June 2012 - Page 9 of 18 - Auction Central News

Leigh Keno’s fine art auction achieves $1.51M

William Trost Richards (American, 1833-1905), ‘The Otter Cliffs, Mount Desert Island, Maine,' 1866, oil on panel backed canvas. Sold amount: $235,600 (All results are inclusive of buyer's premiums). Keno Auctions images.

NEW YORK – Keno Auctions’ Important American and European Paintings sale, the first auction conducted June 12, 2012 at the company’s headquarters, achieved a total of $1.51 million, exceeding the high estimate by $300,000. The auction was 73 percent sold by lot (including after sales), with 49 buyers; 11 of whom were successful online through LiveAuctioneers.com.

The Otter Cliffs, Mount Desert Island, Maine, 1866, by William Trost Richards, which was purchased more than 60 years ago as a sleeper at a Vermont country auction by the consignor, was the sale’s highest selling lot achieving the price of $235,600 (est. $40,000-$100,000) after several minutes of fierce bidding in the room and telephone.

Jean-Paul Riopelle, a member of the Canadian artists group Les Automatistes, created the dynamic painting Folâtre in 1957. The oil on canvas clearly shows the master at the peak of his creative genius. The picture was eagerly sought by a multitude of bidders, 14 clients on the telephone and several others bidding through the Internet and in the room, before selling to an international collector for $173,600 (est. $80,000-$20,000) on site.

The auction offered a number of fresh to the market 20th century pictures from an Arizona collector, with an important contemporary work Topologie de Illusion, 1990, which fetched $99,200 (est. $50,00-$100,000). The artwork, a large scale vivid, abstract painting by renowned Latin American artist Roberto Matta, attracted an international audience with electric bidding in the room, on the telephone and online. The painting sold to a Florida-based dealer/collector on the floor.

Leigh Keno, president of Keno Auctions, said: “We are very pleased with today’s result, especially for the prices achieved by visually exciting works such as David Johnson’s Sunset on the Unadilla River, New York, 1856, which hammered at $167,400 (est. $50,000-$80,000) that a dealer bought for more than the high estimate. Morning Fishing Boats at Anchor, a masterpiece by a leader of the Hague School, Hendrik Willem Mesdag, sold for a strong $198,400 (est. $40,000-$80,000), and is a work we thought had remarkable potential and inspired competition between collectors worldwide. We are delighted to see the caliber of new and established clients in the sale who bid decisively on the best examples of artworks. We had a large number of modern and contemporary works in this auction and we are looking forward to offering more of this type of artwork in the future.”

Highlights from the Important American and European Paintings Sale included:

– Lot 18, William Trost Richards (American, 1833-1905), The Otter Cliffs, Mount Desert Island, Maine, 1866, signed and dated lower right “WM T Richards / 1866,” oil on panel backed canvas, 36 1/4 x 29 inches. Sold amount: $235,600 (Estimate: $40,000-$100,000).

– Lot 39, Hendrik Willem Mesdag (Dutch, 1831-1915), Morning Fishing Boats at Anchor, signed lower right “HW Mesdag,” inscribed with title on a label affixed to the stretcher, oil on canvas, 24 x 51 inches, sold amount: $198,400 (estimate: $40,000-$80,000).

– Lot 70, Jean-Paul Riopelle (Canadian, 1923-2002), Folâtre, 1957, signed lower right ‘Riopelle,’ oil on canvas, 23 1/2 x 28 1/2 inches. Sold amount: $173,600 (estimate: $80,000-$120,000).

– Lot 14, David Johnson (American, 1827-1908), Sunset On the Unadilla River, 1856, signed and dated lower left, “D Johnson 1856,” inscribed and titled on a label affixed to the frame, oil on canvas, 19 x 28 1/8 inches. Sold amount: $167,400 (estimate: $50,000-$80,000).

– Lot 66, Roberto Matta (Chilean, 1911-2002), Topologie de Illusion, 1990, signed lower right, acrylic on canvas, 78 x 84 inches. Sold amount: $99,200 (Estimate: $50,000-$100,000).

– Lot 22, George Henry Hall (American, 1825-1913), A Plea for Peace, 1861, signed and dated lower left “G.H. Hall/1861,” oil on board, 18 3/4 x 15 inches. Sold amount: $86,800 (Estimate: $25,000-$45,000).

– Lot 27, Hamilton Hamilton (American, 1847-1928), Sierras, 1873, signed and dated and inscribed with title lower right “Hamilton Hamilton ’73 / Sierras S****” (indistinct), oil on canvas, 18 x 29 7/8 inches. Sold amount: $74,400 (Estimate: $20,000-$40,000).

– Lot 63, Esteban Vicente (American, 1903-2001), On Space, 1987, signed, dated and inscribed with title verso “Esteban Vicente,”’ oil on canvas, 54 x 64 inches. Sold amount: $65,100 (Estimate: $30,000-60,000).

– Lot 59, Charles Demuth (American, 1883-1935), Two Men and a Woman on the Beach, 1912, signed and dated lower right “C. Demuth 1912,” watercolor over pencil on paper on board, 8 1/2 x 5 1/4 inches (sight). Sold amount: $58,280 (Estimate: $12,000-18,000).

Keno Auctions’ next sale is scheduled for Oct. 2 and includes an impressive collection of fresh-to-the market fine European and American paintings, furniture and decorative arts. Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

Keno Auctions, a premier full-service auction house headquartered at 127 E. 69th St. in Manhattan specializes in fine art, jewelry, furniture and decorative arts, Asian works of art, and a variety of specialty categories.

For more information visit Kenoauctions.com or phone 212-734-2381.

Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Jean-Paul Riopelle (Canadian, 1923-2002), 'Folâtre,' 1957. Sold amount: $173,600. Keno Auctions images. — Jean-Paul Riopelle (Canadian, 1923-2002), ‘Folâtre,’ 1957. Sold amount: $173,600. Keno Auctions images.

David Johnson (American, 1827-1908), 'Sunset On the Unadilla River,' 1856. Sold amount: $167,400. Keno Auctions images. — David Johnson (American, 1827-1908), ‘Sunset On the Unadilla River,’ 1856. Sold amount: $167,400. Keno Auctions images.

Roberto Matta (Chilean, 1911-2002), 'Topologie de Illusion,' 1990. Sold amount: $99,200. Keno Auctions images. — Roberto Matta (Chilean, 1911-2002), ‘Topologie de Illusion,’ 1990. Sold amount: $99,200. Keno Auctions images.

George Henry Hall (American, 1825-1913), ‘A Plea for Peace, 1861,’ Sold amount: $86,800. Keno Auctions images.

Hamilton Hamilton (American, 1847-1928), ‘Sierras,’ 1873, Sold amount: $74,400. Keno Auctions images.

Esteban Vicente (American, 1903-2001), ‘On Space,’ 1987. Sold amount: $65,100. Keno Auctions images.

Charles Demuth (American, 1883-1935), 'Two Men and a Woman on the Beach,' 1912. Sold amount: $58,280. Keno Auctions images. — Charles Demuth (American, 1883-1935), ‘Two Men and a Woman on the Beach,’ 1912. Sold amount: $58,280. Keno Auctions images.

Hong Kong wine auction a winner at $2.2 million

Wines from California's Napa Valley have caught on with Asia's growing number of vintage wine collectors. Photo by WPPilot, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

HONG KONG (AFP) – An auction of fine and rare wines realized $2.2 million in Hong Kong on Saturday, with a sell-through rate (by lot) of more than 90 percent, organizers said.

Christies Asia head of wine Charles Curtis said the sale “showed the vigor of the fine wine market in Asia.”

The sale raised HK$16.79 million ($2.16 million), Christie’s said in a statement.

“Confirming recent trends, there was competitive bidding for burgundy, for white wine and for Bordeauxs ‘super second’ growths, and ever-stronger results for Italian and Napa Valley wine,” Curtis said.

“Buyers eagerly snapped up both older vintages and large format bottles, again showing that collections here are broadening.”

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Port Huron Museum unable to sell 4 paintings at auction

PORT HURON, Mich. (AP) – The Port Huron Museum says four paintings that it sent to an auction house last year with hopes of helping to raise money for the cultural institution weren’t sold because their authenticity hasn’t been confirmed.

The museum’s executive director Susan Bennett tells the Times Herald of Port Huron or a Thursday story that it’s “a little disappointing” that the paintings weren’t able to be sold. Part of the McMorran/Murphy Collection, they were given to the museum in 1979 and supposed to be auctioned in December.

The paintings are attributed to French artists Jean Francois Millet, Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and Narcisse Virgilio Díaz de la Peña.

Three were appraised between $3,000 and $5,000. The fourth, Peasant Girl Herding Ducks by Millet, had an estimated price of $50,000.

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Information from: Times Herald, http://www.thetimesherald.com

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Skinner Inc. aims spotlight on 20th century design June 23

Webb cameo glass exhibition piece, Stourbridge, England, marked on base ‘Tiffany & Co./Paris Exhibition 1889/Thomas Webb & Sons/Gem Cameo,’ 11 5/16 inches high. Provenance: Mary Morgan, daughter of industrialist J.P. Morgan. Skinner Inc. image.

BOSTON – Skinner Inc. will host an auction of 20th century design in its Boston gallery on Saturday, June 23, beginning at 10 a.m. EDT. The sale features works by Tiffany, Georg Jensen, George Nakashima and Paul Evans along with excellent collections of French and English cameo glass.

Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.

The June auction features designs by master furniture maker George Nakashima, including a tall walnut chest of drawers (lot 346, estimated between $8,000 and $12,000); a walnut dresser (lot 347, $12,000 to $15,000); a low free-edge slab table (lot 353, $6,000 to $8,000); and a walnut conoid dining table (lot 357, $12,000 to $15,000). George Nakashima’s inspired designs make extensive use of the natural form of the wood and beautiful, exposed joinery.

A collection of metal furniture by Paul Evans will also be offered. Highlights include a chrome and brass Cityscape credenza (lot 369, $4,000 to $6,000); a Cityscape dining table (lot 370, $4,000 to $6,000); a chrome and brass Cityscape sample chest with lift-top fitted compartments, each holding samples of the various finishes that Evans used (lot 373, $4,000 to $6,000); a Cityscape étagère (lot 374, $1,000 to $1,200); and a glass and welded steel coffee table (lot 379, $2,500 to $3,500).

The sale presents two distinct collections of cameo glass. The first collection, from the Art Nouveau period, is by the English maker Webb. Known for its inspirational floral designs, Webb glass from this period was cut from multiple layers and the floral motifs were often accented by an insect. A vase made for the Paris Exhibition of 1889 (lot 110, $7,000 to $9,000) has three-color decoration of poppies, leaves and buds layered in white, cameo-cut to red on a yellow body. This excellent piece is representative of the dozen lots of Webb glass offered in the sale.

The second collection consists of more than 20 lots of French cameo glass from the Art Deco period. The openwork design of the Art Deco period features a looser interpretation of natural motifs than in the Art Nouveau, but with equally brilliant coloring. Highlights include a Le Verre Francais Lavande vase decorated with stylized lavender flowers and geometric devices (lot 270, $800 to $1,200); a Le Verre Francais Pavots vase with a flared rim and adorned with etched red flowers and buds (lot 271, $3,500 to $4,500); and a bulbous form Le Verre Francais collier vase with etched necklace design (lot 273, $1,500 to $2,000).

