One of six lots of Al Williamson (1931-2020) original, unpublished concept art that preceded the ‘Star Wars’ daily newspaper comic strip (which was ultimately written and drawn by Russ Manning and ran from 1979-1984). Of 12 proposal strips created by Williamson, the first six were gifted to George Lucas; the other six were given to Star Wars marketing genius Charles Lippincott, whose widow has consigned them to Hake’s. Sold for $46,730
YORK, Pa. – Original comic strip art continues to solidify its position alongside fine art in the collector marketplace, with the latest proof coming on day two of Hake’s July 26-27 auction of pop culture rarities. Amongst the highlights of the $2.7 million sale was a selection of six consecutive lots of original concept art created in the late 1970s for a proposed Star Wars daily newspaper comic strip. Drawn by legendary comic strip artist Al Williamson (1931-2020) as part of a series of twelve strips, the artworks never saw publication.
GLEN COVE, N.Y. – Roland Auctions NY will present its next multi-estates auction on Saturday, August 13 at 1 pm Eastern time. It will feature hundreds of lots of fine and contemporary art, silver, decorative arts, unique Asian items, antique and vintage furniture, jewelry and lighting. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
The Palos Verdes Art Center will host a Royal Jubilee Tea Party in honor of Queen Elizabeth II on August 14, with guest speaker Emily Waterfall, director of the Bonhams jewelry department.
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. – On Sunday, August 14, from 1 pm to 4 pm Pacific time, the Palos Verdes Art Center will host a Royal Jubilee Tea Party in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. Its headline speaker will be Bonhams Director of Jewelry Emily Waterfall.
A memorial bronze bust of a king’s mother dating to the 16th century, from the Benin Kingdom in what is now Nigeria, photographed on display at the Ethnological Museum in Berlin in November 2014. Germany and Nigeria recently made an agreement for Germany to return several Benin bronzes to Nigeria, but other European countries have been less receptive to African requests for the return of their art and artifacts. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Daderot. Shared under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) – Apollo John Rwamparo speaks forlornly of the eight-legged stool, a symbol of authority for his ancient kingdom in Uganda, now glimpsed through a glass barrier at a museum thousands of miles away in Britain. The wooden stool is permanently exhibited at the University of Oxford, one of at least 279 objects there taken from Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom during the colonial era. Oxford has resisted attempts to have the stool repatriated, saying it was donated by a royal from a breakaway kingdom. “It’s quite frustrating,” said Rwamparo, a deputy prime minister and minister for tourism for the kingdom. “The best is for them to swallow their pride, like the French and the Germans have done, and return the artifacts.”
African countries’ efforts at restitution, after long resistance from authorities in Europe, are now blossoming with the return of treasured pieces that once were thought unattainable.
Genesis Baez, ‘The Sound of A Circle,’ 2018. Pigment print. Courtesy of the DIA
DETROIT – On view now through January 8, 2023, the Detroit Institute of Arts presents the photography exhibition Conscious Response: Photographers Changing the Way We See. It explores the history of visual storytelling and image-making through the eyes of more than 25 artists who have used photography to record and reflect upon human experiences that impact the work they make and our perceptions of the world.
A Seal of Kentucky Whiskey tin sign achieved $37,500 plus the buyer’s premium in May 2019. Image courtesy of Showtime Auction Services and LiveAuctioneers.
NEW YORK — By today’s standards, early whiskey advertising may seem dated and male-centric. Images of elegantly-attired, cigar-smoking gentlemen drinking together as well as hunting scenes with buffalos and Old West cowboys dominate the medium. The macho archetype of the typical whiskey drinker of the early 1800s gave rise to a whole genre of advertising to appeal to that market. While such advertising imagery would likely not be produced today, it still holds appeal to collectors.
