October 3, 2013 - Auction Central News

Heritage packs 1,700 treasures into Estate Auction Oct. 5-7

Baccarat glass, gilt and patinated bronze figural chandelier. Heritage Auctions image.

DALLAS – A Baccarat gilt and patinated bronze figural chandelier is expected to bring $15,000-plus to highlight more than 1,700 diverse lots of fine art and collectibles in Heritage’s fall Estate Signature® Auction, Oct. 5-7. LiveAuctioneers.com will provided Internet live bidding.

“The eclectic Estate Auction makes it ideal for decorators, collectors and those with an eye for the unique,” said Ed Beardsley, vice president for fine and decorative arts. “This season’s event offers a fresh-to-market selection of fine paintings, sculpture and furniture from several important private collections and ideal for all collector levels.”

Leading the auction are works of furniture sculpture from the Modernist workshop of George and Mira Nakashima, to include a Persian rosewood Minguren I coffee table, circa 1970, which is expected to sell for $12,000-plus, and a George and Mira Nakashima walnut platform bed and headboard, expected to bring $7,000-plus. Additional furniture highlights include a Louis XV-style mahogany and fruitwood marquetry and gilt bronze bombe commode, which may cross the block for $5,000-plus. An important and published Philadelphia classical revival mahogany triple pedestal dining table, attributed to Anthony Quervelle, circa 1830, is expected to bring $4,000-plus.

A diverse collection of fine art and sculpture ranges from Gloria Victis, a patinated bronze figural group on a marble pedestal, cast by Ferdinand Barbedienne in France, circa 1875, which is expected to bring $10,000-plus, to an oil on canvas attributed to Pierre Gobert depicting Françoise-Marie de Bourbon, Duchesse d’Orléans, the daughter of Gaston d’Orléans and granddaughter of the third son of King Henry IV of France and his wife, Marie de Medici, may sell for $8,000-plus.

A portfolio of 10 photographs by Ernst Haas is expected to bring $7,000-plus and a Ming Dynasty bronze and polychromed seated Buddha may cross the block for $3,000-plus.

Among the extraordinary objects include a pair of Japanesque flask vases by Royal Worcester, may fetch $7,000-plus, pair of Walter Von Nessen brass and Bakelite space age lamps designed for Pattyn Products, circa 1935-36, which are expected to bring $3,000-plus and a tooled leather saddle on a custom stand, expected to fetch $2,000-plus. A six-part Italian Rococo leather painted screen is estimated to bring $6,000-plus as is a late 18th and early 19th century George III agate and gilt bronze mounted étui.

“In addition to the two-day live auction featuring the vast selection of fine art, bronzes, porcelain, ceramics, wedgewood and furniture,” Beardsley said, “we are offering two Internet-only sessions which include 200 lots of estate jewelry.”

This season’s Estate Auction is held in conjunction with Heritage’s third-annual Gentleman Collector Auction, which will open for floor bidding Oct. 6. The auction presents a fine collection of luxury gentleman’s accessories hand-selected from private collections, most notably an impressive, 22-lot collection of personal artifacts and ephemera from the estate of Vincent Astor, heir of industrialist John Jacob Astor. The collection is led by a unique Gorham silver commemorative Galapagos Penguin, estimated to sell for $10,000-plus, presented to Vincent in 1930 by his shipmates following an expedition to the Galapagos Islands. Much of the estate is from Brooke Astor, Vincent’s wife, including a personally signed note from Princess Diana on a visit to the White House, which is expected to bring $800.

The Gentleman Collector event opens with a private collection of Napoleonic material and other notable historical figures, a strong collection of ship models and maritime paintings, a fine selection of English library furniture and effects, and a fine grouping of walking canes, in addition to one of the finest groups of vintage meerschaum pipes to ever come to auction.

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 Persian walnut and rosewood Minguren I coffee table. Heritage Auctions image.

French patinated bronze figural group with marble pedestal, after Marius-Jean-Antonin Mercie: ‘Gloria Victis.’ Heritage Auctions image.

