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Socialite’s portrait

Gallery Report: ‘Blue Dog’ best in show at Crescent City

ATLANTA – 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 Gallery Report. All prices include the buyer’s premium.

Socialite’s portrait

George Rodrigue painting, $25,000, Crescent City

An oil on canvas painting by George Rodrigue (Louisiana, 1944-2013), titled Flames of Hope (1992), sold for $25,000 at an Estates Auction held Sept. 11-13 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans. Also, a large watercolor on silk Chinese Thangka, circa 18th century, rose to $22,500; an Hermes Victoria Brown Clemence leather cabas shopper commanded $2,375; and a 140-piece set of sterling flatware by Reed & Barton in the Francis I pattern found a new home for $8,750.

Socialite’s portrait

Philip de Laszlo portrait, $324,500, Ahlers & Ogletree

An oil on canvas portrait of Oonagh Guinness (1910-1995), the Anglo-Irish socialite, society hostess and art collector, by Philip de Laszlo (Austro-Hungarian, 1869-1937), signed and dated 1931, sold for $324,500 at a two-session auction held Sept. 12-13 by Ahlers & Ogletree in Atlanta. Also, a large pair of Chinese Ming dynasty (1368-1644) tileworks of Buddhist lions realized $37,200; and a 20th century Buccellati silver figure of an eagle on a stump made $27,225.

Socialite’s portrait

12.01-carat diamond ring, $143,750, Andrew Jones

A dazzling 12.01-carat emerald cut diamond (K VVS1) and platinum ring sold for $143,750 in an inaugural Fine Jewelry, Watches & Timepieces auction on Sept. 16, by Andrew Jones Auctions in Los Angeles. Also, a Swiss enameled 18K gold musical snuff box by Jean-Georges Remond & Co., circa 1800, achieved $70,000; and a Clinton Ultra 18K gold minute repeating perpetual calendar pocket watch, circa 1900, hit $10,625.

Socialite’s portrait

Amputation kit, circa 1861, $5,000, Holabird Western Americana

A Civil War-era military amputation kit, made around 1861 by G. Tiemann & Co. (New York) sold for $5,000 at a Great American Pow-Wow Auction held Aug. 27-31 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nevada. Also, a pair of circa 1910-1920 railroad signal lamps lit up the room for $5,375; a choice, attractive crystalline gold specimen weighing 5.45 troy ounces hit $5,625; and a 1970s Fender bass guitar with a sunburst finish and rosewood fret board hit a high note for $3,375.

Socialite’s portrait

Seeburg “G” style Orchestrion, CA$24,780, Miller & Miller

An early 20th century Seeburg “G” style Orchestrion coin-op music machine sold for $24,780 in an online auction held Sept. 19 by Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd. based in New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada. Also, a 27-inch Orchestral Regina upright coin-op music box from 1898 finished at $21,240; an 1892 Swiss George Baker & Company cylinder music box fetched $10,030; and a Canadian Goold 54-inch high-wheel bicycle from around 1890 sped away for $3,245. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Socialite’s portrait

Adolph Gottlieb painting, $162,500, Shannon’s Fine Art

An Abstract Expressionist painting by Adolph Gottlieb (American, 1903-1974), Untitled, #30 (1970), signed, sold for $162,500 in an online Fall Fine Art Auction held Sept. 17 by Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers in Milford, Conn. Also, an ink and gouache on light blue paper by Jackson Pollock (American, 1912-1956), Untitled (1952-1956), brought $112,500; and an oil on panel by George Bellows (American, 1882-1925), titled Farmer and Chickens (1922), signed, rose to $106,250.

Socialite’s portrait

Fire alarm transmitter, $7,800, Milestone Auctions

A Gamewell Excelsior fire alarm transmitter with 50 code wheels, in a refinished oak case with beveled-glass front door, sold for $7,800 at a sale of the Brian Maiher collection of railroadiana, petroliana and antique fire alarms held Aug. 29 by Milestone Auctions in Willoughby, Ohio. Also, a Norfolk & Western Railway experimental three-chime whistle, 27 inches long, fetched $11,100; and a double-sided porcelain Sinclair Opaline Motor Oil sign reached $6,000.

Socialite’s portrait

Nevada Club casino sign, $16,800, Potter & Potter

A large mid-century neon sign from Reno’s Nevada Club casino sold for $16,800 at a Coin-Op and Advertising Sale held Aug. 29 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a circa 1903 Mills Novelty Co. 5-cent punching bag / boxing strength test arcade machine, nicely restored, made $8,400; a double-sided porcelain Seaside Gasoline sign realized $4,320; and a restored and working Vendo Model 23 Coke machine with a porcelain drinking fountain hit $5,520.

Socialite’s portrait

Melville’s ‘Moby-Dick,’ $15,210, Jeffrey S. Evans

A first American edition of Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick (1854) sold for $15,210 at a Summer Americana Auction held Aug. 27-29 by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mount Crawford, Virginia. Also, a 1941 Play Ball Gum baseball card set hit $7,605; an 18th century English carved and painted wooden doll realized $5,557; a 19th century Pettigrew Family (Botetourt County, Virginia.) archival material brought $7,020; and a 19th century American School folk art landscape painting rose to $3,276.

