‘Casablanca’ poster, $107,550, Heritage
A massive six-sheet poster (81 inches by 81 inches) for the iconic movie Casablanca, one of just two copies known, sold for $107,550 at a vintage movie poster auction held March 23-24 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, a one-sheet for MGM’s 1932 classic Tarzan and the Ape Man reached $65,725; a poster for D.W. Griffith’s controversial epic Birth of a Nation made $47,800; a lobby card for 1931’s Frankenstein brought $38,837; and a reissue one-sheet on linen for RKO’s King Kong hit $35,850. Prices include a 19.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Buffalo Bill poster, $18,975, Philip Weiss
An iconic 1907 lithographic image of legendary Wild West figure Buffalo Bill Cody by Courier, measuring 28 inches by 42 inches, sold for $18,975 at an auction held April 20 by Philip Weiss Auctions in Lynbrook, N.Y. Also, a poster for P.T. Barnum’s “Greatest Show on Earth & London Circus” gaveled for $9,775; an original 1930s Pennsylvania Railroad poster promoting “Atlantic City – America’s All-Year Resort” realized $5,463; and a rare German Courier poster for the Barnum and Bailey Circus, circa 1890s, hit $4,255. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
South African banknote, $10,620, Archives International
An early 20th century South African color trial specimen banknote in a 20-pound denomination, printed in blue with gold underprint and in Choice AU condition, sold for $10,620 at an auction held April 16 by Archives International Auctions, based in Fort Lee, N.J. Also, a 1918 Australian 10-Shilling issued banknote, one of only five known, climbed to $7,080; a 1930 issued banknote from the Bahamas in Choice VF35 condition realized $5,610; and an unusual 1919 Kingdom of Yugoslavian 10 Dinara note hit $5,190. Prices include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.
Chinese porcelain plaque, $6,329, Richard D. Hatch
A large hand-painted Chinese porcelain plaque showing a flowering tree sold for $6,329 at an estates auction held March 22-23 by Richard D. Hatch & Associates in Flat Rock, N.C. Also, a late 19th century Swiss cylinder music box in good working condition changed hands for $2,300; a pair of European Majolica floor urns, 48 inches tall, breezed to $2,185; a figural peacock lamp, made in Austria with a brass body and beadwork shade, hit $1,150; and a Libbey cut glass oval ice-cream tray made $4,025. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
7th Michigan Cavalry grouping, $184,000, James D. Julia
A 7th Michigan Cavalry grouping of the last commander of Gen. George Custer’s original Civil War Regiment, including a gold Custer Valor Medal, authorized only by Custer for recipients in his Michigan brigade, plus a piece of the Appomattox surrender flag, sold for $184,000 at a firearms auction held March 11-12 by James D. Julia Inc., in Fairfield, Maine. Also, a gold inlaid Parker A1 Special 16-gauge shotgun made $178,250; and the Dodge Winchester 86 and Savage 1899 brought a combined $477,250. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Handel lamp shade, $11,212, White Auctions
A Handel reverse-painted 18-inch lamp shade with a Venetian harbor scene, signed and numbered, sold for $11,212 at an auction held March. 3 by White’s Auctions in Middleboro, Mass. Also, an 8-inch Ives Palace still bank, circa 1885 by I.B. & Co., in original condition, garnered $6,900; a rare 15th century Italian carved ivory marriage casket box realized $5,750; a circa 1880 Charles Dare carved carousel horse hopped off for $7,130; and historical papers of Civil War Gen. Philip Kearney went for $7,849. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Jade lotus form bowl, $230,500, Leslie Hindman
A carved jade lotus form bowl sold for $230,500 at an Asian works of art auction held March 24-26 by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago. Also, a painting by Chinese artist Zhao Shao’ang went for $86,500. It had been purchased by the consignor at the artist’s studio in 1967. A pair of carved white jade quail boxes bearing imperial Qianlong marks hit $92,500; and a jade and wood hat stand carved with scrolling clouds surprised the audience early in the sale when it fetched $116,500. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Figural centerpiece, $54,000, John Moran
A monumental 19th century silvered-bronze figural centerpiece sold for $54,000 at an antiques and fine arts auction held March 12 by John Moran Auctioneers in Pasadena, Calif. Also, an original oil on canvas painting by Austrian artist Hans Zatzka brought $30,000; a diminutive set of tea accessories crafted by Russian artisan Maria Semenova hammered for $14,400; an elaborately carved Chinese hardwood table breezed to $8,400; and a Venice canal scene by French painter Antoine Bouvard went for $10,200. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Giacometti console table, $1.76 million, Doyle New York
A bronze and glass console table by Diego Giacometti sold for $1.762 million at a Doyle + Design Auction held April 8 by Doyle New York in New York City. It was a new world auction record for a work by Giacometti. The circa 1975 console, titled Chevreuil, Biche et Bambi, is a one-of-a-kind piece that was commissioned from Giacometti by French fashion designer Serge Matta, the brother of surrealist painter Robert Matta. It depicts a bucolic scene of a stag, doe and fawn interspersed with pine trees. The price includes a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Cartier pendulette clock, $174,000, Skinner Inc.
An early 20th century fine Edwardian carved agate and enamel pendulette clock by Cartier sold for $174,000 at a fine jewelry auction held March 12 by Skinner Inc. in Boston. Also, a natural pearl necklace hammered for $120,000; a gray natural pearl and diamond pendant made $78,000; an emerald intaglio and Burma sapphire brooch went for $50,400; a 6.04-carat diamond solitaire fetched $49,200; and a colored diamond and diamond pendant with old European-cut colored diamonds, 7.20 carats, hit $36,000. Prices include an 18.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Eastern Plains knife club, $180,000, Cowan’s, Inc.
