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:

Navajo chief’s blanket, $43,750, John Moran Auctioneers

A Navajo transitional second phase chief’s blanket, woven circa 1880s with primarily cochineal-dyed wool, sold for $43,750 at a Decorative Arts Auction held Sept. 29 by John Moran Auctioneers in Pasadena, Calif. Also, a handsome first standard silver coffee and tea service crafted by Emile Puiforcat for Cartier gaveled for $4,500; a bronze sculpture by Hank Richter (b. 1928, Phoenix, Ariz.), titled Hopi Snake Dancers, made $1,500; and a still life painting by George Spangenberg (American, 1907-1964) hit $1,187. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Alexander Calder gouache, $109,250, Cottone Auctions

A vibrant and colorful gouache and ink on wove paper by Alexander Calder (American, 1898-1976), titled Bosbies & Uniforms, sold for $109,250 at a Fine Art & Antiques Auction held Sept. 25-26 by Cottone Auctions in Geneseo, N.Y. Also, a figural rendering on a plate by Pablo Picasso titled Woman’s Face brought $25,300; a carved and painted “Tatanua” mask from New Ireland, 16 inches tall, realized $23,000; and a Simon Willard tall case clock made for Capt. Benjamin Webb in 1778, standing 7 feet 6 inches tall, hit $48,300. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Britains Boer War set, $22,800, Old Toy Soldier

A rare Britains Boer War Army Service Supply Column with supplies and escort, one of only two boxed examples known, sold for $22,800 at an Investment Rarities Sale (headlined by the James Cook collection), held Oct. 17 by Old Toy Soldier Auctions in Pittsburgh. Also, a Britains Set #25, Lifeguards Past & Present, finished at $20,400; a Britains Set #1648, Naval Display, made $19,200; a Britains Set #73, British Army Display, realized $13,200; and a Britains Set #1903, Indian Mountain Battery, hit $10,200. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Hermes leather Birkin bag, $52,500, Heritage Auctions

A Hermes Limited Edition 35cm black calf box leather Birkin bag, with PVD hardware, sold for $52,500 at a Contemporary Designer Jewels & Luxury Accessories Auction conducted Sept. 28-29 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, a 4.64-carat diamond, platinum and white gold ring hammered for $55,000; a Van Cleef & Arpels 18.35-carat diamond and platinum necklace sold for $53,750; and a 16.13-carat diamond, platinum and white gold bracelet by Harry Winston made $45,000. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

Kyser & Rex mechanical bank, $120,000, Bertoia Auctions

A Kyser & Rex Roller Skating mechanical bank sold for $120,000 at Part I of the sale of the Clive Devenish antique bank collection held Oct. 3 by Bertoia Auctions in Vineland, N.J. Also, a J. & E. Stevens Boy Robbing Bird’s Nest mechanical bank with the original box topped out at $42,000; a J. & E. Stevens Milking Cow mechanical bank brought $39,000; a J. & E. Stevens Chief Big Moon (red-base version) fetched $24,000; and a Shepard Hardware Co. Leap Frog mechanical bank went for $19,200. Prices are inclusive of a buyer’s premium.

Huanghuali armchairs, $29,750, Clars Auction

A pair of Chinese huanghuali hardwood armchairs, in official’s hat style from the 20th century, sold for $29,750 at a Fine Art, Decorative, Jewelry & Asian Art Auction held Sept. 19-20 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, Calif. Also, an oil on canvas by William Trost Richards (American, 1833-1905), titled On the Irish Coast (1893) also realized $29,750; a pair of circa 1840 French percussion pistols, attributed to Devisme, brought $27,370; and a Chinese silk scroll painting in the manner of Tang Yin fetched $19,000. Prices include a 19 percent buyer’s premium.

Alexander Calder stabile, $845,000, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

An Alexander Calder stabile, an abstract sculpture having immobile units constructed of sheet metal, wire, or other material and attached to fixed supports, titled Long Brass Tail on Black and Red (1956), sold for $845,000 at a Postwar & Contemporary Art Sale held Sept. 24 by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago. Also, Calder’s painting titled Planets (1976) fetched $81,250; and James Abbott McNeil Whistler’s pastel drawing titled Parasol, red note (circa 1884), sold for $413,000. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

Gilbert Stuart portrait, $40,625, Doyle New York

A portrait of a gentleman by the renowned master portraitist Gilbert Stuart (American, 1755-1828), possibly of Charles Lee of Virginia, who served as U.S. Attorney General under George Washington and John Adams, sold for $40,625 at an American Paintings, Furniture and Decorative Arts Auction held Oct. 7 by Doyle New York. Also, a circa-1794 portrait of Charles Wilkes went for $34,375; and a painting by Alexander Helwig Wyant (American, 1836-1892), titled In the Still Forest, made $37,500. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

