Château Laurens in Agde, a Dandy’s Dream Come True

The music room © David Maugendre

The palatial residence dreamed up by a Languedoc aesthete is open to visitors, taking them on a fantastic journey through space and time from Pharaonic Egypt to the Gilded Age.

The music room © David Maugendre
The music room
© David Maugendre

Generations of Agde residents, in southern France, have contemplated this spectacular house on the banks of the Hérault opposite the old town, with its light volumes and terraced roofs, halfway between an Egyptian temple and a Greco-Roman mausoleum. Erected between 1898 and 1901, Château Laurens is named after the man who had it built, Emmanuel Laurens (1873-1959). Money was no object for the millionaire dandy, who gave shape to his dreams nurtured by travels to distant places. The aesthete lived and hosted lavish parties in the extravagant palace, whose decorative scheme brilliantly combines Art Nouveau and ancient Egypt, until the late 1930s. After Laurens died in 1959, the château, already sold as a viager, remained uninhabited. While forgotten by its new owners, this sleeping beauty fortunately was not subject to alterations, but suffered decades of neglect, damage and theft. This long, critical period ended in 1994, when the town of Agde bought the property, which was listed as a historic monument two years later. In 2024, after a 16-year, €15 million renovation funded mainly by the Agglomération Hérault Méditerranée (35%) and DRAC Occitanie (30%), visitors can finally enjoy this timeless place, the product of its original owner’s whimsical imagination.

The foyer and the grand staircase © David Maugendre
The foyer and the grand staircase
© David Maugendre

Rich and Free

Laurens inherited unimaginable amounts of money that allowed him to make his wildest dreams come true. Born into an upper-middle-class family in Agde, he began studying medicine at the University of Montpellier but never became a doctor. In 1897, he came into two inheritances: the first from his mother’s cousin, Baron Eugène de Fontenay, the other from his father, Saint-Étienne Laurens. Altogether, they amounted to the colossal sum of 320 million gold francs. From that point on, he began traveling, starting with a journey that took him from Austria to Russia and Uzbekistan. Then he sailed the Mediterranean, on his two yachts, to Barcelona, Seville and Malaga. In 1903, during his first long cruise, he explored Egypt, Madagascar, India and Ceylon. In 1898, his trips inspired him to build an enormous house on the Belle-Isle estate, a plot of land between the Hérault and the canal du Midi that would become the setting for his travel souvenirs. Laurens asked the most innovative local artists to work on the project, starting with Montpellier architect Jacques Février, who designed a four-story palace with a 700-m2 (7,534.7 ft2) footprint divided into reception areas and private quarters. The long, neoclassical façade features a black marble colonnade with Egyptian lines, particularly notable in the glass ceiling of the rooftop terrace. The walls of the spacious foyer are painted in Pompeian red, confirming the spectacular syncretism of Greco-Roman and Egyptian antiquity already evident on the exterior. While the distribution of the reception rooms is inspired by a great Roman domus, laid out around an atrium flanked by four columns of Algerian pink onyx, the frescoes are worthy of a palace on the banks of the Nile. Lotus flowers and bouquets dangle from long stems, framed by Hathoric pillars.

Laurens asked his friend, Marseilles painter Eugène Dufour, to make his pharaonic dream come true. Using template patterns and stencils, Dufour reinterpreted his frescoes’ Egyptian themes in an Art Nouveau light by introducing modern lines and colors. The apotheosis of this opulent decor, and the only depiction of a human in the house, is an enthroned Cleopatra worshipping the Sun Disk of Ra, facing the sun streaming in through a triple bay window in the staircase. Some rooms in the reception area break with the iconographic scheme to evoke other worlds. For example, a Moorish sitting room in a large alcove in the atrium recreates an Eastern world in the style of Pierre Loti. But the highlight of the festive decor is the music room: resembling a chapel with its 18-meter-high (59.05 ft) nave, it leaves one speechless. Winged women stand out against the Byzantine gilded vault lit by sconces shaped like elephant tusks. The bays’ parabolic arcs reveal the influence of Antoni Gaudí, whose architecture Laurens admired on his frequent trips to Barcelona.

Memorable Costume Parties

Gaudí’s Catalan modernist influence peaks in the “laboratory”, an astonishing room with a counter and ceiling covered by the ochre scales of an antediluvian monster. Like Des Esseintes, the decadent hero in Huysmans’ novel Against Nature, Laurens, as a fin-de-siècle dandy, seemed to live in a strange theater set on which he stage directed his wife, the singer Louise Blot, and his guests, dressed up in ‘Oriental’ costumes for memorable parties. Resonating with this singular scenography, eclectic furniture, which was auctioned when the château was sold in 1994, livened up the reception areas, mixed with memories of far-off worlds. Period photographs show Vietnamese ceramic elephants, large Satsuma vases, Arab-Andalusian ewers, Chinese perfume burners and suzani tapestries. These pieces are gradually being reintroduced as similar models are purchased. In the huge atrium, they were alongside cabinetmaker Carlo Bugatti’s finest wood, ivory and parchment creations, including his famous curule armchairs and the iconic, now lost “minaret” desk.

Léon Cauvy’s bench seat in the study © David Maugendre
Léon Cauvy’s bench seat in the study
© David Maugendre

The patient work of refurnishing the rooms has led to rediscovering the remarkable work of Montpellier sculptor, painter and cabinetmaker Léon Cauvy, a virtuoso disciple of Art Nouveau.

Poetic Inspiration

Art Nouveau features mainly in the private apartments, both on the walls, decorated with sinuous silk friezes, and in the furniture specially commissioned by Laurens. The most spectacular room is his master study, lit by a monumental stained-glass window depicting a mermaid amidst Japanese-inspired waves. Entitled La Mer (The Sea), it was designed by Parisian artist Eugène Martial Simas and takes up almost the entire wall. L’Aurore (Dawn), also known as Apollon sur son char (Apollo on His Chariot), a sketch on marouflé paper by painter Louis Anquetin, graces the ceiling. The original furniture, which was dispersed by its former owners before the 1994 sale but bought back in the art market, adds to the impression of life radiating from the large study. The patient work of refurnishing the rooms, including a desk, armchairs and a bookcase in carved and painted wood decorated with pyrography leather female figures like Alfons Mucha and Eugène Grasset’s flower-women, has led to rediscovering the remarkable work of Montpellier sculptor, painter and cabinetmaker Léon Cauvy, a virtuoso disciple of Art Nouveau. Most of the pieces in this incomparable group were acquired from Ader-Tajan at the Hôtel Drouot on December 6, 1994, when the most beautiful piece, a monumental corner sofa, fetched 32,000 francs, or €7,755. The same poetic inspiration can be found in the dandy’s bedroom-boudoir, which, unsurprisingly, features a nocturnal theme: Cauvy’s carved walnut bed is adorned with a sleeping woman, owls and a moonrise. The adjacent bathroom has one last surprise: extraordinary floor-to-ceiling floral decoration. Ceramic tiles from the Sarreguemines factory, designed by Félix Auber and Alexandre Charpentier with motifs of aquatic arums and bathers in relief, mingle with flowery mosaics by Italian mosaicist Giandomenico Facchina on the floor and the sunken bathtub. In June 1899, far from the banks of the Hérault, Studio magazine, the bible of English design, published an article on this emblematic room, consecrating the splendor of Château Laurens.

