Bidding is expected to reach $75,000-$150,000 for this well-documented Santo Domingo painted hide shield and buckskin cover, which date to the early 1800s. Image courtesy of Allard Auctions Inc.
SANTA FE, N.M. – Late August is the peak season for American Indian art enthusiasts to visit New Mexico for first-rate merchandise, and Allard Auctions Inc. will get a leg up on the annual markets with a specialty auction Aug. 14-15 at Scottish Rite Hall. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding both days.
The anticipated top lot of the auction, a documented Pueblo painted hide shield and cover from the early 1800s, will sell on the second day and is expected to bring $75,000-$150,000. “The shield and cover are in remarkably good condition for their age and are from Santo Domingo Pueblo,” said Steve Allard. The owner purchased the shield and the shield cover together in 1991 for $75,000.
This auction of more than 900 lots features the collections of author/historian Ben Thompson of St. Louis, and the late Ted Long, a noted Western artist from North Platte, Neb., plus a famous highline collection from Santa Fe and several small private collections.
Other featured items include a famous documented pueblo fetish collection from Santa Fe, the famous Judge Hooker’s vest and personal items, and a famous pipe ax from the Cody Sitting Bull collection.
“We have the best selection of beadwork and quillwork we’ve ever been able to offer,” said Allard. “We also have a huge group of prehistoric pottery jars, bowls, pitchers, ladles, and rare figures as well as fantastic Pueblo pottery including several big name pieces.”
Typical of Allard auctions, there will be beautiful baskets, old and new kachina dolls, outstanding Navajo rugs and weavings, and a large number of quality jewelry pieces, said Allard.
In addition, some of the unique and interesting items include an Eskimo carved ivory chess set, Mexican folk art pottery figures by Candelerio Medrino, a vintage carved carousel horse, several native pottery nativity sets, a collection of miniature Navajo rugs, miniature pueblo pottery, a pueblo snake dance kilt, five fine Two Gray Hills weavings, a Navajo turquoise and silver urn, and six vintage Concho belts.
Allard Auctions Inc. is located in historic St. Ignatius, Mont., in the heart of the Flathead Indian Reservation. The company conducts at least three large catalog auctions per year, two in Arizona and this one in Santa Fe.
Saturday’s auction will begin at 1 p.m. Mountain. Sunday’s session will start at 11 a.m.
For details visit Allard’s Web site: www.allardauctions.com or call 888-314-0343.
Widely known Hopi ‘Judge Hooker’ Hongeva wore this Cree-made beaded vest around the turn of the 20th century. The lot, which includes the tribal judge’s Sioux-made quirt and Chinese coin sword, has a $5,000-$10,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Allard Auctions Inc. This hand-carved stone fetish collection numbers 37 pieces. With documentation and descriptions, the Zuni, Hopi and other Pueblo fetish carvings from the early 1900s are estimated at $25,000-$50,000. Image courtesy of Allard Auctions Inc. Western Nebraska artist Ted Long (1932-2007) painted ‘Descending The Columbia’ in the early 2000s. The signed oil on canvas, 30 inches by 24 inches, carries a $10,000-$20,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Allard Auctions Inc. Ermine and hair drops decorate this Southern Plains beaded war shirt from the turn of the 20th century. It carries a $10,000-$20,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Allard Auctions Inc. Woven in the 1930s, this outstanding wide-mouth olla is decorated with many human and dog figures, crosses, arrowheads and checkered elements. The 16-inch-tall basket has a $5,000-$10,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Allard Auctions Inc.
Large section of Oceanic Flight 815 wreckage. Estimate $3,000 – $5,000. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History.
NEW YORK and CALABASAS, Calif. – Manhattan-based LiveAuctioneers.com has announced it will provide the Internet live bidding for Profiles in History and ABC Studios’ Aug. 21-22 auction of artifacts from the TV series “LOST.” The officially sanctioned auction contains more than 1,000 lots of props, costumes and set pieces from all six seasons of the hit ABC/Disney television series. The complete auction catalog is already available to view online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com, and it is now possible to bid absentee or sign up to bid live via the Internet on either day of the auction.
“LOST captured the imaginations of many millions of viewers and became ingrained within American pop culture. But it isn’t just an American phenomenon; LOST also has a legion of fans worldwide, so we expect a global turnout of bidders for this auction,” said LiveAuctioneers CEO Julian R. Ellison.
Highlights from the auction include Kate’s toy plane, Hurley’s winning lottery ticket, Locke’s Master Bowie hunting knife, Sawyer’s letter, Charlie’s “DS” ring and guitar, Mr. Eko’s club, The Hatch, and the Swan Station computer. Additional lots include Desmond’s fail safe key, smugglers’ Virgin Mary statue, Faraday’s journal, Hurley’s Camaro, a DHARMA van, DHARMA-branded food and supplies, and many other key props, costumes and set pieces from all six seasons.