Studio glass offerings include a Dale Chihuly art glass macchia bowl set and custom light table (lot 384, $4,000 to $6,000). Additional studio glass offerings include pieces by makers such as Loetz, Tiffany, Steuben, Lalique, and Wilhelm Wagenfeld.

With more than 80 lots on offer, lighting will again be a major component in this auction. The sale will feature ambient lighting choices made from natural materials and motifs including an Austrian sculptural table lamp (lot 145, $4,000 to $5,000); a turtleback table lamp by Tiffany Studios (lot 169, $8,000 to $10,000); and a mosaic glass table lamp by Bigelow, Kennard & Co. (lot 152, $1,500 to $2,500). For those looking for lighting fixtures for the home or office a vast selection of wall sconces, hanging lamps, table lamps, and decorative lighting are available with estimates starting at $500.

Handmade metalwork lots are highlighted by a silver and mixed metal Japanese style punch bowl with applied leaves and fruit by Gorham (lot 221, $3,000 to $5,000), an extensive hand-hammered flatware service by Alan Adler (lot 244, $8,000 to $12,000), and a Georg Jensen pyramid coffee /tea service (lot 229, $3,000 to $5,000).

An assortment of pottery is highlighted by a Grueby pottery lamp base with mosaic art glass shade (lot 67, $6,000 to $8,000). This piece is an excellent example of handmade work from the Arts and Crafts movement. More fine examples of Boston-manufactured Arts and Crafts pottery can be seen in a large Grueby vase with molded leaves (lot 38, $6,000 to $8,000); a Grueby vase decorated with tooled broad leaves and yellow buds (lot 87, $5,000 to $7,000); and 13 pieces of Saturday Evening Girls Pottery (lot 74, $2,000 to $3,000).

Studio pottery includes a stoneware vessel by Claude Conover (lot 342, $3,000 to $5,000). Also offered are works by Brother Thomas Bezanson, including a cylindrical vase with a small flared rim (lot 336, $1,200 to $1,800), a tall cylindrical vase in oxblood glaze (lot 337, $4,500 to $5,500), and tapered cylindrical vase in celadon glaze (lot 338, $1,000 to $2,000).

Paintings by William Horace Littlefield include Satyr and Three Nymphs (lot 303, $800 to $1,200), Sea God (lot 308, $800 to $1,200) and Zephyrus or Favorious the Westwind with Flora (Chloris) (lot 404, $800 to $1,200).

Previews for the auction will Thursday, June 21, noon-5 p.m. and Friday, June 22, noon-8 p.m.

For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner’s website www.skinnerinc.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

George Nakashima (1905-1990) tall chest of drawers, walnut, New Hope, Pa., 1967, 53 inches high, 36 inches wide, 21 1/2 inches deep. Skinner Inc. image.

Four geometric sculptures, black stone with white veins, unmarked. Skinner Inc. image.

Le Verre Francais cameo glass Collier vase, designed by Charles Schneider, France, circa 1928, unmarked, 8 1/2 inches high. Skinner Inc. image.

Dale Chihuly macchia bowl set and custom light table, 1982, five hand-blown glass bowls, 3 to 16 inches in diameter. Skinner Inc. image.

Sculptural table lamp, Austria, early 20th century, spherical shade decorated in an iridescent pattern attributed to Loetz with applied insects, 16 1/4 inches high. Skinner Inc. image.

Marked Grueby Pottery vase, Boston, circa 1900, 12 1/2 inches high. Skinner Inc. image.

Mural painters headed to eastern Illinois town

Coca-Cola outdoor mural, or 'ghost sign,' painted by an early 'walldog' in the first quarter of the 20th century in Schenectady, N.Y. Photo copyright Chuck Miller. All rights reserved.

ARCOLA, Ill. (AP) – The eastern Illinois town of Arcola is about to have several permanent reminders of its past, thanks to a series of murals planned by a band of traveling painters.

The traveling mural painters known as The Walldogs will come to town June 20-24 and paint 14 murals. Most will have local themes that are reminders of the town’s past — such as Raggedy Ann and Andy creator John Barton Gruelle, who is from Arcola, and local World War II hero Joe Ernst — and old traditions that live on, such as the local Broom Corn Festival. Arcola is about 30 miles south of Champaign.

Nancy Bennett of Centerville, Iowa, started the Walldogs. She told The (Decatur) Herald & Review that the group picks only one town a year to work in. Once the painters are in town, they work fast.

“It pretty much transforms the town in a matter of days,” she said.

The group stopped in Danville on the Indiana state line two summers ago and left behind a series of murals that celebrated that town’s history.

Bennett named the Walldogs for advertising painters of the early 1900s. The term was once considered derogatory.

Most of the artists who will come to Arcola from around the Midwest and beyond work for free, but the project still needs money for paint and other supplies. The murals will cost roughly $60,000 to produce. A grant and fundraising events have provided money.

City Administrator Bill Wagoner said local residents are excited about the project.

“(The Walldogs) are very passionate about what they do,” he said. “They enjoy painting the murals and sharing their art with people. The enthusiasm that they have for their painting and for their work is infectious.”

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Information from: Herald & Review, http://www.herald-review.com

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Auktionsgespräche: Das Kunst und Auktionshaus Schloss Hagenburg

Eine wundervolles Sommerziel für Antiquitäten und Architektur: Das Kunst- und Auktionshaus Hagenburg. Foto mit freundlicher Genehmigung von Auktionshauses Hagenburg.