Attributed to Pierre Gobert (French, 1659-1741), Francoise-Marie de Bourbon, Duchesse d'Orléans, oil on canvas. Heritage Auctions image. — Attributed to Pierre Gobert (French, 1659-1741), Francoise-Marie de Bourbon, Duchesse d’Orléans, oil on canvas. Heritage Auctions image.

Vincent Astor commemorative silver penguin modeled by James L. CLark for Gorham, dated 1930. Heritage Auctions image.

Pair of Walter von Nessen for Pattyn Products, brass and Bakelite aluminum lamps, circa 1935-36. Heritage Auctions image.

Little Nemo auction adds to legends of the Old West, Oct. 19

Milo Manara Omaggio a Tex Willer. Pencil, ink and watercolor on thin cardboard, signed. Estimate: $8,000-$18,000. Little Nemo image.

MILAN, Italy – October 2013 will be devoted by Little Nemo art gallery and auction house to the Myth of the West with a wide program of events ranging from exhibitions to an auction and the presentation of three high-profile new editorial products.

For 10 days, from Oct. 8 to 18 the comics museum in Milan, Wow Spazio Fumetto, will host an exhibitions of all Little Nemo Auction that will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19. The setup will include illustrated books, comic books, illustrations and original arts along with games, trading cards and cinema posters focusing on spaghetti Westerns. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

For at least a quarter of a century after World War II, the West and its myth have embodied, in Italian culture especially if not in all Western countries, the ideal of ancient virility and noble moral values, that then seemed to be vanishing. History, when thinking of the American West, fades in its importance from the European perspective as it twists into pure mythology and the legends that sprung from the real facts become the creative ground of artists, writers and kids.

Little Nemo has been dealing with comics and cinema related collectables and art for the last 20 years and this monographic auction is combined with the presentation of three new editorial efforts: a portfolio by Sergio Tisselli, a new book on Tex Willer with watercolors by Giovanni Ticci and the deluxe edition of last year’s Texone by Fabio Civitelli. A fully illustrated catalog with section introductions by Giuseppe Pollicelli is available.

All 726 lots will be put under the hammer Saturday Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. (2 a.m. Pacific) to 1:30 p.m. and then from 2:30 to 7 p.m. in Milan, at Wow Spazio Fumetto, viale Campania 12.

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

Buffalo Bill - Col. William Frederic Cody. Portrait of Buffalo Bill with typical broad-brimmed hat. Stacy's Brooklyn imprint. Buffalo Bill’s printed signature on the back. Estimate: $300-$450. Little Nemo image. — Buffalo Bill – Col. William Frederic Cody. Portrait of Buffalo Bill with typical broad-brimmed hat. Stacy’s Brooklyn imprint. Buffalo Bill’s printed signature on the back. Estimate: $300-$450. Little Nemo image.

‘The Good, the Bad, the Ugly’ extremely scarce first-edition two-sheet movie poster. Small professional restoration, hanging marks. Near mint. Estimate: $2,500-$5,000. Little Nemo image.

Hugo Pratt, Gen. Custer. Pencil, ink and watercolor on cardboard. Exhibited at Palazzo Squarcialupi, Siena, in 2005. Estimate: $6,400-$13,500. Little Nemo image.

Benito Jacovitti Cocco Bill così e cosà. Art published on ‘Il Giorno dei Ragazzi,’ 1966. Pencil and ink on drawing paper. Watercolored on the back. Very good condition. Estimate: $4,900-$8,000. Little Nemo image.

Magnus - Giovanni Romanini Tex. Elaborate and rich illustration for the study of the characters. Pencil, green pencil, ink and white tempera on color cardboard. Scroll-signed ‘Magnus e Romanini Enterprises’ and signed a second time ‘Magnus’ on the drawing. Estimate: $8,000-$16,000. Little Nemo image. — Magnus – Giovanni Romanini Tex. Elaborate and rich illustration for the study of the characters. Pencil, green pencil, ink and white tempera on color cardboard. Scroll-signed ‘Magnus e Romanini Enterprises’ and signed a second time ‘Magnus’ on the drawing. Estimate: $8,000-$16,000. Little Nemo image.