“Profiles in History is thrilled to be holding the LOST Auction. LOST is one of the most iconic TV shows ever created, and we are working in conjunction with ABC to offer fans from around the world an opportunity to own a memento of this amazing show,” said Joe Maddalena, president of the Calabasas, Calif., company Profiles in History. “This is a once in a lifetime auction event that will celebrate one of the most beloved shows in television history.”
For information on any lot in the sale, call Joe Maddalena at 310-859-7701 or e-mail info@profilesinhistory.com.
Walt’s distressed shirt & life jacket worn on the raft. Estimate $200 – $300. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History. Hurley’s Camaro. Estimate $15,000 – $25,000. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History. Island time-shifting frozen wheel. Estimate $600 – $800. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History. Locke’s knife. Estimate $800 – $1,000. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History. Sun and Jin’s wedding rings and photos. Estimate $400 – $600. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History. Galaga submarine conning tower and deck. Estimate $1,000 – $1,500. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History. DHARMA Van. Estimate $8,000 – $12,000. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History. DHARMA Jeep. Estimate $6,000 – $8,000. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History. Hurley’s flash-sideways watch. Estimate $1,600 – $1,800. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History.
HOUSTON – A shipment of beautiful French antiques and quality items from local estates produced the many unusual and desirable lots headed to the auction block at Morton Kuehnert’s gallery on Aug. 5. Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.
A beautiful cast-iron gate, (lot # 44, pre-auction estimate $400-$450), a hand-fashioned wrought-iron balcony (lot # 45, $1000-$1,200), and two pairs of wrought-iron lanterns, (lots # 41 and 42, $500-$550 and $400-$450), may well be of interest to buyers building or restoring a home or business.
Some appealing European artworks – an oil painting by P. Donati (lot # 38, $1,000-$1,200) and an oil painting by S. Beaufort (lot #39, $400-$500), offer an opportunity for novice art lovers to add quality pieces to their collection.
To add a dramatic element to any room décor, Kuehnert’s will offer elegant six-panel Coromandel style screens (lots # 199 and 205, each with a pre-auction estimate at $300-$350).
For those who think bling is a girl’s best friend, a ladies’ 9K yellow gold, diamond and agate cameo ring, size 7 (lot # 73, $150-$175) and a ladies’ 14K white gold custom diamond necklace (lot #68, $400-$425) are great choices. An additional 11 lots of jewelry are featured in the sale.
Interesting clocks abound, with lots including: a cobalt blue and white porcelain table clock by Ansonia (lot 9, $150-$200), a painted mantel clock (lot 19, $150-$200), a French marble and bronze mantel clock (lot 26, $500-$600), a French mantel clock (lot 25, $300-$400), an elegant Seth Thomas mantel clock (lot 8, $100-$150), a beautiful French marble, bronze and cloisonné table clock, and a New Haven Clock Company wooden mantel clock (lot 5, $50-$75).
To round out the accessories, two beautiful Oushaks – a Pakistani Serapi – Oushak rug, 12ft. square, (lot #54, $2,000 to $2,500) and a 10ft. by 14ft. Pakistani Oushak (lot #53, $1,500 to $1,700) will be auctioned.
For additional information on any lot in the sale, call Morton Kuehnert Auctioneers & Appraisers at 713-827-7835.
This 1870s ambrotype portrait of abolitionist Frederick Douglass has been widely exhibited in recent years. The quarter plate (4 1/4 inches by 3 1/4 inches) image is expected to bring $10,000-$15,000. Image courtesy of Jackson’s International Auctioneers & Appraisers.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Every decade or so a collection comes to market that ends up being the talk of the trade for years to come. Enthusiasts in the field flock to such sales so as to harvest unique and undiscovered material that can often only be found in such private collections. It is with much excitement then that Jackson’s International Auctioneers and Appraisers of Fine Art and Antiques announces the sale of such a collection on Aug. 24 and 25. Considered by many to be one of the most important of its type, the Ken Oden Collection of African American and African Postcards and Ephemera consists of more than 40,000 individual pieces and is sure to be talked about for years to come.
LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.
Sparked by an acquisition of nine postcards in an antique store nearly two decades ago, Ken Oden of McKeesport, Pa., went on to amass a truly unique collection of printed material that reflects the black experience in America and throughout the world, offering a distinctive glimpse into a past whose history is filled with stereotypes, prejudices and euphemisms portrayed through moving real photo images and colorful and creative artwork.
Working with major dealers and auction houses coast to coast as well as in Europe, Oden’s final product was a 458-album collection of more than 42,000 pieces representing over 5,500 publishers and 125 different categories, providing a visual archive of images reflecting the often forgotten African and African American experiences in the United States, Africa and Europe.
