PHILADELPHIA – On Sunday, March 5, from 4 pm to 8 pm Eastern time, the Material Culture auction house will join Cedar Diaspora, Norma’s Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine and a talented lineup of musicians and dancers to stage an event titled “Music and Mezze for Hope, A Benefit for Turkey and Syria.”
ATLANTA – At the dawn of every month, ACN columnist Ken Hall gathers top auction highlights from across the country and also the world. The March 2023 edition of Ken’s Gallery Report showcases a wealth of strong results. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.
Alphonse Mucha suite, $40,625, Everard Auctions and Appraisals
A complete 1896 suite of four lithographs by Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), titled The Seasons, sold for $40,625 at a Winter Southern Estates and Collections auction held February 28 and March 1 by Everard Auctions and Appraisals in Savannah, Georgia. Also, a circa-1910 Tiffany Studios 12-light favrile glass gilt bronze Lily lamp brought $35,000; a signed Tabriz figural carpet went for $8,125; and an Eldred Wheeler maple secretary bookcase brought $6,875.
Chippendale walnut table, $22,500, Nye & Company Auctioneers
A circa-1765 Philadelphia Chippendale carved and figured walnut dressing table sold for $22,500 in an online-only Chic and Antique Estate Treasures auction held Jan. 25-27 by Nye & Company Auctioneers in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Also, an Edison Electric Pen, including the original box, wires and stone sharpening tool, realized $21,250; a Daum Nancy Blackbird frosted vase rose to $18,750; and a set of six Queen Anne dining chairs attributed to William Savery settled at $10,880.
Maud Lewis oil painting, CA$44,250, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.
A painting by the renowned Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis (1903-1970), titled Three Black Cats, sold for $44,250 in an online-only Canadiana & Folk Art auction held February 11 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., based in New Hamburg, Canada. Seven paintings by Lewis in the auction brought a combined $198,380. Also, four paintings by Nova Scotia artist Joe Norris (1924-1996) realized a total of $49,560. Prices are in Canadian dollars.
Old West author / historian archive, $2,625, Holabird Western Americana Collections
An archive of material pertaining to Old West author, artist and historian Ernest L. Reedstrom (1928-2003) sold for $2,625 in Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC’s two-day Treasures from the Shelves auction held Feb. 18-19 in Reno, Nevada. Also, a USS Utah photo diary of the Tampico Affair of 1914 and the invasion of Veracruz, Mexico brought $1,750, and a circa 1894-1896 Oriental coffin flask bottle out of Lamar, Colorado, lavender in color, realized $1,500.
Eminem’s Nike sneakers, $40,625, Julien’s Auctions
Musical artist Eminem’s signed and worn Nike Air Max sneakers sold for $40,625 at a Musicares Charity Relief Auction held February 5 by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, California. Also, Paul McCartney’s personally signed book The Lyrics brought $25,600; Taylor Swift’s signed 2020 Epiphone acoustic guitar garnered $25,000; a Joe Perry stage-played and signed Gibson Les Paul electric guitar made $22,400; and a Slash-signed Gibson Les Paul electric guitar commanded $22,400.
Hemingway book, $277,200, Freeman’s
A 1924 first edition copy of Ernest Hemingway’s book in our time sold for $277,200 at a Books and Manuscripts auction held February 2 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, a Reconstruction-era map of Galveston, Texas – the only known copy to have ever been offered at auction – brought $30,240, and an inscribed association copy of Stride Toward Freedom, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s memoir of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, finished at $12,600.
1958 double die Lincoln penny, $1.136 million, GreatCollections
A 1958 Lincoln cent, described as a ‘double die’ because it was mistakenly made with doubling in some letters on the coin’s obverse, sold for $1.136 million at a series of six auctions for the collection of the late Stewart Blay ending January 29 at GreatCollections of Irvine, California. It was the most ever paid for a Lincoln cent and was the finest of the three 1958 double dies known. Blay’s collection of 276 Lincoln cents, dating back to 1909 and all in mint condition, sold for a combined $7.732 million during the six days.
