Gallery Report: Alice Baber painting sets record at John Moran

ATLANTA – At the start of every month, ACN columnist Ken Hall delivers top auction highlights from around the United States and the wider world. Presented here is the October 2022 edition of his Gallery Report. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium, except where noted otherwise.

Alice Baber painting, $187,500, John Moran Auctioneers

An original 1976 painting by Alice Baber (American, 1928-1982), titled Swirl of Sounds, The Ghost in the Banyan Tree, sold for $187,500, a new world auction record for the artist, at a Summer Modern & Contemporary Art auction held August 30 by John Moran Auctioneers in Los Angeles. Also, Ernie Barnes’s (American, 1938-2009) The Lineman, from 1968, hit $237,500; and Andy Warhol’s (American, 1928-1987) screenprint John Wayne, from his 1986 Cowboys and Indians series, a copy that had been owned by the late  actor, brought $150,000.

1952 Mickey Mantle card, $12.6 million, Heritage Auctions

A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 baseball card, graded Mint + 9.5, sold for $12.6 million at a Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction held August 27 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. It was the most ever paid for a sports collectible at auction. The card was found in 1985 by Al “Mr. Mint” Rosen, who received a call from a suburban Boston seller whose father had been a delivery driver for Topps. It changed hands several times after that, selling for $50,000 in 1991.

10 old Lincoln head pennies (one pictured), $1.1 million, GreatCollections.com

A collection of 10 century-old Lincoln head pennies in superb proof condition and all from the Philadelphia mint sold for a combined $1.113 million in an online auction that ended August 28 at GreatCollections.com, which is based in Irvine, California. One was a first-year issue Lincoln cent from 1909 with designer Victor D. Brenner’s initials on the reverse. It sold for $365,625, a record price for that coin. Also, four other pennies dated between 1909 and 1915 brought more than $100,000 each.

Nyoman Gunarsa painting, $20,000, Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery

A vibrant and colorful four-panel oil on canvas panting by Nyoman Gunarsa (Indonesian, 1944-2017), titled Balinese Dancers, sold for $20,000 in an online-only Fine Estates & Collections auction held Aug. 25-27 by Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery in Atlanta. Also, a pair of Chinese blue and white porcelain phoenix tail vases finished at $18,750, and an untitled paint splatter work by Sam Francis (American, 1923-1994), artist-signed, brought $18,750.

1899 Stanley Steamer vehicle, CA$44,250, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.

An 1899 Stanley Stanhope Model No. 1 Locomobile vehicle, popularly known as the Stanley Steamer because of its steam engine, sold for $44,250 in an online-only Petroliana & Advertising auction held September 10 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., in New Hamburg, Canada. Also, a 1907 REO Model A five-passenger touring car chugged off for $41,300, and a prototype of the 1911 Model H REO pickup truck sped away for $35,400. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

E. S. Cooper oil painting, $18,750, Crescent City Auction Gallery

An 1888 painting by E. S. Cooper, titled Wooden Bridge in a Louisiana Bayou Landscape, sold for $18,750 at a September Select Auction held Sept. 9-10 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans. Also, a 1984 felt-on-paper work by Keith Haring (American, 1958-1990), titled If You Want to See More rang up $10,000; a polished aluminum kinetic sculpture by Lin Emery, titled Petals, realized $7,500; and a 1987 Mercedes Benz 300 SDL earned $6,875.

37-star American flag from 1867, $10,625, Holabird Western Americana Collections

An American flag with 37 stars, made in 1867 upon the admission of Nebraska to the United States, sold for $10,625 at a Rush to the Rockies auction held Aug. 25-28 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nevada. Also, a circa-1898-1908 Vota & DeHeines (Silverton, Colorado) pocket whiskey flask achieved $4,375, and a collection of around 90 Paleo points, aka arrowheads, in a wide variety of shapes and materials changed hands for $8,750.

1963 Belgian robot dance organ, $350,000, Morphy Auctions

A robot dance organ, created in 1963 by Gebroeders Decap of Antwerp, Belgium and one of only three made in a 105-key configuration, sold for $350,000 at the auction of the Henri Krijnen musical machines collection held Sept. 9-10 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pennsylvania. Also, an ornate and gilded Koenigsberg 70-key Harmonium street organ, made in Holland in 1910, found a new home for $54,120; and a Gastaud et Raibaut for Bodson Double Tino orchestrion, made in Paris in 1925, brought $73,800.