To be certain, the field of black memorabilia collecting – the category in which this collection falls – is charged with a variety of emotions and sentiments. Many find the images and language used to be both offensive and vile. Some wonder that if by constantly “digging up the past” that perhaps blacks are again subjecting themselves to further humiliation and prejudice. Yet others argue that history is history and such items must be saved and interpreted so as to preserve for future generations the reality of a not so distant past rife with often-repugnant imagery and hyperbole.
In delving into this collection, where almost no stone in black history – both American and worldwide – was left unturned, one can experience a veritable walk through the shadowy past of imagery and expressions which are profound and moving and just as frequently disturbing.
One of the most attractive facets of this collection is the quality and quantity of the real photo postcards, more than 3,000 in all. As most collectors know, one of the unique aspects of real photo postcards is the fact that more than a few examples are truly one-of-a-kind, because of the basic method used to produce such cards. Toward the last quarter of the 19th century, itinerant photographers crisscrossed the country producing real photo images printed on photographic paper with postcard backings. It was common for such photographers to stop by any given small town and print real photo postcards of various well-known local scenes such as churches, schools, Main Street as well as people at work and play. Scenes were sometimes only printed in very small quantities making these photos a truly unique and accurate glimpse of everyday life from America’s past. Perhaps more than any other postcard category, real photo values are primarily subject driven.
Far from Main Street however, are some of the more dark and disturbing images from this collection including examples of real photo postcards depicting lynchings, chain gangs and whipping post scenes. On the other end of the spectrum, are examples of real photo postcards depicting Southern scenes of African American children at play and work as well as African American athletes and athletic teams, including Negro League baseball players and teams from 1920s and earlier who represent the unsung heroes who laid the foundation for those who would go on to break various racial barriers in the ensuing decades. Patriotic images are also represented in the collection often depicting proud African Americans dressed in the uniform of one of the armed forces.
One of the most remarkable groupings of material in the collection to be offered will be that relating to the amazing life of Josephine Baker, a black woman who was the biggest European celebrity of her time, but ridiculed and refused service in her native America. The collection contains more than 350 pieces including over 150 real photo cards, autographed letters, programs and cigarette cards all featuring Baker.
More than 3,500 pieces of advertising material from the real photo to color lithograph printed pieces will be sold including hundreds of early Victorian trade cards, die-cut advertising, as well as various marketing pieces incorporating black imagery.
Perhaps some of the most politically incorrect yet most highly sought after cards come under the heading of “mean-spirited.” With more than 900 examples, these types of postcards and advertising were meant to be humorous or comical to their mainly white audience. They are easily recognizable through their sadly common stereotypical portrayal of blacks. One example of these mean-spirited cards is an anthropomorphic illustration titled the “Evolution of a Coon,” which shows four depictions of a watermelon as it evolves into the head of a black man.
Through images by European photographers, the Oden collection captures a variety of aspects of everyday life across Africa in the early 20th century. Some of the images were nothing short of beautiful, such as those captured through the lens of Casimir Zagourski (1883-1944), a Polish born photographer who after a military career in the Russian and Polish military left Eastern Europe and moved to Africa in 1924. He made a series of memorable portraits published in an album entitled Vanishing Africa.
There are more than 6,000 African cards and images in all, including those by Zagourski and French photographer Edmond Fortier (1862-1928) and including real photos and printed images with hundreds of nudes and seminudes, a large variety of scarification and body piercing images along with village scenes, dance rituals, native warriors and the like.
While all of the above should pique the interest of both novice and advanced collectors, one should be aware that it is simply the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. There is hardly a postcard or ephemera category that is not represented including tintype photographs, cabinet photos, stereo views, holidays (including Christmas and black Santa, New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day), golliwogs, kewpies, Krampus, KKK, minstrels, greeting cards, sheet music, die-cuts, fans, ink blotters, Victorian trade cards, book matches, playing cards, first day issue envelopes, minstrels, NAACP stamps, magazine ads, fold-out postcards and postal stamps.
A preview will begin Aug. 9 and continue until the sale. A printed catalog with full-color photography is available by mail for $35.
For details, please visit the Web site www.jacksonsauction.com or call Jackson’s at 1-800-665-6743.
Advertising and promotional information for Aunt Jemima brand pancake flour is printed on the back of this rare paper doll die-cut lithograph. The uncut sheet, 12 inches by 9 1/4 inches, has a $600-$900 estimate. Image courtesy of Jackson’s International Auctioneers & Appraisers. The inscription on the back of this real photo postcard identifies the players on the U.S. Army 24th Infantry’s Company B baseball team. They were 1913 champions of the Manila League in the Philippines. The card carries a $600-$900 estimate. Image courtesy of Jackson’s International Auctioneers & Appraisers. Thomas ‘Blind Tom’ Bethune, a musical prodigy, is profiled in this songbook from the mid-1800s. The ‘programme’ for his concert is printed on the reverse. It has a $1,000-$1,500 estimate. Image courtesy of Jackson’s International Auctioneers & Appraisers. Among the many holiday postcards in the auction is this mechanical example by Ellen Clapsaddle. Postally used but in good to very good condition, it has a $200-$400 estimate. Image courtesy of Jackson’s International Auctioneers & Appraisers.