Italian weekly says new Leonardo da Vinci painting found

Drawing of Isabella in her youth for an intended portrait by Leonardo da Vinci. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

ROME (AFP) – An Italian weekly said in its Friday edition that a new painting by Leonardo da Vinci of Renaissance noblewoman Isabella d’Este has been reliably authenticated with carbon dating.

The portrait, which was believed to have been either lost or never even painted, belongs to an Italian family which kept it in the vault of a Swiss bank, the Sette magazine reported.

It measures 61 by 46.5 centimeters (24 by 18 inches) and depicts the prominent Italian marquess, who was a patron of the arts, in profile.

It is “a faithful transposition of the famous sketch hanging in the Louvre,” said Sette, which belongs to the Corriere della Sera daily.

“This is a sensational discovery although it is still short of confirmations,” it said.

It quoted Carlo Pedretti, a world expert in the Tuscan painter (1452-1519), saying: “I can immediately recognize Da Vinci’s handiwork, particularly in the woman’s face.”

Only around 15 works have been reliably attributed to Leonardo, including the Mona Lisa—the most famous and popular painting in the world.

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London Eye: September 2013

The LAPADA Art and Antiques Fair marquee in London’s Berkeley Square was the place to be, kicking off the autumn fair season in the capital. Image: Auction Central News.

“This is busier and more lively than the private view evening at the Masterpiece Fair,” a London-based Russian art consultant told Auction Central News as she strolled around the 2013 LAPADA Fair marquee in Berkeley Square on Sept. 27.

The fair’s location in one of Mayfair’s prettier squares makes it a great place to stop for lunch.

The view from the first-floor restaurant at the LAPADA Fair in Berkeley Square. Image: Auction Central News.

However, you need to keep your wits about you when walking around inside the fair if you don’t want to bump into a tree.

Nature and culture: a mature tree is no impediment to the enjoyment of the LAPADA Fair. Like the fair, you just walk around it. Image: Auction Central News.

Happily the British trade is made of stern stuff and won’t let little things like tree trunks or recessions get in their way.

A “busy” fair does not necessarily mean business is being done, however. Seasoned fairgoers can generally tell within an hour of walking around one of these events whether people are buying or just looking. The real picture emerges only when you start talking to the trade.

“It’s not easy, but we’ve sold things,” said Edenbridge furniture dealer Lennox Cato, who appears regularly on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.

Edenbridge fine furniture dealer and BBC 'Antiques Roadshow' specialist Lennox Cato at the LAPADA Fair this week. Image: Auction Central News. — Edenbridge fine furniture dealer and BBC ‘Antiques Roadshow’ specialist Lennox Cato at the LAPADA Fair this week. Image: Auction Central News.

“The wealth is out there but rich people tend to lack confidence and the recession is still biting.” This makes it tough for dealers who need to cover the increasingly high cost of stand rentals at these events: “You won’t get much change from £20,000-£25,000 ($32,250-$40,350) and then you’ve got to make something for yourself,” said Cato. Among the pieces he was hoping to sell was a fine and rare Regency rosewood cylindrical bookcase priced at £23,000 ($37,100).

This Regency rosewood cylindrical bookcase was for sale with Edenbridge dealer Lennox Cato at the LAPADA Fair, priced at £23,000 ($37,100). Image: Auction Central News.

Specialist glass dealer Mark West was reasonably upbeat. He showed us a beautiful Bohemian ruby overlay glass vase engraved with a view of the Crystal Palace Great Exhibition, priced at £4,400 ($7,100). How much business was he doing? “Put it like this,” he said. “We’ve got fewer things now than when the fair opened two days ago.”

Versatile dealer and decorator Peter Woodward of The Blanchard Collective in Wiltshire was showing a wide range of paintings and affordable works of art and was optimistic about the atmosphere and the interest shown during the first two days.

Alison Davey of ‘Signed and Designed’ in Chipping Camden, whose decorative ceramics were finding favour with buyers at the LAPADA Fair. Image: Auction Central News.

“It’s been good,” he said. “I do the Decorative Fair in Battersea, but this is the first time I’ve done LAPADA and I’ve sold a few things.” A similar response came from Gloucestershire decorative arts dealer Alison Davey of Signed and Designed in Chipping Camden.

