Tom Hoepf, Author at Auction Central News

Jackson’s plows through $2 million auction during blizzard

This oil on canvas by Austrian artist Hans Zatzka (1859-1945) titled Symphony of the Water Nymphs, sold for $44,400 on Dec. 8 at Jackson’s. Image courtesy Jackson's International Auctioneers.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – If Jackson’s International Auctioneers were searching for a new motto, they might aptly choose the following: “Neither record snow, blowing winds nor frigid temperatures will prevent us from having a successful auction.” Indeed such was the case Dec. 8 and 9 at Jackson’s, which witnessed a supercharged auction amid a record 14-inch snowfall combined with wind gusts of 50 miles an hour and temperatures plunging below zero.

It was perhaps the unique mix of material (Chinese, Russian and Picassos) that in turn created the perfect storm of bidders who helped raise prices and disolve any thoughts of a less than stellar auction. Gross sales totaled more than $2 million.

“I have to hand it to my staff” said Jackson’s President and CEO James Jackson. “As our client services director Jessi Brogan said the day before the storm, ‘We’d all better prepare to get here and launch this thing because people in Moscow, Peking, London, Paris and Rome don’t know anything about this storm and further still could care less.’” Jackson continued, “Just to be on the safe side we hired a snow plow truck to pick up employees and deliver them to the gallery despite the fact that every school, airport, store and factory within a 300 mile radius was shut down. None of us expected many people, if any, to actually show up but indeed there were over two dozen die-hard auction-goers who somehow made it to our gallery including two from China, one from Chicago, two from New York, one from Kansas City, and another from Dallas as well as one from Minneapolis.”

The auction began with more than 600 bidders having preregistered, which produced a steady sales pace throughout each session. Phone lines were busy with stranded bidders calling in to arrange phone bidding or leave bids, and LiveAuctioneers.com provided Internet live bidding.

The sale opened with a variety of European art including lot no. 1, a lovely oil on canvas portrait of a young woman by British artist William Clarke Wontner (1857-1930) that sold for $45,600. That was followed by an alluring oil on canvas by Austrian artist Hans Zatzka (1859-1945) titled Symphony of the Water Nymphs which drew wide interest including 15 phone lines. Estimated at $12,000-$18,000, it finished at $44,400, selling to a New York buyer. A charming oil on canvas by French artist Henri Schlesinger (1814-1893) titled A Ride in the Park brought $26,400, which was a good bit over the high estimate. Perhaps the biggest surprise in European paintings was the 29- by 44-inch oil on canvas unsigned Venetian scene attributed to British artist John Joseph Hughes (1820-1909). Estimated at $1,000-$2,000, the painting ended up selling to a buyer from Florida for $26,400. Other European works of note included a 13th-century Limoges enamel corpus Christi mounted to a later copper gilt cross which sold for $15,600. A lovely bronze figure of a water nymph by Italian sculpture Luca Madarassi (1848-1919) sold for $10,200.00 against an estimate of $3,000-$5,000. And a pair of 13- by 18-inch oil on canvas Paris street scenes by French artist Antoine Blanchard (1910-1988) sold for $15,600.

Next up was a small but diverse group of Russian items with the highlight being a beautiful bronze by Evgeny Lansere (1848-1886) titled Zaporozhets after the Battle. It finished at more than twice the high estimates coming in at $33,600. A few other Russian works of note included a small (9 by 12 inches) landscape by Mikhail Klodt (1832-1902) that sold for $13,200. A Russian snow scene by Dmitri Nalbandian (1906-1993) did $12,000, and a folding iconostasis finished at $9,600. A 13-inch bronze of an armless female torso by Moissey Kogan (1879-1942) also sold for $9,600 and an 8-inch-diameter steel plate commemorating the coronation of Czar Alexander III sold for $3,600.

The highlight of a group of modern works on paper from a Las Vegas, Nev., collection was a 1962 linocut print by Picasso titled Tete de Femme, which that measured 25 inches by 20 inches. Estimated at $40,000-$60,000, the print drew wide interest finishing at $81,600. Other Picasso linocuts inculded Jacqueline Lisante, 1964, measuring 25 inches by 20 inches, $60,000; Femme au Chapeau, 1962, in colors, measuring 13 inches by 10 inches, $45,600, and Picador et Taureau, 1959, finished at $36,000.

Other modern prints worthy of mention include Marc Chagall’s color lithograph titled Chloes Judgment,1960, from Daphins and Chloe, measuring 16 inches by 25 inches, which sold to a buyer in New York for $21,600. Another Chagall color lithograph, Le Bouquet Rose, 1980, sold for $20,400, which was followed by Les Lilas, also a color lithograph by Chagall, sold for $18,000.

The second session opened with American art including a fresh to the market snow scene by Ernest Lawson (1873-1939). The 18- by 24-inch oil on canvas sold for $45,600. That was followed by a still-life by Iowa artist Marvin Cone (1891-1964), which sold above the high estimate bringing $31,200. A typical Normandy river landscape by American artist George Ames Aldrich (1872-1941) sold for $11,400. A group of three small oil sketches by Chicago artist Walter Krawiec, each measuring 11 inches by 14 inches, totaled $9,000 against an estimate of $1,500-$2,500. An oil on Masonite pinup girl by American artist William Metcalf brought $8,400, and Thomas Hart Benton’s lithograph Frankie and Johnnie sold for $7,200. An interesting bust of titled The Head of David-after Michelangelo, by American artist Richmond Barthe (1901-1989) did well selling for $6,600 against an estimate of $1,000-$2,000, and a 12- by 20-inch oil by Arthur Parton (1842-1914) depicting raging rapids sold for $5,280.

