Millea Bros. prepares cornucopia of Thanksgiving auctions Nov. 21-23

Pablo Picasso, ‘Corrida with Spectators,’ 1950, polychrome decorated glazed earthenware charger, from an edition of 50. Estimate: $5,000-$7,000. Millea Bros. image

BOONTON, N.J. – Millea Bros.’ Fall Select sale arrives Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23, featuring an important group of 19th and 20th century African and Oceanic tribal art including over 55 lots deaccessioned from the Newark Museum; modern American art, including an Alexander Calder stabile; contemporary paintings by Damian Hirst, Julian Schnabel and Peter Halley; a 1935 Pablo Picasso drawing; and over 1,100 lots of fine antiques and decorative arts. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

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European masters have center stage at Clars auction Nov. 16-17

This portrait of Ann Ford by Gainsborough Dupont (British, 1754-1797) titled ‘Lady at the Glass Harmonica,’ carries an estimate of $30,000-$50,000. Clars image

OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars’ Nov. 16-17 sale will bring to the market an exciting presentation of European and American fine art, important designs in Modern furniture and a most extraordinary collection of solid gold bars and silver and gold coins. In addition, the highly anticipated second installment of the Robin Leach Collection will make this auction one to watch. The property to be offered at this sale comes from prominent California estates as well as museums, private institutions and special collections. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

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Weaving and fiber arts get the new MoMA treatment

Aurèlia Muñoz, ‘Águila Beige’ (Brown Eagle), 1977. Macramé with hand-dyed sisal and jute yarn. Image courtesy MOMA

NEW YORK (AP) – Modestly sized but expansive in scope, the exhibit “Taking a Thread for a Walk” in the newly revamped and enlarged Museum of Modern Art explores the often-overlooked art of weaving.Continue reading

Caller leads LA police to $800K in stolen artwork

Scottish artist Benjamin Crème pictured at a conference in Paris in 2006. Image by Bernard33. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

LOS ANGELES (AP) –  This time, detectives didn’t have to track down the stolen art. Someone brought it to them.

Los Angeles police said Tuesday they recovered $800,000 worth of prints by Scottish abstract expressionist Benjamin Creme after a caller said they were in a home in the Los Angeles suburb of San Fernando.

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Blade of glory: The mystery around a late president’s sword

Rembrandt Peale’s portrait of William Henry Harrison shows the general’s sword. Harrison became a hero in the War of 1812 by defeating the British at the Battle of the Thames in Ontario. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

CINCINNATI (AP) – An Ohio sheriff wearing white gloves displayed a sword wielded in the American Revolution and by a future U.S. president in the War of 1812, and pledged Wednesday an exhaustive investigation to determine whether it’s the one that disappeared from Cincinnati four decades ago.

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Chippendale furniture: American interpretations

Rare Virginia Chippendale walnut dressing table from the Rappahannock Area, 1760-1780, molded two board top, single dovetailed drawer with poplar secondary, original brass pull, scalloped skirt, Persian arch side skirts, boldly formed legs with trifid feet, 28 ½ x 35 ½ x 20 in. Sold for $46,000 + buyer’s premium at Brunk Auctions on May 18, 2019. Brunk Auctions and LiveAuctioneers image

NEW YORK – Anyone familiar with fine English and American furniture knows the name Chippendale. It’s been synonymous with luxury and quality furniture for more than 250 years. The original maker and designer was Thomas Chippendale (British, 1718-1779), a carpenter and self-promoter who published a collection of his designs in 1754 titled The Gentleman and Cabinet-Makers Directory. The book featured templates of his creations and is widely considered the first furniture design book. It was so popular that furniture makers in America as well as England used it and copied his designs. In fact, the name Chippendale is often associated with all mid-18th century furniture.

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