Tom Hoepf, Author at Auction Central News

‘Brilliant’ aptly describes consignments at Clars’ sale June 12-13

‘The Story of Rip Van Winkle,’ a series of four paintings by Paul Cornoyer (American, 1864-1923), is estimated at $30,000-$50,000. Image courtesy of Clars Auction Gallery.

OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars Auction Gallery’s June 12 and 13 auction will feature brilliant designs, artists and styles selected from a wealth of fine consignments. Approximately 2,000 lots in total will be offered over the course of this two-day event. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.

The art category alone features works from masters, both American and International, with names such as Conrad Buff, Maynard Dixon, Edward Kienholz and Marc Chagall. Crossing from early California to classic European works, the selection will leave no art aficionado disappointed, said Redge Martin, Clars president.

The headliners of the art category include a set of framed oil on board paintings illustrating four scenes from the story of Rip Van Winkle by American artist Paul Cornoyer (1864-1923). This enchanting collection includes the scenes in which Rip van Winkle encounters the ghosts of Henry Hudson’s crew and in which he returns to his village after his 20-year slumber, and is estimated at $30,000-$50,000.

Turning to the contemporary, Abstract in Black and Yellow by Edward Keinholz (New York, 1927-1994) is expected to earn $20,000-$30,000. Carrying an estimate of $10,000- $20,000 is a framed mixed media on paper by Monmohan Samant (India, 1924-2004) titled Going No Where.

Also of international note will be Yazidis Gathering for Tea by Iraqi artist Najib Younis (1930-2007). This work comes to the block with an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.

In addition, the sale will include Japanese woodblock prints and a Chinese ink and color on paper scroll entitled Gathering of Scholars after Qiu Ying (est. $2,000-$4,000).

The historical category will be highlighted by an important Civil War collection consisting of signed carte-de-visite photographs and artifacts of the 4th Michigan Calvary relating to the capture of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America. This collection is estimated at $6,000-$8,000.

The June sale will also feature a number of items not often seen at auction, including a circa 1850 Uzbekistan Suzanni Horse blanket estimated at $1,500-$2,500. A palace-size Persian Sarouk is expected to earn $6,000-$8,000.

Fine antique furniture will be plentiful with exceptional pieces such as two George III mahogany Pembroke tables, circa 1770 and 1800, both estimated at $4,000-$6,000. An Italian Baroque walnut commode, circa 1750, is expected to earn $6,000-$8,000 and a monumental French Renaissance buffet, circa 1860, is estimated to bring $4,000-$6,000.

Brilliant is an apt description for the fine jewelry that will round out Clars’ Sunday session. Diamonds, gems, and exquisite jewelry will bedazzle bidders. A solitaire diamond ring mounted in platinum set with a 2.02-carat diamond is estimated at $13,000-$17,000 and a three-stone diamond and sapphire ring sporting a 1.42-carat blue sapphire surrounded by two diamonds weighing 2.05 carats is estimated to bring $6,500-$8,500.

The Saturday session will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. Pacific, and the Sunday session will begin at 10 a.m. Preview for this auction is Friday, June 11, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. or by appointment.

Clars Auction Gallery is located at 5644 Telegraph Ave. in Oakland.

For details email: info@clars.com or call (888) 339-7600.

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.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

‘Going No Where’ by Monmohan Samant (India, 1924-2004) is estimated to earn $10,000-to $20,000. Image courtesy of Clars Auction Gallery.

This Uzbekistan Suzanni Horse blanket, one of several to be offered, is estimated at $1,500-$2,500. Image courtesy of Clars Auction Gallery.

This dazzling diamond solitaire ring mounted in platinum is estimated at $13,000-$17,000. Image courtesy of Clars Auction Gallery.

A group of Civil War photographs and artifacts of the 4th Michigan Cavalry regiment belonging to Lt. A.B. Purinton and relating to the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis is expected to bring $6,000-$8,000. Image courtesy of Clars Auction Gallery.

Rare Royal Copenhagen item at head of Kamelot’s sale June 12

Since 1911 Royal Copenhagen has made only nine Princesses and the Pea bombonieres. This one is expected to blanket the $10,000-$20,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Kamelot Auctions.

PHILADELPHIA – A rare Royal Copenhagen Princess and the Pea porcelain bomboniere is the crowning touch to Kamelot Auctions’ sale June 12. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding for the 700-lot auction, which begins Saturday at 11 a.m. Eastern.

The bonbonniere, which is 17 inches high by 10 inches wide by 10 inches deep, is one of only nine Princess and the Pea versions made since 1911. Signed by artist Gerhard Henning, the bonbonniere has a $10,000-$20,000 estimate.

“We believe the item could do exceedingly well,” said Jeff Kamal, president and chief executive officer of Kamel Auctions.

The auction will consist of an eclectic collection of antique and vintage furniture, lighting Orientalia, paintings, and garden and architectural items. It will begin with an outstanding group of French Art Deco furniture and accessories, then offer a select gathering of mid-century modern, industrial and continental furniture. Then chandeliers, sconces and lamps will follow a grouping of garden and architectural antiques. The sale will continue with a fine selection of antique paintings and prints, and more than 100 antique Asian bronzes, porcelain and wood carvings from a single-owner Southern estate. The sale will conclude with American and European decorative arts and silver.

