May 6, 2013 - Auction Central News

Cordier auction studded with jewelry, fine art May 18-19

1541 English Great Bible (estimate $5,000-$7,000). Cordier Auctions & Appraisals image.

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Cordier Auctions will hold their Spring Antique & Fine Art auction on May 18 and 19. Highlights of the sale include paintings by Cornelius David Krieghoff (Canadian, 1815-1872) and Arthur Meltzer (American, 1893-1989), an 18th century French pocket watch with diamond and enameled chatelaine and a 1541 English Great Bible as well as over 130 lots of jewelry, 100 lots of fine art, sterling, furniture, rugs, collectibles and Asian art. LiveAucitoneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

Saturday’s sale is slated to offer books and paper, collectibles, toys, jewelry, silver, porcelain and glass. An English bible, the Great Bible version of the Byble in Englyshe printed by Edward Whitchurch in London in 1541, will be a highlight of books and paper and carries an estimate of $5,000 to $7,000. A copy of Violet Oakley’s The Holy Experiment will also be offered. Oakley was the artist who completed the mural paintings in the governor’s reception room and in the senate chamber of the state capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. This portfolio was made in preparation for that project and includes color plates of each mural. Other items of note include autographs of Margaret Thatcher, Charles Lindburgh and Theodore Roosevelt.

Collectibles will offer a wide variety of items from a collection of over 30 steins to canes, flasks and violins. Two saddles will cross the block in Saturday’s sale. The first is a Western show saddle with sterling mounts made by Rios (estimate $600-$800). The other is a Hermes Steinkraus jumping saddle (estimate $700-$900). Among sports collectibles will be a Connie Mack and Philadelphia Athletics team signed ball (estimate $1,000 to $1,200) as well as a 1958 Topps #150 Mickey Mantle and a T206 Cy Young Glove Shows Piedmont baseball card. Political collectibles will include a rare Cleveland & Stevenson 1893 inaugural ribbon (estimate $300-$500). In addition to several tin windup toys, a Steelcraft airplane pedal car will be offered and carries an estimate of $750 to $1,000.

Over 50 lots of silver will be offered including flatware sets, bowls, candlesticks and more by such companies as Stieff, Gorham and Tiffany. A highlight of this category will be a pair of German gilt sterling and ivory court figures depicting Maria and Philip I modeled after the original figures by Peter Vischer the elder (German, 1460-1529) which stand in the Hofkirche (Church of the Court at Innsbruck/Tyrol/Austria). They are estimated at $1,000 to $1,500.

Silver will be followed by over 130 lots of fine jewelry and watches. The star lot will be a circa 1760-1790 verge fusee pocket watch by Jean Arthur (French, 1730-1810). The watch features an elaborate gold chatelaine decorated with diamonds and cobalt enameling and carries an estimate of $6,000 to $8,000. Other watches of note include a man’s 14K Omega Chronometre wristwatch and Hamilton Railroad pocket watches. Antique jewelry will include a French 18K, diamond and enameled bracelet as well as a Victorian gold and coral demi-parure. Numerous lots of diamond and gemstone jewelry will be offered including a 3.14-carat diamond and platinum engagement ring, one of several rings with GIA certified stones, and an 18K and diamond Lincoln Mercury award ring by Cartier. Among Native American and Mexican jewelry will be a Victor Coochwytewa Hopi necklace

Saturday’s session will conclude with porcelain and glass. Highlights among porcelain include a pair of 21-inch Dresden covered urns and a 21-inch Royal Vienna covered urn both estimated at $500 to $700. Other highlights include a large 25-inch majolica basket and a Mintons pate-sur-pate ewer. In glass several lots of Murano glass will be offered including an aquarium by Gino Cenedese (estimate $800 to $1,200). Also of note is an Orrefors “Ariel” vase by Edvin Ohrstrom (Swedish, 1906-1994) estimated at $1,800 to $2,000.

Sunday’s session will include furniture and rugs, Asian, fine and decorative arts, clocks and lighting. Several pieces of English furniture will be offered including a 1713 corner cabinet, 1673 tavern table, William and Mary highboy and a burl walnut canterbury. A Chinese carved teakwood étagère will be a key lot with an estimate of $1,500 to $3,000 as will a circa 1917 Steinway Model O grand piano (estimate $5,000 to $7,000). Other pieces of note include a Soap Hollow blanket chest, Louis XV bombe commode and several corner cabinets. Over 30 lots of Persian rugs will be offered, including a Tabriz silk prayer rug as well as Heriz, Hamadan, Bokhara, Bakhtiari, Khorasan Baluch and Chinese room-size.

