Public sentiment is for keeping James Wille Faust’s ‘Chrysalis’ at the Indianapolis International Airport terminal. Copyrighted image appears by kind permission of the artist’s management. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Officials at Indianapolis International Airport are reconsidering a decision to take down a three-story sculptural painting and replace it with a video screen that will show advertising.
Plans had been to remove the glass-and-canvas piece called Chrysalis from the prominent spot over the main escalators where it has been since the airport’s new passenger terminal opened in 2008.
Airport spokesman Carlo Bertolini tells The Indianapolis Star that plans to install a video wall remain, but that officials are looking into whether it can be placed elsewhere.
A spokesman for Mayor Greg Ballard says the mayor’s office has expressed its support that airport visitors be greeted with high-profile public art.
The airport paid $150,000 for the piece made from canvases, aluminum and glass panels that weighs more than a ton.
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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com
Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
AP-WF-08-24-11 1455GMT
ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE
James Wille Faust, Chrysalis. Copyrighted image appears by kind permission of the artist’s management.
Two enamel, seed pearl, yellow metal pocket watches, $3,383. Image courtesy of Michaan’s. ALAMEDA, Calif. – Lots sold for more than triple their high estimate in every major department at Michaan’s estate sale Aug. 7. Once again, a front runner of the sale was the Asian Department. A pair of Chinese hand scrolls were picked up by a phone bidder who shelled out $2,400 for lot 392, nearly 10 times the high estimate.
In second place was the Jewelry Department with a unique pair of enamel, seed pearl, yellow metal pocket watches. The vibrantly colored watches depicting fair maidens sold for over six times their high estimate to a floor bidder for $3,383.
Silver usually sells quite well at auction for the Furniture and Decorations Department, and this sale was no exception. The fact that the flatware collection was of fine quality and bore the Hermes Paris name most likely helped to push the 18-piece set to sell for $1,046, or more than three times its high estimate.
Continuing the sales’ successful run the Fine Art Department, whose two works by Claude Ferrand were sold together as lot 757. Harem Dancers went for $2,040 to the delight of an absentee bidder, willing to pay over three times their high estimate.
Complete results for the August estate sale as well as future auction information and bid submission are available at www.michaans.com. For general information call Michaan’s Auctions at 510-740-0220 ext. 0 or e-mail frontdesk@michaans.com. Michaan’s Auctions is located at 2751 Todd St., Alameda, CA 94501.
Two Chinese hand scrolls, $2,400. Image courtesy of Michaan’s.Hermes Paris Attelage silver-plated 18-piece flatware service, $1,046. Image courtesy of Michaan’s.Claude Ferrand (European, 19th century), ‘Harem Dancers,’ $2,040. Image courtesy of Michaan’s.
Marble bust of Emperor Napoleon signed ‘Canova,’ 23 inches high. Estimate $10,000-$15,000. Image courtesy of Leighton Galleries. UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J. – Leighton Galleries will conduct its Premier Book Auction on Sept. 15, offering rare and collectible books, leather bound sets, historical and political autographs, photographs, sculpture and prints, Napoleonic-related items, militaria, ephemera and other related materials. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
The sale will feature a collection from the estate of A.J. Marino of Weehawken, N.J. Marino was a pioneer in the engineering field. He was associated with Dr. Samuel Ruben, inventor of the mercury and alkaline batteries, as well as Chester Carlson, the inventor of Xerox.
Engineering, however was not his only forte. Marino was very active as an historian, writer and collector. Areas of interest were Americana, polar explorations, Napoleonia and czarist Russia (Leighton will be bringing Marino’s Russian collection to auction in the fall).
Associate of Explorers was another field of endeavor, which brought Marino in close association with Sir and Lady Hubert Wilkens, Adm. Byrd and his son Ellsworth, and Com. James Calvert, all Arctic explorers. It was through Marino’s efforts that the Arctic Explorers’ Room was founded in Mystic Seaport, Conn. He also arranged for the U.S. Navy to scatter Sir Hubert Wilkens’ ashes at the North Pole when Calvert made his second trip under the ice in the USS Skate.