Several highlights include a Chinese Shang Dynasty bronze face mask (est. $800-$1,200) and a 15th-century gilt bronze Buddha figure standing 13 1/2 inches tall (est. $800-$1,200). Six Chinese characters on the figure signify “donated in the Year of Yongle, Great Ming.”

Paintings include an oil on canvas by Gustave D. Riquet (France, 1866-1937) titled Une Course de Taureaux aux Arenes d’Arles (The bull fight at Arles). The 25 1/4-inch by 31 1/2-inch work has a $2,000-$4,000 estimate. It is accompanies by a letter written by the artist and related correspondence from the 1930s.

Dramatic 1930s Art Deco furniture will include an 87-inch-long macassar Art Deco sideboard estimated at $3,000-$5000. A matching dining table and set of chairs will sell immediately prior to the sideboard during the first hour of the auction.

The auction will be conducted in Kamelot Auctions’ gallery in the historic Atwater-Kent Building, 4700 Wissahickon Ave., Suite 107, on the northwest side of Philadelphia.

For details e-mail information@kamelotauctions.com or phone 215-438-6990.

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.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Bidders may be surprised by this Chinese Shang Dynasty bronze mask, which has a $500-$700 estimate. The 7 3/4-inch high face dates to the 16th-11th centuries B.C. Image courtesy of Kamelot Auctions.

Standing 13 1/2 inches tall, this gilt bronze Buddha figure dates to the 15th century. It has an $800-$1,200 estimate. Image courtesy of Kamelot Auctions.

A 1930s letter from Gustave D. Riquet (France, 1866-1937) accompanies his painting of a bullfight. The oil on canvas, which measures 29 inches by 35 1/2 inches, has a $2,000-$4,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Kamelot Auctions.

Ensuite with two previous lots is this macassar Art Deco sideboard from the early 1930s. Alone it has a $3,000-$5,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Kamelot Auctions.

Treasures from around globe to pass through Golden Gate sale June 12

Important and rare gilt-bronze-mounted Russian Empire mantel, circa 1800-1825, est. $10,000-$15,000. Image courtesy of Golden Gate Auction Gallery.

SAN FRANCISCO – Playing off an old adage, Golden Gate Auction Gallery’s sale June 12 of world-class French, European and English fireplace mantels emphasizes that home is truly where the “hearth” is. Featuring more than 40 lots of superb quality marble and stone fireplaces, the collection – assembled by one of the world’s foremost mantel dealers over four decades – represents some of the finest examples ever to come to market at one time.

View the fully illustrated catalog at www.LiveAuctioneers.com and register to bid today. The auction will begin Saturday at 10 a.m. Pacific. Bidders are welcome to preview by appointment the week of the sale. Absentee and phone bidding is also accepted.

Mantel highlights include an important 18th-century Louis XVI marble fireplace (estimate: $25,000-$35,000) with carrera marble inserts carved in high relief and a highly-prized Louis XVI Breche d’ Alep mantel, circa 1760-80, (estimate: $35,000-$45,000).

Lot 268 is an outstanding Adams-style chimneypiece fashioned of white and sienna marble. It is an exceptional example of a rare and sought-after design and has an estimate of $18,000-$22,000.

Additional fireplace highlights include an important and rare gilt-bronze-mounted Russian Empire mantel, circa 1800-1825 (estimate: $10,000-$15,000). The stone from which this mantel is carved was likely mined in the Ural Mountains. An exceedingly scarce matching pair of Louis XVI-style Rouge du Languedoc marble mantels with gilt-bronze mounts (estimate: $35,000-$45,000) is also included in the sale.

French architectural elements include a fine Louis XIV carved stone fountain, 17th-century (estimate: $25,000-$35,000) and over 800 square feet of beautiful 19th-century oak and walnut parquet flooring (estimate $5,000-$7,000) removed from a French chateau. Auction co-owner Eric Kjome said that it would make a perfect addition to anyone’s home, even if it isn’t a chateau in the French countryside.

Other auction treasures include a fine karelian-veneered Russian or Baltic gilt-bronze-mounted bureau plat, circa late 19th century (estimate: $2,500-$4,000) and a rare Russian singing bird box with Faberge hallmarks (estimate: $6,500-$9,000).

The large selection of Persian rugs – more than 65 lots – is highlighted by an exceptional and rare antique Sarouk, circa 1880. The rug measures 21 feet x 14 1/2 feet and has an estimate of $100,000-$125,000. While it might not be the rare magic flying carpet out of One Thousand and One Nights, its beauty is certain to work magic in any fine home – or Persian palace. Other carpets include a rare antique Sultanabad, an extraordinary antique Kashan, and a beautiful Turkish Polonaise, circa 1930.

Far Eastern treasures include Chinese ivories, carved jades, and fine ceramics, some dating to the 14th century, and a magnificent 19th century Sino-Tibetan gilt and patinated bronze Green Tara measuring 42 inches tall (estimate: $18,000-$25,000). Tibetan silver altar objects, an Egyptian mummy mask, and a pair of fine pre-Columbian Nayarit figures (estimate: $2,500-$3,500) are also included in this world-treasures sale.

