Miscellaneana: Menagerie of Wade Whimsies

Boxed sets of five like this from the 1950s are prized by collectors who are prepared to pay upward of £200 ($300) for mint examples. Photo author
Boxed sets of five like this from the 1950s are prized by collectors who are prepared to pay upward of £200 ($300) for mint examples. Photo author

 

LONDON – It was the last weekend of our holiday in the sun but even so, we couldn’t not go to the 47th annual Suncoast Antique Bottle & Collectible Show. After all, we went to the 46th and readers with long memories will recall I wrote about it here last year.

Continue reading

Folding money: Irving Harper paper sculptures hit $1.2M

Irving Harper, Untitled (Owl), paper construction with doll eyes 30.5 h x 14 w x 13 d in. Estimate: $7,000-$9,000. Result: $48,750. Wright image
Irving Harper, Untitled (Owl), paper construction with doll eyes 30.5 h x 14 w x 13 d in. Estimate: $7,000-$9,000. Result: $48,750. Wright image

 

CHICAGO – Wright’s auction of Irving Harper paper sculptures had record bidding activity and throughout the eight-hour auction 99 percent of the 300 lots sold with sales totaling $1,166,975.Continue reading

Who’s your co-pilot? Pope’s Fiat going up for auction

Pope Francis exiting the Fiat car that will be sold Friday by Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia. Photograph courtesy of the World Meeting of Families—Philadelphia 2015/J. DiGidijunis
Pope Francis exiting a Fiat car that will be sold Friday by Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia. Photograph courtesy of the World Meeting of Families—Philadelphia 2015/J. DiGidijunis

 

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – One of the two Fiats used by Pope Francis during his September visit to Philadelphia is going up for auction.

The car will be up for bid as part of the Philadelphia Auto Show black tie gala on Jan. 29. Bids will be accepted in person and online.

Continue reading

Ethical questions dog Smithsonian over Cosby exhibit

Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859–1937, United States), ‘The Thankful Poor,’ 1894, oil on canvas. The Collection of Camille O. and William H. Cosby Jr. Photograph by Frank Stewart, permission courtesy of the artist
Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859–1937, United States), ‘The Thankful Poor,’ 1894, oil on canvas. The Collection of Camille O. and William H. Cosby Jr. Photograph by Frank Stewart, permission courtesy of the artist

 

WASHINGTON (AP) – Bill Cosby was well on his way to becoming a national pariah for his alleged sexual misconduct when the Smithsonian launched an exhibit funded by Cosby and his wife that showcases art from their private collection.

Continue reading