Musgo Gasoline porcelain sign, $1.5 million, Richmond Auctions

A double-sided porcelain Musgo Gasoline sign sold for $1.5 million at an auction held August 27 by Richmond Auctions in Greenville, South Carolina. It was a new world auction record for an antique advertising sign, besting the previous record of $400,000. The sign was discovered in an attic in Michigan and had never been seen by the public. It also had never been used as a septic tank lid, which was the ultimate fate of many Musgo signs created in the company’s six months of existence during the mid-1920s.

1904 Chicago license plate, $34,000, Donley Auctions

A Chicago license plate from 1904, considered the holy grail of the Chicago plates, sold for $34,000 at a Vintage License Plates & Vehicle Tags sale held August 28 by Donley Auctions in Union, Illinois. The plate, made from aluminum sheeting and painted black, featured “1904” stamped vertically on the left-hand side, the number “1” bookended by two dashes in the middle, and the words “City of Chicago” in the lower bottom edge. Chicago switched to brass plates in 1905.

Copy of Action Comics #1, $3.4 million, Goldin Auctions

A copy of Action Comics #1, published in 1938, graded CGC FN 6.0, and known as the Rocket Copy because of a rocket stamp placed on the cover more than 80 years ago by the original owner, a 13-year-old who purchased it from a newsstand, sold for $3.4 million in a private sale handled in September by Goldin Auctions of Runnemede, New Jersey in conjunction with Metropolis Comics of New York. Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joel Shuster; Action Comics #1 is credited with helping to launch the superhero genre.

Costa Rica 1918 Cien Colones banknote, $36,300, Doyle

A Costa Rica 1918 Cien Colones banknote with five line provisional overprint in red, graded in Very Fine condition, sold for $36,300 at an auction of the Kop family collection of Costa Rica coins and banknotes held September 13 by Doyle in New York City. The auction totaled $1.164 million, which surpassed the total high estimate of $692,050. It was 97 percent sold by lot and 100 percent sold by value.

Paul Evans sideboard, $50,000, Roland Auctions

A Mid-century Modern sculptural two-door wall-mounted sideboard sold for $50,000 on September 10 at Roland Auctions in Glen Cove, New York. Also, a gilt framed ink and color on paper Chinese scroll depicting men on horses rose to $22,500; an oil on canvas by Ker-Xavier Roussell (French, 1867-1944), titled Baigneuses (Bathers), brought $20,000; and an oil on board by Eldridge A. Burbank (American, 1858-1949) earned $7,500.

Elon Musk mementos, $165,265, RR Auction

A collection of never-before-seen Elon Musk photos and memorabilia from his college girlfriend Jennifer Gwynne sold for $165,265 in an online auction held Aug. 12-Sept. 14 by RR Auction, based in Boston. A 1995 photo of Musk and Gwynne sold for $2,773; a 14K gold and emerald necklace given by Musk to Gwynne, plus two photos, reached $51,008; and a birthday card inscribed by Musk to Gwynne hit $16,643.

New Englands First Fruits, $277,200, Freeman’s

A first edition copy of New Englands First Fruits, which discusses early colonial New England and includes the first printed account of Harvard University, sold for $277,200 at a Books and Manuscripts auction held September 21 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, a first edition copy of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz attained $37,800; a scarce copy of the Narrative of Sojourner Truth rose to $27,720; and a 1738 colonial treatise on paper money changed hands for $21,420.

Betty White director’s chair, $76,800, Julien’s Auctions

A director’s chair used by Betty White during the production of the hit TV show The Golden Girls sold for $76,800 at an auction titled Property from the Life and Career of Betty White held September 25 by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, California. Also, a lavender dress with white dots worn by White in 1986 publicity images rang up $32,000; and two of White’s teleplays, for the pilot and final episode of The Golden Girls, went for $57,600 and $51,200, respectively.

Nine Peaches vase, $860,000, Hindman

A famille rose Nine Peaches globular bottle vase of Tianqiuping form and dating to the Qianlong period (1735-1796) sold for $860,000 at a Chinese & Himalayan Works of Art auction held September 23 by Hindman in Chicago. Also, a painting by Qi Biashi, titled Chrysanthemums and a Dragonfly, left the room for $68,750; a small lemon-yellow glazed porcelain saucer dish earned $25,000; and a blue glazed porcelain bowl and a copper red glazed porcelain dish realized $17,500 apiece.

