Bruneau & Co. assembles impressive lineup for Aug. 1 auction

Oil on canvas portrait painting by Francis Cotes, est. $5,000-$10,000
Oil on canvas portrait painting by Francis Cotes, est. $5,000-$10,000
Oil on canvas portrait painting by Francis Cotes, est. $5,000-$10,000

CRANSTON, R.I. – A figural oil painting by the acclaimed Indian artist B. Prabha (1933-2001) and an aristocratic portrait painting by Francis Cotes (British, 1726-1770) are expected headliners in an online-only Fine & Decorative Art auction slated for Monday, August 1 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers, starting at 6 pm Eastern time. More than just original artworks will come up for bid in the 337-lot sale, which will feature items consigned from prominent New England estates. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Gallery Report: Loie Hollowell painting crests $1M at Clars

ATLANTA – At the beginning of every month, ACN columnist Ken Hall delivers top auction highlights from around the United States and across the wider world. Here’s the May 2022 edition of his Gallery Report. All prices include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

Loie Hollowell painting, $1.05 million, Clars Auction Gallery

A painting by Loie Hollowell (American, b. 1983), titled Point of Entry (Blood-Orange Moon Over Orange Sac), sold for $1.05 million at a Modern + Contemporary Art + Design sale held March 25 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, California. Also, a 1961 drawing by Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973), titled Etudes VII (d’apres Manet), brought $150,000, and a double-sided oil on canvas painting by Maria-Mela Muter (Polish/French, 1876-1967) changed hands for $106,250.

Winchester cartridge board, CA$70,800, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.

A Winchester cartridge board dating to circa 1884 sold for $70,800 in an online-only Petroliana & Advertising Auction held April 23 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., in New Hamburg, Canada. Also, a circa-1905 Carhartt’s Overalls single-sided porcelain corner sign achieved $25,960, and a Canadian Ford V8 dealer double-sided porcelain sign from the 1930s realized $15,340. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Marble sculpture of a woman, $21,250, Ahlers & Ogletree

A classical early 20th-century Continental School semi-nude marble sculpture of a woman sold for $21,250 in a two-day Spring Estates & Collections auction held April 9-10 by Ahlers & Ogletree in Atlanta. Also, an Untitled Abstract oil painting by Syd Solomon (American, 1917-2004) realized $20,000, and an oil on canvas by Henri Hecht Maik (French, 1922-1993), titled Le Reveille du Hibou (The Awakening of the Owl), achieved $20,000.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse motorcycle, $222,000, Bertoia Auctions

A circa-1932 Tippco (Germany) Mickey and Minnie Mouse motorcycle tin wind-up toy sold for $222,000, a new world record auction price for any Disney toy, at the sale of the Monique Knowlton antique toy collection held March 11-12 by Bertoia Auctions in Vineland, N.J. Also, a Masudaya (Japan) Machine Man Robot made $72,000, and a Bandai (Japan) Flying Spaceman ‘Superman’ friction cycle in the original box rose to $57,600.

B. Prabha painting, $37,500, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers

An oil on canvas by B. Prabha (India, 1933-2001), depicting three women dressed in white and yellow, sold for $37,500 at an auction held April 4 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, R.I. Also, a religious painting by Mahadev Dhurandhar (India, 1867-1944), depicting a man laying down his bow and arrows at the feet of Shiva, changed hands for $31,250.

Crystal ball casket magic apparatus, $36,000, Potter & Potter Auctions

Jonathan N. Hofzinser’s Crystal Ball Casket illusion, created circa 1860, sold for $36,000 at Part 2 of the Ken Klosterman magic collection held March 26 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a color lithograph from around 1920, titled Rostrum The Last Word in Magic, commanded $26,400; and Alexander’s Sawing a Woman in Half illusion, made by F.G. Thayer of Los Angeles in 1921, finished at $24,000.