14K Gold Glashutte DUF Antique German Pocket Watch 1920 Est. $4000-$6100. Image courtesy of Universal Live.
NORTHBROOK, Ill. – There’s an undeniable sense of comfort that comes from knowing one’s collection has both intrinsic and monetary value – gold coins being a prime example. This two-for-one principle is what has attracted so many new collectors to numismatics over the past year to 18 months, says Martin Shape, owner and auctioneer at Universal Live Auctions in suburban Chicago.
On Aug. 7, Shape’s company will present an outstanding buying opportunity for those who want to start collecting coins, paper money and other forms of precious metal, as well as those who are already well-established collectors. Universal Live will auction two estate collections in the single-day sale, starting at 1 p.m. Central Time and with Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com.
The sale will include more than 70 proof and slabbed coins, as well as large-denomination U.S. bills, silver certificates, coin rolls and mint errors. One of the day’s highlights will be a 1934-A $1,000 Federal Reserve note with green seal and Chicago mint mark. Estimate: $3,000-$4,625.
A lot comprised of 100 crisp bank-wrapped, uncirculated and consecutive Chicago Mint $2 bills is expected to make $470-$725 at auction.
A nice entry-level lot consists of three Falkland Islands 50-pence large commemorative coins. One of them commemorates The Queen’s Birthday (1980), a second example (from 1981) features the images of Prince Charles and Princess Diana and is stamped for The Royal Wedding, and the third coin is a standard 1977 Falkland Islands 50-pence coin. All three coins are in brilliant, uncirculated condition. The group is estimated at $30-$45.
The auction also includes a selection of jewelry and stamps. A Glashutte DUF antique 14K gold German pocket watch with enamel dial dates to the 1920s. The movement is marked Deutsche Prazisions Uhrenfabrik Glashütte (Sa) 208356. The watch is in fine condition overall and was in working order when tested.
“Glashütte is known as the birthplace of the German watchmaking industry, and this name appearing on a genuine watch such as this one indicates it is of the finest quality,” said Shape. “It is a must for any collector of European pocket watches.”
It is not typical for Universal Live to receive two coin estates at the same time, Shape said. “We have not had this quantity of slabbed and proof coins up for auction in a long time. It is quite possibly a reflection of the current economic conditions worldwide. Gold and silver are at unusual highs, pricewise. We think bidders will respond very favorably to these wonderful numismatic items at competitive prices.”
For additional information on any lot in the sale, call Martin Shape at 847-412-1802 or email sales@universallive.com.
1934 A $1000 Bill FRN Note Green Seal Chicago Est. $3000-$4625. Image courtesy of Universal Live. 1984 Olympics Proof Commemorative Dollar Est. $20-$30. Image courtesy of Universal Live. 3 Falkland Island BU 50 Pence Large Commemorative Coins Est. $30-$45. Image courtesy of Universal Live. 1982 Washington Proof Silver Half Dollar Coin Est. $10-$20. Image courtesy of Universal Live. 2 Slabbed Proof Sacagawea Dollars 2004S, 2005S PF69 NGC Est. $30-$45. Image courtesy of Universal Live.
One map – Transylvania – is missing from Mercator’s 1636 atlas titled ‘A Geographicke Description of the Regions, Countries and Kingdoms of the World, through Europe, Asia, Africa and America.’ Nevertheless, it has a $30,000-$50,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.
CHICAGO – More than 20 early maps, all consigned from a private collection in Louisville, Ky., are expected to lead the way in Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ Fine Books and Manuscripts auction Thursday, Aug. 12. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding for the 450-lot auction, which will begin at noon Central.
An early world atlas by Gerard Mercator, published in Amsterdam in 1636, is the most important lot and has a $30,000-$50,000 estimate. The two-volume set contains 195 double-page maps and descriptions of the regions and countries of the world.
“This is a very rare set that’s been in a private collection for many years. We never see them,” said Mary Williams, director of Hindman Auctioneers’ Fine Books and Manuscripts department.
Another important title is Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s History of the Expedition under The Command of Captains Lewis and Clark to the Sources of Missouri Thence Across the Rocky Mountains and Down the River Columbia to the Pacific Ocean Performed During the Years 1804-5-6. Edited by Nicholas Biddle, the two-volume set chronicling the famous expedition was published by Bradford and Inskeep in Philadelphia in 1814.
