Auction Results Archives - Live Auctioneers

Witches and veggie people stole the show at Bertoia’s $1.5M auction

December 7, 2018/in Auction Results /by Catherine Saunders-Watson

Extremely rare Halloween vegetable man holding jack-o-lantern, circa 1920s, $10,200

VINELAND, N.J. – A holiday atmosphere enlivened with the colors and iconic characters of Halloween and Christmas greeted guests to Bertoia’s Nov. 9-11 Annual Fall Auction. The cataloged Friday and Saturday sessions were followed by an uncataloged bonus session brimming with excellent toys at moderate price points. Online bidding was nonstop on all three days through LiveAuctioneers.

Storied provenance drives Millea Bros. 3-day sale above expectations

December 6, 2018/in Auction Results /by Tom Hoepf

The top-selling David Hockney photograph from the personal collection of Ileana Sonnabend was ‘John St. Clair Swimming,’ 1976, that fetched $16,250. Millea Bros. image

BOONTON, N.J. – Realtors say it’s all about location, location and location. For Millea Bros., their Nov. 15-17 Select auction was all about provenance, provenance and provenance. Renowned art dealer, collector and philanthropist Eugene Thaw died at age 90 in January, leaving behind a large estate that was auctioned at Christie’s and Millea Bros. His wife, Clare, had died in 2017. The treasure trove offered by Millea Bros. evinces Thaw’s keen eye and includes fine antiques, American folk art, European art spanning antiquities to Impressionism, Victorian era architectural models, and post-Impressionist and modern art. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

Auction Team Breker thrives with the sounds of music

December 4, 2018/in Auction Results /by Tom Hoepf

Silver-gilt and enamel singing bird box automaton. Price realized: €32,740/$37,300. Auction Team Breker image

COLOGNE, Germany – On Nov. 9, Auction Team Breker offered the mechanical music collection of the late Luuk Goldhoorn, the famously private author and historian of Utrecht, The Netherlands. Goldhoorn was a respected and generous researcher, as a glance through the acknowledgments of almost any recent book on the mechanical music industry will confirm. In addition to his many detailed articles in the specialist press and contributions to the Dutch museum Speelklok in Utrecht. Goldhoorn was best remembered for his reference work on 19th-century Austrian musical boxes, which he described as a forgotten craft. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

Steve McQueen Rolex rallies to $17,500 at Andrew Jones Auctions

December 3, 2018/in Auction Results /by Tom Hoepf

Rolex Steve McQueen Explorer II stainless steel, automatic dual time zone bracelet wristwatch. Price realized: $17,500. Andrew Jones Auctions image

LOS ANGELES – A striking pair of Art Deco silver mounted ruby glass vases by Jean Puiforcat sold for $28,750, a pair of retro Van Cleef & Arpels gold, diamond and ruby ear clips fetched $13,750 and a Rolex Steve McQueen Explorer II stainless steel wristwatch hit $17,500 at Andrew Jones Auctions’ Nov. 18 holiday edition of the Design for the Home & Garden Auction. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

Tiffany, Sevres command impressive prices at Clars auction

November 29, 2018/in Auction Results /by Tom Hoepf

This impressive and important pair of American sterling silver candelabra sold for $52,275. Clars Auction Gallery image

OAKLAND, Calif. –Exceptional offerings in both decorative arts and fine art led the sale at Clars’ Nov. 18 Fine Art, Decorative Art, Furniture, Jewelry and Asian Art Auction. The impressive works in the auction drew bidders from around the world resulting in strong prices and a few exciting surprises. The investment level property offered at this sale came from prominent California estates, museums, private institutions and special collections. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

Birger Sandzen painting tops Woody Auction 2-day sale at $39K

November 28, 2018/in Auction Results /by Tom Hoepf

Original oil on board painting signed by Birger Sandzén. Price realized: $39,000. Woody Auction image

DOUGLASS, Kan. – An original oil on board painting by the Swedish-born American painter Birger Sandzén (1871-1954) climbed to $39,000 and an outstanding seven-piece solid sterling silver tea set by the Loring Andrews Co. (Cincinnati, Ohio) brought $14,000 at a huge, two-day auction held Nov. 9-10 by Woody Auction. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers. All prices quoted are hammer prices.

Making Americana great again at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

November 27, 2018/in Auction Results /by Tom Hoepf

‘Henry Clay’ slate blue pressed open salt. Price realized: $22,230. Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates image

CRAWFORD, Va. – The Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates Nov. 8-10 Americana & Fine Antiques Auction was a highly successful event and produced robust prices in multiple categories. The three-day format consisted of 2,001 lots of high-quality material, much of which was fresh to the market, and, in several cases, had descended directly in the families of the original owners. Bidding was intense throughout each day with thousands of registered bidders from numerous countries participating in house and online. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

Ghostbusters movie prop tops $71,000 in Hake’s $1.5M auction

November 26, 2018/in Auction Results /by Catherine Saunders-Watson

‘Ghost Trap’ film prop used in the films Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989), based on an idea by Dan Ayroyd. Top lot of the sale at $71,390

YORK, Pa. – In mid-November, Hake’s Auctions concluded a banner year in high-flying style with a $1.5 million sale that underscored the relentless collector interest in Star Wars, movie and political memorabilia, and pop culture in general. The Nov. 13-15 event, which consisted of two days of selling separated by a gap day, pushed the year’s total for the Pennsylvania-based company to $5.9 million.

Gainsborough study sells for $103K at Woodshed Art Auctions

November 26, 2018/in Auction Results /by Tom Hoepf

Study by Thomas Gainsborough for perhaps his most intricate and recognizable composition, ‘The Honourable Mrs. Graham.’ Price realized: $103,125. Woodshed Art Auctions image

FRANKLIN, Mass. – Research by Bruce Wood of Woodshed Art Auctions propelled what was initially believed to be a copy of a painting to a six-figure finish at the firm’s Nov. 1 fine art auction titled Gainsborough, Monet, Warhol & Friends. The painting was an oil portrait study by Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) titled The Honourable Mrs. Graham. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

Julien’s Auctions sells Marilyn Monroe’s ’56 T-Bird for $490K

November 19, 2018/in Auction Results /by Tom Hoepf

Marilyn Monroe’s 1956 Ford Thunderbird sold for $490,000. Image courtesy of Julien’s Auctions

LOS ANGELES – Julien’s Auctions held its blockbuster Hollywood auction event of the season, Icons & Idols: Hollywood Nov. 16-17 in front of a excited crowd of collectors and fans bidding live on the floor, online and on the phone across the globe. One of Hollywood’s greatest screen goddesses of all time, Marilyn Monro, dazzled once again with a selection of her never-before-seen, personal property hitting the auction block. Monroe’s 1956 Raven Black Ford Thunderbird convertible cruised to the auction block for the first time and sold for $490,000. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.