ATLANTA – At the beginning of the month, ACN columnist Ken Hall collects and presents the most interesting auction results from the United States and the world at large. His Gallery Report for August 2023 features many standout sales. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

Pegge Hopper painting, $23,750, Andrew Jones Auctions

A 1984 acrylic on canvas by Pegge Hopper (American, b. 1936-), titled Three Strand Ilima, sold for $23,750 at a Design for the Home & Garden auction held June 21 by Andrew Jones Auctions in Los Angeles. Also, a limestone portrait bust of an Egyptian pharaoh on a white metal pedestal went for $52,500, and a portrait of a Moor in traditional robes by a follower of Horace Vernet (French, 1789-1863) brought $16,250.

1909 15-cent U.S. stamp, $1,080, Ahlers & Ogletree

A 1909 15-cent U.S. stamp (Scott #366) on bluish paper, mint and hinged, in fine condition, sold for $1,080 at a U.S. & World Stamps auction held July 13 by Ahlers & Ogletree in Atlanta. Also, an 1863 10-cent Confederate States of America stamp (Scott #10), blue, graded extremely fine, attained $1,020; a collection of British and Australian 1st issue stamps garnered $2,700; and an 1867 3-cent U.S. stamp (Scott #79), rose colored, in average condition, went for $960.

Sterling silver parade saddle, $50,820, Brian Lebel’s and Morphy Auctions

A circa-1930s Edward H. Bohlin sterling silver parade saddle with leather and silver carving sold for $50,820 at Brian Lebel’s 33rd annual Cody Old West Show & Auction, held June 23-25 in association with Morphy Auctions at the Community Convention Center in Santa Fe, N.M. Also, a two-page  Nov. 14, 1904-dated Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid pictorial ‘wanted’ poster brought $19,965, and a painting by Will James (1892-1942) of a cowboy roping a steer lassoed $36,300.

Gold and diamond evening clutch, $20,160, Doyle

A two-color gold and diamond evening clutch sold for $20,160 at a Fine Jewelry & Luxury Handbags auction held July 20 by Doyle in New York City. Also, an antique platinum, gold and diamond crossover ring slipped onto a new finger for $16,380; a wide gold and diamond bracelet finished at $11,970; a French gold, star sapphire and diamond clip brooch hit $9,450; and a Patek Philippe gentleman’s gold Gondolo wristwatch (ref. 1488) found a new owner for $7,560.

Tribal door carving, $20,000, Clars Auction Gallery

A dynamic figural door made in Toradia, Sulawesi Island, centering a monkey carved in high relief, sold for $20,000 at a Tribal Arts, Interiors, Art & Jewelry auction held July 14 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, Calif. Also, a painting by Arthur Hill Gilbert (American, 1894-1970), titled Monterey Oaks, brought $8,750; and a Bakota reliquary from Gabon, overall 22 ½in including stand, left the room for $8,750.

Howard Terpning painting, $2.36 million, Coeur d’Alene Art Auction

A 2008 painting by Howard Terpning titled Paper That Talks Two Ways – The Treaty Signing sold for $2.36 million at the Coeur d’Alene Art Auction held July 15 in Reno, Nev. It was a record price for a work by the artist. Also, Maynard Dixon’s The Pony Boy commanded $2.13 million, also a record for the artist; Gerald Curtis Delano’s Evening settled at $786,500; and William Herbert Dunton’s A Race for the Chuckwagon ($786,500) and Two Braves ($574,750) both did well.

Albert Einstein manuscript, $43,750, RR Auction

A one-page scientific working manuscript with equations handwritten and signed by the legendary physicist Albert Einstein sold for $43,750 in an online Fine Autographs and Artifacts auction held June 23-July 12 by RR Auction, based in Boston. Also, the Dr. Martin Breckstein presidential collection of 41 autographs, spanning Washington to Clinton, went for $47,768; and a Napoleon document from 1812, signed amid the disastrous Russian campaign, changed hands for $39,214.

Chinese porcelain vase, $20,910, Neue Auctions

A 17in-tall Chinese blue and white porcelain vase, probably early 20th century, sold for $20,910 in an online-only Fine Art & Antiques auction held June 24 by Neue Auctions in Beachwood, Ohio. Also, a pair of late 19th-century Aesthetic Movement leaded glass windows realized $7,995, and an early 20th-century carved and painted carousel giraffe, restored and attributed to Herschell-Spillman, sauntered away for $7,380.

Edison electric pen, $12,800, Nye & Company Auctioneers

A late 1800s Edison electric pen, No. 8263 on wheel, including stand, wire and stencil, sold for $12,800 at a Chic and Antique Estate Treasures auction held April 26-28 by Nye & Company Auctioneers in Bloomfield, N.J. Also, a circa-1440 framed portion of a leaf from the Sloan-Krech copy of the Catholicon, published by Gutenberg in 1459, secured $7,680; and a 19th- or 20th-century Louis XVI-style chinoiserie-decorated chest rose to $3,520.

