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Chris-Craft to Picasso

Great Gatsby’s auction March 16-17 ranges from Picasso to Chris-Craft

Chris-Craft to Picasso
Restored 1939 Chris-Craft mahogany-hulled speedboat boat, 22 feet long, powered by a 440-cubic-inch Chrysler motor. Estimate: $50,000-$60,000. Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery image

ATLANTA – On March 16-17, Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery will present over 1,000 premier lots in a Spring Auction featuring an outstanding collection of 19th century French antiques, a monumental pair of Sevres urns, fine oil paintings, an original ink on paper portrait by Pablo Picasso, a private collection of Russian Orthodox icons and a 1939 Chris-Craft powerboat. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

Be the talk of the waterfront this summer behind the wheel of a restored 22-foot Chris-Craft mahogany-hulled speedboat powered by a 300-horsepower 440-cubic inch motor. Offered on behalf of a distinguished Florida gentleman, the three-cockpit Linda B (above) comes with a tandem axle aluminum trailer. This classic boat is accompanied by a current Marine Survey, a condition report prepared by an expert in watercraft.

An exceptional collection of fine furnishings and European porcelains from an estate in Chicago includes a Louis XVI-style mahogany, gilt bronze, and marble commode, after the original made in 1775 by Jean-Henri Riesener, which is now in the collection of the Musée Condé. The commode (below) has a shaped marble top and features a marquetry panel depicting a bird perched on a shell next to a vase of flowers, framed in a gilt bronze stylized leaf border with a mask of Apollo within a sunburst above, panels of floral parquetry decoration and four gilt bronze figures of Mars, Hercules, Temperance and Prudence resting in niches.

Chris-Craft to Picasso
Louis XVI-style mahogany, gilt bronze and marble commode, 39.5in. high x 79.5in. wide x 32in. deep. Estimate: $18,000-$25,000. Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery image

The impressive selection of monumental 19th century French carved cabinets includes Lots 735 and 736 – a matched pair of French vitrines.

Also from the Chicago estate is a pair of 41-inch-tall ormolu mounted Sevres urns from the 19th century. Each has a different scene of a courting couple in 18th century garb walking with putti in a bucolic setting on one side, and a spray of flowers on the other. The urns are maker-marked.

Chris-Craft to Picasso
Pair of monumental ormolu mounted Sevres urns, 19th century, maker marked, 41in. high x 17in. wide. Estimate: $25,000-$35,000. Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery image

Works of art by listed artists include Frantisek Kupka (Lot 655), Michael Argov (Lot 81), David Burliuk (Lot 690), Molly Guion (Lot 677), Ben Smith (Lot 681) and Evgeny Roukhin (Lot 684).

Frantisek Kupka (Czech/French, 1871-1957) is best known for having co-founded the abstract art movement. His large oil painting offered in Great Gatsby’s auction depicts a nude woman arranging her hair while seated at a vanity.

Chris-Craft to Picasso
Frantisek Kupka (Czech/French, 1871-1957) oil painting, signed lower left, 44in. x 33in., overall size with frame 51in. x 44in. Estimate: $40,00-$60,000. Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery image

A watercolor on paper by Ettore Simonetti (Italian, 1857-1909) depicts a dozing cardinal and a courting couple in a luxurious interior with a table set for taking tea and wine. The signed work is under glass in a carved and gilt-decorated frame.

Chris-Craft to Picasso
Ettore Simonetti (Italian, 1857-1909), watercolor on paper, 26.5in. x 36in., overall size with frame 36in. x 46in. Estimate: $6,000-$8,000. Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery image

Perhaps the most interesting work is a Pablo Picasso original ink on paper portrait of the author Harold Robbins created in 1967 and signed by Picasso. The portrait depicts Robbins resting his head on one hand while holding a pen. The work is inscribed, “A mon ami Harold,” and signed Picasso, with a copy of the authentication letter signed by Harold Robbins’ widow, Jann Robbins, on their family stationery.

Chris-Craft to Picasso
Pablo Picasso, (Spanish 1881-1973), ink on paper portrait of author Harold Robbins, circa 1967, 28.5in x 21in. overall size with frame 48.5in. x 32.5in. wide. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000. Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery image

This auction also offers the second half of the esteemed private collection of 18th and 19th century Russian Orthodox icons and liturgical items. Among the rare items on offer are two 18th century processional banners (Lots 617 and 720) and traditional icons featured in Lots 260, 148, 137, 364 and 608.

Chris-Craft to Picasso
Orthodox icon, late 18th or early 19th century, oil on board with cloth decorated with couched coiled gilt threads, metal sequins and glass beads, depicting Christ Pantocrator, 11.5in. x 8.5in., overall size including frame 15in. x 12in. Estimate: $300-$400. Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery image

A private collection of Chinese and Southeast Asian sculptures including Lots 589 and 697.  Although crafted in the 1970s, they are, nonetheless, visually impressive standing at 99 inches high and 96 inches high respectively and will certainly cause viewers to pause when coming upon them in any interior.

The Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery Spring Auction will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern time both days, Saturday, March 16, and Sunday, March 17.

For details contact Great Gatsby’s Auction Gallery at Auction@GreatGatsbys.com or 770-457-1903.

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