Howard Thurston was a significant stage magician from Ohio. His traveling show was so massive that it required eight train cars to transport all the show essentials. A full color poster of the master magician’s Million Dollar Mystery is a key highlight of the upcoming Winter Magic sale from Potter & Potter Auctions. Produced by Otis Lithography Company of Cleveland, it is mounted on linen. The illustration of magician William Ellsworth Robinson, also known as Chung Ling Soo, also leads the listings. It portrays Robinson in deep hues with a flaming background. Each letter in the title is artistically shaped as a dragon.
Equally noteworthy is the first edition of Artifice Ruse and Subterfuge at the Card Table. It was written and published by S. W. Erdnase, a pseudonym for an unknown author. The book features over 100 drawings by Marshall D. With a full green cloth front board and spine stamped in gilt, the book has never been out of print since its first publication. The cover title of the book reads “The Expert at the Card Table.” To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Potter & Potter Auctions.
In the 1960s, Cartier brought about a dramatic twist to its traditional luxury approach. The Cartier London boutique introduced the unconventional Crash model. Designed by Rupert Emmerson, the watch had a curved, asymmetrical form with an ethereal feel. A highly rare early yellow gold Cartier Crash wristwatch with a presentation box is a key highlight of the upcoming Phillips auction. Offered by the family of the original owner, Daphne Farag, the elusive-looking watch belongs to an extremely limited edition. It features London hallmarks on the interior of the case back and its original Cartier deployant buckle. Both are stamped ‘JC’ for Jean-Jacques Cartier. Another unique aspect is the “Swiss Movement” engraved on the case back.
An exceptional Patek Philippe platinum jump hour chiming wristwatch with jump seconds also leads the listings. The timepiece comes with an attestation, Certificate of Origin, presentation box, and commemorative coin. It is one of the six limited edition watches released by Patek Philippe in 2014 when the watchmaker celebrated its 175th anniversary. Equally noteworthy is a rare F. P. Journe platinum tourbillon wristwatch with a remontoir d’egalité pink gold dial. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Phillips.
After many experiments, Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus created the first European hard-paste chinoiserie porcelain with Meissen in 1708. After his passing, the porcelain legacy was continued by Johann Friedrich Böttger and Augustus the Strong. These museum-worthy collections made in the small town of Meissen in Germany are coming to The Art of Gathering Auction, presented by Freeman’s. Among the key lots is a Meissen chinoiserie porcelain tea and coffee service made in 1735. It is painted in the manner of Christian Friedrich Heroldt with figures at various pursuits. The set has a coffeepot, teapot, covered sugar, creamer, tea caddy, octagonal plate, waste bowl, six tea cups, and nine saucers.
Apart from tableware, a notable lot in the event is a Sarouk carpet from 1920. Persian rugs, especially Sarouk rugs, were heavily influenced by American and European tastes around the turn of the 20th century. A rare sterling silver spice container by Zelig Segal will also be offered in the sale. Signed and dated “Z. Segal 1994” and marked “925,” this piece stands out due to its sculptural oddity. A similar spice container by Segal is in the collection of the Jewish Museum in New York. Find the listed items and more on Freeman’s and register to place a bid.
In the upcoming Coins, Stamps, Bank Notes & Sports Collectibles sale, presented by Doyle, a gold South Africa 1978 one ounce Krugerrands is particularly highlighted. The first modern bullion coin, the Krugerrand, was produced by the Rand Refinery and the South African Mint in 1967 in order to help in the sale of South African gold. With a size of 32.69 mm and thickness of 2.84 mm, the coin’s obverse shows a left-facing picture of Paul Kruger, who served as president of the South African Republic from 1883 to 1900. Above the portrait is an inscription that reads ‘Suid-Afrika,’ the name of South Africa in Afrikaans.
Another rare collectible coin available in the sale is a Canada 2014 $50 Gold Maple. The Canadian coin was issued in 2014. The coin has a detailed image of Queen Elizabeth II above the face value on one side, and the reverse side shows three overlapping sugar maple leafs. Explore Coins, Stamps, Bank Notes & Sports Collectibles and register to bid on Doyle.
This December, Bonhams will offer a scientific manuscript, in Latin, autographed by Johannes Kepler. It contains calculations and notes on the relative velocity of the Moon and the Sun referring to Tycho Brahe’s Tabulae, which Kepler helped compile, noting the work of Copernicus. In the words of Einstein, “Kepler’s marvelous life’s work shows us… the comparison of what is imagined, with what is observed.” Copernicus had shown the Sun to be the center of the universe around which the Earth and planets revolve. It wasn’t until Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Movement came along that things changed. In that work, Johannes Kepler described the orbits of planets around the Sun more accurately than any of his predecessors in astronomy.
Bonhams’ Fine Books and Manuscripts Auction will also offer Lancelot du Lac (French for Lancelot of the Lake) by Antoine Verard. In this story, Queen Guinevere falls in love with Lancelot when he saves her from abduction by King Arthur’s enemy, Maleagant. Printed in 1504, this is the second Verard edition of Lancelot and Guinevere’s strange and magical romance, reprinted from the first edition of 1494. The rarity of the book is verified by the American Book Prices Current. Also available in the auction are the final illustration of Pooh and Piglet in The Hundred Acre Wood; the first edition of the account of the short-lived Dutch colonial empire in Brazil by Caspar Barlaeus; and many historical books and manuscripts. Visit Bonhams to view the catalog and register to bid online.