Paintings from many different eras include a William Trost Richards watercolor (estimate: $2,500-$3,500), Dynamic Ejaculation by Otis Oldfield (estimate: $8,000-$10,000), an extensive collection of pastels by Raymond Nott, a Walter Ufer charcoal drawing (estimate: $1,200-$1,800), and a beautiful pair of early 19th-century American portraits by Chester Harding (estimate: $6,000-$8,000).

Two monumental works by John Koch (1909-1978) are also featured in the sale. The first, Bacchanal, measures approximately 71 inches by 83 inches and, with its Christie’s provenance, has an estimate of $40,000-$60,000. The second, Monument, also has a Christie’s provenance and is estimated to bring $50,000-$75,000. Eric Kjome points out that Koch oils have fetched more than $500,000 in recent years.

Late additions include two pastels by 20th-century abstract expressionist Joan Mitchell, each estimated to sell for $8,000-$12,000.

Rounding out the sale are some interesting Americana items, including a Pennsylvania jacquard coverlet, signed and dated 1850, a pair of rare signed Federal andirons from Boston, autographs by Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Gerald Ford, and Harry Truman, and one of the most viewed lots of the sale: an autographed black and white photograph of Madonna, Nude with Bike, (estimate: $300-$500).

Golden Gate Auction Gallery is located at 2 Henry Adams St. in the beautiful San Francisco Design Center. For auction details call us at 415-678-6486. Prospective bidders may also e-mail info@goldengateauctiongallery.com or log on to www.goldengateauctiongallery.com

Bidders are welcome to preview by appointment the week of the sale. Absentee and phone bidding is also accepted.

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.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Exceptional karelian-veneered Russian or Baltic gilt-bronze-mounted bureau plat, circa late 19th century, est. $2,500-$4,000. Image courtesy of Golden Gate Auction Gallery.

Rare antique Sarouk, circa 1880, measuring 21 feet by 14 1/2 feet, estimate: $100,000-$125,000. Image courtesy of Golden Gate Auction Gallery. Image courtesy of Golden Gate Auction Gallery.

Magnificent 19th-century Sino-Tibetan gilt and patinated bronze Green Tara, 42 inches tall, estimate: $18,000-$25,000. Image courtesy of Golden Gate Auction Gallery.

Oil painting, ‘Dynamic Ejaculation,’ by Otis Oldfield, estimate: $8,000-$10,000.

Fishing lure collector frets little about the ones that get away

A dozen Heddon Lucky 13 Spook Lures in assorted colors sold for $200 at a sporting auction in April 2006. Image courtesy of Lang’s Auction, Waterville, N.Y., and LiveAuctioneers Archive.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The irony of collecting fishing lures is that it keeps one from fishing.

Instead of spending weekends on the water enjoying his favorite pastimes, Ray Cromer usually is scouring garage sales and flea markets, searching for another fishing piece to add to his collection.

When he does take a Saturday off from lure hunting to go fishing, he frets about what he might have missed.

“It’s my main obsession,” he said. “Even as a kid, I would walk around the backs of coves and pick up lures that got snagged up and floated in.”

Cromer, 47, got hooked on collecting 15 years ago when he went to a garage sale in Edmond that advertised fishing equipment.

“I went looking for things to fish with,” he said.

Instead, he found a tackle box of old lures that he bought for $40. The next weekend, Cromer went to an auction in Edmond where more fishing gear was advertised for sale.

There, he met two collectors who were bidding on vintage lures. They explained all about their passion and how to identify lures and the era when they were made by hardware and color.

“It floored me,” he said. “I’ve been doing it every since.”

Cromer doesn’t know how many pieces are in his 15-year-old collection, but they fill 45 drawers and numerous wall space in his Edmond home.

He collects Heddon plastics, one of the most popular fishing brands among lure collectors, but also Oklahoma-made lures. About one-fourth of his collection consists of vintage Oklahoma products.

They include pre-World War II lures from the Haas Tackle Co. in Sapulpa and the famous Martin’s Lizzards made in Drumright.

Cromer said there are at least 50 Oklahoma companies and individuals that made fishing lures, many of them in the 1940s and 1950s and little is known about them.

Among his favorite lures are the Joe Bob Cripple Critter and Joe Bob Crawdads, made by the Joe Bob Tackle Co. in Oklahoma City in the 1940s.

Many of the old Oklahoma lures that Cromer owns, he knows nothing about, other than what is printed on the box.

“A lot of this stuff, nobody really knows anything about it,” he said.

One such fishing lure is called the Knockout, made by the Railey Manufacturing Co. in Wetumka.

“That’s all anybody knows,” Cromer said. “This is the only lure that anybody has ever seen made by that company.”

At least until two months ago. Cromer made a rare find when he bought a lure from a fellow collector in Chicago that he is certain was made by the same company.

“That keeps it fun,” Cromer said of collecting.

___

Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com

AP-WS-06-06-10 0100EDT

Kovels – Antiques & Collecting: Week of June 7, 2010

This majolica jardiniere with water lilies is marked 'Minton.' It was made in the late 19th century. The bowl is 9 3/4 inches in diameter and sold for $633 at a Brunk auction in Asheville, N.C.

