Irish painter Sir John Lavery was known for his realistic landscapes, portraits, and wartime scenes. He was a member of the Glasgow School of Painting. With an emphasis on brushstrokes, Lavery’s paintings have a sketch-like quality. He was influenced by outdoor and naturalist French styles of art. One such painting by Lavery, titled The Beach Deauville – Morning, is a key highlight of the upcoming sale from Pook & Pook, Inc. The oil on board is characteristic of the lively ambient effect the artist creates in his paintings with his brushwork. Another noteworthy painting on offer is Andrew Wyeth’s watercolor titled The Lookout or Borestone Mountain. The building illustrated was located in Northern Maine, near the village of Manson.
A Chippendale mahogany tea table leads the furniture listings. The piece was designed in Philadelphia and is striking for its decorative carvings. A highly rare brass candlestick, portraying a sculpture of Martin Luther standing on a raised circular plinth, is a noteworthy decorative lot in the catalog. The father of the Reformation is depicted holding a scalloped drip pan and socket. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
Christie’s upcoming sale of 19th-century American masterworks from the collection of Daniel A. Pollack features a constellation of still life and portraiture from the Peale family of artists. This includes a portrait of George Washington by Charles Peale Polk. The available example is one in a series of Washington portraits that the artist executed in the 1790s. It is particularly notable for the stormy sky behind the sitter, a dramatic backdrop that does not detract from Washington’s grace and gravitas. Also notable in the offerings is Raphaelle Peale’s Currants and Biscuits still life. Regarded as America’s first significant still life painter, Peale’s elaborate still lifes were outliers during an era dominated by portrait painting. The available work shows several raisin cakes, an expensive delicacy, that the artist likely purchased from a bakery located down the street from the Peale home.
Also headlining the event is William Michael Harnett’s notable Lobster, Fruit, Champagne and Newspaper painting from 1882. This work is part of Harnett’s famous series of lobster-focused still lifes inspired by Abraham van Beyeren’s Large Still-Life with Lobster. The offered version of the scene is possibly the only Harnett lobster painting with a red background. Other notable lots in this sale include John La Farge’s water lily study from 1883, a lustrous watermelon still life by Sarah Miriam Peale, and a stern portrait of Mrs. Samuel Watts by John Singleton Copley. Browse the complete catalog and register to bid by visiting Christie’s.
Louis Icart, a French painter, was a well-known graphic artist and illustrator who began drawing very early in his life. He was influenced by 18th-century French masters such as François Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard. His portrayal of women was marked by a combination of sensuality and humor. An original oil painting by Louis Icart, titled Le Thé au Jardin, is a key highlight of the upcoming Dane Fine Art sale. The rare work is hand-signed in paint at the lower left corner. Another unusual artwork on offer, an offset lithograph of The Praying Jew (Rabbi of Vitebsk), is based on Marc Chagall’s original painting. The piece belongs to an edition of 100 published by the Art Institute of Chicago. The portrait is notable for its limited palette and simplicity. In his autobiography, Chagall described that he made a sitter pose wearing his father’s prayer clothes and then painted him to create the image.
A lithograph on chine applique on wove paper by Edgar Degas and George William Thornley also leads the catalog. Le Jockey, a rare artwork from an edition of 25, is hand-signed by Degas and Thornley. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
Danish architect and furniture designer Arne Emil Jacobsen (1902 – 1971) is best remembered for his simple, well-designed chairs and Louis Poulsen lamps. His contribution to architectural functionalism, particularly Danish architecture, is highly revered even today. Besides his iconic Egg chair and Swan chair, the architect also designed many famous buildings in his hometown of Copenhagen. A set of four dining chairs designed by Arne Emil Jacobsen is a key highlight of the upcoming sale from Auctions at Showplace. The black chairs with chrome legs and ebonized wood seats are part of Fritz Hansen’s Scandinavian series.
Another noteworthy lot is an artwork titled Is Beauty Bondage by American artist Alexi Allens. The color serigraph shows three ladies’ heads with squares. A pendant made of 14-karat white gold, aquamarine, tanzanite, and diamond also leads the lots. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete sale catalog and other online auctions.
French painter and illustrator Georges d’Espagnat was well-known for his landscape paintings. D’Espagnat’s scenic artworks portray Parisian life and feminine figures. The upcoming Auctions at Showplace event presents an oil painting by Georges d’Espagnat. Titled Le Printemps, the 1910 artwork portrays d’Espagnat’s signature brushstrokes. This highest-valued collectible showcases color treatment similar to Fauvism. Also notable is an Oscar Bach table lamp with a Steuben globe. The body of the bronze lamp features nude figurines in gold. The lamp design resembles the men holding the Steuben glass sphere on their backs. Bach’s work is noteworthy for utilizing different metals and following styles like Spanish Baroque and English Chippendale.
The auction also offers purses from top labels like Dior and Chanel. Showcased among them is a Prada Saffiano Vernice leather tote purse. Saffiano leather is famous for withstanding stains and offers high durability. Hence, many Prada bags utilize Saffiano Vernice leather. The red Prada purse has a cross-body strap and two handles on top. The sale will also feature Victor Salmones’ bronze sculptures, Kayo Lennar artworks, porcelain service sets, and Bernhard Rohne cabinets. Interested collectors can explore the entire catalog, register to bid online on Bidsquare, and browse other online auctions.