Over 75 lots of ethnographic and Asian arts are included in Sunday’s session, among them a set of six Chinese polychrome ivory carvings of immortals (estimate $1,000-$2,000). Among several Thai pieces will be a Rattanakosin Period scroll box with scroll. Asian arts will also feature porcelain, cinnabar, jade, cloisonné, champlevé and more. Ethnographic arts will feature Navajo dolls as well as a Congo ivory tusk with a relief-carved spiral scene depicting men and women in traditional and European attire, including musicians, animals, and shackled slaves (estimate $500-$1,000).

Decorative arts will offer several Vienna bronzes including a peacock estimated at $800 to $1,000. Other pieces of note include a Tiffany Grapevine box, a unique hot air balloon form birdcage and a set of six early polychrome glazed Persian tiles.

Sunday’s session will offer over 100 lots of fine art including paintings, bronzes and prints. Cordier Auctions will be offering a painting by Cornelius David Krieghoff (Canadian, 1815-1872) titled Indian Hunter with Gun. Painted in Quebec in 1858, the painting is typical of Krieghoff’s Canadian winter scenes of outdoor life. The painting carries an estimate of $6,000 to $12,000. Also to be offered will be a painting titled The Patriarch and the Sapling by well-known artist Arthur Meltzer (American, 1893-1989) (estimate $8,000 to $10,000). Other artists of note include Mordecai Ardon, Arthur Vidal Diehl and Ira Deen. Among prints will be lots by Dali, Aubudon and Paul Jacoulet.

Sculpture and bronzes will include two key lots of the sale. The first is a pair of bronze bas-relief plaques of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln by William Rudolph O’Donovan (American, 1844-1920), which carries an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000. The other is a bronze sculpture of George Washington astride a horse by Romano Romanelli (Italian, 1882-1968). Number three from a limited edition of 12, the sculpture is estimated at $2,000 to $4,000.

Sunday’s auction will conclude with clocks and lighting. Clocks will offer a Bailey, Banks & Biddle tall case and a Gustav Becker bracket clock, while lighting will offer Schonbek chandeliers as well as two Pairpoint table lamps including a reverse-painted example estimated at $1,500 to $2,000. Among modern pieces will be a pair of Upsala Ekeby Paprika vase lamps (estimate $200-$400), a Noguchi paper and metal table lamp and an Italian mid-century modern floor lamp purchased at the Venice Biennale in the 1950s.

Questions can be directed to Cordier Auctions & Appraisals at auctions@cordierantiques.com or by calling 717-731-8662.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.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

Eighteenth century watch with diamond and enameled chatelaine (estimate $6,000-$8,000). Cordier Auctions & Appraisals image.

Arthur Meltzer (American, 1893-1989), (estimate $8,000-$10,000). Cordier Auctions & Appraisals image.

Carved Chinese étagère (estimate $1,500-$3,000). Cordier Auctions & Appraisals image.

Cornelius David Krieghoff (Canadian, 1815-1872), (estimate $10,000-$20,000). Cordier Auctions & Appraisals image.

Gino Cenedese Murano aquarium, (estimate $800-$1,200). Cordier Auctions & Appraisals image.

Pair German sterling and ivory court figures, (estimate $1,000-$1,500). Cordier Auctions & Appraisals image.

Romano Romanelli (Italian, 1882-1968), (estimate $2,000-$4,000). Cordier Auctions & Appraisals image.

William Rudolph O'Donovan (American, 1844-1920), (estimate $4,000-$6,000). Cordier Auctions & Appraisals image. — William Rudolph O’Donovan (American, 1844-1920), (estimate $4,000-$6,000). Cordier Auctions & Appraisals image.

Largest-ever LEGO display opens June 14 in Times Square

'Yellow' by Nathan Sawaya. (PRNewsFoto/Discovery Times Square)

NEW YORK (PRNewswire) – THE ART OF THE BRICK®, a captivating exhibition of intriguing works of art made exclusively from one of the most recognizable toys in the world, LEGO®, is set to make its debut in New York City at Discovery Times Square (226 West 44th Street) on June 14, 2013, with tickets now on sale.

The critically acclaimed collection of creative and inspiring art constructed using only LEGO® toy bricks by renowned contemporary artist Nathan Sawaya is coming to New York after enjoying record-breaking runs to sold-out crowds in Singapore, Taiwan and Australia.