The 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition in London included the introduction of many amazing new products, one of them the revival of majolica. In the 19th century, Italian pottery of the Renaissance era was being studied and collected by English museums. England’s Minton factory made a copy of the old designs and glazed them in a similar way. The clay was covered with an opaque white glaze, then painted freehand with bright colors. Minton’s majolica was displayed at the 1851 exhibition, and by the 1870s the company was making original designs inspired by Italian majolica. Its work was copied by many English, European and American makers. Later, Minton made majolica using colored glazes painted directly on the clay body. Designers made fanciful pieces like teapots with monkey handles; pitchers featuring birds, fish, shells and flowers; urns held by swans; tables held by monkeys; and jardinieres decorated with all types of flowers, birds and trees. Majolica went out of fashion in the 1940s, when the beige, uncluttered look was in vogue. The colorful look did not come back until the 1990s. Today, majolica made by any manufacturer is popular with collectors. Prices continue to rise. The colors and shapes seem to fit into today’s styles.

Q: I have had a wooden table for more than 30 years and was about to give it to my daughter when she turned it over and found a mark. The marks says, “Sept. 29, 1896, 568397, Conrey — Birely Table Co.” Is my table older than I thought?

A: Your table is more than 100 years old. The patent was granted to Charles Birely for a method of attaching legs to furniture. Birely lived in Shelbyville, Ind., at the time he applied for the patent and had already been in the furniture business with Jacob A. Conrey for 10 years. The Conrey-Birely Table Co. had manufacturing facilities in Shelbyville and in Grand Rapids, Mich., until about 1909.

Q: I have an old bottle that has an embossed knight’s glove encircled by the words “E.R. Durkee & Co., New York.” It’s pale lavender glass and is 8 1/2 inches tall. Embossed on the bottom of the bottle are the words, “Bottle Patented April 17, 1877.” Can you tell me something about this bottle?

A: The original color of your sauce bottle has changed through the years by exposure to sunlight. Clear glass made before 1910 sometimes turns purple when left in the sun for a long time. Glass made between 1910 and about 1930 turns amber, not purple, because the formula for making glass changed. More recently, artificial means have been used to turn clear glass deep purple. Durkee Spices was founded by Eugene R. Durkee in 1850. The company introduced Durkee Famous Sauce, the first bottled or packaged salad dressing, in 1857. In 1918 Durkee became the first company to package spices in tins instead of cardboard containers. The company has changed hands a couple of times and became part of Associated British Foods in 2005. Durkee has a manufacturing plant in Ankeny, Iowa. Your bottle is not rare and sells for about $15.

Q: I inherited a “gingerbread” clock from my grandmother, who must have bought it sometime between 1870 and 1930. The case looks like walnut, and the glass covering the front has an etched design. The only identification on it is a partial paper label on the back that says, “Emil Beyer, Watchmaker and Jeweler, Corner 16th and Peach streets, Erie, Pa.” The year 1914 is penciled on the back. Can you help me estimate age and value?

A: Gingerbread clocks, also called kitchen clocks, were introduced after the Civil War and remained popular until World War I. The clocks’ cases are pressed, not solid, wood and their designs were pressed into heat-bonded wood veneers or fibers. Emil Beyer, who immigrated to the United States from Germany in about 1880, was the sole proprietor of his family’s jewelry shop in Erie from 1900 until his death in 1919. It’s very likely that your clock dates from 1914, the year that’s penciled on the back. Beyer did not manufacture your clock. The label shows only that his shop sold it. The clock was probably made by one of the U.S. companies that produced countless gingerbread clocks: Ansonia, Gilbert, Ingraham, Seth Thomas or Waterbury. Gingerbread clocks in good condition sell for about $150 to $200.

Q: I have a copper skillet and lid that we grew up calling “Mama’s copper skillet.” We had Christmas dinner in the living room by the fire and Mama served scalloped oysters in the skillet, which is the only time I can remember its being used. I’m 87 years old, so at least I know it’s pretty old. The back is marked “Jos. Heinrichs, New York, pure copper, sterling silve” [no “r”]. Both the skillet and lid are completely lined with silver. I have been told it’s called a poacher.

A: Joseph Heinrichs founded the Joseph Heinrichs Corp. in New York City in 1897. The company made kitchen utensils for hotels, restaurants, railroads and steamship lines. After the company went bankrupt in 1937, it was bought out. In 1988 it became Legion Industries, which is headquartered in Waynesboro, Ga. A poacher is similar to a skillet but has a taller lid. It is worth about $400 to $500.

Tip: Do not use soap on the bottom of sticking drawers. Eventually it will become sticky. Use paraffin wax.

Terry Kovel answers as many questions as possible through the column. By sending a letter with a question, you give full permission for use in the column or any other Kovel forum. Names, addresses or e-mail addresses will not be published. We cannot guarantee the return of any photograph, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. The volume of mail makes personal answers or appraisals impossible. Write to Kovels, Auction Central News, King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.

Need more information about collectibles? Find it at Kovels.com, our website for collectors. Check prices there, too. More than 700,000 are listed, and viewing them is free. You also can sign up to read our weekly Kovels Komments. It includes the latest news, tips and questions and is delivered by e-mail, free, if you register. Kovels.com offers extra collector’s information and lists of publications, clubs, appraisers, auction houses, people who sell parts or repair antiques and much more. You can subscribe to Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles, our monthly newsletter filled with prices, facts and color photos. Kovels.com adds to the information in our newspaper column and helps you find useful sources needed by collectors.

CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

Butterick pattern, No. 3361, evening cloaks and capes, three lengths, lined, with hoods, 1975, uncut, size 12-14, $18.
Untamed movie lobby card, Joan Crawford’s first talkie, MGM, 1929, 11 x 14 inches, $115.
Figural toothbrush holder, pottery, train conductor boy, holds a tube of toothpaste and toothbrush in each arm, incised “Japan,” 1920, 5 1/2 inches, $195.
Simplex boy’s bicycle, lightweight, Huret wheels, Ideal saddle, CLB 700 brakes, Pelissier hubs, 1950s, $248.
Neptune Barbie doll, turquoise streak in platinum blond hair, velvet gown with blue and green sequins, accented by sea waves, Bob Mackie series, 1992, $390.
Hooked rug, American eagle with shield and arrows, holding a banner under 13 stars in a floral wreath, wool on burlap, 1880s, 36 x 70 1/2 inches, $1,005.
Butter paddle, white pine, carved spread-winged eagle in center below a banner of stars, Pennsylvania, 1790-1810, 8 5/8 inches, $1,298.
Newcomb College pottery vase, relief-carved band of Cherokee roses, matte glaze with blue, green and white underglaze, circa 1912, 5 3/8 inches, $1,945.
Frank Lloyd Wright sofa, three sections, Taliesin design at edge, original finish, Heritage Henredon factory label, 103 x 31 x 31 inches, $5,100.
Armour & Co. sign, embossed tin, woman in long white dress and hat buying meat from young boy, hams hanging over counter, 31 x 25 inches, $5,170.

Floods, hurricanes, forest fires or even an overflowing bathtub can be a disaster for a homeowner. Do you know what to do immediately to avoid costly damage to your house? You should have this special report at home now to be sure you have the necessary information. Kovels’ Dealing with Disaster tells you what to do before you have a problem, who to contact immediately after the disaster, how to handle the first day of a loss – and the first week after a loss – what you need to settle insurance claims quickly and what you can and can’t do so cleanup will be safe. Available only from Kovels. The 20-page report is available online at Kovels.com or by phone at 800-571-1555. Or send $25 plus $4.95 postage and handling to Kovels, Box 22900, Beachwood, OH 44122.

Reyne Gauge: Vintage and the City

Virginia de Luce, a 1940s entertainer once owned this unique metal mesh gown. It sold at an MGM auction in 1970. Photo credit: P.S. (Post Script).

May 27 was the debut of our favorite movie, Sex and the City 2. OK, maybe it’s not your all-time favorite but you have to admit, you bought a ticket just to see what Carrie would wear next.

Sarah Jessica Parker helped make Jimmy Choo a household name. Over the years, her outfits have been flirty, dreamy and sometimes a little bit bizarre. Regardless, there was always something you’d covet by the end of each episode.

Skip the gossip about the storyline and the great views of New York City – let’s talk designer clothing.

Patricia Field, the styling genius behind the show, reached out to vintage couture expert Julie Skinner for some of the wardrobe this time around. Fields had rented items from Skinner before to use on the set of Ugly Betty. That’s right, I said rented. Rented means just that, they are used for a short period of time by the actors/actress on a show, and then returned to the store to be rented again, or sold.

Fortunately for us, they are available on her Web site, P.S. (Post Script): http://www.postscript.avl.1stdibs.com

A few of the items seen in the film that are available for sale are a Zandra Rhodes sequin flapper dress listed at $2,800; a Jacques Casia couture gown for $6,500; a Gilli Originals Lucite purse for $375 and a rhinestone belt, which can be purchased for $375.

The pricing of these items might seem a little high, however, collectors are always willing to pay a little extra to have something with a celebrity or film attachment.

If the pricing above is a little out of your budget, there are ways to get a similar look for less. By visiting one of the local vintage couture shops you can quickly put together an outfit that resembles your favorite scene from the movie without breaking the bank.

Houston just happens to have a few haunts you should know about:

For Lucite bags visit Carolyn Thompson’s Antique Center of Texas located at 1001 West Loop Freeway.

Measuring just 6 inches by 5 inches, this Judith Leiber gold tone metal and Lucite bag is early and rare. Photo credit: P.S. (Post Script).

You can find a wonderful sequins gown at Cheeky Vintage, located at 2134 Richmond Ave. They have an amazing array of vintage dresses, gowns, hats, blouses, etc.

From the estate of Leona Helmsley is a 1960s lilac silk chiffon gown. Photo credit: P.S. (Post Script).

Finally, if retro isn’t your scene but you still wanted to bring out your inner Carrie Diva – visit Couture Blowout at 1621 Westheimer Road. They offer an ever changing inventory of Gucci, Versace, Prada, YSL and even a pair of Jimmy Choos.

Reyne Haines is an appraiser, author and host of The Art of Collecting. Visit her website at www.reyne.com

Dallas Auction Gallery has international audience for May sale

Pan Tianshou’s watercolor scroll, 67 inches long, realized $203,150 at Dallas Auction Gallery on May 26. Image courtesy of Dallas Auction Gallery.

