Prince’s $75,000 Boots, Rubens Portrait Discovered in Scotland, and More Fresh News

Prince’s backstage pass to a Rick James concert in 1980, and his yellow high-heeled boots. Images courtesy of RR Auction

 

News and updates from around the arts and auction community:

  • Although he left us in April 2016, superstar performer Prince reigned at auction yesterday when his iconic high-heeled yellow boots sold for $75,147. In the same auction, his 1980 backstage pass to a Rick James concert, identifying Prince’s occupation as “Musician/Star,” was bid to $60,366. [Read more from US Magazine]
  • A Peter Paul Rubens portrait of perhaps one of the most famous gay men in history has been found in Scotland. Experts have determined it is Rubens’ copy of an original that has been missing for nearly 400 years. [Read more from The Guardian]
  • A seal that belonged to 18th-century Chinese Emperor Qianlong has sold for more than $1.1 million at an auction in France. The seal had been owned by the same family since the 19th century. [Read more from AFP/RFI]
  • Just because you live in an old apartment building doesn’t mean you can’t give the interior of your nest a contemporary look. There are easy ways to add European-style sophistication to even the most unexciting space. [Read more from Architectural Digest]

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Art, design go hand in hand at Wright auction Oct. 12

Paul Jenkins, ‘Pheonmena Edge Spectra,’1978, acrylic on canvas, 38in h x 54in w. Signed, titled and dated to verso. Estimate: $15,000-$20,000. Wright image

 

CHICAGO – Wright will present Art + Design at auction on Tuesday, Oct. 12. Exploring two fields that are in constant dialog in everyday life, this curated sale includes interesting designs alongside original works of art, prints and photography. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Rare 18th-century American Indian pipe tops Cowan’s auction at $132,000

Eastern Woodlands pipe, fourth quarter 18th century. Price realized; $132,000. Cowan’s Auctions image

 

CINCINNATI – An extraordinary 18th century Eastern woodlands pipe previously owned by well-known collector Clem Caldwell was the top lot of a busy sale day at Cowan’s Auctions Sept. 23. The pipe, which sold for $132,000 (including a 20 percent buyer’s premium), was the object of one of the many bidding wars that spurred Cowan’s Fall American Indian & Western Art Live Salesroom Auction to a $1.25 million total. Absentee and Internet bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

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National Liberty Museum makes 60 art glass lots available through LiveAuctioneers Oct. 7

Rick Eggert, ‘Sunset of Burning Desire,’ 23in h x 20in w x 10in d, blown glass with gold and copper leaf, 2012. Estimate: $2,100-$4,200. National Liberty Museum image

 

PHILADELPHIA – On Saturday, Oct. 7, the National Liberty Museum will conduct its 18th annual Glass Auction & Gala, a major auction event featuring 60 major works of glass art. The live event at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown benefits the National Liberty Museum education and outreach programs. Absentee and Internet bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Books: Horror collecting gets a new guide Oct. 4

The Overstreet Guide to Collecting Horror, on sale Oct. 4, 2017

 

BALTIMORE – Devoted to all things within the scary entertainment genre, The Overstreet Guide To Collecting Horror is set to debut in comic shops and bookstores. This new volume is filled with content on movies, literature, comic books, video games, soundtracks, TV shows, and magazines. There are features on EC Comics, Universal Monsters, Friday the 13th, Hammer Horror, The Walking Dead, Japanese horror, Stephen King, sci-fi/horror, and more.

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Stevens’ Oct. 6-7 Estates Auction echoes gracious Southern style

Magnificent 11-piece R. J. Horner dining room suite with a 60-inch-wide table with four original leaves, a set of eight chairs, a china cabinet and sideboard. Stevens Auction Co. image

 

ABERDEEN, Miss. – A heavily carved mahogany Lincoln bed by Mitchell & Rammelsberg, an 11-piece R.J. Horner carved mahogany dining room suite, a Regina Corona music box in working order, and am amtique Lyon & Healy harp are expected to be among the top lots in Stevens Auction Co.’s annual fall estates auction Oct. 6 and 7. Absentee and Internet bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

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