Next were American and European glassware, porcelain and decorative arts. The first lot, a Tiffany Pomegranate lamp sold for $16,800. That was followed by a pot metal figural lamp modeled after a work by Oscar Bach and containing a Steuben globe shade. It sold for $4,800. A 5-inch miniature Daum Nancy snow scene vase sold for $2,000, and a Legras Indiana cameo vase did $3,120. A 16-inch KPM plaque depicting the male saint Rodriguez after the painting by Murillo sold for $6,000, a 6- by 5-inch oval KPM plaque of a Greek girl sold for $4,000. A lovely pair of Meissen cupid figurines made slightly over $5,000, and a Meissen figural grouping of musicians did $4,800. A large Zsolnay vase titled Allegory of the Flood modeled by Lajos Mack and measuring 25 inches drew wide interest, selling to a buyer from New York for $10,800.

Decorative arts and furnishings saw a good amount of action as well with a French Empire period bronze figural clock tripling the high estimate bringing $18,000. A pair of elephant tusks deacessioned from an Iowa museum also sold for $18,000. A Louis XVI-style mahogany and ormolu mounted curved glass vitrine sold to a buyer from Los Angeles for $22,800 followed by a similarly decorated gilt bronze and vernis mounted side cabinet that sold $18,000 against an estimate of $2,000-$4,000.

By far the most super charged bidding was in the Oriental or Chinese section with most every lot receiving active bids from the floor, phone, Internet and absentee bid department. The highlight of Chinese art was a carved jade water basin cataloged as 19th century with a question mark. The 3-inch-deep, 21-inch-long and 11-inch-wide carved stone basin carried an estimate of only $1,500-$2,000, but ended up selling $55,200 to a phone bidder from China. That was followed by a 16-inch carved jade urn also cataloged as 19th century and with later regain seal of Qianlong. Estimated at $600-$900 it too sold to the phone for $14,400.00. Next to sell was a Chinese export ceramic fishbowl measuring 18 inches in height, and although with a hairline crack in the base, still sold for $18,000 against an estimate of $800-$1,200. A pair of Chinese cloisonné vases with floral designs, each circa 1900 and about 12 inches in height, sold for $8,400. A gouache on card painting by well-known Indian artist Jamini Roy (1887-1972) sold for $16,800. A pair of Chinese carved ivory puzzle or mystery balls that sold to a collector from Boston for $10,000.

For complete auction results with illustrations or information on how to consign items visit Jackson’s website at www.jacksonsauction.com.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

The bronze grouping, Zaporezhets after the Battle, by Russian sculpture Evgeny Lansere (1848-1886) sold to a buyer from Moscow for $33,600 at Jackson’s. Image courtesy Jackson's International Auctioneers. — The bronze grouping, Zaporezhets after the Battle, by Russian sculpture Evgeny Lansere (1848-1886) sold to a buyer from Moscow for $33,600 at Jackson’s. Image courtesy Jackson’s International Auctioneers.

A linocut print by Pablo Picasso titled Tete de Femme (Bloch 1063), sold for $81,600. Image courtesy Jackson's International Auctioneers. — A linocut print by Pablo Picasso titled Tete de Femme (Bloch 1063), sold for $81,600. Image courtesy Jackson’s International Auctioneers.

Although unsigned, this French Empire figural bronze clock still made $18,000.00 at Jackson’s Dec. 8 sale. Image courtesy Jackson's International Auctioneers. — Although unsigned, this French Empire figural bronze clock still made $18,000.00 at Jackson’s Dec. 8 sale. Image courtesy Jackson’s International Auctioneers.

A Chinese buyer purchased this 19th-century Chinese carved jade water basin for $55,200. Image courtesy Jackson's International Auctioneers. — A Chinese buyer purchased this 19th-century Chinese carved jade water basin for $55,200. Image courtesy Jackson’s International Auctioneers.

Children’s Museum celebrates Barbie’s 50th anniversary

Andy Warhol painted this portrait of Barbie in 1985. It is synthetic polymer paint and silkscreen ink on canvas. Image courtesy of Mattel Inc. and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – An Andy Warhol painting of Barbie and interactive fashion shows are the highlights of a new exhibit at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to commemorate the iconic doll’s 50th anniversary.

“Barbie: The Fashion Experience”’ opened Saturday at the museum, which will be its only stop. Sarah Cole, the museum’s special and temporary exhibits manager, said she worked with toy maker Mattel to put together the exhibit.

“Our Barbie collection was good,” Cole said, “but not as strong as Mattel’s.”

Barbie was introduced to the world at the 1959 New York Toy Fair. Creator Ruth Handler said the doll, based on the German Bild Lilli dolls, represented that women had choices.

The exhibit features a photo timeline of Barbie, life-size Barbie mannequins and a design center where children can create their own fashions using dress forms, computer games and light tables.

Workshops on T-shirt designing, special runway shows and fashion shows also are offered, and visitors can watch Barbie commercials from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.

But a highlight might be the chance to strut down a Barbie catwalk after getting made up.

Makeup artist Misty Al-eryani, founder of FierceLooks, has three looks for children to apply from hygienic single-use trays.

Al-eryani said she created the looks after thinking about her four daughters and other children, and how they would interact with the doll.

“I wanted them to feel as if they were Barbie’s best friends or Barbie’s little sister,” she said.

Warhol’s 1985 Barbie painting is also part of the display. It is the first time the work has been displayed outside California.

The exhibit runs through February 2011.

