GENESEO, N.Y. – Cottone Auctions’s May 7-8 auction, which contained more than 650 lots, brought in $1.3 million. A fresh to the market American Revolutionary-era tiger maple rifle attracted competitive bidding and soared past its highest estimate, stealing the spotlight on the first day of the sale.
NEW YORK — Auctions of Modern & Post-War Art, Fine Photographs, and Contemporary Art at Swann Galleries in late May and early June 2021 brought in a total of $3,985,089 and at least 11 records.
MONROVIA, Calif. – There was plenty of excitement at John Moran Auctioneers in the days leading up to two of our most successful sales of the year, Postwar & Contemporary Art + Design and Prints & Multiples. Not one, but two auction world records were set at the sale and the first belonged to the Hans Jorgensen Wagner AT-33 sewing table, from circa 1960. The teak oak table that boasted drop-leaf sides and a pull-out inset basket was estimated at $1,000-$1,500, but sold for $3,125. The second world record was set with the citrus orange Made In California screenprint by revered Los Angeles artist, Edward Ruscha. The well-known print, produced in an edition of only 100, incited fierce bidding from online auction goers, as well as from nearly every phone available. Estimated at $50,000-$70,000, the stunning 1971 Ruscha piece sold for $100,000.
BOSTON – An original program for President John F. Kennedy’s famous birthday celebration held at Madison Square Garden sold for $29,232 on June 16, according to RR Auction.
The two-page program for the May 19, 1962 event, titled Happy Birthday, Mr. President, was signed on the cover by Marilyn Monroe along with a dozen other autographs from celebrities in attendance.
NEW HAMBURG, Ontario, Canada – A Patek Philippe Reference 3940 perpetual calendar men’s watch with 18K white gold case and clasp, one of the most iconic perpetual calendar wristwatches available today, sold for $50,150 in Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.’s online-only Watches & Jewelry auction held June 12. It was the top lot in a sale that grossed $305,354. All prices quoted are in Canadian dollars.
PHILADELPHIA— Freeman’s is pleased to announce the results of its June 8 Select Design auction, confirming our pride of place in the presentation and sale of works by renowned New Hope-based furniture maker George Nakashima. All but one lot sold in the selective 19-lot auction; more than half of the lots were Nakashima works, and the auction commanded an impressive total of $458,000.
NEW HAMBURG, Canada – Three 19th century American cartridge display boards – two from Winchester and one from Union Metallic Cartridge – sold for a combined $241,900 in an online-only Canadiana & Sporting auction held June 5 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. The sale grossed $496,219, including the buyer’s premium. All prices quoted are in Canadian dollars.
DENVER, Pa. – Collectors don’t generally attend auctions just to look. Their goal is to compete aggressively and bring home the best, and that’s exactly what in-gallery and remote bidders did on June 8-9 during Morphy’s $2.6 million Fine & Decorative Arts auction. Bidding paddles were confidently airborne for the more than 2,500 diverse lots that ranged from antique leaded-glass lamps, art pottery, and clocks to glittering jewelry and pedigreed watches.
MONROVIA, Calif. – On May 25, the spirit of the wild west flowed through the 10,000-square-foot showroom at John Moran Auctioneers during its Art of the American West sale. Cowboys and American Indians played nicely through paintings and bronze sculptures, but there was a showdown of epic proportions between bidders participating on every platform available. Beautiful hand-woven rugs, blankets, and baskets had a 100% sell-through rate, and contemporary Western artwork earned its place next to historical depictions of the West, placing bright splashes of color next to rich browns and reds.
WILTON, Conn. – A manuscript penned by Sir Isaac Newton, with mathematical notes and calculations relating to Book III of his iconic scientific work Principia, changed hands for $118,750 in University Archives’ online-only auction of rare autographs, manuscripts, artwork, and comic art held on May 26. It was the top-selling item of the 409 lots in the sale.