Reginald Marsh originals unearthed at Akiba’s March 26 John Cassara estate sale

Reginald Marsh, 'Men And Women At Play, Coney Island,' estimated at $25,000-$50,000 at Akiba.

DANIA BEACH, Fla. — John Victor Cassara (1934-2022) was an industry executive who created specialized insurance products for the Brownstone communities of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Boston Proper. Beyond the boardroom, he was a connoisseur of classical music, a skilled violinist since childhood, and an avid patron of the arts. And, it turns out, he was a huge collector of Reginald Marsh social realism originals depicting life in 1920s and 1930s New York. Twenty-five examples — along with numerous watches and other luxury items — come to market at Akiba Galleries Tuesday, March 26. The catalog is now open for bidding at LiveAuctioneers.

Marsh (1898-1954) was born in Paris to American artists who returned to America in 1900 when Marsh was two. The Marsh family was affluent, with the patriarch having made millions in the meat-packing business. Marsh would go to private schools and ultimately graduate from the Yale School of Art, where he served as a cartoonist and illustrator for the Yale Record, the college humor magazine. His initial career consisted of commercial illustration, but upon taking a trip to Paris, his first since returning to America, he happened upon social realist and regionalist Thomas Hart Benton, who greatly influenced Marsh to take up painting as a full-time profession.

Today, Marsh is best remembered for walking the streets of New York, sketching everyday — and often off-beat — scenes of regular working-class life. It is this period of work, that would continue up to his early death at 56, which comprises the bulk of the Cassara collection.

Akiba has placed the sinister-looking Two Women Picked by Ike for Top Places (Third Avenue El) at the top of the Marsh estimates, with a $30,000-$50,000 range. Produced only two years before his death in 1952, it carries provenance directly from Mr. and Mrs. Henry Luce, the former being the publishing titan who created Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated magazines.

Men And Women At Play, Coney Island shows Marsh’s unique ability to capture kinetic activity, a trademark of much of his work. The tempera on panel is signed and dated Reginald Marsh 1938 and was previously sold at Sotheby’s in 2012. Its estimate is $25,000-$50,000.

In high heels with her dress and long blonde hair blowing in the wind, Merry Go Round again celebrates the New York Coney Island environment with an active subject — in this instance, a happy young woman. Signed and dated Marsh 48, this oil-on-panel painting is assessed as being in ‘great overall condition.’ Akiba has placed an estimate of $20,000-$40,000 on this lot.

Bowery Bums, Babes, and Barber Poles may be the most quintessential Marsh painting in the sale. Featuring a combination of the aforementioned elements, the viewer is instantly taken to the place through the depiction of action and emotion. Created around 1944, the watercolor, ink, and gouache on paper has a $6,000-$12,000 estimate.

Marsh liked to paint New York beyond just its inhabitants. Brooklyn Bridge, from 1933, shows the iconic span along with tugs in the East River. The watercolor on paper is signed and dated Reginald Marsh 33 and is estimated at $6,000-$12,000.

Reginald Marsh, 'Two Women Picked By Ike For Top Places (Third Avenue El),' estimated at $30,000-$50,000 at Akiba.

Reginald Marsh, 'Two Women Picked By Ike For Top Places (Third Avenue El),' estimated at $30,000-$50,000 at Akiba.

Reginald Marsh, 'Men And Women At Play, Coney Island,' estimated at $25,000-$50,000 at Akiba.

Reginald Marsh, 'Men And Women At Play, Coney Island,' estimated at $25,000-$50,000 at Akiba.

Reginald Marsh, 'Merry-Go-Round,' estimated at $20,000-$40,000 at Akiba.

Reginald Marsh, 'Merry-Go-Round,' estimated at $20,000-$40,000 at Akiba.

Reginald Marsh, 'Bowery Bums, Babes, and Barber Poles', estimated at $6,000-$12,000 at Akiba.