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com

AP-CS-12-20-09 1401EST

ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE

Mattel introduced Barbie, the teenage fashion model doll, in 1959. Image courtesy of Mattel Inc. and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

Egypt antiquities chief to demand return of Nefertiti bust

The famous bust of Queen Nefertiti was was recently moved back to Berlin's Neues Museum from the adjacent museum. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

CAIRO (AP) – Egypt’s antiquities chief said Sunday he will formally demand the return of the 3,300-year-old bust of Queen Nefertiti from a Berlin museum after confirming it was sneaked out of Cairo through fraudulent documents.

Zahi Hawass, the head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, has been aggressively campaigning to reclaim treasures that he says were stolen from Egypt and purchased by some of the world’s leading museums.

Hawass’ campaign yielded a huge success this week with the return of painted wall fragments from a 3,200-year-old tomb from the Louvre in Paris. Hawass had cut ties with the French museum and suspended its excavation in southern Cairo to pressure it to return the artifacts.

Highlighting the importance of the efforts, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak traveled to Paris to oversee the handover of the fragments, which arrived in Cairo Tuesday.

The limestone bust of Nefertiti, wife of famed monotheistic Pharaoh Akhenaton, topped the list Hawass has drawn for high-profile items he wants back.

Since the bust was displayed in Germany in 1924, Egypt has been demanding its return. German authorities have declined, saying the bust is too fragile to move.

A statement from Hawass’ office said Friederike Seyfried, the director of Berlin’s Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection, presented documents held by the museum proving the bust was sneaked out of Egypt illegally.

“The national committee to reclaim antiquities will hold an emergency meeting … to examine official steps to demand the final return of the Nefertiti bust from Berlin to Egypt,” the statement said.

The documents include a protocol signed by the German excavator of the bust and the Egyptian Antiquities Service headed by Gustave Lefevre in 1913, a year after the statue was unearthed in Amarna in southern Egypt.

In the documents, the object was listed as a painted plaster bust of a princess. But in the diary of the German excavator Ludwig Borchardt, he clearly refers to it as the head of Nefertiti – whose name means the beautiful one has come.

“This proves that Borchardt wrote this description so that his country can get the statue,” Hawass’ statement said. “These materials confirm Egypt’s contention that (he) did act unethically with intent to deceive.”

The existence of these documents was known to archaeologists. It was not clear why the museum decided to hand them over to Egypt now.

Hawass’ statement quoted the director of the museum as saying the authority to approve the return of the bust to Egypt lies with the Prussian Cultural Heritage and the German culture minister. Seyfried will act as a liaison, the statement said.

Nefertiti is the 14th century B.C. wife of Akhenaton, who initiated a new monotheistic religion that involved the worship of the sun. Her bust was recently moved back to Berlin’s Neues Museum from the adjacent Atles Museum, part of a cluster of five art halls that make up one of Berlin’s most familiar landmarks.

Thousands of antiquities were spirited out of the country during Egypt’s colonial period and afterward by archaeologists, adventurers and thieves.

Hawass’s list of most cherished treasures includes another piece held by the Louvre, the painted ceiling of the Dendera temple showing the Zodiac.

He has also asked for the return of the bust of Achhaf, the builder of the Chephren Pyramid, from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and a statue of the Hemiunu, the nephew of Pharaoh Khufu from Germany’s Roemer-Pelizaeu museum.

He says he has recovered 5,000 artifacts since becoming antiquities head in 2002.

AP-ES-12-20-09 1645EST

Recovered Auschwitz sign to be restored

WARSAW, Poland (AP) – Polish police have recovered the infamous Nazi sign stolen from the former Auschwitz death camp cut into three pieces, and said Monday it appeared to have been taken by common criminals seeking profit.

Five men were arrested late Sunday after the damaged “Arbeit Macht Frei” (“Work Sets You Free”) sign was found near one of their homes in a snowy forest outside Czernikowo, a village near the northern Polish city of Torun, on the other side of the country from the memorial site.

The brazen pre-dawn Friday theft of one of the Holocaust’s most chilling symbols sparked outrage from around the world. Polish leaders launched an intensive search for the 5-meter (16-foot) sign that spanned the main gate of the camp in southern Poland where more than 1 million people, mostly Jews, were killed during World War II.

The men’s arrest late Sunday came after more than 100 tips, said Andrzej Rokita, the chief police investigator in the case.

Police said it was too soon to say what the motive for the theft was, but they are investigating whether the Nazi memorabilia market may have played a part. The suspects do not have known neo-Nazi or other far-right links, Rokita said.

“Robbery and material gain are considered one of the main possible motives, but whether that was done on someone’s order will be determined in the process of the investigation,” added deputy investigator Marek Wozniczka.

“They are ordinary thieves,” Rokita said.

The suspects have not been identified publicly, but Rokita said they were between the ages of 20 and 39 and that their past offenses were “either against property or against health and life,” implying that at least one of them has a record for violent crime.

Four of the five men are believed to have carried out the theft, removing the 65- to 90-pound steel sign from above the Auschwitz gate in the town of Oswiecim, about 30 miles west of Krakow.

“It seems they cut the sign up already in Oswiecim, to make transport easier,” Rokita said at a news conference in Krakow. It was “hidden in the woods near the home of one of them.”

Wozniczka said the suspects will all be charged with theft of an object of special cultural value and could face up to 10 years in prison. He said other charges could possibly be added during the investigation.

Museum authorities welcomed the news with relief despite the damage. Spokesman Pawel Sawicki said authorities hope to restore it to its place as soon as it can be repaired and was working to develop a new security plan.

Security guards patrol the 940-acre (200-hectare) site around the clock, but due to its vast size they only pass by any one area at intervals.