While Williams described the set as “a fabulous first printing,” she notes that it is not in its first state because it has a later issue of the large folding map laid into volume 1. It is considered a fine association copy, however, with ownership signature and presentation inscription to Elwood Evans, a notable early historian of the Northwest Territory and the third governor of the Washington Territory. The historic set warrants an $8,000-$12,000 estimate.
Carrying a $10,000-$15,000 estimate is a first edition, first printing, of Samuel Johnson’s A Dictionary of the English Language … , which was printed by W. Strahan, London, in London 1755. The two-volume set has minimal foxing and a bright interior. Volume 1 bears an armorial bookplate of a John Daniel.
Records of the first 52 years of the Bethel Baptist Church, the first permanent church organization in Missouri and the first Protestant church west of the Mississippi, are written in a 91-page handwritten minute book, which is estimated at $6,000-$8,000.
Under Spanish rule, the territories west of the Mississippi in the 18th century were officially Catholic and, although a number of Protestants had settled in the districts of St. Louis, St. Charles and Cape Girardeau, Protestant services and baptisms were illegal. The church was founded on July 7, 1806 outside Jackson, Mo., in Cape Girardeau County. Various partial copies of the minutes exist in institutional collections.
Williams said her favorite items in the auction are nine lots of 16th-century engravings detailing plans, diagrams and maps of European military fortifications. Each lot has an estimate of $800-$1,200.
For details visit Hindman Auctioneers’ Web site: www.lesliehandman.com or contact Williams at 312-334-4236.
Publication of his dictionary in 1755 brought Samuel Johnson fame and a degree from Oxford. This fine first edition, first printing has a $10,000-$15,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. A later issue of the large folding map laid into volume 1 diminishes the value of this first edition of the history of Lewis and Clark’s expedition to the Northwest Territory. Nevertheless, the desirable set published in 1814 is expected to sell for $8,000-$12,000. Image courtesy of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. In fragile condition, this book contains records of the Bethel Baptist Church in Missouri, the first Protestant church west of the Mississippi. It has a $6,000-$8,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. This uniformly bound set of the collected works of Charles Dickens consists mostly of first editions. Each book is bound in green morocco over cloth that is gilt stamped. The collection has a $6,000-$8,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.
Lyndon B. Johnson’s disdain for political rival Robert F. Kennedy is evident in this unsigned pencil sketch. The sketch is on U.S. Senate stationery that measures 5 1/4 inches by 8 inches. The doodle has a $5,000-$8,000 estimate. Image courtesy of The Written Word Autographs. TAMWORTH, N.H. – Every president of the United States will be represented at The Written Word Autograph’s auction Sept. 18-19, but not necessarily in a flattering light. LiveAuctioneers will facilitate bidding in the online auction.
Written Word owner Dan Rowe is a stickler for provenance, but an important lot in the auction might be considered politically incorrect. Lyndon B. Johnson’s pencil sketch of Bobby Kennedy, drawn on U.S. Senate stationery, depicts an unflattering image of RFK with shark-like teeth and scrawny legs. A known doodler, Johnson likely drew the caricature during the 1960 presidential campaign before Democratic candidate John F. Kennedy won the election and named his brother U.S. Attorney General.
Vice President Johnson became president after JFK was assassinated Nov. 22, 1963. Robert Kennedy later resigned as attorney general to run for the U.S. Senate.
“It shows the contemptuous relationship they had,” said Rowe. Bobby privately referred to the vice president as “Uncle Cornpone,” while Johnson called Kennedy “that boy with the rickety legs,” notes Rowe in the auction catalog.
Michael J. Kirwan, a U.S. representative from Ohio from 1937 to 1970, saved the unsigned sketch along with similar ephemera from Capitol Hill, said Rowe. The sketch has a $5,000-$8,000 estimate.
Another LBJ sketch saved by Kirwan depicts a three-eyed octopus holding a lighted cigarette. On Congress of the United States stationery, the crudely drawn doodle has a $750-$1,200 estimate.
Rowe said the most difficult presidential autographs to acquire are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy.
“Kennedy is tough because he had secretaries signing for him,” said Rowe.
Each of three different “Kennedy for President” fliers autographed by JFK has a $1,200-$2,000 estimate.
An 1861 military appointment signed by President Lincoln is extraordinary in that the appointee, Richard Caswell Gatlin, a West Point graduate and career soldier, soon resigned his commission and offered his services to the Confederacy.
“It’s extremely rare because Gatlin became a general in the Confederate Army,” said Rowe.
The vellum appointment, 16 1/4 inches by 10 1/4 inches, is also signed by Secretary of War Simon Cameron. The document has a $9,500-$12,000 estimate.
