Portraits of Benjamin Franklin on view at The Met

Joseph Siffred Duplessis (French, Carpentras 1725–1802 Versailles). Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790). 1778. Oil on canvas. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
Joseph Siffred Duplessis (French, Carpentras 1725–1802 Versailles). Benjamin Franklin
(1706–1790). 1778. Oil on canvas. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931

 

NEW YORK – Several works depicting the brilliant writer, inventor, politician, patriot, and statesman Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) are now on view on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The most famous of these was painted by Joseph Siffred Duplessis (1725–1802), Louis XVI’s official portraitist, after Franklin arrived in Paris in 1776 to seek French support for the American war of independence. Portraying Franklin in a red coat with a fur collar, and with an astonishingly elaborate frame decorated with his attributes, the oval painting was greatly admired and Duplessis exhibited it at the 1779 Paris Salon.

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T. Rex Arrives at Seattle Museum, ‘Drop It and Die,’ Collector Tells Antiques Roadshow Expert, and More Fresh News

Paleontologists prepare to remove a Tyrannosaurus rex skull from a fossil dig site in northern Montana and transport it to the Burke Museum.Photo by Dave DeMar. Courtesy Burke Museum
Paleontologists prepare to remove a Tyrannosaurus rex skull from a fossil dig site in northern Montana and transport it to the Burke Museum. Photo by Dave DeMar. Courtesy Burke Museum

News and updates from around the arts and auction community:

  • Burke Museum paleontologists have discovered a Tyrannosaurus rex, including a very complete skull. Found in the Hell Creek Formation in northern Montana, the fossilized specimen was carefully wrapped and transported, making the final leg of its journey to the Seattle museum via forklift. [Read more from Burke Museum]
  • A new exhibit at the University of North Florida’s Gallery of Art explores the visual impact of the Irish rock band U2 through its fans’ tattoos. After its Florida stay, “Ink, Icons, Identity” will move on to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, in late September. [Read more on SunSentinal]
  • “Drop it and Die,” a collector told an expert appraiser during the taping of Britain’s Antiques Roadshow. The “it” in question was a rare, cobalt-blue poison bottle worth more than $15 million. [Read more on Express.co.uk]
  • Will Rodriguez put his collectible cup down just for a second, then — swoosh! — it was swiped. He owned one of the hottest souvenirs of the Rio de Janeiro Games: A plastic Olympic gymnastics beer cup. [Read more from AP]

For more news and updates, follow LiveAuctioneers on Twitter + Facebook.

Sneak peek of new Smithsonian shows rich black history

Exterior of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, July 20, 2016. Photo by Fuzheado, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license
Exterior of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, July 20, 2016. Photo by Fuzheado, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

 

WASHINGTON (AP) – Lonnie Bunch leans forward to peer inside a slave cabin from Edisto Island, South Carolina. The dark and cramped interior defies his attempts to showcase the small living space its occupants subsisted on.

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Artemis Gallery to auction classical antiquities, ethnographic & folk art, Aug. 25

Byzantine hammered gold solidus coin with image of emperor, 4.50 grams, ex private New York collection, est. $1,800-$2,500
Byzantine hammered gold solidus coin with image of emperor, 4.50 grams, ex New York private collection, est. $1,800-$2,500

 

BOULDER, Colo. – The Egyptians, the Greeks, Near Eastern and Asian civilizations – all left artistic contributions of staggering importance to the ages, and some of the greatest survivors are seen in auctions conducted by Artemis Gallery. The Colorado company’s owners, Bob and Teresa Dodge, are renowned specialists in ancient and ethnographic art. They will present their next expertly curated auction of antiquities, ethnographic and Latin American folk art on Thursday, Aug. 25, with absentee and Internet live bidding available on all lots through LiveAuctioneers.com.

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Museum-quality items add zest to Jeffrey Evans variety auction Aug. 27

An outstanding selection of vintage cast-iron doorstops are included in the Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates Variety Auction Aug. 27. Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates image
An outstanding selection of vintage cast-iron doorstops are included in the Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates Variety Auction Aug. 27. Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates image

 

MT. CRAWFORD, Va. – Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates’ August Variety Auction contains an array of items, from rare doorstops and banks to vintage cameras; American historical items and political memorabilia to vintage baseball and football cards; American and European art pottery to sterling silver flatware and hollowware, all to be sold Aug. 27.