Chinese food vessel, $487,500, Hindman

A Chinese archaic bronze ceremonial food vessel from the mid-Western Han dynasty sold for $487,500 at an auction of Chinese and Himalayan Works of Art held March 29 by Hindman in Chicago. Also, a semi-translucent apple green jadeite tripod censer and cover realized $287,500; a translucent grayish-celadon jadeite covered vase rang up $81,250; an archaistic bronze wine jar and cover garnered $40,625; and a carved yellow jade covered vase went for $20,000.

Wesco Model 212 gas pump, $38,400, Morphy Auctions

A West Coast Equipment Company (Wesco) Model #212 gas pump, professionally restored in Hancock Gasoline livery, sold for $38,400 at an Automobilia, Petroliana & Railroadiana auction held March 29-30 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pennsylvania. Also, a Buick Authorized Valve in Head neon porcelain sign in complete, original condition realized $27,600, and an Edsel Automobiles double-sided porcelain neon dealership sign went for $24,000.

Lincoln’s pocket knife, $519,000, Heritage Auctions

A custom pocket knife in its original presentation box, given to Abraham Lincoln on June 16, 1864 by Alfred B. Justice for attending the Great Central Sanitary Fair in Philadelphia, sold for $519,000 at a Lincoln and His Times Auction held Feb. 12-13 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, the key to Box No. 7 at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., where Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, earned $495,000; and a bust of Lincoln by Chicago artist Leonard Volk attained $399,000.

Cartier Art Deco desk clock, $359,100, Doyle

A circa-1925 Art Deco desk clock by Cartier sold for $359,100 at an Important Jewelry auction held April 12 by Doyle in New York City. Also, a natural pearl necklace with a platinum and Fancy Intense blue diamond clasp found a new owner for $226,800; a jade bead necklace with a gold clasp earned $201,600; a platinum and diamond ring slipped onto a new finger for $195,300; and an antique gold, sapphire and diamond horseshoe brooch changed hands for $138,600.

Huanghuali armchairs, $948,000, Freeman’s

A pair of Chinese huanghuali armchairs from the late Ming to Qing dynasty sold for $948,000 at an Asian Arts auction held April 13 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, two Chinese blue and white porcelain panels went for $403,200; a Chinese Qing dynasty famille rose-decorated Butterflies and Blossoms vase with the four-character Yongzheng mark achieved $189,000; and a Chinese Qing dynasty creamy-white jade carving of a bear realized $107,100.

Handwritten Beethoven letter, $251,240, RR Auction

A four-page letter handwritten by Ludwig van Beethoven, dated Sept. 24, 1815 and penned in German to his librettist, the court poet Friedrich Treitschke, sold for $251,240 in an online auction held April 13 by RR Auction in Boston. Also, a notice of insurance claim for Lee Harvey Oswald, a proof of death certificate obligating the insurance company to pay Oswald’s mother $863 for her son’s demise, brought $79,436; and a Marilyn Monroe-signed photograph, taken in 1953, earned $28,895.

Tom Brady rookie card, $4,800, Cordier Auctions

A 2000 Bowman Chrome Tom Brady rookie card #236, graded PSA 9, sold for $4,800 in sports card and comic book auctions held April 3 and April 10 by Cordier Auctions in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Also, a copy of Detective Comics #225, the first issue of Martian Manhunter (1955) hit $4,080; a copy of Detective Comics #233, the first issue of Batwoman (1956) brought $3,120; a 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente rookie card #164 made $3,360; and a 1980 Topps Baseball unopened wax box realized $2,250.

Popeye and Olive Oyl toy tank, $105,000, Milestone Auctions

A Linemar (Japan) battery-operated Popeye and Olive Oyl Tank with its original box sold for $105,000 at an Antique Toy Spectacular held April 9 by Milestone Auctions in Willoughby, Ohio. Also, a Linemar battery-operated Popeye and Row Boat with its original box earned $13,200; a Chein tin wind-up Popeye Overhead Puncher with its original box rang up $11,400; and a Chein tin wind-up Popeye Heavy Hitter with its original box rose to $11,400.

