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:
Sapphire and diamond ring, $103,500, Cottone Auctions
A dazzling sapphire and diamond vintage ring in a gold and platinum setting sold for $103,500 at a fine art and antiques auction held Sept. 23-24 by Cottone Auctions in Geneseo, N.Y. Also, a Tiffany Studios leaded glass Geranium lamp with signed shade illuminated the room for $52,325; a two-piece Japanese painting on silk, 76 inches by 51 inches, climbed to $33,500; and a pair of majolica plaques, done in the manner of Benozzo Gozzoli (Italian, 1421-1497), 18 inches by 13 inches, made $42,550. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Russo-Chinese $1 banknote, $10,200, Archives International
A 1901-02 Russo-Chinese $1 “Mexican Dollar” banknote sold for $10,200 at a public auction held Oct. 22 and 25 by Archives International Auctions, Fort Lee, N.J. Also, a Sino-Belgian Bank 1908-12 “Ten Mexican Dollars” banknote specimen went for $6,000; an historic Chinese Ming Dynasty circulating banknote, printed in the 1360s, one of the earliest known examples of printed currency, realized $4,200; and a Bank of Ethiopia 500 Thalers 1922 issue high-grade rarity made $4,200. Prices are inclusive of the buyer’s premium.
Sino-Tibetan Buddhist thangka, $39,000, John Moran Auctioneers
A Sino-Tibetan Buddhist thangka, religious painting on a scroll, sold for $39,000 at a decorative art auction held Sept. 24 by John Moran Auctioneers in Monrovia, Calif. Also, three Sevres bleu celeste orthinological bowls, dating to 1768, sold as one lot for $36,000; a pair of Sino-Tibetan-style carved giltwood bodhisattvas finished at $20,400; an antique Louis Vuitton travel trunk steamed off for $8,540; and a Meiji period elaborately carved and polychromed temple guard gaveled for $3,050. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Georges Lepape watercolor and ink, $52,500, Swann Auction Galleries
A 1927 watercolor and ink illustration by Georges Lepape, titled Le Miroir, sold for $52,500 at an illustration art auction held Sept. 29 by Swann Auction Galleries in New York City. It was a new auction record for a work by Lepape. Also, a 1922 gouache by Erte, titled La Cage Improvisee, breezed to $45,000, also a new auction record for the artist; a 1950 ink and watercolor by Dr. Seuss, titled Tadd and Todd, realized $23,750; and Charles Addams’s This is your room, a 1943 watercolor ink and wash, made $20,000. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
1909-11 Honus Wagner card, $3.12 million, Goldin Auctions
The famed 1909-1911 T206 White Border Honus Wagner PSA EX 5 (MC) baseball card – the so-called “Jumbo Wagner” – sold for $3.12 million at a Great American Trading Card Auction held Oct. 2 by Goldin Auctions in Runnemede, N.J. It was the first-ever $3 million sports trading card. Also, a 1955 Topps #164 Roberto Clemente rookie card, graded PSA Mint 9, soared to $477,750 (a record for this card in any grade); and a 2003-2004 Upper Deck autographed LeBron James Logoman rookie card made $312,000. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Daniel Huntington painting, $406,000, Doyle New York
A painting by Daniel Huntington (1816-1906), titled The Counterfeit Note, sold for $406,000 at an American paintings, furniture and decorative arts sale held Oct. 5 by Doyle New York in New York City. Also, a Coney Island-style carved wood carousel horse decorated with multicolored “gems” fetched $12,500; a gilt wood convex girandole mirror surmounted by an eagle-form crest hit $8,125; a sterling silver flatware service by S. Kirk & Son in the Mayflower pattern made $10,000; and a Gorham service in the Mythologique pattern made $9,375. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Nineteenth century bronze urn, $9,600, Kaminski Auctions
A 19th century, 62-inch-tall bronze urn manufactured by Ames Foundries,Chicopee, Mass., elaborately decorated with phoenixes and Green Man medallions, sold for $9,600 at the estate auction of Count Jochen Von Haller, held Sept. 17 on-site in Gloucester, Mass., by Kaminski Auctions. Also, a graduated diamond necklace, 24 carats, rose to $10,220; and an oil painting by Emile Albert Gruppe (American, 1896-1978), titled Bass Rocks, Gloucester, Mass. (1939), hit $9,000. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
1795 U.S. 50-cent piece, $176,250, Legend Rare Coin
A 1795 U.S. 50-cent coin, graded PCGS MS 63, sold for a record $176,250 at Regency Auction 18 held Sept. 19 by Legend Rare Coin Auctions in Lincroft, N.J. Also, an 1896-S U.S. Morgan $1 coin, graded PCGS MS66, realized $111,625; a 1901 U.S. $2.50 gold coin, graded PCGS PR69, went for $105,750; an 1870 U.S. $3 gold coin, graded PCGS MS65+, brought $67,562; and an 1851 U.S. 50-cent coin, graded PCGS MS67, made $57,500. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.
