March 9, 2015 - Auction Central News

Proposed Tornado Tower stirring up interest in Tulsa

A night view of the proposed Tulsa Tornado Tower. Image courtesy of Kinslow, Keith & Todd, Inc.

TULSA, Okla. – The concept of the Tulsa Tornado Tower, a funnel-shaped building, started as a way to get a revolving restaurant up high enough to have great views of downtown, the Arkansas River, and the Osage Hills.

“As we worked on ways to make it more interesting than just a stick with at round restaurant on top, the swirling of a tornado concept was born,” said architect Andrew A. Kinslow of Kindslow, Keith & Todd Inc.

“Once we had the concept, we needed to come up with a purpose for the building. We discussed open viewing platforms and garden areas. That led to a discussion of weather and the concept for the “Oklahoma Weather Museum & Research Center” was created,” said Kinslow.

The idea is still just a concept, but one that is attracting much attention.

Since the original article was published in Tulsa People Magazine there has been a tremendous amount of activity, including a meeting with Dr. Kerry Joes, who has been working on a concept for an Oklahoma Weather Museum since 2012. His vision is of a weather museum and science center with interactive exhibits that explore weather as a phenomenon, and introduces the visitor to the theory, data, forecasting and reality of life in Oklahoma’s Tornado Alley. Joes saw the building concept and thought it would be a great marriage of the two concepts.

The 250- to 300-foot-tall building will be clad in glass with perforated metal panels and LED lighting as an accent. The concept is to use the existing building as the base for a new building that will be constructed on top.

The building would contain exhibits that highlight weather events in Oklahoma, a branch of NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory, revolving restaurant, multiple open terrace viewing, remote broadcast location for storm alerts, and a visitor information center.

The Tulsa Tornado Tower is designed to withstand high winds as it is built around a central core. Image courtesy of Kinslow, Keith & Todd, Inc.

Cross section view of the Tulsa Tornado Tower showing the roof terrace and revolving restaurant on the top floor. Image courtesy of Kinslow, Keith & Todd, Inc.

Nova Ars presents online only design auction March 19

Andrea Branzi, Karma, beechwood wall, limited edition in two models, Superego, 2012. Estimate: 12,000-15,000 euros. Nova Ars image

ASTI, Italy – An outstanding collection of 20th and 21st century Italian design will be sold at Nova Ars Auction on March 19. The auction will consist of more than 100 lots that include ceramics, furniture, lamps, chandeliers and glass works.

LiveAuctioneers.com will provide absentee and Internet live bidding. The auction will be conducted online only.

Many of the objects were designed and made in Italy. Designers range from Gio Ponti to Angelo Mangiarotti and Enzo Mari to Luigi Caccia Dominioni, as well as talents from different countries.

Highlights include a mid-century Danish sofa and two chairs designed by Adrian Pearsall, a Gae Aulenti Artemide floor lamp by Pileo, a Stilnovo table lamp, two Portoro marble bowls by Sergio Asti, and an Andrea Branzi, Karma beechwood wall depicting a classic nude.

For information contact Valeria Vallese: +39 328 9667353 or valeria@novaars.net or e.art.auctions@gmail.com

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Mid-century Danish sofa design by Adrian Pearsall, walnut structure with recently upholstered seat Estimate: 8,000,00-9,000 euros. Nova Ars image

Gae Aulenti, ABS floor lamp Pileo with adjustable reflector. Artemide, 1972. Estimate: 2,000-2,500 euros. Nova Ars image

Stilnovo, table lamp, marble base, varnished metal reflector and brass structure, circa 1950. Estimate: 3,000-3,500 euros. Nova Ars image

Two Portoro marble bowls. Sergio Asti, circa 1970. Estimates: 400-500 euros. Nova Ars image

Kovels Antiques & Collecting: Week of March. 9, 2015

It cost $23,940 to buy this googly-eyed doll at a Maryland auction. It is 13 inches high, dressed in a period costume, and signed with the names of Oscar Hitt and George Borgfeldt and the date 1927

BEACHWOOD, Ohio – Dolls seldom look like real babies or children. Today there are dolls with oversized heads, exaggerated bodies, or monster or cartoon shapes. There were many earlier dolls that had unusual features or expressions. Googly-eyed dolls were popular in the 1920s. One type was made under the 1927 copyright of Oscar Hitt, an American illustrator and cartoonist. Some of his characters were turned into dolls by George Borgfeldt in Germany. The bisque head has a flanged neck. The face has side-glancing eyes with thick dark eyeliner and curly eyelashes, a tiny nose and either painted hair or a wig. These dolls are rare and one sold in January 2015 at a Theriault’s auction in Annapolis, Maryland, for $23,940.