Saturn V digital computer memory module, $71,335, RR Auction

A Saturn V Launch Vehicle digital computer memory module sold for $71,335 in an online-only Space Exploration Auction held March 10-April 21 by RR Auction in Boston. Also, Gus Grissom’s prototype pressure suit from Project Gemini went for $64,850; Dave Scott’s Apollo 15-flown CSM update checklist achieved $58,885; Alan Shepard’s Project Mercury spacesuit glove changed hands for $43,923; and Jack Swigert’s Apollo 13-flown flag earned $52,878.

Hughie Lee-Smith painting, $365,000, Swann Auction Galleries

Aftermath, a circa-1960 painting by Hughie Lee-Smith (American, 1915-1999), sold for $365,000 – a new record for the artist – at an African American Art auction held March 31 by Swann Galleries in New York City. Also, a 1982 dry pigment work by Ed Clark, titled Spatial Image III, commanded $341,000; an untitled (Atmospheric Effects Series) acrylic on paper by Alma Thomas from 1971 made $209,000; and an untitled circa 1958-1959 oil painting by Beauford Delaney hit $137,000.

 

View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/

Gallery Report: 1867 Winslow Homer painting tops $900K

ATLANTA – At the beginning of every month, ACN columnist Ken Hall delivers top auction highlights from around the United States and the world at large. Here’s his December 2021 edition of Gallery Report. All prices include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

Winslow Homer painting, $936,000, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries

An oil on canvas painting by Winslow Homer, titled Coming through the Rye, painted in France and inscribed “Homer/Paris 1867,” sold for $936,000 at a sale held November 12-14 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. Also, an 18th-century Chinese flambe glazed moon flask with Qianlong seal mark made $180,000, and a Tiffany Dragonfly table lamp brought $99,450.

Burchfield watercolor, $375,000, Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers

A watercolor on two joined sheets of paper by Charles Burchfield, created between 1948 and 1957 and titled January Sun, sold for $375,000 in an online Fall Fine Art Auction held October 28 by Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers in Milford, Connecticut. Also, a 1943 oil on board by Thomas Hart Benton, titled Study for Sugar Cane, finished at $275,000; and a 1901 oil painting by Susan Watkins, titled Woman Playing a Guitar, hit $106,250.

Kikuo Saito abstract art, $14,760, Neue Auctions

An abstract oil painting by Japanese-American artist Kikuo Saito, titled Summer Ghost (1997), sold for $14,760 in an online-only Fine Art & Antiques auction held October 30 by Neue Auctions in Beachwood, Ohio. Also, a colorful Parisian street scene by Constantin Kluge, titled Place de la Madeleine, realized $9,840, and a large Milpa stoneware vessel by Claude Conover finished at $8,610.

1871 Union Pacific Railroad pass, $5,125, Holabird Western Americana Collections

A Union Pacific Railroad complimentary pass (#1), issued to General A. W. Marley on Dec. 31, 1871, sold for $5,125 at an Autumn Splendor Western Americana Auction held Oct. 28-Nov. 1 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nevada. Also, a 1947 50-peso Mexican gold coin with 14-carat bezel reached $3,125, and a group of six vintage gaming chips for Harrah’s and other Nevada casinos went for $3,875.

Galle cameo glass vase, $6,600, Woody Auction

A blown mold French cameo glass vase signed Galle and featuring a cameo carved vine and blossom decor sold for $6,600 at the sale of the Jochimsen collection held October 23 by Woody Auction in Douglass, Kansas. Also, a Fenton mosaic art glass pedestal also knocked down for $6,600; a Galle French cameo art glass vase with blown mold cherry branch decor realized $4,750; and an unmarked Royal Flemish by Mt. Washington vase with griffin and dragon enamel decor changed hands for $3,000.