Fine art dealer Peter Woodward of The Blanchard Collective in Wiltshire took time out at the LAPADA Fair to chat to Auction Central News. Image: Auction Central News.

She was showing a fabulous array of Della Robbia pottery, William de Morgan and Royal Lancastrian luster wares, some temptingly affordable Martin Brothers tiles, and new works by talented contemporary ceramicist Heidi Warr. “It’s been worthwhile,” she concluded.

The overriding message from the LAPADA event was that until the recession lifts business is likely to be slow, however, much money there might be in leafy Mayfair.

Autumn is a fine time to be in the capital. After some fantasy antique shopping at the LAPADA Fair, Auction Central News grabbed a ‘Boris bike’ and cycled over to Hyde Park to check out the new Serpentine Sackler Pavilion by superstar architect Zaha Hadid, her first major commission in the UK.

The new Serpentine Sackler Pavilion in Hyde Park by superstar architect Zaha Hadid, her first major commission in the UK, which opened to the public this week. Image: Auction Central News.

It’s a very pretty building that sits beautifully in the surrounding landscape. Whether its bijou dimensions will be sufficient to accommodate the crowds that are sure to flock to it remains to be seen.

London’s many parks are now the go-to locations for the art trade. Hot on the heels of the LAPADA Fair in Berkeley Square Park comes the Autumn Decorative Fair in Battersea Park from Oct. 1-6. No sooner will that come down when Frieze and Frieze Masters, the two blockbuster events in the London fairs calendar, will go up in Regents Park. The fact that London can sustain so many fairs of this kind says something about the art market’s relative immunity from the broader economic downturn. However, this makes it all the more critical for dealers to source the right kind of material to show.

London-based specialist dealer in Indian works of art and textiles, Francesca Galloway, seems particularly adept at this. At the forthcoming Frieze Masters fair from Oct. 17-20 she will be offering a selection of Indian miniatures of uncommon rarity and quality. The works originate from “a princely collection” of 22 Mughal miniatures assembled by a nobleman from the collections of four of the most important collectors of Indian painting. Galloway will unveil a selection at Frieze Masters and then show the collection in its entirety at Asian Art week in London in November. Typical of the kind of work on offer is a Mughal miniature, circa 1570-80, showing a keeper trying to restrain an elephant.

A Mughal miniature, circa 1570-80, showing a keeper trying to restrain an elephant, which will be on the stand of London specialist Indian works of art dealer Francesca Galloway at Frieze Masters, Oct. 17-20. Image courtesy of Francesca Galloway.

Also on the stand will be a 19th-century Mughal-style princely howdah or ceremonial seat from Northeast India, veneered with carved ivory and with silver mounts.

This 19th century Mughal-style princely howdah, or ceremonial seat, from Northeast India, veneered with carved ivory and with silver mounts will be shown on the stand of Francesca Galloway at Frieze Masters. Image courtesy of Francesca Galloway.

According to Galloway, “Whereas several years ago the  market for howdahs was predominantly  museum-based, more collectors of  Indian art than ever are keen to add howdahs to their collections of royal artifacts, and this piece is exceptionally rare.”

This coming week is Islamic week at the main London salerooms where even more fine Indian works of art will be up for sale. Auction Central News will be present to take the pulse of that burgeoning market. Meanwhile in the regions, Duke’s, the Dorchester auctioneers, will be offering a selection of vintage clothing and accessories on Oct. 15. The sale will include collectible handbags such as a navy blue Hermès Kelly bag with its original lock and key, estimated at £800-1,600 ($1,300-£2,500);

Duke’s, the Dorchester auction house, will be holding a sale of vintage clothing and accessories on Oct. 15 to include this Hermès Kelly bag with its original lock and key. It is estimated at £800-£1,600 ($1,300-$2,500). Image courtesy of Duke’s.

a tan-colored Hermès Constance bag forecast at £1,500-£3,000 ($2,400-$4,800),

A Hermès Constance bag, forecast to bring £1,500-£3,000 ($2,400-$4,800) at Duke’s in Dorchester on Oct. 15. Image courtesy of Duke’s.

and a Patricia Lester full-length pleated dress which, if the presale estimate is right, could be yours for £100-£200 ($160-$320).