Q: I recently bought a dining-room set that includes an octagonal table, six chairs, and a buffet. The buffet has two drawers over four louvered doors. The owner said the set is oak and belonged to her mother 50 years ago. Inside the buffet drawers it indicates it was made by A. Brandt of Fort Worth, Texas. Can you tell me something about the maker and age of this set?

A: August Brandt founded A. Brandt Co. in 1900. The family sold the company in 1986. It went out of business and the remaining inventory was auctioned off in 1988. The company’s popular Ranch Oak line of furniture carved with western designs was introduced in 1938. It was sold nationwide and also was made for lodges in the national parks.

Q: I’ve been collecting lady head vases for about 25 years. I would like to know what they are worth.

A: lady head vases, usually showing a pretty woman from the shoulders up, were used by florists primarily in the 1950s and 1960s. They are often decorated with imitation jewelry and other accessories. They became a “must-have” for a few years – collectors books were written, clubs formed and prices went up. Then the collectors lost interest and prices fell to the present low level. Most head vases were made in Japan and the United States. Lady head vases of a famous person or with imitation jewelry or other added accessories sell for the highest prices. Common lady head vases sell for $25 or less, while a Jackie Kennedy lady head vase has sold for over $100.

Q: I recently restored a 150-year-old Italianate-style home. It has a pair of brass and metal gas-powered chandeliers made by Christian Cornelius of Philadelphia. Each has six glass globes. They are original to the house. All my antiques friends have given their opinions as to the value, but I’d like to get your expert advice.

A: Christian Cornelius was a Dutch silversmith who immigrated to the United States in 1783. He began making lamps in 1825 and started Cornelius & Co. with his son in 1827. It became the largest manufacturer of lighting in the U.S. Christian died in 1851. Family members ran the company under various names until 1900. Lighting fixtures made by Cornelius & Co. and its successors were used in many state capitol buildings in the U.S. and in countries around the world. One can sell for several thousand dollars today. A six-light Cornelius & Co. chandelier could sell for as much as $7,000 to $10,000, but the price depends on condition and the design details.

Q: In 1952, I bought an antique map at Marshall Field in Chicago. It shows the Western and Eastern hemispheres, with Australia identified as New Holland and the center of Africa as “parts unknown.” At the bottom, in small print, it reads: “London, published by J. Cary, engraver and map seller, 181 Strand, 1819.” The map is 22 by 36 inches. Value?

A: Many of our readers may not realize that large department stores like Marshall Field had specialized departments where antique maps were sold to collectors. Your 1819 map was engraved by John Cary (1754-1835), a well-regarded London engraver and mapmaker. An 1819 Cary world map the same size as yours auctioned a few years ago for more than $500. The value of yours would also depend on its condition.

Q: When my father moved into his house in 1957, he discovered the previous owner, a physician, left an old examining table. I think the table was old even then. It’s made of wood. One side of the tabletop can be lifted up to serve as a backrest, and there are stirrups that can be extended from the other end. A shelf is below the top, close to the floor. It is labeled, “W.D. Allison Co., Indianapolis, Ind.” Is the table of any value?

A: W.D. Allison Co. started out as G.H. Clark & Co. in 1882. Its name became W.D. Allison in 1893. The company became a large manufacturer of medical and dental chairs, tables, cabinets, bookcases, instrument tables and wheelchairs. Allison grew to have branches in New York, Chicago, St. Louis and San Francisco. Your table, if in good condition, could sell for a few hundred dollars.

Tip: Veneered furniture should not be placed near steam radiators, open windows, or groups of potted plants. The veneer eventually will “bubble” from the moisture.

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.

Sign up for our free weekly email, “Kovels Komments.” Terry Kovel writes about the latest news, tips and questions and her views of the market. If you register on our website, there is no charge.

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.