English wooden doll, $44,000, Theriault’s
An English wooden Grodnertal doll with embroidered hidden coin pocket made in 1739 sold for $44,000 at an auction of the Estelle Johnson wooden doll collection held Oct. 1-2 by Theriault’s in Annapolis, Md. Also, a poupee doll by Adelaide Huret, enhanced by an early original silk costume including a parasol and leather shoes, finished at $28,000; and a 15-inch-tall wooden Grodnertal doll with original costume including an embroidered coin pocket and unusual woven bonnet changed hands for $18,000. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Japanese woodblock print, $8,260, Michaan’s Auctions
A woodblock print by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), depicting Mount Fuji from Gotenyama at Shinagawa on Tokaido, inscribed and signed by the artist, with two publisher seals (“Eijudo” and “Kimawea”), sold for $8,260 at an estate auction held Oct. 8 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, Calif. Also, one lot consisting of four various archaic jade carvings went for $7,080. At its Inspiring Interiors Auction held Sept. 9, Michaan’s offered a 1750s powder horn. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.
Chinese Longquan vase $84,700, Clars Auction
A Chinese Longquan Guan-type vase sailed past its estimate of $2,000-$4,000 to sell for $84,700 at an auction held Oct. 15-16 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, Calif. Also, a Chinese Jun-type bowl changed hands for $66,550; a Chinese Guan-type handled censer finished at $51,425; a woman’s gilt couched vest, embroidered with figural roundels, flowers, fruits and butterflies garnered $42,350; and a circa 1960s Rolex GMT Master “Tropical Dial” stainless steel wristwatch (Ref. 1675) hit $45,375. Prices include a 19 percent buyer’s premium.
Tiffany “Iris” lantern, $370,000, Freeman’s
A rare early 1900s Tiffany Studios “Iris” lantern lit sold for $370,000 at a design auction held Oct. 16 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, a conoid dining table (1984) and a double pedestal desk (1981) by George Nakashima brought $84,500 and $62,500, respectively; a Wepman side table by Mira Nakashima sold for $4,225; a Paul Evans 1960s rose upholstered and steel side chair garnered $20,000; and a Holtz table and conoid chairs ensemble by Mira Nakashima changed hands for $50,000. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.
Galle allium form floor lamp, $312,500, Rago Arts & Auction
An Emile Galle allium form floor lamp sold for $312,500 at a design auction held Oct. 14-16 by Rago Arts & Auction Center in Lambertville, N.J. Also, a superb dining table by Wharton Esherick brought $200,000; a rare wooden sculpture by Francois-Rupert Carabin hammered for $150,000; and a massive chandelier by Dale Chihuly gaveled for $110,500. Over the course of the three days, the sale brought in $6.4 million. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.
Bellflower spoon holder, $4,095, Jeffrey S. Evans
A Bellflower Single Vine spoon holder in a brilliant deep blue cobalt color, one of fewer than 10 examples known and produced circa 1860, sold for $4,095, a record price for the form, at a Glass Auction held Sept. 22 and 24 by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mount Crawford, Va. Also, a Three Face elliptical form covered compote, circa 1880, 8 1/2 inches in diameter, brought $2,457; a Waffle & Thumbprint two-quart jug, circa 1868, hit $3,393; and a circa-1870 Dragon cake stand/salver made $1,755. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.
Ting ware bowl or cup, $3,565, Direct Auction
A white porcelain Ting ware bowl or cup, possibly of the Song Dynasty era (A.D. 960-1279), decorated with images of foliage and phoenixes, sold for $3,565 at an Orientalia and Art Deco auction held Oct. 18 by Direct Auction Galleries in Chicago. Also, an 18K gold diamond buckle bracelet and a large smoky quartz diamond necklace, both by Davis Yurman, each achieved $1,725; and a pair of hardstone semi-precious stone vases, both standing 8 1/2 inches tall, went to a determined bidder for $1,323. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
1951 Willys US Army jeep, $15,300, Alderfer’s Auctioneers
A 1951 Willys Model M38A1 U.S. Army jeep sold for $15,300 at a firearms and militaria auction held Oct. 20 by Alderfer Auctioneers & Appraisers in Hatfield, Pa. Also, a Johnson Automatics Model 1941 semi-automatic rifle hit $7,200; an Enfield L42A1 bolt-action rifle rang out at $6,600; a Barrett Model 82A1 semi-automatic rifle went for $6,000; a Springfield Armory M1D Garand semi-automatic fetched $4,500; and a German G41 rifle and Japanese Arisaka Type 38 rifle rose to $4,200 and $3,900, respectively. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Original poster art for “E.T.,” $394,000, Heritage Auctions
The original promotional movie poster painting for the hit film E.T. The Extraterrestrial (1982) sold for $394,000 at an Illustration Art Auction held Oct. 12 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. The work was produced by master movie poster artist John Alvin, who used his own daughter’s hand as a model and took inspiration from Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam. Measuring 41 inches by 27 1/2 inches, the acrylic on board painting was signed by the artist and was nicely framed in museum-quality glass. The price includes a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Adirondack “Brandy Cabinet II,” $9,525, Schwenke Auctioneers
A rustic Adirondack “Brandy Cabinet II” by Randy Holden, made from maple, birch and cherry, sold for $9,525 at an estates auction held Oct. 2 by Schwenke Auctioneers in Woodbury, Conn. Also, an oil on canvas seascape rendering by Alfred Thompson Bricher (American, 1837-1908), titled Grand Manan Island, realized $6,035; a collection of 10 German porcelain Meissen monkey musicians rose to $6,985; and an American Federal grain painted poplar blanket chest with grain decorations on turned feet hit $4,125. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
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By Ken Hall