Reginald Marsh, 'Bowery Bums, Babes, and Barber Poles', estimated at $6,000-$12,000 at Akiba.

Reginald Marsh, 'Brooklyn Bridge,' estimated at $6,000-$12,000 at Akiba.

Reginald Marsh, 'Brooklyn Bridge,' estimated at $6,000-$12,000 at Akiba.

Jim Bunte

Jim Bunte

Jim Bunte has worked in editorial, design and the toy and auction industries for more than 30 years. He co-founded Auction Central News in 2007.

Old World decor, jewelry, timepieces and bronzes bring delight at Akiba Nov. 14

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DANIA BEACH, Fla. — Collecting interests can be as unique as the individual pursuing their passion. Some follow specific artists or movements; others favor particular media, such as paintings or sculpture; while still others focus on subject matter ranging from fine jewelry to classic comic books.

In the end, it all comes down to collecting what you like, and that’s clearly the case with the 575-lot sale at Akiba Galleries set for Tuesday, November 14. Drawn from the private collection of an Ohio physician, it’s clear the anonymous doctor had a passion for Old World art in all its manifestations, with nearly every major collecting category represented with quality and an eye for detail. The catalog is now available for bidding at LiveAuctioneers.

A perfect example of the collection’s theme is found in this 19th-century German secretary’s desk. Featuring meticulous brass and pewter inlay throughout and multiple compartments with locking drawers, the item is both beautiful and functional. The lot comes with a letter from the antique dealer explaining its history in more detail, and it is estimated at $5,000-$25,000.

Old World art is also key to any collection with such a focus. This 17th-century painting of Marie de Medici is attributed to Justus Sustermans (1597-1681), who was in the circle of Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). Marie would marry Henry IV of France in 1600, and served as regent to their son, Louis XIII, after Henry’s death in 1610. The painting was in the collection of Max Oberlander of Vienna for many years and appeared in a 1932 yearbook of art collections, eventually making its way to the United States, where today it has an estimate of $10,000-$30,000.

Proving that beauty can be found in objects of any age, the collection boasts two examples of cut crystal from Martin Benito of Cristal Benito, the acclaimed French art glass house founded in 1952. The first is a hinged caviar bowl, crafted from gilt metal and diamond-shaped cut crystal with a cyan blue overlay and decorated with gilt bronze throughout. It is estimated at $1,000-$5,000.

The second item is a hinged bar with eight crystal tumblers. It is created from gilt metal and diamond-shaped cut crystal with a cobalt blue overlay further decorated with a gilt bronze rim, finial, and handles. The piece is supported by a four-footed gilt-bronze base with four stylized dolphins, and it is similarly estimated at $1,000-$5,000.
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Antique German inlaid secretary desk, estimated at $5,000-$25,000 at Akiba Galleries.
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Attributed to Justus Sustermans, portrait of Marie de Medici (Queen of France), estimated at $10,000-$30,000 at Akiba Galleries.
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Martin Benito cyan cut crystal and gilt bronze hinged caviar bowl, estimated at $1,000-$5,000 at Akiba Galleries.
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Martin Benito blue cut crystal and gilt bronze hinged bar, estimated at $1,000-$5,000 at Akiba Galleries.
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Antique 14K emerald, diamond and platinum ring, estimated at $5,000-$25,000 at Akiba Galleries.
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Disney fans will relish Akiba’s June 21 auction ‘Mickey Mouse and His Friends’

Disney porcelain figure of Cinderella and Prince Charming, est. $100-$1,000

 

Disney porcelain figure of Cinderella and Prince Charming, est. $100-$1,000
Disney porcelain figure of Cinderella and Prince Charming, est. $100-$1,000

DANIA BEACH, Fla. – Akiba Antiques will present The Mickey Mouse and His Friends auction on Tuesday, June 21 at noon Eastern time. The 609-lot sale will appeal to both established collectors and regular Disney fans. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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