Carnival glass bowl, Blackberry Wreath, green satin, 16 panels, crimped rim, Millersburg, 2 3/8 x 8 3/4 inches, $60.
Pembroke table, Federal style, mahogany, bow front drawer, tapered legs, Kittinger, 20th century, 38 inches, $240.
Dr Pepper fan pull, Drink a Bite to Eat, pumpkin head man, two-sided, cardboard, 1930s, 7 inches, $300.
Sterling silver bowl, pierced, reticulated, monogram, Graff, Washbourne & Dunn, circa 1945, 2 1/2 x 11 inches, $345.
Gumball vending machine, coin-operated, dome glass, Vendex Co., circa 1927, 12 1/2 inches, $390
Pin, micro mosaic, Pantheon, Rome, onyx tablet, gold frame, C-hook bar pin, 2 x 1 1/2 inches, $405.
Redware charger, slip design, cream, green zigzag border, Bristol, Connecticut, circa 1850, 13 inches, $600.
Picture, watercolor on board, Edge of Night, signed, Viktor Schreckengost, frame, 39 x 49 inches, $1,380.
Pedal toy car, open, red body, spoke wheels, wood frame, Brighton Mfg., 1907, 45 inches, $1,440. Tole tray, mermaid, courting sailor, ships, whales, sea, cutout handles, paint, M. Cahoon, circa 1980, 15 x 20 inches, $2,640.

Keep up with changes in the collectibles world. Send for a free sample issue of the 12-page, color-illustrated newsletter, “Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles,” filled with prices, news, information and photos, plus major articles and opinions about the world of collecting. An important tool for anyone who buys or sells antiques and collectibles. To subscribe at a bargain $27 for 12 issues, write Kovels, P.O. Box 8534, Big Sandy, TX 75755; call 800-829-9158; or subscribe online at KovelsOnlineStore.com .

Mystery deepens over ancient tomb in Greece

The restored Lion of Amphipolis, the fourth century B.C. tomb sculpture in Amphipolis, northern Greece. Image by Kkonstan. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) – A geologist who took part in the excavation of the ancient burial mound in Amphipolis in northern Greece says the ancient tomb found together with a series of vaulted rooms wasn’t built at the same time, but somewhat later than the rooms themselves.

Geologist Evangelos Kambouroglou also said Saturday that the mound inside which the rooms and the tomb were found is not man-made, as archaeologists had assumed, but a natural hill.

He also said that the Lion of Amphipolis, a huge sculpture of a lion on a pedestal , which is more than 25 feet tall, was too heavy to have stood at the top of the tomb, as archaeologists had claimed.

“The walls (of the tomb structure) can barely withstand half a ton, not 1,500 tons that the Lion sculpture is estimated to weigh,” Kambouroglou said.

As for the box-like tomb that contained the remnants of five bodies, possibly more, “it is posterior to the main burial monument … the main tomb has been destroyed by looters, who left nothing,” said Kambouroglou. “The marble doors (of the monument) contain signs of heavy use, which means many visitors came and went.”

The vaulted rooms had been dated to between 325 B.C. – two years before the death of ancient Greek warrior-king Alexander the Great – and 300 B.C., although some archaeologists had claimed a later date.

Katerina Peristeri, the chief archaeologist in the recent excavation, had advanced the theory that a member of Alexander’s family, or one of his generals, could be buried in the tomb. But the discovery of the boxy grave and the five bodies cast doubt on that theory and Kambouroglou’s announcement appears to disprove it entirely. Some archaeologists present during Saturday’s announcement criticized Peristeri’s absence and her methods.

Alexander, who built an empire stretching from modern Greece to India, died in Babylon and was buried in the city of Alexandria, which he founded. The precise location of his tomb is one of the biggest mysteries of archaeology.

His generals fought over the empire for years, during wars in which Alexander’s mother, widow, son and half-brother were all murdered – most near Amphipolis.

___

Follow Costas Kantouris on twitter: (at) CostasKantouris

AP-WF-03-07-15 2229GMT

Destruction of historic sites by ISIS continues in Iraq

A lamassu at the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II at the Nimrud site, which was reportedly bulldozed Thursday. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

BAGHDAD (AP) – Iraq’s government is investigating reports that the ancient archaeological site of Khorsabad in northern Iraq is the latest to be attacked by the Islamic State militant group.

Adel Shirshab, the country’s tourism and antiquities minister, told The Associated Press there are concerns the militants will remove artifacts and damage the site, located 9 miles northeast of Mosul. Saeed Mamuzini, a Kurdish official from Mosul, told the AP that the militants had already begun demolishing the Khorsabad site on Sunday, citing multiple witnesses.

On Friday, the group razed 3,000-year old Nimrod and on Saturday, they bulldozed 2,000-year old Hatra – both UNESCO world heritage sites. The move was described by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon as a “war crime.”