Wenn eine Auktion zufällig in einem Märchenschloss stattfindet, ist das für Liebhaber von Antiquitäten ein doppeltes Vergnügen. Das Kunst- und Auktionshaus Schloss Hagenburg ist eine dieser glücklichen Begebenheiten, bei denen prächtige Antiquitäten in einem Schloss aus dem 14. Jahrhundert zur Schau gestellt werden. Im Landkreis Schaumburg bei Hannover gelegen, zeigt sich das Schloss Hagenburg umgeben von idyllischer Natur.

„Wir leben außerdem in diesem Schloss am schönen Steinhuder See.“, sagt der Besitzer und Auktionator Karl-Heinz Frantz.

Frantz, seine Frau Ute und Tochter Anne arbeiten gemeinsam in diesem Familienunternehmen. Auch ihr Weimaraner-Mischling, Lily, ist ein Teil des Teams. Frantz eröffnete das Geschäft 1969 und versteigerte nur Kunst. Seitdem kamen antike Möbel, Porzellan, Schmuck und viele weitere Angebote hinzu. Im Jahre 1995 kauften sie schließlich das Schloss Hagenburg als Auktionhaus und ihr Zuhause.

„Wenn man einen klaren, modernen Flur hat, ist das kein guter Hintergrund für Antiquitäten.“, merkt Frantz an. „Das Schloss hat die bemalten Decken und den Stuck, was eine hübsche Umgebung für Auktionen darstellt.“

Wie viele alte Schlösser, hat sich das Schloss Hagenburg seit seiner Gründung in Gestalt und Größe verändert. Seine umfassendste Renovierung wurde durch Prinzessin Juliane im späten 18. Jahrhundert vorgenommen, welche davon träumte, einen Ort der Freude zu kreieren. Wie sich jeder, der schon einmal renoviert hat, vorstellen kann, dauerten die Arbeiten länger als erwartet. Sowohl der Gestalter, Clemens August von Vagedes, als auch die Prinzessin, lebten nicht lange genug, um ihr Projekt fertiggestellt zu sehen.

Heute können Besucher das Schloss durch einen zentralen Portikus betreten, welcher durch toskanische Säulen gestützt wird. Ein Storch nistet auf dem Mittelschornstein des Haupthauses. Der kleine Steinhuder See ist durch einen schmalen Kanal mit dem Schloss verbunden. Die Außenanlagen erstrecken sich in einen baumreichen Park mit zahlreichen Singvögeln.

Da Frantz nicht nur 3-4 Auktionen pro Jahr durchführt, sondern auch ganzjährlich antike Möbel, Schmuck und Immobilien verkauft, ist es leicht, einen Grund für einen Besuch zu finden.

„Manchmal bekommen wir Antiquitäten von jemandem, der ein Haus ausräumt, und dann dürfen wir auch das Haus verkaufen, da die Menschen wegziehen.“, sagt Franz.

„Wir spezialisieren uns nicht auf einen bestimmten Stil.“, fügt er hinzu. „Wir versteigern, was wir bekommen. Jede Auktion ist ein anderes Ereignis.“

Die nächste Auktion auf Schloss Hagenburg am 30. Juni zeichnet sich durch eine große Sammlung an chinesischen Möbeln, Porzellan und Bronze aus. Details sind unter www.SchlossHagenburg.de zu finden.

Hervorragende Preise & bevorstehende Verkäufe

Gegenstände mit historischer Bedeutung verkaufen sich sehr gut. Auction team Breker, Köln, berichtet, dass eine Einigma Chiffriermaschine von 1938 -während des 2. Weltkrieges zum Senden und Entschlüsseln geheimer Nachrichten genutzt- anlässlich ihrer Frühlingsauktion für Wissenschaft, Technologie und Spielzeug für 81.158 € (100.000 $) verkauft wurde. Die Maschine verkaufte sich für das 10-fache des Schätzpreises. Ihre nächste Auktion ist für Fotographie und Film ist für den 22. September festgesetzt. www.Breker.com

Einen Weltrekordpreis für die teuerste Kamera, die jemals verkauft wurde, erzielte dieses Frühjahr das Wiener Auktionshaus WestLicht. Eine Test-Kamera der Leica 0-Serie von 1923, geschätzt auf 300.000 € (379.000 $), erreichte den erstaunlichen Preis von 2.160.000 € (2.729.857 $) infolge eines Hagels von direkten, telefonischen und Internetgeboten. Bereits zum 5. Mal kann WestLicht damit sagen, die teurste Kamera der Welt versteigert zu haben. Sie werden am 23. und 24. November wieder Foto- und Kameraauktionen durchführen. www.WestLicht.com

Schwarzenbach Auktionen, Zürich, nehmen noch bis Ende Juli Objekte für Ihre nächste Auktion internationaler Briefmarken entgegen. Die Auktion findet am 19. und 20. Oktober statt und schließt Einzellose aus der Schweiz, Liechtenstein, Europa und Übersee ein. Für Details besuchen Sie www.Schwarzenbach-Auktion.ch.

Das Auktionshaus Gut Bernstorf in Kranzberg, Deutschland, wird am 14. Juli eine große Auktion für Kunst und Antiquitäten durchführen. www.GutBernstorf.de

ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE

Diese seltene Meissener Gruppe von Kindern, eine Gestaltung des frühen 20. Jahrhunderts von Konrad Hentschel, soll in der Auktion am 30 Juni 24.000 Euro ($30,028) einbringen.

