ATLANTA – At the start of each month, ACN columnist Ken Hall gathers top auction highlights from around the United States and beyond. Here’s what made headlines since last month’s report:
1920s Arcade panel van, $21,240, Bertoia Auctions
A circa-1929 Arcade “White” delivery panel van with a “Peerless Cleaning” ad sold for $21,240 at a Holiday Surprises event held Nov. 13-15 by Bertoia Auctions in Vineland, N.J. Also, a rare clockwork George Washington display toy fetched $10,620. The same price was realized for a Bunker Hill cast-iron mechanical bank – one of fewer than five known. A Hubley cast-iron sleigh pulled by two reindeer, 16 1/2 inches long, hammered for $8,260; and a Fernand Martin Parisian Woman clockwork toy hit $8,260. Prices are inclusive of the buyer’s premium.
Historical shirt of armor, $2.3 million, Rock Island Auction Co.
A historical shirt of armor dating back to a 15th century Egyptian sultan sold for $2.3 million at a firearms auction held Dec. 4-6 by Rock Island Auction Co. in Rock Island, Ill. Also, a John Ulrich engraved, gold inlaid Winchester 1894 rifle hit $207,000; and a U.S. Civil War-era, 1855-dated Ames Foundry 6-pounder cannon hit the mark for $109,250. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Harry Bertoia sculpture, $112,500, Palm Beach Modern Auctions
A double-sided metal sculpture by Harry Bertoia, one of 10 commissioned by the First National Bank of Miami, sold for $112,500 at an auction held Nov. 21-22 by Palm Beach Modern Auctions in West Palm Beach, Fla. Also, a chandelier made by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce in Italy went for $23,750; a George Nakashima Minguren I coffee table with extensive documentation and a 1973 receipt from the artist climbed to $16,250; and an Ellsworth Kelly limited-edition print, titled Colored Paper Image, XVII, made $15,000. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Dashiell Hammett book, $65,000, Swann Galleries
A first-edition copy of Dashiell Hammett’s novel The Red Harvest (New York, 1929), sold for $65,000 at a sale of 19th and 20th century literature held Nov. 10 by Swann Galleries in New York. Also, a two-volume set of the first English edition of Alexander Dumas’s The Count of Monte Cristo rose to $47,500; a first-edition copy of Jules Verne’s book From the Earth to the Moon (Newark, N.J., 1860), hit $22,500; and a first-edition copy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles made $8,125. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.
Bronze animal sculptures, $9,720; Schwenke Auctioneers
A pair of bronze animal-form sculptures on wooden bases, about 10 inches tall, sold for $9,720 at a Holiday Fine Estates Auction held Nov. 22 by Schwenke Auctioneers in Woodbury, Conn. Also, an unsigned American School folk art oil on canvas painting of a young girl with a sewing basket went for $7,200; a framed and unsigned oil on canvas painting by Ernest Briggs (N.Y./Conn., 1923-1984), dated 1955, fetched $6,600; and an equestrian painting in the manner of George Stubbs (English, 1724-1806) rose to $6,875. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Tiffany Studios glass vase, $48,750, Heritage Auctions
A Tiffany Studios Favrile glass floriform vase, made circa 1900-1920 and engraved “04325,” sold for $48,750 at an art glass auction held Nov. 23 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, a Tiffany opalescent Favrile glass and bronze fire screen, circa 1905, climbed to $75,000; a Tiffany leaded glass and bronze Daffodil table lamp on a Twisted Vine base hammered for $68,750; and an R. Lalique Lord Dunsany’s clear and frosted glass Souris cachet with gray patina went for $37,500. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.
California gold map, $39,000, PBA Galleries
A map of the California gold region, published in Boston in 1848 and a precise tracing of the map of pioneer and land surveyor James Bidwell by Thomas Larquin, an American businessman and entrepreneur, sold for $39,000 at Part 3 of the Warren Heckrotte Collection, held Dec. 3 by PBA Galleries in San Francisco. Also, a large and colorful map of California by William Eddy, the state surveyor general, printed in 1853 by J.H. Colton of New York, then shipped west, hit $30,000. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Andrew Wyeth painting, $1.15 million, Freeman’s
A painting by Andrew Wyeth (American, 1917-2009), titled Winter Corn Fields, sold for $1.15 million at an American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists Auction held Dec. 6 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, Blue Fountain by Maxfield Parrish (American, 1870-1966), realized $317,000; The Mary Maxwell House (The Milk Wagon) by Daniel Garber (American, 1880-1958), cruised to $293,000; We’ve Got Your Pickle by Jamie Wyeth (American, b. 1946) brought $209,000; and Andrew Wyeth’s Young Buck rose to $125,000. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Cartier shoulder brooch, $514,000, Rago Arts & Auction Center
A Cartier Art Deco “Pinecone” shoulder brooch in diamond-encrusted platinum sold for $514,000 at a three-session auction held Dec. 5-6 by Rago Arts & Auction Center in Lambertville, N.J. Also, a Nadja Buckley pink tourmaline and diamond necklace hammered for $65,625; a Lalique pinned “Dragonfly Woman” gold cane handle earned $62,500; and a Persian Tabar Zin ax head brought $46,875. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.