Khorsabad was constructed as a new capital of Assyria by King Sargon II shortly after he came to power in 721 B.C. and abandoned after his death in 705 B.C. It features a 24-meter thick wall with a stone foundation and seven gates.

Since it was a single-era capital, few objects linked to Sargon II himself were found. However, the site is renowned for shedding light on Assyrian art and architecture.

The sculptured stone slabs that once lined the palace walls are now displayed in museums in Baghdad, Paris, London and Chicago.

The Islamic State group currently controls about a third of Iraq and Syria. The Sunni extremist group has been campaigning to purge ancient relics they say promote idolatry that violates their fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic law. A video released last week shows them smashing artifacts in the Mosul museum and in January, the group burned hundreds of books from the Mosul library and Mosul University, including many rare manuscripts.

At a press conference earlier Sunday, Shirshab said they have called for an extraordinary session of the U.N. Security Council to address the crisis in Iraq.

“The world should bear the responsibility and put an end to the atrocities of the militants, otherwise I think the terrorist groups will continue with their violent acts,” he said.

Associated Press writer Vivian Salama contributed in Baghdad to this report.

AP-WF-03-08-15 1423GMT

Artemis Gallery to auction Smithen collection of ancient bronzes Mar. 19

Museum-quality Khmer bronze Buddha grouping, ex Doris Wiener, $4,000-$6,000. Artemis Gallery image

BOULDER, Colo. – A superb collection of early Roman, Near Eastern, Thai and Cambodian bronzes from the collection of the late Dr. Charles Smithen leads a 300-lot lineup of fine antiquities and Asian art in Artemis Gallery’s March 19 online and absentee auction. Bidders may leave absentee bids or participate live online as the sale is taking place through www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

A distinguished New York City cardiologist, Dr. Charles Smithen was also co-founder of Sherwood House Vineyards in Mattituck, New York. “Dr. Smithen had a passion for life and was a man of great intellect. He was as careful in making art acquisitions as he was in practicing medicine. His buying choices showed that he had an analytical eye, the sign of a connoisseur,” said Bob Dodge, executive director of Artemis Gallery. “Many of his pieces were acquired from premier dealers such as Royal Athena Gallery, Doris Wiener, Ancient Art International, and Antiquarium Gallery, to name but a few. It is an honor to handle this very fine collection on behalf of the doctor’s estate.”

Other featured collections in the auction include Ancient Roman glass acquired during the first quarter of the 20th century, and African and South Pacific art from the renowned Pickard collection. Additionally, Artemis will present a large collection of early Pre-Columbian stone carvings from the Poolos collection. All of the Poolos pieces were acquired between 1950 and 1970, and many are unusual because they are of sizes rarely seen in either private collections or museums.

“It is important for all potential bidders to know that they may buy with absolute confidence when dealing with Artemis Gallery,” said Dodge. “Everything we sell is carefully authenticated and guaranteed to be absolutely authentic and legal to purchase. In the case of African tribal art, we also guarantee that the objects were originally used in ceremonies or ritual events, as opposed to being contemporary pieces crafted specifically for the tourist trade.”

The top-estimated item in the sale, Lot 10A, is a Cycladic Islands (Greece) Early Bronze Age I, circa 3000-2900 BCE, kandila of cream-colored marble. The vessel comes with provenance from New York private collector Ted Ashley, who acquired it in 1983 from Marcel Gebralt, New York City. A copy of the original purchase receipt will convey with the item, which is estimated at $15,000-$25,000. A Greek pottery treasure, Lot 21 is a highly decorative Campanian red-figure kylix, entered with a $5,000-$7,000 estimate.

Lot 86A, a rare 3rd to 6th century CE Japanese Kofun period Haniwa figure was previously held in a prominent Hawaiian collection. A thermoluminescence (TL) report that accompanies the piece confirms its age. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000.

With provenance from Doris Wiener, Lot 80 is a museum-quality Khmer bronze Buddha grouping dating to the late 1100s/early 1200s. “During the Angkor period of the Khmer Empire, sculptors had mastered the art of bronze casting,” Dodge noted. “This grouping is an ensemble of three divinities, with the central figure, Buddha, protected by a ‘naga,’ or multi-headed serpent.” The piece is similar to an example shown in the 2011 catalog for an exhibition organized by the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian Institution, J. Paul Getty Museum, and National Museum of Cambodia. With provenance from the Dr. Charles Smithen collection, it is estimated at $4,000-$6,000.