The mosaic bathtub in the bathroom © Jean-François Peiré–DRAC Occitanie
The mosaic bathtub in the bathroom
© Jean-François Peiré–DRAC Occitanie
The marble-colonnaded façade © Jean-François Peiré–DRAC Occitanie
The marble-colonnaded façade
© Jean-François Peiré–DRAC Occitanie

LÉON CAUVY, PAINTER AND CABINETMAKER

While less famous than their counterparts in Paris and Lorraine, a number of craftsmen in southern France were brilliant Art Nouveau cabinetmakers. Among the most noteworthy is Léon Cauvy (1874-1933), who created in a variety of media, including native and precious woods combined with polychrome and gilded leather pyrographed with female profiles and plant motifs. After finishing art school, the Montpellier native taught painting, drawing and decorative arts in the Languedoc city while taking part in Paris shows and competitions organized by the main decoration magazines. His entries won 12 awards, including one from Art et Décoration in 1905 for a dining room set in competition with Gustave Serrurier-Bovy. With his partner Paul Arnavielhe, another Montpellier designer, Cauvy presented his creations in Paris, Liège, London, San Francisco and, in 1907, Algiers. Arnavielhe fell in love with the white city, where he became the director of the École des Beaux-Arts and an Orientalist painter.

WORTH SEEING
Château Laurens, the Belle-Isle estate, Agde, France
www.chateaulaurens-agde.fr

Nadja Romain Celebrating Art, Design and Artisanship

©-Ilaria-Zago

The former London-based film and art producer who founded Art Action Change now lives in Venice, where she just opened Lo Studio, a venue celebrating art, design and artisanship.

© Ilaria Zago
© Ilaria Zago

What inspired your vocation?
My childhood passion for the Renaissance led to a love for Italy, and my fascination with glass often took me to Venice. I’ve been interested in artisanship since my first trip to Brazil twenty years ago. In a world where the virtual is taking up more and more room, physical contact with materials is becoming a luxury. This ecosystem must be preserved.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do?
I’d do it all over again, avoiding a few mistakes along the way.

Is there an artist or work that caught your eye recently?
A 1938 ceramic by Lucio Fontana called Horses. It’s an outstanding piece that expresses his sculptural style. The energy and workmanship bring Medardo Rosso’s work to mind.

Which artist or art object would you like to exhibit?
Urs Fischer, whom I admire for his subversiveness. I think he’s one of the world’s greatest living artists.

Do you have a mantra?
The best is yet to come. It’s a thought that pushes me on every day, a conviction that guides me towards the future with confidence.

What projects or upcoming events are on the horizon?
The official opening of the gallery for the Venice Biennale followed by a series of events including discussions and meetings. I’m also co-curator, with Amin Jaffer, of the Osman Yousefzada exhibition at the Fondazione Berengo, jointly organized with the V&A in London. In September, we’ll take part in Venice Glass Week, followed by Art Basel Miami Beach.

Lo Studio-Nadja Romain
Dorsoduro 928, Venice @lostudio_nadjaromain

Charleston Renaissance Art to Sell at Brunk Auctions This June

Lamar-Dodd-The-Wave-1949.-Image-courtesy-of-Brunk-Auctions

Between World War I and World War II, the city of Charleston, South Carolina experienced a cultural boom. The city had suffered economically in the aftermath of the American Civil War, and the early 20th century was a period for rebuilding and reimagining. Writers, designers, and especially visual artists organized in Charleston to depict the city favorably and elevate its profile. This period is now known as the Charleston Renaissance. 

A selection of American fine art, including Charleston Renaissance artworks by the likes of Elizabeth O’Neill Verner and Alice Ravenel Huger Smith, will soon be available with Brunk Auctions. The upcoming American & Southern Auction on June 27, 2024 includes over 180 lots of fine art, decorative art, furniture, and more. Here are some of the top lots from notable Charleston Renaissance artists. 

Elizabeth O’Neill Verner, Charleston Rooftop View. Image courtesy of Brunk Auctions.
Elizabeth O’Neill Verner, Charleston Rooftop View. Image courtesy of Brunk Auctions. 

Elizabeth O’Neill Verner

Born in Charleston in 1883, Elizabeth O’Neill Verner studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Art in the early 1900s. She later returned to Charleston, married, and began painting full-time following her husband’s death in the 1920s. Verner used art to support her family and quickly attracted a following in Charleston and beyond. She worked in etchings and delicate pastels, favoring street scenes and portraits of everyday people. 

The upcoming Brunk Auctions event will feature Elizabeth O’Neill Verner’s Charleston Rooftop View, a pastel work on textured artist’s board (lot #591; estimate: USD 30,000 – $40,000). This undated work shows several Charleston buildings, complete with finely rendered balconies, awnings, and shingles. Leafy trees frame the composition. According to the consignor, this work was given to the consignor’s grandfather by his sister, Verner herself. It comes to the market for the first time this month. 

Elizabeth O’Neill Verner, Other Places cover and detail. Image courtesy of Brunk Auctions.
Elizabeth O’Neill Verner, Other Places cover and detail. Image courtesy of Brunk Auctions. 

Also available from Elizabeth O’Neill Verner is a copy of Other Places, the artist’s 1946 collection of illustrations (lot #599; estimate: $200 – $400). In this work, Verner departed from her usual subject matter and instead depicted places other than Charleston, South Carolina. It is signed and inscribed by the artist. 

Alice Ravenel Huger Smith, Flower Seller. Image courtesy of Brunk Auctions.
Alice Ravenel Huger Smith, Flower Seller. Image courtesy of Brunk Auctions. 

Alice Ravenel Huger Smith

Another titan of Charleston Renaissance art was Alice Ravenel Huger Smith. A native of that city, Smith was friends with Elizabeth O’Neill Verner and other leaders of the growing art movement. She was instrumental in founding several art clubs in Charleston and promoting its culture in the interwar period. Smith specialized in watercolor. She preferred to paint natural scenes from the Carolina Lowcountry, depicting marshes and trees with a nostalgic air. 

Available with Brunk Auctions this June is Alice Ravenel Huger Smith’s Flower Seller, a watercolor on paper piece (lot #592; estimate: $6,000 – $8,000). This work shows a woman walking while carrying baskets of flowers and holding a peeled banana. One basket rests on her head, overflowing with blooms. Like many of Smith’s portraits of people, this one sits at a slight remove, with an open background behind the subject. 

Lamar Dodd, The Wave, 1949. Image courtesy of Brunk Auctions.
Lamar Dodd, The Wave, 1949. Image courtesy of Brunk Auctions. 

Beyond Charleston Renaissance art, the upcoming sale includes numerous items from Southern artists such as Lamar Dodd and William Aiken Walker. Particularly notable is Dodd’s The Wave, a 1949 oil on canvas painting (lot #608; estimate: $6,000 – $8,000). This darkly shaded piece will be sold to benefit the University of Georgia Foundation. Dodd was born in Fairburn, Georgia and studied with Ashcan School artists of the mid-20th century. He returned to the South to depict the region’s people and culture, eventually going on to teach students at the University of Georgia in Athens. 