This Patricia Lester full-length pleated dress is expected to fetch £100-£200 ($160-$320) at Duke’s in Dorchester on Oct. 15. Image courtesy of Duke’s.

Finally, our main focus on London fairs is not intended to ignore interesting things happening on the regional circuit. So a brief word about the Esher Hall Antiques and Fine Art Fair taking place at Sandown Racecourse from Oct. 11-13. Described by its organizers as “an elegant, boutique-style vetted fair” and “a haven for interior decorators and collectors” you’ll find everything from Swedish furniture to fragments of fallen meteorites. A meteorite shower is not the sort of thing that a traditional barometer is capable of forecasting, or at any rate not the handsome Regency example being offered at the Esher Hall fair by Ottery Antiques, which is priced at £8,250 ($13,300).

Ottery Antiques have priced this Regency clock barometer at £8,250 ($13,300) and will offer it at Esher Hall Antiques and Fine Art Fair at Sandown Racecourse from Oct. 11-13. Image courtesy of Ottery Antiques.

Meanwhile, you’d need to be concentrating before sitting down on the Italian buffalo horn chair circa 1920-30, for sale with Galerie Arabesque at £2,800 ($4,500).

A buffalo horn chair, Italian, circa 1920-30, for sale with Galerie Arabesque at £2,800 ($4,500) at Esher Hall Antiques and Fine Art Fair at Sandown Racecourse from Oct. 11-13. Image courtesy of Galerie Arabesque.

Not a chair to back into after a few drinks!

In our next installment toward the end of October we will be reporting on the prestigious Frieze Masters, so watch this space.

New app turns Van Gogh fans into art detectives

Van Gogh's 'Sunset at Montmajour.' Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) – Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum on Thursday launched a new app for tablets allowing users to turn “art detective” when looking at the Dutch master’s paintings.

The “Touch Van Gogh” app for Android and iPad tablets allows users to explore the secrets behind some of Van Gogh’s best works including The bedroom, View from Theo’s apartment and Daubigny’s garden.

“The app … uses multitouch features that make it easy and entertaining to explore the information concealed in and under the paint,” the museum said in a statement.

“People can discover the secrets of Van Gogh’s painting techniques and learn more about his working methods,” added museum director Axel Rueger.

For instance, with the swipe of a finger an old layer of varnish can be digitally removed from The bedroom to revealed a restored painting, or the top layer of View from Theo’s apartment can be rubbed away to reveal how Van Gogh reused his canvasses.

The app allows users to “discover how a painting looked before restoration, exactly why it was painted, where the paint has become discolored and how the composition is constructed,” the museum said.

“Like a detective, users can unravel the mysteries of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings at their own pace, gradually learning more about the life and work of this famous artist,” it added.

The Van Gogh Museum last month unveiled a long-lost painting by the Dutch master, thought for years to have been a forgery.

Sunset at Montmajour, a large oil landscape from 1888 was authenticated by experts as a genuine artwork after spending decades in a Norwegian attic.

The museum reopened its doors to the public in early May with a stunning new display of some of the Dutch master’s greatest works, completing a trio of renovations of the city’s most famous museums.

It is located on Amsterdam’s historic Museumplein where many other Dutch art treasures like Rembrandt’s Night Watch can also be found at the recently reopened Rijksmuseum.

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Video reveals final design of Sagrada Familia cathedral

View of the Nativity Façade of Sagrada Família, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Image by Mstyslav Chernov. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

MADRID (AFP) – It has been under construction for more than 130 years and there is another 13 to go, but the world has been given a glimpse of what Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia will look like when finally completed.

A 3D video has been released by the Sagrada Familia Foundation, the body responsible for overseeing the building project, which shows the ornate and gigantic cathedral in 2026, the date when the last brick will be laid.

That year will also be the centenary of the death of the building’s architect, Antoni Gaudi, who was killed aged 73 after being stuck by a tram in 1926.