“I want to have the broadest impact possible to inspire people to change the way they view the world and the way they think about art,” said Sawaya. “What better way to do that than in the heart of New York City, at the crossroads of the world – Times Square.”

The Discovery Times Square collection will be the world’s biggest and most elaborate display of LEGO® art ever. Sawaya will be creating brand-new, never-before-seen works exclusively for this New York City premiere with more than 100 works of art made out of millions and millions of little LEGO® bricks.

“This will be my largest showing of artwork to date and I’ve got some very exciting surprises in store for New York, of course, being it’s my hometown,” said Sawaya. “Discovery Times Square is known for bringing epic collections of unique and immersive exhibits to New York so to be able to have my collection of sculptures exhibited here has profound meaning to me.”

Guests will have the opportunity to get an up-close and in-person view of the iconic, pop culture fan favorite, Yellow, a life-size sculpture of a man ripping his chest open with thousands of sunshine yellow LEGO® bricks cascading from the cavity. In addition, visitors will be able to walk under a 20-foot-long T-Rex dinosaur skeleton made out of bricks and come face-to-face with a giant LEGO® skull.

“At Discovery Times Square we celebrate man’s greatest achievements both throughout history and in contemporary times. What THE ART OF THE BRICK® does by raising this simple children’s toy into an art-form is ingenious and is in line with our past exhibitions, providing a truly unique experience,” said James Sanna , President of Discovery Times Square. “The scale of this exhibit and the creativity that Nathan Sawaya brings to his work makes for an outstanding show. We are also thrilled that Nathan, a hometown phenomenon, has chosen Discovery Times Square to unveil his newest masterpieces.”

THE ART OF THE BRICK® is the first major museum exhibition to use LEGO® bricks as the sole art medium. Sawaya transforms them into tremendous and thought-provoking sculptures, elevating the toy to the realm of art. Sawaya’s ability to transform this common toy into something meaningful, his devotion to spatial perfection and the way he conceptualizes action, enables him to elevate what almost every child has played with into the status of contemporary art.

“These works are very personal to me, since they reflect my growth as an artist as I strove to discover my creative identity,” said Sawaya. “THE ART OF THE BRICK® exhibition is accessible because it engages the child in all of us while simultaneously illuminating sophisticated and complex concepts. Everyone can relate to the medium since it is a toy that many children have at home. But my goal with this exhibition when it first debuted in 2007 was to elevate this simple plaything to a place it has never been before.”

THE ART OF THE BRICK® at Discovery Times Square runs until January 5, 2014.

Discovery Times Square is open seven days a week. Tickets are available for $14.50 (child 4-12), $19.50 (adult) and $16.50 (senior = 65). Special savings for groups of 10 or more are available with advanced reservation. Once open, the last tickets are sold 60 minutes prior to closing. For individual tickets and venue hours, visit http://www.DiscoveryTS.com/ art-of-the-brick, call 866.9.TSXNYC (866-987-9692) or visit the Discovery Times Square box office.

Discovery Times Square (DTS) is New York City’s first large-scale exhibition center presenting visitors with limited-run, educational and immersive exhibit experiences while exploring the world’s defining cultures, art, history and events. More than a museum, DTS has featured exhibitions of unparalleled breadth, including Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, Leonardo Da Vinci ‘s Workshop, King Tut, Pompeii The Exhibit, Dead Sea Scrolls: The Exhibition and most recently Terracotta Warriors: Defenders of China’s First Emperor. DTS is located at 226 West 44th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenues).

ABOUT NATHAN SAWAYA & THE ART OF THE BRICK®

Nathan Sawaya is an acclaimed New York-based artist who creates awe-inspiring artwork out of a toy. His art focuses on large-scale sculptures using only LEGO® bricks. Sawaya was the first artist to ever take LEGO® into the art world and his touring exhibition – THE ART OF THE BRICK® – has entertained and inspired millions of art lovers and enthusiasts from Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, China and around the world. CNN heralded, “THE ART OF THE BRICK® is one of the top 12 must-see exhibits in the world!” Originally from Oregon, Sawaya’s childhood dreams were always fun and creative. He drew cartoons, wrote stories, perfected magic tricks and of course also played with LEGO®. His days were filled with imagination. When it came time for college, Sawaya moved to New York City, attended NYU and became a lawyer. But after years of million dollar mergers and corporate acquisitions on Park Avenue, Sawaya realized he would rather be sitting on the floor creating art, than sitting in a board room negotiating contracts. He walked away from the law and took an artistic risk on LEGO®. Now Sawaya is an author, speaker and one of the most popular, award-winning contemporary artists of our time. For more information about Nathan Sawaya and his artwork, visit www.brickartist.com.

