June 9, 2014 - Auction Central News

Toy collectors grabbed ‘many brass rings’ at Bertoia’s $1.95M sale

M & K tinplate clockwork motorcycle with sidecar and woman passenger, sold for $10,620. Bertoia Auctions image

VINELAND, N.J. – There were smiles on many bidders’ faces as they departed Bertoia Auctions’ Spring Toy Break Auction on May 9th and 10th. “It was a terrific sale, and there was a great camaraderie throughout,” said Bertoia Auctions associate Rich Bertoia. “As they headed out the door with their purchases, everybody was chattering about the toys and the prices they had sold for. They were saying, ‘You have to have another sale like that.’”

It would be easier said than done to re-create a lineup rivaling Frank Loveland’s trains and trolleys; horse-drawn and bell toys from the late Harvey Funderwhite’s collection, and the numerous high-end European, automotive and early American toys from other consignors that bolstered the $1.95 million sale (all prices quoted include 18% buyer’s premium). LiveAuctioneers provided the Internet live-bidding services.

“Some of the prices were eye-opening – approaching what some would call investment level,” Bertoia said. “The gross for the sale surpassed the total high estimate by 25 percent, which is remarkable.”

The train category roared, with a circa 1904-1908 Carlisle & Finch No. 45 locomotive with tender and passenger cars set claiming top-lot status at $46,020. A boxed freight set by the same revered American manufacturer achieved $23,600. Fans of European trains joined the fray, competing with conviction over Marklin advertising boxcars, like the Heinz 57 Varieties Tomato Ketchup car, $17,700; and a beautiful 1 gauge Budweiser Beer car, $23,600. A Central Train Station was bid to $23,600; and the magical Marklin name even pushed the bidding on a small group of trackside accessories to $8,850. A Smith & White 2-inch-gauge Electric Trolley from the Loveland collection required a hefty “fare” of $7,080.

“I was not surprised about the trains’ strong performance because we had had so many phone calls prior to the sale,” said Bertoia. “The 2-inch trains were the earliest ones made in America, and in that realm, demand definitely exceeds supply. There were many ‘brass rings’ in the Loveland collection, and there were people bidding on those trains who weren’t even train collectors; they were people who like to own rare things.”

The Harvey Funderwhite horse-drawn cast-iron toy collection was the source of many superior examples entered in the sale, including a very rare Kyser & Rex Circus Wagon with articulated animals, $6,490; and a Wilkens Fire Chief Wagon, $5,605. A Gong Bell “Tramp” bell toy rolled off to a new owner for $2,142.

A very scarce early American horse-drawn tin toy attributed to Althof Bergman had a revolving action and two figures that “walked” around an American Flag. It more than doubled its high estimate to sell for $8,850.

The perennial appeal of motorcycle toys was evidenced by the M & K (Germany) tinplate ’cycle with well-dressed lady passenger in its sidecar, which sped across the auction block to a $10,620 finish. Far more diminutive, but no less charming, a 3½-inch penny toy motorcycle with a rider in a long, hooded coat commanded $2,242 against an estimate of $300-$400.

The largest parade set manufactured by Heyde, dating to around 1890-1900, was presented in its original box with three trays. In exceptional condition and missing only two pieces, the United States Army Set No. 1003 included 66 mounted horses, 29 parade figures, 42 soldiers, two caissons and cannons drawn by four horse teams. It rose to the occasion and exceeded its high estimate with a winning bid of $10,620.

Notable among the paper litho on wood toys, a German flat-bottom Noah’s Ark with River Belle ferry boat, “Horace” locomotive and several carved animals combined to achieve $4,130 – more than five times the lot’s high estimate.

American automotive toys were led by a Buddy ‘L’ pressed-steel Trencher on treads, $6,490; an Arcade cast-iron Yellow Cab panel van, $7,080; and a Seven Brothers delivery truck, $2,655. A boxed Louis Marx G-Man Pursuit Car in bright primary colors put the pedal to the metal and didn’t skid to a halt till it had reached $2,006.

A fine selection of cast-iron mechanical banks included three popular J. & E. Stevens productions: a Speaking Dog (red dress version), $4,130; a Darktown Battery, $5,310; and a Bad Accident, $7,080. A Wheel of Fortune still bank, cast iron with a japanned finish, was a fresh find that enticed bidders to a $2,655 finish.

Other auction highlights included a dated 1865 presentation fire trumpet given to the Perseverance Hose Co. No. 5, $3,245 against an estimate of $500-$700; a Bradley & Hubbard Three Kittens on Books cast-iron figural doorstop, $1,888; and a 1920 Rice’s Seeds advertising poster measuring 20 by 30 inches, $3,245.

While Bertoia’s had been keeping it a secret, somehow the word got out about the premier Max Berry collection of mechanical banks, penny toys, horse-drawn and bell toys that the company will be auctioning in November.

“We had recently started to receive phone calls from people asking if the rumors were true and congratulating us on winning the right to sell the greatest toy collection to come to the marketplace since the Donald Kaufman collection,” said Jeanne Bertoia, owner of Bertoia Auctions. “We realized it was no longer a secret and decided just to acknowledge it with pride. It’s a magnificent collection and one that collectors are sure to be talking about all summer long.”