An exact replica of the sign, produced when the original underwent restoration work years ago, was quickly hung in its place Friday.

In a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press, Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, welcomed the sign’s swift recovery.

“Whatever the motivation, it takes warped minds to steal the defining symbol of the Holocaust from the world’s most renowned killing field,” he said.

After occupying Poland in 1939, the Nazis established the Auschwitz I camp, which initially housed German political prisoners and non-Jewish Polish prisoners. The sign was made in 1940. Two years later, hundreds of thousands of Jews began arriving by cattle trains to the wooden barracks of nearby Birkenau, also called Auschwitz II.

More than 1 million people, mostly Jews, but also Gypsies, Poles and others, died in the gas chambers or from starvation and disease while performing forced labor. The camp was liberated by the Soviet army on Jan. 27, 1945.

The grim slogan “Arbeit Macht Frei” was so counter to the actual function of the camp that it has been etched into history. The phrase appeared at the entrances of other Nazi camps, including Dachau and Sachsenhausen, but the long curving sign at Auschwitz was the best known.

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Associated Press Writer Monika Scislowska contributed to this report.

AP-ES-12-21-09 0726EST

Austin Auction Gallery to present 25th annual New Year Gala, Jan. 3

French Renaissance Revival Château server, circa 1890, estimate: $8,000-$12,000. Image courtesy of Austin Auction Gallery.

AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Auction Gallery will host its 25th annual New Year Gala and Auction on Jan. 3. The event kicks off at noon with a fabulous luncheon catered by O’Joi-Ous Occasion. The spectacular auction, which will start promptly at 2 p.m. Central, will offer more than 400 lots of antiques and fine art from around the world as well as high-end designer items, decorative arts and a small selection of fine jewelry. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.

Highlighting the antique furniture is a signed French Vernis Martin-style cylinder desk with a finely painted Classical scene by “A. Coudert” (Armand Coudert, France, 19th-20th century) estimated to bring $3,000 to $5000. A profusely carved French Renaissance Revival Château server, circa 1890, crosses the block with an estimate of $8,000 to $12,000.

The auction also features a large selection of British Colonial, English, and American antiques as well as custom designed modern furniture. Architectural elementss include French etched glass doors, antique garden pieces and a monumental Mughal arabesque carved teakwood wall from India, circa 1800. A collection of Black Forest carved furniture and decorative items will be offered including a pair of large trophy plaques and an excellent Black Forest cuckoo shelf clock.

The decorative arts category is loaded with sterling silver, Waterford crystal, a selection of banquet service articles, lamps, mirrors, bronze figures with a life-size pair of lions, circa 1930, which has an estimate if $1,500-$2,000.

A diverse selection of fine art is led by a collection of American School folk paintings, including two wintery snow scenes by Walter Parkes (American, 1909- ). A colored pencil drawing by Marie Laurencin (French 1883-1956) is expected to make $3,000-$5,000. Also in the mix are several Modernist pieces including The Doors, dated 1952, by El Shiro Ikegawa (Japanese/ California, 1933- 2009).

Antique and semiantique rugs to be offered include Caucasian pieces as well as a large, signed Persian Mashad, circa 1890, with an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000.

A handful of fine jewelry completes this eclectic mix. Gold and diamond pieces include a custom pearl, diamond, and ruby 18K gold dragon form necklace (estimate $4,000-$5,000).

Everyone is invited to join Austin Auction Gallery for a special champagne preview scheduled for Jan. 2, from noon to 5 p.m. Central. Doors open the day of the auction at noon.

Visit www.austinauction.com or phone 512-258-5479 for more information.

To view the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet during the sale at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Click here to view Austin Auction Gallery’s complete catalog.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

A collection of Black Forest carved pieces include a pair of large trophy plaques and a fine cuckoo shelf clock. Image courtesy of Austin Auction Gallery.

Two winter scenes by folk art painter Walter Parkes will be included in the auction. Image courtesy of Austin Auction Gallery.

The estimate for this late 1800s Persian Mashad rug is $4,000-$6,000. Image courtesy of Austin Auction Gallery.

This custom pearl, diamond and ruby necklace in 18K gold and dragon motif is estimated at $4,000-$5,000. Image courtesy of Austin Auction Gallery.

LiveAuctioneers.com notes dramatic rise in site traffic, buyers, auction clients

NEW YORK – The preliminary 2009 performance statistics for LiveAuctioneers.com have been verified, confirming strong results across the board for the Manhattan-based company that provides Internet live-bidding services to nearly 900 auction-house clients.

During the calendar year 2009 (Jan. 1 to date), LiveAuctioneers saw a 90.1% increase in the number of site visits as compared to 2008. Similarly, the number of absolute unique visitors rose by 82.4% over the prior year. On the new-client side, 119 auction houses joined LiveAuctioneers’ roster in 2009.

LiveAuctioneers’ growth in international markets this year has surpassed all expectations, with China topping the list of nations joining the Internet live-auction bandwagon. Compared to 2008, there was a 245% increase in the number of people logging on and registering at LiveAuctioneers.com through Chinese ISPs. “China has become a major force in the world economy, and it will only continue to strengthen its position through e-commerce,” said LiveAuctioneers CEO Julian R. Ellison.”

Other nations followed a similar pattern. Their increases in LiveAuctioneers usage as compared to 2008 included: Netherlands 145%, Germany 113.5%, United Kingdom 111.5%, Italy 99.9% and Australia 95%. North American results indicated an 89.8% increase in Canadian use of LiveAuctioneers over the comparable period of 2008 and 79.2% in the United States. In terms of overall participation to date in 2009, there have been 533,714 bidder signups for catalog sales run through LiveAuctioneers.