# # #

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

Trinity International to hold Spring Fine Art Sale, May 11

Minas Avetisian, (Armenian, 1928-1975). Trinity International Auctions image.

AVON, Conn. – Trinity International Auctions will offer three paintings by Armenian Artist Martiros Seregeevich Sarian (Saryan) Armenian 1880-1972. The auction will begin at noon EDT and LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live biddin

Perhaps one of Saryan’s finest pieces ever to come to auction is Lot 107, Donkey in a Peach Orchard, dated 1937. The provenances is impeccable states Stephen R. Gass, president of Trinity. A Certificate of authentication accompanies this lot from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia. It is signed by Shaen Khachatryan, art historian and director of the Saryan Museum. The painting was acquired by the present owner in 1984 and is part of his collection since that time. This artworkis in excellent condition. Lot 108 is also by Saryan and it comes from the same collector. This painting is titled Flowers, dated 1939. This piece is also accompanied by a certificate from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia.

The Russian art component is extremely strong this auction and features two fresh works by Leon Bakst (Russian 1866-1924), one being a costume design for Sheherasade, Jane Marnac. Another piece is by Ivan Biliban (Russian 1876-1942), watercolor Illustration from the Russian fairy tale, “Maria Morevna and Koschei the Wizard,” 1900. There is a piece by Alexandre Benois (Russian 1870-1960), watercolor titled The Venetian Garden in Versailles, signed and dated 1905. Lot 113 features an oil painting by Minas Avetisian Armenian 1928-1975, Nature Morte, 1964 and there is also a certificate from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia. Dmitry Krasnopevtsev Russian 1925-1995 is also represented with two oil paintings.

American Contemporary art is very much on the move. Many young collectors are looking to purchase works with artists of their generation whom they are familiar with. A work on paper by Cy Twombly (American 1928-2011), titled Bolsena 1989 is a mixed media work on steno paper signed and dated. This piece is the property of a private collector who purchased it from a New York City estate sale over seven years ago. Rarely coming to auction is a large work by Kyle Randolph (American 1918 – 1979) titled Fall Winter Series, 64 No 15. The painting measures 48 x 60 inches and comes from a private collection in Westport, Conn. Other notable works are by Emil Bisttram (American 1875-1), Milton Resnick, Rolph Scarlett, Ralph Rosenborg, Naomi Lorne, Belle Cramer, Sam Francis, Patrick Archer and Harley Perkins.

A real standout is a painting by Indian artist, Kattingeria Hebbar (Indian, 1911-1996), titled Devotional Dance, circa 1956. The painting is the property of Trinity College, Hartford, Conn.

Contemporary prints have always done well and this auction features a strong selection with works by Salvador Dali, (four works), Helen Frankenthaler, Paul Jenkins, Ed Ruska, Robert Motherwell, Andy the Warhol, Shepard Fairey, Roberta Matta, Jim Dine, Larry Rivers, Roy Lichenstein and Sol LeWitt.

All condition information is available by contacting Trinity by phone (860-677-9996 or email info@tiauctions.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.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

'Donkey in a Peach Orchard,' 1937, by Martiros Seregeevich Sarian (Saryan), (Armenian 1880-1972). Trinity International Auctions image. — ‘Donkey in a Peach Orchard,’ 1937, by Martiros Seregeevich Sarian (Saryan), (Armenian 1880-1972). Trinity International Auctions image.

Kattingeria Krishna Hebbar (Indian, 1911-1996). Trinity International Auctions image.

Cy Twombly, (American, 1928-2011). Trinity International Auctions image.

Ivan Biliban (Russian 1876-1942), watercolor illustration from the Russian fairy tale 'Maria Morevna and Koschei the Wizard,' 1900. Trinity International Auctions image. — Ivan Biliban (Russian 1876-1942), watercolor illustration from the Russian fairy tale ‘Maria Morevna and Koschei the Wizard,’ 1900. Trinity International Auctions image.

Jerzy Nowosielski, (Polish, 1923-2011). Trinity International Auctions image.

