Case Antiques weathers winter storm with record-setting auction

This oil on canvas snow scene by Johann Berthelsen mirrored the weather in much of the Eastern U.S. on the weekend of the sale. The painting brought $9,676. Case Antiques image
This oil on canvas snow scene by Johann Berthelsen mirrored the weather in much of the Eastern U.S. on the weekend of the sale. The painting brought $9,676. Case Antiques image

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A blizzard hammered much of Tennessee and the East Coast on Jan. 23, but at the Winter Case Antiques Auction, the records were falling faster than the snow. It turned out to be the most successful sale in company history, with a record sale total that exceeded the high estimate by 20 percent; a record-smashing 4,770 bidders from 70 companies participating in person, by phone, Internet, and written absentee bid; a 96 percent sell-through rate, and several individual artist auction records.

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Sold out in Cleveland: Richards’ chromogenic photos

 

Lot 71 – William Richards (1917-2004) ‘Hour Glass Parade,’ chromogenic color print assemblage, 53 1/2in x 43in, sold for $650. Gray’s Auctioneers image
Lot 71 – William Richards (1917-2004) ‘Hour Glass Parade,’ chromogenic color print assemblage, 53 1/2in x 43in, sold for $650. Gray’s Auctioneers image

 

CLEVELAND – Gray’s solo artist auction of William Richards’ chromogenic color photographs on Jan. 20 had a 100 percent sell-through rate, setting a record for the auction house.

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Folding money: Irving Harper paper sculptures hit $1.2M

Irving Harper, Untitled (Owl), paper construction with doll eyes 30.5 h x 14 w x 13 d in. Estimate: $7,000-$9,000. Result: $48,750. Wright image
Irving Harper, Untitled (Owl), paper construction with doll eyes 30.5 h x 14 w x 13 d in. Estimate: $7,000-$9,000. Result: $48,750. Wright image

 

CHICAGO – Wright’s auction of Irving Harper paper sculptures had record bidding activity and throughout the eight-hour auction 99 percent of the 300 lots sold with sales totaling $1,166,975.Continue reading

Artful silver teapot hits full steam at $18,000

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Michael and Maureen Banner (Americans, 20th century), hand-wrought teapot of sterling silver and enamel, 16 1/8 inches high. Price realized: $18,000. Kaminski Auctions image

 

BEVERLY, Mass. – Kaminski Auctions sold a silver teapot for $18,000 on Jan. 17, a record for the auction house. Renowned New England silversmiths Michael and Maureen Banner crafted the 20th century vessel.

LiveAuctioneers chose the teapot (above) to feature in Art Daily as “Best Photo of the Day,” giving the piece added exposure prior to the auction.

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Seaside mansion’s trappings snapped up at Kodner Galleries

Pair of 19th century French gilt bronze sconces with finely cast relief Bacchus masks and grape leaf swags. Price realized: $7,260. Kodner Galleries image
Pair of 19th century French gilt bronze sconces with finely cast relief Bacchus masks and grape leaf swags. Price realized: $7,260. Kodner Galleries image

 

DANIA BEACH, Fla. – Kodner Galleries’ first auction of 2016, which featured a prominent estate, was a big success with 95 percent of the 350 lots being sold. The Jan. 13 auction featured the contents of the Van Waveren estate, an architecturally significant Addison Mizner designed Palm Beach mansion overlooking the ocean and included fine 18th and 19th century Italian and French furniture, art, decoration and estate jewelry.
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Pakistani painting tops million-dollar Ahlers & Ogletree auction

Untitled watercolor on paper of a young woman by Pakistani artist Abdur Rahman Chughtai (1897-1975). Price realized: $70,800. Ahlers & Ogletree image
Untitled watercolor on paper of a woman by Pakistani artist Abdur Rahman Chughtai (1897-1975). Price realized: $70,800. Ahlers & Ogletree image

 

ATLANTA – An untitled watercolor on paper rendering of a young woman with a flower by the renowned Pakistani artist Abdur Rahman Chughtai (1897-1975) sold for $70,800 at Ahlers & Ogletree estates auction Jan. 2-3.

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Mecum motorcycle auction rallies to record $9M in sales

 

Lot S74, a 1912 Henderson Four, sold for $165,000 (hammer price). Mecum Auctions image
Lot S74, a 1912 Henderson Four, sold for $165,000 (hammer price). Mecum Auctions image

 

WALWORTH, Wis. – Celebrating its quarter-century anniversary, the annual Mecum MidAmerica Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction achieved an astounding $9,054,965 in total sales and an 80-percent sell-through rate. In all, 516 motorcycles hammered sold of the 646 offered Jan. 7-9.

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Bidding on Famille Rose dishes blossoms at $100,300 for Michaan’s

The larger Famille Rose dish measured 6 3/8 inches in diameter. The two sold for $103,000. Michaan's image
The larger Famille Rose dish measured 6 3/8 inches in diameter. The two sold for $103,000. Michaan’s image

 

ALAMEDA, Calif. – As Michaan’s Auctions held their first estate sale of 2016 on Jan. 9, the dominance of Asian antiques set off proverbial fireworks. The sale of lot 210, two small Famille Rose dishes of the 19th century, proved astounding. Amid heavy phone bidding, a Beijing-based bidder who attended live snapped up the dishes for $100,300.

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The second-most-important person at any auction is…

The Alexander Hamilton Powder Horn, 1773
The Alexander Hamilton Powder Horn, 1773

 

CLOSTER, N.J. (ACNI) – On Monday, Jan. 11, an iconic and highly important piece of American history crossed the auction block in New Jersey. It was a 1773 powder horn that almost certainly was personally inscribed and owned by Founding Father and first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton.

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