Watch for updates on all 2014 Bertoia auction events at www.bertoiaauctions.com. To contact Bertoia Auctions, call 856-692-1881 or email toys@bertoiaauctions.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog from Bertoia’s May 9-10 Spring Toy Break Auction, complete with prices realized, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Arcade cast-iron Yellow Cab panel van, sold for $7,080. Bertoia Auctions image

J. & E. Stevens ‘Bad Accident’ cast-iron mechanical bank, sold for $7,080. Bertoia Auctions image

Painted tinplate with cast-iron revolving horse clockwork toy with American Flag, sold for $8,850. Bertoia Auctions image

Kyser & Rex cast-iron horse-drawn circus cage with animal figures, sold for $6,490. Bertoia Auctions image

Bradley & Hubbard ‘Three Little Kittens’ figural cast-iron doorstop, sold for $1,888. Bertoia Auctions image

Carlisle & Finch No. 45 locomotive, tender and passenger cars, sold for $46,020. Bertoia Auctions image

Marklin Central Station in yellow, orange and green motif, sold for $23,600. Bertoia Auctions image

Railroad boxcar advertising Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, sold for $23,600 . Bertoia Auctions image

Advertisement for Jerome B. Rice Seed Co., Cambridge, New York; sold for $3,245. Bertoia Auctions image

US automakers pledge $26M for embattled Detroit art

Detail of a Diego Rivera fresco at the Detroit Institute of Art. Image by Carptrash (talk). This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The Detroit Institute of Arts said Monday that the three largest US automakers have pledged $26 million to save bankrupt Detroit’s world-class collection of art for the public.

General Motors and Ford Motor pledged $10 million each while Chrysler, smaller than the other two, pledged $6 million to help the DIA avoid having to sell off paintings by Degas, Cezanne and others to pay the city’s debts.

The money from the Detroit Big Three will go toward the $100 million the institute committed to raise in an agreement with mediators of the city’s “grand bargain” bankruptcy restructuring.

“This exemplary leadership, along with that of other donors yet to participate in this critically important initiative, will provide the additional momentum and excitement necessary for the DIA to satisfy its $100 million grand bargain pledge,” said Eugene Gargaro, DIA board chairman, in a statement.

The museum’s collection has been eyed as a treasure chest to be plundered to help get Detroit back on its feet after it filed for bankruptcy protection in July 2013, buried under $18 billion in debt, in the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.

Some creditors proposed that the art should be sold off to help repay them.

But residents of the city, its economy deeply damaged by decades of population loss and urban blight, opposed selling any of the art works.

The contribution of the automakers puts the museum a step closer to saving a collection of more than 60,000 works – including paintings by Degas, Cezanne, Matisse and Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry frescos.

As part of the agreement with creditors, Detroit would transfer ownership of the collection to the private nonprofit corporation currently operating it, Detroit Institute of Arts Inc.

“Preserving the integrity of Detroit and one of its most beloved and historic pillars is of the utmost importance to GM and the GM Foundation,” said Mark Reuss, vice president of GM.

“We are longtime supporters of the DIA and pledge our help to keep it an integral part of our community.”

GM and Chrysler themselves underwent bankruptcy reorganizations in 2009 helped by large federal government aid. Ford declined to take a government bailout.

The automakers since then have seen sales rebound in recent years as the economy recovers from the severe 2008-2009 recession.

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

Old Toy Soldier to auction James Henderson collection June 27-29

Selections from more than 30 Greenwood and Ball figures with estimates ranging from $100 to $1,000. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image

PITTSBURGH – Old Toy Soldier’s (OTSA) November 2013 auction grossed a record-setting $590,000 for the Pennsylvania-based company, but owner Ray Haradin thinks that record may soon be shattered. Over the weekend of June 27-29, OTSA will present the James A. Henderson collection as the featured highlight of its approximately 1,500-lot auction – an assemblage of soldiers that Haradin describes as “the most exciting collection [he has] handled to date.” LiveAuctioneers will provide the Internet live bidding services for the sale.

One of America’s top executives, Henderson retired from Cummins Engine Co. Inc. after a distinguished 35-year career that took him to the pinnacle of success. He held senior leadership positions at Cummins beginning in 1977, when he was appointed president and chief operating officer. Eventually he rose to the ranks of chairman and CEO. In his free time, Henderson avidly collected Britains – the best of the best.

“James Henderson has always appreciated provenance, and his collection is filled with rarities formerly in the collections of His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester, Britains’ Archive, Malcolm Forbes and Ed Ruby,” said Haradin. “He started collecting in the early 1980s and was very active through the turn of the 21st century, with an emphasis on buying from ‘name’ collections.”

The Henderson collection will be the exclusive focus of the Saturday, June 28 session. Two of the top entries are a Britains set No. 6, the Royal Scots Greys (est. $12,000-$15,000); and set No. 7, the Royal Fusiliers ($7,000-$9,000). Both sets are complete, carry provenance from the Ed Ruby collection, and are featured on the cover of James Opie’s The Great Book of Britains.

“These two sets are, arguably, the most desirable sets Britains ever made. They were a Germanic style of larger-scale, hollow-cast figures that Britains only produced between 1893 and 1897. Very few figures have survived from the production runs of these two sets, so to find either set in a complete state is almost unheard of,” said Haradin.

The figures from sets No. 6 and 7 have plugged-in arms that are attached by an interior rod. Because the arms were separately cast, Britains could adapt them to hold a rifle or trumpet. After a brief five-year run, this particular type of arm was replaced by a moveable arm, Haradin said.