Georg Jensen acquires retailer Danish Silver

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (PRNewswire) Georg Jensen has acquired Danish Silver, a globally recognized and authorized dealer of Georg Jensen antique hollowware, jewellery and watches. It was announced today by David Chu , CEO of Danish design brand Georg Jensen, and Gregory Pepin , CEO of Danish Silver.

Founded by Gregory and Anna Kristina Pepin in 1999, Danish Silver holds the world’s largest collection of antique Georg Jensen silver available for purchase.

Now known as Georg Jensen Antiques, the collection will soon be exclusively available in Georg Jensen flagship stores in Copenhagen, New York and London as dedicated Georg Jensen Antiques shop-in-shops. Georg Jensen Antiques will continue to show at major antique events and fairs in the United States as well as expositions and collector events in Europe and Asia.

“It is our great pleasure to embrace the heritage of Georg Jensen and extend the message of luxury within our own stores,” Mr. Chu said in announcing the acquisition. He added, “Mr Pepin’s knowledge and understanding of the customer will help to introduce the Georg Jensen antique business to a new audience of collectors and grow Georg Jensen as a luxury brand.”

“I am honored to join the Georg Jensen family,” Mr Pepin said. “It is a unique opportunity to be a part of a design culture where silver design and craftsmanship is the origin of the brand.”

For more information about Georg Jensen, visit www.georgjensen.com.

About Georg Jensen

Founded in Denmark in 1904, Georg Jensen now has almost 100 stores in 10 countries. Originally a silver smith creating exclusive silver hollowware and jewellery, Georg Jensen now applies its unique design, superior craftsmanship and outstanding quality to a wide range of gold, silver, platinum and diamond jewelry, watches, cutlery, hollowware as well as design items for the home and office. Its pure, elegant, Scandinavian design style is favoured by millions around the world and is considered one of Denmark’s most recognized brands.

# # #

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Chicago unveils results of renovation

Newly renovated lobby at Kimpton's Hotel Monaco Chicago. Image courtesy of the hotel.

CHICAGO (PRWEB) – Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Chicago has revealed its newly renovated lobby and event space renovation featuring bold colors, playful textures and nods to the building’s rich history. Recently named one of US News and World Report’s 2013 Best Hotels and a Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice 2012 winner, Monaco Chicago now boasts an entire floor of modernized meeting space, a glamorous new lobby, an updated bar at the adjacent restaurant, South Water Kitchen, and 191 refreshed guest rooms.

“The renovation first began with a guest room refresh in 2011 and we’re thrilled that the full makeover is now complete,” said Marco Scherer, general manager, Hotel Monaco Chicago. “The new look creates a fresh ambiance that combines comfort and style, and allows us to introduce great new features like communal lobby seating and fun culinary options for meeting breakouts.”

With a coveted central location overlooking the Chicago River, the newly renovated Monaco Chicago showcases how globally inspired design can elegantly marry Chicago sensibility. Raising the bar for Windy City hospitality, interior designer Susan Caruso of Intra-Spec Hospitality Design created a warm and graceful new backdrop for an unrivaled travel experience focused on care, comfort and fun.

Remodeled Lobby & New Living Room Offerings

As guests enter Kimpton’s Monaco Chicago, they are greeted by pops of color, whimsical patterns and rich textures. The vibrant backlit art at the front desk features vintage photographs of fashionable ladies in dramatic hats, a nod to the building’s origins as the D.B. Fisk & Co. hat factory. Beyond the alligator-fabric front desk, guests are treated to a harmonizing aesthetic of royal blue, cherry and lemon. On the walls, guests will find the juxtaposition of black and white photographs of Chicago architecture and a large flat panel TV playing popular movies filmed in Chicago. Lacquered finishes, exotic woods and comfortable seating combine to create a vibrant experience for lounging or casual meetings.

The 8-seat bar table with built in power outlets and high-backed chairs is ideal for business travelers seeking a social setting to get work done. “Power Packs” are available at the front desk for both convenience and entertainment: power up with an iPhone charger, drown out distractions with noise-cancelling headphones and keep busy with a tablet pre-loaded with music and books.

Hungry lobby loungers will now have their choice of food and drinks from the Tavern Menu of South Water Kitchen, adjacent to the hotel. The full beverage and small bites menu features homemade favorites like Duck Jerky and Spring Pea Flatbread as well as local draft beers and craft cocktails. In addition to complimentary daily morning coffee service (6:00-10:00am) and Hosted Evening Wine Hour (5:00-6:00 pm), guests can enjoy a rotating list of entertainment offered in the lobby living room. The line-up ranges from live music performed by local community college students to wine tastings and cocktail demonstrations provided by South Water Kitchen.

