Frits Henningsen lounge chair, Denmark, circa 1930, leather and mahogany, 26 1/2 inches wide x 33 inches deep x 41 1/2 inches high. Estimate: $6,000-$8,000. Image courtesy of Wright.
CHICAGO – Wright’s spring season will conclude Saturday, July 9, with their annual “no reserve” auction titled “Mass Modern,” which will feature approximately 500 lots of the modern design. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.
Furniture highlights include a Frits Henningsen leather and mahogany lounge chair, an Illum Wikkelso rosewood and chrome-plated steel desk, a Hans Wegner upholstered armchair, and a Børge Mogensen teak cabinet. Estimates on these items range from $5,000-$8,000 each.
Lighting will include a Geno Sarfatti adjustable floor lamp by Arteluce from the early 1950s.
The auction will get under way at 10 a.m. Central at Wright’s gallery at 1440 W. Hubbard St. in Chicago.
For details visit Wright’s website at www.wright20.com or phone 312-563-0020.
Gino Sarfatti adjustable floor lamp, Arteluce, Italy, circa 1950, 60 inches high. Estimate: $5,000-$7,000. Image courtesy of Wright.Illum Wikkelso desk for P. Schultz and Co., Denmark, circa 1960, rosewood, matte chrome-plated steel, 86 1/2 inches wide x 39 1/4 inches deep x 27 inches high. Estimate: $5,000-$7,000. Image courtesy of Wright.Hans Wegner armchair for Mikael Laursen, Denmark, circa 1945, oak, upholstery, 22 1/2 inches wide x 21 inches deep x 34 inches high. Estimate: $5,000-$7,000. Image courtesy of Wright.Børge Mogensen cabinet for Fredericia Stolefabrik, Denmark, circa 1940, teak, brass, 48 inches wide x 18 inches deep x 37 inches high. Cabinet features two doors concealing two shelves and three drawers. Estimate: $5,000-$7,000. Image courtesy of Wright.
Patek Phillippe & Co. Chronograph Register 18Kt Gold Hunter Case Watch, Geneva, Switzerland, No. 65214, 1882. Est. $40,000-$60,000. Photo courtesy of Skinner Inc.
BOSTON – Skinner, Inc. will auction nearly 600 lots of antique microscopes, compasses, watches, clocks and more on Saturday, July 16, 2011 at their Marlborough gallery, 274 Cedar Hill St., Marlborough, Massachusetts. Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.
Antique Microscopes, Compasses and Lathes
The event features the important early microscope collection of Serafino Avella, which includes pieces from the 18th and 19th centuries. Examples range from simple botanical microscopes to sophisticated compound binocular microscopes. Also to be auctioned is an extensive assortment of more than 1,000 prepared microscope slides. Most are labeled by the preparer, and they are organized in fitted cabinets.
There are fine examples of surveying compasses, including lot 183, an 18th-century compass made in New England by John Dupee. The intricately detailed, walnut compass is estimated to sell between $1,500 and $2,500.
A truly unique item is lot 212, one of the most complete ornamental turning lathes to come on the market in many years. These sophisticated early machines could create all manner of complicated forms and elaborate designs. This Holtzapffel & Deyerlein ornamental turning lathe was made in London around 1827. It has a mahogany bench with foot treadle, flywheel and drawers below the iron bed. The tall chest has shelves fitted to store accessories, many of which are included. The lower doors store 36 turning tools marked “Holtzapffel,” with handles of rosewood and other rare woods. Auction estimates for this piece range from $15,000 to $25,000.
