Gallery Report: August 2015

ATLANTA – At the start of each month, ACN columnist Ken Hall gathers top auction highlights from around the United States and beyond. Here’s what made headlines since last month’s report:

Chamberlain uniform, $130,054, Grey Flannel

A home uniform worn by basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain during the 1961-62 NBA season, when he was a member of the Philadelphia Warriors, sold for $130,054 at a Summer Games Auction held June 24 by Grey Flannel Auctions in Westhampton, N.Y. Also, a circa-1960 game-used and autographed home uniform worn by Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas breezed to $118,230; and an early 1960s Bill Russell game-worn Boston Celtics road jersey, one of two of its type known, fetched $118,230. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Chinese stick-neck vase, $426,000, Clars Auction

A Chinese underglaze blue and white porcelain stick-neck dragon vase sold for $426,000 at an auction held June 27-28 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, Calif. Also, a Chinese export automaton bracket clock with shell carved crest and mother of pearl marquetry case realized $27,400; a stunning 3.05-carat diamond solitaire and 18K gold ring went for $25,000; and a charcoal and gouache on paper by Julia Thecla (American, 1896-1973), titled Signal-Sketch (1939), hit $9,200. Prices include a 19 percent buyer’s premium.

1844 political banner, $185,000, Heritage

A hand-painted double-sided jugate banner from the 1844 presidential campaign of James Knox Polk sold for $185,000 at a sale of Part II of the Merrill C. Berman Collection of political memorabilia held June 2 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas. Also, a political banner from that same year for Polk’s opponent in the election, Henry Clay, hammered for $31,250; a large “pewter rim” engraved portrait of Andrew Jackson under glass realized $20,000; and an Abraham Lincoln ambrotype brooch by George Clark hit $16,250. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Grotto bust of Neptune, $9,000, John Moran

A “grotto” bust of Neptune attributed to Anthony Redmile, with columnar stand, sold for $9,000 at a decorative arts auction held June 16 by John Moran Auctioneers in Pasadena, Calif. Also, a chair designed by the Italian decorator and artisan Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940) realized $8,157; a figural teapot by Seattle-based sculptor Akio Takamori (b. 1950) knocked down at $6,600; a wall unit by Danish designer Poul Norreklit made $4,329; and a painting by Christian von Schnideau (1893-1976) hit $2,400. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Fu Baoshi hanging scroll, $1.41 million, Michaan’s

A hanging scroll painting by the renowned Chinese artist Fu Baoshi (1904-1965), titled Lady by the Bamboo, sold for $1.41 million at a Fine Asian Works of Art Auction held June 22 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, Calif. Also, Lin Fengmian’s Boats at Shore breezed to $88,500; an underglaze blue and famille verte stem bowl of the Jiaqing mark and period changed hands for $82,600; and a pair of underglaze blue lidded ice chests of the Guangxu mark and period went for $76,700. Prices include a 12 percent to 17 percent buyer’s premium.

1800 Spitler blanket chest, $356,500, Jeffrey S. Evans

A circa 1800 Shenandoah County (now Page County), Va., yellow pine blanket chest, decorated by Johannes Spitler, made $356,500 at an Americana & Fine Antiques Auction held June 20 by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mount Crawford, Va. Also, a Shenandoah Valley fraktur taufschein attributed to Jacob Strickler and made for Susanna Rothgeb in 1805, fetched $29,900; and a rare group of early 19th century Frederick Cty., Va., fraktur birth records, made for the Carter family by the so-called Record Book Artist, hit $21,850. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Dior perfume bottle, $66,000, IPBA Auction

A 1957 Christian Dior Limited Edition perfume bottle in the shape of a dog, signed “Tien Dior” (Dior’s nickname), sold for $66,000 in an auction held April 30-May 3 at the International Perfume Bottle Association’s 27th annual convention in Spartanburg, S.C. Also, a 1920s R. Lalique Coty Cyclamen perfume bottle rose to $19,200; a 1920s J. Viard Colmy perfume bottle (C’est un Secret) hit $18,000; and a 1911 R. Lalique L.T. Piver Scarabee powder box found a new owner for $16,800. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Edward Curtis orotone, $6,400, Schwenke Auction

An orotone photograph by Edward Curtis (American, 1868-1952), titled Maid of Dreams, signed, in an original Curtis frame and measuring 12 1/2 inches by 10 3/4 inches, sold for $6,400 at a Spring Fine Estates Auction held June 14 by Schwenke Auctioneers in Woodbury, Conn. Also, an oil on panel by Eugene Verboeckhoven (Belgian, 1798-1881), titled Hens and Chicks in the Farmyard, signed and dated (1871), brought $3,295; and a pencil on paper attributed to Pierre Auguste Renoir (French, 1841-1919), made $3,750. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.