B. Prabha painting, $38,750, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers

A painting by B. Prabha, titled Indian Women Painting, sold for $38,750 in an online-only Estate Fine Art & Antique Auction held November 15 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, a Cubist figural watercolor by Maqbool Fida Husain, of a couple on horseback, achieved $10,625; and a mixed media mounted to canvas portrait painting by the infamous forger Han Van Meegeren brought $5,938.

Captain America shield, $259,540, Hake’s Auctions

A Captain America hero-prop shield created by Marvel Studios senior prop master Russell Bobbitt and used by Chris Evans for close-up shots in the 2019 film Avengers: Endgame sold for $259,540 in an online Premier Entertainment & Historical Memorabilia Auction held November 2-3 by Hake’s Auctions in York, Pennsylvania. Also, a copy of Fantastic Four #1 comic (Nov. 1961), CGC-graded 6.0 Fine, featuring the debut of Marvel’s first superhero team, knocked down for $37,269.

1980 Nobel Prize, $275,000, Nate D. Sanders

The 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarded to George D. Snell, sold for $275,000 at an auction held October 30 by Nate D. Sanders in Los Angeles. Snell won the Nobel Prize for his discovery of MHC, the genetic foundation of a body’s immunological response to tissue and organ transplants, determining whether it accepts an organ or rejects it. The first successful organ transplant occurred in 1954, when one identical twin donated a kidney to his sibling.

Apollo 17 cuff checklist, $744,000, RR Auction

Astronaut Gene Cernan’s Apollo 17 cuff checklist, which provided instructions for man’s last moonwalk and held handwritten notes for the last words spoken from the surface of the Moon, sold for $744,000 in an auction held Sept. 26-Oct. 21 by RR Auction in Boston. Also, Buzz Aldrin’s Apollo 11-flown Lunar Module checklist hit $143,750; Aldrin’s Apollo 11-flown flight form page reached $129,693; and an Apollo 11 First on the Moon book, signed by its crew members, made $41,721.

Amy Winehouse dress, $243,200, Julien’s Auctions

The dress worn by the late British singer Amy Winehouse at her final stage performance in 2011 sold for $243,200 at an auction titled Property from the Life and Career of Amy Winehouse, held November 6-7 by Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles. Also, the Moschino custom-made red leather heart-shaped purse she brought to the 2007 Brit Awards made $204,800; a floral gold lame D&G stage-worn dress realized $150,000; and a Temperly London tan and black jumpsuit worn by her in 2008 brought $121,600.

The Light and Heavy Chest, $156,000, Potter & Potter Auctions

The Light and Heavy Chest, a magic trick apparatus made in France in 1844 and owned and used by Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin, achieved $156,000 at Part 1 of The Klosterman Collection, a sale held October 30 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. The hardwood box became light as a feather or immovable, depending on the magician’s command. Also, Karl Germain’s Blooming Rose Bush illusion made $132,000, and Harry Houdini’s Upside Down in the Water Torture Cell poster brought $108,000.

Hopi Indian pottery bowl, $9,000, Pook & Pook, Inc.

A Hopi Sikyatki revival pottery bowl, likely made by the celebrated potter Nampeyo, sold for a little more than $9,000 at a Native American Indian Sale held October 27 by Pook & Pook, Inc. in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Also, an authentic Navajo coin silver squash blossom necklace earned $8,064; a group of three Hopi kachinas realized $4,221; an Algonquin style miniature birch bark canoe model with moose and deer designs made $3,024; and a child-size Navajo rug achieved $3,906.

Paul Revere engraving, $429,000, Doyle New York

Paul Revere’s iconic 1770 hand-colored engraving of the famous Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770, titled The Bloody Massacre, sold for $429,000 – a new auction record for the print – at an American Paintings & Prints auction held November 2 by Doyle in New York City. Also, a landscape by Fidelia Bridges titled Small Bird with Flowering Ironweed rose to $93,750, setting a record for the artist, and a marine painting by William Bradford also hit $93,750.