Timepieces: Antique Clocks and Watches
The auction will include many timekeeping devices. The watch featured on the back cover of the catalog, lot 312, is a Patek Philippe & Co., chronograph register 18K gold hunter case watch. Made in Geneva, Switzerland in 1882, this piece features an 18K rose gold case with PPC mark which opens to reveal the enamel dial marked “M. Scooler, New Orleans, No. 6521.” The inside rear lid is engraved “Presented by Friends Dec. 25, 95,” the cuvette is engraved “No. 65214 Made to Order for M. Scooler, 105 Canal Street, New Orleans La, by Patek Philippe & Co. Geneva.” This lot is accompanied by an “Extract from the Archives” from Patek Philippe dated Dec. 11, 2009, providing the details of date of manufacture. The auction estimate ranges from $40,000 to $60,000.
Another noteworthy watch is lot 315, made around 1862 by the American Watch Co., of Waltham, Massachusetts. This 18K gold watch was presented by Abraham Lincoln to David Dudley Field. Field met Lincoln in Chicago in 1847 while a member of the “Barnburner” Democratic Party. By 1856 Field and Lincoln had both become Republicans. A member of a distinguished family, Field was often on opposite sides of the political discourse with Lincoln, but obviously highly respected as an advisor and frequent visitor to Lincoln at the White House. This watch is presented in its original rosewood box and has an auction estimate ranging from $30,000 to $50,000.
There are many unique and high-quality antique clocks set for sale. Lot 331 is especially interesting; it is the only known 90-day duration (i.e. it only requires winding every three months) wall clock, and the only wall clock known with “Fay’s escapement.” Made by E. Howard & Co., Boston, circa 1858, the walnut clock features Fay’s patented escapement mounted on the front. Henry C. Fay of Troy, New York, patented his “walking pawl” or “silent” escapement on May 11, 1858. The auction estimate for this unique piece ranges from $80,000 to $120,000.
From a wonderful collection of early Connecticut clocks comes lot 333, a Curtis & Clark spring-powered shelf clock made in Plymouth, Connecticut circa 1825. Its mahogany case with carved columns flanking the painted iron dial is signed Curtis & Clark, Plymouth, Conn. The clock has Arabic numerals and reverse-painting on its glass. According to Chris H. Bailey in “Heman Clark and the ‘Salem Bridge’ Shelf Clocks,” NAWCC Bulletin Supplement No. 13, 1980, pp. 22-26, Heman Clark undoubtedly designed and made the prototype for the Connecticut spring-powered shelf clock. An 1824 contract extant outlines the production of 200 of these clocks. Few survive to this day. This example was owned by the late Kenneth Roberts and was displayed for many years at the American Clock and Watch Museum, Bristol, Connecticut during his tenure as Director. The auction estimate ranges from $15,000 to $25,000.
For additional information on any lot in the sale, call 508-970-3000.
View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Cased Brass Naturalist’s Microscope, W&S Jones, 30 Holborn, London, England, early 19th century. Est. $2,000-$4,000. Photo courtesy of Skinner Inc.Holtzapffel & Deyerlein Ornamental Turning Lathe and Accessories, No. 1378, London, c. 1827. Est. $15,000-$25,000. Photo courtesy of Skinner Inc.Curtis & Clark Early Spring-Powered Shelf Clock, Plymouth, Connecticut, c. 1825. Est. $15,000-$25,000. Photo courtesy of Skinner Inc.
Even before entering the store, a yarn-covered shopping cart by crochet-enthusiast Olek welcomes visitors. Photo by Kelsey Savage Hays.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – I almost wish I hadn’t known anything about the Crest Hardware Art Show and had instead dropped by my neighborhood store for a box of nails only to be surprised by a photograph tucked in behind rows of paintbrushes, or a sculpture hung from the ceiling. I wonder how long it would have taken me to figure out that what I was seeing wasn’t some sort of whimsical prank, but rather a carefully selected gallery that also happens to be a True Value Hardware store. But I had heard about the show, and I sought it out, not knowing what to expect. Boy, was I impressed.
Everywhere I looked, on product shelves, on walls, on the ceiling were pieces inspired by the same products sold within the store—art and consumerism intertwined. The curator and owner, Joe Franquinha, installed more than 300 works throughout the store, from copper sculpture to aerosol paint, to crocheted yarn.