Marino left behind several inventory notebooks (spanning from the 1930s through 1960s) as well as correspondences to historical and other noted individuals. Marino was not only an avid collector on the matters of historical and political affairs, but also a true American patriot.
Leighton Galleries has been commissioned to sell Marino’s property by his grandchildren.
Book and autograph highlights of Marino’s collection include James McNeill Whistler Nocturnes – Marines – Chevalet Pieces, the complete portfolio of photographs from Whistler’s 1892 exhibition at the Goupil Gallery, London, containing 24 toned silver print photographs by William Gray, each signed in pencil by Whistler with his name and “butterfly” monogram. Marino’s ledger dated Dec. 9/49 reads “BK 2299 Whistler – Artist, Value $100, Book containing photographs of Whistler’s pictures – each picture signed by Whistler.” The book carries an estimate of $6,000-$8,000).
Another interesting book in the collection is The Education of Henry Adams, An Autobiography, 1918. The extra-illustrated copy contains 70-plus engraved plates and 46 autograph signed letters and documents strategically placed with pertinent text. Numerous 19th-century ALSs and DSs tipped in include Henry Adams, James K. Polk, Louisa Catherine Adams, Joshua Johnson and John Quincy Adams. The lot is estimated to bring $3,000-$5,000. The Journal Of The Proceedings Of The Congress 1774 is yet another item of interest. Noted are the principal achievements of the first Congress in taking united action against the differences between Great Britain and America. The pamphlet is in as-is condition and is estimated at $2,000-$3,000. A William H. Seward pre-Civil War ALS regarding Tom Corwin, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to Mexico, will also be crossing the block.
Among Marino’s sculptures to be offered include a large majestic marble bust of Napoleon signed Canova, nearly identical to the marble bust gifted to the Belgium City of Sint-Niklaas by Napoleon himself (est. $10,000-$15,000), a 27-inch bronze sculpture Standing Napoleon by Eugene Marioton (est. $3,000-$5,000), and a 30-inch Volkstedt porcelain figure of King Frederick the Great of Prussia (est. $600-$800).
Other interesting items belonging to the Marino collection include objects owned by President Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt from the exhibition and sale conducted at Hammer Galleries, New York, in 1951; an association copy children’s book Es War Einmal (Once Upon a Time) by Georgina von Rotsmann with pen inscription dated 1904 to Grand Duchess Anastasia, daughter of Tsar Nicholas II; and a framed display featuring a piece of charred wood from the 1929 White House fire retrieved by Marino himself.
Other highlights in the sale include an association copy of G. Clemenceau’s Au Pied Du Sinai to Octave Mirbeau (est. $4,000-$6,000); Pierre-Auguste Renoir ALS (est. $800-$1,200); Roman Vishniac gelatin silver prints The Cheder, Slonim and A Square in Kazimierz, Cracow (est. $1,000-$2,000); a bronze plaque of John Purroy Mitchel (The Boy Mayor of New York); a Robert F. Kennedy ALS; and a 1955 Marilyn Monroe “Golden Dreams” calendar.
The sale will be held in conjunction with Fine Jewelry & Timepieces, and Fine & Decorative Arts. The auction is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 15, at 5 p.m. Eastern. It will be held at the Knights of Columbus Banquet Hall at 79 Pascack Road, Washington Township (Bergen County), N.J. Previews are scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 5-8 p.m., and on Thursday Sept. 15, from 1-4 p.m. An illustrated Web-based catalog is also available at www.leightongalleries.com. For information email info@Leightongalleries.com or call 201-327-8800.
Image courtesy of The Oshkosh Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) – A new exhibit at the Oshkosh Public Museum is trying to show that the concept of “bling” is not a new one.
