Auction Central News from LiveAuctioneers

BE INSPIRED + BE SMART

An iridescent ammonite, excavated from the Bearpaw Formation in Alberta, Canada achieved €21,000 (about $22,651) plus the buyer’s premium in February 2021. Image courtesy of Cambi Casa D’Aste and LiveAuctioneers.

Ammonites: fossilized shells that cast a powerful spell

February 7, 2023

NEW YORK — Natural history represents a large segment of…

Emma Fordyce McRae: expert painter of confident women

February 3, 2023

NEW YORK — Born in Vienna, Emma Fordyce MacRae (1887-1974)…

Richard Marquis’s Flattened Teapot, a 1999 work from his Tea Pot series, constructed hot with murrini and incalmo, achieved $15,000 plus the buyer’s premium in January 2015. Image courtesy of Habatat Galleries and LiveAuctioneers

Spilling the tea on fanciful, sculptural studio teapots

January 31, 2023

NEW YORK – Starting in the 1970s, post-modern studio artists,…

A large sunflower-like costume jewelry brooch, unsigned but verified as a work by Schreiner, achieved $1,900 plus the buyer’s premium in December 2022. Image courtesy of Soulis Auctions and LiveAuctioneers

Vintage costume jewelry earns respect and hefty bids

January 27, 2023

NEW YORK — Costume jewelry was once looked down upon as substandard.…

A circa-1985 example of Frank Gehry’s Fish lamp achieved $65,000 plus the buyer’s premium in November 2021. Image courtesy of Hindman and LiveAuctioneers.

Frank Gehry’s wizardry extends to jewelry and home goods

January 24, 2023

NEW YORK — Architect and designer Frank Gehry (Canadian and…

Rabbits in art: revered as good-luck symbols for centuries

January 20, 2023

NEW YORK — The Chinese New Year will begin Sunday, January…

A custom-made hoverboard used for effects shots in ‘Back to the Future: Part II’ achieved $70,000 plus the buyer’s premium in December 2022. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

Movie props let you own tangible pieces of beloved films

January 17, 2023

NEW YORK — Some of the most well-known movie props are in…

Jens Risom: one of modern design’s great Danes

January 13, 2023

NEW YORK — Jens Risom (1916-2016) was one of the earliest…

Upcoming Auctions

Arthur Roy Mitchell painting, estimated at $2,000-$3,000

February 8, 2023

Alderfer’s Feb. 23 ‘Art for a Cause’ auction to benefit NJ library

FLEMINGTON, N.J. – Join Alderfer Auction for a one-of-a-kind…

William Morris, ‘Tale of King Coustans,’ Kelmscott Press 1894, shortly after rebound by the Ulwar, India bookbinders Qari Abdurrahman’s Sons, estimated at $500-$1,000

February 8, 2023

Sarasota Estate Auction promises to fill your bookshelves, Feb. 12

Pair of Chanel drop earrings, estimated at $200-$300

February 7, 2023

John Moran’s Valentine’s Day sale replete with costume jewelry, luxury accessories

1945 Chateau Haut Brion, 1st growth, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France, estimated at $3,000-$5,000

February 7, 2023

Choice French vintages served at Clars Wines Auction, Feb. 9

Isamu Noguchi Akari UF1-O light sculpture, estimated at $500-$750

February 7, 2023

Mid-century Modern collectors will say “Gimme” at Rivich, Feb. 19

19th-century Wedgwood blue dip Jasperware Campana wine cooler, estimated at $3,000-$5,000. Image courtesy of Freeman’s

February 6, 2023

Premier single-owner Wedgwood collection graces Freeman’s Feb. 15 sale

Edward Godwin Anglo-Japanese occasional table, estimated at £25,000-£35,000. Image courtesy of Bonhams

February 6, 2023

Exquisite design offered alongside punk-rock treasures at Bonhams, Feb. 14

World War II-era American flag quilt registered with the Library of Congress, estimated at $1,500-$2,000

February 6, 2023

Textiles tempt at Jasper52’s Americana Folk Art and Outsider Art sale, Feb. 9

Auction Results

February 8, 2023

Star Wars and sports cards land in the winners circle at Morphy’s smash $3.1M auction

DENVER, Pa.- Star Wars fans and diehard sports buffs called…

Circa-1868 dark lime green Dr. Boerhaave’s Stomach Bitters bottle, $8,435

February 7, 2023

Holabird’s ‘Pike’s Peak or Bust!’ auction reached the summit

Robert Jessup, ‘Rabbit Lecturing to a Hare,’ $18,150

February 6, 2023

Katz collection hops to strong result at Ahlers & Ogletree

February 4, 2023

Doyle sees success with Old Masters, French sculpture

Morphy Auctions image

February 2, 2023

Unopened 1952 Topps baseball ‘brick’ slams in winning bid of $873,300

Detail of a cutaway model of a 1962 Vickers VC-10 BOAC jet plane, one of only two known to exist, CA$18,880

January 31, 2023

Babe Ruth card, rare jet plane model took off at Miller & Miller sale

Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld velvet dress from the Autumn-Winter 1988-1989 collection, entirely embroidered by Lesage with Tudor patterns, €56,700 (about $61,000). Image courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2023