There is only one stipulation that has to be met in order for an artist’s work to be included in the annual show. “The artist either has to use hardware, or create something inspired by hardware,” Franquinha explained.
The intricate results force reflection on the unique beauty of everyday items that hold together our world. Nails, extension cords, metal keys—to the shoppers they are necessary purchases, but to the artists who participated, they became elements to be manipulated and turned into something exquisite.
“The store is an institution,” said Franquinha, referring to the 49-year-old retail landmark. The show helps build a bridge between the burgeoning art scene in the Williamsburg neighborhood and loyal Crest customers. It’s a chance for local artists, many of whom get their supplies from Crest, to liven up the community in a most unusual gallery setting.
For me, the show represents what’s so special about street art: It grabs you when you least expect it and makes you see something in a new way.
The Crest Hardware Art Show runs through July 30. Catch it at 558 Metropolitan Ave. in Brooklyn, New York.
ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE
Even before entering the store, a yarn-covered shopping cart by crochet-enthusiast Olek welcomes visitors. Photo by Kelsey Savage Hays.Jude Ferenczy’s copper octopus beckons in aisle four. Photo by Kelsey Savage Hays.Radical’s piece, attached to the back of the spray paint display. Photo by Kelsey Savage Hays.Erwin List’s whale hovers over shoppers in the garden center. Photo by Kelsey Savage Hays.
Doug Ritter with students. Image courtesy of Provincetown Art Association and Museum.
PROVINCETOWN, Mass. – “Art is wonderful. It’s something with which you are never finished. Life and art are the same thing. You are always learning. You don’t graduate from it as much as you answer something which opens up new possibilities and more questions for you to answer.” Said Doug Ritter, instructor of the upcoming course at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, “Working in a Series: Designing your Practice.” Ritter’s workshop will run Tuesday-Thursday, July 5-7 from 1:30-4:30pm at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum.
Ritter’s low-key, fun methods provide an excellent way to discover, define or refine your ideas and work process.
Ritter, recently certified as a Drawing From the Right Side of Your Brain instructor, has been a year-round resident of outer Cape Cod since 1997. He has taught painting, design, drawing and color theory within the BFA Programs of the Corcoran School of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, and the Savannah College of Art and Design, and currently is on the faculty at Cape Cod Community College.
Together, Ritter and his students will develop a customized plan relevant to the student’s interests, strengths and preferences. Over the course of the workshop, students will learn how to take an existing work of their own and use it as a basis for generating additional works in a series, or students may start with a concept instead of an existing piece of art. Ritter will help students explore and define the materials, techniques, point of view and technical issues necessary to carry the concept through to production.
The goal of this course is not to leave with a plan that students later have to execute on their own but rather to develop and refine a plan from which the students are creating art while in class. Ideally, students will leave with four to five new pieces of work and a fresh, process-based way of working that will facilitate continued growth on their own.
The first day of class students will look at existing artwork, styles and techniques, talk about their work/ideas, sketch and storyboard ideas, and develop a personalized map of the rest of the sessions.
Each session will end with a period of sharing, critique and peer feedback, which, even as a professional painter and professor, Ritter finds rewarding and useful. “As unique as I think I am, I am still working from a tradition, a history of painters. I always learn from my students,” said Ritter.
This course is suited for anyone who has explored a variety of types of work and is looking to become more defined as an artist, for anyone who would like to develop more technical skills looking to create a structured, process-driven way to work.
This course is intended to explore any 2D materials and can accommodate beginner to advanced students. Students may either bring an existing work to build upon, or a concept to bring to fruition.
Ritter is teaching another course at PAAM from July 26-29 also aimed at helping artists apply a system to their working methods, Capturing the Impression: An Experiential and Logical Approach to Observational Painting.
For more information or to register for this course, visit PAAM.org or contact Grace Ryder-O’Malley at gryderomalley@paam.org or 508-487-1750.