Renovated Event Rooms

Located on the third floor, the new meeting and event space is comprised of 4,100 square feet, including a 2,700 square foot ballroom. The pre-function area now features a graceful focal table as well as new mahogany and ebony consoles, geometric mirrors and artful silver lamps. Within the rooms, lush carpeting softens into curvaceous medallions complemented by amber hued walls. Luxurious new window treatments in tones of silver, black and fawn call attention to the large windows with views of the Chicago River.

Meetings are enhanced by the convenience of Monaco Chicago’s “Concierge on Demand.” Upon request, the concierge station can be moved to the third floor, strategically placed to be on hand to make reservations, arrange transportation or answer any other questions during meeting breaks or post-meeting.

Groups can also choose from new, playful food and beverage offerings:

Making Whoopie – Brides, grooms and their wedding guests will now have the option of a new turndown service: upon request, whoopie pies and old-fashioned bottles of milk will be placed in each guest’s room near the conclusion of the wedding for a clever post-party treat. Members of the wedding party will also be invited to return to the Monaco for a future trip and receive 25% off their stay.

Chicago-Style – A Chicago-native, South Water Kitchen’s Chef Roger Waysok took inspiration from signature Windy City cuisine to create new menu options. A Chicago-style hot dog bar is complete with all the traditional fixings including housemade relish, pickled peppers and poppy-seed buns, among other options. Flavored popcorn, inspired by local favorite Garrett’s Popcorn, is now an option for afternoon breaks with original combinations like bacon-carmel and toppings like ranch-seasoned salt.

Redesigned Restaurant

Recent renovations also included South Water Kitchen, adjacent to Monaco Chicago. The new look of the Tavern section of the restaurant is inspired by the “working man’s” tavern of the 1920s. The design team of VOA Associates Inc. used modest materials typical of this era to bring a feeling of honest simplicity to Chicago’s dining scene. A new tin ceiling, crisp white subway wall tile, a polished brass bar rail, and stone topped bar are all newly installed pieces reflective of the 1920s. Light and airy linen chandeliers, copper mirrors and antique metals bring an updated yet relaxed atmosphere to match Chef Waysok’s authentic Midwest cuisine.

Hotel Monaco Chicago is located at 225 North Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60601. Tel. 312-960-8500 or visit www.monaco-chicago.com.

# # #

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

Fine estate property, jewelry highlight Leighton sale May 16

Gustavo Novoa, 'Strolling Panthers Amidst Flower Patch.' Leighton Galleries image.

ALLENDALE, N.J. – Leighton Galleries’ May 16 auction will feature over 370 lots of quality merchandise, including a fine collection of jewelry, fine art, furniture, decorative arts, high-end collectibles and more. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

The collectibles category, and the auction itself, will lead off with yet another 13-piece Royal Doulton Soldiers of the Revolution Bicentennial set, this one numbered 45/350. In their April 18 sale, Leighton sold set number 217/350, with the group hammering down at $6,000, not including buyer’s premium. Like the first series, this group is also in wonderful condition.

A single-owner collection of gentleman’s items to be offered includes a group of S.T. Dupont pocket lighters, many of which are special limited editions. Included are the very desirable and highly collectible Pharaoh, Napoleon Bonaparte, Versailles, French Line, Andalusia and Mars pocket lighters. In addition, the sale will offer 12 individual S.T. Dupont WEMPE Gatsby lighters. The prestigious German jeweler WEMPE commissioned S.T. Dupont to make these special lighters, with most of them in limited editions of 25.

Other smaller but still high-quality collectible groups include pens by S.T. Dupont, Waterman, Chopard, Montblanc and Cross, as well as associated pen cases, Royal Worcester horse figurines, Herend porcelain groups, clocks by Ansonia, Gilbert, S.T. Dupont and a recently re-gilded French crystal regulator. Royal Doulton figurines, Mettlach steins, American coins and paper money, Boehm florals, crystal figures by Baccarat, Waterford and Lalique, autographed Yankees, Giants and Dodgers baseballs, a Swedish signed crystal group, with an interesting 75th anniversary Battle of Gettysburg medals group with associated ephemera rounding out the categories.