January 30, 2023

Fashionistas played for keeps at Christie’s sold-out haute couture auction

Green Vladimir Kagan Omnibus sofa, $22,680. Image courtesy of Freeman’s

January 28, 2023

Designer Vladimir Kagan’s personal collection 100% sold at Freeman’s

February 8, 2023

100+ Basquiat/Warhol collaborations at center of Fondation Louis Vuitton exhibition

PARIS – In 2018, the Fondation Louis Vuitton presented…

Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Archer Martin in 1952 for co-inventing partition chromatography, £150,000 (about $180,000). Image courtesy of Noonans

February 8, 2023

Medal for 1952 Nobel Prize in Chemistry sells for $180K

Dennis Feldman, ‘Man with Reflective Glasses,’1969-1972. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: gift of the artist. © Dennis Feldman

February 8, 2023

Phoenix Art Museum explores self-expression through photography and fashion

Automaton clock in the shape of Diana on her chariot, German, Augsburg, first quarter 17th century. Case: gilt brass and ebony; dials: partly enameled silver; movement: brass and iron. Yale University Art Gallery, gift of Mrs. Laird Shields Goldsborough in memory of Mr. Laird Shields Goldsborough, B.A. 1924

February 7, 2023

Art and science dovetail at Yale University exhibition opening Feb. 17

February 4, 2023

Sprawling Whitfield Lovell show opens Feb. 15 at Boca Raton museum

Kobenstyle Pitcher, enameled steel and plastic, Dansk Designs, 1955. Picture credit © Jens Quistgaard

February 3, 2023

Unsung Scandinavian designer Quistgaard featured in Phaidon monograph

Agnolo Bronzino, ‘Portrait of a young man with a quill and a sheet of paper,’ $10.7 million. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s

February 3, 2023

Bronzino portrait sells for record $10.7M at Old Masters auction

February 3, 2023

Personal items from legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley to be auctioned March 18

Columns & International

February 1, 2023

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

ATLANTA – At the start of each month, ACN columnist Ken Hall…

January 3, 2023

Gallery Report: Auction sector wraps 2022 with exceptional results

December 1, 2022

Gallery Report: Vibrant untitled Lynne Drexler painting wins $450K

November 1, 2022

Gallery Report: Le Pho painting blooms at Hindman

October 4, 2022

Gallery Report: Alice Baber painting sets record at John Moran

September 1, 2022

Gallery Report: Green Goblin action figure scampers off with $76K at Hake’s

August 3, 2022

Gallery Report: Tiffany Poppy lamp flourishes at Morphy’s

July 2, 2022

Gallery Report: Historic 17-star flag flies to $46K at Morphy’s

Style Century Magazine by ACN

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

READ STYLE CENTURY MAGAZINE

'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 8178pwpadmin

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 8178pwpadmin

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 8178pwpadmin

Motown songwriting legend Barrett Strong, photographed by John Mathew Smith. Strong died on January 29 at the age of 81. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit to Smith and www.celebrity-photos.com. Shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

February 1, 2023

In Memoriam: Barrett Strong, Motown founding artist known for ‘Money,’ 81

NEW YORK (AP) – Barrett Strong, one of Motown’s founding…

The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) has appointed Dr. Asma Naeem its new director. She had been interim co-director since June 2022, and will be the museum’s 11th director and the first person of color to helm it. Image courtesy of the BMA

January 31, 2023

Baltimore Museum of Art appoints new director: Dr. Asma Naeem

Mira Lehr, nationally acclaimed eco-feminist artist who earned the title of godmother of Miami’s art scene, died January 24 at the age of 88. Photo credit Nick Garcia

January 30, 2023

In Memoriam: Mira Lehr, eco-feminist artist and Miami art-scene legend, 88

Shelburne Museum associate curator of Native American art Victoria Sunnergren. She is the first to hold this post at the museum. Image courtesy of Shelburne Museum

January 28, 2023

Shelburne Museum establishes curator of Native American art

January 20, 2023

Co-chairs announced for 2023 Met Ball honoring Karl Lagerfeld

Potter & Potter Auctions has selected Aron Packer as director and specialist of its recently created Fine and Outsider Art department. Image courtesy of Potter & Potter

January 20, 2023

Potter & Potter taps Aron Packer for Fine and Outsider Art department

January 17, 2023

In Memoriam: Italian film legend Gina Lollobrigida, 95

January 11, 2023

Hindman promotes Alyssa D. Quinlan to CEO

January 9, 2023

Velvet: an interior design favorite that never went away

NEW YORK – It was all over the fashion runways. Women’s…

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

In this December 2022 photo, collector Dwight Cleveland holds a lobby card from his extensive collection. He has entered an agreement with Dartmouth College to digitize his silent movie-era lobby cards for preservation and publication. Image courtesy of Dwight Cleveland.

December 17, 2022

Silent films to encore in Dartmouth-backed lobby card project

A Mughal Empire gold pendant inlaid with kundan-set green glass, white topaz and rubies sold for $2,500 plus the buyer’s premium in December 2021. Image courtesy of Artemis Gallery and LiveAuctioneers

November 30, 2022

Mughal Empire artisans raised arts of Asia to new heights

June 8, 2022

Exhibits honor Peanuts creator Charles Schulz’s centenary

Phil and Joan Castle made the discovery of their lives in October 2018, when they swept their metal detectors over what proved to be a so-called “purse hoard” of 14th-century British gold coins. Image courtesy of Noonans

May 19, 2022

British metal detectorists make the find of their lives: medieval gold coins