Ein ca. 1840 aus Kirsch- und Nußbaumwurzelholz hergestellter norddeutscher Biedermeier-Sekretär, ausgepreist mit 3.500 Euro ($4,413), in den Verkaufsräumen des Kunst- und Auktionshauses Schloss Hagenburg. Foto mit freundlicher Genehmigung durch Auktionshaus Schloss Hagenburg

Diese Enigma Chiffriermaschine aus 1938, gebaut von Chiffriermaschinen A.G. Heimsorth und Rinke aus Berlin, ging für 81.158 € (100.000 $) an einen amerikanischen Käufer. Foto mit freundlicher Genehmigung durch Auction Team Breker.

‘Rembrandt in America’ opens June 24, Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606-69), Portrait of a Girl Wearing a Gold-Trimmed Cloak, 1632, oil on panel, held in a private collection. Public domain image in USA, accessed through Wikimedia Commons.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — ‘Rembrandt in America’ brings together the largest number of authentic paintings by the famous Dutch master ever assembled in the United States. Presented by U.S. Bank, the exhibition opens June 24 at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA).

Featuring rarely seen works from two dozen museums and a few extraordinary private collections, the exhibition traces the arc of Rembrandt’s career and influence as revealed in 50 paintings. Approximately thirty are bona fide works by the master. All were purchased as authentic Rembrandts for American collections, but modern scholarship has re-attributed some. Others are still debated and the exhibition presents them as open questions for public consideration. ‘Rembrandt in America’ was organized and presented by the MIA, the North Carolina Museum of Art, and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

One of the most important painters in the history of European art, Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–69) is renowned for his uncanny ability to depict light and shadow, capture the emotions of his sitters, and intimately share historical and religious stories. Born in Leiden, in the Dutch Republic (now The Netherlands), Rembrandt spent most of his career in Amsterdam.

The paintings in the exhibition range in time from the artist’s earliest days as a brash student, to the peak of his popularity as the most fashionable painter in Amsterdam, to his social and financial downfall, during which he created some of his masterpieces. In these paintings one can trace Rembrandt’s astonishing artistic development and deepening understanding of humanity.

Rembrandt sometimes blurred the boundaries between fact and fiction by casting his family members in roles of historical and legendary figures. One of the exhibition highlights is the MIA’s own Lucretia, in which the artist depicted his lover, Hendrickje Stoffels, as a woman who had been severely wronged. Rembrandt painted the picture quickly, slathering on colors with palette knives and brushes, pouring his heart out, just as his subject’s lifeblood drained away.

‘Rembrandt in America’ contains several rarely seen paintings from private collections, including an exquisite portrait of a young woman with wispy red hair, a crisp blouse, and a coat embroidered in gold and silver. Reproduced on the cover of the exhibition catalogue, this masterful painting looks as fresh as it must have looked the day it was completed.

While he was a student, Rembrandt painted The Singers and The Operation, allegories for the senses of hearing and touch. Though these pictures are not considered masterpieces, they offer viewers the opportunity to search for the glimmering traits of emerging genius. They reveal the artist’s interest in depicting emotion and thought, as well as the dramatic play of light and shadow that would become his hallmark. Here Rembrandt was attempting to manipulate paint in unconventional ways to produce convincing illusions of weathered skin or shiny metal.

The great masterpieces in the exhibition span Rembrandt’s mature career. Old Man with a Gold Chain—appearing only in Minneapolis during the exhibition’s tour—probably served as a demonstration of his remarkable talent when he made the move from his hometown to Amsterdam. The portrait of Amsterdam merchant, Marten Looten, shows the breathtaking realism that Rembrandt could offer his thriving middle-class patrons. In two paintings of Saint Bartholomew, Rembrandt employed different styles—one in which his subject embodies the bold willingness of the martyr; the other revealing the pensive mood of a man aware of his fate. A portrait of a young man with flowing hair, made late in Rembrandt’s life, demonstrates the master’s appreciation of beauty and promise of youth. It also exemplifies Rembrandt’s undiminished ability to create illusions with the lightest touch of his brush.

Even well known pictures that have long been on public view will be seen as never before. For instance, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, recently cleaned the portraits of the Reverand Johannes Elison and his wife, Maria Bockenolle. This is the only pair of full-length Rembrandt portraits in America. For the first time in decades, viewers can see Rembrandt’s mastery of black-in-black painting. The Mennonite couple wore clothing of modest color, but not of modest quality—note the intricately knotted buttons, close smocking, and voluminous cascades of fabric.

One of the most startling pictures in the exhibition is a calm and composed self-portrait from Rembrandt’s later years. His care-worn face betrays his personal and financial losses; yet his dignity is intact. He unflinchingly recorded his features with a severely limited palette. Yet the picture has a powerful effect, and it is difficult to escape its gaze.

The exhibition’s 20 paintings no longer thought to be by Rembrandt employ dazzling bravura brushwork and color, such as Jan Lievens’s Feast of Esther. Long thought to be the work of Rembrandt, it is now understood to be the work of a precocious artist whose brilliance spurred Rembrandt to improve his own skills. Others are by Rembrandt’s own pupils, such as Govaert Flinck and Carl Fabritius, fully trained painters who wanted to mature under the master’s guidance.

The work of Rembrandt’s students was often so good that connoisseurs—curators, collectors, dealers, academics, conservators, and auctioneers—are still in the process of solving the exceptionally complex puzzle of just who painted certain pictures. ‘Rembrandt in America’ presents recent findings as well as current disagreements in the field. The exhibition provides an unprecedented opportunity to bring these paintings together for direct comparisons.

‘Rembrandt in America’ is accompanied by a 240-page catalogue authored by the MIA’s own Tom Rassieur, Dennis P. Weller, and George Keyes. Published by Skira Rizzoli, the catalogue contains 150 color illustrations and is available in hardback and paperback.

The exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. Additional support was provided by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation and the W. Duncan and Nivin MacMillan Foundation.

