Sotheby’s online Fine Books and Manuscripts auction is a great opportunity to enrich any book collection with a valuable piece of history. The sale is highlighted by John R. Mott’s 1946 Nobel Peace Prize medals, the first edition of Leaves of Grass by Whitman, and The Federalist by Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay. The auction also includes examples of literary cornerstones such as Thoreau’s Walden and Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Additional highlights are literary correspondence ranging from Charles Dickens to Charles Bukowski, one of only 500 true first editions of Herman Melville’s The Whale, a Matisse two-page letter with sketches, George Gershwin’s autographed manuscript music score for “Leavin’ for De Promis’ Lan”, and Bruce Springsteen’s working manuscript of “Thunder Road”. Bidding will be open from June 7 to 21. To learn more or place a bid, visit Sotheby’s.
The Fine and Rare Wine Signature Auction offered by Heritage Auctions includes hundreds of quality and rare wines from all regions of the world. Featuring wines both vintage and modern, this auction has starting bids ranging from $280 to $12,050. Collectors and wine enthusiasts of all levels of expertise can find a bottle or case to suit their tastes. Some wines stand out from the rest of the collection, including twelve bottles of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2000, a bottle of Romanee Conti 1980, and several vintage champagnes. View the complete catalog and register to bid online on Heritage Auctions.
The upcoming Numismatics auction offered by Hindman includes a wide variety of collectible coins and currency. It covers centuries of history, with United States coins dating from 1795 to 1987. The lots have starting bids ranging from $10 to $4,000, making this auction accessible to collectors of all levels of interest. The Numismatics auction also highlights an assortment of currency forms, from individual coins to proof sets to framed paper note collections. A United States 1908 Indian Head gold coin is a rare lot in this auction, while a medieval gold noble from 1369-1377 marks the first English coin to enjoy widespread circulation. View the complete catalog and register to bid online on LiveAuctioneers.
The upcoming 20th Century Design auction by Skinner offers furniture and decorative arts dating from the turn of the 20th century to more modern pieces. Among the most noteworthy offerings are Tiffany Studios bronze table lamp with a dragonfly shade, mid-century furniture by Hunter Studios; works by George Nakashima; designs by Ico and Luisa Parisi, Singer & Sons; and Danish Modern designs. Bronze and glass vases, silver, paintings, and pottery are also among the most highly valued lots in this auction. Bids start at $50 and go as high as $13,000. If you’d like to see these lots and the remainder of the catalog of lots, visit Bidsquare
The upcoming “Prints and Multiples Auction, includes Intervened Plates of Artes from Mexico” offered by Morton Subastas features portraits and lithographs from many exceptional Mexican artists as well as others from around the world. Anchoring this auction are a lithograph of Diego Rivera’s Desnudo de Dolores Olmedo and Marc Chagall’s etching Autoportrait au Sourire. See all available prints and multiples and register to bid on Bidsquare today.
Artemis Gallery offers its upcoming Ancient/ Ethnographic from Around the World auction as an extensive collection of rare and historically significant decorative arts. It features ancient works of art from across the globe, from southern Europe to the early Americas. A Roman limestone female head sculpture, an intricately painted Greek bell krater vase, and a pair of medieval Islamic window lintels are a small sampling of the auction’s notable lots. With a particular focus on American Indian and Ethnographic art, this auction strikes a balance between all corners of the ancient world. View the complete catalog and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
The second day of the Fine & Decorative Arts auction offered by Morphy Auctions features an extensive collection of art pieces, as well as furniture, jewelry, and collectibles. A wide range of lots are available with starting bids ranging from $50 up to $20,000, showing a diverse variety. Key lots include an 18th century Dutch striking clock, a Tiffany & Co. mandarin garnet and diamond ring, and an eclectic assortment of works from American painters. This auction also offers several eye catching and unusual pieces, including an intricate and operational miniature carousel and a horse-shaped weather vane that topped a full-sized carousel in the early 20th century. View all lots and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
The auction Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence, offered by Christie’s, primarily features jewelry, paintings, and weapons from the Indian subcontinent from the Mughal Empire to the early 20th Century. The Mughal Empire ruled much of the subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century and several of these lots offer a look into life at that time. This includes the painting “Two Ladies Sharing a Tender Moment”, which is a reminder of the promiscuous lifestyle some led in the Mughal royal court. Another notable example is a 19th-century khanjar dagger with an intricate handle set with rubies, emeralds, and turquoise. The Sanskrit title “Maharaja” means “great ruler” or “great king”. Some of the items in this auction are associated with the maharajas of the 20th century, including an 18k gold pocket watch with the image of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. The item with the highest estimated value in the auction is a “devant-de-corsage” brooch made for Solomon Joel, who made his fortune in South Africa from diamond mining, with four of Joel’s best diamonds. Those interested in any of these pieces can register to bid on Christie’s website.
This auction offered by Stunning Arts Gallery and Auction features 289 lots of Chinese Art including paintings, jade carvings, porcelain, furniture, jewelry, and Buddhist sculptures. Of note are items from the Estate of the late Harry Geoffrey Beasley; and Sear Hang Hwie Pao, one of Canada’s leading dealers of Chinese porcelain and works of art; as well as an important Chinese painting collections and antiques. A Chinese imperial sword, bronze statues, and an Xu Yanzhou painting is also featured, rounding out this auction. Starting bids range from $100 to $10,000. Those interested can preview items and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
The ongoing Interiors: Fine Arts Online auction, offered by Christie’s, began on June 14th and will conclude on June 19th. The lots are primarily 20th-century paintings, figures, and photographs, but there are several exceptions. One notable exception is an original John Lennon “Bag One”, which is a collection of fourteen lithographs by the famous musician. The piece is signed by John Lenon and marked as the 75th copy of only 300 put into production. André Masson, the French artist whose work is associated with cubism, surrealism, and automatic drawing, is represented in this auction with “Démon des fleurs”. A painting from George Rodrigue’s iconic Blue Dog series, “A Lazy Sunday” is also among the lots in this auction with the highest estimated value. Substantially lower in price is a ceramic plate by Pablo Picasso, “Toros (A.R. 161)”, which is one of 500 such plates put into production. View these items and register to bid on Christie’s website.