An Eastern Plains three-bladed knife club sold for $180,000 at an American Indian and western art auction held April 5 by Cowan’s Auctions Inc. in Cincinnati. Also, a Metis quilled hide knife sheath with dag knife went for $90,000; an Eastern Sioux painted and tacked gun stock club also realized $60,000; a southern Cheyenne pictorial pipe tomahawk fetched $40,800; and a Cheyenne beaded buffalo hide cradle also made $48,000. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Nakashima free-edge desk, $10,030, Michaan’s Auctions
George Nakashima free-edge desk sold for $10,030 at a 20th century design auction held April 6 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, Calif. Also, a large-scale, multicolored, handwoven abstract design tapestry, about 9 feet by 16 feet, coasted to $7,080; a pair of Nakashima grass-seat footstools realized $2,655 for the pair; a Nakashima free-edge side table brought $2,360; a massive bronze bell by Paolo Soleri commanded $2,360; and a pair of Peter Hvidt highboy dressers knocked down at $1,121 and $1,298. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.
Miniature by Onderdonk, $15,600, Kaminski Auctions
A miniature painting, 4 inches by 7 inches, of bluebonnets by Julian Onderdonk sold for $15,600 at a fine art and décor sale held March 9-10 by Kaminski Auctions in Beverly, Mass. Also, a river landscape attributed to the Hudson River School and signed Worthington Whittredge rose to $13,455; a portrait painted on KPM porcelain in the style of Joseph Coomans fetched $12,000; an early 19th century grandfather clock realized $11,115; and a pair of 15th or 16th century French Limoges candlesticks went for $7,650. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.
T. Doughty landscape, $14,950, Carlsen Gallery
An oil on canvas painting titled River Landscape, signed “T. Doughty,” sold for $14,950 at an estate auction held April 7 by Carlsen Gallery in Freehold, N.Y. Also, a copper and zinc horse and sulky weather vane brought $12,650; a Schoharie paint-decorated blanket box hit $11,500; a Ralph Blakelock mixed media on cardboard commanded $6,325; a 2001 Steinway piano, Model K52 vertical, played a sweet tune for $6,325; an early 19th century cast-iron Dalmatian made $3,500; and a copper cow weather vane rose to $5,463. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Stoneware butter churn, $19,500, Rhonda’s Auction
A rare circa 1825 Nathan Clark & Co., Athens, N.Y., 6-gallon salt glazed stoneware butter churn, decorated with large cobalt deer and tree, sold for $19,500 at an auction held March 23 by Rhonda’s Auctions & Event Center in East Bloomfield, N.Y. Also, a Warne & Letts, South Amboy, N.J., crock with coddle decoration realized $250; three yellowware bowls with seaweed decoration rose to $360; a watercolor by H. Brooke Levering brought $400; and a watercolor by Charles Gruppe made $225. Prices are exclusive of a buyer’s premium.
Shearwater Pottery vase, $31,980, New Orleans Auction
A large Shearwater Pottery vase decorated by Walter Anderson sold for $31,980 at an auction held April 19-21 by New Orleans Auction Galleries in New Orleans. Also, an oil on canvas by William Tolliver, titled Man in Blue, Playing a Guitar, made $23,370; Pedro Friedeberg’s giltwood hand chair went for $17,835; a 14K white gold and diamond necklace realized $20,910; and a book titled Sherwood Anderson and Other Famous Creoles, by William Faulkner and William Spratling, brought $16,605. Prices include a 23 percent buyer’s premium.
13-state U.S. flag, $212,500, Freeman’s
A rare, 18th century flag of the United States with just 13 stars sold for $212,500 at a sale of American furniture, folk art and decorative arts held April 18 by Freeman’s Auction in Philadelphia. The flag was made and used at a time when the nation was composed of just the original 13 states. It is believed to be the most ever paid for a flag of its kind at auction. It was also the third time in the last 18 months that a flag realized a record auction price at Freeman’s. Also, a 1904 St. Louis Olympics participation medal made $31,300. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Jewel-encrusted dagger, $93,750, Rago Arts
A jewel-encrusted Mughal dagger sold for $93,750 at an estates sale held in April by Rago Arts & Auction Center in Lambertville, N.J. Also, an abstract painting of figures by Walter Battiss went for $16,250; a Chinese porcelain screen topped out at $13,750; Tsar Nicholas I commemorative glasses coasted to $13,750; a Thai stone Buddha head from Angkor Province changed hands for $11,250; two self-portraits by Katharine Houghton brought $10,000; and two 19th century city engravings knocked down at $8,750. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.
1963 Corvette coupe, $260,000, Vicari Auction
A 1963 ZO6 Chevrolet Corvette coupe roared off for $260,000 at a Cruisin’ Nocona in North Texas Auction held April 20 in Nocona, Texas, by Vicari Auction, based in Harvey, La. Also, a 1962 Chevrolet Corvette convertible sped away for $150,000; a powder blue 1954 Buick Skylark convertible changed hands for $100,000; a 1960 Chevrolet Corvette convertible went to a determined bidder for $95,000; and a 1959 Cadillac Series 62 convertible hit $81,000. The sale grossed $2.6 million. Prices do not include the 8 percent buyer’s premium.
