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:
German WWI goblet, $7,500, Mohawk Arms
An Imperial German World War I fighter pilot’s pokol, a silvered victory goblet, showing an embossed panel of two eagles in combat, 7 inches tall, sold for $7,500 at an auction held June 3-4 by Mohawk Arms in Bouckville, N.Y. Also, a purple enameled cigarette case, presented to German World War I fighter pilot Baron von Richthofen (aka The Red Baron) to Werner Voss, a fellow ace pilot, soared to $5,200; and a card signed by Von Richthofen, framed, hit $3,000. Prices are hammer, exclusive of the buyer’s premium.
Tiffany & Co. china set, $16,675, Philip Weiss
A gorgeous 81-piece Tiffany & Co. china set in the Cirque Chinois pattern, in excellent condition, sold for $16,675 at an auction held June 15 by Philip Weiss Auctions in Lynbrook, N.Y. Also, original cover art for the comic book Battle Classics #3 (DC Comics, Jan./Feb. 1979) by the legendary illustrator Joe Kubert (American, 1926-2012), gaveled for $8,360; and an oil on board painting by the equally renowned Chesley Bonestell (American, 1888-1986), titled Rhea, Saturn & Spacecraft, finished at $7,475. Prices are inclusive of the buyer’s premium.
Wadsworth Jarrell painting, $21,240, Ahlers & Ogletree
An oil painting by the African-American artist Wadsworth Jarrell (b. 1929), titled Diz E Bird, depicting the two jazz greats Charlie Parker and Dizzie Gillespie, sold for $21,240 at an auction held June 25-26 by Ahlers & Ogletree in Atlanta. Also, a vintage 1936 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, teal blue with a 34-horespower engine, sped off for $12,000; and a carved cinnabar lacquer censer table stand of round form, from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), 18 1/4 inches tall, went for $4,500. Prices include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.
Theophile Fragonard oil, $10,455, Crescent City
An oil painting by Theophile Evariste Fragonard (French, 1806-1876), titled The Secret Letter, sold for $10,455 at an auction held June 4-5 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans. Also, a woman’s platinum dinner ring, with an 11.33-carat oval sapphire atop a border of round diamonds, gaveled for $7,800; a 19th century French Directoire Louis XV-style carved mahogany double-door armoire hit $3,321; and a pair of 19th century gilt and patinated bronze and marble six-light candelabra finished at $2,091. Prices include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.
Marklin tunnel and tower, $84,000, Bertoia Auctions
A Marklin tunnel with mountain castle tower sold for $84,000 at the auction of Jerry and Nina Greene’s personal toy train collection held April 9 by Bertoia Auctions in Vineland, N.J. Also, a Marklin gauge 1 girder bridge, 85 inches long by 16 inches tall, made $51,000; a Bing “Jupiter” gauge III passenger set with 4-4-0 live steam locomotive and original hand-enameled finish went for $48,000; and a Marklin train station, O gauge, with the original paint, changed hands for $42,000. Prices are inclusive of the buyer’s premium.
Angel Botello sculpture, $57,500, Palm Beach Modern
A sculpture by the artist Angelo Botello, titled Girl Standing with Umbrella, sold for $57,500 at a Modern Art & Design Auction held May 14 by Palm Beach Modern Auctions in West Palm Beach, Fla. Also, a monograph by Alex Katz titled Good Morning, Study III finished at $47,500; an original acrylic-on-canvas painting by Larry Poons (b. 1937) knocked down for $31,250; a Picasso pottery wood owl titled Chouette breezed to $23,750; and a Jean Dubuffet serigraph scroll, 14/80, Pace edition, made $10,000. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.
Chinese automaton clock, $929,000, Clars Auction
A rare Chinese automaton triple fusee bracket clock sold for $929,000 at an auction held June 18-19 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, Calif. Also, a huanghuali rectangular dining table and six side chairs coasted to $145,000; a Chinese Guan-type brush washer finished at $54,450; a circa 1964-1965 Rolex Cosmograph wristwatch, ref. 6239, with original papers, earned $45,385; and a Chinese Export silver teapot hit $27,830. Prices include a 19 percent buyer’s premium.
Chinese porcelain moon flask, $43,200, Kaminski Auctions
A Chinese porcelain under glazed blue and copper red dragon moon flask sold for $43,200 at a Spring Estates Auction held May 21-22 by Kaminski Auctions in Beverly, Mass. Also, a Chinese blue and white bowl brought $22,800; an abstract landscape painting by Claude Venard (French, 1913-1999) achieved $9,000; a Tiffany Studios double poinsettia lamp realized $14,400; a Tiffany poppy-style lamp lit up the room for $12,000; and a Lord & Goddard Hepplewhite tall case clock reached $9,600. Prices are inclusive of the buyer’s premium.