Curators there are organizing an exhibit called “Bling!” that showcases fashion from 1869 to 1969, with a special emphasis on over-the-top fashion adornments.
For thousands of years, civilizations have used clothing and embellishments to adorn the body.
The exhibit will feature more than 50 pieces from numerous 20th century designers, including a delicate lace-trimmed cocktail dress by Jo Copeland, whose work regularly graced the pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar in the early- to mid-1900s.
“Bling!” runs Sept. 10 through January 1.
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Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Bulgaria has a rich cultural history. Shown here is an example of ancient Roman architecture in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, the oldest city in Europe and the 6th-oldest settlement in the world, continuously inhabited since at least 3,000 B.C. Nenko Lazarov photo taken in 2006, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 license.
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Giant statues of Soviet dictators Vladimir Lenin and Josef Stalin. Paintings of enthusiastic socialist laborers. A huge red star that graced Communist Party headquarters.
As Europe marks the 20th anniversary of the Soviet collapse, this nation that’s still shaking off its troubled communist legacy is opening a museum dedicated to the totalitarian past.
A debate’s raging on whether the museum romanticizes the Soviet era or teaches new generations about its horrors. Other former communist countries like the Czech Republic and Hungary have long had similar museums; the fact it’s taken Bulgaria this long to open one is a sign of its fraught transition to democracy.
Pulled out of cellars and warehouses, more than 100 artworks will be put on display in the museum that opens next month in a Sofia suburb, and will showcase a period of Bulgaria’s history when art had to be created in line with strict ideological rules.
Along with the statues and busts of communist leaders, there are also oil paintings exalting the supposed “eternal friendship” between Bulgaria and the Soviet Union.
Bulgaria’s government recently adopted an ambitious strategy to promote the capital, Sofia, as an attractive culture and travel destination.
Along with the museum of totalitarian art, the initiative also includes a museum of contemporary art and a museum dubbed the Bulgarian Louvre, which is to showcase the best of the country’s culture stretching back to antiquity.
“A new generation will emerge, young and pure, which must not be deprived of the history and heritage of its people,” said Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov.
He said much of the socialist art goes beyond propaganda.
“Many of the objects here have a high art value,” said Rashidov, himself a well-known sculptor and a driver of the project in which the state has invested euro1.5 million ($2.1 million).
The project had been presented for months as a “Museum of Totalitarian Art.” Ahead of its opening, however, workers fashioned stone letters on the main wall spelling out its new name: “Museum of Socialist Art.”
The sudden switch has some critics complaining of a whitewash carried out by a Bulgarian political elite with roots in the communist past.
“A feature of the Bulgarian transition is that it was organized by the communist nomenclature itself and controlled by the structures of the former secret services,” said Andrey Kovachev, a Bulgarian European parliamentarian.
“The history debate was frozen and overshadowed by nostalgia for the repressive dictatorship, driven by its successors.”
Asked about the reason for the renaming, museum curator Bisera Yosifova spoke of “emotional extremism” in evaluating the past, and argued the museum contains valuable works by some of the best known painters and sculptors of the time.
“An exhibition of totalitarian artifacts could be staged at some point in the future,” she added.
Georgi Lozanov, a media expert, said Bulgaria must have a museum of communism that will tell new generations the story of a period that should never again become reality.
“We are the last country of the former socialist countries which has no such museum,” Lozanov said.
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Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE
Soviet propaganda poster titled ‘The USSR is the Action Brigade of the World’s Proletariat,’ 1931, artwork by Gustav G. Klutsis (Russian, 1895-1944). Auctioned in Swann Galleries’ May 8, 2006 auction for $11,400. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com archive and Swann Galleries.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – More items from a Pennsylvania city’s collection of Wild West artifacts can saddle up and get out of town.
The Patriot-News of Harrisburg reports the city’s council voted unanimously Tuesday to sell of dozens of old West artifacts as part of its efforts to balance the city budget.