Interested bidders can consider other fine artworks in this catalog, including examples from artists Stephen Scott Young, John George Brown, and Robert Kulicke. 

To view the complete auction catalog and register to bid in the American & Southern Auction, visit Bidsquare. Find additional coverage of this and other sales on Auction Daily. 

Charleston Renaissance Paintings, Rare American Furniture Featured in Brunk Auctions’ June Sale

Elizabeth-ONeill-Verner

The latest sale from Brunk Auctions, scheduled for June 27, 2024, spotlights American fine art, decorative art, furniture, and more. The culture of the American South is particularly featured through paintings by Elizabeth O’Neill Verner, Lamar Dodd, and William Aiken Walker, while furniture collectors can consider early materials from North Carolina and Virginia.

Elizabeth O’Neill Verner’s Charleston Rooftop View, a pastel on artist’s board drawing, leads this upcoming American art sale (lot #591; estimate: USD $30,000 – $40,000). Known as a leader of the Charleston Renaissance artistic movement of the mid-20th century, Verner was a self-taught artist who took up drawing to support her family following her husband’s death. She captured the streets and landscape of Charleston. In the available work, a city street appears. The windows of the buildings are accented in green, mirroring the leafy trees dotting the scene. This work comes to auction after decades in a family’s private collection and is new to the market. 

Elizabeth O'Neill Verner
Elizabeth O’Neill Verner

Another notable Southern artist with work in the catalog is William Aiken Walker. Also a Charleston resident, Walker fought on the Confederate side of the American Civil War and was known for his portraits of Black sharecroppers. Several examples of his work will be available in the upcoming event. This includes lot #593, a portrait of a Black hunter (estimate: $5,000 – $7,000). The subject is dressed in animal skins and holds a dead possum by its tail. Work by another Charleston Renaissance artist, Alice Ravenel Huger Smith (lot #592; estimate: $6,000 – $8,000), will be available as well. 

William Aiken Walker
William Aiken Walker

Collectors of fine art can consider several portraits of young children by John George Brown, a genre painter who frequently depicted poor boys and street children. Sculpture lots in the catalog include Reuben Nakian’s Ecstasy, a patinated bronze depiction of a young woman’s head on its side (lot #506; estimate: $2,000 – $4,000).

Reuben Nakian Sculpture, Ecstasy
Reuben Nakian Sculpture, Ecstasy

Notable furniture items in the catalog include a New York classical parcel-gilt mahogany sideboard and cellarette pair (lot #558; estimate: $6,000 – $9,000) and a rare American pilgrim painted and ebonized chest with a lift top (lot #535; estimate: $4,000 – $6,000). 

New York Classical Parcel Gilt and Paint Decorated Mahogany Sideboard and Cellarette
New York Classical Parcel Gilt and Paint Decorated Mahogany Sideboard and Cellarette

Additional lots of interest in this sale include: 

  • A rare pilgrim chair (lot #536; estimate: $6,000 – $8,000)
  • An untitled 1958 painting by Lamar Dodd (lot #609; estimate: $4,000 – $6,000) 
  • A Tiffany Studios bronze mirror from circa 1900, featuring the seal of the state of New Jersey (lot #582; estimate: $3,000 – $5,000) 
  • A five-piece sterling silver tea service (lot #567; estimate: $2,000 – $3,000)
  • A Virginia carved and painted pine hanging box (lot #620; estimate: $1,000 – $2,000) 

Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Brunk Auctions has been conducting sales of fine and decorative arts for over 30 years. Auctions are held in the company’s North Carolina sale room and attract a global audience. Founded by Robert Brunk in 1983, the auction house now employs a full-time staff of nearly 30 specialists with over 100 years of combined experience. Bob brought to bear his experience as an anthropologist, writer, and professional woodworker, an unmistakable combination of skills that continue to illuminate catalog entries and elucidate auction-goers. He is now a valued consultant and continues as auctioneer. Andrew Brunk joined his father in 2005. His curatorial experience has brought additional focus on research and connoisseurship. Andrew Brunk’s experience as the head of the American furniture department at one of the world’s largest auction houses has allowed Brunk Auctions to continually align itself with the best in the business. The firm values connoisseurship, customer service, transparency, and stellar results for both buyers and sellers.

Brunk Auctions’ American & Southern Auction this month will begin at 10:00 AM EDT on June 27, 2024. To browse the complete catalog and register to bid, visit Bidsquare. 

Find more press releases and auction news by visiting AuctionDaily.

Quality Works From Savannah, GA Estate Available at Everard Auctions and Appraisals

Bud-Latven-PA-1949-Open-Conic-Form-Wood-Sculpture

Over 300 lots of fine and decorative art will soon be available in Everard Auctions and Appraisals’ Property from the Tenenbaum Estate and Other Owners sale. This live event will begin on June 27, 2024. It particularly features the collection of Lorlee and Arnold Tenenbaum, former residents of Savannah, Georgia. Prominent members of Savannah’s business and philanthropic communities, the Tenenbaums were also lovers of art and travel. 

Among the top lots in this event is an open wood sculpture from American artist Bud Latven, from the Tenenbaum collection (lot #875; estimate: USD $2,500 – $3,500). This cone-shaped piece is dated 1999 and is composed of layered pieces of wood in different shades. Latven is a noted woodworker who specializes in the segmented turning technique, used to make furniture and decorative artworks. The offered form stands over eight inches tall and 14 inches wide.

Bud Latven (PA, 1949) Open Conic Form Wood Sculpture
Bud Latven (PA, 1949) Open Conic Form Wood Sculpture

Another key item from the Tenenbaum estate is a painting by Jimmy Lee Sudduth (lot #880; estimate: $1,500 – $2,500). Titled Bicycle Man, this imaginative work places a yellow and blue-clad man atop an enormous bicycle. The bright colors pop against a deep black background. Sudduth was a folk artist of Fayette, Alabama. He was best known for his finger paintings and use of unusual household materials in his paintings, including mud, sugar, and caulk. 

Jimmy Lee Sudduth, Bicycle Man, Paint on Board
Jimmy Lee Sudduth, Bicycle Man, Paint on Board

The Tenenbaums also collected contemporary art, which is well-represented in the upcoming auction. Heather McGill’s untitled mixed media wall sculpture is particularly notable (lot #876; estimate: $3,000 – $5,000). This sleekly modern work is composed of stainless steel, lacquer, aluminum, and urethane. 

Heather McGill, Untitled, Mixed Media Wall Sculpture
Heather McGill, Untitled, Mixed Media Wall Sculpture

Beyond fine art, interested bidders will find fine housewares, printed materials, and autographs. A group of eight sterling silver table articles (lot #874; estimate: $1,000 – $1,500) is presented alongside a 124-piece set of Wedgwood gold Florentine pattern bone china (lot #877; estimate: $800 – $1,200). A portrait of the British royal family from 1958 (lot #1137; estimate: $1,000 – $1,500) and basketballs signed by members of the Los Angeles Lakers from 1987 and 1988 (lots #1064 and #1065; estimate: $800 – $1,200 each) will come up for bid. 

