Mario Bellini and Doyle Lane star at Billings Modern Art and Design sale March 30

Mario Bellini, Cameleonda four-piece sectional, $10,000-$15,000 at Billings.

LOS ANGELES — Furniture by Mario Bellini and weed pots by Doyle Lane are highlights of the Spring 2024 Modern Art & Design sale being held Saturday, March 30 by Billings. The catalog is now available for review and bidding at LiveAuctioneers.

Born in 1935, Mario Bellini is a titan of Italian architecture and industrial design. He has served as a designer for numerous consumer goods companies, including Olivetti, Renault, and Yamaha. The sale boasts three of his furniture designs, including a circa-1970 Camaleonda four-piece sectional sofa. Said to be in excellent restored condition, the C&B Italia set is estimated at $10,000-$15,000.

Four examples of the famous weed pot by Doyle Lane (1923-2002) are also included, all estimated at $5,000-$7,000. This example is in glazed earthenware and is incised LANE on its base.

Beverly Pepper (1922-2020) was an American expatriate who lived in Italy starting in the 1950s. She specialized in monumental sculptures, and was never identified as belonging to any particular movement. This 76in untitled sculpture is made of cast aluminum and marble, and its base is impressed with the initials BP. It carries an estimate of $20,000-$30,000.

Attributed to Argentine-Italian artist Lucio Fontana (1899-1968), this untitled ceramic sculpture is marked L Fontana 53 and comes with a period photo of the work. It is estimated at $7,000-$9,000.

For a half century, Los Angeles-based designer Evelyn Ackerman (1924-2012) — together with her husband Jerome — were central figures in the California mid-century modernism movement. In The Garden, a mosaic panel measuring 12.75in high by 36.5in in length, was produced by ERA Industries as model no. 206 in 1958. It is estimated at $5,000-$7,000.

Mario Bellini, Cameleonda four-piece sectional, $10,000-$15,000 at Billings.

Mario Bellini, Cameleonda four-piece sectional, $10,000-$15,000 at Billings.

Doyle Lane, Weed Pot, estimated at $5,000-$7,000 at Billings.

Doyle Lane, Weed Pot, estimated at $5,000-$7,000 at Billings.

Untitled sculpture by Beverly Pepper, estimated at $20,000-$30,000 at Billings.

Untitled sculpture by Beverly Pepper, estimated at $20,000-$30,000 at Billings.

Ceramic sculpture attributed to Luciano Fontana, estimated at $7,000-$9,000 at Billings.

Ceramic sculpture attributed to Luciano Fontana, estimated at $7,000-$9,000 at Billings.

Evelyn Ackerman, 'In The Garden' mosaic panel, estimated at $5,000-$7,000 at Billings.

Evelyn Ackerman, 'In The Garden' mosaic panel, estimated at $5,000-$7,000 at Billings.

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.

Yayoi Kusama pumpkin print sweeps the field at John Moran

Yayoi Kusama, ‘A Pumpkin (RT),’ $56,250. Image courtesy of John Moran Auctioneers
Yayoi Kusama, ‘A Pumpkin (RT),’ $56,250. Image courtesy of John Moran Auctioneers
Yayoi Kusama, ‘A Pumpkin (RT),’ $56,250. Image courtesy of John Moran Auctioneers

LOS ANGELES — On April 11, John Moran Auctioneers presented California Living, a 382-lot sale that encompassed the California aesthetic through a diverse selection of important art and design. Highlighting the sale was the estate of Oscar and Barbara Leidenfrost, whose collection evolved across decades into an example of sophisticated California elegance. The sale included postmodern and contemporary works from Ed Ruscha, Vija Celmins, Yayoi Kusama and Robert Longo, along with turned wood vessels by Edward and Philip Moulthorp, an array of Chinese Yixing ceramic wares, Georg Jensen silver, and furnishings by Ray and Charles Eames, Richard Schultz and George Nelson.

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Geoffrey Beene’s fashionable world on show at Capsule, Feb.16

Geoffrey Beene mannequins, set of two, one clad in a plush pink crushed velvet fabric with floral motifs, the other covered in a floral and fruit pattern fabric, estimated at $1,200-$1,800
Geoffrey Beene mannequins, set of two, one clad in a plush pink crushed velvet fabric with floral motifs, the other covered in a floral and fruit pattern fabric, estimated at $1,200-$1,800
Geoffrey Beene mannequins, set of two, one clad in a plush pink crushed velvet fabric with floral motifs, the other covered in a floral and fruit pattern fabric, together estimated at $1,200-$1,800

NEW YORK – On Thursday, February 16, Capsule Auctions presents Fashion, Art, and Design, featuring property from the estate of legendary American fashion designer Geoffrey Beene (1924-2004). Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers. Proceeds from the sale of the 40 lots of fashion illustrations and 20 lots of bespoke mannequins will benefit the Geoffrey Beene Foundation’s mission to support critical philanthropic causes, most notably the revolutionary cancer research efforts being facilitated through the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

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Clars welcomed fall with Kusama pumpkins, rare set of Warhol prints

Yayoi Kusama, ‘Red Colored Pumpkin,’ $25,000
Yayoi Kusama, ‘Red Colored Pumpkin,’ $25,000
Yayoi Kusama, ‘Red Colored Pumpkin,’ $25,000

OAKLAND, Calif. – The September 16 Modern + Contemporary Art + Design sale at Clars Auction Gallery totaled more than $1.3 million across 230 lots.

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Warhol’s ‘Cowboys and Indians’ portfolio leads at Clars, Sept. 16

Print from Andy Warhol’s ‘Cowboys and Indians’ portfolio, est. $500,000-$700,000
Andy Warhol, ‘Cowboys and Indians’ portfolio, est. $500,000-$700,000
Andy Warhol, ‘Cowboys and Indians’ portfolio, estimate $500,000-$700,000

OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars Auction Gallery inaugurates its fall season of auctions with a Modern + Contemporary Fine Art sale on Friday, September 16, starting at 1 pm Pacific time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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