Crystal Bridges Museum hosts its first-ever folk art exhibition

Uncle Sam Riding a Bicycle whirligig. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art image

Uncle Sam Riding a Bicycle whirligig. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art image

 

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announces the opening of “American Made: Treasures from the American Folk Art Museum,” on view July 2 through Sept. 19. The exhibition features more than 115 works of art including quilts, carvings, signs, samplers, weather vanes, whirligigs, and more – handmade by Americans when the nation was young. Tickets are $10 for adults; free for ages 18 and under and museum members.

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Jarrell jazz painting hits high note at Ahlers & Ogletree sale

Original painting by the African-American artist Wadsworth Jarrell (b. 1929) of jazz greats Charlie Parker and Dizzie Gillespie, titled ‘Diz E Bird.’ Price realized: $21,240. Ahlers & Ogletree image

Original painting by Wadsworth Jarrell of jazz greats Charlie Parker and Dizzie Gillespie. Price realized: $21,240. Ahlers & Ogletree image

 

ATLANTA – Ahlers & Ogletree’s auction June 25-26 featured such an eclectic mix of merchandise that the top two selling lots were a portrait painting of American jazz icons and a 1936 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The 1,204 lot, two-session auction grossed around $925,000, with buyer’s premium.

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Roland Auctions offers exhaustive lineup for July 9-10 sale

Alexander Calder lithograph, 'Bonnet Phygien et Barres de Feu' Estimate: $3,000-$5,000. Roland Auctions NY image

Alexander Calder lithograph, ‘Bonnet Phygien et Barres de Feu’ Estimate: $3,000-$5,000. Roland Auctions NY image

 

NEW YORK – As a result of rapidly growing popularity and an energetic staff, Roland Auctions NY will present a prodigious two-day July estate auction. This event will begin on Saturday, July 9, commencing at 10 a.m. Eastern, and continue on Sunday, July 10, beginning at noon.

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Tribal, military collectibles to sell at Kaminski Auctions July 10

1860 Colt Army revolver. Kaminski Auctions image

1860 Colt Army revolver. Kaminski Auctions image

 

BEVERLY, Mass. – Kaminski Auctions will conduct two consecutive sessions July 10, beginning with an estate auction that features a diverse array of exquisite prints, paintings, silver, Asian art and antiques, carpets, and an exceptional single owner collection of African tribal art, as well as some mid-century modern furniture.

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Heritage Auctions’ record-setting European art sale tops $1.3M

‘Le secret d’amour,’ by French painter Guillaume Seignac sold for $250,000. Heritage Auctions image

‘Le secret d’amour,’ by French painter Guillaume Seignac sold for $250,000. Heritage Auctions image

 

DALLAS – Le secret d’amour, a grand scale, turn-of-the-century work by French Academic painter Guillaume Seignac set a world record for the artist when it sold for $250,000 in Heritage Auctions’ $1.3-plus million Fine European Art.

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Fate of Connecticut’s Old State House uncertain

The rear facade of the Old State House in Hartford, Connecticut. Charles Bulfinch (1763-1844) was the architect. This building was completed in 1796. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The rear facade of the Old State House in Hartford, Connecticut. Charles Bulfinch (1763-1844) was the architect. This building was completed in 1796. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

 

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – Spared several times from being closed or even worse during its 220-year history, Connecticut’s Old State House faces a new threat now that responsibility for the historic landmark, which hosted presidents and the Amistad slave ship trial, is being transferred to a state agency already struggling to find the money to keep 109 state parks running.

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Investigators cite engine failure in crash of WWII plane

A P-47 Thunderbolt 42-25068 at the Duxford Air Show in 2012. John 5199 image. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

A P-47 Thunderbolt 42-25068 at the Duxford Air Show in 2012. John 5199 image. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

 

NEW YORK (AP) – Federal investigators say an engine cylinder was damaged on a vintage World War II plane that crashed last month into the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, killing its pilot.

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Met’s renovated Ptolemaic galleries to reopen July 1

Inlay depicting Thoth as the ibis with a maat feather. Late Period-Ptolemaic Period (4th century B.C.). Probably Hermopolis. Faience. Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926 (26.7.992)

Inlay depicting Thoth as the ibis with a maat feather. Late Period-Ptolemaic Period (fourth century B.C.). Probably Hermopolis. Faience. Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926 (26.7.992)

 

NEW YORK – A nearly 72-foot-long ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, colorful figural tiles from a shrine from Hermopolis (the city of the god Thoth), and more than 200 additional works of art created in Egypt between 332 to 30 B.C. will return to view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on July 1 with the reopening of two recently renovated galleries dedicated to Ptolemaic art.

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Clars posts second-highest sales total ever at June 18-19 auction

Selling for well over high estimate was this watercolor titled ‘Fishing in a Canoe’ by Ogden Minton Pleissner (American, 1905-1983), which brought $15,730. Clars Auction Gallery image

Selling for well over high estimate was this watercolor titled ‘Fishing in a Canoe’ by Ogden Minton Pleissner (American, 1905-1983), which brought $15,730. Clars Auction Gallery image

 

OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars Auction Gallery posted its second-highest sales total in the 44-year history of the company on June 18-19. Over $3 million was realized throughout the two-day event with decorative arts and exceptional Asian offerings each vying for top category realizing over $1.2 million each.

Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

The top lot of the entire sale was a rare and beautiful Chinese automaton triple fusee bracket clock (below) which sold to a phone bidder for an impressive $929,000 and was the highest single lot ever sold at auction by Clars. The clock measured 36 inches tall and the gilt bronze case was embellished with elegant filigree mounts. Mythical figures adorned the corners as did seashell handles and jeweled floral mounts. The porcelain dial measured 6 inches in diameter with a mirror plate above. The animation was extraordinary with animated swimming ducks on the hour and a large spinning pinwheel surrounded by 10 smaller pinwheels topped by a jeweled teardrop finish the very top.

 

This rare Chinese automaton triple fusee bracket clock sold for $929,000, the highest single lot sale in Clars’ history. Clars Auction Gallery image

This rare Chinese automaton triple fusee bracket clock sold for $929,000, the highest single lot sale in Clars’ history. Clars Auction Gallery image

 

Coming in second place in the decorative arts category was the surprise sale of a Chinese Export silver teapot with pierced dragon accents, fronted by the Three Immortals (below).  This teapot was estimated to sell for $400-600 but brought an astonishing $27,830.

 

This Chinese Export silver teapot was estimated to sell for $400-$600, but fetched an astonishing $27,830. Clars Auction Gallery image

This Chinese Export silver teapot was estimated to sell for $400-$600, but fetched an astonishing $27,830. Clars Auction Gallery image

 

Deric Torres, vice president of Decorative Arts & Furnishings at Clars, said, “The buyer was a very experienced collector and the consignor was delighted with the surprising results of the sale.”

The Asian category featured the important collection of 20th Chinese Huanghuali furniture from the Dr. Bernard C. Gerber Collection of South Dakota, which drew serious bidders from around the globe. Selling for well over high estimate for $145,000 was a huanghuali dining suite consisting of table with six floating panels and six “lamp hanger” side chairs (below). Also soaring past high estimate was a huanghuali altar table that sold exceptionally well for $84,700 (estimate: $30,000–$50,000).

 

This huanghuali dining table and six side chairs sold for well past the high estimate for $145,000. Clars Auction Gallery image

This huanghuali dining table and six side chairs sold for well past the high estimate for $145,000. Clars Auction Gallery image

 

Several other lots offered also soared past their high estimates making for a very exciting sale. A Chinese Guan-type brush washer (below) was offered for $2,500-$4,500 but soared to $54,450. Surpassing this lot was a small Chinese gold vessel with a spinach jade stand that came to the sale with an estimate of $8,000-$12,000. Prolonged bidding pushed the final sale price on this lot to $57,475. Finally, much unexpected attention was seen on a lovely Chinese iron and wood saddle from the Gerber Estate. Expected to achieve $2,000-$4,000, this red silk brocade saddle went for $39,325.

 

This Chinese Guan-type brush washer was offered for $2,500-$4,500 but spirited bidding drove it to $54,450. Clars Auction Gallery image

This Chinese Guan-type brush washer was offered for $2,500-$4,500 but spirited bidding drove it to $54,450. Clars Auction Gallery image

 

A rare and fine men’s Rolex Cosmograph wristwatch, circa 1964/1965, ref. 6239, accompanied by original papers, was expected to sell for $15,000-$20,000 but sold for an amazing $45,375.

Rounding out this impressive sale were several works of note offered in the Fine Art category. Selling for well over high estimate was a watercolor titled Fishing in a Canoe (below) by Ogden Minton Pleissner (American, 1905-1983). Offered for $7,000-$10,000, this lovely painting brought $15,730.

A Pablo Picasso terre de faience bowl titled Personnages, 1956, (below) was partially glazed and painted red, brown and black. With the Medoura Plein Feu and Picasso stamps and numbered 72/100, this work sold for $14,520. Also performing well was Le Grand Ordonnateur, 1969, by Joan Miro (Spanish/French, 1893-1983). This etching with aquatint printed in colors with carborundum came to the sale from the Masterworks Gallery in Los Angeles and achieved a solid price of $13,310.

 

By Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973), this terre de faience bowl title ‘Personnages,’ 1956, sold well for $14,520. Clars Auction Gallery image

By Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973), this terre de faience bowl titled ‘Personnages,’ 1956, sold well for $14,520. Clars Auction Gallery image

 

For more information email Clars at info@clars.com

 

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

Laurence Sisson landscapes featured in waca art auction July 9

Laurence Sisson (American 1928-2015), oil on canvas, ‘New Mexico Desert Landscape,’ framed, 48 x 35 3/4 inches. Estimate: $3,000-$5,000. Waca Auctions image

Laurence Sisson (American 1928-2015), oil on canvas, ‘New Mexico Desert Landscape,’ framed, 48 x 35 3/4 inches. Estimate: $3,000-$5,000. waca auctions image

 

ST. LOUIS – A stunning New Mexico scene by the late Laurence Sisson, one of America’s preeminent landscape artists, will be featured in waca auctions’ 19th and 20th century fine art and print auction July 9.

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