Group of 8 Sterling Silver Table Articles
Group of 8 Sterling Silver Table Articles

Interested collectors can also consider: 

  • An antique ceramic puzzle mug by George Ohr (lot #873; estimate: $1,000 – $1,500)
  • Two vintage Louis Vuitton suitcases (lot #915; estimate: $1,000 – $1,500)
  • A first edition copy of Jack London’s Call of the Wild from 1903 (lot #1126; estimate: $800 – $1,200) 
  • A sterling silver censer shaped like a turkey (lot #867; estimate: $600 – $800)  
  • A pair of Palladio Italian gilt metal side chairs (lot #888; estimate: $500 – $700) 

Everard Auctions and Appraisals, an online auction venue, was established in 2003. Everard Auctions has built its reputation on integrity, personalized service and their extensive market expertise. The majority of its business comes from client referrals. Everard Auctions is a full service online auction house. All auctions are hosted on iGavelAuctions.com. This allows the auction house to expose client property to an international audience, thus achieving higher results. Everard Auctions holds quarterly fine and decorative art auctions.

Everard Auctions and Appraisals’ Property from the Tenenbaum Estate and Other Owners sale will begin at 10:00 AM EDT on June 27, 2024. To find more information on this event and register to bid, visit Bidsquare. 

Find more press releases and industry news on Auction Daily. 

200 Rare Napoleon III-era Exotic Boxes are Among the Summer Treasures for Sale on iGavelAuctions.com, June 12

Pair of Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Rococo Revival Oil Lamps, Gagneau, circa 1860-1880 (Estimate: $25,000-30,000)

Pair of Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Rococo Revival Oil Lamps, Gagneau, circa 1860-1880 (Estimate: $25,000-30,000)
Pair of Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Rococo Revival Oil Lamps, Gagneau, circa 1860-1880 (Estimate: $25,000-30,000)

New York, NY and New Braunfels TX: Lark Mason Associates heads into summer with two exceptional sales. The first, Exquisite Boxes, Furniture and Works of Art will open for bidding on June 12 and run through June 27 on igavelauctions.com.

With more than 360 lots, the standouts include a monumental collection from a professional conservator of over 200 Napoleon III-era and earlier exotic inlay and gilt bronze mounted jewelry and glove boxes. Together with lap desks and ink stands, the collection is estimated at approximately $90,000-150,000. Also included is a pair of Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Rococo Revival Oil Lamps, Gagneau, circa 1860-1880 (Estimate: $25,000-30,000).

Other notable items are: Petit Soleil, a glazed ceramic tile, by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) (Estimate: $4,000-6,000); a 17th century Aubusson Landscape Tapestry (Estimate: $10,000-15,000); a group of four 16th-17th century Brussels Tapestries, each estimated between $7,000-10,000, two 18th century oil paintings of hunt scenes by George Morland: Meet by the Farmhouse and Death in a Rocky Clearing, Provenance Christies, December 6, 2000, lot 29 (Estimate: $5,000-8,000) and Ceramique from Ceramiques de Miro et Artigas, a lithograph by Joan Miró (1893-1983) (Estimate: $3,000-5,000).

Furniture highlights include a Neoclassical Marquetry Commode by Giuseppe Maggiolini, (Estimate: $8,000-12,000), and a French Regence Ebonized Wood Commode (Estimate: $5,000-8,000).


Among the knockouts in the second sale, Jewelry, Silver and Works of Art from a Prominent Collector–which opens for bidding on June 18 and runs through July 2–are a Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Card Box and Cover, dated 1947, from the collection of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor  (Estimate: $2,000-4,000); a Pair of Sterling Silver Art Nouveau Five Light Candelabra, by Koch & Bergfeld, Bremen, circa 1900 (Estimate: $1,500-2,000); a Roger Skeet Navajo Native American Sterling Silver and Turquoise Concho Belt (Estimate: $1,000-1,500); a Native American 14K Gold, Turquoise and Claw Necklace (Estimate: $700-1,000); and a Japanese Komai Gold Damascene Iron Barrel Form Box & Cover, Signed Komai Otojiro, Meiji Period (Estimate: $500-800).

Noted Lark Mason: “From a Tiffany Sterling silver card box once owned by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to a collection of Napoleon III-era boxes,  a charming Picasso ceramic tile, or 17th century Aubusson Landscape Tapestry, these sales offer a unique opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts.” 

The lots from “Exquisite Boxes, Furniture and Works of Art” can be viewed by appointment in New York City at 229 East 120th Street and in New Braunfels, Texas at 210 West Mill Street from June 12 to June 26, Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 

For “Jewelry, Silver and Works of Art from a Prominent Collector” the lots can be viewed by appointment in New York from June 18 to July 1, Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 

To arrange an appointment in New York City, contact: [email protected] or for the New Braunfels sales room, contact:[email protected]. For additional information or to place bids, visit www.igavelauctions.com or phone 212-289.5524.

For more information about upcoming events, checkout AuctionDaily’s auction previews.

Traditional & Contemporary Japanese Prints Come To Auction On June 22 At Turner Auctions + Appraisals

Lot 2: Artist: Yoshiiku UTAGAWA (Attributed). Series: Ghost. Date: c. 1860s. Medium: Ink and color on thin paper. Dimensions: 32" x 15". Condition: Some losses, overall good. Estimate $1,000-$2,000.

Online Auction Features Over 120 Lots of Prints, Etchings, and Drawings

Lot 2: Artist: Yoshiiku UTAGAWA (Attributed). Series: Ghost. Date: c. 1860s. Medium: Ink and color on thin paper. Dimensions: 32" x 15". Condition: Some losses, overall good. Estimate $1,000-$2,000.
Lot 2:  Artist: Yoshiiku UTAGAWA (Attributed). Series: Ghost. Date: c. 1860s. Medium: Ink and color on thin paper. Dimensions: 32″ x 15″. Condition: Some losses, overall good. Estimate $1,000-$2,000.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, June 10, 2024 – Turner Auctions + Appraisals is pleased to present Japanese Prints on Saturday, June 22, 2024. The sale features over 120 lots of traditional and contemporary Japanese woodblock prints, etchings, preparatory drawings, and pillar prints – mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries and from two California collections. Traditional artists include Kuniyoshi, Hokusai, Hiroshige, Kunichika, Yoshitoshi, Yoshida, Hasui, Yoshiiku, and Keith. Among the contemporary offerings are works from Hamanishi and Yoshimatsu, plus an extensive selection of etchings by Tanaka.

Turner Auctions + Appraisals begins its online auction on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 10:30 am PDT; sale items are available for preview and bidding now. The online auction will be featured live on multiple platforms:  LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Bidsquare, and Turner Auctions + Appraisals’ free mobile app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Apps (“Turner Auctions”). All are easily accessed through ‘Upcoming Auctions’ at the company’s website:  www.turnerauctionsonline.com/upcoming-auctions.

Here below are some highlights of the upcoming online sale (please see auction information and lot details in the online catalog). 

Lot 2:  Artist: Yoshiiku UTAGAWA (Attributed). Series: Ghost. Date: c. 1860s. Medium: Ink and color on thin paper. Dimensions: 32″ x 15″. Condition: Some losses, overall good. Estimate $1,000-$2,000. 

