Collectors spend $1.57M on rare toys, trains and banks at Bertoia’s

Louis Marx ‘Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd Coupe,’ tin, original box, $5,900. Bertoia Auctions image
Louis Marx ‘Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd Coupe,’ tin, original box, $5,900. Bertoia Auctions image

VINELAND, N.J. – There was something special to view with every turn of the page in Bertoia’s May 8-9 “In May We Play” auction catalog. The especially diverse 1,521-lot sale crossed the entire panorama of antique toys and banks, a factor that kept the level of interest – and bidding – lively from start to finish. Internet participation was nonstop through LiveAuctioneers, helping to push the total to $1.57 million, inclusive of buyer’s premium.

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Clars to sell fine Chinese ceramics collection June 27-28

Hanson collection standouts include a Longquan celadon glazed shallow bowl, Song dynasty (est. $10,000-$20,000), and a Longquan celadon glazed dish incised with two lotus sprigs (est. $25,000-$45,000). Clars Auction Gallery image.
Hanson collection standouts include a Longquan celadon glazed shallow bowl, Song dynasty (est. $10,000-$20,000), and a Longquan celadon glazed dish incised with two lotus sprigs (est. $25,000-$45,000). Clars Auction Gallery image.

OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars Auction Gallery will offer an exceptional collection of Chinese ceramics from the estate of Dr. Graeme Hanson of San Francisco during the Sunday session of a two-day auction, June 27 and 28. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide absentee and Internet live bidding.

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John Moran stakes a claim with successful American West auction

With an interesting use of orange and red, this Mid-century Navajo Teec Nos Pos tapestry brought out the bidders, earning $9,600 at Moran’s May 30 American West Auction (est. $3,500 to $4,500). John Moran Auctioneers image.
With an interesting use of orange and red, this Mid-century Navajo Teec Nos Pos tapestry brought out the bidders, earning $9,600 at Moran’s May 30 American West Auction (est. $3,500 to $4,500). John Moran Auctioneers image.

ALTADENA, Calif. – John Moran Auctioneers conducted a successful American West auction May 30, achieving a respectable 86 percent sell-through rate. The auction featured California and American Western paintings and works of fine art by notable Native American artists as well as American Indian basketry and weavings.

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Roseberys embarks on first foray into Indian art June 29

Kotah School, circa 1840, a large Indian miniature painting, depicting a Maharaja hunting scene, opaque watercolor on paper, 73.2 x 96cm. Estimate: £4,000-6,000. Roseberys image
Kotah School, circa 1840, a large Indian miniature painting, depicting a Maharaja hunting scene, opaque watercolor on paper, 73.2 x 96cm. Estimate: £4,000-6,000. Roseberys image

LONDON – An important work by the Indian artist Jogen Chowdhury (b. 1939) will highlight Roseberys’ first specialist auction of Indian art on Monday, June 29. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide absentee and Internet live bidding.

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Arthur Tait fires ‘The Last Shot’ at Gray’s Auctioneers, June 30

Eugène Verboeckhoven (Belgian, 1798-1881) ‘Cattle at Rest in an Evening Field,’ oil on canvas, signed and dated 1857 lower right, 23 3/8in x 31in. Estimate: $25,000-$35,000. Gray's Auctioneers and Appraisers image
Eugène Verboeckhoven (Belgian, 1798-1881) ‘Cattle at Rest in an Evening Field,’ oil on canvas, signed and dated 1857 lower right, 23 3/8in x 31in. Estimate: $25,000-$35,000. Gray’s Auctioneers and Appraisers image

CLEVELAND – The Gray’s Auctioneers and Appraisers sale on Tuesday, June 30, features paintings, furniture and decorative works of art from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide absentee and Internet live bidding.

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Don Presley Auction presents international lineup June 28

Gilt bronze and marble three-piece clock set. The clock measures 16in x 20in x 7in. Estimate: $3,000-$3,500. Don Presley Auction image
Gilt bronze and marble three-piece clock set. The clock measures 16in x 20in x 7in. Estimate: $3,000-$3,500. Don Presley Auction image

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Don Presley Auction will present more than 500 lots of antiques from around the world at an auction Sunday, June 28. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide absentee and Internet live bidding.

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Robot collectors ‘spaced out’ at Morphy’s $1.62M toy auction

Jupiter Robot with original box, $36,000. Morphy Auctions image
Jupiter Robot with original box, $36,000. Morphy Auctions image

DENVER, Pa. – Robots and space toys landed at Morphy’s May 30-31 Toy Auction with expectations of dominating prices realized, and they did not disappoint. The prized grouping of 115 extraterrestrials, highlighted by the Robert V. “Bob” Gallegos collection, claimed four positions within the top 10. In all, the 1,843-lot sale totaled $1.62 million, inclusive of 20% buyer’s premium. Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Crumbling UK Parliament needs billions in repairs

The Palace of Westminster seen from across the Thames. Victoria Tower and the House of Lords is on the left. The Clock Tower of Big Ben and the House of Commons is on the right. Image by Alvesgaspar. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
The Palace of Westminster seen from across the Thames. Victoria Tower and the House of Lords is on the left. The Clock Tower of Big Ben and the House of Commons is on the right. Image by Alvesgaspar. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

LONDON (AP) – The seat of British democracy is creaky, crumbling and at risk of falling apart.

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Israeli artist Matan Ben-Cnaan wins BP Portrait Award

First prize was awarded to Matan Ben-Cnaan (b. 1980) for 'Annabelle and Guy,' oil on board, 52in x 48in. Image courtesy of National Portrait Gallery
First prize was awarded to Matan Ben-Cnaan (b. 1980) for ‘Annabelle and Guy,’ oil on board, 52in x 48in. Image courtesy of National Portrait Gallery

LONDON – The winner of the BP Portrait Award 2015 was announced at the National Portrait Gallery on Tuesday. The first prize – in the 26th year of BP’s sponsorship of the competition – was won by 35-year-old Israeli artist Matan Ben-Cnaan, for Annabelle and Guy, a striking allegorical portrait of the artist’s friend and step-daughter as if contemplating their tragic fate in the blinding sunlight of Israel’s Jezreel Valley.Continue reading