Lalique chandelier, $14,080, Nadeau’s Auction Gallery

A Lalique Champs-Elysee chandelier sold for $14,080 at a Spring Outdoor, Mid-Century, Art and Furnishings auction held June 10 by Nadeau’s Auction Gallery in Windsor, Conn. Also, a painting titled End of Night by Arpana Caur (Indian, b. 1954-) achieved $7,680; a pair of Charles and Ray Eames Potato Chip chairs settled at $7,680; an Eames 670 lounge chair and rosewood ottoman went for $5,120; and a gilt metal cut glass and ruby glass eight-light chandelier attained $9,840.

Babe Ruth 1916 rookie card, $645,000, Heritage Auctions

Babe Ruth’s 1916 Famous & Barr Co. rookie baseball card, graded PSA Very Good / Excellent 4, sold for $645,000 at a Summer Sports Card Catalog Auction held July 14-15 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, another Ruth card, the 1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy example, graded PSA Very Good 3, realized $144,000; a 1952 Mickey Mantle Topps card, graded PSA Excellent 5, made $162,000; and a signed 1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle card brought $99,000.

Jean-Baptiste Corot painting, $120,000, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries

A painting by the French Impressionist Jean-Baptiste Corot, titled Le Chariot d’Arras, sold for $120,000 at a July Splendor Sale held July 7-9 by Thomaston Place Art Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. Also, an untitled painting by Etel Adnan brought $68,750; a folk-art painting by Bill Traylor secured $51,000; an inscribed original watercolor remarque by Andrew Wyeth on a book endpaper from Christina’s World earned $34,375; and a Hans Wegner Papa Bear chair finished at $19,200.

Harry Houdini poster, $45,600, Potter & Potter Auctions

A 1911 poster colloquially known as the Houdini for President poster sold for $45,600 at a Summer Magic Auction held June 17 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a Ouija prediction watch magic apparatus changed hands for $21,600; a circa-1902 German Harry Houdini poster attained $36,000; a Thurston poster from 1928 achieved $5,280; a ringing alarm clock production stand earned $13,200; and a butterfly silk production illusion by Jon Martin made $9,000.

The Legend of Zelda, $7,188, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers

A 1989 copy of The Legend of Zelda, a video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System, factory-sealed and graded CGC 9.2, sold for $7,188 at a Comics, Toys & Video Games auction held May 6 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, R.I. Also, a copy of Science Comics #1 (Feb. 1940, Fox Features Syndicate), with a cover by George Tuska, secured $6,250; and a copy of Captain America Comics #36 (March 1944, Timely Comics), graded CGC 1.5, brought $4,000.

 

 Va. /N.C. corner cupboard, $96,000, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

A Roanoke River Basin (Va./N.C.) carved walnut corner cupboard sold for $96,000 at a Premier Americana Auction held June 15-17 by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mt. Crawford, Va. Also, a pair of emerald green Boston & Sandwich Glass Co. notch-cut and pressed vases climbed to $10,800; a Yosemite landscape painting by Thomas Hill (British and American, 1829-1908) settled at $30,000; and a Staffordshire platter bearing the arms of Pennsylvania found a new home for $15,600.

Sculpture after Troubetzkoy, $18,750, John Moran Auctioneers

A bronze sculpture after Prince Paul Troubetzkoy (1866-1938), titled Danseuse Jambe Droite Levee (Lady Constance Stewart Richardson), 1921, sold for $18,750 at a ReDesign Sale held July 11 by John Moran Auctioneers in Los Angeles. Also, Shane Guffogg’s (b. 1962-) A Second from Now, from 1999, realized $2,000; two Hollywood Regency gilt bronze and glass nesting tables brought $2,000; and a 1961 Leica single-stroke 33mm Rangefinder camera captured $2,813.

2007 4GB iPhone, $190,373, LCG Auctions

A factory-sealed 4GB original 2007 iPhone sold for $190,373 at a Summer Premier Auction held in July by LCG Auctions in Baton Rouge, La. It was the highest price ever paid at auction for an iPhone. Three other 2007 iPhones – an 8GB, a 16GB and an 8GB European version – also sold, with all four lots combining for $264,962. Also, a factory-sealed 1984 Transformers: Megatron AFA 85 made $57,596, and a 1978 Star Wars: vinyl cape Jawa AFA 85 brought $22,206.

George Hughes cover art, $103,700, Case Auctions

A summer beach scene created by artist George E. Hughes (1907-1990) and used as the cover illustration for the Aug. 2, 1952 issue of the Saturday Evening Post sold for $103,700 at a Summer Auction held July 8-9 by Case Auctions in Knoxville, Tenn. Also, an Andrew Clemens sand art bottle with a flag motif achieved $35,600; a Herter Brothers signed easel changed hands for $48,640; and an earthenware Great Road jug attributed to Thomas J. Myers (Smyth County, Va.) earned $29,280.

Click to view top auction results on LiveAuctioneers: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/