NAPLES, Fla. – Auctions Neapolitan’s March 13 Discovery Sale features approximately 425 lots of fine estate antiques, art glass, a World War II army officer’s military collection and accomplished artworks by African-American artists. Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.
Leading the African-American lots is a 1969 oil painting by Alvin D. Loving Jr. (1935-2005, Detroit and New York). The artist-signed geometric acrylic work on a custom hexagonal stretcher may be titled Blue and Red, based on a pencil inscription on verso. The painting comes with a photocopy of the original gallery receipt from William Zeirler Inc., 956 Madison Avenue, New York. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000.
An oil painting of a graffiti-covered brick wall by African-American artist Walter Cade III (New York, b. 1936-) is a mid-20th-century work measuring 50 inches by 26 inches. The signed picture is estimated at $1,800-$2,200.
Norris Embry’s (1921-1981) mixed media painting titled No. 74 could draw comparisons to the style of Joan Miro or even Jean-Michel Basquiat. Embry was an American neo-Expressionist artist born on January 14, 1921 in Louisville, Kentucky. He grew up in East Orange, N.J., outside New York City, and in the Chicago suburb of Evanston. After completing high school, he studied at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Md., and the Art Institute in Chicago. In the late 1940s, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. His teacher there, the Expressionist painter Oskar Kokoschka, would have a lasting influence on Embry’s work. Auctions Neapolitan’s owner, Kathleen Pica, believes Embry’s work could become very important. “His auction records haven’t gotten really high in the past, but I think they will in the future because his art is very good,” Pica said. “There are many paintings in this sale that could be described similarly – excellent works that have yet to be discovered in the mainstream.”
An Impressionist oil by the French artist Yolande Ardissone (b. 1927-) depicts small yachts – perhaps a sailing school – at waterside. Signed at lower left and with a Wally Findlay Galleries paper label on verso, the 25½ inch by 30½ inch painting is expected to make $2,000-$3,000.
Decorative art highlights include a circa-1860s Meissen porcelain nodder of a Chinese man. Hand painted to a very high standard, the 6-inch-tall nodder has moving hands and tongue, and retains its original lead weight and crossed-swords mark. Estimate: $3,000-$5,000.
A comprehensive militaria consignment reviews the career of World War II veteran the late Lt. Arthur H. Krieger, formerly of the 500th Bomb Squadron, a k a the “Rough Raiders.” The collection of medals, badges, photographs (in album), ephemera and other personal articles came to Auctions Neapolitan from Lt. Krieger’s family. “It’s a war and postwar-era time capsule,” Pica noted. “What’s particularly interesting is that Lt. Krieger served in three branches of the U.S. military as well as the Royal Canadian Air Force. I think collectors will find this grouping to be fascinating, especially the airplane navigator’s log from 1944.” Estimate: $800-$1,200.
In addition to china, crystal, Japanese woodblock prints, bronzes, dolls and furniture, the sale includes art glass (Quezal shades, Lalique, Steuben) and a 1923 New York Yankees team-signed baseball. Most notable among the signatories is Babe Ruth. The ball has been authenticated by Richard Simon Sports Inc. in New York, and comes with a certificate of authenticity from the company. Estimate: $5,000-$7,000.
“This sale is comprised in its entirety of private consignments of fresh-to-market goods,” said Pica. “Most of the items came from very nice homes in the Naples, Florida area. While the contents are not grand, they’re very good. Much of what we’ll be auctioning is in the under-$500 range, but they’re things that people like.”
For additional information on any item in the sale, call 239-262-7333. View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
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ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
