Gallery Report: May 2011

An oil on canvas painting by French artist Edouard Cortes, titled The Pantheon, sold for $28,750 at a Spring Estate Cataloged Auction held March 18-19 by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., in Hillsborough, N.C. Also, a Piedmont Federal walnut semi-tall chest of drawers gaveled for $5,060; a pair of paintings by North Carolina artist Elliot Dangerfield (1858-1932), titled Sunset at Blowing Rock and Allegory – hit $13,800 and $12,650, respectively; and a Federal secretary bookcase brought $1,840. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Ives cutter sleigh, $86,250, Bertoia

An Ives cast-iron cutter sleigh with articulated walking horse sold for $86,250 at the sale of the Donal Markey collection of antique toys, banks and Americana held March 25-26 by Bertoia Auctions in Vineland, N.J. Also, an 1884 Kyser & Rex cast-iron mechanical bank known as Mammy and Child realized $51,750; a J. & E. Stevens cast-iron Panorama mechanical bank brought $51,750; and a Pratt & Letchworth cast-iron four-seat brake with passengers and 4-horse team went to a determined bidder for $48,875. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Chinese embroidered robe, $49,600 Rago Arts & Auction

A Chinese embroidered robe with silk dragon decorations sold for $49,600 at a Weekend Marathon Auction held April 8-10 by Rago Arts & Auction Center in Lambertville, N.J. Also, a Roland Paris cold painted bronze figure of a puppeteer garnered $13,640; a pair of English Adams-style console tables brought $13,640; a Vladimir Kagan Directional two-piece sectional sofa made $9,300; a three-piece sectional sofa by Kagan fetched $6,820; and a Demetre Chiparus dore bronze and ivory of children hit $12,400. Prices include a 24 percent buyer’s premium.

8.48-carat diamond ring, $292,800, Leslie Hindman

A n exquisite 8.48-carat diamond ring designed by Michael Beaudry, with a GIA-certified cushion stone set within a handmade and hand-engraved platinum setting, sold for $292,800 at a Fine Jewelry & Timepieces Sale held April 10-11 by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago, Ill. Also, a platinum ring containing a 7.02-carat E color cushion cut diamond went for $231,800; and a platinum and yellow gold ring containing a 6.21-carat, radiant-cut, internally flawless fancy yellow diamond rose to $97,600. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Qing Dynasty cannon, $149,500, Cowan’s

A 17th century Qing Dynasty cannon sold for $149,500 at a Historic Firearms & Early Militaria Auction held April 27 by Cowan’s, Inc., in Cincinnati, Ohio. Made in 1695, the cannon is significant in that its design was inspired by the noted Flemish Jesuit Missionary and Imperial confidant Ferdinand Verbiest. Only seventeen Verbiest cast guns bearing his name are known to exist, mainly in European museums. The cannon just sold was at one time owned by Col. Webb C. Hayes, the son of Rutherford B. Hayes. The price includes a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.

Fischer-Spassky chess set, $76,275, Philip Weiss Auc.

The original chess set used by Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky at their legendary match in Iceland in 1972, signed by both men, sold for $76,275 at a multi-estate sale held April 1-3 by Philip Weiss Auctions in Oceanside, N.Y. Also, an archive of personal material pertaining to Mr. Fischer, including love letters written by the recluse, climbed to $9,888; a circa 1890s Cigar Store Indian nicknamed “Chief Poke in the Nose” brought $62,150; and a 45rpm record signed by all four Beatles hit $6,215. Prices include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.

Chinese bronze statue, $27,600 Nadeau’s Auc.

Alarge Chinese bronze statue of a standing figure from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), possibly a god of war or other deity, sold for $27,600 at the annual Spring Asian Antiques & Fine Art Auction held March 20 by Nadeau’s Auction Gallery in Windsor, Conn. Also, a 20th century trio of Chinese ivory Quan Yins, each seated in different poses on lotus bases, demanded $18,400; and an 18th century (or older) large Chinese bronze bottle-form vase with salamanders applied to the neck also went for $18,400. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Rock Island RR sign, $165,000, Showtime

ARock Island Railroad reverse glass sign, made in 1890 by an employee of the firm, sold for $165,000 at an auction held April 1-3 by Showtime Auctions in Ann Arbor, Mich. It was a new record price for an advertising sign at auction (the previous record having been $66,000, set at a previous Showtime Auctions sale). Also, a professionally restored 1870 T.J. Coolidge horse-drawn hose cart (#1), used for firefighting, soared to $110,000; and a 1910 Allen’s Red Tame Cherry embossed die-cut sign hit $55,200. Prices include a 10 percent buyer’s premium.

‘Minute Man’ sign, $12,938, Matthews

A round Union “Minute Man Service” double-sided porcelain sign with graphics, boasting great gloss and color, sold for $12,938 (a new record for the sign) at an auction held April 16 by Matthews Auctions, LLC (based in Nokomis, Ill.) in the facilities of Redlands Antique Auction in Redlands, Calif. Also, a Wayne Roman column 10-gallon visible gas pump in very good condition made $12,650; and a Signal Gas double-sided porcelain sign with a black stoplight graphic, rated 8 out of 10, finished at $4,600. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Ming palace vase, $183,000, I.M. Chait

An outsize Ming blue and white palace vase sold for $183,000 at the fifth annual New York Auction held March by I.M. Chait (based in Beverly Hills, Calif.), in New York City. Also, a tall and elaborately carved Chinese celestial beauty, in layered robes and garlands, fetched $122,000; a fine carved coral urn with cover went to a determined bidder for $91,500; a traditional rhinoceros horn bowl in the form of an open lotus blossom realized $79,500; and an ivory “doctor’s lady” in recumbent pose made $56,120. Prices include a 22 percent buyer’s premium.

