Gallery Report: December 2017

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:

Marathon Products sign, $6,900, Route 32 Auctions
An early Marathon Products (“Best in the Long Run”) double-sided porcelain sign, with iconic running man graphic, sold for $6,900 at the premiere auction of Route 32 Auctions in Indianapolis, Ind. Also, an En-Ar-Co White Rose double-sided porcelain sign went for $6,480; a Cadillac Authorized Service double-sided porcelain sign rose to $6,325; and a Chevrolet “OK Used Cars” single-sided porcelain button sign knocked down for $4,370.

William Gear landscape, $11,875, Bruneau & Co.
An oil on canvas landscape painting by the Scottish-born abstract modernist William Gear (1915-1997), titled Paysage, Mai 50 (May Landscape, 1950), sold for $11,875 at an Estate, Antiques, Fine & Decorative Art Auction held Nov. 25 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, R.I. Also, a large (50 inches by 80 inches, framed) oil on canvas maritime seascape painting of a brigantine ship at sea by Wesley Elbridge Webber (American, 1841-1914), untitled, rose to $9,375.

Rare Dorflinger ewer, $75,000, Woody Auction
A rare, museum-quality Dorflinger cranberry cut to clear glass ewer, 17 inches tall, sold for $75,000 at an auction held Nov. 18 by Woody Auction (based in Douglass, Kan.) in Kansas City, Mo. Also, an American Brilliant Cut Glass round tray, signed Hawkes and in the Pueblo pattern, brought $24,000; an ABCG pedestal punch bowl in the Stars and Stripes pattern by Sinclaire, climbed to $14,000; and two red cut to clear wine glasses, signed “Fritsche,” each gaveled for $11,000. Prices quoted are hammer.

Amazing Fantasy #15, $140,760, Hake’s Americana
A copy of the comic book Amazing Fantasy #15 (Marvel, August 1962), the first appearance of the Amazing Spider-Man, graded CGC 7.5, sold for $140,760 at a Pop Culture Auction held Nov. 14-16 by Hake’s Americana in York, Pa. Also, a Kenner Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi 23 Back-A, AFA 80 NM double-telescoping action figure on a blister card hit $76,700; and a Kenner Star Wars Luke Skywalker action figure on a blister card, AFA 95 Mint, brought $50,622.

Set, Paul Evans dining chairs, $48,640, Palm Beach Modern
A set of eight Paul Evans dining chairs, leather and metal, sold for $48,640 at an auction held Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 25, by Palm Beach Modern Auctions in West Palm Beach, Fla. Also, a signed original painting on paper by Michael Goldberg (American, 1924-2007) brought $38,400; an acrylic on paper signed by Sam Francis (American, 1923-1994) made $30,720; and a Paul Evans Directional cabinet made from bronzed resin, slate, wood and lacquered steel rose to $23,040.

1587 map of the New World, $80,000, Swann Galleries
Richard Hakluyt’s 1587 map of the New World, titled Novus Orbis, the first map to use the designations “Virginea” and “Nuevo Mexico,” sold for $80,000 at a sale of Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books held Dec. 5 by Swann Galleries in New York. Also, John Norman’s The American Pilot, with 11 double-page or folding charts (Boston, 1810), went for $68,750; and a map by Paolo Forlani and Bolognino Zaltieri, published in Venice in 1566, realized $47,500.

Elizabeth chairs, ottomans $20,000, Cordier Auctions
A pair of mid-century modern Elizabeth chairs with ottomans by Ib Kofod-Larsen sold for $20,000 at an auction held Nov. 11-12 by Cordier Auctions in Harrisburg, Pa. Also, a 14K gold, 3.22-carat diamond engagement ring brought $8,500; an Edison Bipolar electric motor garnered $5,300; a large oil on canvas painting by the 19th-century artist Wilhelm Kray made $3,900; and a circa 1800 paint-decorated dower chest, Bucks County, Pa., went for $3,400.

Giacometti floor lamp, $181,250 Doyle New York
A circa 1975 Trois Oiseaux floor lamp by sculptor and designer Diego Giacometti (Swiss, 1902-1985) sold for $181,250 at a Doyle+Design Auction held Nov. 21 by Doyle New York in New York City. Also, a talosel resin framed mirror by Line Vautrin (French, 1913-1997) knocked down for $28,125; a walnut Conoid desk by George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990) finished at $20,000; and a work by John Levee (American, 1924-2017), titled Abstraction, gaveled for $31,250.

Hiliott scrimshaw, $42,000, Eldred’s
A polychrome scrimshaw tooth attributed to George Hiliott, depicting a native Hawaiian woman, or Wahinee, on the front and a woman on horseback on the back, sold for $42,000 at an Americana Auction held Nov. 16-18 by Eldred’s in East Dennis, Mass. Also, a landscape work by Theodore Rousseau (French, 1812-1867) hit $42,000; a whale ivory pie crimper with a reticulated design on all four sides of a square shaft made $39,000; and a mallard hen by Mitchel LaFrance rose to $14,400.