Claude Conover vessel, $87,500, Wright

A chalky, engobe-decorated Oltah vessel by Claude Conover sold for $87,500 at an auction titled Shaping Stoneware: The Ceramic Forms of Claude Conover held October 28 by Wright in Chicago. It was the most ever paid for a work by Conover, eclipsing the $53,125 realized by a Uilku vessel at Rago Auctions in 2015. Another piece shattered that record in the October auction: a Uchben vessel that brought $75,000. Overall, the sale grossed $1.229 million.

Early Apple-1 computer, $500,000, John Moran Auctioneers

A vintage Apple-1 computer, known as the Chaffey College Apple-1 as it was originally purchased in 1977 by an electronics professor at the school (who sold it the following year to a student for $650) sold for $500,000 at a Postwar & Contemporary Art + Design sale held Nov. 9 by John Moran Auctioneers in Monrovia, California. Also, a painting by Ariana Papademetropoulos earned $162,500, and a color lithograph by Alexander Calder brought $8,125.

Chippendale chest, $25,200, Nadeau’s Auction Gallery

A circa-1780 diminutive chest from Massachusetts sold for $25,200 at an annual Fall Americana and Chinese Auction held October 30 by Nadeau’s Auction Gallery in Windsor, Connecticut. Also, an elegant blue and white Chinese urn changed hands for $20,480; a portrait of a nobleman done in the manner of Jean de Court finished at $15,600; and a pair of cylindrical polychromed Majolica vessels realized $12,500.

Set of two Lalanne Moutons, $705,600, Freeman’s

A suite of playful Moutons (Sheep) de Pierre by Francois-Xavier Lalanne sold for $705,600 at a Modern and Contemporary Art auction held November 17 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, a bold canvas by Russian Expressionist Chaim Soutine, titled Le Viaduc Rouge Pres de Vence, achieved $302,400; an Untitled (Study for Fiery Circle) sculpture by Harry Bertoia hit $107,100; and Vietnamese artist Vu Cao Dam’s painting titled Divinite rose to $40,950.

 

View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/

Prabha painting exceeds expectations at Bruneau

B. Prabha, ‘Indian Women Painting,’ $38,750
B. Prabha, ‘Indian Women Painting,’ $38,750
B. Prabha, ‘Indian Women Painting,’ $38,750

CRANSTON, R.I. – Paintings by two renowned Indian artists took top lot honors in Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers’ online-only Estate Fine Art & Antique Auction held November 15. A work by B. Prabha (1933-2001), titled Indian Women Painting, soared to $38,750, while a Cubist figural watercolor by Maqbool Fida Husain (1915-2011), of a couple on horseback, realized $10,625.

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Indian artists in spotlight at Bruneau auction, Nov. 15

Cubist figural watercolor painting by Maqbool Fida Husain, est. $10,000-$15,000
Cubist figural watercolor painting by Maqbool Fida Husain, est. $10,000-$15,000

CRANSTON, R.I. – Paintings by the renowned Indian artists Maqbool Fida Husain (1915-2011) and B. Prabha (1933-2001) fared so well in past Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers sales that the pair will be back for an encore in the upcoming Estate Fine Art & Antique Auction slated for Monday, November 15, online-only, starting at 6 pm Eastern time. More than 325 lots will come up for bid. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Barbara Hepworth bronze dominates Freeman’s May 11 auction

Barbara Hepworth, ‘Torso II (Torcello),’ which sold for $642,600
Barbara Hepworth, ‘Torso II (Torcello),’ which sold for $642,600
Barbara Hepworth, ‘Torso II (Torcello),’ which sold for $642,600

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.— Freeman’s is pleased to announce the results of its May 11 Modern and Contemporary Art auction, which clearly demonstrates Freeman’s strength in the sale of Modern and Contemporary works by significant artists across multiple media. The 54-lot auction achieved more than $1.8 million, selling all but one lot and eliciting competitive bidding from phone and online buyers.

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