DALLAS – With more than 700 bidders from 34 different countries, Dallas Auction Gallery conducted a highly successful sale May 26. Topping the column of outstanding prices realized was $203,150 for a Pan Tianshou watercolor scroll, which depicted an eagle standing on a rock.

A Peter Hurd tempera on panel, titled on verso, The Coming of Spring, sold for $21,510. Hurd (American, 1904-1984) was a New Mexico artist known for Western landscapes. This one, done circa 1949, measured 28 inches high by 32 inches wide.

Scott Shuford, president of Dallas Auction Gallery, said, “Dallas Auction Gallery is proud of the prices realized from last night’s sale, and we look forward to more successful auctions in the Fall, starting with a Fine Art and Antique Auction Sept. 1st.”

A Chinese Qing carved jadeite seated Guanyin holding a scroll in her left hand, raised on a cabriole legged table, her right hand resting on a raised knee, and wearing a graduated robe, sold for $76,700. With provenance from Sotheby’s New York, October 1990, the 6 3/4-inch high figure was estimated at $20,000-$30,000.

An important Chinese-Tibetan Qing gilt bronze Amitayus Buddha from the 17th or 18th century sold within estimate for $27,485. The 15-inch figure was seated on a lotus throne.

Elizabeth Petrovna, empress of Russia from 1709 to 1761, was depicted in an unsigned oil on canvas that sold for $38,837.50. The Russian portrait oil painting on canvas measured 43 inches high by 37 inches wide. Dating to the early 19th century, the painting had been relined.

Two Chinese jadeite belt buckles, finely carved to depict dragons, sold together for $14,340, far surpassing their $1,500-$2,000 estimate. The larger buckle was 4 inches long.

An after Pablo Picasso color aquatint titled Bacchanale on BFK Rives paper, about 18 3/4 inches high by 22 inches wide, sold above estimate for $10,755. The aquatint was signed in pencil lower right, “Picasso.” It was numbered in pencil, “43/300.” Atelier Crommelynck, Paris, published the work circa 1959.

A 1920a Steuben amethyst cased vase in plum jade glass decorated in the Chang Oriental pattern, shape no. 6112, sold for $7,170. The vase, which measured 8 1/4 inches high by 10 inches in diameter, was marked “Steuben” in acid cut on the base.

For details please visit www.dallasauctiongallery.com or call 214-653-3900.

Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

‘The Coming of Spring’ by Peter Hurd sold for $21,510. Image courtesy of Dallas Auction Gallery.

Bidding soared to $76,700 for this Chinese Qing carved jadeite seated Guanyin. Image courtesy of Dallas Auction Gallery.

Elizabeth Petrovna reigned as the empress of Russia from 1709 to 1761. She is depicted in this early 19th-century Russian portrait, which sold for $38,837.50. Image courtesy of Dallas Auction Gallery.

Considered an important piece, this Chinese-Tibetan Qing gilt bronze Amitayus Buddha from the 17th or 18th century sold within estimate for $27,485. Image courtesy of Dallas Auction Gallery.

Indian artifacts to lead parade at Pook & Pook’s sale June 17-18

New England Queen Anne maple highboy, circa 1765, 69 1/2 inches high by 35 inches wide. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.

DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. – Thousands of American Indian artifacts will be offered at Pook & Pook Inc.’s June 17-18 Variety Sale. A local historical society has consigned the immense collection. The sale proceeds of which will go toward the acquisitions fund for the institution. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.

Over the past 25 years Pook & Pook has established a reputation for representing nonprofit educational institutions across the United States. Services range from authentication for purposes of accession and IRS appraising for donors making gifts to complete deaccessioning services and advertising in their beautiful catalogs. Their fervent support of this important part of the arts has only intensified during the economic downturn seen over the past few years. Many of these services are provided pro bono to the nonprofit institutions. The upcoming collection of Native American items is one of five different collections in this sale that come to the auction house from nonprofit organizations, including an art museum, three historical societies and a historic site.

The first session of the June Variety sale will kick off at 1 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, June 17, with a collection of Oriental carpets including mats, runners and room-size rugs. Of interest to collectors will be a pair of signed Hamadan runners valued at $500-$1,000. The sale will continue with a fun mix of vintage furniture, original art and decorative accessories and collectibles.

The furniture, including American and Continental examples of both formal and country styles.

Of particular interest to buyers will be a dining table by Saybolt Cleland, which will be offered along with a set of six mahogany shield-back dining chairs, a pier table and a candlestand all from the same maker. Saybolt Cleland Inc. produced high quality reproduction furniture from the 1930s until the 1970s, pieces whose sturdy construction and visual appeal make them desirable for buyers going for a period look. A George III mahogany slant-front desk is expected to bring $400-$700 and a Chippendale cherry chest of drawers is estimated to bring $400-$600. Buyers are also expected to bid competitively for a lovely Pennsylvania Federal walnut chest of drawers from the early 1800s. A set of Potthast Bros. Chippendale-style mahogany dining chairs is expected to bring $1,500-$2,500. A Pennsylvania Federal walnut slant-front desk from the early 19th century is expected to come in at $500-$1,000. Topping the list of must-haves in the furniture category is a Chinese carved painting table from the 1800s offered early on in the sale is expected to bring $8,000-$12,000.

