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 Gallery Report (prices include the buyer’s premium unless stated otherwise):
Early Ming bowl, $1.5 million, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
The Stanley Field Early Ming Bowl – a blue and white porcelain hexafoil bowl from the Chinese Xuande emperor’s reign (1426-1435) and once belonging to Stanley Field of the iconic Field family – sold for $1.5 million at an Asian Works of Art Auction held Sept. 17 by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago. Also, a Chinese zitan throne chair fetched $93,750; a Chinese Tielimu scroll table went for $87,50; and a Chinese huanghuali scroll table earned $68,750.
Davy Crockett’s Bowie knife, $64,625, Cowan’s Auctions
A Bowie knife presented to Davy Crockett sold for $64,625 at the sale of the Historic Firearms & Militaria Collection of Peter Wainwright held Sept. 12 by Cowan’s Auctions in Cincinnati. Also, a Ferguson officer’s breech-loading carbine hit the mark for $62,275; a British Nock 2nd Model naval volley gun mustered $37,600; a cased pair of Joseph Manton tube-lock dueling pistols realized $22,325; and a cased J. Lang double-barrel carriage pistol made $19,975.
Tiffany Studios Dragonfly lamp, $200,000, Andrew Jones Auctions
A Tiffany Studios drop-head Dragonfly lamp, circa 1910, sold for $200,000 at the inaugural sale of Andrew Jones Auctions, held Sept. 15 in Los Angeles. Also, a silvered, gilt bronze and marble figure after a model by Louis-Ernest Barrias (French 1841-1905), titled Nature Revealing Herself Before Science, brought $36,250; a pair of cast-iron models of dogs by J.J. Ducel, Paris, rose to $27,500; and a pair of French jardinieres on stands, 52 inches tall, hit $26,250.
1950 Plymouth woody wagon, CA$35,400, Miller & Miller
A 1950 Plymouth Special Deluxe woody station wagon, all-original, nicely restored and with 86,013 actual miles, sold for $35,400 Canadian ($27,258US) at a Mantiques: Gentleman’s Collection auction held Sept. 15 by Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd., in New Hamburg, Ontario. Also, a Goodrich Tires Canadian Mountie porcelain sign from the 1930s went for CA$20,060; and an Art Deco bronze statue by McClelland Barclay (American, 1891-1943), titled Spirit of Speed, gaveled for CA$16,520.
Rothchild & Sons 1935 silver ingot, $23,500, Holabird Western Americana
A Rothchild & Sons silver ingot from 1935, .966 fine and weighing 1,098.3 troy ounces, sold for $23,500 at an Americana Auction held Aug. 24-26 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nevada. Also, a 1-ounce Chinese gold unicorn coin garnered $3,375; a World War II Confederate Air Force set of 14 silver coins, each one commemorating a famous WWII airplane, fetched $2,125; and a vintage squash blossom necklace with turquoise stones made $8,125.
Wave Crest pipe holder plaque, $13,000, Woody Auction
A Wave Crest Native American-themed pipe holder plaque sold for $13,000 at the sale of the lifetime glass collection of Don and the late Carrol Lyle held Sept. 7-8 by Woody Auction in Douglass, Kansas. Also, three rare American Brilliant Cut Glass countertop bells went for a combined $9,750; a Nakara marked dresser box with a Gibson girl portrait rose to $6,500; and an unmarked Wave Crest wall plaque with Queen Louisa scenic décor gaveled for $8,000. All prices quoted are hammer.
Wang Dafan table screens, $150,000, Heritage Auctions
A pair of Wang Dafan porcelain and hardwood table screens (Republic Period, circa 1912-1949), sold for $150,000 at an Asian Art Auction held Sept. 11 by Heritage Auctions in New York City. Also, a pair of Chinese carved cinnabar lacquer court chairs with peony and landscape motifs (Qing Dynasty, Jianqing-Daoguang Period) fetched $93,750; and an 18th-century Mandala thangka with Abbot lineage rose to $81,250.
Howard Thurston litho, $22,800, Potter & Potter
A 1916 three-sheet color litho featuring magician Howard Thurston, assisted by imps and shown levitating his assistant, sold for $22,800 at a Magic Memorabilia Sale held Aug. 25 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, Bob Swadling’s Magic Kettle, a mechanically complex vessel used by Paul Daniels on British TV in 1979, finished at $21,600; and a Chicago Magic Roundtable scrapbook from 1946, featuring the autographs of over 500 magicians, went for $19,200.