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

Gallery Report: Hale Woodruff abstract sells for record $665K at Swann

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 the February 2022 edition of his Gallery Report. All prices include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

Hale Woodruff painting, $665,000, Swann Auction Galleries

A circa-1958 oil on canvas by Hale Woodruff, titled Carnival, sold for $665,000 at an African American art sale held October 7 by Swann Galleries in New York. It was a record for an abstract work by the artist. Also, a limestone Head carved in 1943 by Elizabeth Catlett realized $485,000 and a new record for the artist, and a circa 1950-1951 oil on canvas by Norman Lewis, titled Past Time, rose to $233,000.

Ansel Adams signed photograph, $9,687, Holabird Western Americana Collections

A 1960 Ansel Adams original photograph from his Yosemite Series, signed and titled Moon and Half Dome, print No. 10, sold for $9,687 at a December Dreams: Premier Americana Auction held Dec. 17-19 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nevada. Also, a 12.5-cent token from The Payteller of Rhyolite, Nevada, gaveled for $5,500; and a Wells Fargo & Co. Express Directory of Chinese Houses in California, dating to 1878, went to a determined bidder for $13,750.

Oriental porcelain pieces, $17,500, Crescent City Auction Gallery

A group of four pieces of Oriental porcelain from the 19th and 20th centuries sold for $17,500 at a Winter Estates Auction held Jan. 21-22 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans. Also, a circa-1960 painting by Clementine Hunter (American, 1887-1987), titled Hauling Cotton, achieved $6,875; a 20th-century scratch-built ship model titled Natchez VI made $4,375; and a set of eight Louis XIII style dining chairs hit $3,125.

1951 Mercury coupe, $1.95 million, Mecum Auctions

A customized 1951 Mercury coupe sold for $1.95 million at a collector car auction held January 15 by Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee, Florida. The two-tone green coupe was known as the Hirohata Merc after the 21-year-old Japanese American veteran who commissioned it in 1952. It was built by some of the most prominent names in the California car scene of the day, including George Barris, who designed cars for the TV shows Batman, The Munsters and The Beverly Hillbillies.

Julie H. Beers painting, $20,000, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers

A landscape painting by Hudson River School artist Julie H. Beers (American, 1835-1913), titled Summer at Mossy Brook, sold for $20,000 in an online-only Estate Fine Art & Antiques auction held January 6 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, a watercolor on paper by Anthony Thieme (American, 1888-1954) of men in boats on calm waters made $12,500; and a 19th-century European mahogany-stained glass bronze bar achieved $19,200.

1930s Eco Model 160 gas pump, CA$35,400, Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd.

A 1930s Canadian Eco Model 160 clockface gasoline pump sold for CA$35,400 (all prices for this sale are given in Canadian dollars) in an online-only Petroliana, Advertising Signs & Memorabilia auction held December 4 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., in New Hamburg, Canada. Also, a 1946 McColl-Frontenac double-sided Canadian porcelain sign realized CA$35,400, and a circa-1930s Canadian Red Indian single-sided porcelain sign rose to CA$27,140.

Thornton Dial painting, $84,700, Ahlers & Ogletree

A 1991 mixed media painting by Thornton Dial (American, 1928-2016), titled Struggling Tiger, sold for $84,700 in a New Year’s Signature Estates Auction held Jan. 14-16 by Ahlers & Ogletree in Atlanta. Also, a Tiffany Studios Favrile glass door from the 1920s, titled The Sower, rose to $51,425; an oil on canvas painting by Willard Metcalf (American, 1858-1925), titled The Barn Door, realized $37,200; and a Renaissance Revival desk made by Wooten went for $37,200.

Tom Brady signed jersey, $480,000, Goldin Auctions

A 2021 Tom Brady-signed Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey, worn a few weeks before he won Super Bowl LV in Tampa, sold for $480,000 in an auction ending on January 8 that was conducted by Goldin Auctions in Runnemede, New Jersey. It was a new all-time record for an NFL game-worn jersey. Also, a 2003-2004 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James-signed rookie patch card hit $1.5 million, and a 1958 World Cup Sweden ticket stub from Pele’s debut game on June 15, 1958 achieved $36,000.

Charles Baugniet oil, $26,400, Roan, Inc.

An oil on wood by Belgian artist Charles Baugniet (1814-1886), titled Le Toilette de la Mariee, sold for $26,400 at a two-day Pre-Christmas Auction held December 17 and 18 by Roan, Inc. in Cogan Station, Pennsylvania. Also, a vibrant fruit and candy still life painting on canvas by Annie M. Snyder (American, 1852-1927), brought $6,600, and two 13.5K solid yellow gold plate sections sold for a combined $8,690.