“These are very potent statistics, especially when considering the choppy economic waters we’ve all had to navigate over the past year,” Ellison said. “Our auction-house clients have told us that LiveAuctioneers continues to deliver quality buyers and a consistently high level of quality underbidders, which points squarely to the volume of traffic running through our platform. Traffic, together with customer service and technological innovation, is the cornerstone of LiveAuctioneers’ success.”

Ellison noted that LiveAuctioneers’ policy of non-exclusivity, which allows auction-house clients the freedom to publicize and promote their catalogs however and wherever they wish, has helped LiveAuctioneers retain its long-held leadership position within the Internet live-bidding sector. “We believe it makes no sense – especially in such a competitive marketplace – for Internet live-bidding services to force auctioneers into signing contracts that place severe restrictions on how they may market their sales. Auction houses should be given a helping hand, not a list of things they can’t do for fear of being punished,” he said.

The past year has also marked an era of new technological advancements and marketing innovations for LiveAuctioneers. Highlights included:

· The launch of a custom-designed real-time bidding platform and applet compatible with all operating systems, including Mac. The platform can be customized and uniquely branded for specific auction houses.

· The introduction of a bonus feature for Platinum Plus customers whereby LiveAuctioneers’ popular audio/video feature is added for only $1 per auction day.

· The July debut of a revolutionary, custom-designed, downloadable iPhone application (“app”) available through Apple’s iTunes Store. The new “app” was the first of its kind within the auction industry to enables absentee bidding at any LiveAuctioneers-supported sale through mobile devices. Less than a month later, LiveAuctioneers App Technologies launched a similar product for all current Blackberry devices.

· The debut in late November of a boutique publicity and public relations agency, LiveAuctioneers PR Services. The in-house agency’s one and only specialty is promoting auctions, antique shows and other antiques-related events through customized promotional campaigns.

Ellison said the new PR firm is off to a running start. “We already had some of the arts sector’s best PR people on our staff, so it made sense to create a new offshoot to LiveAuctioneers that assists auctioneers in promoting their sales through custom-crafted publicity campaigns.”

Ellison said that LiveAuctioneers’ nine-year history of technological achievements is a source of pride to him but tipped that “the most exciting innovation ever to emerge from [LiveAuctioneers’] Research & Development department has yet to be unveiled.” He said that in January LiveAuctioneers will issue “a surprise announcement that will forever change the way bidders interact with auction houses on a global basis, so stay tuned.”

Visit LiveAuctioneers online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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Media contact: pr@liveauctioneers.com

Jan. 1-2 New Year’s Sale is highlight of the year for Stephenson’s Auctioneers

Pair of circa-1920 wrought-iron gates, est. $600-$1,000. Images courtesy of Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers.

SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. – For nearly half a century, family-owned Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers has served the Philadelphia tri-state area with its popular weekly sales, but the company’s most highly anticipated event of the year is always its New Year’s Sale, this season to be held on Jan. 1 and 2.

The New Year’s Sale, which is sometimes held on a single day and other times over a two-day period, has been a company tradition for the past 20 years. “It’s our biggest auction of the year and generally draws the biggest crowd and best prices of all our sales, so there’s always a lot of anticipation,” said auctioneer and appraiser Cindy Stephenson. Ms. Stephenson assumed the auction-business reins from the company’s founder, her still-active father, Robert L. Stephenson. While low-key in her approach, Cindy continues a legacy of distinction for her work with estates from Philadelphia’s most exclusive suburbs.

The opening session of the Jan. 1-2 sale incorporates estate antiques and fine art from several fine homes in the region, including a residence in West Orange, N.J., whose owner was an avid collector of many categories; and an upper Bucks County (Pa.) home whose owners had enlisted the services of a talented professional decorator. “Some of the newer, better pieces, such as the Baker and Kittinger furniture, came from that particular house,” said Stephenson.

An extensive array of china, glassware, porcelain and pottery awaits bidders on New Year’s Day. Among the highlights are an 11-piece hand-painted fish set featuring a 25-inch platter, a 13-piece Limoges hand-painted porcelain game set, and a set of six Haviland & Co. Limoges oyster plates. A Hazel-Atlas cobalt Royal Lace service for 12, with additional serving pieces, is estimated at $3,000-$5,000. The Asian taste is amply accommodated by a stunning 23-inch Japanese porcelain vase with bronze mounted dragon handles, an Imari vase and rice bowls; a Kutani water pitcher, and several pieces of late-18th-century Chinese export china. Other coveted names represented in the expansive china, glass and porcelain selection include Royal Crown Derby, Fondeville, Wilhelm Sattler & Son, Steuben, Roseville, Orrefors, Waterford and Lalique.

The soft luster of fine silver will also enhance the opening session. Key lots include two Russian silver enameled cases by Nikolai Kulikoff and a 15-inch-tall J. E. Caldwell sterling silver vase (est. $1,000-$1,600). Many other pieces of silver, including flatware and individual decorative and utilitarian items, bear the names of such manufacturers as Gorham, S. Kirk & Son, and Wallace.

The artwork to be auctioned spans hundreds of years and many different styles and media. George Morland’s (English, 1763-1804) oil-on-canvas painting titled Gypsy Encampment is estimated at $3,000-$5,000; while an imposing portrait of a seated gentleman signed Alexander 1819 is expected to make $2,500-$4,000.