Some nice jewelry pieces will cross the block as well. Highlights include a set of pink diamond ear studs with white diamond jackets; Van Cleef & Arpels 14K gold wristwatch; French gold and enamel portrait pin / pendant, a gold and diamond pendant and neck chain, approximately 1.58 carats; diamond and sapphire necklace; diamond engagement ring, approximately 1.50 carats; 18K rose gold ruby and sapphire flower pin; diamond wedding ring set, approximately 0.60ctw; diamond and ruby bracelet; gold and diamond cross pendant, approx 0.75ctw; lady’s Swiss gold and enameled pendant watch; a pave-set diamond heart pendant and more.

Fine art selections include a four-panel screen by Gustavo Novoa titled Strolling Panthers Amidst Flower Patch, an oil on canvas by Polish artist Anton Kozakiewicz titled Reclining Nude with Fan, a Harry Shokler oil on canvas titled Harbor Town, another oil on canvas titled Bringing in the Hay Wagon by Russian artist Vasily Mazur, four landscape paintings on Masonite by Gerrit Hondius, a Stanley Grant Middleton portrait titled Lady with Lilies, three oils by Charles Melohs and two oils by Louis Weickum round out the selections.

The sale will also offer over 75 lots of Lladro figurines, from small to large, primarily from a single owner collection.

Furniture offerings comprise a clean group of mahogany estate pieces including a Henredon Aston Court breakfront, Baker banded dining table, Kindel Queen Anne-style highboy, pair of French-style settees, pair of carved formal chairs, Hepplewhite-style console, piecrust tilt top, Chippendale-style wall mirror, Hancock & Moore brown leather bergere, an Asian-style collector cabinet and more.

The auction is scheduled for Thursday, May 16, at 5 p.m. EDT. It will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 79 Pascack Road, Washington Township (Bergen County), N.J.

For information call 201-327-8800 or info@Leightongalleries.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.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

Doulton Soldiers of the Revolution Group. Leighton Galleries image.

S.T. Dupont Pharaoh pocket lighter. Leighton Galleries image.

French gold and enamel portrait pin / pendant. Leighton Galleries image.

FEMA denies funds to flood-damaged art museum in Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The federal government has rejected the University of Iowa’s final request for funding to help it replace its flood-damaged Museum of Art.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency told the school in March that it was sticking by its rejection of the school’s request to help pay to replace the museum, which was badly damaged in the historic flood of 2008.

Without federal funding, the school must turn to private partners, the public or Iowa City officials for help, the school’s planning director, Rod Lehnertz, told the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

The school’s $1.7 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign will include money for the museum’s replacement, said UI Foundation spokeswoman Donna Larson.

“Work is under way now to determine how we’re going to move forward, and private giving will be a piece of that,” she said.

FEMA said the building doesn’t meet the agency’s threshold for replacement. Its 50 percent rule means damage to a building must not exceed 50 percent of the cost of replacing the facility, the newspaper reported.

“Essentially, the university has received a final response from FEMA indicating there will be no federal support for replacing the Museum of Art building,” UI spokesman Tom Moore said Friday.

Officials estimate damage to the museum’s lower level mechanical and electrical systems are about $4 million.

Lehnertz said the current building likely will be used for something different, since the $500 million art collection _ which was evacuated before the flooding _ can’t be insured there.

Moore said a site hasn’t been identified yet for a replacement building.

FEMA denied the school’s funding request for a full replacement in July 2010. It denied appeals in January 2011 and April 2012. The agency’s latest response was denial to fund a mitigation project.

___

Information from: Iowa City Press-Citizen, http://www.press-citizen.com/

Wright hosts exclusive Scandinavian design auction May 16

Marianne Richter carpet. Estimate: $30,000-$40,000. Wright image.

CHICAGO – Wright’s Scandinavian Design auction, to be held Thursday, May 16, at noon CDT, is the only sale in North America dedicated exclusively to the works of designers from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

Outstanding for their harmonious marriage of material and form, works from Scandinavia have been the abiding benchmark for modern design since the 1920s. In reaction against the detached functionalism of the machine age, Nordic designers instead crafted honest forms which accentuated the qualities of the material used, whether wood, ceramic or glass. Humanistic, elegant and easy to live with, designs from Scandinavia remain among the most relevant of the 20th century.

A highlight of the Scandinavian Design sale is an exceptional collection of Swedish carpets from Märta Måås-Fjetterström AB, the studio that commissioned some of the most skilled carpet makers in the world including Barbro Nilsson and Marianne Richter. Significant among the collection of carpets is a Marianne Richter design of superior beauty. Woven in sunny shades of yellow and enlivened with subtle accents of beige and blue, the vivid colors and beautifully composed geometries of this carpet make it among the most memorable of Richter’s designs (estimate: $30,000-$40,000).