A former mayor spent $8.3 million to collect the objects as part of a failed bid to build a Wild West museum in Harrisburg’s capital. The artifacts include guns, blankets, photos and pottery.
The Patriot-News report says the city had planned on selling some of the items and putting money toward last year’s budget but the sale never happened. This year’s budget anticipates $500,000 in sale proceeds.
The city has already sold some items, netting $1.7 million.
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Information from: The Patriot-News, http://www.pennlive.com/patriotnews
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Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A rare and important 18th-century Chinese rhinoceros horn carved double-faced Buddha head stands 6 1/2 inches tall and is composed of a solid inner and two-piece outer cortex on a finely carved base. Lot 515 carries a catalog high estimate of $30,000. Image courtesy of 888 Auctions.
RICHMOND HILL, Ont. – Following the success of Asian Art: Part I, 888 Auctions is proud to offer Part II on Saturday, Sept. 10, a sale that will feature precious jewelry; traditional Asian furniture; a collection of ivory, bone, and horn carvings; and a unique collection of natural history items. In addition, collectors and connoisseurs will be pleased to find an eclectic and extensive collection of fine art traditional Asian paintings.
LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
Most notably, the auction features a private collection of horn carvings carefully cultivated over 15 years by a Canadian collector. Asian Art: Part II provides an opportunity to obtain exceedingly fine and rare horn carvings. Many of the items are elaborately carved with a variety of naturalistic, decorative and auspicious motifs, including flowers, fruits, birds, landscapes, mythical creatures, and the eight Daoist Immortals. With estimates ranging from $500 to $30,000, the private collection alone is expected to realize in excess of $75,000.
Leading the horn carvings of this private collection is Lot 515, an exceptionally rare and important 18th-century Chinese rhinoceros horn carved double-faced Buddha head. Composed of a distinct solid inner and two-piece outer cortex on a finely carved base design, it is estimated to exceed its estimate of $20,000-$30,000.
At Lot 511B is a 17th/18th-century rhinoceros horn carving of the eight Daoist Immortals in high relief. Carefully carved and exquisitely detailed, the carving captures the immortals in various activities. Measuring 4 1/4 inches high and 9 inches, it depicts a charming scene of two immortals playing a game under a pine tree alongside two servants. It is estimated at $6,000-$8,000.
Asian Art: Part II also features an extensive collection of fine Asian paintings spanning the18th century to the Republic Period. These works of art—painted with watercolor or ink and on diverse mediums ranging from canvas to silk—are sure to please any fine art collector. Highlighting this collection of fine art is lot 257A, Yen Ee Guay’s (¤¸¥Î) 18th/19th Century watercolor painting on hanging scroll featuring white chrysanthemums and green leaves. Inscribed and signed with one artist seal and stamped with Qianlong’s seal, it is estimated at $6,000-8,000.
A 19th-century Chinese painting featuring an impressive use of watercolor on silk is featured at Lot 262E. Inscribed and signed with one artist seal, the slightly faded depiction of the sea and the mountain and a single prominently placed tree is estimated at $5,000-$10,000.
For those with a more modern taste, Lot 258 features a 20th-century porcelain painting. Featuring a unique and charming depiction of Mao Zedong, the subject is seen feeding birds alongside children. It carriers a $500-$800 estimate.
From the ivory collection of the auction stands a Chinese ivory tripod “shou” censer. Standing 15 inches tall with a six-character Qianlong mark on the base, the censer features three immortals finely carved on the body with dragons and chicken carved in relief on the carved handles. A shou longevity symbol is conspicuously placed against an openwork lid. Lot 551 is expected to exceed its high estimate of $7,000.
Another exciting item in the ivory collection is Lot 411. Carefully carved and colored, this unusual and realistically rendered ivory fish, uniquely vertically oriented, is carved alongside elaborate openwork flowers and birds perched along the branches. This Chinese openwork carved ivory figure is estimated $2,000-3,000.