Daum Nancy art glass vase, $12,000, Woody Auction

A signed Daum Nancy French cameo art glass vase, 19 1/2 inches tall with a winter scene, in superb condition, sold for $12,000 at an auction held July 11 by Woody Auction in Douglass, Kan. Also, a framed French cameo art glass plaque, artist signed “J. Gruber” and showing a carved river scene with trees, brought $4,500; a group of four paintings by Charles Rogers (Kansas/California, 1911-1987) sold as one lot for $4,000; and an 85-piece Reed & Barton sterling flatware set totaling 126 troy ounces made $2,750. Prices are hammer. There was no buyer’s premium.

Chinese white jade seal, $90,000, Kaminski Auctions

A Chinese carved white jade seal with intricate carvings on the side of gilt calligraphy sold for $90,000 at an Asian & Estate Auction held July 12 by Kaminski Auctions in Beverly, Mass. Also, a military sword with a scabbard of metal and wood and an intricately carved jade handle embellished with a jade bead with gold chasing went for $92,400; a Chinese blue and white Mei vase with Qing Qianlong mark realized $22,400; and a Chinese blue and white moon vase with the Qianlong mark hit $20,400. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.

Tennessee Federal desk, $63,720, Case Antiques

A Tennessee Federal desk (Burgner, Greene County), dated 1819, with a stringed instrument inset under its top, sold for $63,720 at an auction held July 18 by Case Antiques in Knoxville, Tenn. Also, a carved limestone sculpture of a squirrel by William Edmonson (Tennessee, 1874-1951) finished at $46,020; an oil on canvas by Basil Blackshaw (Irish, b. 1932), depicting three horses at exercise, made $38,940; and a diamond and platinum double-clip brooch designed by George Headley (1908-1985), 11 carats, rose to $22,420. Prices include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.

Tiffany sterling flatware, $16,675, White’s Auctions

A 256-piece Tiffany & Co. sterling flatware set in the Flemish pattern (1911M), in the original fitted oak case, sold for $16,675 at an auction held May 26 by White’s Auctions in Middleboro, Mass. Also, a pair of 19th century basalt and white cameo Portland vases finished at $3,680; a Walter Durfee (Providence, R.I.) pattern no. 18 tall case clock made $9,660; and a nocturnal mixed media painting by Pedro Lemos (California/Nevada, 1882-1954), titled Sea Castles, brought $2,760. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Lifetime space collection, $678,983, RR Auction

The lifetime space collection of Leon Ford sold for a combined $678,983 in an auction held live (June 25, in Cambridge, Mass.) and online (June 18-24) by RR Auction, based in Boston. Over 100 items were in the collection, including Charles Conrad’s Apollo 12 lunar surface-worn backpack strap (shown), used during both of his moonwalks on Nov. 19-20, 1969. Also, Buzz Aldrin’s Apollo 11 Personal Preference Kit (PPK) fetched $50,000; and Gene Cernan’s Gemini 9A flown EVA checklist made $46,875. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

MLK Jr. inscribed book, $49,335, Hake’s Americana

A 1958 hardcover first edition of the book Stride Toward Freedom, written and signed by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and inscribed to U.S. Chief Justice Earl Warren, sold for $49,335 in an online/absentee auction #215 held July 14-16 by Hake’s Americana, based in York, Pa. Also, a page from an album belonging to multinational baseball hall of famer Martin Dihigo (Cuban, 1906-1971), containing Gutierrez and Billiken cigarette/cigar baseball cards from 1923-1924, went for $25,745. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Shirley Temple dress, $75,000, Theriault’s

The red and white polka dot dress worn by Shirley Temple in the movie Stand Up and Cheer sold for $75,000 at an auction held July 14 by Theriault’s, based in Annapolis, Md. The auction featured almost 600 costumes, memorabilia and dolls from the late actress’s personal archives. Also, Temple’s toy trumpet marching costume from the film Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm realized $15,000; and her “In Our Little Wooden Shoes” costume from the movie Heidi gaveled for $27,000. Prices are hammer, exclusive of a 12-14 percent buyer’s premium.

1864 Henry lever-rifle, $23,000, Rock Island

A Henry rifle made in 1864 by New Haven Arms and called the father of the Winchester lever-guns, sold for $23,000 at a regional firearms auction held June 26-28 by Rock Island Auction Co. in Rock Island, Ill. Also, a Pietta version of a Colt percussion revolver attributed to use in The Outlaw, Josey Wales hit $17,250; an English-proofed Smith & Wesson Model 320 revolving rifle, one of just 977 produced, reached $11,500; and a CSA Fayetteville Armory marked percussion rifle-musket brought $8,050. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Tulip table lamp, $35,197, James D. Julia

A beautifully colored Tiffany Tulip table lamp sold for $35,197 at a glass and lamp auction held June 11-12 by James D. Julia Inc., in Fairfield, Maine. Also, a Tiffany belted dogwood table lamp with a nicely mottled green geometric background fetched $32,587; a Nizami covered box depicting Persian gentlemen in a garden setting climbed to $23,692; a Fairyland Lustre shoulder vase decorated in the Imps on a Bridge pattern brought $17,775; and a Daum Nancy French cameo winter scene lamp went for $16,590. Prices include an 18.5 percent buyer’s premium.