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Auction Talk Germany: Kunst und Auktionshaus Schloss Hagenburg

A wonderful summer destination for antiques and architecture: Kunst und Auktionshaus Schloss Hagenburg. Photo courtesy Kunst und Auktionshaus Schloss Hagenburg.

If an auction house happens to be located in a fairy-tale castle, that’s a double treat for those who love antiques. Kunst und Auktionshaus Schloss Hagenburg is one of those lucky occurrences where stately antiques are showcased in a castle that dates back to the 14th century. Located in the county of Schaumburg near Hannover, Germany, Schloss Hagenburg is part of an idyllic natural setting.

“We also live in this castle near the beautiful Steinhuder Lake,” said owner and auctioneer Karl-Heinz Frantz.

Frantz, his wife, Ute, and daughter, Anne, all work in the family business. Their mixed breed Weimariner, Lily, is considered part of the team. Frantz started the business in 1969, auctioning only fine art. The auction house has since added antique furniture, porcelain, jewelry and much more to their offerings. In 1995 they bought Schloss Hagenburg as an auction house and home.

“If you have a clean modern hall, it’s not such a good background for antiques,” Frantz noted. “The Schloss has the painted ceilings, the plaster moldings, it’s a very nice setting for the auctions.”

Like many old castles, Schloss Hagenburg has changed in design and size since its first inception. Its most extensive renovation was undertaken by Princess Juliane in the late 1700s, who dreamed of creating a palace of pleasures. As anyone who has renovated can appreciate, the work took longer than expected. Both the designer, Clemens August von Vagedes, and the princess, did not live to see the project completed.

Visitors today enter the castle through a central portico supported by Tuscan columns. A white stork nests in the middle chimney of the main building. The little Steinhuder Lake is connected to the castle by a small canal. The grounds open onto a wooded park filled with songbirds.

It’s easy to find a reason to visit, as Frantz not only holds three to four auctions per year, but also sells antique furniture, jewelry and even real estate year-round.

“Sometimes we get antiques from someone cleaning out a house, and then we get the house to sell too, because the people are moving away,” said Frantz.

“We don’t specialize in any particular style,” he added. “We auction what we get. Every auction is another happening.”

Schloss Hagenburg’s next auction on June 30 features a large collection of Chinese furniture, porcelain and bronzes. Details can be found at www.SchlossHagenburg.de

Outstanding Prices & Upcoming Sales

Items with historical significance are selling well. Auction Team Breker, Cologne, reported that a 1938 Enigma ciphering machine – used for sending and decoding secret messages during World War II – sold for 81,158 euros ($100,000), at their spring auction of Science, Technology and Toys. the machine went for over 10 times its estimated price. Their next auction of Photography and Film is set for Sept. 22. www.Breker.com

A world record price for the most expensive camera ever sold was set by Viennese auction house WestLicht this spring. A 1923 test camera from the Leica 0-Series, estimated at 300,000 euros ($379,000), was pushed to an astonishing 2,160,000 euros ($2,729,857), through a flurry of floor, telephone and Internet bids. This is the fifth time WestLicht can say it has auctioned the most expensive camera in the world. They will hold photo and camera auctions on Nov. 23 and 24. www.Westlicht-Auction.com

Schwarzenbach Auktions Zurich are accepting items for their next international postage stamp through the end of July. The auction on Oct. 19 and 20 will included single lots from Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Europe and overseas. For details visit www.Schwarzenbach-Auktion.ch

Auktionshaus Gut Bernstorf in Kranzberg, Germany, will hold a large art and antique auction on July 14. www.GutBernstorf.de

ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE

This rare Meissen children’s group, an early 20th century design by Konrad Hentschel, is estimated to fetch 24,000 euros ($30,028) at the June 30 auction. Photo courtesy Kunst und Auktionshaus Schloss Hagenburg.

A North German Biedermeier secretaire crafted of cherry and walnut root wood, circa 1840, priced at 3,500 euros ($4,413) in the salesrooms of Kunst und Auktionshaus Schloss Hagenburg. Photo courtesy the auction house.

This 1938 Enigma ciphering machine, built by Chiffriermaschinen A.G. Heimsoeth und Rinke of Berlin, sold to an American buyer for 81,158 euros ($100,000). Photo courtesy Auction Team Breker.

Court orders return of late copper heiress’s art, other gifts to staff

Huguette Clark (right) circa 1917 in Butte, Mont., with her sister Andrée (left) and her father William A. Clark. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

NEW YORK (AP) – Her nurse was showered with almost $28 million in gifts, including three Manhattan apartments, two homes elsewhere and a $1.2 million Stradivarius violin. Her doctors’ families received more than $3 million in presents. A night nurse received a salary plus money to cover her children’s school tuition and to help buy two apartments.

Now the court-appointed official overseeing copper heiress Huguette Clark’s estate wants all these gifts — and more — back.

Saying the recipients manipulated the reclusive multimillionaire into lavishing largesse upon them during her long life, public administrator Ethel J. Griffin is trying to reclaim a whopping $37 million for the $400 million estate.

Besides seeking an order for return of those gifts, the administrator asked a court last month to investigate whether a hospital where Clark lived should have to give back a $6 million painting by French pre-Impressionist Edouard Manet and whether the prominent Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington should have to return $250,000.

While clashes over who got what and how during someone’s lifetime crop up in many will fights, the staggering size, two-decade timeframe and uncommon circumstances distinguish the dispute surrounding Clark’s gifts.

A court will likely have to reconstruct the intentions and mental state of an eccentric woman who died at 104 last year, and discern whether manipulation or gratitude was behind the gift-giving. Another issue is how well Clark was advised by her lawyer and her accountant. Both have come under scrutiny for their management of her affairs.