Another special treat in the Henderson collection is the selection of extremely rare and desirable Britains Paris Office sets. Produced for only a short time starting in 1905, figures from Britains’ French subsidiary are identifiable primarily by their paint style, but many are marked “Depose,” Haradin said. “After the Paris branch closed, the molds were sent to Britains’ headquarters in England, so the only sure way to identify the Paris productions is by the paintwork, which is quite distinctive.”

Also in the Henderson collection are a number of special-order pieces that were painted per the customer’s request at Britains’ factory. Among the rare, commissioned items to be auctioned is a Scots Guard Pipe Band set, which was formerly the property of The Duke of Gloucester and is estimated at $9,000-$12,000 in the upcoming sale.

Previously part of the Ed Ruby collection, several Britains displays were made especially for the Clyde Model Dockyard, a famous and historical toy and model shop in Glasgow, Scotland, that opened in 1789 and operated through the early 1970s. The displays have a tin base to which mounted figures were affixed. The displays could be rolled through the store via tracks attached beneath their platforms, thus rendering the impression of soldiers marching. There are eight such displays, with estimates ranging from $1,500 to $7,000.

A one-of-a-kind vehicle in the Henderson collection is Britains’ Terrain Terrier. Haradin said the toy is listed in Britains’ records but that he has never seen one before. Basically a Bren gun mounted on wheels, the boxed example in OTSA’s sale is expected to make $3,000-$5,000.

In addition to many “offbeat” productions, the Henderson collection includes a vast array of other rare sets, including a boxed Royal Marine Infantry Band – one of the two most coveted Britains bands – est. $12,000-$15,000. Another gem, ex Malcolm Forbes collection, is a Pestana river gunboat accompanied by three small skiffs, est. $2,500-$3,500. The Saturday session is rounded out with many beautiful soldiers by Lucotte, Heyde, Stadden and Mignot, from unusual vintage pieces to those of newer manufacture.

The Friday and Sunday sessions will be brimming with soldiers for collectors at all different buying levels. Day 1 includes a fine, 550-lot assortment of post-1970 productions. Sets range from $50 to $500 and include productions from such makers as Trophy, Somerset, Mignot, King & Country, Hocker, All the Queen’s Men, Imperial and Ducal. Also in the mix are American Dimestore soldiers.

Day 3 will present collectors with a panoramic battlefield of toy soldiers dating from 1895 to about 1960. In addition to Britains, there will be a number of Mignots, Greenwood & Ball figures, and some very nice heraldic knights, both by Courtenay and the later and also highly sought-after brand Peter Greenhill/Courtenay. Around 40 Courtenay knights in the sale are from a premier collection that OTSA will be apportioning into its auctions over a period of time.

Haradin also noted that Peter Greenhill, a highly respected painter who owns the old Courtenay molds, has entered into an arrangement with OTSA to produce and paint figures that will be available only through Old Toy Soldier’s auctions, starting with the June 27-29 sale.

Old Toy Soldier’s June 27-29 auction will commence at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, June 27, and 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, June 28 and 29. Absentee bids, including those placed online via www.LiveAuctioneers.com, must be made no later than 24 hours prior to the sale in order to be accepted.

To obtain condition reports or additional information on bidding, call Ray Haradin at 412-343-8733 (tollfree: 800-349-8009) or e-mail raytoys@aol.com. Online: www.oldtoysoldierauctions.com.

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

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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

James A. Henderson, retired chairman and CEO of Cummins Engine Co. Inc., at home with prized pieces from his collection displayed in a showcase. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image

Britains Germanic-style Royal Scots Greys, estimate $12,000-$15,000; and Royal Fusiliers, $7,000-$9,000, as pictured on the cover of James Opie's ‘Great Book of Britains.’ Old Toy Soldier Auctions image — Britains Germanic-style Royal Scots Greys, estimate $12,000-$15,000; and Royal Fusiliers, $7,000-$9,000, as pictured on the cover of James Opie’s ‘Great Book of Britains.’ Old Toy Soldier Auctions image

Greenhill/Courtenay knights custom made for Old Toy Soldier Auctions and ranging in price from $200-$2,000. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image

Five of eight Clyde Model Dockyard displays that will be sold as separate lots with estimates ranging from $1,500 to $7,000 each. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image

The elusive Britains Royal Marine Light Infantry Band, boxed (not shown), estimate $12,000-$15,000. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image

Hocker Band Stand, one of many newer production sets to be sold in the June 27th session. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image

Britains Paris Office Dragoons, estimate $5,000-$7,000. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image

Britains ‘special paint’ band commissioned for H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester, estimate $9,000-$12,000. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image

Unique boxed Britains Set 1204 Terrain Terrier, estimate $3,000-$5,000. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image

Thomas Del Mar to sell museum-quality arms, armor June 25

Composite North Italian etched corslet, late 16th century from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, acc. no. 14.25.681. Estimate: £12,000-18,000. Thomas Del Mar Ltd. image.

LONDON – Items from such iconic U.S. institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago are among the highlights of Thomas Del Mar Ltd.’s auction of Antique Arms, Armor and Militaria to be held Wednesday, June 25.

LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

A composite North Italian etched corslet dating from the late 16th century, which was once owned by Prince Peter Soltykoff until 1860 and is now being sold by order of the trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is expected to fetch £12,000-18,000. The corslet is composed of a a breastplate and a back piece, and is finely decorated with bands and borders of relief-etching on a stippled and blackened ground involving at the top of the breastplate the figure of St. John the Baptist holding a banner with the abbreviated inscription AD for Agnus Dei.

