Black American artist Ernie Barnes was a well-known painter, actor, author, and professional football player. His paintings are noted for portraying distinctive characters with elongated looks and a sense of movement. Reading From Left To Right, a notable oil on canvas by Barnes, is a key highlight of the current First Open auction by Christie’s. In a “neo-mannerist” style, the artist depicts fluid figures in motion and focuses on imagery that evokes contentment in everyday life. Another painting of interest is Ark Grotjahn’s untitled work portraying a multi-red two-wing butterfly. This 2006 color pencil on paper work depicts an abstract, perspective image with a striking use of color and symmetry.
American artist John Wesley’s available Couch with Sailboat is a hard-edged, comic-strip-style painting. With delicate black outlines, the artist portrays a couch in the foreground with sailboats in the background using a limited range of hues. The sale also features Pop artist James Rosenquist’s screen-printed oil on canvas titled Spikey Thermometer. It best exemplifies his interests in the combination of aesthetics and science. The billboard-painter-turned-artist is also known for appropriating imagery from mass media and advertisements. To view the complete catalog and register to bid for any of these items online, visit Christie’s.
Traditional Japanese netsuke from the collection of Joseph and Elena Kurstin is going under the hammer at Bonhams. The auction begins with Hatching Tengu, a 19th-century fine wood netsuke (miniature sculpture) of Tengu no Tamago. It was created by Naitō Toyomasa during the Edo period (1615 – 1868), based on the Japanese folklore of Tengu, a mischievous supernatural being considered the reincarnated spirit of someone proud and arrogant in a past life. The available Toyomasa netsuke is carved as a mythical bird-like creature emerging from an egg, biting the top of its left wing as it stretches it to its length. Details are finely incised, like the inlaid eyes of translucent and dark horns.
A netsuke of a contortionist attributed to Gesshō is also available. His legs stick straight up in the air, and his face bears a wide grin. It is a wooden netsuke also created during the 18th-century Edo period. The tumbler is dressed in a Chinese-style vest and cap, supporting himself on his bent forearms. The surface is well-worn, bearing a warm patina. The piece stands 6cm high. Another key lot is a netsuke showing a Chinese boy holding a puppy. It is lacquered in silver, gold, red, and black. The boy stands dressed in robes decorated with roundels of butterflies, stylized dragons, squirrels, and flower blossoms. His robe has chevron details, and he carries a kinchaku (purse) with a netsuke suspended from his sash. Find the listed items and more on Bonhams and register to place a bid.
John James Audubon, an American self-trained artist, naturalist, and ornithologist, changed the course of natural history with his book The Birds of America, published in 1827. Before its publication, no one had ever seen such a vivid, life-sized depiction of birds in their natural habitats. Six volumes of folios with 150 hand-colored lithographed plates by John James Audubon and John Woodhouse Audubon is a notable lot in Sotheby’s upcoming Fine Books and Manuscripts Auction. Born illegitimately to a plantation worker mother who passed away soon after, John James Audubon was raised by his stepmother in colonized Haiti. As civil unrest grew, Audubon’s father arranged for the family to move to France in 1791. There, the artist discovered his affinity for birds, animals, and nature. The available lot from The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America includes three folio plate volumes and three text volumes containing five supplementary plates.
Another key item on offer is a copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses. Printed on handmade Dutch paper, the available lot is number 44 of 100 copies made and is signed by Joyce. The story of Ulysses begins in Dublin in 1904, chronicling the encounters of the protagonist Leopold Bloom, drawing comparisons to the Odyssey. The reader travels with each character’s voyage through their past, credited to the stream of consciousness technique, which Joyce pioneered in this book. Collectors of fine books and manuscripts can also find illustrations from John Gould and a copy of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass (1855) with an engraved frontispiece portrait of Whitman by Samuel Hollyer. Find the listed items and more on Sotheby’s and register to place a bid.
A Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980R wristwatch will headline Akiba Antiques’ upcoming Minutes to Midnight auction. The watch with a brown dial and dark brown alligator strap complements a rose gold case. This Nautilus has an automatic, self-winding movement with a power reserve rating of 45 to 55 hours. Often referred to as the Rolls Royce of watches, the Patek Philippe’s Nautilus Collection was designed by iconic watch designer Gérald Genta in 1976. This 5980-011 model has a case width of 12.2 mm and an octagon-shaped bezel. Additional features include a flyback chronograph, running seconds sub-dial, and a date display.
Other highlights of this auction include an antique mantel clock from Paris. The patinated and matte gilt bronze and green marble mantel clock are designed with pendulum movement. It features a round white enamel dial with black Roman numeral and outer Arabic numbering. Attributed to French Old Master artist Claude Galle (1759 – 1815), the clock case portrays the famous fictional character Robinson Crusoe under a tent amidst the raging storm around him. The mantel clock was probably made in the 1800s. The sale offers decorative art, jewelry, watches, fine art, sculptures, and more. Follow all the lots online and register to bid on LiveAuctioneers.
In Willow Auction House’s upcoming December Holiday Uncurated Estate Finds event, a wood carved Upper Sepik River figure mask from Papua New Guinea will be available. As with many Sepik River masks, the available example features a long, sharp nose and recessed features. It also makes prominent use of triangle shapes to evoke a human or spiritual face. Another key lot is a Robert Rauschenberg offset lithograph titled Rays. Signed and numbered in pencil, this piece dates back to 1973. Rauschenberg experimented with textiles and printmaking techniques during this period before beginning metalwork and transfer sculptures. Other key works of fine art in the catalog include paintings by Peter Keil, a landscape by Adolf Schreyer, and an abstract work by Paul Horiuchi.
Collectors of antique documents can consider a page indicating the 1679 or 1680 sale of land in Bergen, New Jersey between Cornelius Steenwyk and Gerrit Garretson. Steenwyk served as the fourth mayor of New York City from 1668 to 1671; he won a second term in 1682. For a time, Steenwyk was among the richest men in New York City. The available document bears faded but dense script detailing the land sale. Bidders can also consider a pair of Qing Chinese porcelain dragon vases and a Chelsea porcelain figure group. Browse the complete catalog and register to place a bid for any of these items on LiveAuctioneers.
Once known as a leading woman painter of New York City in the 1920s, American artist Jane Peterson was long neglected in art history. Her work received a reevaluation by feminist activists and critics in the 1970s. An admirer of beauty and natural scenes, Peterson devoted her later years to capturing floral arrangements in subtle colors and various styles. One of Jane Peterson’s oil on canvas flower paintings will soon be available in Turner Auctions + Appraisals’ upcoming event. The available work shows a red and white bouquet in a wide vase. A light green and aqua background adds contrast to the scene. Another notable work of fine art in the event is a ukiyo-e print from Utagawa Hiroshige’s 100 Famous Views of Edo series. This piece was printed in 1856. Bidders can also consider a selection of fine art by Robert Lyn Nelson, an American painter known for his depictions of marine life.
Musical instruments comprise a large section of the catalog, led by a 1940s Gibson L-7 archtop acoustic guitar. The L-7 was among the company’s most popular professional models, especially noted for its “warmth, projection and playability.” Other top lots include a Fairbanks five-string banjo from the early 20th century, an Ome professional open back banjo, and a 1960s Martin & Co. flattop acoustic guitar. Visit Turner Auctions + Appraisals to view the full listings and place a bid.
The early American Modernist painter John Marin specialized in watercolor, developing a distinctive fusion of realism and abstraction in his bold, fluid style. A pioneer in the exploration of abstract techniques in American art, his compositions were always based on natural forms and rhythms. His exhibition at the Venice Biennale was the first in history to feature an American artist. One of his pieces, titled Manner of Seascape, is up for sale in this Holiday Season Select Artworks from Private Collections sale, hosted by 500 Gallery. The 1941 artwork is a representation of Marin’s work in oil on canvas paintings. The auction also features a 1923 work by Edgar Degas. A French Impressionist artist, Degas is acknowledged as one of the most significant contributors to Impressionism with his expressive paintings of modern Paris. Titled Après le Bain LXX, the offered item is a rare gravure print that is unsigned and unframed.