Hank Aaron jersey, $167,300, Heritage

The Milwaukee Braves jersey worn by Hall of Fame outfielder Hank Aaron during his rookie season sold for $167,300 at a Signature Sports Collectibles Auction held April 22 by Heritage Auction in Dallas, Tex. It was a new auction record for Aaron game-used memorabilia. Also, a Charles “Kid” Nichols single-signed baseball achieved $53,775; Ted Williams’ vault marked bat from his 1947 Triple Crown season made $77,675; and a jersey Nolan Ryan wore during his seventh career no-hitter soared to $44,813. Prices include a 19.5 percent buyer’s premium.

Tole decorated tray, $42,660, Pook & Pook

Atole decorated tray with octagonal crystallized center panel in pristine condition sold for $42,660 at a sale of The Elgin Collection held April 15 by Pook & Pook, Inc., in Downingtown, Pa. Also, a rare Chester County (Pa.) diminutive walnut linen cupboard achieved $28,440; a Simmons parrot with polychrome decorated surface changed hands for $26,070; a fine seated chalkware cat finished at $20,145; and Cora’s Bank, a stoneware bank dated 1874 and attributed to Peter Hermann, made $20,145. Prices include an 18.5 percent buyer’s premium.

KPM porcelain plaque, $44,438, Skinner, Inc.

AKPM porcelain plaque depicting The Garden of Love sold for $44,438 at a European Furniture & Decorative Arts Sale held April 9 by Skinner, Inc, in Boston, Mass. Also, a Meissen porcelain figure on stand titled Triumph of Venus commanded $22,050; a pair of silvered bronze figures depicting Nicholas II and Alexandra coasted to $18,960; a George IV silver tea urn changed hands for $18,375; and a fine French bi-color gold and diamond mounted snuff box finished at $15,405. Prices include an 18.5 percent buyer’s premium.

Paul Evans credenza, $34,375, Doyle New York

Acirca 1970 credenza of burl-maple and brass deigned for Directional by Paul Evans sold for $23,750 at a sale of Modern and Contemporary Furniture, Decorations & Fine Art held April 12 by Doyle New York in New York City. Also, a circa 1950 steel female bust by Franz Hagenauer topped out at $23,750; an acrylic on canvas by Norman Bluhm (Am., 1921-1999), titled Atropos II (1971) went for $18,750; and a hammered brass two-handled cup by Josef Hoffman for the Wiener Werkstatte rose to $17,500. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

The Four Gospels, $132,000, Swann

An association copy of The Four Gospels, published in 1931 by The Golden Cockerel Press and inscribed by designer and illustrator Eric Gill, sold for $132,000 at a sale of Fine Books & Manuscripts held April 7 by Swann Galleries in New York City. Also a copy of Francisco Lopez de Gomara’s Tarih-i Hind-i Garbi (Description of the India of the West), printed in Constantinople in 1730, made $52,800; a first-edition copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses (Paris, 1922) brought $31,200; and Lord Byron’s Don Juan hit $16,800. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Alexander Calder work, $25,300, Carlsen Gallery

Agouache on paper work by Alexander Caldwell sold for $25,300 at an auction held March 27 by Carlsen Gallery, Inc., in Freehold, N.Y. Also, an 18th century Boston slant front desk with star inlay brought $18,400; a Massachusetts block-front slant-lid desk achieved $11,500; a sugar pot with American seal decoration coasted to $10,925; a signed oil on canvas by Andre Hambourg, titled Regatta, changed hands for $9,775; and a work by Henri Carter-Bresson titled Boy With Wine Bottles made $9,200. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Patek Philippe watch, $710,500, Antiquorum

APatek Philippe Ref. 2419 minute-repeating wristwatch retailed by Cartier in the 1950s sold to a Chinese bidder for $710,500 at a sale of Modern & Vintage Timepieces held March 10 by Antiquorum in New York City. Also, a Jaeger-LeCoultre wristwatch, Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2, No. 52/75, made in a limited edition of 75 pieces (circa 2009), achieved $266,500; a Patek Philippe watch titled The Celestial (Ref. 5102) brought $218,500; and a Patek Philippe Ref. 3450 watch in 18kt yellow gold hit $158,500. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Pendergrast painting, $103,500, Cottone

Aflower still life painting by Maurice Pendergrast, housed in its original Charles Pendergrast frame, hit $103,500 at an Antiques & Arts Sale held March 25-26 by Cottone Auctions in Geneseo, N.Y. Also, a 1963 linocut in colors from 1963 by Pablo Picasso titled Le Chapeau a Fleurs commanded $75,900; Abbott Fuller Graves’ painting The Duck Pond achieved $57,500; a Russian silver and enamel kovsh, featuring a painted scene with a fox, garnered $69,000; and a Moorish style Tiffany chocolate pot made $69,000. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.