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A custom chandelier in cherry, designed by Wendell Castle for a private home in 1976, achieved $90,000 plus the buyer’s premium in May 2022. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center and LiveAuctioneers.

Wendell Castle’s studio furniture stacks up fans and dollars

Alice Baber’s ‘Axe in the Grove,’ a 1966 oil on canvas, achieved $275,000 plus the buyer’s premium in February 2023. Image courtesy of John Moran Auctioneers, Inc. and LiveAuctioneers.

Alice Baber, once overshadowed, now seen in full color

A pair of Piero Fornasetti Occhi and Citta di carte trays sold at the high estimate for $1,000 plus the buyer’s premium in July 2023. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center and LiveAuctioneers.

Italian design wizard Piero Fornasetti continues to enchant

Ed Ruscha’s ‘Turbo Tears’ achieved $8,500 plus the buyer’s premium in September 2023. Image courtesy of Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) and LiveAuctioneers.

Ed Ruscha’s alluring prints ensure his art is accessible to all

A circa-1980 Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. 18K gold inlaid cuff bracelet earned $22,000 plus the buyer’s premium in August 2023. Image courtesy of Freeman’s and LiveAuctioneers.

Angela Cummings, pioneering jewelry designer

A circa-1970s four-door Chan cabinet by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne tripled its high estimate to achieve $90,000 plus the buyer’s premium in September 2021. Image courtesy of Freeman’s and LiveAuctioneers.

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne: father-son furniture artists

A pair of porcelain inkwells with agate bird finials, sold together with a carved spinach and jade standish, achieved $34,000 plus the buyer’s premium in March 2020. Image courtesy of Butterscotch Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

Dipping in to the wild and wonderful world of animal-form inkwells

An early 20th-century ring centered on a 3.36-carat black opal surrounded by diamonds achieved £4,000 (roughly $5,200) in March 2021. Image courtesy of Elmwood’s and LiveAuctioneers.

Opals: The glory of the rainbow in the form of a gem

Upcoming Auctions

September 28, 2023

‘One Hundred Chrysanthemums’ leads our five lots to watch

14k gold necklace with golden South Sea pearl pendant, estimated at $800-$900 at Jasper52.

September 28, 2023

Fine Pearl Jewelry sale showcases golden-hued treasures from the deep, Oct. 3

September 27, 2023

Esteemed decorator Robert Kime’s collection brings delight at Dreweatts Oct. 4-6

September 27, 2023

A view to a legend: Roger Moore’s personal collection stars at Bonhams Oct. 4

September 27, 2023

It’s all about the colorful world of Dolls! at Stephenson’s Oct. 1

1912 suffragette Joan of Arc brooch in silver and colored enamels, with Joan waving a Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) pennant, estimated at £2,000-£3,000 ($2,500-$3,750) at Bonhams.

September 26, 2023

British women’s suffrage memorabilia collection claims spotlight at Bonhams Oct. 3

September 26, 2023

Spectacular 15.28-carat Tiffany diamond ring shines brightest at Christie’s Sept. 27

Unique ambrotype of Luther C. Ladd, a Union soldier from Lowell, Mass. who became the first fatality of the Civil War, estimated at $8,000-$12,000 at Swann Auction Galleries.

September 26, 2023

Unique photo of the first soldier to die in the Civil War offered at Swann, Sept. 28

Auction Results

September 28, 2023

Annie Oakley shotgun hit $258,000 at Morphy Auctions

September 27, 2023

Moran’s Art + Design sale was topped by a juicy Raimond Staprans original

September 26, 2023

Louis Comfort Tiffany art, Chinese rarities and Maïk originals triumphed at Ahlers and Ogletree

September 25, 2023

Monumental bronze and enamel vases hammered for $210K at Akiba to lead our five auction highlights

September 23, 2023

Potter & Potter conjures amazing results for its Vintage & Modern Magic sale

September 20, 2023

Deer Stalker pearlware figure strides to strong result at Lion and Unicorn

Robert Browning’s ‘The Last Ride,’ which hammered for $22,000 and sold for $28,820 with buyer’s premium at Toomey & Co.

September 19, 2023

Books, lamps and decorative arts by Roycrofters artisans brought delight at Toomey & Co.

A yellow-brown 10.75ct diamond ring often worn by Sammy Davis Jr, £53,000 at Fellows.