# # #
Course Details
Working in a Series: Designing your Practice
Provincetown Art Association and Museum
Tuesday-Thursday, July 5-7, 1:30-4:30pm
Course Description
Open to two-dimensional forms and practices, our discussions serve to model potentialities, and identify one’s strengths and proclivities. Participants may develop existing work, generate new work specific to this opportunity, or use work from the museum as a starting point. Intermediate to advanced two-dimensional artists are welcome, and may work in drawing, painting, or mixed media.
In this course, we identify the issues and processes that individuals engage in their work, and examine the narrative and structural processes involved in communicating through art. We create a plan that emphasizes the integration of content and process by generating a series of related works, then we storyboard, laundry list, generate studies, and sample materials. This class offers a balance of discussion, criticism, experimentation, and concentrated studio time.
Open to two-dimensional forms and practices, our discussions serve to model potentialities, and identify one’s strengths and proclivities. Participants may develop existing work, generate new work specific to this opportunity, or use work from the museum as a starting point. Intermediate to advanced two-dimensional artists are welcome, and may work in drawing, painting, or mixed media.
# # #
Biography
Doug Ritter has been a year-round resident of outer Cape Cod since 1997. He has taught painting, design, drawing and color theory within the BFA Programs of the Corcoran School of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, and the Savannah College of Art and Design, and currently is on the faculty at Cape Cod Community College, and serves on the Visual Program Committee of the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown.
Awards and grants include a Maryland State Arts Council grant in 2-Dimensional Media; a Mid-Atlantic/National Endowment for the Arts Visual Arts Fellowship in Painting; SECCA/R.J. Reynolds Fellowship from the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art; and a residency/fellowship from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. His solo exhibitions include School 33 Art Center, Baltimore, MD; Hudson D. Walker Gallery, Provincetown, MA; Elon College, Burlington, NC; and Julie Heller Gallery in Provincetown, MA.
His work is in the permanent collection of the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, Mass., and the Cahoon Museum of American Art in Cotuit, Mass., and in many private collections.
# # #
About the Provincetown Art Association and Museum
Provincetown Art Association and Museum was established in 1914 by a group of artists and townspeople to build a permanent collection of works by artists of outer Cape Cod, and to exhibit art that would allow for unification within the community. Through a comprehensive schedule of exhibitions of local and national significance and educational outreach, Provincetown Art Association and Museum provides the public access to art, artists, and the creative process.
PAAM, located at 460 Commercial St., is open (October – May) noon to 5 p.m., Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, also open by appointment; (Memorial Day – September) 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. General admission $7. Free to members and children 12 and under. For more information, please call 508-487-1750 or visit www.paam.org.
ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE
Doug Ritter with students. Image courtesy of Provincetown Art Association and Museum.Untitled work by Doug Ritter. Image courtesy of Provincetown Art Association and Museum
Wharton Esherick library steps: $53,320. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center. LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. – Commenting on the strengths of Rago’s $5.3 million sale of 20th and 21st century design held June 11-13, owner David Rago remarked: “Early 20th century was solid through and through. Ninety percent sold, and it hammered well into the estimate range.”
“Modern also hammered in the estimate range, despite being 75 percent sold. We definitely overestimated the depth of the market for good but not great pieces under $5,000,” Rago continued. “There was real strength in the market for the studio craftsmen – Esherick, Nakashima, Evans – as well as modern ceramics and glass.”
Following are the day-by-day statistics for Rago’s sale, which featured Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com:
Saturday, June 11: Early 20th Century Design/Arts & Crafts
Consignments are now being accepted for Rago’s next 20th Century Design auctions in October. For additional information call 609-397-9374 or email info@ragoarts.com.
View the fully illustrated catalog for Rago’s June 11-13 sale, complete with prices realized, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Elizabeth Burton ‘Hylas’ hammered copper table lamp: $52,700. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.Gustav Stickley director’s table, $21,080. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.Teco rare four-footed vessel: $19,080. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.Charles Rohlfs early drop-front desk: $40,300. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.Ercole Barovier Barovier Toso Intarso glass vase, $10,540. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.Philip and Kelvin LaVerne unique console table: $57,040. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.Wharton Esherick sideboard: $173,600. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.