The hundreds of pieces of art include paintings, drawings, etchings, prints, silhouettes, wood carvings and sculpture. A pair of Richard M. Kimbel (American, 1865-1945) oil on board works is expected to fetch $400-$600. Two watercolor on paper fraktur bookplates by Lancaster County, Pa., artist Christian Strenge (1787-1820) are anticipated to bring $400-$600.

Twenty large carved and painted African ceremonial masks and 10 aboriginal bark paintings depicting fish, sharks, turtles and geometric designs will be sold.

Decorative accessories found in the upcoming sale will include a huge selection of porcelain including plates, platters, cups, bowls and figurines.

Several large groupings of silver will be offered, including two English presentation trowels and a silver-plated fish service originally presented to W. Taylor, treasurer of the Jewin Street Trust in 1880.

Other accessories in the upcoming Pook & Pook Variety Sale include textiles, clothing, needlework, metalware (pewter, brass, tin, tole, copper), woodenware, glass, music boxes, clocks, mirrors, stereo viewers, ships lanterns, scientific instruments, lighting such as lamps, chandeliers, and lanterns, firearms, coins, children’s furniture, dolls, toys, game boards, holiday decorations, games, Noah’s ark, ephemera, weather vanes, books, baskets, trade signs, ivory netsukes, jewelry (costume and estate), musical instruments (including seven violins) and decoys.

The June Variety sale will also feature items from 11 estates from as close as West Chester to as far away as Chicago. The items from these collections will be found throughout the 1,500-lot sale, along with items from other consignors.

News updates from Pook & Pook can be followed on Facebook and Twitter, the links to each can be found on Pook & Pook’s Web site: www.pookandpook.com

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.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Chinese export porcelain vase with floral decoration, 12 1/2 inches. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.

Group of earthenware including redware stand, stoneware inkwell and mottled pitcher. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.

Five African carved masks. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.

This vignette is a sampling of what will be available at Pook & Pook’s Variety Auction on June 17-18. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook

Cowan’s Corner: Little people hit the big time

A rare British Tom Thumb ‘The American Man in Miniature’ handbill realized $180 in Cowan’s 2004 Spring Historical Americana Auction. Image courtesy Cowan’s Auctions Inc.

We are all familiar with the phrase “big things come in small packages,” and in the case of famed showman P.T. Barnum’s tiniest performers such as General Tom Thumb, the paraphernalia created at the height of these miniature celebrities’ careers often comes in small, yet valuable packages that can draw a great deal of interest among collectors of American and circus history.

Although Barnum featured a variety of acts and “human curiosities,” including giants, dwarves, magicians, albinos and exotic women at his American Museum in New York City as well as in his tours and traveling circus, Tom Thumb was one of Barnum’s smallest, yet most popular performers. Born Charles Sherwood Stratton (1838-1883) in Bridgeport, Conn., Tom Thumb was discovered by Barnum, a distant relative, around the age of 5. After learning how to sing, dance and impersonate famous people, Stratton went on his first tour of America alongside Barnum, which turned out to be a major success. The following year, Stratton journeyed to Europe, where he appeared twice before Queen Victoria, thus making a name for himself both nationally and internationally.

In 2004, Cowan’s handled a rare handbill advertising one of Tom Thumb’s engagements during his first trip to England in 1844. Featuring a depiction of the small star standing before Barnum and his parents, the broadside describes Tom Thumb, weighing only 15 pounds, as the “American Man in Miniature,” yet lies by saying he is 13-years-old, when in reality, he was only 6 at the time. This fine handbill brought $150 at auction, and comparable advertisements for Tom Thumb among other unique celebrities can bring between $50 and $200 at auction, making them affordable items for beginning collectors.

Photographs of Tom Thumb and fellow performers have frequently appeared at auction and in Internet sales over the years. Some of the most well-known photographs document the marriage of Tom Thumb to another dwarf by the name of Lavinia Warren in 1863, capturing the highly-publicized ceremony as well as the wedding party, which included Commodore Nutt, another mini Barnum performer, and Warren’s even smaller sister, Minnie. Barnum actually hired famous Civil War photographer Mathew Brady to produce the photographs of the wedding to sell to the mass market. Some photos even feature facsimile signatures of the wedding party on the back. A beginning collector can purchase carte-de-visite photos of Tom Thumb’s wedding, as well as comparable images of Barnum’s miniature celebrities for between $25 and $50.

In June, Cowan’s is featuring an archive of Tom Thumb collectibles that once belonged to his personal valet, B.F. Sellers, and the highlights include Tom Thumb’s miniature topcoat, vest, pants, gloves, wool cap and fine leather boots, manufactured by the Queen of England’s boot makers. This rather petite, yet remarkable group, valued at $10,000-$15,000, may appeal to the more passionate Tom Thumb collector, but it is still quite a sight to behold for those interested in the history and stature of this 19th-century celebrity.

Although it might be difficult for you to get your hands on an item from his wardrobe, it might be less challenging to obtain photographs, broadsides and ephemera related to Tom Thumb plus other well-known miniature Barnum performers, such as Commodore Nutt, Admiral Dot and Major Atom, and with Barnum’s 200th birthday coming up on July 5, it would only be fitting to invest in these tiny pieces of history.

