Unexpected Joy, an early 1900s Russian icon, is expected to sell for more than $22,500 at Auktionshaus Dr. Fischer on Nov. 29. Image courtesy Auktionshaus Dr. Fischer.
HEILBRONN, Germany – Auktionshaus Dr. Fischer will offer a rare and beloved icon at its sale of Russian Works of Art, Fabergé and Paintings on Nov. 29. Known as Unexpected Joy, the icon is estimated to sell for in excess of $22,500. Created in Moscow, circa 1908-1917, the icon was previously sold at Sotheby’s New York in 1974.
On May 14 the Eastern Orthodox Church venerates the icon of the Mother of God, the Unexpected Joy. In the writings of St. Dimitri of Rostov is a narrative about a habitual sinner who unexpectedly experienced the joy of repentance before an icon of the Mother of God. This event, in which the sinner had a vision of Christ and the Blessed Virgin and conversed with them, became so beloved by the Russian people that an icon was drawn depicting it. The polychrome icon, about 14 1/2 by 12 1/2 inches, shows the sinner praying before an icon of the Theotokos, the Blessed Virgin.
The expected top lot of the sale is this stunning Tiffany lamp in the Peony pattern, which is expected to sell for $100,000 to $150,000). Image courtesy Treadway Toomey.
OAK PARK, Ill. – An important Tiffany table lamp in the Peony pattern is expected to bring $100,000-$150,000 at the Arts and Crafts, Modern and Fine Art Sale slated for Sunday, Dec. 7, at the John Toomey Gallery. The lamp boasts a bronze base with sculpted and applied designs under a fine original patina supporting a leaded glass shade. Both base and shade are signed Tiffany Studios.
“This is an exceptional example of an iconic lamp, and it will probably be the top lot in a sale that’s stacked from top to bottom with quality merchandise,” said Don Treadway of Cincinnati. The firm holds sales at John Toomey Gallery in Illinois and Treadway Gallery in Cincinnati. “We expect the better items to do very well and the midrange items will hold their own.”
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – On Dec. 7, Estate Roadshow Auctions will conduct the first in a series of sales to disperse the remarkable personal collection and early store stock of Connecticut antiques dealer Louise Mondani Graham, who died in August. The initial session will consist entirely of fine and costume jewelry, much of which was purchased in the 1950s and ’60s and stored away in boxes the owner never opened. According to Ann Valverde of Estate Roadshow’s Research & Appraisals department, going through the boxes was “like opening packages on Christmas morning and finding beautiful antique and vintage treasures. Mrs. Graham had exquisite taste and a cultured eye for Art Nouveau and Art Deco design.”
From the mid-1950s until 2005, Graham operated her old-school antiques business, Brass Bugle Antiques, from a well-patronized barn in Cornwall Bridge, Litchfield County, Connecticut. The building gained acclaim after it was chosen to be the subject of an artwork by Graham’s close friend, the noted New England painter Eric Sloane (1905-1985).
The Dec. 7 sale will include approximately 400-500 lots, with the headliner being a Victorian emerald-and-diamond ring often worn by Graham and considered one of her favorite pieces. Set in 18K yellow gold, the ring features a central emerald weighing in excess of 1 carat and accented by six old mine-cut diamonds, two flanking diamonds and fine black enamel around the stones. It has an appraised value of $5,700.
Oil-on-canvas portrait of George Washington, 19th century, American school, red jacket may have Masonic connection. Measures 29 inches by 25 inches. Estimate $12,000-$18,000. Image courtesy Morphy Auctions.
DENVER, Pa. – Morphy Auctions, a subsidiary of Geppi’s Entertainment, will take a sizable step forward into the field of American fine art and historical antiques with its Nov. 22 no-reserve sale of the Arthur Richmond Collection. Amassed over a 39-year period, the Arthur Richmond Collection is an extraordinary testament to history, from its early clocks, mirrors, needlework and blacksmith-forged ironware to its collection of American paintings, including an appealing selection of George Washington portraits.
“We’ve offered interesting examples of American furniture and art in many of our past sales, but this sale is very different,” said Morphy Auctions’ chief operating officer, Dan Morphy. “The entire auction inventory is from a single consignor who is an avid antiquarian and American history scholar. For the past 16 years Mr. Richmond has lived in an 18th-century house of great significance, in Loudoun County, Virginia, an area that has produced many important early American treasures.”
Made by Wilhelm Krauss (Germany), this lithographed-tin, pulley-operated toy features two Mickey Mouse dancers. Previously documented examples include only a single dancing-mouse figure; this is the first of its type that Noel Barrett has ever seen. Estimate: $10,000-$13,000. Noel Barrett Auctions image.
NEW HOPE, Pa. – On Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15-16, Noel Barrett opens a treasure chest of rare and unusual childhood antiques in his Fall 2008 auction of ‘Toys & Other Things.’
Collectors have become accustomed to the Houdini-like ways with which Barrett is able to unearth exquisitely rare antique toys, even within a collecting landscape that has been well trodden. Just when collectors think “all the good stuff” is accounted for, along comes a great surprise, together with a hefty price realized. A recent example of the unexpected consignments that can turn up in a Barrett sale is the original Monopoly “tie set” with hand-colored oilcloth roll-up board that was auctioned on April 12, 2008 for $46,750. Now in its new home – the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y. – it is typical of the rarity and desirability consistently seen in Barrett’s sales.