When it comes to the antique snuff bottle collection, a snuff bottle of particular note can be found in Lot 601A. An elaborate openwork snuff bottle carved with a continuous scene of sages and attendants in pavilions, this carved ivory snuff bottle holds a $1,000-$1,500 estimate.
Not to be outdone by its ivory counterpart, Lot 618 features a horn carved snuff bottle in the form of a small boy. Adorned with a small cap as the matching horn stopper and a highly expressive and detailed face, Lot 618 is expected to realize over $600.
A standout from the collection of wood carved figures is Lot 419, which features a tall Guanyin figure. Draped in flowing robes and holding a ruyi scepter in her right hand, the Zitan wood figure of Guanyin is placed prominently in front of a fiery backdrop that has been carefully carved around the figure. Majestic at 19 1/2 inches tall, its estimate is $2,000-$3,000.
A valuable and large cricket jar can be found at Lot 322. Seemingly unremarkable in spite of its size, the lobed jar form is unique with its fitted wood mounts and rare openwork carved tortoise shell top featuring carved tiger and dragon motifs amid swirling clouds. Standing 9 1/2 inches tall with a four-character Qianlong mark on its base, it commands an estimate high of $2,000.
From the traditional furniture collection is an elegant Chinese table screen inset with jade plaques at Lot 820. The wood frame is openwork carved and inset with three jade plaques. Flanked by carved calligraphy on either side, the central inset jade plaque displays a sage with a crane symbolizing longevity. Standing 19 1/2 inches tall and 19 inches wide, it carries an auction value of $3,000-$5,000.
Other unique pieces include an imperial Guqin at Lot 803. Featuring a four-character Qianlong mark and gold gilt design along its front, this traditional instrument is estimated $3,000-$5,000.
With such a diverse collection of fine art paintings and carvings, Asian Art: Part II promises to be a unique and exciting auction experience.
For details on these and other items in the auction, visit www.888auctions.com or call the auctioneers at 905-763-7201.
888 Auctions’ Sept. 10 Asian Art: Part II Auction begins at 5 p.m. Eastern at 280 W. Beaver Creek Road, Unit 15, on the northwest corner of West Beaver Creek and Highway 7.
Registered bidders may also access LiveAuctioneers.com to bid live online.
888 Auctions has been the leader in sales of Chinese porcelains and Asian arts in Canada for more than 15 years.
An exceptionally carved ivory tripod censer with longevity ‘shou’ symbol stands 15 inches high with a six-character Qianlong mark on the base. The features a relief carving of three immortals and a dragon and chicken motif design on the handles. Lot 551 is expected to exceed its high estimate of $7,000. Image courtesy of 888 Auctions.A gourd cricket jar is fitted with wood mounts and rare openwork carved tortoiseshell top, which features carved tiger and dragon motifs amid swirling clouds. Standing 9 1/2 inches high with a four-character Qianlong mark on its base, Lot 322 commands a high estimate of $2,000. Image courtesy of 888 Auctions.Draped in flowing robes and holding a ruyi scepter in her right hand, the Zitan wood figure of Guanyin is placed prominently in front of a fiery backdrop. Majestic at 19 1/2 inches tall, Lot 419 carries an estimate of $2,000-$3,000. Image courtesy of 888 Auctions.Elaborately carved and colored, this unusual and realistically rendered ivory fish is carved alongside flowers and birds. This Chinese openwork carved ivory is estimated $2,000-$3,000. Image courtesy of 888 Auctions.This Chinese hanging scroll, painted with watercolor on paper by Yen Ee Guay (元用) dates to the 18th or 19th century. Illustrating white chrysanthemum with green leaves, it is inscribed and signed with one artist seal and marked with the red seal of Qianlong. It is expected to fetch over $8,000. Image courtesy of 888 Auctions.
Civil War trading card set from Gettysburg National Military Park. National Park Service photo by Katie Lawhon.