Mr. Brainwash’s The Heroes is available in the forthcoming Mid-Winter Sale of Modern & Contemporary, presented by Dane Fine Art. In honor of the 2017 premiere of the movie Justice League, Mr. Brainwash made a new addition to the ongoing series of comic book covers that features the Justice League of America superheroes. Mr. Brainwash is the pseudonym of French-born Los Angeles-based filmmaker and street artist Thierry Guetta. Using stencil graffiti and posters of icons, Mr. Brainwash has swiftly rose to prominence in the burgeoning street art scene. The available original serigraph shows the classic Justice League heroes bursting from a collage of comics and advertisements.
Also available is Balloon Dog (Magenta), an original porcelain sculpture by American artist Jeff Koons. This piece belongs to Koons’ Celebration series, which started in the mid-1990s. There are five distinct hues of the balloon dog motif: blue, magenta, orange, red, and yellow. Each balloon dog depicts a dog standing upright on all four legs and casting its gaze forward. Find more items and online auctions on Bidsquare.
A silver Porsche 718 RSK edition race car in center seat configuration is one of the leading lots in this Kissimmee 2023 auction, offered by Mecum. Built in 1959, the car has been in The Rick Grant III Estate Collection since 1990. The race car features a 1587cc DOHC flat-four engine, five-speed manual transaxle, and helically-finned four-wheel drum brakes. The 1959 Porsche 718 RSK is one of 34 produced, of which six were reportedly built in center seat configuration. An all-red BMW 507 Roadster is another key highlight of the event. The 1959 BMW is one of 252 built. The last restoration was completed in 2001. The car was part of the 3,500-mile BMW Vintage Marathon of Europe following the restoration. It has a 3168cc all-aluminum OHV V-8 engine with 150 HP. It also features optional four-wheel disc brakes, dual carburetors, ZF four-speed manual gearbox, and an optional hardtop. It has plush leather seats with a Blaupunkt radio and a sleek steering wheel.
Elvis Presley’s private jet is another key lot. A Lockheed 1329 Jetstar with custom interiors is one of several jets owned by the American singer. Inside the cabin is a luxurious wood panel with red velvet upholstery and gold-finish hardware. The interior cabin seating can accommodate up to nine people. Other features include passenger chairs with swivel and recline functionality, a lavatory with vanity, a television with an RCA VCR player, and more. An array of motorcycles, boats, collector cars, and tractors alongside road art, signs, and pump plates will be available. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Mecum.
The Parys Mining Company (PMCo) produced copper pennies by sourcing metal from Parys Mountain, Wales. Considered to be the premier tokens of the 18th century, the tokens have a company design logo on their back. An example of a PMCo coin will lead the upcoming British Tokens, Tickets, and Passes sale, presented by DNW Auctions. Alongside a portrait is the name of PMCo with the words, “We promise to pay the bearer one penny.” The token was issued by the company in 1788.
Coin collectors can also find a seven-tray carry case filled with a rare, comprehensive group of miscellaneous tokens and checks. The black and red case comes with locks and a key. The tokens and checks come in different shapes including circular, square, rectangular, star, triangular, and octagonal. Also highlighted in this auction are 17th-century coins inscribed “Joseph Knibb: Clockmaker in Oxon.” On the obverse is a Roman numeral chapter ring engraved with the initials I and K on either side of a single hand to the center. For more information about these or any other lots, visit DNW Auctions and register to bid.
Best remembered for his watercolor works, American landscape painter Winslow Homer was considered a significant figure of the 19th century. As someone who closely observed the coastal life, he specialized in marine-themed paintings. Homer’s In the Rapids, one such watercolor on paper, is a key highlight of Sotheby’s upcoming Art of the Americas sale. It portrays canoes in the Saguenay with one in the foreground being steered by two men looking at the canoes in the background. Like many of his other paintings, this one explores the connection between humankind and environment. Another interesting landscape is Lake Hamlet (Passing Shower), an oil on canvas work by Asher Brown Durand. The painting illustrates his skillful depiction of American topography and his proficiency in the treatment of light and weather. Associated with the Hudson River School, the American painter began focusing on landscapes after he went on a sketching expedition with his friend to the Adirondacks Mountains.
The sale also features a bronze sculpture by Frederic Remington. Broncho Buster was in fact Remington’s foremost and highly famous sculpture. Portraying a cowboy taming a horse, it was adapted from one of his illustrations. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Sotheby’s.
Detroit-based architect Elijah E. Myers designed the Goddess of Liberty in 1881, and the statue was installed atop the dome of the Texas Capitol in 1888. It was most likely inspired by Pallas Athena from ancient Greece and the State of Freedom on the National Capitol. A large weathervane based on Myers’ Goddess of Liberty design is a key highlight of the upcoming sale from New England Auctions. From the Americana collection of Pat and Rich Garthoeffner, this Cushing and White piece was designed around 1865. The weathervane retains its original oval brass plaque and has been molded in copper with a fine painted and gilded surface. Another significant lot is Lititz Springs Hotel-Rieker’s beer brewery sign. This double-sided piece is carved in wood and retains its original paint and iron hanging hardware. This signboard was removed in 1929 when the hotel was renovated.
The sale also features a striking presentation of 54 velvet fruits and vegetables in a vintage wire basket. The collectible set includes a butterfly, a two-faced moon, and a cat with glass eyes, all made of velvet. Assembled over 40 years, many of these Americana pieces date back to the 1860s. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