George Washington’s autograph, clipped from the conclusion of a signed letter and mounted on a 4 1/2-in by 3-inch card, has a $3,500-$5,000 estimate.
A small lock of Washington’s hair is estimated to sell for $1,800-$2,500.
“It’s quite rare, particularly with the provenance this one has,” said Rowe, noting the lock of hair comes with documentation that traces ownership to Eleanor Parke Custis, the granddaughter of Martha Washington by her first marriage. The lock was authenticated by Charles Hamilton, a renowned autograph dealer, in 1992.
“If it didn’t have (Hamilton’s) provenance,” I wouldn’t have touched it,” said Rowe.
Dwight D. Eisenhower autographed baseballs are rare according to Rowe, and the one in his auction Sept. 18 carries a $6,000-$9,000 estimate.
“Presidents traditionally throw out the first pitch on opening day and it must have been one of those,” he said. The Official American League ball bears the name of Joe Cronin, who served as American League president from 1959-1973, an indication that Ike signed it late in his presidency.
More sports and entertainment autographs are concentrated in the second day of the auction. Included are album pages autographed by New York Yankees greats Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, each of which carries a $2,500-$3,800 estimate. A 1931 typed letter signed by tight-fisted Chicago White Sox owner Charles A. Comisky to a scout seeking employment has a $2,000-$3,500 estimate. An official 2000 World Series baseball signed by members of the champion New York Yankees is expected to top $2,000. Notable signatures include Series MVP Derek Jeter and manager Joe Torre, who signed on the sweet spot.
Among the Hollywood A-list names in the auction is Jayne Mansfield, who autographed a black and white enlargement of herself to a fan. The actress-night club entertainer died in an automobile accident at the age of 34 in 1967. The signed photo has a $500-$800 estimate.
The Saturday session, consisting of 572 lots, will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern. Sunday’s session, 456 lots, will begin at noon Eastern.
For details visit www.thewrittenwordautographs.com or call Rowe at 603-323-7563.
Sam Adams, organizer of the Boston Tea Party, signed this appointment naming Moses Bailey an officer in the militia. The document, 12 1/2 inches by 13 inches, is dated Oct. 7, 1770. It has a $3,800-$5,000 estimate. Image courtesy of The Written Word Autographs. Samuel Clemens’ letter to Ray Lamprey, a young woman friend, briefly refers to the author’s reversal of fortune in the national crisis of 1893. The two-page handwritten letter has a $5,000-$9,000 estimate. Image courtesy of The Written Word Autographs. Jayne Mansfield, one of Hollywood’s platinum-blonde sex symbols of the 1950s, inscribed this black and white photograph to a fan. The autographed 8-by-10 enlargement has a $500-$800 estimate. Image courtesy of The Written Word Autographs. Clipped from the conclusion of a handwritten letter, this George Washington signature has a $3,500-$5,000 estimate. It is mounted on a 4 1/2-inch by 3-inch card. Image courtesy of The Written Word Autographs. Babe Ruth, baseball’s first great slugger and the most celebrated athlete of his time, signed a fan’s album page. A small newspaper photograph of Ruth has been affixed beneath the signature. The 4 1/2-inch by 5-inch page has an estimate of $2,500-$3,800. Image courtesy of The Written Word Autographs. President Abraham Lincoln signed this military appointment dated March 29, 1861. Two months later the appointee, Richard Caswell Gatlin, resigned his commission and joined the Confederacy. The document has a $9,500-$12,000 estimate. Image courtesy of The Written Word Autographs.
1982 Rolls-Royce Corniche drop-head coupe, estimate $40,000-$60,000. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and J. Sugarman Auction Corp.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – On Saturday, July 31, J. Sugarman Auction of West Palm Beach, Florida, will present antiques, furniture and many other quality items from a Miami-area estate with show business provenance. Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.
The articles to be auctioned come from a 6,000-square-foot oceanfront penthouse in upscale Bal Harbor previously owned by an international fashion model. Approximately 60 pieces were formerly the property of Oscar Hammerstein II, the famed composer who wrote the lyrics to South Pacific and many other stage productions.
Michael Huter, director of Art & Antiques for J. Sugarman Auction, explained the trail of provenance. “The consignor was at one time Mr. Hammerstein’s accountant. He purchased the Montego Bay, Jamaica home of Oscar and Dorothy Hammerstein around 40 years ago, complete with contents. When the consignor and his wife, a fashion model who is now deceased, sold the Jamaica house, they moved the contents to their homes in Manhattan and Bal Harbor,” Huter said.
A major highlight of the 1,000-lot auction that includes the Hammerstein items is a rare 1981 Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible with original parts, paint, tires, interior and only 45,000 miles on the odometer. Other key lots include a a pair of 18th-century 3-ft.-tall bronze sitting monks (estimated value: $50,000), a pair of Sevres 1764 vases from Eleanor Roosevelt’s Hyde Park home (with documentation), a prestigious Buccelatti sterling flatware service for 24 (a combined 650 ounces), a Sevres service for 12 from the Shah of Iran, and two Hirschfeld pieces that were originally given to Oscar and Dorothy Hammerstein and displayed at their Jamaican estate.