More than 20 lots from the George F. Harding Collection are being sold by the Art Institute of Chicago to benefit the Harding Collection. Included is a mounted armor for the Jousts Real in the Spanish style of circa 1500-10, consisting mainly of 19th century pieces with some early 16th century elements of great weight, which is expected to fetch £15,000-20,000. The horse-bit is probably of 17th century date and is known to have belonged to His Imperial Highness Archduke Eugen Veste Hohenwerfen of Salzburg, until 1927. A fine pair of 16-Bore Liegois flintlock holster pistols by Jean Jaques Behr, circa 1720-30, which belonged to Ernst August I, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar (1688-1748), and subsequently Wilhelm Ernst, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1876-1923), carry an estimate of £8,000-10,000.

Also from the United States is a group of English and European  small-swords from the Lattimer Family Collections of New  Jersey. The Lattimer Family Collections have been described as a virtual military museum, his late 19th century Federal style home being filled with numerous historic pieces including edged weapons, Revolutionary and Civil War rifles, swords and huge turret mounted machine guns from World War I. Decorated small swords, notably those with historic provenance, were an area of particular interest to Lattimer, and a distinguished group from his collection is now on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

The auction will also include Part Two of the Morton and Angela Stern Collection. The Sterns, who lived in New York, shared a passion for antiques and in particular arms and armor. Together they traveled extensively, visiting museums, fairs, auctions and gun shows making many acquisitions together. The objects offered in Thomas Del Mar’s Auction reflect their combined broad tastes, including some fine examples of European edged weapons, armor and a number of distinguished examples of the gunsmith’s skill as both engineer and decorator. Mort had a particular interest in military firearms and Angela in Scottish firearms.

Among the notable pieces is a fine German sword-rapier with blackened iron hilt dating from the late 16th century which is estimated at £6,000-8,000, while a North Italian close helmet for heavy field use, probably Milanese, dating from circa 1580 carries a similar estimate, and a fine pair of 38-bore Scottish flintlock belt pistols by I. Christie of Perth, and dating from circa 1780, is expected to fetch £5,000-7,000.

Also with a distinguished provenance is a fine and rare cased pair of 28-bore French silver-mounted flintlock pistols of presentation quality by Boutet, Directeur Artiste, Manufacture a Versailles, circa 1802, which are expected to fetch £40,000-70,000. These are being offered by the descendant family of Don José de la Serna, Conde de Los Andres, Viceroy of Peru (1770-1832). They are signed within a lozenge shaped framework of gilt pellets, decorated in gold with bands filled with contrasting matted and plain triangular panels at the muzzle.

Two important German pieces that were the property of a European prince are a close helmet, circa 1600, estimated at £12,000-18,000, and a fine and rare hand-and-a-half sword, circa 1490-1530, estimated at £7,000-10,000.

Elsewhere in the auction is a rare East Tibetan decorated leather lamellar armor dating from the 15th/17th century, which is in very fine condition. Formed of two pairs of plates covering the chest and the back of the torso, open at the front and fitted with two slender plates at each side, it is decorated in gold with large flower heads and foliage and is expected to fetch £5,000-7,000.

One of the larger and more unusual pieces in the sale is a rare example of the skull and antlers of an Irish elk (megalocerus giganteus), measuring just over three meters and dating from the Pleistocene period (2.6 million year to 117,000 years before the present). It carries an estimate of £20,000-30,000.

Among the firearms is a fine pair of 20-bore Liegois flintlock long holster pistols, dating from 1700, probably by Philippe Desellier – the octagonal breeches chiseled with a classical warrior above a crowned heart impaled by a sword carry an estimate of £10,000-15,000. The Desellier brothers, Philippe and Gilles, are recorded in Liege circa 1676-1740 and 1680-1710 respectively. A fine and rare 25-bore South German (Thuringia) wheel-lock pistol, Suhl, circa 1580-90 – chiseled over its surface with a vertical arrangement of allegorical figures within an architectural framework surrounded by scrolling foliage inhabited by exotic birds is estimated at £8,000-12,000.

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

Mounted armor for the ‘Jousts Real’ in the Spanish style of circa1500-10. Mainly 19th century with some early 16th century elements. Property sold by the Art Institute of Chicago. Estimate: £15,000-20,000. Thomas Del Mar Ltd. image.

Rare and notably large example of the skull and antlers of an Irish elk (megalocerus giganteus), late Pleistocene period. Estimate: £20,000-30,000. Thomas Del Mar Ltd. image.

Fine German sword-rapier with blackened iron hilt, late 16th century, probably Saxon. Estimate: £6,000-8,000. Thomas Del Mar Ltd. image.

Fine and rare cased pair of 28 bore French silver-mounted flintlock pistols of presentation quality by Boutet, Directeur Artiste, Manufacture a Versailles, circa 1802. Estimate: £40,000-70,000. Thomas Del Mar Ltd. image.

Fine pair of 20 bore Liegois flintlock long holster pistols, circa 1700, probably by Philippe Desellier. Estimate: £10,000-15,000. Thomas Del Mar Ltd. image.

Fine and rare 25 bore south German wheel-lock pistol, Suhl, circa 1580-90. Estimate: £8,000-12,000. Thomas Del Mar Ltd. image.

