MoMA Acquires Original Emoji Art, Haunted Houses for Sale, and More Fresh News

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Shigetaka Kurita, NTT DOCOMO. Emoji (original set of 176). 1998–99. Software and digital image files. Gift of NTT DOCOMO Inc., Japan

Shigetaka Kurita, NTT DOCOMO. Emoji (original set of 176). 1998–99. Software and digital image files. Gift of NTT DOCOMO Inc., Japan

 

News and updates from around the arts and auction community:

  • The original NTT DOCOMO set of 176 emoji is now part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. Released for cell phones in 1999, the 12 x 12 pixel masterpieces of simplicity planted the seeds for the explosive growth of a new visual language. [Read more from Museum of Modern Art]
  • It’s getting terrifying out there, between the crazed politicians with twisted smiles and creepy clowns showing up at unexpected places. But if that’s not scary enough for you this Halloween, you might want to consider a new residence from the selection of haunted houses, ghost towns and even former insane asylums currently on the market. [Read more from TopTenRealEstateDeals.com]
  • Norman Rockwell’s Which One? (Undecided; Man in Voting Booth) will make its auction debut at Sotheby’s Nov. 21 American Art sale. The painting depicts a gentleman inside a polling booth, pondering his options and holding a newspaper with front-page pictures of 1944 presidential candidates Roosevelt and Dewey. [Read more from the Associated Press via CBS Baltimore]
  • A front page of the Sept. 12, 2001 edition of The New York Times showing the burning World Trade Center and autographed by five US presidents sold for $11,000 on Wednesday. The page was signed by Presidents Ford, Carter, Clinton and both George and George H.W. Bush. [Read more from Fox News]

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

Jennifer Pitman at forefront of Rago expansion

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Jennifer Pitman. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction

Jennifer Pitman. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center

 

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. – Rago Arts and Auction Center, a full-service auction house with annual sales of $33 million, is expanding its reach into Westchester County and Connecticut by adding a dedicated representative to the region.

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The Met presents ‘Epic Stories’ as theme of its World Culture Festival

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A performance by the East-West School of Dance in celebration of Diwali, the annual Indian Festival of Lights. Photograph by Don Pollard © The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A performance by the East-West School of Dance in celebration of Diwali, the annual Indian Festival of Lights. Photograph by Don Pollard © The Metropolitan Museum of Art

 

NEW YORK – The Metropolitan Museum of Art will present its first ever World Culture Festival on Saturday, Nov. 5, from noon to 5 p.m. with the theme of Epic Stories. Through performances, art-making activities and storytelling, participants of all ages will discover larger-than-life characters and tales from cultures around the world.

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George Blanda football trophies, memorabilia heading to auction

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The Oakland Raiders awarded this football to Blanda for scoring a record number of consecutive point after touchdown kicks.

The Oakland Raiders awarded this team autographed football to Blanda for scoring a record number of consecutive point after touchdown kicks. SCP Auctions image

 

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. – SCP Auctions will present the George Blanda Collection as part of its 2017 Winter Premier Auction, which takes place in January. Three AFL Championship rings, dozens of prestigious awards and several milestone game balls going back to his college football days at the University of Kentucky lead the charge.

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Celebrating Roy Lichtenstein – Pop Art Godfather

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One of the most innovative and influential artists of the latter 20th century, Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923-1997) put the “Bif!,” “Bam!,” and “Pow!” into pop art. His larger-than-life paintings of people in melodramatic situations were inspired by comic strips and newspaper ads, and Lichtenstein made sure they were presented just that way – with a screened effect that resembled an enlarged newspaper page.

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Art Luminaries Supported ‘Cat Project,’ Yogi’s Ring Hits $160K at Auction, and More Fresh News

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Ralph Steadman (English, b. 1936-), ‘Cats Always Do This When They Like You…Have You Noticed?,’ mixed media on paper, signed and dated 7 August 2000. Size 19 x 32½ in. (framed). Est. $400-$600. Image courtesy of Quinns Auction Galleries

Ralph Steadman (English, b. 1936-), ‘Cats Always Do This When They Like You…Have You Noticed?,’ original mixed media on paper, signed and dated 7 August 2000. Size 19 x 32½ in. (framed). Est. $400-$600. Image courtesy of Quinns Auction Galleries

 

News and updates from around the arts and auction community:

  • Ralph Steadman, R. Crumb, Al Hirschfeld and Ray Bradbury are among the many artists and writers who created feline-centric artworks years ago for the ‘Cat Project.’ Utah artist and teacher Patrick Eddington planned to exhibit, then publish the art in a book. Sadly, Eddington died before achieving his dream, but now the original artworks are being auctioned, on Nov. 12. [Take a sneak peek at the auction catalog on LiveAuctioneers]
  • The 1953 World Series Championship ring that belonged to beloved New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra has sold at auction for nearly $160,000. The ring is especially coveted by sports memorabilia collectors because of the diamond-studded “5” on it, signifying it was the fifth time Berra had played on a World Series-winning team. [Read more from NBC NY]
  • Phillips has a wall-filling, 6ft 6in wide Gerhard Richter painting of a jet in its November contemporary art auction. The highest-estimated of the 18 or more Richters entered in various semiannual contemporary art auctions around New York next month, it’s rumored to have been consigned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. [Read more from Art Market Monitor]
  • The word “antique” was officially defined in 1930 by the U.S. Customs Office for the purpose of collecting duty on items brought into this country. But do you know the technical difference between an “antique” and “vintage” item? [Read more from the Greensburg Daily News]

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

Rare finds cross Kaminski auction block in October

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Rare Matteo Ricci derivative maps. Price realized: $24,000. Kaminski Auctions image

Rare Matteo Ricci derivative maps. Price realized: $24,000. Kaminski Auctions image

 

BEVERLY, Mass. – It’s the story antique hunters dream about: Rare maps found in garage sell for $24,000. Two dark, ripped images in poor condition in Kaminski Auctions’ Oct. 1 sale turned out to be just that. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

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Tate names Michael Wellen curator of international art

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Michael Wellen. Image by Will Michels

Michael Wellen. Image by Will Michels

 

LONDON – Michael Wellen has been appointed curator of international art at Tate. His focus will be on further developing the representation of art from Latin America in Tate’s collection and its exhibition program at Tate Modern. Wellen will take up the post in December.

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Clars experiences staggering prices for Chinese works of art

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his Chinese Longquan Guan-type vase sold for $84,700. Clars Auction Gallery image

his Chinese Longquan Guan-type vase sold for $84,700. Clars Auction Gallery image

 

OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars Auction Gallery’s Oct. 15-16 sale was anticipated to be particularly strong in the Asian works that were to be offered but the result far exceeded expectations. A small collection of Chinese brush washers, censers, bowl and vases from a private estate that together achieved $275,000. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

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Collector turning up the volume on antique phonographs

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This Victor Talking Machine Co., phonograph, Victor Style VII, is offered for sale in a Nov. 6 auction. Rich Penn Auctions image

This Victor Talking Machine Co., phonograph, Victor Style VII, is offered for sale in a Nov. 6 auction. Rich Penn Auctions image

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) – Ed Fearing placed a shellac composite record on his 1905 Victor phonograph. He cranked the handle, and Poet and Peasant Overture began, at first a little slow and distorted, then quickly catching up to normal speed. The music boomed into his living room.

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