This self-portrait of Dutch artist Eglon van der Neer (1696) is hanging in the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. BOSTON (AP) – The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has determined that a 17th-century Dutch painting in its collection was once owned by a Jewish art dealer who died at the hands of the Nazis in World War II.
The Boston Globe reports the museum has agreed to pay restitution to Walter Westfield’s heir but will keep the Eglon van der Neer painting.
The sum to be paid to Westfield’s family was not disclosed. Fred Westfield, who lives in Tennessee and is Walter Westfield’s nephew, told the newspaper the family was appreciative of the way the museum handled the matter.
Walter Westfield was killed at Auschwitz. Investigators believe the painting was likely stolen by the Nazis. The MFA purchased it for $7,500 from a New York art dealer in 1941.
Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Statuette of Mut from the Late Period, Dynasty XXVI, circa 664-525. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license. CAIRO (AP) – French archaeologists have unearthed hundreds of 3,000-year-old colored limestone blocks believed to have been used to build the sacred lake walls of a temple dedicated to the goddess Mut.
Egypt’s minister of antiquities, Zahi Hawass, says the blocks were unearthed in San El-Hagar in northern Egypt. Hawass said in a statement Monday the blocks may have belonged to King Osorkon II of the 22nd Dynasty (945-718 B.C.) and been used for either a temple or a chapel.
The French mission has so far cleaned 120 blocks, 78 of which have inscriptions.
San El-Hagar was known as Tanis during the pharaonic era. It is one of the oldest Egyptian cities and contains many temples belonging to the god Amun.
Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
AP-WF-06-27-11 1500GMT
ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE
Statuette of Mut from the Late Period, Dynasty XXVI, circa 664-525. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license.
According to a friend, Ai Weiwei has been ordered to pay $1.9 million in back taxes and fines by the Chinese government. Image coutesy of Wikimedia Commons. BEIJING (AFP) – Chinese authorities have ordered Ai Weiwei to pay more than $1.9 million in back taxes and fines, a close friend said on Tuesday, just days after the artist was freed on bail.
Liu Xiaoyuan told AFP that the Beijing tax office had sent Ai – who came home last week after nearly three months in detention – a notice telling him to pay 4.9 million yuan in taxes and another 7.3 million yuan in fines.
That would amount to more than 12 million yuan, or about $1.9 million.
Police have accused Ai of tax evasion and the government said he was freed because of his “good attitude” in admitting to the charges against him, his willingness to repay taxes he owes and on medical grounds. He has diabetes.
Rights groups have, however, said the outspoken 54-year-old, who is known for his fierce criticism of the ruling Communist Party, was detained as part of a wider clampdown on activists launched in February.
The detention of the avant-garde artist – whose work was on display at London’s Tate Modern gallery this year – sparked an international outcry, with the United States and the European Union leading calls for his release.
Unusually, Ai has said little to the media since his release last Wednesday other than to assure people he is doing well and happy to be back with his family, sparking speculation he may have been ordered to stay quiet.
The terms of Ai’s bail conditions prevent him from leaving Beijing “without permission,” the foreign ministry said last week.
The artist has in the past angered authorities with his involvement in a number of sensitive activist campaigns.
He probed the collapse of schools in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, looked into a Shanghai high-rise fire last November that killed dozens, and says police beat him when he tried to testify on behalf of another activist in 2009.
In January, his newly built Shanghai studio was demolished in apparent retaliation for his criticism of city policies, and a month later Ai said his first large solo exhibition in mainland China was canceled over political sensitivities.