During the Canton trade system period in China (1757 – 1842), hong merchants played a significant role in external trade relations of the country. These hongs exclusively held the license issued by the Chinese government and hence foreign trade was channeled only through them. A dish depicting the iconic hongs of Canton is a key highlight of the upcoming Alex Cooper Auctioneers sale. Belonging to the Qianlong or early Jiaqing era, the highly rare polychrome piece portrays the image of Western ships at a Canton waterfront. The background has British, American, and Dutch flags flying. Two small islands are visible with folly forts in the foreground. Another Chinese lot of interest is a massive charger plate. This Kangxi era piece portrays arms of Lambert adorned with rouge de fer and gold decoration. Equally striking is a Spanish owl jug by Pablo Picasso. The white earthenware ceramic pitcher is partially engraved with colored engobe and glaze.
A painting by Estonian-born American artist Andrew Winter also leads the listings. Afternoon Sea is particularly noteworthy for its depiction of a rough sea and a dramatic view of the waves. The artist was known for his landscape works based on the Maine coast. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Alex Cooper Auctioneers Inc.
Stair Galleries’ upcoming Asian Works of Art auction features Chinese and Japanese porcelain table pieces, glazed figurines, hand carved furniture, and more. Featured in the sale is a Chinese enameled porcelain dragon bowl, measuring two inches by four inches in diameter. Made of porcelain, the yellow bowl highlights an enameled green dragon circling the outer perimeter. A Japanese six-panel screen is also available. Each paper panel measures 34.25 inches by 15 inches and portrays Heike’s Battle of Yashima with gold leaf.
Other leading lots include a Chinese carved hardwood bench, a white glazed porcelain Chinese figurine of a Buddhistic lion playing with a ball, and a pair of ten-inch Chinese folding stools. Visit Bidsquare to view the entire catalog, register to bid, and to browse more online auctions.
Although Roberto Coin’s company was originally founded in 1977, it wasn’t until 1996 that he launched a luxury jewelry brand under his own name. Beginning with the Appassionata collection that year, Coin began to include a small ruby in every piece as his signature after reading about Egyptian legends that spoke of ancient pharaohs who considered the ruby magical, providing health, happiness, and long life. Just such a signature is included in the Roberto Coin bracelet for sale in the upcoming Boutique Jewels and Accessories auction, offered by Freeman’s. The bracelet is in the form of a belt made of 18-karat yellow, rose, and white gold. Round brilliant-cut diamonds that total approximately 1.90 carats accent the piece.
Other fine jewelry in the sale includes a three-stone step-cut colored diamond flanked by two trillion-cut diamonds; a sapphire and diamond necklace; an 18-karat yellow gold, opal, and diamond necklace; and more. Designers and brands with work in the sale include Cartier, David Yurman, Tiffany & Co., and Paloma Picasso. Beyond jewelry, the catalog includes other luxury goods such as a Fendi mink throw, an Hermès Togo Birkin 35 handbag, and an Hermès Buffalo Kelly II Retourne 35 handbag. View any of these lots and register to bid on Freeman’s.
A rare Chinese blue and white porcelain gourd vase is a leading lot in the upcoming Annual Holiday Antique Auction from Wiederseim Associates, Inc. Decorated with attractive figures, the blue and white vase probably dates back to the 16th or 17th century. The lower and upper bulbs of the vase carry images of traditionally dressed Chinese locals in a landscape setting, surrounded by pine trees. Another leading lot is a large Chinese blue temple jar with gilt decoration, an iron collar, and a strap hinge.
Other key lots in the auction include a sterling silver six-piece tea service from Tiffany & Co. According to the lot essay, the set includes a kettle-on-stand, coffee and teapots, creamer/sugar, and a waste bowl, monogrammed. Tiffany, a high-end luxury jewelry and specialty retailer, is known for its creativity and unmatched craftsmanship. Bidders can also consider an oil painting by Walter Emerson Baum, an American artist who often depicted village and farm scenes around the Bucks County countryside in his works. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete catalog and browse other online auctions.
The history of enamel jewelry dates back to the 13th century BCE. Ever since, the technique has transcended design trends across cultures. A combination of art and metallurgy, the enamel technique involves melding tinted powdered glass to a metal base at high temperatures. A David Webb green enamel, diamond, gold, and platinum bracelet is a key highlight of the upcoming auction from Farber Auctioneers & Appraisers. The 18-karat gold piece is seven inches long and 15mm wide. The jeweler is known for whimsical-themed styles that reinvent traditional designs. Another noteworthy David Webb bracelet is a gold platinum piece studded with ruby, emerald, and diamonds.
The December Jewelry and Timepieces sale also features a Tiffany & Co. 1980s gold hematite diamond necklace and bracelet set. For centuries, hematite stones have been used as a form of alternative healing. These magnetic stones are considered by some to be powerful and instrumental in ensuring good health and wellness. Another notable 1980s piece is a 7.5-inch long and 15mm wide link bracelet studded with sapphires, rubies, and diamonds weighing approximately 0.84 carats. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare and browse other online auctions.