Another highlight of the auction is a Surreal landscape painting by Yves Tanguy. In many ways, Tanguy’s art embodied the Surrealist movement. An American-French painter, Tanguy created hyper-realistic paintings with incredible precision. The surreal quality of his scenes is achieved through a combination of scale and perspective, as well as keen observations of nature. Explore additional online auctions and register to bid online by visiting Bidsquare.
The blood red variety of rubies from Myanmar (formerly Burma) is considered to be a sought-after one among precious stones. Often compared with the color of pigeon’s blood, the red ruby is valued for its exceptional rarity. Associated with regal status, the red ruby signifies passion and warmth. A ring made of an oval-shaped red ruby of Burmese origin is a key highlight of Sotheby’s upcoming Fine Jewels sale. Weighing 4.69 carats, the ruby is designed in a lightly brushed bezel mounting and is set in a 22-karat gold ring. Another striking piece studded with rubies, spinels, and diamonds is a Michele della Valle necklace. The wide bib-shaped piece is fashioned with floral motifs centering spinel cabochons. The petals are accented with round rubies and diamonds. Jeweler-designer Michele della Valle is celebrated for his dream-like creations designed with colored gemstones.
A pear-shaped fancy yellow diamond necklace also leads the listings. The chain is designed with alternating round and yellow diamonds. The accenting round diamonds weigh a total of approximately 1.30 carats, and the fancy yellow diamonds weigh 15.83 carats. Also known as canary diamonds, yellow diamonds are the most prized among the fancy variety. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Sotheby’s.
The upcoming Jewels Auction from Phillips will offer luxury and rare jewelry from Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Oscar Heyman, Bulgari, and more. Several items will be highlighted in the sale, including an exceptional ruby and diamond ring. The ring features an oval ruby centrally set between several pear-shaped diamonds. The GIA-certified gemstone has a saturated purplish-red color. Originating from Myanmar (formerly Burma), this natural ruby weighs a total of approximately 6.43 carats. The ruby and diamonds are mounted in 18-karat white gold.
A fancy intense pink diamond pendant necklace also leads the listings. Fashioned with collet-set brilliant-cut diamonds, the oval-shaped pink diamond weighs 4.05 carats. Mounted in platinum, the chain is signed ‘Boodles,’ a leading British jewelry brand founded in 1798. A diamond and mother-of-pearl bracelet watch will also be available. Designed by Harry Winston, the watch has a mother-of-pearl dial applied with Arabic numerals. The bezel dazzles with brilliant-cut diamonds and a diamond-set crown mounted in 18-karat gold. To view the complete catalog and register for bidding, visit Phillips.
This December Online Auction, presented by Leonard Auction, will particularly highlight a 14-karat yellow gold and four-carat diamond ring. An oval-shaped brilliant-cut diamond in the center is surrounded by two trillion-cut diamonds on either side. The central diamond is set slightly higher than the other two diamonds, drawing more attention. The accompanying GIA report states that the diamond is natural with VS2 clarity. A signed Gallé ‘Peony’ cameo glass table lamp is another highlight. It was made by French designer Émile Gallé, an artist known for his innovative use of colored glass and glass art techniques. While the lamp base and domed shade have red cameo peonies and leaves, the fitter looks like a three-arm spider with scarab end pieces.
Other key lots in the auction include a Moser glass jardinière and stand. The ornamental pot is covered with painted and enameled leaf motifs, insects, and birds. The inside bottom of the base reads ‘654. D.180 Moser’ marked in golden paint. Bidders can also consider an oil painting by Alexandra Nechita, a Romanian-American painter who started exhibiting her artworks at the age of eight. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete catalog and browse other online auctions.