The auction includes jewelry and watches valued at one million dollars, original French and Italian period furniture, $100,000 worth of men’s and women’s designer clothes and shoes; bronze erotica, Persian and Afghan rugs; and dozens of original oil paintings, watercolors and artworks, including several by Salvador Dali and French artist Louis Icart, Erte, Dufy, Picasso, Calder, Chagall, and many more.
For additional information on any lot in the sale, call J. Sugarman Auction at 754-366-2885.
Sevres vases from Eleanor Roosevelt Estate, estimate $10,000-$50,000. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and J. Sugarman Auction Corp. One of a pair of gilt bronze seated monks, provenance: Oscar Hammerstein II and Dorothy Hammerstein, estimate $30,000-$150,000 the pair. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and J. Sugarman Auction Corp. Raoul Dufy (French, 1877-1953) gouache and watercolor over pencil on paper, estimate $40,000-$400,000. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and J. Sugarman Auction Corp. Cartier Roadster Chronograph XL with diamonds, estimate $12,000-$16,000. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and J. Sugarman Auction Corp.
Harold Newton (1934-1994), considered the original Florida Highwayman, painted ‘Royal Poinciana Along the Indian River’ on Upson Board. The 24-inch by 32-inch work has a $3,000-$5,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches.WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Fine art and Asian antiques – including an extensive collection of Rose Medallion – headline the Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches’ sale Monday, Aug. 9. Artwork ranges from Paris School paintings to the best of the Florida Highwaymen. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding for the auction, which begins at noon Eastern.
The largest work known to have been painted Jean Jansem (French, born 1920) is titled LeMarey Eurs, which is 55 18 inches by 78 2/3 inches. The original owner purchased the painting from Wally Findlay Galleries in New York in 1969.
“It’s the largest known painting to exist from the artist,” said Leslie Baker, auction gallery manager at Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches. “It was consigned by a renowned collector who does not wish to be identified.”
The Rose Medallion collection consists of nearly 50 lots consigned by a resident of Boynton Beach, Fla.
“The Rose Medallion is second to none. He spent a lifetime putting the collection together. There are tureens, platters, vases and umbrella stands,” said Baker. “The gentleman has been a client of mine since the 1980s and he bought some of these pieces here.”
Nearly a dozen pieces of limited edition Picasso pottery have been consigned from a home in Delray Beach, Fla. Estimates range from $4,000 to $6,000 for each of the nine plates and chargers, $5,000 to $7,000 for a pitcher and $2,000 to $2,500 for a plaque.
A Picasso linocut in black and orange titled Toros Valluaris, signed in the plate 24-6-58, is expected to sell for $10,000-$15,000. The image measures 25 3/8 inches by 20 1/4 inches.
The same collector has also consigned a Marc Chagall lithograph titled Les Maries dan L’Atelier, which depicts an artist painting a newlywed couple in his studio. The signed and numbered lithograph, #621, measures 30 inches by 22 1/2 inches. It carries a $6,000-$8,000 estimate.
The Highwaymen painting in the auction is by Harold Newton, considered the founding member and most prolific of the artist group that painted Florida landscapes and sold them to tourists by the side of the road. Titled Royal Poinciana Along the Indian River, the oil on board painting measures 24 inches by 32 inches and has a $3,000-$5,000 estimate. Newton died in 1994 at age 59 after suffering a stroke.
“It’s a breathtaking painting,” commented Baker, noting it is in its original frame.
Some of the heftiest estimates are assigned to the collection of carved jade items from a North Palm Beach collector. Included are 19th- and 20-century imperial seals, brush washers, plaques and vases. Many of the pieces are highly desirable white jade.
“The pieces were finely chosen and in excellent condition,” said Baker.
Antique furniture, glass and silver will round out the 369-lot auction.
Jean Jansem’s ‘Le Marey Eurs’ is believed to be the largest work ever painted by the French artist. The oil on canvas measures 55 1/8 inches by 78 3/4 inches. The circa 1964 work has a $20,000-$30,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches.One of the most unusual pieces in the Rose Medallion collection is this 19th-century umbrella stand. The fluted cylindrical vessel is painted with alternating figural and floral panels. It has an $800-$1,200 estimate. Image courtesy of Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches.The large green jade seal of Empress Xiaomu is expected to sell for $30,000-$40,000. Adorned with a pair of dragons, the seal measures 5 1/8 inches by 5 1/8 inches. Image courtesy of Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches.Eleven pieces of Picasso pottery are offered in the auction including this ‘Yan Soleil’ pitcher. The 10 5/8-inch-tall vessel is numbered 264/300 and bears the Edition Picasso and Madoura Pottery stamp. It has a $5,000-$7,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches.