Pastel portrait by Beauford Delaney, $48,000, Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
A vivid pastel portrait of a blue-eyed man by the Tennessee-born African American abstract expressionist Beauford Delaney sold for $48,000 at a Winter Auction held Jan. 28-29 by Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals in Knoxville, Tennessee. Also, a church picnic scene by the self-taught African American artist Helen Lafrance realized $25,600; a painted blanket chest from Wythe County, Virginia brought $40,960; and a Korean silver inlaid iron censer went to a determined bidder for $37,500.
C. Gilman shelf clock, $51,250, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers
A 19th-century B. C. Gilman (Exeter, N.H.) Boston shelf clock sold for $51,250 at a Couture, Jewelry and Fine & Decorative Art auction held February 27 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, an early 20th-century Duffner & Kimberly heraldic armorial table lamp brought $4,062; a Jose Reyes (American and Filipino, 1902-1980) Nantucket friendship basket hit $3,750; and an Old Master oil painting of Christ by Charles Robert Leslie made $3,750.
1952 Topps baseball brick, $873,300, Morphy Auctions
An unopened 1952 Topps baseball brick containing eight factory-sealed 5-cent wax packs sold for $873,300 at a Toys, Sports Cards & General Collectibles Auction held Feb. 1-3 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pennsylvania. Each of the eight packs held five cards and it was widely speculated they were likely from Topps’ first series. The brick could be traced back to a private purchase in Seattle in 1991. The new owner is a collector who wished to remain anonymous.
Five-volume maritime atlas, $38,525, Old World Auctions
A five-volume maritime atlas from 1764 by J. N. Bellin, including 581 maps of the world and continents, plus many regional maps and city plans and coastal charts, sold for $38,525 in a sale held Jan. 25-Feb. 8 by Old World Auctions in Richmond, Virginia. Also, A New Map of Texas, with the Contiguous American & Mexican States from 1837, by Samuel Augustus Mitchell, earned $14,950; and a carte-a-figures world map created in 1652 by Claes Janszoon Visscher achieved $10,925.
Tiffany Studios window, $237,500, Fontaine’s Auction Gallery
A Tiffany Studios Jesus in a Field of Lilies window sold to a church for $237,500 at a Fine and Decorative Arts auction held January 28 by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Also, a grouping of yellow diamonds from one estate, led by an 18K white gold, yellow gold and diamond ring, rang up $181,250; a circa-1910 Tiffany Studios Curtain Border floor lamp achieved $100,000; and a circa-1905 Tiffany Studios Moorish and Turtle Back chandelier rose to $81,250.
Wolfgang Paalen painting, $163,000, Hindman
A vibrant untitled 1943 painting by Wolfgang Paalen sold for $163,000 at a Figuratively Speaking auction held February 10 by Hindman in Chicago. Also, two other works by Paalen, from 1947 and 1943, went for $47,250 and $20,160, respectively; two paintings by Alice Rahon, Paalen’s wife, one untitled from 1946 and one dubbed Le Chat from 1943, each went for $13,860; and a portrait of the artist and critic Florence Arquin by Kathleen Blackshear earned $9,450.
Colt Model 1847 revolver, $105,750, Rock Island Auction Company
A C Company U.S. Colt Model 1847 Walker percussion revolver sold for $105,750 at a Sporting & Collector Auction ending February 17 at Rock Island Auction Company in Rock Island, Illinois. Also, an engraved Civil War New Haven Arms Company Henry lever action rifle hit the mark for $41,125; an early serial number 5 Colt black powder SAA in scarce 44 Rimfire made $18,880; and a Civil War-era LeMat Grape Shot changed hands for $16,450.
W. Jacobs’ Salthaven, $31,250, Potter & Potter Auctions
A first edition presentation copy of W. W. Jacobs’ (British, 1863-1943) book titled Salthaven, inscribed to and by Samuel C. Clemens (aka Mark Twain, 1835-1910), sold for $31,250 at a Fine Books & Manuscripts auction held February 16 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a near-fine set of J.R.R. Tolkien’s (1892-1973) the Lord of the Rings trilogy brought $19,200, and a 37-volume collection of The Works of Mark Twain realized $16,250.