Also noteworthy among the offerings in the Scandinavian Design auction is a pair of rare lounge chairs by Danish designer, Ib Kofod-Larsen (estimate: $5,000-$7,000); a striking pair upholstered respectively in vibrant red and blue, these chairs feature solid teak frames and clean lines that are a signature of Kofod-Larsen’s designs. Two pairs of monumental sconces designed by Finnish designer Paavo Tynell figure prominently in the sale (estimate: $20,000-$30,000 each pair). Crafted of brass and silk, these dramatic sconces are among the finest lighting designs Tynell created.

Highly anticipated lots include a set of eight PK 9 chairs designed by Poul Kjaerholm (estimate: $20,000-$30,000) upholstered in rich cognac leather and the perennially popular Egg chair and ottoman by Arne Jacobsen (estimate: $10,000-$15,000). Also prominent in the sale is a collection of Georg Jensen silver, including a three-piece Pyramid coffee service (estimate: $7,000-$9,000) and a lovely vanity set (estimate: $5,000-$7,000).

Additional Scandinavian designers featured in the sale are Alvar Aalto, Poul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl and Poul Kjaerholm.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.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

Paavo Tynell, pair of Important sconces from Kaivohuone restaurant, Helinski. Estimate: $20,000-$30,000. Wright image.

Swedish Grace Period sofa. Estimate: $9,000-$12,000. Wright image.

Va Eastern Shore waterfowl museum holding auctions

Female (left) and male mallards (wild ducks), indigenous to the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia and North Africa. Mallards also have been introduced to New Zealand and Australia. Photo by Richard Bartz, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.

CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. (AP) – A museum on Virginia’s Eastern Shore is preparing to auction of its inventory of nautical items and waterfowl decoys.

The Refuge Waterfowl Museum in Chincoteague is holding a set of auctions in May and September from its collection after the museum owner’s death.

The local auction firm is billing it as the “largest and most prestigious decoy and nautical auction ever to happen east of the Mississippi.”

“We have been in the decoy business as it relates to auctions for 10 years and never, ever have we been associated with anything this large or this significant,” said auctioneer Zeb B. Barfield. “We believe the collection might sell in the half-million-dollar range, but we could easily go up to $700,000.”

Carvings by famed Eastern Shore carvers are among the 3,500 decoys being sold at the auctions on May 10-11 and again in September.

Businessman and hunter John Maddox started collecting after World War II and spent most of his adult life in pursuit of wooden wildfowl art. He died in December 2011.

Hundreds of the geese and ducks displayed began life as working decoys, yet became coveted examples of the decoy carver’s art. Row after row, shelf after shelf, each decoy came to the museum with a story, a history that enhanced its value for the collector deep in John Maddox’s soul.

His son Richard Maddox told The Daily Times that the family decided to close the museum and sell its collection because it wasn’t a money-making venture.

“This was something he was passionate about, eaten up with. It became a lifelong avocation for him,” said Richard Maddox, who is handling the sale on behalf of the family.

Richard Maddox said the family looked at several ways of disposing of the collection by donating it, even talking to the Smithsonian Institution. In the end, the family decided to keep a number of items and auction off the rest.

As decoys were cataloged and inventoried for the auction, Delbert “Cigar” Daisey, 89, asked if he could walk through the museum.

For almost 30 years, the 89-year-old Daisey was the resident carver, educating the beach crowd and the tourists on the particulars of his art as they toured this one-of-a kind museum.

Never had he been in the midst of such a large private collection, and he said he knew he’d never see the likes of its kind again.

# # #

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

eBay expands corporate presence in Utah

DRAPER, Utah (AP) – Online auction company eBay has officially launched its operations in Utah.

The company’s chief executive John Donahoe held a grand opening Friday at an office campus in the Salt Lake City suburb of Draper.

Gov. Gary Herbert and local officials were on hand for the ceremony.

The California-based online giant has built a 241,000-square-foot building on eBay Way near a FrontRunner commuter rail station.

The company is operating a customer service center and other corporate functions in Draper. It has a data center in another suburb, South Jordan.

EBay officials say the firm is adding 1,600 jobs in Utah for a total of 3,600. It is among a number of technology companies being drawn to Utah because of tax incentives. Others include Adobe, IM Flash, and most recently Vivint Home Security.

# # #

Sign up for daily highlights by email