Heart-shaped diamond, $3.95 million, Skinner’s
A 31.25-carat heart-shaped diamond certified as D color and VVS2 clarity, sold for $3.95 million at a fine jewelry auction held Dec. 8 by Skinner’s in Boston. Also, a natural pearl necklace described by the Swiss Gemological Institute as “rare and exceptional” hammered for $2.2 million; a fancy blue diamond solitaire weighing 2.65 carats brought $543,000; a Columbian emerald set within an Edwardian brooch hit $495,000; and a Kashmir sapphire fetched $375,000 – or $70,000 per carat. Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium.
Roadside Hawaiian view, $48,000, Kaminski Auctions
A roadside Hawaiian view of Hamerly, Hawaii by D. Howard Hitchcock (American, 1861-1943), dated 1899, sold for $48,000 at a Thanksgiving Auction held Nov. 28-29 by Kaminski Auctions in Beverly, Mass. Also, an oil on canvas view of Kahului, Maui, Hawaii by Lloyd Sexton Jr. (American, 1912-1990), rose to $26,400; an abstract silkscreen print by Bridget Riley (British, b. 1931), signed and dated 1964 in pencil, fetched $32,600; and an oil on canvas of ships on a harbor by Felix Ziem sold for $15,600. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.
Joseph Stock paintings, $44,000, Carlsen Gallery
A pair of American School portraits by Joseph Whiting Stock (Mass., 1815-1855) sold for a combined $44,000 ($23,000 and $21,000) at an auction held Dec. 6 by Carlsen Gallery in Freehold, N.Y. Also, a set of six 18th century Chippendale chairs hammered for $13,000; a 2.2-carat diamond ring in platinum sold for $17,000; an oil on canvas painting by Edouard Detaille titled The Capture gaveled for $4,500; and a carved marble statue signed “F. Vichi” and titled Rebecca made $4,500. Prices are hammer, exclusive of the buyer’s premium.
Platinum and diamond ring, $153,400, Michaan’s Auctions
A platinum and diamond ring featuring an 8.66-carat round brilliant cut diamond, sold for $153,400 at a fine art, furniture, decorative arts and jewelry auction held Dec. 11 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, Calif. Also, an oil on canvas painting by Henri Lebasque, titled Reclining Nude, went for $118,000; an Escher lithograph, titled Ant, soared to $47,200; a Tiffany Studios Tyler lamp shade, circa 1910, brought $18,880; and a ring set in platinum with a 5.05-carat emerald-cut diamond achieved $44,250. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.
2.78-carat diamond, $504,000, John Moran Auctioneers
A light gray-blue colored diamond, weighing 2.78 carats and graded VVS2 for clarity, sold for $504,000 at a fine jewelry auction held Dec. 8 by John Moran Auctioneers in Monrovia, Calif. Also, a late Art Deco design bracelet in platinum and diamonds earned $27,000; an antique diamond, gold and plique-a-jour necklace gaveled for $28,800; a Van Cleef & Arpels gold and diamond sectional necklace made $21,600; and a gold, turquoise coral and lapis lazuli bracelet by maker Charles Loloma hit $21,250. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
1796 U.S. 50-cent piece, $99,875, Legend Rare Coin
A 1796 15-stars U.S. 50-cent piece, graded PCGS VF30, sold for $99,875 at Regency Auction XV, held Dec. 17 by Legend Rare Coin Auctions in Las Vegas, Nev. Also, a 1937-D three-legged buffalo nickel, graded PCGS MS66+, soared to $88,125; an 1896 U.S. $2.50 coin, graded PCGS PR68, hammered for $55,812; a 1918-S U.S. quarter, graded PCGS MS66+, brought $45,825; an 1863-S U.S. dime, graded PCGS MS65+, realized $43,475; and an 1864 large motto 2-cent piece, PCGS PR66RD, made $35,250. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Deep-Rock gasoline sign, $9,000, Rich Penn Auctions
A two-sided, three-color porcelain petroliana sign for Deep-Rock Gasoline & Motor Oils, 48 inches in diameter and in the original steel frame, sold for $9,000 at an auction held Nov. 7-8 by Rich Penn Auctions in Des Moines, Iowa. Also, an AMI Singing Towers coin-operated jukebox, circa 1939, with an Art Deco design and one of only 450 made, fetched $6,960; a Bromo-Seltzer bottle-shape figural sign, porcelain, hit $6,600; and a Wayne apothecary stacking show jar, 54 1/2 inches tall, went for $6,960. Prices are inclusive of the buyer’s premium.
1942 Chinese banknotes, $20,060, Archives International
A 1942 Farmers Bank of China banknote trio sold for $20,060 at a three-session sale held Dec. 11 and 14 by Archives International Auctions in Fort Lee, N.J. Also, an 1898 Imperial Bank of China 10-Taels Peking issue note brought $17,700; a Harbin scrip note pair, Harbin Cyclodrome Sportsmen’s Society, circa 1918-1920, fetched $12,980; a Harbin Hippodrome – Bar 1919 private scrip note hammered for $4,720; and a Bank of Territorial Development, 1915 Urga issue banknote sold for $4,130. Prices include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.
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By KEN HALL