Wes Cowan is founder and owner of Cowan’s Auctions Inc. in Cincinnati. An internationally recognized expert in historic Americana, Wes stars in the PBS television series History Detectives and is a featured appraiser on Antiques Roadshow. He can be reached via e-mail at info@cowans.com. Research by Katie Landrigan.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

This group of P.T. Barnum ephemera sold for $390 at Cowan’s 2006 Spring Historical Americana Auction. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc.

Three Tom Thumb Wedding CDVs sold for $30 at Cowan’s 2009 Firearms, Indian Art, & American History Auction. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc.

These CDV images are from an album that belonged to Tom Thumb’s personal valet. Typically these individual carte-de-visit photos bring $25-$50 apiece at auction. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc.

Tom Thumb's boots, kepi, pants, topcoat, and vest are estimated to sell for $10,000-$15,000 in Cowan’s 2010 American History, Including the Civil War Auction this month. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc. — Tom Thumb’s boots, kepi, pants, topcoat, and vest are estimated to sell for $10,000-$15,000 in Cowan’s 2010 American History, Including the Civil War Auction this month. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc.

Finney’s to sell Renaissance man’s collection of art, curios June 12

Beautiful 15-inch oxblood Oriental vase. Image courtesy of Finney’s Auction Service.

SCHODACK, N.Y. – Hundreds of quality lots from the estate of the late Dr. Kevin-John McIntyre of East Greenbush, N.Y., will be sold without reserve on Saturday, June 12, by Finney’s Auction Service. The sale will be conducted at Finney’s showroom beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern. LiveAuctioneers will facilitate online bidding.

McIntyre’s distinguished career included stints as senior vice president of the Discovery Channel-Asia, university professor, foreign service diplomat, documentary film producer and authority on Asian culture. Over the years he amassed impressive collections of Oriental antiquities, European art, nautical items and rare antiques. All these will cross the block.

“Dr. McIntyre was an important, larger-than-life figure, and his credentials speak for themselves,” said Sharon Finney of Finney’s Auction Service. “There has been a lot of advance interest in this sale. I expect it will be a busy auction, and a well-attended one, too. People who have seen the merchandise in person have been astounded. Some of the items are breathtaking.”

Oriental items will dominate the day’s offerings. Expected highlights include an 18th-century embroidered princess robe, a large embroidered wall hanging, a pair of Chiang Lon Rainy blue altar vases, a silk embroidered rank badge, Huang Huali hunting chairs, a Huang Huali dining table, cabinets, porcelains, ivory and many other antique Oriental items.

McIntyre’s expertise in the field of Asian culture was extensive. In addition to dramatically expanding Discovery’s footprint on the Asian continent, he wrote and produced an award-winning, six-part film series titled Artifacts, which detailed the history of porcelain, calligraphy, architecture, metallurgy, wood block printing and silk in China and Japan.

McIntyre also collected artwork, which will also come up for bid June 12. A few of the more notable examples include the following:

An original oil on canvas landscape by the French artist Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1796-1875), 7 1/2 inches by 11 inches, signed by the artist and housed in a gilt frame. Corot was a realist landscape painter and printmaker. He painted in the Barbizon School of France.
An original oil on canvas rendering of a river landscape by the Italian artist Toni Bordignon (b. 1921 in Treviso, Italy), 11 1/4 inches by 14 1/2 inches, signed by the artist in a wood frame.
An original oil on board painting of a field landscape by the American landscape and coastal view painter William Stanley Haseltine (1835-1900), signed, 13 inches by 15 ½ inches. The painting is housed in a gilt frame. Haseltine was associated with the Hudson River School.
An original oil on canvas painting by the English landscape artist Sidney Percy (1821-1886), titled Grazing and measuring 14 inches by 20 inches. The work is signed and in a gilt frame.
An oil on canvas painting by 19th-century French artist Dominique Alphonse Negre, titled Le Bain. The painting, measuring 14 ½ inches by 25 inches, is nicely housed in a wood frame.

In addition to the Oriental items, the auction will also feature a collection of frogs from around the world, an erotica collection (ivories, statues, etc.), nautical items, music and more.

The nautical items will include a large ship’s model in a glass case, a brass sextant, an Elgin ship’s clock, a Weibach compass in a wood box, a carriage clock in a leather case, a brass wall-hanging barometer, a brass telescope, a beaded gourd water vessel, a leather U.S. Navy canteen with leather holder, several wood boxes with brass trim, a bayonet holder and more.

Furniture that is not Oriental will feature a round glass-top table, a large mirror with fretwork trim, a two-door chest, a campaign secretary, a captain’s liquor chest, a rosewood display cabinet and a rosewood breakfront with beveled glass. Also sold will be a Seth Thomas grandfather clock, carved wood panels, camphor wood three-section hatboxes and other items.

Previews are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, June 10-11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, June 12, 9-11 a.m.

The address is 1568 Columbia Turnpike in Schodack, one mile off exit 10, about 15 minutes from Albany, and 25 minutes from Hudson.

For details call (518) 479-4371, e-mail finneysauction@nycap.rr.com or log on to finneyauction.com

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

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