Rembrandt van Rijn’s (Dutch, 1606-1669) unframed etching titled The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds is estimated at $4,000 to $6,000. Image courtesy Clars Auction Gallery.
OAKLAND, Calif. – On Aug. 7-8, 2010, Clars Auction Gallery will host their two-day Fine Estate Sale offering more than 1,500 lots of antique and estate furnishings, exceptional decoratives and historic pieces. The sale will also feature sterling and jewelry as well as a very good selection of fine art from both American and international listed artists. Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com
The decoratives highlights will include a ceramic loving cup by Viola Frey. Frey was an internationally respected artist and leading figure in contemporary ceramics known for her intensely colored pieces. Her work has been featured in museums across the country. This loving cup measures 7¼ inches high and is estimated at $2,000 to $4,000.
A richly colored blue monumental jardinière attributed to Gladding McBean measures 25 inches high and is expected to earn $800 to $1,000. A fine selection of very desirable Fulper Pottery will no doubt attract collectors, as well.
A touch of Americana will be represented by a selection of country and primitive pieces, including a Nantucket basket signed by S. Gibbs. A selection of Native American baskets and textiles will also be offered.
Historic highlights will include antique and vintage firearms led by an 1889 Springfield trapdoor rifle U.S. model 1884. A charming 22-inch-high E. Goyard steamer trunk, circa 1900, will also be auctioned.
On Saturday, an extensive collection of books featuring art reference books, with many signed by the artists, will be sold. Rounding out this category will be a collection of antique Continental and U.S. maps and a delightful collection of early 20th-century Mignot and Britains lead soldiers.
Sterling offerings will include a Tiffany & Co. silver raised bowl and a S.T. Crosby silver six-piece tea service, both circa 1850. In addition, a complete Gorham sterling flatware service in the La Scala pattern designed by Peter C. Gevette will be sold.
Turning to the furniture category, an American Art Deco aviation desk by Frank Fletcher is estimated to bring $2,000 to $4,000. This piece will be complemented by a fine selection of Arts & Crafts period furniture as well as more traditional style antique pieces. Asian furniture offerings will include a stunning pair of intricately carved 19th-century hardwood export chairs.
Art offerings will span the globe including works by Rembrandt van Rijn and Jules Eugene Pages. The work on offer by Rembrandt (Dutch, 1606-1669), icon of the Dutch Golden Age and considered one of the greatest European painters and printmakers, is an unframed etching titled The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds and is expected to earn $4,000 to $6,000.
From British painters, a signed and framed oil on canvas by George Houston (1869-1947) showing a road along a rocky lakeshore is estimated at $6,000 to $8,000; and a framed charcoal drawing on paper by David Nash (b. 1945-), one of three to be offered, titled Cuts Up Cuts Down Column is estimated at $5,000 to $7,000.
Among works from American artists will be a framed oil on board titled High Noon showing the tree-studded golden hills of California in summer, by Eyvind Earle (New York/California, 1916-2000), the lead background artist and stylist for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty and other films (estimate $3,000 to $5,000).
Renowned California artist William Keith (1838-1911) will be represented by his signed framed oil on canvas illustrating cattle grazing by a river at sunset, which is estimated at $3,000 to $5,000. Other California artists in the sale include Arthur Best, Edwin M. Dawes, Richard De Treville, Carl Henrik Jonnevold, and others.
Rock & roll heavyweights will also have their day at Clars with works from Jerry Garcia and John Lennon. Garcia’s (California, 1942-1995) Sleeping Cat is a framed pen drawing on paper estimated to earn $4,000-$6,000. From John Lennon (British, 1940-1980), there will be three lithographs from his Bag One portfolio, including a framed Exchange of the Ring accompanied by a Bag One vinyl portfolio bag, also signed by Lennon – very cool indeed!
For additional information on any lot in the sale, call Clars Auction Gallery tollfree at 888-339-7600 or email info@clars.com.
View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Designed by Viola Frey, this brightly colored ceramic loving cup is estimated to sell for $2,000 to $4,000. Image courtesy Clars Auction Gallery. A rich blue monumental jardinière attributed to Gladding McBean measures 25 inches high and is expected to earn $800 to $1,000. Image courtesy Clars Auction Gallery. This American Art Deco aviation desk by Frank Fletcher is estimated at $2,000 to $4,000. Image courtesy Clars Auction Gallery. This framed charcoal drawing on paper by David Nash (British, b. 1945-) titled Cuts Up Cuts Down Column is expected to make $5,000 to $7,000. Image courtesy Clars Auction Gallery.
