Weissenhof’-Chair MR-20, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Manufactured in 1927 by the Berliner Metallgewerbe Josef, Berlin. Estimated price euro15,000. Photo courtesy Quittenbaum.
It is not often that a fusion of personalities and talents completely changes popular style. Yet architect Walter Gropius and his little group of artist/teachers and pupils left a lasting impact on everything from furniture and toys, to windows and buildings. The year was 1919 and the place, which many Germans don’t even realize, was Weimar, Germany. Hence the name of the current multilocation exhibit “Der Bauhaus Kommt aus Weimar,” (The Bauhaus Comes from Weimar), on view until July 5 in this lovely city of Goethe, Schiller and Art Nouveau. www.das-bauhaus-kommt.de
“In the beginning it was not easy. Gropius was asked to bring these two art schools, the Kunstgewerbeschule and the Kunstschule, together,” said Arthur Floss of Quittenbaums, Munich. “But he pushed the curriculum and got the right teachers.”
DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. – On June 19-20, 2009 Pook & Pook, Inc. will offer the collection of El Roy P. and Helene Livingood Master of Berks County, Pennsylvania. A historically important lifelong compilation from a fabulously wealthy Reading, Pa., family, the collection includes a wide variety of objects from American and Continental furniture and fine art to American glass and folk art. Internet live bidding will be available through www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
The core of the collection housed at Berksveldt Farm, in the rolling countryside near Reading, has its roots in late 19th-century Germany. Young Ferdinand Thun and Henry Janssen left home to seek their fortune in America, specifically Reading, Pa. Why Reading? A century ago it was a business and industrial powerhouse. Nestled between two great valleys, the town laid out by William Penn’s sons – Thomas and Richard Penn – had been an important military base in the French and Indian War, and during the American Revolution, its local iron output exceeded that of England in its entirety. In the early 19th century, during the great “turnpike and canal” era, the city boomed with the construction of the Reading Railroad, whose lines radiated in all directions from the city’s hub.
This 7 1/4-inch blown glass vase sold for $152 at DuMouchelles in Detroit this spring. It’s made of mottled blue-to-green glass with gold flecks. The unsigned Monart vase was made at the North British Glassworks of Perth, Scotland.
Twentieth-century art glass is attracting adventurous buyers who search for relatively unknown European pieces. Because most of this glass is unmarked or marked with a handwritten name or a paper label, it requires study. John Moncrieff started the North British Glassworks in Perth, Scotland, in 1865. He made industrial glass, bottles, tubing and glass for lamps. During World War I, he developed a heat-resistant glass later sold as “Monax glass.” In 1924 his glassworks began to make art glass. It was called “Monart,” a tradename that combined the names “Moncrieff” and “Ysart,” the last name of a family of glassblowers at the factory. One of factory’s designers was Isobel Moncrieff, the wife of John Jr. Most Monart pieces were free-blown. They included everything from bowls and vases to ink bottles and table lamps. Pieces were produced in many colors, some with metallic flecks. Clear glass pieces were made with additions of colored enamels that created intense shades. Bubbly art glass was introduced in the 1930s. Monart was produced until about 1961. The glassworks went through many changes of management and in 1980 was taken over by Stuart & Sons. Art glass pieces sell for bargain prices today. A 7 1/4-inch mottled glass vase sold this spring at DuMouchelles Art Galleries in Detroit for only $152. It looks like the American Cluthra glass made by Steuben.
Le Biennale International Art Exhibition runs through Nov. 22 in Venice, Italy. Photo by Skyguy414, courtesy Wikipedia Commons.
VENICE, Italy (AP) – No comment on the crash of the contemporary art market was more cutting than the joint exhibit of the Nordic and Danish pavilions at the 53rd Venice Biennale: a mock-up of adjacent homes of wealthy collectors, now up for sale.
The crash of a decadent era has taken its toll: a body floats face down in a pool outside as real estate agents (docents) lead potential buyers (art aficionados) on a tour of the two properties, the creation of 24 international artists curated by Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset.
Still, there was debate about the extent to which the world financial crisis has or has not permeated this edition of the Venice Biennale, the oldest and arguably most influential of the world’s contemporary art fairs, which opened on Sunday and closes Nov. 22. Many had the impression there were fewer critics and fewer dealers coming to scope out new talent.
“There seems to be less of the irrationally exuberant parties that there were year ago. And the art seems to be more earnest and harsh,” said David Resnicow, a New York-based art consultant. “I think it is a different mood.”
Aaron Betsky, director of the Cincinnati Museum of Art who was also curator of the Biennale’s architecture show last year, said he didn’t see the crisis reflected in the art itself “other than a reference here or there.”
SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) – A 1978 Corvette Indianapolis 500 pace car with only 7.8 miles on the odometer and a 1911 Model T light delivery truck described as “Mr. Pedro’s Pie Wagon” were put up for auction Saturday at Shreveport’s Antique & Classic Car Museum. But bids never reached the unannounced minimum prices for the Model T truck or the Corvette, so they were not sold.
Everything in the museum was for sale, from a 1926 Essex Super 6 to a one-horse open sleigh made in 1899, and the life-size model horse that posed in front of it.
The Essex brought $6,300, a 1930 Model A truck $4,250 and a 1970 Cadillac DeVille with a gold paint job $3,300. The sleigh sold for $750, and the horse statue for $650.
Founder Francene Miller announced in May that the museum was closing.
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Twenty natural blue sapphires adorn this diamond bracelet to be sold at auction Saturday by Gulfcoast Coin & Jewelry. Image courtesy Gulfcoast Coin & Jewelry.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – A stunning platinum blue sapphire and diamond bracelet will be one of the top items in Gulfcoast Coin & Jewelry’s 300-lot auction on June 13. The bracelet contains 20 oval natural sapphires weighing 30.62 carats and 40 princess diamonds weighing 8.26 carats and graded VS clarity and I-J color. It is has a $48,000-$52,000 estimate. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
Dating to the Victorian era is a pair of pink tourmaline and diamond earrings estimated at $17,600-$18,600. The earrings are set in 18-karat gold and have rose cut diamonds totaling 1.40 carat weight.
A lady’s 18-karat Rolex President wristwatch made in 2000 carries a $12,000-$13,000 estimate. It has a diamond bezel, mother of pearl dial and its original box. A man’s Rolex Submariner wristwatch from 1981 is estimated at $3,500-$4,500.
An 1866 Japanese Wasikazi sword having a signed blade and displaying beautiful artwork will be offered. The sword is 30 1/2 long overall, has a 15-inch blade and is estimated at $3,500-$4,000.
The auction will begin at noon Eastern on Saturday, June 13, at Gulfcoast’s gallery at 1400 Colonial Blvd., Suite 77, in Fort Myers. Gemologist Michael A. Joyce will be the auctioneer.
View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet during the sale at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
A signed Japanese sword from the mid-19th century is expected to sell for $3,500-$4,000. Image courtesy Gulfcoast Coin & Jewelry.A lady’s Rolex President watch has a $12,000-$13,000 estimate. Image courtesy Gulfcoast Coin & Jewelry.Antique jewelry will include these Victorian earrings of gold, tourmaline and diamonds. They have a $17,600-$18,600 estimate. Image courtesy Gulfcoast Coin & Jewelry.