Paul Cadmus painting, $30,000, Alderfer Auction
A painting signed by Paul Cadmus, titled Male Nude TS12 (1956), measuring 17¾ inches by 11½ inches, sold for $30,000 at an auction held Aug. 23 by Alderfer Auction in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. Also, a Martin Schreiner (Lancaster, Pa.) walnut tall-case clock chimed on time for $10,200; a trompe-l’oeil painting by David Adel titled Sirocco achieved $8,400; and a bronze sculpture by Louis-Albert Lefeuvre, titled Les Fondeurs du Moyen Age, changed hands for $6,000.
Chinese Guanyin figure, $760,500, Thomaston Place
A 17th-century Chinese Qing dynasty blanc de chine porcelain seated figure depicting Guanyin, the goddess of compassion, with the seal of potter He Chaozong, sold for $760,500 at a Summer Auction held Aug. 25-26 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. Also, a Chinese bronze kylin set with semiprecious stones, from the Qing dynasty, gaveled for $643,500; Jamie Wyeth’s oil on linen painting Fog fetched $199,500; and a Jasper Cropsey work realized $175,500.
Native American weaving, $25,740, Jeffrey S. Evans
A fine Native American rug or blanket weaving, probably Navajo, sold for $25,740 at a Summer Americana & Variety Auction held Aug. 24-25 by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mt. Crawford, Va. Also, a bisque figural skeleton miniature lamp lit up the room for $11,115; a Native American woven-coil basket changed hands for $7,605; a Rene Lalique perfume bottle went for $5,557; and a Pennsylvania tole chamberstick knocked down for $4,095.
Circa 1820 classical worktable, $25,400, Schwenke Auctioneers
A circa 1820 bronze mounted rosewood classical worktable attributed to Duncan Phyfe or Charles Honore Lannuier sold for $25,400 at a Fine Estates Auction held Aug. 14 by Schwenke Auctioneers in Woodbury, Conn. Also, a Chippendale applewood tall-clock signed “John Guild” (New Jersey, 1749-1825) chimed on time for $12,200; a George III inlaid mahogany breakfront with rosette, floral and vine inlays hit $4,800; and a Connecticut Chippendale linen press made $2,400.
Diminutive tall case clock, $5,000, John Moran Auctioneers
An American diminutive tall case clock sold for $5,000 at a Studio Auction held Aug. 22 by John Moran Auctioneers in Monrovia, California. Also, a painting by Ben Abril (California, 1923-1995), titled San Francisco, climbed to $5,312; a painting by Paul Emile Pissarro (French, 1884-1972), titled Le Pont de Cantepie (The Bridge of Cantepie), realized $3,125; and a still life of a bowl of fruit by Archie Forrest (Scottish, b. 1950) brought $4,062.
1940 V-16 Cadillac, $77,000, Stanton’s
A 1940 Cadillac car with V-16 engine roared off for $77,000 at an auction held Aug. 10-11 by Stanton’s Auctioneers in Vermontville, Michigan. Also, a fully restored 1948 Midget racer sped away for $16,500; a 1937 Packard 12 Series sedan went for $45,100; a 1903 Holley Motorette Runabout realized $46,750; an amphibious (land and water) Amphicar knocked down for $49,500; and a 1946 Lincoln Continental two-door convertible changed hands for $33,000.
Chinese porcelain vase, $420,500, Doyle
A Chinese Qing Dynasty enameled porcelain vase, 19¾ inches tall, with the Qianlong seal mark on the base, sold for $420,500 at an Asian Works of Art Auction held Sept. 10 by Doyle in New York City. Also, a Chinese 19th-century blue and white glazed porcelain vase decorated with nine slithering snakes coasted to $68,750; a pair of 19th-century Chinese famille rose glazed porcelain lanterns brought $106,250; and a yoke-back Chinese huanghuali chair made $34,375.
Pilgrim Century chest, $27,500, Pook & Pook
An early 18th-century Connecticut Pilgrim Century joined oak sunflower chest, a handsome example of Colonial craftsmanship, sold for $27,500 at an Americana & International Auction held Sept. 14-15 by Pook & Pook Inc., in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Also, a slender Southern Hepplewhite mahogany cellarette went for $18,750; a walnut semi-tall Chippendale-style chest achieved $10,000; and a selection of fraktur, with a Pennsylvania ink and watercolor vorschrift, made $12,500.
Untitled David Hammonds, $880,000, Phillips
An untitled 2017 artwork by David Hammonds sold for $880,000 at an Art for One Drop benefit auction held Sept. 21 by Phillips in New York City. Also, Tracey Emin’s I Listen to the Ocean and All I Hear is You (2018) realized $495,000; Gabriel Orozco’s Samurai Tree (Invariant 23Q) (2018) brought $429,000; Nicolas Party’s Sunset (2018) fetched $330,000 (a new auction record for the artist); and Sterling Ruby’s WIWD. HIGH-VIZ (2018) also gaveled for $330,000.
