions. One can find the Gardeners of Eden by the contemporary American photographer, Peter Beard, at the highest estimated value of $70,000.
The auction presents the diversity of items like no other, with photographs by Thomas Ruff, Lillian Bassman, and Alfred Eisenstaedt, to name a few. Thomas Ruff experiments his techniques with ambiguous themes. From digital exposures to computer-generated imagery, the artist uses his skills in such a way that widens the possibility of photography. Alongside his work of whimsy is a photograph by Lillian Bassman. Her images were highly sought after by fashion editors of the 1940s and 50s as they reflect a careful manipulation between dark and light. Find more elegant items and register to bid online on Heritage Auctions.
Sotheby’s fascinating auction Escape Artists 2.0: The Non-Conformists Online brings to light works by a second wave of avant-garde Soviet artists from the last half of the 20th century. These artists, forced to practice their craft in secret and sometimes even into exile, reacted to a country that was under intense censorship and cultural isolation. They created a movement in which they rejected a Socialist agenda, sometimes with quiet clarity and sometimes with intensity and surreal imagery. They often had to rely on sponsorship, and the auction contains nearly 30 works from the personal collection of one such sponsor, Ingrid Hutton.
Auction highlights include a post immigration work by Oleg Vassiliev of his time in New York and a Boris Orlov sculpture that uses irony to draw parallels between ancient Greek and Roman architecture and Soviet Imperialism. There is also Oleg Tselkov’s Meal, an otherworldly blue depiction of two men eating, and a bizarre Mikhail Chemiakin painting From the Carnival in St. Petersburg Series, as well as works from Erik Bulatov, Leonid Sokov, and Ilya Kabakov, among others. For the complete catalog, bidding and registration go to Sotheby’s.