Lot 123:  Artist: Ryohei TANAKA (1933-2019). Series: Tranquil night No. 2. Date: 1983. Medium: Etching and Aquatint, Ed. 100. Dimensions: 18 1/2″ x 133/4″. Condition: Very good. Estimate $500-$700. 

Lot 15:  Artist: HOKUSAI (1760-1849). Series: Edo Hakkei (Eight Views of Edo). Date: 1833. Medium: Woodblock (eight prints). Dimensions: 5 1/2″ x 7 1/4″ each (paper size). Condition: Overall good. Estimate $800-$1,200.

Lot 18:  Artist: Hiroshige ANDO (1797-1858) Series: One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, Akasaka Paulownia Field. Date: 1856-58. Medium: Woodblock. Dimensions: 14 1/2″ x 9 3/4″ (paper size). Condition: Very good condition, has center crease. Estimate $800-$1,200. 

Lot 42:  Artist: Kobayashi KIYOCHIKA (1847-1915) Series: A Formal Procession of a Daimyo on New Year’s Day. Date: 1880. Medium: Twenty (20) continuous woodblock sheets, plus front and back cover. Dimensions: 14 1/8″ x 9 1/16″ each. Condition: Very good. Estimate $800-$1,200. 

Lot 57:  Artist: Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892). Series: Shimura Masazo Katsutoyo Captures Yamauba Alive. Date: 1865. Medium: Woodblock, triptych. Dimensions: 14″ x 9 1/4″ each. Condition: Stained, rubbed, repairs, faded and backed. Estimate $400-$600. 

Lot 66:  Artist: Kuniyoshi UTAGAWA (1797/98-1861). Series: The Marvelous Doctor Treats Serious Diseases (Kitai na meii nanbyo ryoji). Date: 1850. Medium: Woodblock (triptych). Dimensions: 14″ x 9 1/2″ each. Condition: Stained, backed, rubbed, trimmed, and faded. Estimate $200-$400. 

Lot 91:  Artist: Hiroshi YOSHIDA (1876-1950). Series: Elephant. Date: c.1931 Medium: Woodblock, signature is pencil signed. Dimensions: 15 3/4″ x 10 3/4″ (paper size). Condition: Overall condition good. Small repair to top left margin, evidence of prior mounting, toning to paper throughout and fading. Estimate $500-$700. 

Lot 89:  Artist: Toshi YOSHIDA (1911-1995). Series: Eagle Owl. Date: 1968. Medium: Woodblock. Dimensions :14 5/8″ x 10″. Condition: Minor toning. Estimate $300-$500. 

Lot 68:  Artists: Kuniyoshi UTAGAWA (1797/98-1861), Kuniteru UTAGAWA (1808-1876). Series: Ghost of Akugenda Yoshihira / Lives of Heroes of Country. Date: 1847-52. Medium: Woodblock (three prints). Dimensions: 14 1/4″ x 9 1/4″. Condition: Trimmed, rubbed, small losses and faded. Estimate $200-$400. 

Lot 93:  Artist: Hasui KAWASE (1883-1957). Series: Dusk At Tagonoura Beach from Selection of Views of the Tokaido. Date: 1940. Medium: Woodblock; Dimensions: 15 1/4″ x 10 1/2″ Condition: Minor toning. Estimate $500-$700. 

Lot 94:  Artist: Elizabeth KEITH (1887-1956). Series: Bridge at Suzhou. Date: 1924. Medium: Woodblock. Dimensions: 11″ x 15 3/8″. Condition: Overall good, backed. Estimate $600-$800.
 

Lot 99:  Artist: Yozo HAMAGUCHI (1909-2000). Series: Patrick’s Cherry. Date: 1980 Medium: Mezzotint. Ed. 100. Dimensions: 3″ x 3″. Condition: Good. Estimate $400-$600. 

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ABOUT TURNER AUCTIONS + APPRAISALS

Based in South San Francisco, Turner Auctions + Appraisals was founded by Stephen Turner to expand and complement the capabilities of Stephen G. Turner Associates, an auction and appraisal consulting firm founded in 2004. Turner Auctions + Appraisals presents online auctions in diverse categories of personal property (www.turnerauctionsonline.com). Among them are Fine Arts, Decorative Arts, Asian Arts, Toys, Jewelry, Militaria, Ethnic Arts, and others. The company offers a range of auction and appraisal services for buyers, sellers, and collectors. Online auctions are held several times a month. Working with leading live and online auction houses on the West Coast since 1991, Turner is a professional appraiser of personal property and seasoned auctioneer. His areas of expertise include fine art, decorative arts, antiques & residential contents. The company welcomes consignments and appraisals.

For more information about the company, please contact:

Stephen Turner, President, Turner Auctions + Appraisals, 461 Littlefield Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080

415-964-5250 / [email protected] / www.turnerauctionsonline.com

For media inquiries or photos, please contact:  

Jill Turner. Rodin & Shelley Associates / 707-944-2433 /  [email protected]

Find more upcoming sales and events on Auction Daily’s auction calendar.

R for Reza, a Royal Jeweler

Born 1922 in Moscow, Alexandre Reza became the global elite’s jeweler of choice in the 1960s.

Alexandre Reza (1922-2016) owned a fabulous collection of gemstones from which he made jaw-dropping pieces, making him the global elite’s jeweler of choice during the second half of the 20th century.

Born 1922 in Moscow, Alexandre Reza became the global elite’s jeweler of choice in the 1960s. © Laziz Hamani
Born 1922 in Moscow, Alexandre Reza became the global elite’s jeweler of choice in the 1960s.
© Laziz Hamani

Unique jewelry for unique people: that is the definition of creations by Alexandre Reza, jeweler to crowned heads and the rich and famous in the second half of the 20th century, from Florence Gould to Lady Diana, the Al Saoud royal family, and the Sultan of Brunei. His success was partly due to the magnificent gems he used to compose his lavish pieces, but he was also known as one of the world’s greatest jewelry collectors. Working mainly with the fab four—sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and diamonds—Reza’s objects reflected his passion for gems, recalling that trading in stones was his initial profession.
 

From Trading in Stones to Creating Jewelry

Alexandre Reza was born in Moscow in 1922 to an Iranian father and a mother from Samarkand. In 1925, the family fled the Soviet Union and settled in Nice, France, where Reza senior, a jeweler and dealer in precious objects, opened up a shop. When he was 14, Alexandre joined him and learned the trade. After the war, he founded his own business trading in stones. A skilled bargainer, he bought used jewelry and diamonds of varying quality at good prices in Antwerp and had them recut to enhance their brilliance. His willingness to take risks and talent of recognizing the potential of gemstones enabled him to amass stocks that would become the basis of his success and continue to grow with his travels. He tracked down exceptional stones from old mines in India, Burma and Colombia and intuitively recognized the value of colored diamonds before their time. The quality of his gems naturally opened up the doors of the jewelers on Place Vendôme to him. In the 1960s, he began designing jewelry for the world’s leading houses as well as private customers, signing his creations “A. Reza”, which became “Alexandre Reza” after setting up his own house in 1981.