Currently, some 65 percent of the famous architectural masterpiece has been built, including two facades, representing the birth and the Passion of Christ, as well as eight of the 12 towers dedicated to the apostles.

The video, which was released on Sept. 25, shows how the monument will gradually gain height, until the remaining towers and the main facade are finished.

When at last completed, the Sagrada Familia will dominate the Catalan capital’s skyline with the main tower of Jesus stretching 560 feet high.

The cathedral, where building work began in 1882, already attracts an estimated 3 million visitors each year, making it the most visited tourist attraction in Barcelona.

Gaudi was aware that he would not be able to complete his work and left models and plans for after his death, but many were destroyed in a fire during the Spanish civil war in the 1930s.

Because of this, as well as technical and financial difficulties, the project was delayed for decades.

The video can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcDmloG3tXU

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African American military museum reopens for festival

A tornado blew the roof off the former USO hall in 2013. Image by Woodlot. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

The African American Military History Museum located in Hattiesburg, Miss., was originally known as the East Sixth Street USO Building. It was constructed in 1942 as a USO Club for African-American soldiers stationed at Camp Shelby. Image by Woodlot. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) – The African American Military History Museum will open its lobby to the public Saturday for the first time since it suffered devastating damage during a tornado Feb. 10.

The Hattiesburg American reports the museum will be open from 7 a.m. to noon during Hattiesburg’s eighth annual Mobile Street Renaissance Festival.

The museum is housed in the historic USO Club—the only surviving USO built exclusively for African-American soldiers. In 2003, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Hattiesburg Convention Commission worked with various partners to restore the USO Club and opened it as a museum in 2009.

“We want folks to come and see the lobby without the artifacts and just see what a beautiful building it is,” said Rick Taylor, executive director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission

The museum’s theater and back area suffered the most damage when rainwater poured in after the tornado ripped off a portion of the museum’s roof. Volunteers and museum staff salvaged and preserved the artifacts and archives. Other exhibits were repaired by Southern Custom Exhibits of Anniston, Ala.

The roof and building have been repaired by B.W. Construction of Hattiesburg at a cost of $450,000, Taylor said.

Officials hope to have the museum completely open by early 2014 in time for Black History Month in February.

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Information from: The Hattiesburg American, http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com

AP-WF-10-02-13 1225GMT

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Restoring 1884 theater has become a major production

The Fischer Theatre on North Vermilion Street in downtown Danville, Ill. Image by Nttend, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

DANVILLE, Ill. (AP) – The grande dame sits quietly downtown, showing her age. A passerby might think she’s just another empty shell, waiting for the bulldozer.

Those who know the Fischer Theatre are quick to point out there’s a lot of life left in the lady, and she’s waiting patiently for her close-up.

“In reality, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes,” said Cher Pollock, president of the Vermilion Heritage Foundation board.

The 129-year-old building is still structurally sound and the acoustics in the auditorium are phenomenal, Pollock said. A whisper on the stage can be heard in the projection room a distance away.

“If a tornado goes down this street, I maintain the Fischer will be standing,” she added. “The structure is sound. It just needs some love.”

The Grand Opera House opened on Nov. 5, 1884, at Vermilion and Harrison streets. The name was changed in 1912 when Louis F. Fischer bought the theater; he enlarged and modernized it. The theater closed in 1982.

As part of behind-the-scenes activity, numerous consultants have come through and studies have been done.

The next step, perhaps six months away, is a campaign to raise funds to restore the historic theater to its past glory. Pollock said recent estimates put the price tag at $5 million, and the work could be completed within five years.

“We’re not just sitting here,” Pollock said. “We have an active, dedicated board who loves this building. Everyone on the board has faith we’re moving in a positive direction and will see work begin on the building.”

Board members meet once a month and always have a full agenda, she said.

Linda Federman, a volunteer in the gift shop, agreed that, to the average person, it looks like nothing is being done. “What has to be done is being done and the goal remains the same,” she said.

A renovated theater will be an economic stimulus to the city, she said, adding it will become a destination for people interested in historical sites.

Amy Chrisman, a board member and local artist, agreed the theater will draw people from all over. “This could turn the whole community around,” she said. “This kind of building is rare.”