Il mercato dell’arte in Italia: arte moderna e contemporanea da Wannenes

Lotto 44, Giorgio De Chirico, ‘Le Bagnanti,’ 1946, Olio su tela, cm 40X50. Stima €40.000-50.000. Courtesy Wannenes.

GENOVA, Italia – Il 18 giugno la casa d’aste genovese Wannenes mette all’asta 110 opere di arte moderna e contemporanea con stime che vanno da 1.000 € a 60.000-80.000 € per una tempera su tavola di Alberto Savinio intitolata “L’isola preziosa”, del 1949 (lotto 90). “Sono opere che si rivolgono anche ad un collezionismo di fascia media, ma è un catalogo non molto grande perché puntiamo alla qualità,” spiega l’esperto Guido Vitali. “Le opere provengono al 99% da collezioni private e vanno dal Novecento storicizzato italiano a rappresentanti dell’arte internazionale come Richard Hamilton, Ramon Casas e Jesús-Rafael Soto”.

Il nucleo centrale dell’asta è composto da una selezione di opere appartenute all’attore Giuliano Gemma che è scomparso tragicamente l’anno scorso in un incidente stradale.

“Oltre ad essere stato un grande attore – prosegue Vitali – vorrei ricordare che Giuliano Gemma è stato un collezionista d’arte che ha conosciuto personalmente artisti italiani importanti come Mario Schifano, Giorgio De Chirico e Corrado Cagli, ma è stato anche egli stesso un artista”. All’asta verranno offerte due sculture in bronzo raffiguranti ballerine di cabaret di 2,10 metri di altezza che sono state interamente realizzate da Gemma – quindi dalla creazione della struttura in gesso, al procedimento della fusione a cera persa, alla realizzazione delle statue in bronzo – e si trovavano nella villa di Cerveteri dell’attore (lotti 32 e 33, stima €5.000-7.000 ciascuno).

“È un lato poco esplorato di Gemma che è noto prevalentemente come attore”, spiega Vitali. “In alcune interviste rilasciate poco prima che morisse, Gemma aveva parlato della gioia di vedere il blocco di materia, gesso o marmo, che poco a poco prendeva vita e si trasformava sotto le sue mani. Era qualcosa che lo affascinava”.

Tra le opere provenienti dalla sua collezione, invece, c’è un bel dipinto olio su tela di Giorgio De Chirico del 1946 intitolato “Le Bagnanti”, pubblicato anche sul catalogo generale, appartenente alla produzione romantica barocca (lotto 44, stima 40.000-50.000 €).

Tra le altre opere in catalogo, l’esperto Guido Vitali segnala un olio su tavola degli anni 30 del Novecento di Giacomo Balla intitolato “Dalie bianche nel vaso” del periodo successivo alla produzione futurista tanta ricercata oggi, ma di un periodo nel quale Balla rilegge la sua prima produzione figurativa e realista. È un’opera mai passata in asta prima, proveniente da una collezione romana molto importante (lotto 89).

Tra i nomi internazionali, invece, c’è Ramon Casas (1866-1932), un artista catalano famoso per i ritratti e le caricature della società spagnola. È rappresentato con un olio su tela di dimensioni importanti (56×46 cm), nel quale è ritratto il re Alfonso XIII (lotto 82, stima €8.000-12.000). Opere simili a queste sono esposte nei principali musei spagnoli, uno tra tutti il Museo Nazionale d’Arte della Catalogna (MNAC) di Barcellona, dove esiste un dipinto che ritrae lo stesso Alfonso XIII ed è molto simile a quello all’asta da Wannenes. Proviene da una collezione privata di Firenze.

Ci sono anche opere interessanti di Optical Art come quelle di Jesús-Rafael Soto, un artista molto richiesto, scomparso nel 2005, che nel 2013 ha avuto un’importante mostra al Pompidou in occasione dell’ingresso nella collezione del museo di diverse sue opere. Da Wannenes vanno all’asta due sue opere su plexiglas. Non sono pezzi unici ma a tiratura limitata (edizioni di 100) del 1967 che oggi sono difficili da reperire sul mercato italiano. Sono state proposte a Wannenes da un collezionista spagnolo (lotti 12 e 13, stima €5.000-7.000 ciascuno).

Il giorno dopo, 19 giugno, Wannenes terrà un’asta di design con 400 lotti con stime che vanno da 200 € a 12.000-14.000 € per un cassettone di Giò Ponti degli anni 50. Il primo decennio del dopoguerra è al centro dell’asta di Wannenes: un momento d’oro per il design italiano che si risollevava dai disastri della guerra unendo creatività, imprenditorialità e artigianalità. Tra gli highlight ci sono anche uno scrittoio da camera di Ico Parisi, modello presentato dall’azienda Altamira alla mostra di New York nel 1954, stimato 5.000-6.000 €, e una libreria LB7 di Franco Albini del 1957 stimata 3.500-4.000 €.

ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE

Lotto 89, Giacomo Balla, ‘Dalie bianche nel vaso,’ anni ’30, Olio su tavola, cm 65X56. Stima €22.000-26.000. Courtesy Wannenes.

Lotto 12, Jesus-Rafael Soto, ‘Spirales,’ 1967, (dalla serie Sotomagie), plexiglass dipinto e aste di metallo, cm 34X34X18, Es. 18/100. Stima €5.000-7.000. Courtesy Wannenes.