Tiffany Peony lamp shade, $37,500, Doyle New York
A Tiffany Studios Favrile leaded glass Spring Peony shade, 18 1/4 inches in diameter, sold for $37,500 at an auction held June 8 by Doyle New York in New York City. Also, an exquisite box in the style of French ebeniste Andre-Charles Boulle soared to $16,250; a Tiffany & Co. silver service in the English King pattern fetched $10,000; and a painting by the Romanian artist Stefan Luchian (1868-1916), titled Still Life with Goldenrods in an Earthenware Pitcher, went for $23,750. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.
Ancient Greek ring, $152,100, Thomaston Place
A circa 100 B.C. Greek gold and cabochon emerald ring sold for $152,100 at a fine Art and antiques auction held May 21-22 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. Also, a Qing Dynasty cauldron form two-handled open bronze censer with Kangxi seal mark went for $70,200; a circa 1900 Daum Nancy cameo glass stalk vase made $14,040; a painting of the schooner J.W. Seaver by Joseph Smith (American, 1798-1876) fetched $17,550; and a rare Revolutionary War broadside finished at $17,550. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.
Buddha on lotus shrine, $9,500, Carlsen Gallery
A 19th century lacquer and wood Buddha on a lotus shrine sold for $9,500 at an auction held May 22 by Carlsen Gallery in Freehold, N.Y. Also, an English gate-leg dining table finished at $4,250; an identical amount was paid for a two-panel, 12 inch by 12 inch “Remember Me” sailor’s valentine; a 36-inch-tall marble Greek statue, signed “F. Vichi and titled Greek Slave, rose to $4,000; and an 18th century Pennsylvania Chippendale walnut four-drawer chest went to a determined bidder for $3,250. Prices are hammer, exclusive of the buyer’s premium.
Van Briggle/Rookwood vase, $187,500, Rago Arts & Auction
A Rookwood vase by Artus Van Briggle – before he moved to Colorado to start his own pottery – sold for $187,500 at a 20th century decorative arts and design auction held June 4-5 by Rago Arts & Auction Center in Lambertville, N.J. Also, a Paul Evans sculpture front cabinet brought $175,000; a Dale Chihuly chandelier lit up the room for $56,375; a Tiffany Studios Mermaid lamp gaveled for $20,000; a Carlo Mollino coffee table fetched $50,000; a Mary Louise McLaughlin Losanti vase hit $30,000; and a Gustav Stickley bridal chest changed hands for $23,750. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.
Jade cabochon ring, $8,260, Michaan’s
A GIA-certified jade cabochon ring sold for $8,260 at an estate auction held June 11 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, Calif. Also, a lot comprising six jade bangles from the Naomi Lindstrom Collection went for $5,310; an abstract artwork by the California artist Noriko Yamamoto finished at $7,670; a walnut cased Coleman E. Adler mahjong set breezed to $2,360; a lot consisting of Wedgwood and Bentley pieces brought $2,242; and a carnelian abstinence pendant with Manchu script made $4,130. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.
Sanford Gifford painting, $269,000, Swann Auction
An oil on canvas painting by Sanford Robinson Gifford, done in 1869 and titled Study of the Parthenon, sold for $269,000 at an American Art Auction held June 9 by Swann Auction Galleries in New York City. Also, Steve Wheelers’ circa-1943 oil on canvas titled The Halogens II changed hands for $65,000; Miguel Covarrubius’s circa-1924 watercolor and pen and ink titled At Leroy’s garnered $60,000; and a circa-1920s oil on canvas winter scene by Guy C. Wiggins, titled Chicago Blizzard, made $42,500. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Concept art for ‘Fantasia,’ $65,725, Heritage Auctions
Danish illustrator Kay Nielsen’s Chernabog concept art for the 1940 Walt Disney classic film Fantasia sold for $65,725 at an animation art auction held June 11-12 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, Eyvind Earle’s 1957 concept art for the theatrical short The Truth About Mother Goose, depicting London Bridge prior to the Great Fire of 1666, realized $40,630; and a hand-inked, hand-painted early Mickey Mouse production cel with a haunted house theme, circa 1929-1930, went for $23,900. Prices include a 19.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Swiss cylinder music box, $19,200, John Moran
A large B.A. Bremond Swiss cylinder music box dating to circa 1885 sold for $19,200 at a Decorative Arts Auction held June 18 by John Moran Auctioneers in Monrovia, Calif. Also, a large-scale composition by Sri Lankan painter Senaka Senanayake (b. 1951), titled Paddy Growers, earned $8,400; an untitled oil by Frederick William Leist (British/Australian, 1875-1945) realized $7,800; and a thrown and glazed pottery vase by Los Angeles artists Gertrud and Otto Natzler made $6,000. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Virginia sideboard table, $87,750, Jeffrey S. Evans
An important Virginia walnut sideboard table sold for $87,750 at an Americana and fine arts auction held June 18 by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mount Crawford, Va. Also, a South Carolina yellow pine and birch sideboard food safe brought $28,080; a Virginia folk art fraktur from the Shenandoah Valley (Rockingham County) attained $25,740; a portrait of Alexander Hamilton by William J. Weaver (1759-1817) made $26,910; and a 1795 Flowing Hair silver dollar changed hands for $14,040. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
___
By Ken Hall