“It’s like piecing together a puzzle or a mystery,” says Laura Stegossi, a Philadelphia estates lawyer who isn’t connected to the Clark case.

The public administrator’s court papers portray a frail, secluded Clark exploited by a scheming retinue. But recipients say Clark was a generous, independent-minded woman who did exactly what she wanted in enriching people around her.

A separate fight is roiling over what will ultimately become of Clark’s fortune. The last will she apparently signed, in April 2005, leaves most of her money to charity, with a more than $30 million bequest to her private nurse. Another will, signed six weeks earlier, left her estate mostly to about 20 great-nieces and great-nephews. They are challenging the latest will.

A daughter of a Montana senator who amassed his Gilded Age wealth mining copper, building railroads and founding Las Vegas, the childless, briefly married Clark owned the largest residence on Fifth Avenue and mansions in California and Connecticut. But the last 20 years of her life, she voluntarily spent in two Manhattan hospitals.

She was hospitalized in 1991 after a friend sent a doctor to see her. The physician found a 75-pound octogenarian in a disheveled apartment illuminated by a single candle, her face ravaged by skin cancer, a recent court filing says.

Clark was in better health by 1996, talking with her staff and involved in handling her affairs but still “shy and reticent, avoiding most people,” though she exchanged letters with friends and relatives, Dr. Henry Singman wrote. She was unwilling to go home, even when he urged her to.

Clark paid the hospital $300,000 to $400,000 a year to care for her and hired private nurses and doctors, according to court documents. In addition, she rewarded members of her inner circle beyond their salaries.

In the quarter-century before her hospitalization, she averaged less than $40,000 a year in taxable gifts. That amount shot up afterward, the public administrator said in a May 22 court filing.

Private nurse Hadassah Peri made a salary that reached $131,000 a year, and she got roughly $28 million in real estate, jewelry, checks and other gifts, the public administrator said. Peri’s family also received another $3 million. A handful of other nurses and doctors got more than $4 million among them, and Clark even paid Singman’s malpractice insurance for a few years, according to the public administrator.

Accountant Irving Kamsler got $435,000 in gifts; lawyer Wallace Bock got $60,000 plus the emotional payoff of shepherding a more than $1.8 million contribution from Clark for a security system for the Israeli settlement where his daughter lives.

A judge suspended Bock and Kamsler from overseeing Clark’s estate in December, after the public administrator said the two had underpaid her gift taxes by tens of millions of dollars; Kamsler resigned days before being ousted.

Separate from this dispute, the Manhattan district attorney’s office has been looking into how Clark’s finances were managed, people familiar with the probe told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Neither Bock nor Kamsler has been charged with a crime, and both have denied any wrongdoing.

The public administrator says recipients induced Clark to bestow gifts when she didn’t understand or wasn’t properly informed about the finances and suffered from “various physical and mental infirmities.” Her condition by 2009 included hallucinations and serious vision and hearing problems, Deputy Public Administrator Joy A. Thompson wrote in last month’s filing, first reported by msnbc.com.

“It does not appear that anyone in a position of power or authority ever intervened to ensure that Mrs. Clark possessed the requisite capacity to make gifts and was acting of her own free will,” Thompson wrote.

But recipients say Clark did act freely, and knowingly. Clark herself wrote many of the disputed checks; Bock wrote others, with Clark signing documents authorizing them.

As early as 1993, Kamsler told a previous Clark lawyer that her expenses were outstripping her income, and he and Bock at least sometimes warned her about the tax ramifications of her gifts, court documents show.

“The record will show that Wally Bock acted in Huguette Clark’s interest at all times, and that he continues to desire to carry out her wishes,” his lawyer, John D. Dadakis, said by phone.

Clark also gave other substantial gifts the public administrator isn’t trying to reclaim, including a $10 million gift to a friend in 2000. The administrator has said some gifts were valid.

“This was a very generous woman” who made gifts to people she rarely or never saw, said Peri’s lawyer, Harvey E. Corn. “It’s absurd to think that she would not give gifts to the individuals who worked with her.”

Lawyers for other recipients named in the public administrator’s filing either declined to comment or didn’t immediately return calls.

___

Follow Jennifer Peltz at http://twitter.com/jennpeltz

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

Kovels – Antiques & Collecting: Week of June 18, 2012

This famille rose Hundred Deer vase was made in the 20th century but appears to be older. It is worth close to $2,000. The deer represented by the antlered deer-head handles and in the decorative scene are from a breed native to China. They look very different from deer native to the United States. New Orleans Auction Galleries image.

Chinese porcelains of past centuries are selling for very high prices today. There are many types. Some we identify by the color—like celadon (pale-green glaze) or blue and white (blue decoration on white porcelain, including varieties called Canton or Nanking) or multicolored patterns named for their dominant color, including famille rose, rose medallion, rose mandarin or famille verte (green).

Another American name for some Chinese porcelain is “Chinese export porcelain.” It was the made-to-order dinnerware manufactured in China but decorated in the European manner and sold to foreign countries in the 18th and 19th centuries. Because the Chinese often copy old pieces, those who have not studied antique Chinese porcelains can’t tell old from the new. Unrecognized bargains have been found in American homes. The properly identified pieces sell for thousands of dollars. Look for flawless glazes without unintentional bumps or flaws. Turn a vase over. The bottom rim that touches the tabletop is usually unglazed if Chinese. European foot rims and bottoms of lids are glazed. Decorations should be carefully painted in light, pleasing colors. Twentieth-century Chinese wares sold to other countries are often decorated with large figures without much detail and with gold and other bright colors. A close look at a fine-quality famille rose vase would show a scene with many small people and animals in a woodland or interior setting.