This ring with a 52-ct untreated Burmese oval sapphire set on a domed mount of 101 oval diamonds weighing 28 carats is so emblematic of Reza's work that it graces the cover of a book about him published by Assouline in 2012.
This ring with a 52-ct untreated Burmese oval sapphire set on a domed mount of 101 oval diamonds weighing 28 carats is so emblematic of Reza’s work that it graces the cover of a book about him published by Assouline in 2012.

Enhancing Gems

Gifted with the sharpest of eyes, Reza excelled in assembling stones and color combinations that, he believed, unleashed emotions. The designer would spend hours, even days, examining, grading and handling gems, positioning them in wax, on a model or on a bust, to flawlessly match their colors, saturation, purity and brilliance. He loved the intensity emanating from rows of same-hued precious stones. The goal of enhancing the beauty of the gems—sometimes weighing dozens of carats—largely guided the conception and design of his jewelry. His necklaces are veritable fireworks, his rings worn high on the finger. In fact, one ring, set with a 52-ct untreated Burmese sapphire on a domed setting of 101 diamonds, graces the cover of the beautiful book Alexandre Reza, published by Assouline in 2012.

Combativity and Charm

To ensure beautifully feminine creations, Reza favored rounded shapes and easy-to-wear pieces that are fluid, light and sensual, even when paved right up to the clasp. A perfect illustration is a set featuring flower motifs that quiver with the slightest breath. Of the four versions he made, one, featuring 45 carats of cabochon emeralds and 150 carats of diamonds, was worn by Sarah Salleh, the young bride of the Crown Prince of the Sultanate of Brunei, on their wedding day in 2004. But while Reza’s name is strongly associated with colored gems, his all-white diamond jewelry is no less spectacular, starting with a rich set of 312-ct pear-cut, D-color flawless stones with a center diamond weighing a whopping 49 carats. Reza’s name was long unknown to the general public but came under the spotlight in 1985 when a show at the Musée Jacquemart-André in Paris featured his breathtaking collection of 200 recreated historic artifacts tracing a history of jewelry based on original existing pieces or models in paintings. The most noteworthy items included a magnificent necklace based on the one Caroline Bonaparte wears in Georges Rouget’s 1810 painting of Napoleon I’s wedding to Marie-Louise of Austria. The necklace, including 25 superb sapphires surrounded by a diamond collar, required 1,150 hours of work to make. Creating jewelry based on old models was a technical feat as well as a stroke of genius. It not only revealed a new facet of Reza’s artistic sensibility, but above all enabled him to circumvent a ban on sales in his new shop at 21 Place Vendôme, where his studio and office were located. The lease on the shop, which opened in late 1984, contained a clause prohibiting him from selling contemporary jewelry on the premises. It was lifted three years later after a legal battle, but in the meantime, Reza went on retailing his historically-based creations. The episode attests to his determination and headstrong personality, but he was also charismatic and charming. He led a busy social life and forged fruitful friendships early on. While still in Nice, Reza grew close to the millionaire Franco-American couple Florence and Frank Jay Gould, who owned a home in Juan-les-Pins. He joined their social circle, mingling with the international artistic, corporate and political elite, from Errol Flynn to King Farouk. In the 1950s, celebrities filled the famous art deco ultra-luxury hotel Le Provençal that Gould built in 1926 and Reza bought in 1972 before selling it in 2006.

Reza’s creations occasionally come up at auction. This jointed yellow gold bracelet with 8.60 carats of diamonds and 7.90 carats of emeralds fetched €27,600 at Besch Cannes Auction in April 2023.
Reza’s creations occasionally come up at auction. This jointed yellow gold bracelet with 8.60 carats of diamonds and 7.90 carats of emeralds fetched €27,600 at Besch Cannes Auction in April 2023.

A Run of Bad Luck

In Nice and Paris, where he settled in 1958, Reza’s beginnings were undeniably auspicious, all the more so as his style responded to new market dynamics and the tastes of a large, emerging clientele from the Middle East. In the West, style was moving towards less formal, more exuberant jewelry. Success came quickly and continued for decades, including at auctions. In 2016, a brooch featuring three intense fancy blue diamonds, including one weighing 6.64 carats, surrounded by colorless diamonds, fetched 13.35 million Swiss francs at Sotheby’s—a record for the jeweler. However, the end of the last century was clouded by difficulties. In 1994, armed robbers made off with $21 million worth of stones (€44 M in today’s money) from the Place Vendôme shop. In 2001, a necklace worth €1.8 million was stolen from his Cannes boutique, which opened in 1988. To make matters worse, Reza, nearly 80 and ailing, died without planning his estate. The house gradually fell into decline. In this context, his son, Olivier, picked up the torch in 2008 after a career in finance in the United States. “The richness of the remaining stock convinced me that this heritage had to be protected,” he says today, eight years after his father’s death. Renamed Reza, in 2021 the house moved lock, stock and barrel to New York, where Olivier offers his own creations “imbued”, he admits, with his “father’s legacy”.

ALEXANDRE REZA IN SIX DATES

1922
Born in Moscow

1958
Moves to Paris

1978
Creates his own production studio

1981
Founds the Alexandre Reza house

1984
Opens a shop on Place Vendôme

2016
Dies aged 93

Everard Auctions presents estate-fresh paintings, furniture, sculpture and jewelry, June 25-27

Ernst Fuchs (Austria, 1930-2015), ‘The Fall of Sodom and Gomorrah,’ oil-on-panel, 24½in x 13½in (sight). Book example illustrated in (translated) ‘Ernst Fuchs: Drawings & Graphics from the Early Creative Period’ by Friedrich Haider. Provenance: Property of Jane Tucker-Radley. Estimate: $40,000-$60,000

Featured: Paintings by Ernst Fuchs, Maxfield Parrish, Rodolfo Nieto, William Aiken Walker, and Michael Triegel; Chippendale chairs, contemporary sculpture, Tiffany silver, luxury watches, Jack Leigh photos

Ernst Fuchs (Austria, 1930-2015), ‘The Fall of Sodom and Gomorrah,’ oil-on-panel, 24½in x 13½in (sight). Book example illustrated in (translated) ‘Ernst Fuchs: Drawings & Graphics from the Early Creative Period’ by Friedrich Haider. Provenance: Property of Jane Tucker-Radley. Estimate: $40,000-$60,000
Ernst Fuchs (Austria, 1930-2015), ‘The Fall of Sodom and Gomorrah,’ oil-on-panel, 24½in x 13½in (sight). Book example illustrated in (translated) ‘Ernst Fuchs: Drawings & Graphics from the Early Creative Period’ by Friedrich Haider. Provenance: Property of Jane Tucker-Radley. Estimate: $40,000-$60,000

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Premier fine and decorative-art objects from Southern residences and collections will be offered during Everard’s June 25-27 Spring Auction, which is highlighted by property from the Savannah estate of Lorlee and Arnold Tenenbaum. Among the categories of prominence in this auction are fine American and English furniture, paintings by German and Austrian artists, contemporary sculpture, Tiffany silver, and a collection of Jack Leigh photographs. The Tenenbaum selection will be auctioned during the June 27 session, together with other important consignments. 