A large and magnificent Bamana Empire (West Africa) male Chi Wara crest mask was created to represent a hybrid fantasy animal that combines physiological features of the antelope, aardvark and pangolin. Similar to an example that sold at Christie’s in 2012 for $47,500, Lot 188 is conservatively estimated at $7,000-$10,000.

Other auction highlights include: Lot 50, a rare Roman bronze pyxis with enamel inlays, $5,000-$7,000; Lot 160, an important Papua New Guinea Kominimung mask, $3,000-$6,000; and Lot 121, a 10-inch-tall Pre-Columbian Mezcala anthropomorphic stone axe god, ex Adeon Gallery, Chicago, $3,000-$6,000.

Bidders may participate in Artemis Gallery’s March 19, 2015 auction live online, by phone (please reserve phone line in advance) or by leaving an absentee bid that will be lodged confidentially and competitively on their behalf. The sale will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern Time and will be conducted through LiveAuctioneers.com.

For additional information about any item in the auction, call Teresa Dodge at 720-502-5289 or email teresa@artemisgallery.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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Greek Cycladic marble kandila, est. $15,000- $25,000. Artemis Gallery image

Greek Campanian red-figure kylix decorated on top and base, est. $5,000-$7,000. Artemis Gallery image

Rare Roman bronze pyxis with enamel inlays, est. $5,000-$7,000. Artemis Gallery image

Amlash bronze chariot grouping, est. $1,500-$2,500. Artemis Gallery image

TL-tested Japanese Haniwa figure, est. $10,000-$15,000. Artemis Gallery image

Rare Thai silver seated Buddha, est. $2,000-$3,000. Artemis Gallery image

Large Mezcala anthropomorphic stone figure, est. $3,000-$6,000. Artemis Gallery image

Important Papua New Guinea Kominimung mask, est. $3,000-$6,000. Artemis Gallery image

African Bamana male Chi Wara crest mask, est. $7,000-$10,000. Artemis Gallery image

Vatican confirms 1997 theft of Michelangelo documents

St. Peter's Basilica, which was largely designed by Michelangelo. Image by Wolfgang Stuck, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

VATICAN CITY (AFP) – A thief who stole two historic and hugely valuable documents written by Michelangelo offered to return them to the Vatican’s archives for cash, a spokesman for the Holy See revealed on Monday.

Confirming the 1997 theft of the papers for the first time, the spokesman said the offer had been made recently to a top Church official, Cardinal Angelo Comastri.

“Naturally, as we are talking about stolen documents, the cardinal refused,” the spokesman said.

The Vatican did not divulge any further details about the approach or explain why the theft had not been made public when the documents disappeared in 1997.

The missing items were a letter signed by Michelangelo and a document he is thought to have written.

They formed part of a large archive linked to the construction of St. Peter’s basilica, which was completed in 1626 after nearly a century of stop-start works.

Michelangelo, who was an architect and engineer as well as a sculptor and painter, was brought in to oversee construction in 1547.

Although he died in 1564, he is considered one of the principal architects of a building that has become synonomous with the Roman Catholic Church.

Pérez Art Museum Miami receives $5M gift from Knight Foundation

The Perez Art Museum, Miami. Image by Iwan Baan, courtesy of Perez Art Museum.

MIAMI – Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) received a grant for $5 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to endow newly commissioned projects by international artists, and related community programming, as part of its Project Gallery series. This new gift brings PAMM’s capital campaign to a total of $206 million raised toward its $220 million campaign goal. This will bring the museum’s total endowment to more than $20 million.

Miami-Dade County’s flagship art museum, PAMM features four Project Galleries, unique spaces dedicated to showcasing a new project by a single artist. These artists visit Miami over the course of a year to interact with the community and learn about the city, and their work frequently responds to the museum’s architecture and site, as well as the broader Miami community and South Florida environment.

“Work presented in the Project Galleries advances PAMM’s mission to support the work of living artists and promote cultural engagement with communities in Miami and South Florida,” said Tobias Ostrander, PAMM chief curator and deputy director for curatorial affairs. “With this grant, we will be able to offer rich programming that will give the community an opportunity to share in the artists’ process.”

Knight’s gift is part of a new $25 million investment in the Miami arts, that also includes extending the Knight Arts Challenge, a community-wide contest funding the best ideas for the local arts, for three years.

