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Whimsical, luxury items commingle at Roland auction Aug. 8

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Willy Rizzo for Jean Charles, mid-century modern travertine dining table with bronze trim, stamped ‘Jean Charles’ on base, 79in wide x 43 1/4in wide x 29 1/2in high. Estimate $3,500 to $4,500. Roland Auctions image
Willy Rizzo for Jean Charles, mid-century modern travertine dining table with bronze trim, stamped ‘Jean Charles’ on base, 79in wide x 43 1/4in wide x 29 1/2in high. Estimate $3,500 to $4,500. Roland Auctions image

NEW YORK – Roland Auctions NY will hold its August 2015 Auction on Saturday, Aug. 8, commencing at 10 a.m. Eastern. The second of three summer sessions, hosted by Manhattan’s only family-owned and operated auction house, this mammoth sale will contain a group of specially selected items of whimsy alongside choice luxury items of the first order. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide absentee and Internet live bidding.

Explaining the eclectic and varied offerings, co-owner and auctioneer, Robert Roland said, “We have had great experiences as one of the few regional auction houses in the Northeast to conduct August sales. Our bidders now look forward to the dog days of summer and will pack the salesroom on the morning of the eighth. However, it is not only our timing strategy that keeps up the excitement but the merchandise itself. Throughout each year my brother Billy and I hold back a small group of items that have quirky interest or at the very least a specialized market. These lots are attainable at every bidding level from the novice collector all the way up to expert connoisseur.”

(INSERT: Lot 404 18th/19th Century Continental Christ Figure)

Giving a few examples of his selections, Roland noted, “We have a perfectly scaled Swatch watch nearly 7 feet tall with Kenny Scharf’s iconic “Time Monster” dial, vintage figural cookie jars, a Steiff teddy bear, and even a 1960s toy space gun.” Other unusual objects include a Walter Fleming folk art face jug, a Soviet-era Russian protest poster, and a dragon-form floor lamp among many other ‘discovery’ lots.”

Modern and contemporary design have a robust representation with pieces by celebrated designers.

Fresh-to-market fine art will have bidders vying for paintings, sculpture, prints and photography not available in the marketplace for decades.

O. Louis Gugliemi, mid-century abstract, tempera on wood, signed and dated '49, framed under glass, sight: 9 1/2in x 7 1/2in. Estimate $10,000 to $15,000 Roland Auctions image
O. Louis Gugliemi, mid-century abstract, tempera on wood, signed and dated ’49, framed under glass, sight: 9 1/2in x 7 1/2in. Estimate $10,000 to $15,000 Roland Auctions image
Miklos Sebek, modern abstract bronze sculpture, depicts two mother and child figures, mounted on marble base. Inscribed ‘Sebek 3/12  on bottom, 7 1/2in wide x 12in high, crack in marble base. Estimate $2,000 to $3,000. Roland Auctions image
Miklos Sebek, modern abstract bronze sculpture, depicts two mother and child figures, mounted on marble base. Inscribed ‘Sebek 3/12  on bottom, 7 1/2in wide x 12in high, crack in marble base. Estimate $2,000 to $3,000. Roland Auctions image
Kiki Smith, ‘My Secret Business,’ signed print, dated 1993, framed and matted under glass, titled on verso, sight: 23 3/4in x 18 1/2in. Estimate $1,500 to $2,500. Roland Auctions image
Kiki Smith, ‘My Secret Business,’ signed print, dated 1993, framed and matted under glass, titled on verso, sight: 23 3/4in x 18 1/2in. Estimate $1,500 to $2,500. Roland Auctions image

Traditional furniture and antiques hit the mark in a multitude of period styles including: Directoire, Baroque, Queen Anne, Empire, Louis XV, Louis XVI, Regency, Biedermeier, Sheraton, Chippendale, Adams and French Provincial.

Early 19th century slant-front desk, American, mahogany, 35in wide x 21in deep x 42 1/4in high. Estimate $600 to $800 Roland Auctions image
Early 19th century slant-front desk, American, mahogany, 35in wide x 21in deep x 42 1/4in high. Estimate $600 to $800 Roland Auctions image

During the preview Roland Auctions NY continues its walk-in valuation day on Thursday, Aug. 6, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. William and Robert Roland invite customers to stop in their treasures for a free valuation.

For details contact Michael Podniesinski, gallery director, at 212-260-2000.

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.