An oil-on-board painting by Ernst Fuchs (1930-2015) titled The Fall of Sodom and Gomorrah leads the event with an estimate of $40,000-$60,000. The painting is illustrated in a 2003 book by Friedrich Haider titled (translated) Ernst Fuchs: Drawings & Graphics from the Early Creative Period. Fuchs was an Austrian artist and co-founder of the school of Fantastic Realism. Influenced by Klimt, Dali and Schiele, his paintings, sculpture and prints address themes of religion and mysticism. His importance was recognized in 1988 with the opening of The Ernst Fuchs Museum, which is located in the former Otto Wagner Villa in Hutteldorf, outside Vienna. 

Coming from the same consignor, a 1961 work by Rodolfo Nieto (Mexico/France, 1936-1985), titled No. 114, is offered with an estimate of $10,000-$15,000. It is accompanied by a copy of the original 1965 bill of sale from Galerie de France, Paris. Nieto was a noted Mexican painter of the Oaxacan school. He was well received by his contemporaries in Paris, where he was exposed to the work of Edvard Munch and experimented in printmaking. He apprenticed under Diego Rivera and worked alongside his friend and artistic influence Rufino Tamayo. Nieto grew to be regarded as a 20th-century Mexican master.

Other fine art highlights include notable works by American illustrator Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966) and Southern painter William Aiken Walker (1839-1921). A circa-1898 oil-on-paper work by Parrish, Portrait of Henry Barnhurst in Uniform, depicts the subject in a Spanish-American War uniform and is estimated at $8,000-$12,000. Barnhurst is known to have been friends with Parrish and is the great-grandfather of the artwork’s South Carolina consignor. Charleston-born and the son of a prominent cotton agent, William Aiken Walker studied art in Dusseldorf, Germany, but was primarily self-taught. He drew acclaim for his depictions of emancipated Black Americans in the post-Reconstruction South. His oil painting titled Possum Hunter is entered with a $3,000-$5,000 estimate.

A contemporary mixed-media still life by painter and illustrator Michael Triegel (German, b. 1968-), titled Still Life with Melon and Artichoke, comes from a Ponte Vedra, Florida, private collection and is estimated at $12,000-$18,000. A member of the New Leipzig school, Triegel paints many religious and Christian subjects and is heavily influenced by Renaissance art. In 2010, he painted an official portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, and in 2022, he completed a commission for an altar piece at Naumburg Cathedral.

The Tenenbaum estate collection is distinguished for its fine paintings and sculpture, folk art, turned wood bowls, and art glass. A painting by Southern folk artist Jimmy Lee Sudduth (Alabama, 1910-2007), titled Bicycle Man, is composed of paint and mud on board and has an auction estimate of $1,500-$2,500. Sudduth was an imaginative folk artist and blues musician from Fayette, Alabama, who turned to natural sources – clay, sand, soot, and colors extracted from weeks and vegetables – to create his works. Aside from his engaging self-portraits, Sudduth’s favorite subjects included dogs, television personalities, and the architecture and landscape near his home and in large American cities.

The Tenenbaum estate is also the source of a beautiful turned and segmented wood bowl by Bud Latven (Philadelphia/New Mexico, b. 1949-). Latven’s masterful wood creations have been widely exhibited, including at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Created in 1999 and titled Open Conic Form Wood Sculpture, the bowl is composed of turned and segmented prairie retusa, cocobelo, African ebony and aronite woods. It is entered in Everard’s sale with a $2,500-$3,500 estimate. 

A large, contemporary mirrored wall sculpture from the Tenenbaum collection is by contemporary American artist Heather McGill, who incorporates paper, beads and other materials into her imaginative creations. Also worthy of note are a George Ohr ceramic mug, a Han Dynasty figure, and a set of vintage Louis Vuitton luggage.

Other contemporary sculpture highlights include a Jane Manus (NY/FL, b. 1950-) bright red painted aluminum sculpture titled Red River. Manus is one of the few women, alongside Louise Bourgeois and Louise Nevelson, who were making metal sculptures on a scale similar to male artists such as Mark di Suvero and David Smith. Over the years that followed, Manus switched to working with aluminum rather than steel, preferring its lightness and flexibility. The auction lot is estimated at $4,000-$6,000.

Virtually every auction hosted by Everard includes outstanding estate furniture. Over the course of June 25-27, bidders will be able to choose from both antique and contemporary styles, with the common thread being great quality and provenance. A pair of circa-1750 Philadelphia Chippendale mahogany side chairs would add grace and elegance to any room. On the seat rail of one of the chairs is a handwritten inscription indicating them to be the property of the Hon. Charles Thomson, first Secretary of the First Congress of the United States. The other chair retains a typed label also indicating prior ownership by Thomson. The chairs comprise a single lot estimated at $3,000-$5,000. Also, a particularly fine circa-1800 George III rosewood and parcel gilt console carries a $2,000-$3,000 estimate.

Sterling silver highlights include a lovely pair of marked, 13-inch-tall Tiffany sterling silver Palm Tree candlesticks with painstakingly reticulated trunks and realistic leaves. Made in Italy and standing 13 inches high, the duo has a total weight of 75.64 troy ounces and is estimated at $3,000-$5,000. 

The array of fine jewelry is led by an 18K gold and sapphire cuff bracelet by the premier Italian firm Buccellati. It is marked by the maker and has a total weight of 34.8 grams. Estimate: $12,000-$18,000. Among the stellar timepieces to be auctioned is an Audemars Piguet 18K white gold and diamond watch with a lapis lazuli dial. The Swiss-made luxury watch is estimated at $8,000-$12,000. The jewelry section also includes several other beautiful bracelets and ladies’ watches by Rolex and Tiffany.

Two collections of photographs by Jack Leigh (1948-2004) are sure to draw attention. One of the collections is a 1980 portfolio titled Oystering: A Way of Life, which includes five silver gelatin images of some of Leigh’s more-iconic oystering images. A Savannah native, Leigh is perhaps best known for his photo of the “Bird Girl” statue appearing on the cover of the John Berendt novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Leigh’s work recorded the people, environments and rapidly changing lifestyles of the American South. His oystering portfolio will cross the auction block with a $5,000-$7,000 estimate.

On Day 3, history buffs can immerse themselves in a fine collection of American Civil War-related manuscripts and ephemera. The documents are tied to such notable figures as Confederate General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), Jefferson Davis (1808-1889, president of the Confederacy), Alexander Hamilton Stephens (1812-1883, vice president of the Confederate States), and John C. Calhoun (1782-1850, American statesmen and seventh vice president of the United States), amongst others. 

The June 25-27 auction will start on all three days at 10 am EST. There will not be live gallery bidding for this sale. Bid absentee or live online via Everard, LiveAuctioneers, Bidsquare or Invaluable. The public is invited to a June 18 preview reception from 5-7pm at Everard Auctions’ gallery, with additional previewing available June 19, 20 or 21 or by appointment. For more information on any item in the auction, call 912-231-1376 or email [email protected]. Everard is located at 2436 Waters Ave., Savannah, GA 31404. Online: https://www.everard.com.  

For more information about upcoming events, checkout Auction Daily’s auction previews.