Prices of Chinese porcelain vary with the quality of the work and the age. If you plan to buy an expensive piece, get expert advice. If you own any heirloom porcelains, take a close look at them. Many 18th-century and earlier pieces have been rediscovered in recent years. A decorative piece your grandmother or great-grandmother bought years ago could be a treasure.

Q: I own a British coronation mug dated June 22, 1911. On the front, there’s a picture of King George V and Queen Mary above the phrase “Urmston Coronation 1911.” Is this of any value? My grandmother brought it to the United States from England.

A: Your coronation mug is 100 years old, which qualifies it as an “antique.” It’s a souvenir mug made for the coronation celebration held in Urmston, a town outside of Manchester, England. The coronation of King George V (1865-1936) took place in London on June 22, 1911. He had actually risen to the throne the year before upon the death of his father, King Edward VII. Many souvenirs of King George V’s coronation were made. A mug like yours auctioned last year for 10 British pounds, or a little more than $15.

Q: I have a commemorative silk handkerchief of the coronation of King George VI. It was given to my mom by her brother many years ago. It’s off-white with British flags and red polka dots along the sides and a picture of the king in one corner. The words of H.M. King George VI, May 1937″ surround his portrait. The edge of the handkerchief is blue. It’s 11 inches square. The movie The King’s Speech and the age of my handkerchief have made me curious. Does my hanky have any value beyond sentimental?

A: Commemorative souvenir items from the coronations, weddings and birthdays of royalty have been made since the 1800s. Great quantities of items have been made in pottery, glass, tin, silver and other materials, most with pictures of the monarchs and the date of the commemorated event. The movie may have stimulated interest in items related to King George VI, but the value of your handkerchief has probably not increased. It is worth about $30.

Q: I have a table lamp that was given to my aunt as a wedding present in 1922. I know it was made by the Mosaic Lamp Shade Co. of Chicago, but it looks so much like a Tiffany that it has been mistakenly appraised as such. I hope you can tell me something about the Chicago company and give me some idea of the value of the lamp.

A: Lamps with stained glass shades and bronze bases were first made by Tiffany in 1899. They were so popular that similar lamps were soon being made by several other companies. The company that made your lamp was listed in the 1910 Chicago city directory as “The Mosaic Shade Co.” It was in business from about 1905 to 1914. All Tiffany lamps are signed, and Tiffany lamps made after 1902 also are marked with the model number on the base and shade. Not all lamps made by Tiffany’s competitors are marked. Some lamps made by the Mosaic Shade Co. are marked with the name of the company on the base. The value of your lamp depends on the color and design of the shade, its size and its condition. Your lamp could sell for $2,000 to $3,000, if the shade is in good condition.

Q: I have my mother’s copy of the 1915 Priscilla Crochet Book. Would someone be interested in buying this?

A: Your crochet pattern book was published by the Priscilla Publishing Co. of Boston. Several “Priscilla Crochet” pattern books were published in the early 1900s. The secret to selling a collectible like yours is to reach a wide audience. You are almost sure to find someone interested in buying it. Several early Priscilla pattern books are being offered online for prices ranging from $10 to $20. The books have been reprinted.

Tip: Don’t mechanically buff silver. It will change the color and wear away bits of the silver.

Take advantage of a free listing for your group to announce events or to find antique shows and other events. Go to Kovels.com/calendar to find and plan your antiquing trips.

Terry Kovel answers as many questions as possible through the column. By sending a letter with a question, you give full permission for use in the column or any other Kovel forum. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We cannot guarantee the return of any photograph, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. The volume of mail makes personal answers or appraisals impossible. Write to Kovels, Auction Central News, King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.

CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

Fenton Glass Co. bell, blue satin glass, raised pattern of lovebirds, embossed “Bride & Groom,” glass clapper, 1973-’84, 4 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches, $15.
Wedding trousseau set, bra and half-slip, organza, pink, gray and pink flowers, WonderBra Intima, 1960s, medium slip, $55.
Royal Doulton Bridesmaid figurine, HN2874, white, holding colored flowers, 1979, 5 1/2 inches, $85.
Wise Potato Chips sign, easel back, image of table set with bowl of soup, salad and chips, “Delicious with soups and salads,” circa 1954, 16 x 15 inches, $145.
Plush German shepherd, “Arco,” mohair, sawdust stuffing, orange eyes, pink tongue, standing, ears pointed up, Steiff, missing button in ear, 1957-58, 7 x 8 1/2 inches, $175.
Bakelite pin, three red cherries on green stem, leaves, 1930s, 2 3/8 inches, $225.
“Get Smart” lunch box, Agents 86 & 99, K-13, metal, King Seeley Thermos Co., 1966, $290.
Nutcracker, cat’s head, carved wood, glass eyes, pointy ears, Black Forest, circa 1900, 7 1/2 inches, $310.
William IV cellarette, carved rosewood, domed lid with acanthus finial, removable bottle case, raised lotus feet, four cut crystal decanters, circa 1835, 36 x 20 inches, $4,180.
Louis Vuitton steamer trunk, flat lift top, checkerboard canvas cover, lift-out trays, brass mounts, label, late 1800s, 28 x 43 x 24 inches, $6,035.

Give yourself or a friend a gift. Kovels’ Advertising Collectibles Price List lists more than 10,000 current prices of your favorite advertising collectibles, from boxes and bins to trays and tins. More than 400 categories are organized by brand name, company name, product or collectible. Plus 300 photographs, logos and trademarks. A 16-page color insert features important advertising collectibles. Clubs, publications, resources and a full index. Available at your bookstore; online at Kovels.com; by phone at 800-303-1996; or send $16.95 plus $4.95 postage to Kovels, Box 22900, Beachwood, OH 44122.

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

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