Socialite’s portrait

1926 Baccarat perfume bottle, $56,250, Perfume Bottle Auction

A 1926 Baccarat for Isabey “Tresor Cache” presentation of Lys black crystal perfume bottle and stopper as a faceted jewel with cord seal, label and tooled leather box sold for $56,250 at an auction held July 11 by Perfume Bottles Auction in New York City. Also, a 1930s Heinrich Hoffmann Czechoslovakian perfume bottle gaveled for $43,750; and a rare 1928 “Dans les Airs” Lucien Gaillard for Clamy perfume bottle reached $27,000.

Socialite’s portrait

2009 Mike Trout rookie card, $3.9 million, Goldin Auctions

A 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Mike Trout Superfractor signed rookie baseball card, (no. 1 of 1), sold for $3.936 million at an Elite Auction held Aug. 23 by Goldin Auctions, based in Runnemede, New Jersey. It was a new trading card record. Also, a 2003/2004 UD “Exquisite Collection” rookie patch autograph Lebron James card (#02/99) rose to $1.107 million; and a 1968 Topps #177 Nolan Ryan rookie card went for $615,000.

Socialite’s portrait

1861 Indian Head cent, $55,813, Legend Rare Coin

A Cameo 1861 proof Indian Head cent graded PCGS PR66 sold for $55,813 in Regency Auction #40 held Aug. 27 by Legend Rare Coin Auctions (based in Lincroft, New Jersey) at the PCGS Members Only Show in Las Vegas. Also, an 1837 N-16 U.S. cent graded PCGS MS65+ realized a record $42,300; a 1915-S $20 U.S. gold coin graded MS66+ CAC fetched $52,875; and a 1911-D $2.50 U.S. coin graded PCGS MS65 made $64,625.

Socialite’s portrait

N.C. Wyeth drawing, $105,300, Thomaston Place

A charcoal drawing by N.C. Wyeth (American, 1882-1945), titled First Farmer of the Land, sold for $105,300 at a Summer’s Bounty II sale held August 29-30 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. Also, a 15th century Sino-Tibetan carved and painted figure of Guanyin of “1000 Arms” brought $84,000; and an oil on canvas painting by Aaron Douglas (New York/Kansas, 1899-1979), titled Listen Lord, earned $60,000.

Socialite’s portrait

Ballroom gown, $68,750, Doyle

A romantic floral print ballroom gown from ‘The Widows of Culloden’ collection of Autumn-Winter 2006 sold for $68,750 at an auction of the Art of Alexander McQueen: The Jennifer Zuiker Collection held Sept. 10 by Doyle in New York City. Also, a black parachute silk cape from the Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious collection, a billowing cape with exaggerated bishop sleeves, realized $37,500.

Socialite’s portrait

Tiffany Art Deco bracelet, $40,625, John Moran

An Art Deco Tiffany & Co. diamond and emerald bracelet sold for $40,625 at a Jewels, Luxury & Coins auction held Sept. 15 by John Moran Auctioneers in Monrovia, California. Also, a square step-cut, 4.94-carat diamond ring realized $31,250; an Hermes “Passiflores” silk blouse knocked down for $375; a Sybil Connolly Irish linen evening gown made $1,000; and a South African 10 Tolas gold bar rose to $7,500.

Socialite’s portrait

Lock of Lincoln’s hair, $81,250, RR Auction

A thin lock of Abraham Lincoln’s hair, taken during his postmortem examination, sold for $81,250 in an online auction that ran from Aug. 21-Sept. 12 by RR Auction, based in Boston. The hair was mounted to an official War Department manuscript telegram sent to Dr. Lyman Beecher Todd, a cousin of Mary Todd Lincoln, by George H. Kinnear, his assistant at the Post Office at Lexington, Ky., received in Washington April 14, 1865.

Socialite’s portrait

Beaded hide tobacco bag, $131,250, Cowan’s

A beaded hide tobacco bag from the Sioux Elk Dreamer Society sold for $131,250 at an Indian Art Auction held Sept. 18 by Cowan’s in Cincinnati. Also, an Ashiwi polychrome pottery jar from the mid-18th century hit $68,750; a pair of Kiowa beaded hide boot moccasins went for $22,500; a Plains buffalo hide shield and cover brought $21,250; and a pair of Sioux quilled buffalo hide moccasins with Elk Dreamer Society imagery made $20,000.

Socialite’s portrait

Gutenberg Bible leaf, $81,250, Freeman’s

A leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, from the press of the German printer Johann Gutenberg (? – 1468) sold for $81,250 at a Ritual and Culture Auction held Sept. 23 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, an Egyptian bronze figure of a seated cat from the Late Period (circa 664-332 B.C.) realized $75,000; a Great Plains pictographic war record on muslin (Lakota or Kiowa, circa 1880) made $56,250; and Tani Bucho’s (1763-1840) Waterfall fetched $30,000.

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By KEN HALL