Semper fi: Property of revered 29th USMC Commandant 4-Star General Alfred M. Gray Jr. to be auctioned June 14 at Quinn’s

Wood ammunition crate with presentation plaque from ‘Marines & Sailors, Marine Corps Combat Development Command’ to ‘General Alfred M. Gray Jr., USMC Ret.’ To commemorate Marine Corps’ 234th birthday. Emblazoned with Marine Corps imagery, emblems and the motto ‘SEMPER FIDELIS.’ Size: 11½ in x 19¼ in x 11¾ in. Provenance: Estate of 29th US Marine Corps Commandant Four-Star General Alfred M. Gray Jr. (American, 1928-2024). Estimate: $100-$200

Legendary Marine’s personal collection includes high-quality edged weapons, watches, decorative art, furniture, and White House, US Capitol and diplomatic gifts

Wood ammunition crate with presentation plaque from ‘Marines & Sailors, Marine Corps Combat Development Command’ to ‘General Alfred M. Gray Jr., USMC Ret.’ To commemorate Marine Corps’ 234th birthday. Emblazoned with Marine Corps imagery, emblems and the motto ‘SEMPER FIDELIS.’ Size: 11½ in x 19¼ in x 11¾ in. Provenance: Estate of 29th US Marine Corps Commandant Four-Star General Alfred M. Gray Jr. (American, 1928-2024). Estimate: $100-$200
Wood ammunition crate with presentation plaque from ‘Marines & Sailors, Marine Corps Combat Development Command’ to ‘General Alfred M. Gray Jr., USMC Ret.’ To commemorate Marine Corps’ 234th birthday. Emblazoned with Marine Corps imagery, emblems and the motto ‘SEMPER FIDELIS.’ Size: 11½ in x 19¼ in x 11¾ in. Provenance: Estate of 29th US Marine Corps Commandant Four-Star General Alfred M. Gray Jr. (American, 1928-2024). Estimate: $100-$200

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – On Friday, June 14, Quinn’s Auction Galleries will auction personal property from the Estate of 29th US Marine Corps Commandant Four-Star General Alfred M Gray Jr (American, 1928-2024). Known as a “Marine’s Marine,” General Gray was a war hero who wielded enormous positive influence on the Corps during his 41 years of steadfast service. Because of his devotion to the Corps, it could be argued that only a thin line of demarcation separated his official and private life, since the objects and unique souvenirs with which he surrounded himself at home were very much a reflection of the military career he so earnestly embraced. Many of his most treasured mementos are included in Quinn’s single-consignor sale.

General Gray’s collection includes watches, jewelry, many unique keepsakes bearing USMC emblems and historically important gifted items from The White House, US Capitol, FBI and diplomatic sources. Also, there are furnishings and library accessories from the general’s residence, plus high-quality edged weapons such as an inscribed Operation Snowcap Al-Mar 3004 fighting knife and a Randall Made Model M1-7 fixed-blade stag knife. Accompanied by its leather sheath, the M1-7 is displayed in a felt-lined, glass-lidded case with a plaque commemorating its presentation to “General Al Gray Commandant of The Marine Corps” from the “FBI Marine Corps. Association,” in 1989. The 7in clip-point blade is engraved “GENERAL GRAY/ FBI – USMC ASSOC.” The dagger’s overall length is a formidable 12 inches. Estimate: $600-$800

Another item that must have held special meaning to General Gray was a wood ammunition crate with a presentation plaque commemorating the Marine Corps’ 234th birthday and personalized from “Marines & Sailors, Marine Corps Combat Development Command” to “General Alfred M. Gray Jr., USMC Ret.” Emblazoned with Marine Corps imagery, emblems and the motto “SEMPER FIDELIS,” the attractively decorated ammo crate is estimated at $100-$200.

General Gray’s jewelry and accessories include an inscribed Operation Desert Storm belt buckle, a 14K yellow gold Longines watch, and his 10K yellow gold United States Marine Corps ring set with a cabochon faux ruby and estimated at $100-$150. A handsome 18K yellow gold Baume & Mercier automatic strap watch with an approximately 40.0mm case, antique white dial with gilt markers, numerals and hands is back-stamped “CLIFTON, BAUME & MERCIER, GENEVE 1830, 65719 SWISS 50M, BMG Au750” on its skeleton case. Its automatic movement is stamped “Swiss 25 Jewels, BM11300.” Estimate: $800-$1,000

An inviting Henredon Chesterfield chaise lounge of button-tufted black leather with a mahogany wood frame and two side drawers added an elegant touch to the general’s study. Manufactured around the 1980s, it has a $600-$800 estimate. Many other auction items reflect the dignified atmosphere in General Gray’s home retreat by recalling a career highlight or memorable occasion.

A White House Commemorative limited-edition cedar humidor of cabriole form has a large White House emblem on its lid and a metal Seal of the United States of America on its front surface. It is numbered “854/1000” and can hold 120 cigars. Estimate: $200-$400

An unusual pair of bookends is constructed from circa-1800 sandstones removed from the US Capitol circa 1800. One bears the Seal of the United States House of Representatives and the other, the Seal of the United States Senate. The bookends are inscribed to “General Alfred M. Gray Jr./ 29th Commandant United States Marine Corps.” Estimate: $400-$600

The collection also includes a group of three commemorative nautical paddles presented to General Gray from “The Men of the Marine Combatant Diving Course,” in 1991; the U.S.M.C. Recruiting Station Harrisburg, PA (at the) Birthday Ball 2002;” and the “U.S.M.C. Force Reconnaissance,” in 1991. Estimate: $60-$80

General Gray had an appreciation for fine art, as well. He owned a Doug Corsini pewter sculpture of a three-dimensional Marine emblem with its familiar eagle, globe and anchor. Signed and editioned on verso “2/1775,” it is estimated at $60-$80.

Matthew Quinn, executive vice president of Quinn’s Auction Galleries, believes many militaria collectors will be motivated to acquire mementos from General Gray’s remarkable life and career. He said: “General Gray’s accomplishments are forever ingrained in American history. He served his country with valor, even in the most perilous of times. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1950 during the Korean War, and he was awarded a Silver Star for heroism during the Vietnam War. When he became the Marine Corps’ 29th Commandant, he took on the challenge of reinvigorating the Marines after the tragic 1983 terrorist attack in Beirut, and succeeded with flying colors. He recognized the importance of preparing Marines for future conflicts through the adoption of the doctrinal warfighting concept. Through his vision and advocacy for education, the Marine Corps University was established in 1989 in Quantico, Virginia. There, Marines are given the preparation they need to prevail in combat. They learn how to become critical thinkers, collaborators and leaders. The university is a big part of General Gray’s enduring legacy.”

While there will be no in-person gallery bidding for the Friday, June 14, 2024 auction, Quinn’s cordially invites bidders to participate live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers or Proxibid. Additionally, absentee bids may be placed through Quinn’s website. Auction start time: 12 noon ET. Preview of auction items by appointment only. Successful bidders who wish to pick up their merchandise at the gallery are asked to make arrangements by contacting Quinn’s. For information about any auction item or to discuss consigning to a future Quinn’s sale, call Corrie Brady at 703-532-5632 ext. 572, or email [email protected]. Visit Quinn’s online at www.quinnsauction.com.

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