Daniel Boone compass, $109,375, Heritage Auctions
A compass owned by legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone sold for $109,375 at an Americana & Political Signature Auction held Feb. 25-26 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, a carte de visite signed by President Abraham Lincoln as a donation to a Sanitary Fair held Oct. 18, 1864 in Tazewell City, Illinois earned $106,250; a circa-1857 double partner’s desk designed by Thomas U. Walter made $40,000; and a display with signatures of both Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth rose to $37,500.
Marc Chagall artwork, $8,400, Nadeau’s Auction Gallery
An artwork by Marc Chagall (1887-1985), titled Daphnis et Grathon, signed and numbered (26/60), sold for $8,400 at a Midcentury, Modern Art & Contemporary Sale held January 28 by Nadeau’s Auction Gallery in Windsor, Connecticut. Also, a pair of Mies van der Rohe Barcelona leather lounge chairs left the room for $5,000; a 1981 landscape by Charles Griffin Farr (1908-1997), titled Tuolumme, reached $4,305; and Salvador Dali’s Manhattan Skyline finished at $5,700.
2007 factory-sealed iPhone, $63,356, LCG Auctions
A 2007 factory-sealed first-edition iPhone sold for a new record price of $63,356 at a Winter Premier Auction held February 19 by LCG Auctions in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Also, a 1978 Star Wars Boba Fett action figure (Canada 20-Back AFA 85) realized $22,206; a 1982 Masters of the Universe Battle Ram vehicle (AFA 85) sped off with $20,920; a 1983 G.I. Joe Dragonfly vehicle (XH-1 AFA 85) brought $9,418; and a 1984 Transformers Bumble Bee (AFA 85) earned $18,353.
Orville Bulman work, $63,000, Doyle
A 1967 tropical landscape painting by Orville Bulman (American, 1904-1978), titled Les Nouveaux Familles, sold for $63,000 at a Fine Art auction held February 15 by Doyle in New York City. Also, a 1991 sculpture by Olbram Zoubek (Czech, 1926-2017), titled Eve-Arrow, attained $9,825; an unframed color lithograph after Pablo Picasso, titled Tete de Bouffon, realized $9,450; and a 1992 painting by Hunt Slonem (American, b. 1951-), titled Chandelier 8, hit $8,820.
Click to view top auction results on LiveAuctioneers: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/
WILTON, Conn. – An eclectic sale featuring items signed by historical luminaries as diverse as theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, France’s King Louis VII and Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere is scheduled for Wednesday, March 15, by University Archives. The online-only Rare Manuscripts, Books & Sports Memorabilia auction will begin at 11 am Eastern time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
DALLAS – A pair of paintings by an artist who was aboard a ship that tried to rescue survivors from the Titanic sold for $112,500, and a typewriter that belonged to one of the most popular and successful authors in American history reached $106,250 to lead Heritage Auctions’ Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction to $1,926,019 on February 22.
NEW YORK – On Thursday, March 9, starting at 6 pm Eastern time, Jasper52 will hold its next sale of Americana, Folk Art, and Outsider Art. As always, the auction is curated by Clifford Wallach, an expert in tramp art, folk art and Americana. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
CHICAGO – Potter & Potter Auctions will hold a 632-lot Vintage Posters sale on Thursday, March 16, starting at 10 am Pacific time. It will feature the company’s biggest selection of posters from World War I and World War II to date. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
WORCESTER, Mass. — The Worcester Art Museum (WAM) will present Frontiers of Impressionism, an exhibition that paints a global picture of Impressionism, exploring the evolution and expansion of the revolutionary artistic movement through time and space. The exhibition opens April 1 and runs through June 25.
NEW YORK – The collective Roman world, both the republic and empire, is the longest-lasting centralized national government in history, spanning the ancient world of 753 B.C. to the Middle Ages of 1453. It influenced the course of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa for more than 2,200 years. Kings, consuls and emperors reigned and ruled as dictators, despots, and enlightened heroes, leaving a legacy of language, art, architecture, religion, science, technology and laws that still shape daily life around the world today. Many of its stories are easily told through its bronze coinage which, once touched, leaves a lasting memory of all of Rome’s achievements, failures and influences. This very basic guide to Roman bronze and copper coins identifies the major ones authorized and minted by the Roman government.