September 18, 2023

A favorite ring of Sammy Davis Jr. leads our picks for five recent auction highlights

Vintage Apple-1 computer signed by Apple’s co-founder, Steve ‘Woz’ Wozniak, estimated at $200,000+. Image courtesy of RR Auctions

August 11, 2023

Vintage computer that helped launch the Apple empire offered at auction

BOSTON (AP) – A vintage Apple computer signed by company…

August 10, 2023

Vintage Batman toys net $1.4 million at Heritage Aug. 4-5

Detail of a near-complete sheet of Gen. Kim II Sung 50ch stamps that sold for £27,500 (roughly $34,900) on July 19 in London. Image courtesy of Chiswick Auctions

August 9, 2023

Block of early North Korean stamps triumphed at Chiswick

Edvard Munch, ‘The Girls on the Bridge,’ 1902, oil on canvas. Private collection, © Artist Rights Society (ARS), New York

August 7, 2023

Clark Art Institute surveys Edvard Munch’s use of landscapes

Photograph of an adult blue whale swimming in the eastern Pacific Ocean, taken no later than 2005. A newly discovered species of whale, revealed in the journal Nature on August 2 and dubbed Perucetus colossus, which means ‘the colossal whale from Peru,’ might dethrone the blue whale and claim the title of the heaviest animal ever to live. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NOAA). It is in the public domain because it contains materials that originally came from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, produced as part of an employee’s official duties.

August 7, 2023

Heaviest animal ever may be ancient whale found in Peruvian desert

A document referencing Elias Howe Jr.’s patent for the first modern sewing machine sold for $12,500, more than 100 times its estimate of $100-$150. Image courtesy of Devin Moisan Auctioneers, Inc. and LiveAuctioneers

August 5, 2023

Elias Howe patent document sells for 100x estimate at Devin Moisan

Research fellows share new discoveries about artworks on view at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) as part of a regular series of gallery talks. On July 31, SAAM received a gift of $2 million from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation to fund a fellowship in modern and contemporary art and related efforts. Image courtesy of SAAM, photo by Charla Jasper

August 3, 2023

Smithsonian American Art Museum receives $2M gift from Frankenthaler Foundation

The combat boots and dog tags (not shown) Alan Alda wore while playing Hawkeye Pierce during the 11-season run of the television show ‘MASH’ sold for $125,000 on July 28. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

August 2, 2023

Boots, dog tags Alan Alda wore on MAS*H raise $125K for charity

Columns & International

August 1, 2023

Gallery Report: Pegge Hopper painting lent Hawaiian vibe to Andrew Jones sale

ATLANTA – At the beginning of the month, ACN columnist…

July 1, 2023

Gallery Report: N.C. Wyeth Maine landscape achieves $2.5M at Freeman’s

June 3, 2023

Gallery Report: Ted Williams, Uncle Sam and a prize pumpkin made headlines in May

May 2, 2023

Gallery Report: Maud Lewis work was a showstopper at Miller & Miller

April 1, 2023

Gallery Report: Lynn Chadwick’s Winged Figures hit lofty heights at Doyle

March 3, 2023

Gallery Report: Alphonse Mucha’s ‘Seasons’ suite triumphs at Everard

February 1, 2023

Gallery Report: 1921 Martiros Saryan mountain landscape climbs to $40K

January 3, 2023

Gallery Report: Auction sector wraps 2022 with exceptional results

Style Century Magazine by ACN

Authoritative feature articles from the industry’s best writers, available exclusively on Auction Central News

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'Gianni Colombo: The Body and the Space 1959-1980,' exhibition view at Robilant+Voena, London, Oct. 2 – Nov. 20, 2015. Courtesy Robilant+Voena — Art Market Italy: Gianni Colombo
January 14, 2016/by Jim Bunte

Nelson Atkins 68-1_Chinese-FoldingArmchaire — Chinese huanghuali furniture: precious wood, elegant design
December 30, 2015/by Tom Hoepf

Alberto Giacometti, "Place", 1948-1949, Bronze, 21 × 63.5 × 44 cm, Emanuel Hoffmann-Stiftung, Depositum in der Öffentlichen Kunstsammlung Basel, © Succession Alberto Giacometti / 2015, ProLitteris, Zurich, Foto: Martin P. Bühler, Öffentliche Kunstsammlung Basel On show at "Future Present", from Jun.13, 2015 to Jan.31, 2016 — Alberto Giacometti: Redefining the human figure
December 18, 2015/by Tom Hoepf