WASHINGTON (AP) – The National Park Service is issuing a series of trading cards to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
Officials say 189 collectible trading cards will be available. The cards’ topics range from major battles and famous generals to historic sites and presidents. Visitors to sites such as Antietam National Battlefield or Ford’s Theatre can earn cards by answering questions about the site they are visiting or by participating in programs at the site.
The cards are free, and collectors can travel to 23 participating sites to collect them.
Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE
Civil War trading card set from Gettysburg National Military Park. National Park Service photo by Katie Lawhon.
Mexican sterling tea and coffee service, 232.73 troy ounces (estimate $6,000-$8,000). Image courtesy of Austin Auction Gallery. AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Auction Gallery will conduct its Late Summer Estates Auction titled “From Beijing to Barcelona” on Aug. 28 at 11 a.m. Central. The sale is composed of over 600 lots of antique furniture, fine jewelry, sterling, Asian antiques, fine art and collectibles.
Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.
A scarce German mid-century modern Kuba Komet stereo/television, circa 1960, will headline the auction. The modernistic two-tone cabinet and television rotates on its base and also features a Kuba international band radio, Imperial record turntable, Telefunken tape recorder and eight speakers. Raised on splayed, square tapered legs, the cool and most unusual Kuba Komet is offered with a conservative estimate of $1,000-$2,000.
A collection of Asian antiques from an Oklahoma estate features Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese pieces. A Chinese bronze figure of the medicine Buddha (Yaoshifo), Ming dynasty, arrives at the block with an estimate of $500-$700. A finely carved 19th-century Padouk wood sofa is also among the offerings. Boasting a relief carved frame and later red velvet upholstery, the piece opens at $1,000. Among the Tibetan pieces to be offered a Kapala on copper stand is perhaps the most unusual. The ritualistic vessel of considerable age has an applied copper band and is inlaid with turquoise and coral beads. This piece is expected to fetch from $400-$600. A nice selection of antique Japanese woodblock prints, jade and ivory will also be offered.
A large collection of fine estate jewelry and sterling silver from a prominent Austin family includes an impressive Mexican 925 sterling silver tea and coffee service. Weighing in at 232.73 troy ounces, the service is estimated to bring from $6,000-$7,000.
The fine jewelry category features a number of antique and vintage pieces, many taking the form of jewel encrusted insects. From a diamond set bumble bee to an antique 14K gold enameled butterfly trimmed with old mine-cut diamonds, the selection is vast.
Sports collectiors will be interested in a University of Texas Big 12 Championship Tournament players ring, bearing the name Moss (Tim Moss, b.1982, Dallas, Texas, University of Texas baseball), which was purchased by the consignor at Rick Harrison’s Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, Las Vegas, Nev.
Rustic and Baroque antiques from Barcelona, Spain dating from the 17th to the early 20th century dominate the furniture category. Most impressive is an 18th-century walnut library table having a single-board top measuring 64 3/4 inches by 35 3/4 inches (estimate $4,000-$6,000). Other pieces include tables, bookcases, a long rustic bench and a farmhouse table.
Austin Auction Gallery associate Chris Featherston commented on the religious art and carved religious figures in the sale. “We are excited to offer a small group of Indo-Portuguese religious ivory carvings collected by our consignor in Goa, India, as a boy in the 1950s.” Leading the group of eleven figures is a 17th-century ivory carving of Christ Child standing on an orb.
For additional information on any item in the upcoming auction, call Austin Auction Gallery at 512-258-5479 or e-mail info@austinauction.com. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. It is necessary to have JavaScript enabled to view it.
View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Scarce Kuba Komet television (estimate $1,000-$2,000). Image courtesy of Austin Auction Gallery.Chinese bronze Buddha, Ming Dynasty. Bidding opens at $400. Image courtesy of Austin Auction Gallery.Spanish Baroque library table opening at $3,500. Image courtesy of Austin Auction Gallery.Seventeenth-century Indo-Portuquese ivory Christ Child (estimate $1,200-$1,500). Image courtesy of Austin Auction Gallery.