’99 Pokemon 103-card set, $100,655, Goldin Auctions
A complete 103-card set of 1999 Pokemon 1st edition cards, graded PSA Gem MT 10, sold for $100,655 in a Holiday Auction that closed Dec. 9 by Goldin Auctions, based in Runnemede, N.J. Also, Stephen Curry’s 2016 NBA finals, games 4 and 6, Golden State Warriors road jersey, achieved $58,920; Gordie Howe’s 1951/52 Parkhurst #66 rookie card, PSA NM-MT 8, brought $51,555; and a 1950 bat game-used by Ted Williams and inscribed “my personal best bat” hit $44,190.

Alex Katz painting, $120,000, Leland Little
An original painting by contemporary American artist Alex Katz titled Ukulele Player sold for $120,000 at a Winter Quarterly Auction held Dec. 2 by Leland Little Auctions in Hillsborough, N.C. Also, Les Petits Poissons by Janet Fish coasted to $33,000; a sculpture by Bryan Hunt titled Bear Run I brought $26,000; an unmounted round brilliant cut diamond with platinum and diamond mount realized $32,000; and Francis Speight’s painting Houses on a Hill went for $13,000.

Van Cleef & Arpels brooch, $90,000, John Moran Auctioneers
A stunning pendant/brooch by Van Cleef & Arpels sold for $90,000 at a Fine Jewelry Auction held Dec. 5 by John Moran Auctioneers in Monrovia, Calif. Also, a rare fancy pink diamond went to a determined bidder for $75,000; an antique natural Burmese spinel necklace finished at $9,600; a handsome 18K rose gold Louis Cartier tank watch rolled to $9,600; an Art Deco-inspired set from Poiray earned $7,800; and a charm bracelet reached $2,520.

Platinum and diamond ring, $61,000, Pook & Pook Inc.
A platinum and diamond ring with a pear-shaped central diamond weighing 4.85 carats (H color, VS1 clarity), flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds weighing .60 carats each, sold for $61,000 at an Estate Jewelry Auction held Oct. 28 by Pook & Pook Inc., along with Stuart Kingston Jewelers in Greenville, Del. Also, an 18K yellow and white gold diamond and ruby rectangular openwork pendant brought $7,930; and an 18K yellow gold perfume bottle topped out at $5,100.

Pair, Chinese hunghuali tables, $72,600, Clars Auction Gallery
A pair of Chinese huanghuali demi-lune tables sold for $72,600 at an auction held Dec. 16-17 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, Calif. Also, a huanghuali mixed wood clothing cabinet finished at $48,420; an oil on canvas painting by Russian artist Mihail Chemiakin (b. 1943), titled Carnival St. Petersburg, VII, hammered for $27,830; and a palace-size antique Persian Serapi carpet went for $26,620.

Marklin toy battleship, $192,000, Bertoia Auctions
A Marklin toy battleship, the Sankt Georg, 28 inches long, sold for $192,000 at a Fall Signature Sale held Nov. 11-12 by Bertoia Auctions in Vineland, N.J. Also, an 18-inch-tall belsnickle candy container with feather tree, standing on a snow mound, fetched $21,600; a 20-inch-tall Santa Claus candy container with original felt robe and toy-filled basket on back made $12,000; and a circa 1901 Martin (French) windup Sandwich Man with billboard advertising rose to $13,200.

10.33-carat diamond ring, $994,000, Fortuna
A 10.33-carat D color, internally flawless emerald cut diamond ring by Van Cleef & Arpels sold for $994,000 at a Magnificent Jewels Auction held in December by Fortuna in New York City. Also, a pair of fancy vivid yellow diamond ear studs weighing 2.02 carats each rose to $87,500; a 7.65-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond ring achieved $237,500; a 5.01-carat D color internally flawless emerald cut diamond ring brought $200,000; and a pair of diamond cluster earrings hit $75,000.

Tiffany Geranium table lamp, $84,700, James D. Julia Inc.
A Tiffany Studios Geranium table lamp sold for $84,700 at a Rare Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry Auction held Dec. 1 by James D. Julia Inc., in Fairfield, Maine. Also, the same amount was posted for a Tiffany Studios Nasturtium chandelier and a Tiffany Studios Rose and Butterfly table lamp; a Handel reverse-painted aquarium lamp lit up the room for $60,500; a set of Tiffany Studios Apple Blossom torchieres fetched $45,375; and a Morgan Pansy table lamp made $22,990.

Photos of Yellowstone, $12,000, PBA Galleries
A rare album of 63 Albertype photos of Yellowstone National Park taken in 1871 by William Henry Jackson for the Hayden Geological Survey sold for $12,000 at an auction held Dec. 14 by PBA Galleries in San Francisco. Also, a two-volume first edition of Richard F. Burton’s account of his trip into the interior of Africa, published in 1860, went for $5,700; and 14 consecutive annual editions of a Chinese telephone directory for San Francisco and Oakland, 1931-1944, fetched $2,040. Prices include the buyer’s premium.

1955 painting done by John F. Kennedy, $162,500, Heritage Auctions
A painting completed in 1955 by John F. Kennedy consigned by Kennedy family heirs sold for $162,500 at an Americana & Political Auction held Dec. 2 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas. Also, a cigar store Indian tobacconist figure signed by artist Julius Theodore Melchers climbed to $81,250; an 1846 quarter plate daguerreotype profile portrait of Pres. John Quincy Adams brought $31,500; and a New York City skyline sketch by Donald Trump gaveled for $20,000. Prices include the buyer’s premium.

___

By Ken Hall