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Native American, modern art top the bill in John Moran sale Sept. 10

‘Cabeza Roja,’ a work in gouache, watercolor and crayon by celebrated Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo (1899-1991) will be brought to the auction block at John Moran’s Sept. 10 Decorative Art Auction with a $100,000 to $150,000 estimate. John Moran Auctioneers image
‘Cabeza Roja,’ a work in gouache, watercolor and crayon by celebrated Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo (1899-1991) will be brought to the auction block at John Moran’s Sept. 10 Decorative Art Auction with a $100,000 to $150,000 estimate. John Moran Auctioneers image

 

MONROVIA, Calif. – In contrast to the Continental offerings presented at John Moran Auctioneers’ July 30 sale, Moran’s Sept. 10 Decorative Art Auction features an array of Native American and Western jewelry, objects and art alongside a stunning selection of modern and contemporary artworks, furnishings, sculpture and even automobiles.

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Dallas museum hosts US premier exhibit of Nicolas Party

Nicolas Party, ‘Two Men with Hats,’ 2016, pastel on canvas, courtesy of the artist and The Modern Institute/Toby Webster Ltd., Glasgow, © Nicolas Party
Nicolas Party, ‘Two Men with Hats,’ 2016, pastel on canvas, courtesy of the artist and The Modern Institute/Toby Webster Ltd., Glasgow, © Nicolas Party

 

DALLAS – The Dallas Museum of Art presents Swiss artist Nicolas Party’s first solo museum exhibition in the United States. The DMA-commissioned mural Pathway occupies the Museum’s Concourse, a public space that functions as the DMA’s main thoroughfare.

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Sterling silver adds formal touch at Jasper52 auction Aug. 21

Set of eight Dominick & Haff sterling silver dinner plates in the Art Nouveau style, 1902, 10 1/4 inches in diameter, total weight 136 troy ounces. Estimate: $6,000-$8,000. Jasper 52 image
Set of eight Dominick & Haff sterling silver dinner plates in the Art Nouveau style, 1902, 10 1/4 inches in diameter, total weight 136 troy ounces. Estimate: $6,000-$8,000. Jasper 52 image

 

NEW YORK – Sterling silver has historically been a popular vehicle for creativity and innovation in design, and the treasures in a Jasper52 online auction are exquisite examples of this. Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Grand Baroque are just a few of the ornate motifs offered in the auction, which takes place Aug. 21.

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Rare Joe Doyle error card tops $190K at MBA Seattle auction

The T206 Joe Doyle error card – one of perhaps a dozen of its type known to exist – sold for $194,400, inclusive of the buyer’s premium. MBA Seattle Auction House image
The T206 Joe Doyle error card – one of perhaps a dozen of its type known to exist – sold for $190,400, inclusive of the buyer’s premium. MBA Seattle Auction House image

 

SEATTLE – A T206 white-border Joe Doyle baseball card, which mistakenly indicated the pitcher played in the National League, sold for $190,400 at auction Thursday.

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National Aviation Day: Top Aviation Memorabilia at Auction

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As August 19th is National Aviation Day, it is an opportune time to search for fascinating aviation memorabilia. Tracking down vintage and contemporary aviation items on LiveAuctioneers is an exploration unlike any other. So buckle up and prepare for takeoff as we explore the friendly auction skies.
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P51D “Mustang” and an F/A-22 “Raptor” in a heritage flight by aviation artist Ray Waddey
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Marx Tin Wind Up Looping Plane Airplane
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Marx Tin Wind Up Looping Plane Airplane

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Marx Tin Wind Up Looping Plane Airplane
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Jet O Plane – 1930’s Planes in Box

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Marx Tin Wind Up Looping Plane Airplane
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Rare American Bi-Plane Mascot, 1918

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Marx Tin Wind Up Looping Plane Airplane
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Charles Lindbergh With Spirit of St. Louis Photo

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Marx Tin Wind Up Looping Plane Airplane
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Coca-Cola Fighting Planes Signs

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Marx Tin Wind Up Looping Plane Airplane
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World War II-era navy blue wool U.S. Navy uniform jacket with gold bullion Naval Aviator’s wings

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Marx Tin Wind Up Looping Plane Airplane
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Air France Travel Poster – Brazil/Bresil

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