Paul Jacoulet (French, 1902-1960) ‘Belle de Yap et Orchidles.’ Estimate: $700-$1,000. Image courtesy of Michaan’s Auctions. ALAMEDA, Calif. – Stunning pieces reflecting cultural technique and ethnic heritage will be sold at Michaan’s July Estate Auction, Sunday, July 3, beginning at 10 a.m. Pacific. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.
A standing female figure rhythm pounder, lot 926, was created in the African Senufo tradition. The Senufo people inhabit the northern Ivory Coast and southern Mali, crafting carved figure percussion instruments whose legs merge into solid cylindrical bases. Held by their arms, the heavy figures pounded against the ground to provide a rhythmic beat for Senufo dancers. The piece offered for sale stands 52 1/2 inches tall and is estimated at $500-$800.
Paul Jacoulet (1902-1960) was a Paris-born artist who spent most of his life in Japan. Considered one of the few Western artists to have mastered the technique of Japanese woodblock, Jacoulet perfected his craft to a level where he was recognized and accepted in the Japanese art world. Jacoulet prints are a rare commodity and often sell in the $5,000-$20,000 range. A fine example is The Parisian Lady, a print from 1934, which sold at auction for $25,000. Offered in the July Estate Sale is lot 866, Belle de Yap et Orchidees, Ouest Carolines. This beautiful Jacoulet color woodblock with conservative estimates of $700-$1,000 will almost surely show strong collector interest.
Once again, the Asian Department has up for sale an exciting collection of glassware, bronzes, ivory and jade carvings, scrolls and porcelains. A definitive set of two blue and white porcelain bowls would be a striking yet traditional addition to any collection (lot 260, $600-$800). Decorated with Buddhist emblems as well as a classic lotus motif, the bowls read, “wan shou wu jiang,” which loosely translates to “infinite long life.” This phrase is typically seen on commissioned pieces made especially to wish the emperor a long life for his birthday celebration. Measuring 7 1/4 inches, there is a well-executed six-character mark to the base as well.
The Furniture and Decorative Arts Department presents a delightful and unusual piece in the July Estate Sale. A Black Forest cast-iron bear umbrella stand is being auctioned as lot 419 and exhibits numerous features that make it a special item. From the Swiss Alps, the stand dates to the early 1900s and features a charming bear standing upright on its hind legs. Not only is the bear motif not commonly seen, but its stature of 35 inches makes the piece a substantial decorative item as well ($1,500-$2,000).
Also being offered is a Viennese gilt bronze, enamel miniature folding three-panel screen inset with a clock (lot 567, $800-$1,200). Crafted around 1900, the wonderfully made table clock stands 6 1/2 by 7 3/4 inches. The attractively ornate piece is of exceptional quality.
A sizable diamond takes center stage amongst the Jewelry Department’s collection of jade, watches and gemstones. The approximately 2.85-carat round brilliant-cut diamond exhibits a pleasing color and clarity and is accented by a baguette-cut diamond on each side. The stones are then set in a platinum ring and accompanied by a filled jacket featuring 26 baguette-cut diamonds set in platinum as well. The gorgeous engagement set is being offered as lot 229 and holds an impressive total approximate diamond weight of 4.10 carats ($5,000-$7,000).
Previews will be July 1-3 and by appointment.
For a full listing of upcoming auctions or to view a complete catalog, visit www.michaans.com.
Senufo standing female figure rhythm pounder, Deble. Estimate: $500-$800. Image courtesy of Michaan’s Auctions.Two blue and white porcelain bowls. Marked ‘Wan Shou Wu Jiang’ with Qianlong mark and of the period. Estimate: $600-$800. Image courtesy of Michaan’s Auctions.Black Forest cast-iron bear umbrella stand. Estimate: $1,500-$2,000. Image courtesy of Michaan’s Auctions.Viennese gilt bronze enamel miniature folding three-panel screen. Estimate: $800-$1,200. Image courtesy of Michaan’s Auctions.Diamond, platinum engagement ring with guard. Estimate: $5,000-$7,000. Image courtesy of Michaan’s Auctions.