This Special Order Horseshoe 35cm Shiny Electric Blue Birkin in Porosus Crocodile, the most desirable material, brought $81,250 at a 2015 Heritage New York Valentine Signature Auction. Courtesy Heritage Auctions — Hermes: Handbags with a distinguished history
October 14, 2015/by Jim Bunte

Neustadt Poinsettia Detail — Tiffany glass continues to make lighting magical
September 24, 2015/by Tom Hoepf

Uniques 6-15 Lot 24 — Piero Fornasetti: Inspired jester of the decorative arts
September 8, 2015/by Tom Hoepf

ponti-105088.001-v4 — Gio Ponti: Grand thinker of Italian design
August 12, 2015/by Jim Bunte

August 22, 2023

In Memoriam: Auctioneer Pierre Cornette de Saint Cyr, 84

PARIS – Auctioneer Pierre Cornette de Saint Cyr has died…

July 21, 2023

In Memoriam: Tony Bennett, masterful stylist of American musical standards, 96

Simon Vickers, who has led Lyon & Turnbull’s Rare Books, Maps, Manuscripts & Photographs department for the last 17 years, is retiring from his role. The department’s new head will be his colleague Cathy Marsden. Image courtesy of Lyon & Turnbull

July 8, 2023

Simon Vickers retires as head of Lyon & Turnbull’s Rare Books department

National Museum of Wildlife Art Founder and Chairman Emeritus William G. Kerr, shown with his wife, Joffa. Kerr died on July 4 at the age of 85. Image courtesy of the National Museum of Wildlife Art

July 8, 2023

In Memoriam: National Museum of Wildlife Art founder William Kerr, 85

World War II veteran Leon Gautier, photographed in July 2017. He was the last surviving French D-Day military commando, and he died July 3 at the age of 100. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Alain Le Pape. Shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

July 6, 2023

In Memoriam: Leon Gautier, last French D-Day military commando, 100

Hindman announces that it has appointed Leslie Roskind as senior specialist for jewelry and watches in the firm’s recently launched New York office. Image courtesy of Hindman

June 10, 2023

Hindman appoints Leslie Roskind senior jewelry and watches specialist, New York

Artist Francoise Gilot, seen in a still taken from a 2013 video. Perhaps best known for loving – and leaving – Pablo Picasso, she died on June 6 in New York at the age of 101. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, author credit KhanAcademyTurkce. Shared under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

June 7, 2023

In Memoriam: Francoise Gilot, acclaimed painter who loved and left Picasso, 101

President Joseph R. Biden has appointed Mel Buchanan, RosaMary curator of decorative arts and design at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House. She is one of 13 people appointed to the committee by President Biden. Image courtesy of NOMA

May 31, 2023

President Biden appoints NOMA curator to White House committee

Ideal's Captain Action figure from 1966

August 24, 2023

Ideal’s Captain Action toys answered GI Joe by offering a bigger wardrobe

A 2007 Hermes Birkin 30cm in shiny rose shocking pink, fashioned from Porosus crocodile and sporting palladium hardware, achieved $36,000 plus the buyer’s premium in April 2016. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions and LiveAuctioneers

July 25, 2023

From Barbie to millennial pink, the cultural phenomenon behind the color that sells

Chuck Close’s ‘Georgia Fingerprint I’ will be auctioned at Myers Fine Art on April 30. Image provided by Myers Fine Art

April 26, 2023

How Tampa’s Graphicstudio became the printmaking matrix for 20th-century art legends

The rarer the stamp, the more attention it wins at auction. This encased merchant key 5 cent postage stamp featuring Thomas Jefferson was issued by B.F. Miles in Peoria, Illinois circa 1862. It brought $9,000 plus the buyer’s premium in August 2022. Image courtesy of Early American History Auctions and LiveAuctioneers

April 7, 2023

How to start a stamp collection knowledgeably

January 9, 2023

Velvet: an interior design favorite that never went away

January 6, 2023

Pictorial trays helped Coca-Cola build a powerful soda brand

Detail of a 19th-century Continental macro-mosaic of a prominently haloed St. John Bosco, which realized $1,600 plus the buyer’s premium in April 2021. Image courtesy of Akiba Antiques and LiveAuctioneers

December 23, 2022

Ring of reverence: a history of the halo in art

This set of German-made American Revolutionary War toy soldiers, hand-painted and having engraved features, sold for $375 plus the buyer’s premium in September 2020. Image courtesy of Old Toy Soldier Auctions USA and LiveAuctioneers

December 20, 2022

For centuries, toy soldiers have carried on the fight