Lotto w82, Ramon Casas, Ritratto di Re Alfonso XIII, inizi secolo XX, Olio su tela, cm 56X46. Stima €8.000-12.000. Courtesy Wannenes.

Art Market Italy: modern, contemporary art at Wannenes

Lot 44, Giorgio De Chirico, 'Bagnanti,' 1946, oil on canvas, 40 x 50 cm. Estimate: €40,000-50,000. Courtesy Wannenes. — Lot 44, Giorgio De Chirico, ‘Bagnanti,’ 1946, oil on canvas, 40 x 50 cm. Estimate: €40,000-50,000. Courtesy Wannenes.

GENOA, Italy – On June 18, Genoa-based auction house Wannenes will put on the block 110 works of modern and contemporary art with estimates ranging from €1,000 to €60,000-80,000 for a tempera on board by Alberto Savinio titled L’isola preziosa, from 1949 (lot 90). “The selection is addressed to mid-range collectors, but is not a very large catalog because we focus on quality,” said specialist Guido Vitali. “The 99 percent of the works come from private collections and range from Italian historical works from the 20th century to international representatives such as Richard Hamilton, Ramon Casas and Jesús-Rafael Soto.”

The core of the auction is composed by a selection of works owned by actor Giuliano Gemma, who tragically died last year in a car accident.

“In addition to being a great actor,” Vitali said, “I should mention that Giuliano Gemma was an art collector who personally knew important Italian artists such as Mario Schifano, Giorgio De Chirico and Corrado Cagli. And he was an artist, as well.” At the auction there will be also two bronze sculptures depicting cabaret dancers of 2.10 meters high, that have been entirely made by Gemma – from the creation of the gypsum structure, to the process of lost-wax casting, to the creation of the bronze statues. They were preserved in the actor’s villa in Cerveteri (lots 32 and 33, estimate €5,000-7,000 each).

“It is a little-explored side of Gemma, who is primarily known as an actor,” Vitali says. “In some interviews released short before he died, Gemma spoke of the joy of seeing the block of material, plaster or marble, which gradually came to life and was transformed under his hands. It was something that fascinated him.”

Among the works from his collection there is a beautiful oil on canvas painting by Giorgio de Chirico from 1946 titled Le Bagnanti, which is published in the artist’s general catalog and belongs to the artist’s romantic baroque production (lot 44, estimate €40,000-50,000).

Among the other works in the catalog, specialist Guido Vitali signalizes an oil painting from the 1930s by Giacomo Balla called Dalie bianche nel vaso, painted in the period after the futuristic production which much sought after today. It is a period in which Balla re-reads its first figurative and realist production. The work has never been auctioned before and it comes from an important collection in Rome (lot 89).

Among the international names there is Ramon Casas (1866-1932), a Catalan artist famous for his portraits and caricatures of Spanish society. He is represented with an oil on canvas of important dimensions (56 x 46 cm), which portrays King Alfonso XIII (lot 82, estimate €8,000-12,000). Similar works as these are exhibited in major museums in Spain, including the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) in Barcelona, where there is a painting depicting the same Alfonso XIII, which is similar to the one at auction at Wannenes. It comes from a private collection from Florence.

There are also some interesting works of Optical Art such those by Jesús-Rafael Soto, a highly demanded artist, who died in 2005 and had a major exhibition at the Pompidou in 2013 on the occasion of the entry into the museum’s collection of many of his works. Two of his works on plexiglas will go up for auction at Wannenes. They are not unique but limited edition (edition of 100) from 1967. They are quite difficult to find on the Italian market; they have been consiged to Wannenes by a Spanish collector (lots 12 and 13, estimate €5,000-7,000 each).

The next day, on June 19 , Wannenes will hold an auction of design with 400 lots and estimates ranging from €200 to €12,000-14,000 for a chest of drawers by Giò Ponti from the 1950s. Design from the first decade after the war is at the center of Wannenes auction. It is a golden moment for Italian design that rose again from the disasters of war combining creativity, entrepreneurship and craftsmanship. Among the highlights is a writing table by Ico Parisi, the model presented by company Altamira in the exhibition in New York in 1954 (estimate €5,000-6,000), and a library LB7 by Franco Albini from 1957 with an estimate of €3,500-4,000.

ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE

Lot 89, Giacomo Balla, 'Dalie bianche nel vaso,' 1930s, oil on board, 65 x 56 cm. Estimate: €22,000-26,000. Courtesy Wannenes. — Lot 89, Giacomo Balla, ‘Dalie bianche nel vaso,’ 1930s, oil on board, 65 x 56 cm. Estimate: €22,000-26,000. Courtesy Wannenes.

Lot 12, Jesus-Rafael Soto, 'Spirales,' 1967, (dalla serie Sotomagie), painted plexiglass and metal, 34 x 34 x 18, cm, ed. 18/100. Estimate: €5,000-7,000. Courtesy Wannenes. — Lot 12, Jesus-Rafael Soto, ‘Spirales,’ 1967, (dalla serie Sotomagie), painted plexiglass and metal, 34 x 34 x 18, cm, ed. 18/100. Estimate: €5,000-7,000. Courtesy Wannenes.

Lot 82, Ramon Casas, 'Ritratto di Re Alfonso XIII,' beginning of 20th century, oil on canvas, 56 x 46 cm. Estimate: €8,000-12,000. Courtesy Wannenes. — Lot 82, Ramon Casas, ‘Ritratto di Re Alfonso XIII,’ beginning of 20th century, oil on canvas, 56 x 46 cm. Estimate: €8,000-12,000. Courtesy Wannenes.