“In short time, PAMM has exceeded attendance projections and has become an important community gathering place for Miamians,” said Dennis Scholl, vice president of arts for Knight Foundation. “We hope new funding will help bring residents closer to the artists who show in the Project Galleries and their work.”

Current Project Gallery presentations include works by: Nicole Cherubini (b. 1970, Boston), Mario Garcia Torres (b.1975, Monclova, Mexico), Gary Simmons (b. 1964, New York), and Diego Bianchi (b. 1969, Buenos Aires, Argentina). Upcoming projects include a project by Shana Lutker (b. 1978, Northport, New York), the third work in her series born from her research on Surrealist fistfights which will open on Thursday, May 7, 2015, with a performative lecture based on the work; and a project by Miami-based conceptual artist Nicolas Lobo (b. 1979, Los Angeles) encompassing a group of mixed-media sculptures, which the artist cast inside a swimming pool, opening Thursday, April 16, 2015 with an artist talk.

For more information about these and other upcoming program, visit pamm.org/calendar .

About Pérez Art Museum Miami:

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) promotes artistic expression and the exchange of ideas, advancing public knowledge and appreciation of art, architecture and design, and reflecting the diverse community of its pivotal geographic location at the crossroads of the Americas. A 29-year-old South Florida institution formerly known as Miami Art Museum (MAM), Pérez Art Museum Miami opened a new building, designed by world-renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron, in Downtown Miami’s Museum Park on December 4, 2013. The facility and is a state-of-the-art model for sustainable museum design and progressive programming and features 200,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor program space with flexible galleries; shaded outdoor verandas; a waterfront restaurant and bar; a museum shop; and an education center with a library, media lab and classroom spaces. For more information, please visit www.pamm.org , find us on Facebook (facebook.com/perezartmuseummiami), or follow us on Twitter (@pamm).

David Rockefeller donates $2.5M to RISD Museum

A promised gift of artwork from David Rockefeller's estate includes an eighth-century Tang Dynasty figure of a standing court lady, which was displayed in Rockefeller's office at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Credit: David Rockefeller Collection

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The RISD Museum has received a $2.5 million gift from David Rockefeller to fund and expand the museum’s collection of decorative arts and design.

Rockefeller’s pledge includes the endowment of a curatorial position to lead the department and funds to underwrite a named gallery within the museum’s suite of European art galleries. Rockefeller has also made a promised gift of decorative artwork from his estate, including European furniture, porcelain and silver.

Rockefeller notes, “Both sides of my family – Aldriches as well as Rockefellers – have had a long and happy relationship with the RISD Museum. My mother even took a few courses there (at the Rhode Island School of Design) in the late 19th century, before she married my father. When my late wife, Peggy, and I discussed the idea of creating a room to reflect our collecting interests, we thought immediately of RISD. I am very pleased this gift will provide the Museum with a new gallery, but, more importantly, it will complement the innovative educational program the museum has recently established. My family and I are very excited about the gift and its potential impact.”

John W. Smith, director of the RISD Museum, says, “With this generous gift, David Rockefeller continues his family’s nearly century-long relationship with the RISD Museum, once again making important and lasting contributions to the museum and Rhode Island.”

The RISD Museum’s decorative arts and design collection has wide appeal for visitors and is among the most heavily used by faculty and students at RISD, Brown, and other nearby colleges..

The establishment of the David and Peggy Rockefeller Curator of Decorative Arts and Design enables the continued growth of the museum’s exhibition program and interpretative approach, preservation and conservation efforts, and stewardship and collection in this field. Elizabeth A. Williams, who joined the RISD Museum in January 2013 as curator of decorative arts and design, is the first curator to hold this new title, beginning January 2015. This is the museum’s third endowed curatorial position, established just months after a 2014 endowment supporting the Houghton P. Metcalf Jr. Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs, a position that chief curator Jan Howard now holds.

The David and Peggy Rockefeller Gallery, to be located on the museum’s floor devoted to European art, will enhance this suite of galleries in important ways – allowing visitors to more fully appreciate the development of European art and craftsmanship from medieval times to the late 19th century. Rockefeller’s support makes possible the renovation of an existing 400-square-foot corner gallery in the RISD Museum’s Radeke building, in preparation of future installation of his promised gifts. Furthermore, it allows the museum to highlight David and Peggy Rockefeller’s connoisseurship and passion for collecting, building upon the rich and compelling narrative of the Rockefeller family’s critical role in developing the museum’s collection.

