Cowan’s hosts contemp. ceramics, 20th century design auctions May 17

Lino Tagliapietra, glass vessel. Estimate: $2,500-$3,500. Cowan’s Auctions Inc. image.

CINCINNATI – Cowan’s Auctions Inc. will host their Modern and Contemporary Ceramics Auction on Friday, May 17. The ceramics sale will feature exceptional works by Arman, Robert Arneson, Jun Kaneko, Hans Coper, Lucie Rie, Toshiko Takaezu, Beatrice Wood and a special feature, “The Art of Peter Voulkos.” Cowan’s 20th Century Art + Design sale will immediately follow the ceramics auction and will highlight exceptional pieces of mid-century and contemporary design, fine art, works on paper, photography and art glass. The sale will also feature works from Roy Lichtenstein, Lino Tagliapietra, Beatrice Wood, Viola Frey, Edward Wormley and Ansel Adams.

LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

Masterworks from Peter Voulkos will hit the auction block in the ceramics portion of the sale. An untitled stoneware sculpture from 1957 is estimated at bring anywhere between $40,000-$60,000. Another vessel by Voulkos titled Stack-Bottle from 1975 is expected to sell for $40,000-$50,000, and a plate from 1980 has an estimate of $10,000-$14,000.

Other featured items include a pink and gray bottle vase by Lucie Rie, expected to sell for $20,000-$30,000, a stoneware work by Jun Kaneko titled Dango is estimated at $18,000-$25,000, and an untitled vessel by Hans Coper is expected to bring anywhere between $25,000-$35,000.

Additional ceramics and art glass are expected to perform well in the 20th Century Art + Design auction. A piece by Beatrice Wood titled Self Portrait Sequin Tapestry, is estimated to bring anywhere between $4,000-$6,000. Another ceramic, titled Portland Vase by Viola Frey will hit the auction block with an estimate of $2,500-$3,500, and a glass vessel by Lino Tagliapietra is estimated to sell for $2,500-$3,500.

Photography from well-known artists such as Elliot Porter and Ansel Adams will be included in the sale. Two photographs by Elliot Porter from In Wilderness, estimated at $1,500-$2,000 will be hitting the auction block Friday. A photograph by renowned artist Ansel Adams, titled Alfred Stieglitz at the American Place, New York, is expected to bring $2,000-$3,000. Another photograph by Adams is titled EdwardWeston, Carmel Highlands, California, and is expected to sell for $2,000-$3,000.

Items by Roy Lichtenstein, a leading figure in the American Pop Art movement, will be selling in the May 17 auction. A silkscreen poster, titled Aspen Winter Jazz is expected to fetch $2,000-$3,000, a Turkey Shopping Bag by Lichtenstein is estimated at $2,000-$3,000, and a set of Paper Plates by the artist will hit the block with a low estimate of $500-$1,000

Sterling silver by Georg Jensen will be up for auction. A large hammered sterling silver Georg Jensen compote is estimated to sell for $4,000-$6,000, and a pair of Georg Jensen Sterling candlesticks are expected to sell anywhere between $3,000-$5,000.

For more information about the auction or to consign for future auctions, visit cowans.com or call Sam Cowan at sam@cowans.com or call our offices at 513-871-1670.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.