Starting the year off right will be a cinch for collectors who have an eye for fine estate jewelry. Stephenson’s dazzling auction assortment includes Victorian and Art Deco gold and diamond rings and earrings, and traverses into the showier mid-century styles that incorporate large stones and unusual motifs. The market’s insatiable interest in Asian jewelry should bring many bidders to the table for a 14K gold and ivory bead necklace with a hand-carved and colored geisha accent. Jade pieces include two bangle bracelets, a hand-carved pendant and a beaded necklace. Small and chic, an Egyptian Revival beetle pin in silver mounting is estimated at $120-$250, while a sterling silver enameled and hand-painted lady’s necessaire (compact) could bring $200-$300.

Changing the mood of a room is often accomplished with the addition of a single striking piece of furniture. A wealth of ideas can be found in Stephenson’s Jan. 1 sale, starting with two Chippendale mahogany chests of drawers, a two oak bent-glass china cabinets with lion heads and paw feet, and a Stickley mahogany Federal-style inlaid sideboard. An American Atelier lounge chair and ottoman exhibit the desirable minimalist style of Charles Eames – just the things to pair up with an Orlando Diaz-Azcuy “Ventana” cocktail table. Kittinger designs include a mahogany tea table, “Old Dominion” Biggs lowboy, a flame-mahogany and inlaid dining table with two leaves and a mahogany breakfront, among many other pieces by this manufacturer.

Details count, and that’s where decorative accessories shine. The New Year’s Day session includes many highlights in this category, including a marked 1940s Carl Hagenauer copper face mask (est. $4,000-$6,000), a pair of circa-1920 wrought-iron gates from a Philadelphia home (est. $600-$1,000), a carved African ivory vase, and three Japanese gourd scrimshaws. Hand-tied Oriental carpets include Sarouk, Kirman, and Chinese-made textiles, among other productions. Another lot not to be missed is the pair of foo dog figurines.

Meriting special attention is a circa-1900 vintage wooden bowling pins game with a baseball theme (est. $1,000-$1,800). The hand-stitched leather ball is covered with silver-plated medallions of baseball stars Big Dan Brouthers (1858-1932) and John Clarkson (1861-1909). A melodious addition is the Hepp & Son Philadelphia mahogany-cased tabletop music box, in working order with cylinder.

Day two of the auction is devoted exclusively to a single-owner collection of antique and vintage dolls, Steiff toys and other older teddy bears. “The owner, a woman from Philadelphia, had thousands of dolls in her collection. The better pieces from the estate will be offered in our sale,” said Cindy Stephenson.

Auction Details:

Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers will hold its New Year’s Antique & Decorative Arts Auction on Friday, Jan. 1, with a special Saturday, Jan. 2 session exclusively devoted to the single-owner collection of dolls, Steiff and vintage teddy bears. The sale will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m. on Saturday. The preview for both auction sessions will be held on Dec. 31 from 1-5 p.m. and Friday, Jan. 1 from 8-10 a.m. Dolls and teddies also may be previewed on the Saturday from 9-11 a.m., prior to the start of the second session.

All forms of bidding will available, including live via the Internet through www.LiveAuctioneers.com. For information on any item in the sale, call 215-322-6182 or e-mail info@stephensonsauction.com. Visit the auction company’s Web site at www.stephensonsauction.com.

View a fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet during the sale at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Click here to view Stephenson’s Auction’s complete catalog.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

J. E. Caldwell sterling silver vase, 15 inches tall, est. $1,000-$1,600. Images courtesy of Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers.

Grouping of dolls including examples made of wax, bisque and other materials. At far left is a Shirley Temple doll, and at front and center is a Kewpie. Image courtesy of Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers.

Circa 1900 wooden bowling pins game with leather-covered, hand-stitched ball with silverplated medallions of Dan Brouthers and John Clarkson, est. $1,000-$1,800. Images courtesy of Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers.

Circa-1820 Regency red and gilt tole painted hot water urn and food warmer, est. $1,000-$2,000. Image courtesy of Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers.

George Morland oil-on-canvas painting titled Gypsy Encampment, est. $3,000-$5,000. Images courtesy of Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers.

Carl Hagenauer copper mask, three-sided, impressed Hagenauer, Austria and maker's mark WHW (Werkstatte Hagenauer Wein) on bottom, handmade, 1940s, est. $4,000-$6,000. Images courtesy of Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers. — Carl Hagenauer copper mask, three-sided, impressed Hagenauer, Austria and maker’s mark WHW (Werkstatte Hagenauer Wein) on bottom, handmade, 1940s, est. $4,000-$6,000. Images courtesy of Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers.

Set of Hazel-Atlas cobalt “Royal Lace” service for 12, with serving pieces, est. $3,000-$5,000. Image courtesy of Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers.

Egyptian Revival beetle pin in silver mounting, est. $120-$250. Image courtesy of Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers.

Sterling silver enameled and hand-painted lady’s necessaire, est. $200-$300. Image courtesy of Stephenson’s Auctioneers & Appraisers.

Poland tightens border in hunt for stolen Auschwitz sign

The sign above the entrance to Auschwitz was stolen early Friday. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

OSWIECIM, Poland (AP) – Polish authorities stepped up security checks at airports and border crossings and searched scrap metal yards Saturday as the search intensified for the infamous Nazi sign stolen from the Auschwitz death camp memorial.

The brazen pre-dawn theft Friday of one of the Holocaust’s most chilling and notorious symbols sparked outrage from around the world, and Polish leaders have declared recovering the 5-meter (16-foot) sign a national priority.

The sign bearing the German words “Arbeit Macht Frei” – “Work Makes You Free” – spanned the main entrance to the Auschwitz death camp, where more than 1 million people, mostly Jews, were killed during World War II.