Kovels Antiques & Collecting: Week of June 9, 2014

This jigsaw puzzle pictures young Susan Hayward, an Academy Award-winning actress. She was born in 1917 and stopped making movies in about 1972. The puzzle was one of seven novelties that sold as a group for $250 at a Swann Galleries auction in New York in April 2014.

BEACHWOOD, Ohio – Collectors sometimes find an unusual “go-with” for their collection. Collectors buy a standard one-sheet movie poster, 27 by 41 inches, or a three-sheet, 40 by 81 inches, or a half-sheet, 22 by 28 inches, or lobby cards that usually are 11 by 14 inches. Sometimes a full set of lobby cards – seven scene cards and one title card – is found. There also are cardboard window cards, autographs, promotional items, jewelry, T-shirts, toys and games, all related to a movie.

A lucky find for movie buffs this year was a jigsaw puzzle made with a photograph of Susan Hayward (1917-1975), a movie star and leading lady from 1937 to 1972. While there are many movie-star paper dolls, there are very few jigsaw puzzles.

Q: My grandmother was married in 1899 and received a curvy birch bedroom dresser and chest as a gift. Both pieces are mounted with a beveled mirror in a carved wooden frame. My mother wasn’t fond of the furniture, but she kept it and now we’re using it because we can tell its quality is a lot better than anything else we own. The label on the back of each piece says “Robert Mitchell Furniture Co., Cincinnati, Ohio.” Please tell us about the manufacturer and the furniture’s value.

A: Robert Mitchell was an Irish immigrant who partnered with Frederick Rammelsberg to open a furniture-making business in Cincinnati in the 1830s or ’40s. Mitchell & Rammelsberg incorporated in 1867. In 1881, after Rammelsberg had died, the corporate name was changed to Robert Mitchell Furniture Co. It remained in business until about 1940. Any Victorian-era furniture made by Mitchell & Rammelsberg or Robert Mitchell Furniture Co. is high-quality and prized by collectors.

Q: My 85-year-old mother-in-law gave my wife and me a six-sided large glass Planters Peanuts jar she has had for years. She told us her aunt worked in a bar a long time ago and the jar was on the counter for patrons to reach in and grab peanuts. There are fired-on yellow Mr. Peanut images around the outside of the jar, which has its original glass lid with a peanut finial. Are these old jars collectible?

A: Planters Peanuts have been around since 1906, and Mr. Peanut became the company’s logo in 1916. Jars like yours have been made in many shapes and styles since then, but yours probably is the six-sided jar made in 1936. If your jar is in excellent condition, it could be worth $50 to $100. Advertising collectors love Mr. Peanut.

Q: I’m looking for information about my black amethyst vase. Can you help?

A: Black amethyst glass looks black until it’s held to the light. Then it looks dark but not black. It has been made in many factories since 1860, so unless the piece has a maker’s mark, it’s impossible to tell who made it. Look for similar shapes online or in books about 19th- and 20th-century glass.

Q: I was given several Lladro figurines and would like to find out what they’re worth and the best way to sell them, if I choose to.

A: Juan, Jose and Vicente Lladro started making Lladro porcelain in Almacera, Spain, in 1951. The company moved to Tabernes Blanques in 1958 and is still working. Figurines are made in both limited and unlimited editions, and a figurine may come in different colors and with different finishes. Most have a glossy glaze, some have a matte finish and some were made with Gres finish, a brightly-colored satiny finish introduced in 1970. Lladro figurines can be hard to sell. Price depends on condition, glaze and rarity. You can check online to see what they are currently selling for, but most unlimited edition figurines sell for $50 to $150.

Q: I have two volumes of The History of the Civil War in America, by John S.CIRCA Abbott. The first volume was published in 1863 and the second in 1865. The books have leather bindings and include engravings of battle scenes, maps and pictures of important men.

A: John Stevens Cabot Abbott (1805-1877) was a writer and Congregational minister who wrote inspirational books before he left the ministry in 1844. He wrote books about historical events and biographies after his retirement. Abbot was one of several northern authors who wrote histories of the Civil War while it was still being fought. The books helped shape public opinion about the war. Much of his information came from newspaper accounts of battles. Abbot’s history of the Civil War was published in German as well as English because there were many German immigrants in the North. The History of the Civil War in America was sold by agents or by subscription, and a list of subscribers was printed in the books. Two volumes sold at auction last year for $75.

Tip: Pewter looks best when displayed against a blue background. Silver is most attractive against a red background.

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Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer questions sent to 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 photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. The amount 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.

Boehm Porcelain bridal rose, white, baby’s breath, entwined hearts, “Our Love Forever,” circa 1981, 4 x 6 inches, $60.
Mail Pouch advertising thermometer, porcelain, red, blue, yellow, 1900s, 39 x 8 inches, $125.
Odd Fellows pottery jug, hexagonal, symbols, text, Staffordshire, circa 1850, 7 1/2 x 2 inches, $430.
Barbie doll, No. 3, brunette ponytail, striped swimsuit, Mattel, circa 1960, $435.
Bronze candlestick, Egyptian seated figures, filigree lotus-flower rim, France, circa 1850, 7 inches, pair, $720.
Snuff bottle, agate, amber, carved peanuts design, coral stopper, oval, 1800s, 2 inches, $920.
Delft tobacco jar, blue flowers, scrolling cartouche, brass dome lid, oval, St. Omer label, 1700s, 15 1/2 inches, $960.
Map of North America, hand-colored, engraved, John Senex, London, 1710, 29 x 26 3/4 inches, $1,200.
Queen Anne corner chair, walnut, shaped slats, curved legs, Pennsylvania, circa 1765, $1,900.
Tall case clock, mahogany, convex glass, engraved brass dial, alarm wheel, brass weight driven, Massachusetts, circa 1810, 38 inches, $3,900.