Rockefeller’s promised gift of about 43 works includes rare furniture and decorative arts from England, silver objects used for dining and entertaining, and figurative and functional European porcelain.

Williams said that the promised gifts from the David and Peggy Rockefeller Collection will significantly enhance the museum’s collection of European porcelain – much of which Rockefeller’s aunt, Lucy Truman Aldrich, donated to the museum in the early 20th century.

“Of particular note is a pair of mid-18th-century soft-paste porcelain River Gods made by the French Vincennes manufactory,” Williams says.” These are extremely rare – possibly one of only two extant pairs – and hold special meaning, as they were obtained by Mr. and Mrs. Rockefeller from the collection of David’s aunt, who displayed them in her Providence residence.”

Objects such as the intricately decorated “Rockefeller Service,” collected over many years by Rockefeller’s parents, John D. Rockefeller Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, will significantly expand the museum’s existing holdings of Chinese exportware porcelain. The Qing Dynasty Rockefeller Service, which numbers more than 120 pieces, is considered one of the finest examples of famille rose Chinese exportware services.

The promised gift also includes a pair of elaborately carved gilded mirrors in the Rococo style, measuring a monumental height of more than 7 1/2 feet; a pair of George I burr walnut armchairs, each with a tapestry seat and cabriole legs; a pair of brilliantly hued Korean wedding chests with detailed paintings of various animals, representing Daoist, Confucian and folk symbolism; and a Tang dynasty figure of a standing court lady, featuring a rare deep blue glaze. This eighth-century ceramic figure was a prized possession of Rockefeller’s mother.

Elizabeth A. Williams, newly named David and Peggy Rockefeller Curator of Decorative Art and Design, RISD Museum. Photograph courtesy of Elizabeth A. Williams

Marilyn Monroe photograph auction includes rare shots from last sitting

Bert Stern (American, 1929-2013), 'Marilyn Monroe, Sequined Gloves,' 1962. Archival pigment print. 28-3/4 x 28-3/4 inches (73.0 x 73.0 cm). Signed in ink lower margin recto. Provenance: Society Stylist LLC, Dallas. Estimate: $6,000 - $8,000. Image provided by Heritage

DALLAS – Intimate photographs of Marilyn Monroe from Bert Stern’s storied “Last Sitting” photo shoot may sell for a combined $36,000+ in a special auction March 10-15 at Heritage Auctions. The contemplative collection — from early, wide-eyed shots of Norma Jeane in 1945 to raw, sensual photos taken just two weeks before her death — will be offered exclusively on Heritage’s HA.com.

“This collection is well curated by a collector and highlights her entire career from her early modeling to iconic images from Bert Stern’s The Last Sitting,” said Rachel Peart, Director for Photographs at Heritage. “Marilyn is such an icon and the images continue to be as stunning today as they were 60 years ago.”

The auction’s selection of roughly 45 lots touches on Monroe’s final photo shoots, including a portfolio of color and black and white photos from sessions on the beach in Santa Monica and the Hollywood Hills. The photo shoot would be her last, taking place just two weeks before the starlet’s death. Numerous works by photographer Bert Stern from his series titled The Last Sitting, 1962, and ranges from the playful Marilyn Monroe, Here’s to You, 1962 (est. $2,500) to the risqué Marilyn Monroe – Rhythm (from The Last Sitting for Vogue), 1962 (est. $3,000).

Marilyn Monroe, Sequined Gloves, 1962, shot by Stern, highlights the star’s vivacious curves and trademark blonde locks (est. $6,000+).

Additional images from her first modeling shoots, when she was known simply as Norma Jeane, include a series of photos taken by Andre De Dienes from 1945 to 1949, including Marilyn Monroe (Tobey Beach White Swim Suit), 1945 (est. $1,200), and the touching, Marilyn Monroe, 1946, both estimated to sell for $1,200+.

Milton Greene’s Marilyn Monroe, 1953 (est. $3,000+) is an artful view of the actress at the very pinnacle of her career, while images by George Barris, such as Orange Bikini, The Last Shoot, 1962, (est. $1,200+) Marilyn Monroe, Stretched Towel, 1962 (est. $1,200) and Marilyn Monroe, Wondering, 1962 (est. $1,200+), perfectly juxtapose Monroe’s early innocence and her later sex symbol persona.

For additional information, visit www.HA.com .

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