The grim Nazi slogan was so counter to the actual function of the camp that it has been etched into history. The phrase “Arbeit macht frei” appeared at the entrances of other Nazi camps, including Dachau and Sachsenhausen, but the long curving sign at Auschwitz was the best known.

Police deployed 50 officers, including 20 detectives, and a search dog to the Auschwitz grounds, where barracks, watchtowers and rows of barbed wire stand as testament to the atrocities of Nazi Germany.

Spokeswoman Katarzyna Padlo said police had questioned all security guards at the site and searched local scrap metal businesses, while Dariusz Nowak, a police spokesman in Krakow, said investigators were working around the clock on the case.

The director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial museum, visibly shaken, told The Associated Press he believes professionals carried out the theft.

“I think it was done by specialists,” Piotr Cywinski said. “It was a very well-prepared action.”

British historian Andrew Roberts said the sign would generate huge interest on the burgeoning market for Nazi memorabilia.

Security guards patrol the 940-acre site around the clock, but due to its vast size they only pass by any one area at intervals. Cywinski said that gave thieves between 20 to 30 minutes to remove the sign and carry it off.

Museum spokesman Pawel Sawicki said the sign is made of hollow steel pipes and is believed to weigh only around 65 to 90 pounds.

“A single person could lift it,” Sawicki said.

Sawicki said the entire Auschwitz staff was deeply shaken by the theft. He defended security at the camp but said no one could have ever imagined thieves seizing the gate’s sign.

“Thieves are also able to robs banks and museums. Clearly this was well planned. It’s a blow to our human heritage,” Sawicki said.

An exact replica of the sign, produced when the original underwent restoration work years ago, was quickly hung in its place Friday.

Michael Pick, 47, a history teacher from Brisbane, Australia, was glad the museum had put up a replica.

“The irony of the saying is something that we talk about in the classroom,” he said, standing amid snow and below-freezing temperatures. “It would be better if it (the sign) were authentic but I would be incredibly disappointed if I showed up today and there was nothing there.”

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading Jewish human rights group, urged Poland to intensify its investigation and bring the thieves to justice.

“The fact is that the ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ sign has become the defining symbol of the Holocaust, because everyone knew that this was not a place where work makes you free, but it was the place where millions of men, women, and children were brought for one purpose only – to be murdered,” said Rabbi Marvin Hier, the center’s founder and dean.

After occupying Poland in 1939, the Nazis established the Auschwitz I camp in the southern Polish city of Oswiecim, which initially housed German political prisoners and non-Jewish Polish prisoners. The sign was made in 1940. Two years later, hundreds of thousands of Jews began arriving by cattle trains to the wooden barracks of nearby Birkenau, also called Auschwitz II, where most were killed in gas chambers.

Most of the camp’s victims were Jews but they also included Gypsies, Poles, homosexuals and political prisoners.

The Soviet army liberated the camp Jan. 27, 1945. Polish officials plan to mark the 65th anniversary of that liberation next month with somber ceremonies at the site.

_____

Scislowska reported from Warsaw.

AP-ES-12-19-09 1331EST

Kovels – Antiques & Collecting: Week of Dec. 21, 2009

Holt-Howard made this punch cup in the 1960s as part of a set that included a bowl, ladle and eight mugs. The complete set sells for about $150-$200, but this mug alone costs only $7. Photo by Cloe Eiber.

Christmas for manufacturers to sell special holiday items. In 1949 John and Robert Howard and Grant Holt finished college and started Holt-Howard, a New York City business that sold Christmas items. Their first success was a revolving brass candelabrum called “Angel Abra.” The heat from burning candles makes a round metal propeller rotate to spin cutouts of angels. The idea dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe and similar candle carousels are still being made. At first Holt-Howard focused on Christmas items — candle holders, punch sets, dishes, planters, candy dishes and other ceramics featuring angels, pixies and Santa. The company moved to Connecticut in 1955 and started making kitchen-related items like condiment dishes, cheese jars and salt and pepper sets. Holt-Howard is credited with making the coffee mug a common household item; in the 1950s it made many different styles of mugs instead of traditional cups and saucers. The company’s ceramics were all made in the U.S.A. until the late 1950s, when manufacturing was transferred abroad and Holt-Howard became an importer. Collectors like the playful look of Holt-Howard designs and also the fact that each piece is marked with the company’s name and the date of manufacture.

Q: My father was once on board the USS Williamsburg presidential yacht. I still have the souvenir he received that day, a Ballantine Burton Ale bottle with a “Christmas Greeting” paper label that says “Brewed especially for Harry S. Truman on May 12, 1934. Bottled December 1949.” Would this be worth anything?

A: If the bottle is still full, it’s worth more than if it’s empty. Ballantine Burton Ale was a very special ale brewed and aged at one of Ballantine’s plants in Newark, N.J. It was never sold. Bottles were given as Christmas gifts to Ballantine distributors and VIPs, including President Truman. The USS Williamsburg had been used as a naval gunboat during World War II, but served as the presidential yacht from 1945 to 1954 so it was used by both President Truman and President Dwight Eisenhower. Full Ballantine Burton Ale bottles with the Truman label sell for more than $100. An empty bottle sells for less.

Q: Recently I bought an old Barbie doll at a house sale. Her face doesn’t look like the face on the doll I had as a child. Has Barbie had a facelift?