“Kovels’ A Diary: How to Settle a Collector’s Estate.” Our new week-by-week record of the settlement of an estate, from your first days gathering legal papers to the last days when you’re dividing antiques among heirs and selling everything else – a even the house. How to identify pottery, jewelry and other popular collectibles. Tips on where and how to sell furniture, jewelry, dishes, figurines, record albums, bikes and even clothes. We include lots of pictures and prices and explain the advantages of a house sale, auction, selling to a dealer or donating to a charity. Learn about how to handle the special problems of security and theft. Plus a free current supplement with useful websites, auctions lists and other current information. Available only from Kovels for $19.95 plus $4.95 postage and handling. Order by phone at 800-303-1996; online at Kovels.com; or write to Kovels, P.O. Box 22900, Beachwood, OH 44122.

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

Bob Adelman civil rights photography exhibit extended

Bob Adelman, 'March on Washington, Sammy Davis Jr. 1963.' Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com archive and Bassenge.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – Fort Lauderdale exhibit of civil rights-era photography is being extended to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.

The exhibit of Bob Adelman’s photographs opened at Nova Southeastern University’s Museum of Art-Fort Lauderdale in January. The photographs of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and historic marches to Montgomery, Ala., will remain on view through July 13.

Adelman volunteered as a photographer to the Congress of Racial Equality and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. He went on to shoot the covers of national magazines and the front pages of national newspapers.

In January, Adelman told The Associated Press that events now considered momentous originally were buried in newspapers’ back pages.

President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law on July 2, 1964.

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New Dr. Seuss art gallery to feature ‘midnight paintings’

Dr. Seuss (Theodore Seuss Geisel) autographed photo. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com archive and Max Rambod Inc.

CHICAGO (AP) – A gallery dedicated to the artwork of children’s author Dr. Seuss is opening in downtown Chicago.

Dr. Seuss – his real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel – wrote and illustrated such classics as The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham.

Bill Dreyer is curator of exhibit named “The Art of Dr. Seuss.” He tells WBBM-Radio that the exhibit will also include “midnight paintings” that “really stretch well beyond preconceived notions” of the author’s art. Seuss did the paintings and sculptures at night and rarely if ever displayed them.

The opening will be this weekend at Water Tower Place. A permanent space will be set up along Michigan Avenue.

A portion of proceeds June 14 to June 29 will be donated to charity.

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Online: http://www.drseussgallery.com/

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Information from: WBBM-AM, http://www.wbbm780.com

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Kohler Foundation to fund restoration of Pasaquan folk art site

Pasaquan as seen from Eddie Martin Road outside Buena Vista, Ga. Image by Rivers Langley; SaveRivers. Creative Commons, Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.

BUENA VISTA, Ga. (AP) – The effort to preserve Pasaquan, the internationally renowned visionary art site in Marion County, has received a huge boost that will result in a gift to Columbus State University.

The Kohler Foundation Inc., based in Wisconsin and dedicated to preserving art environments, has announced plans to restore the seven acres and six buildings to the colorful glory created six decades ago by the late Eddie Owens Martin, known as St. EOM.

After the two-year project is finished, Pasaquan will be gifted to the CSU Foundation for the university to use under the direction of associate art professor Mike McFalls. CSU plans to use the site for events, programming, educational activities and tours.

CSU president Tim Mescon said in a news release that this project is “an effort that will have an indelible and positive impact on the region.”

Kohler Foundation president Natalie Black said in the release, “Preservation of this site will ensure that future generations of artists and the public will be able to experience the varied facets of the property.”

CSU student assistants will get hands-on experience while working on the preservation with conservators from Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and the local area. The project will include conservation of objects and painting as well as structural work.

The Kohler Foundation’s higher education preservation partnerships have included:

– Nicholls State University to preserve the Kenny Hill Sculpture Garden in Chauvin, Louisiana.

– Edgewood College to preserve the Painted Forest in Valton, Wisconsin.

The Pasaquan Preservation Society, a not-for-profit private organization, owns the Pasaquan site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located about six miles from the Buena Vista town square. The society has been caring for Pasaquan since Martin died in 1986.

As described on its website, Pasaquan contains brightly painted masonry walls, totems, walkways, temples and a pagoda. Tom Patterson, the author who has chronicled St. EOM’s work, called Pasaquan “one of the most remarkable folk art environments in America – a sort of mock pre-Columbian psychedelic wonderland.”

Pasaquan had been open for public tours, but it closed this spring as the society started its preservation and restoration effort. The plan is to reopen the site after the project is completed.

The Kohler Foundation will fund the entire project, said foundation spokeswoman Terri Yoho, but she declined to disclose the estimated amount.

“We do not share financial details,| she told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email, but this is a significant commitment for us and one that we are excited to be involved with.”

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Information from: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, http://ledger-enquirer.com

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