When she was painting scenes of local landmarks, Chrisman fell in love with the Fischer.

“This one in particular touched me in a way that I wanted to be involved and help her come back to life again,” she said. “I see the Fischer Theatre as a diamond in the rough, the crown jewel of Danville.”

Lots of stories

While the gift shop, entertainment museum and café make a good first impression on visitors, the real work lies behind the doors to the auditorium.

In the lobby is a set of recent artist’s renderings, showing what the Fischer could look like after renovation, and the board has had architectural drawings done this year.

Pollock said board members have consulted with theater experts about lighting—how to maintain historic integrity while using modern lighting. An array of consultants has been working with the board.

“They love the building,” Pollock said. “They’re so excited about the building and being part of the renovations. They consider it a blank slate and that’s exciting to them.”

She added the consultants’ excitement renews the volunteers’ enthusiasm for the project.

A visitor might see the peeling paint, cracked plaster, missing wall sconces and debris from the years. But others who love the Fischer don’t notice the engineering holes in the ceiling, for example. They see the beautiful plaster carvings, ornate designs and the balconies.

People come in and tell stories about their first date at the Fischer or tossing popcorn from the balcony or buying jewelry next door, Pollock said, adding, “We love those stories. We have a binder we encourage people to write their memories in. That’s the legacy of the Fischer.”

The people of Danville are wonderful in their support of the theater, she said.

Not just a theater

The auditorium will be the centerpiece when finished, but the other floors will be renovated, as well. The museum could move to the top floor, for example.

The Grand Opera House was not only a theater—it housed offices and residences on the second, third and fourth floors. In 1915, Boston Academy of Music and Knecht Apartments were on the third and fourth floors.

In 1931, the third and fourth floors were the Portia Club Furnished Rooms for Women. The second and third floors were occupied by a blueprint company, May Belle Cook Beauty Shop, Fidelity Insurance and Publix Theatres.

Doctors, dentists, insurance companies and a military recruiting service occupied the upper floors until 1961. There were businesses in the first-floor storefronts, as well.

In the screening room, much of the equipment is intact, including a reel winder and storage for the big reels of film.

From the upstairs windows facing Harrison Street, people can look out onto a mural painted by the Walldogs a couple of years ago—artistic renderings of famous Danville natives, Dick and Jerry Van Dyke, Bobby Short, Gene Hackman, Donald O’Connor and torch singer Helen Morgan.

The theater already has made great strides toward a comeback with its gift shop, Stage Presents, and an entertainment museum in the lobby.

The gift shop, opened in 2009 and run by volunteers, is full of items celebrating the area’s men and women who have achieved national fame, as well many items produced by local artists. The shop once was the site of a jewelry store.

Through the gift shop’s side door, people enter the Fischer Arts & Entertainment Museum, which was opened last year.

Theater items sought

Also, the hallway past the lobby has been dedicated to the theater’s history. Pollock said she’d like to have more items from the other Danville theaters, such as the Palace (formerly the Lyric), Times and Terrace. The screen from the Times is located on stage, and the ticket booth from the Palace is being renovated.

“All of the historical pieces, even from other theaters, are meaningful to us,” she said.

When the theater was closed in 1982, Keresotes Theatres took seats, boiler and everything else they could use and sell. Items from the theater were sold, too, including the organ, which is in someone’s garage in Rockford. (However, a historic organ was found to replace that one.)

It would be nice to have the original vertical marquee of the Fischer, Pollock said, wondering if it’s in someone’s barn somewhere.

Does Pollock ever get discouraged at the amount of work ahead of the board?

While acknowledging that there’s a lot to be done yet, she points to the Holland building as an example. She watched that old structure turned into an award-winning apartment building, which was a big job, she said, and the Fischer can be a success story, too.

“I see all the wonderful architecture and the history … the frosted glass on the old wood doors … and then someone comes in and tells me a great story,” Pollock said.

That, and a love for the building, keeps her and the board positive about the future.

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Source: The (Danville) Commerical-News, http://bit.ly/18p4tNe

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Information from: Commercial-News, http://www.dancomnews.com>

AP-WF-10-02-13 1049GMT

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