Paul Manship bronze, $213,500, Schwenke Auctioneers

A gilded bronze sculpture by Paul Manship (American, 1885-1966), titled Flight of Europa, sold for $213,500 at a Fall Fine Estates Auction held Oct. 4 by Schwenke Auctioneers in Woodbury, Conn. Also, a pair of large copper, brass and metal exterior lantern sconces with acorn finials gaveled for $1,625; a Silas Seandel large cast stone and bronze coffee table, dated 1982, earned $3,750; and an oil on canvas by William Ruthven Wheeler (American, 1832-1894), titled New England Seascape, dated 1881, made $6,000. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Mozart handwritten letter, $217,000, RR Auction

A letter handwritten by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to his friend, botanist Nikolaus Joseph von Jacauin, circa July or August 1786, sold for $217,000 in an auction held Sept. 29-Oct. 14 by RR Auction in Boston. Also, a Nikola Tesla inscribed portrait hammered for $12,400; a Dutch TV guide magazine featuring a color image of the Beatles, fully signed, fetched $11,000; and a Max Steiner working draft for Selznick’s Melody (Gone With the Wind) hit $7,136. Prices include a 22.5 percent buyer’s premium.

Elevator gate screen, $28,500, Selkirk Auctioneers

An elevator gatescreen from the Chicago stock exchange building, made by Louis Henri Sullivan (American, 1856-1924), sold for $28,500 at an auction held July 31 by Selkirk Auctioneers & Appraisers in St. Louis. Also, a portrait of a woman by Adrian Henri Tanoux (French, 1865-1923), realized $16,250; a sculpture depicting a hunter’s fight with a bear by Nikolai Lieberich (Russian, 1828-1883) went for $13,200; and a glass azure seaform pair by Dale Chihuly (American, b. 1941) brought $3,250. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

RMS Titanic menu, $88,000, Lion Heart Autographs

An original menu from the last luncheon served aboard the doomed ocean liner the R.M.S. Titanic sold for $88,000 at an auction held Sept. 30 by Lion Heart Autographs in New York City. Also, a letter written on New York’s Plaza Hotel stationery by Lifeboat No. 1 survivor Mabel Francatelli (1880-1967), with envelope, realized $7,500; one of four known printed tickets from the Titanic’s Turkish Baths made $11,000; and a CIA traitor Aldrich Ames manuscript went for $4,000. Prices are hammer. There was no buyer’s premium.

Greene & Greene lamp, $502,000, Rago Arts & Auction

A Greene & Greene Blacker House table lamp soared to $502,000 at a 20th Century Decorative Arts & Design Auction held Oct. 16-18 by Rago Arts & Auction in Lambertville, N.J. Also, a Sadie Irvine Newcomb College early vase turned $27,500; a Rene Lalique “Cluny” vase reached $125,000; a Gibbings Widdicomb Mesa coffee table made $162,500; and a Phil Powell wall hanging cabinet rose to $81,250. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

Trombino ring by Bulgari, $725,000, Doyle New York
A Trombino ring by Bulgari, set with diamonds centering a Burma ruby of 7.28 carats with exceptional color, sold for $725,000 at an Important Jewelry Auction held Oct. 21 by Doyle New York. Also, a circa 1905 ring set with diamonds surrounding a rare Kashmir sapphire of 3.30 carats fetched $197,000; a Van Cleef & Arpels ring set with a rare type IIa, emerald-cut diamond of 8.34 carats realized $281,000; and a ring centering on a large Royal Blue sapphire of 17.74 carats hit $185,000. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

1901 Morgan dollar, $587,500, Legend Rare Coin Auctions

A 1901 Morgan dollar coin, graded PCGS MS66, sold for $587,500 at the 14th annual Regency Auction, held Oct. 17-18 by Legend Rare Coin Auctions at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev. Also, a 1919-D Walking Liberty half-dollar coin, graded PCGS MS65, soared to $205,625; an 1894 Morgan dollar coin, graded PCGS MS66+, changed hands for $152,750; a 1915-S Panama-Pacific Round $50 coin, graded PCGS MS65+, topped out at $205,625; and a 1902-S Morgan dollar coin, PCGS MS67+, made $99,875. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.

Egon Schiele watercolor, $905,000, Swann Auction

A 1910 watercolor, pencil and black crayon artwork by Egon Schiele, titled Schlafender Mann, sold for $905,000 at a sale of 19th & 20th Century Prints & Drawings held Sept. 24 by Swann Auction Galleries in New York City. Also, a 1908 pencil drawing by Gustav Klimt, titled Urmarmen Akte, rose to $125,000; a lithograph executed circa 1865-1872 of Edouard Manet’s Les Courses brought $62,500; and a color linoleum cut from 1962 by the renowned Pablo Picasso, titled Femme assise au Chignon, hit $55,000. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Rudy Stoner tall clock, $192,000, Pook & Pook

A tall case clock with works by Rudy Stoner, made in Lancaster County, Pa, sold for $192,000 at an Americana Auction held Oct. 3 by Pook & Pook in Downingtown, Pa. Also, a Wilhelm Schimmel carving of a lion sold for $57,600; a Schimmel carved eagle brought $43,200; a pair of carved Hepplewhite side chairs, Salem, Mass., topped out at $40,800; and a painted Sheraton settee, attributed to Renshaw & Barnhart, Baltimore, Md., went for $33,600. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

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By KEN HALL