NEW YORK – J. Greenstein & Co. will conduct one of the most extensive auctions devoted entirely to antique and artisan Judaica on Monday, Nov. 10. The sale, to be held at New York’s Radisson Martinique Hotel on Broadway, will feature more than 100 ceremonial objects including menorahs, Kiddush cups, silver torah ornaments, spice boxes and paintings.
Works featured in the auction date to the 18th century and have been gathered from various longtime collectors in New York, London, Chicago and Belgium.
Highlights include an important silver Torah shield made in Brunn, Austria, in 1814 (est. $30,000-$50,000); a rare silver and large silver filigree spice box from 18th century Lemberg (est. $22,000-$30,000) and a magnificent set of three silver Kiddush cups made by J. Rimmonim in 18th century Germany. Also included is one of the most exceptional silver menorahs to appear at auction in recent years, the famed 18th century silver Jewish-maker menorah featured in Jay Weinstein’s book. Other items include various handmade silver Kiddush cups (starting at $3,500), Sabbath candlesticks and candelabras (starting at $3,000), and sterling silver menorahs (starting at $3,000).
Fully illustrated catalogs and hi-res images of select items are available upon request. Presale bidding and phone bidding will be offered for those unable to attend the auction. The sale will begin at 5:30 p.m.
J. Greenstein & Co. is the only auction house solely devoted to the sale of Jewish ritual objects. Founded in 2004 by Jonathan Greenstein, a lifelong collector of Judaica and Judaic art, the company’s twice yearly auctions feature rare Jewish ritual objects, works of art, books and manuscripts. To view the online catalog and for additional information go to the Web site: www.jgreenstein.com.
Face jug with china plate teeth, made in the 1960s by renowned potter Lanier Meaders (est. $4,000-$6,000). Image courtesy Slotin Folk Art.
BUFORD, Ga. – Nearly 1,000 lots of American folk art, in a mix of genres, will be sold Saturday, Nov. 8, by Slotin Auction. The sale will feature the art collection of Barbara Louviere, the santos collection of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and Florida Highwaymen artwork.
“American folk art is the only art form I can think of that’s not influenced by European masters or the academic community,” said Steve Slotin, who founded Slotin Auction with his wife, Amy, after they discovered some folk art pieces while on their honeymoon in 1994. “When you think of the South, you think of blues music and Southern cooking. But folk art is a great visual culture and a truly original art form.”
IVAN KLIUN (RUSSIAN 1873-1943) Composition with a Hollowed Brown Rectangle, 1926 oil on canvas 63 x 45.5 cm (24 3/4 x 17 7/8 in.) signed lower right, est: $200,000 – 300,000. Image courtesy Gene Shapiro Auctions.
NEW YORK – Gene Shapiro Auctions will sell important works of Russian, European and Latin art Saturday, Nov. 5, on the fifth floor of the Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 W. 18th St. in Manhattan. The auction will begin at 10 a.m.
The auction is expected to gross $4 million to $6 million, and the per-lot average is more than $20,000. The sale catalog has been posted online at www.geneshapiro.com. A printed full-color catalog is available for purchase.
“Due to the success of our previous several auctions, we have been fortunate to secure many high-quality consignments, especially from private collectors, that are fresh to the market,” said Gene Shapiro. “Serious collectors will not want to miss this sale.”
Flight suit and Distinguished Service Cross belonging to Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets, pilot of the Enola Gay. Estimate: $150,000-$250,000. Image courtesy Alexander Autographs.
STAMFORD, Conn. – Alexander Autographs, an auctioneer of historic autographs and collectibles, is offering the flight suit worn by Paul Tibbets on Aug. 6, 1945, when he piloted the Enola Gay to drop the world’s first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The uniform, an important piece of 20th-century military history, will be offered together with Tibbets’ Distinguished Service Cross in an auction slated for Nov. 6-7.
The suit was previously owned by an Ohio museum near Tibbets’ residence. It received the relic with a signed letter of provenance from Tibbets himself. Also included are a number of photographs and supporting documentation directly tying Tibbets to the offered flight suit. The suit, with the medal, are estimated to sell for $150,000-$250,000.
A large assortment of Steiff bears will be ready for their close-ups at Bertoia’s Nov. 7-9 auction, including a coveted and very rare “rod” bear (front and center) that was X-rayed to confirm that it contained the early Steiff rod mechanism. Image courtesy Bertoia Auctions.
VINELAND, N.J. – Nearly 2,500 lots of American, European and Japanese toys, and a special selection of folk art and antique advertising, will take the spotlight Nov. 7-9 at Bertoia Auctions’ gallery. Several prestigious collections anchor the sale. Automotive collectors will be treated to more of the late Bob Smith’s friction and pressed-steel toys, while holiday enthusiasts will be invited to take a third helping from the mind-boggling Fred Cannon collection and choose favorites from the revered Mary Lou Holt collection. In addition, Bertoia’s will present still banks from the collection of the late Dick Sheppard, European toys from the late Steve Olin and his wife Diane, and a remarkable Midwest private collection of horse-drawn cast-iron toys of every imaginable discipline.