A: Barbie has had dozens of faces through the years. Different molds have been used. Molds have names like Christie, Lea, Mackie, Steffie, Summer, SuperStar and Teresa. Later variations included fringe lashes, open-close eyes, open mouth, pouty mouth and lips that move. In recent years, Barbie dolls have been made to represent Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe, model Heidi Klum and other celebrities. The first Barbie had painted and molded eyelashes and a closed mouth. A reproduction of the original Barbie was released in 1994 to celebrate Barbie’s 35th birthday. Barbie celebrated her 50th birthday in 2009 with another new face. The model is Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif.

Q: I was given a copy of a fabric book titled “The Night Before Christmas.” It was a Christmas gift to my uncle in 1906, when he was a child. The book is intact but quite faded.

A: At one time, Saalfield Publishing Co. created a group of children’s books made of muslin. They could be washed and were hard to tear. The company, founded by Alfred J. Saalfield in Akron, Ohio, in 1899, was the country’s largest publisher of children’s books. Saalfield published coloring books, paper dolls, storybooks, educational toys and games. The company closed in 1977 and its library and archives were bought by Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, for its special collection of children’s books. The university lists the publication date of your book as 1912, so your book is not quite as old as you thought. The poem we know as “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) was published in a newspaper in 1823 under the title “Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas.” The author’s name was not listed, but in 1844 it was included in a book of Moore’s poems. There is some controversy today about his authorship because evidence suggests the original poem was written by Henry Livingston Jr. (1748-1828). Your book is faded, so the value is only about $15. Books in excellent condition sell for $100.

Q: Can you tell me anything about the plastic Santa bank my father left me? It’s a bust of Santa wearing a black top hat. The coin slot is in the top of the hat, and the bottom of the bank is marked “Knox Hats, New York.”

A: Knox Hats dates back to 1838, when Charles Knox (circa 1818-1895), an Irish immigrant, opened a tiny hat shop on Fulton Street in New York City. The business grew during the second half of the 19th century, and Knox opened a bigger store on Fifth Avenue and a factory in Brooklyn. The company was sold in 1913, but the brand name lived on until the 1950s. Because your bank is plastic, it probably wasn’t made until after World War II. That’s when plastics become widely used. It’s likely the bank was an advertising premium or a Christmas gift given to loyal customers.

Tip: Plastic bubble wrap can ruin the glaze on old ceramics. If the wrap touches a piece for a long time in a hot storage area, it may discolor the glaze or adhere to the surface in an almost permanent glob.

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 can also sign up to read our weekly Kovels Komments. It includes the latest news, tips and questions and is delivered by email, 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.

Better Homes & Gardens Christmas Ideas for 1962 book, articles on food, gifts to make, tree ornaments, 9 x 12 inches, $15.
Snoopy Christmas tree ornament, Snoopy carrying tree, United Features, 1958, 3 x 2 1/2 inches, $25.
Weather Bird Shoes advertising clicker, image of bird on weather vane, yellow ground, black bird, red letters, 1940s, 1 x 1 1/2 inches, $30.
Aluminum Christmas cookie cutters, 6-inch gingerbread man, 4-inch Christmas tree, 3 1/2-inch Santa with bulging sack on back, cut-in handles, 1950s, $40.
Lefton Christmas candy dish, girl in sled wearing red bonnet, holding muff, 1950s, 6 x 8 inches, $90.
Pez Santa Claus candy dispenser, full body, red outfit, black boots, white beard, 1950s, 4 inches, $110.
Mastercrafters mantel clock and motion lamp, forest, moving waterfall, river scene, 3-D redwood base with pine trees, 1950s, 10 1/2 inches, $115.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside sheet music, from the film Neptune’s Daughter, starring Esther Williams and Red Skelton, 1948, 9 x 12 inches, $10.
Historical blue Staffordshire toddy plate, “Christmas Eve,” impressed maker’s mark, 6 3/4 inches, $170.
Steiff Santa teddy bear, “Friends of Christmas,” Santa bear in redwood sleigh, reindeer, wrapped packages, 1989, 9 x 17 inches, $225.

Just published. The new full-color Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide, 2010, 42nd edition, is your most accurate source for current prices. This large-size paperback has more than 2,500 color photographs and 47,000 up-to-date prices for more than 700 categories of antiques and collectibles. You’ll also find hundreds of factory histories and marks and a report on the record prices of the year, plus helpful sidebars and tips about buying, selling, collecting and preserving your treasures. Available at your bookstore; online at Kovels.com; by phone at 800-571-1555; or send $27.95 plus $4.95 postage to Price Book, Box 22900, Beachwood, OH 44122.

London Eye: December 2009

This rare 18th-century Chinese famille rose 'abstinence plaque,' a kind of Chinese chastity belt worn by ladies of the court, fetched £6,500 ($10,500) at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury in November.

While the recession has had a negative impact on the top of the art market, with the bigger fine art auction houses suffering significantly reduced consignments to their blue-chip sales, elsewhere it seems to have had a positive effect. British provincial auction houses have been busy emphasizing their green credentials, promoting local auction sales as recycling opportunities that offer an attractive alternative to buying new.

Another strategy adopted by provincial firms has been to prioritize specialist sales over general dispersals. Salisbury auctioneers Woolley & Wallis are among a small number of UK provincial auction houses who have formed a series of specialist departments with sound expertise in each. As a result they operate more like local versions of Sotheby’s or Christie’s than general auctioneers. This may be the reason why their Asian art offerings, for example, continue to turn up fine and rare objects such as the Yuan dynasty double-gourd vase that made a record hammer price of £2.6 million ($4.6m) at their July 2005 sale.

Their latest Asian art offering on Nov. 11 didn’t quite scale those vertiginous heights, but it did feature a most unusual small 18th-century Chinese famille rose “abstinence plaque.”

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