Hopi Indian polychrome dish, $9,400, Pook & Pook, Inc.

A Hopi Indian Sikyatki pollaca polychrome dish sold for a little more than $9,400 at a biannual Native American Indian sale held October 27 by Pook & Pook, Inc. in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Also, a Navajo Indian coin silver squash blossom necklace brought $8,064; a group of three Hopi Indian kachina dolls realized $4,221; a Native American Indian birch bark canoe went for $3,024; a double-grooved stone axe rose to $1,386; and a Navajo child-size blanket changed hands for $3,906.

Raoul Dufy painting, $125,000, Nadeau’s Auction Gallery

A watercolor and gouache on paper by Raoul Dufy (French, 1877-1953), titled Araut La Course: Epsom, signed and titled by the artist, sold for $125,000 at a New Year’s Day Auction held on the holiday by Nadeau’s Auction Gallery in Windsor, Connecticut. Also, a sideboard made in 1930 by Emile Jacques Ruhlmann (French, 1879-1933) brought $48,000, and a Tiffany & Co. Chrysanthemum sterling silver seven-piece tea and coffee set weighing a total of 445 troy ounces realized $28,290.

Chinese Hu-form vase, $54,000, Roland Auctions

A 19th-century Chinese famille rose Hu-form vase decorated in enamels with the Hundred Deer motif sold for $54,000 at a New Year’s Day auction held on the holiday by Roland Auctions in Glen Cove, New York. Also, a framed Tibetan thangka achieved $43,750; a pair of Neoclassical-style gilt bronze urn-form wine coolers rose to $46,875; and a pair of circa-1765 George III mahogany game tables in the manner of Thomas Chippendale went for $37,500.

Banksy’s Girl with Balloon, $174,000, Michaan’s Auctions

A screenprint by the enigmatic British graffiti artist Banksy, titled Girl with Balloon and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Banksy’s Pest Control Office, sold for $174,000 at a Winter Fine Sale held December 17 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, California. Also, Ira Yeager’s oil on canvas titled Chicken Lady realized $18,000; an Ernie Barnes mixed media study sketch of a couple dancing brought $24,000; and an oil painting by Henrietta Berk rose to $16,800.

1901 Nikola Tesla letter, $341,295, RR Auction

A four-page letter handwritten in 1901 by Nikola Tesla, in which he discusses his place among America’s greatest inventors, sold for $341,295 in an auction held Dec. 13-Jan. 12 by RR Auction in Boston. Also, a Purple Rain album signed by Prince soared to $73,698; a letter signed by Queen Mary I earned $30,990; and an Alexander Hamilton Treasury Department signed circular brought $22,688.

Tiffany Dragonfly lamp, $35,000, Burchard Galleries

A Tiffany Dragonfly lamp lit up the room for $35,000 at an auction held November 14 by Burchard Galleries in St. Petersburg, Florida. Also, a pair of Alexander Calder lithographs went for $3,000 and $1,900, respectively; a Chinese bronze of Guanyin sailed past its $5,000 high estimate to bring $7,000; two Knoll Barcelona lounge chairs with ottomans designed for Knoll by Mies van der Rohe earned $5,250 and $4,500, respectively; and a pair of cloisonne Qilin figures went for $1,600.

Spider-Man’s black suit, $3.36 million, Heritage Auctions

Original comic book artwork showing Spider-Man debuting a black costume, from page 25 of the 1984 comic book Secret Wars #8 and hand-drawn by artist Mike Zeck, sold for $3.3 million on January 13 at Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, artwork from page 84 of the same Spider-Man comic book finished at $288,000, and a CGC Fine 6.0-graded copy of Action Comics #1, which features the first appearance of Superman, went for $3.1 million.

Herend service, $11,340, Doyle NY

A Herend porcelain Rothschild bird pattern table service sold for $11,340 at a Doyle at Home Auction held January 11 by Doyle NY in New York. Also, a Holly Hunt black lacquered wood and bronze peso dining table achieved $9,450; a chinoiserie decorated fabric eight-panel folding screen with four matching panels brought $9,450; a George Smith upholstered dark stained wood loose cushion sofa rose to $6,930; and a group of upholstered green-painted wicker furnishings hit $6,930.

 

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