Gallery Report: Maud Lewis work was a showstopper at Miller & Miller

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ATLANTA – At the start of every month, ACN columnist Ken Hall compiles the most notable auction highlights from across the United States and also the world. The May 2023 edition of Ken’s Gallery Report showcases a bumper crop of standout results. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

Maud Lewis painting, CA$91,450, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.

An oil-on-board painting by Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis (1903-1970), titled Traffic Jam, sold for $91,450 in an online-only Canadiana & Decorative Arts auction held March 25 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., in New Hamburg, Canada. Also, a circa-1820s Georgian period Canadian breakfast table in mahogany, attributed to Thomas Nisbet, rose to $16,520; and a circa-1820s Montreal key hole wall clock by Martin Cheney earned $20,060. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Art Deco-style jardiniere, $26,620, Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery

An Art Deco-style bronze jardiniere, after a vase by Pierre Lenoir (French 1879-1953) and Marcel Guillard (French 1896-1932), for Etling, Paris, sold for $26,620 at an Estates & Collections auction held April 20-22 by Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery in Atlanta. Also, Study of a Brown Bay Horse by Rosa Bonheur (French, 1822-1899) brought $15,730; and a 1970 Modern Head Relief by Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923-1997) hit $14,520.

Ludwig van Beethoven letter, $99,000, RR Auction

A handwritten letter by composer Ludwig van Beethoven sold for $99,000 in an online auction that ended April 12 at RR Auction in Boston. The one-page letter, penned sometime in September 1823, was written in German and signed “Beethoven.” It concerned sending his work Missa Solemnis (Latin for “Solemn Mass”) to London and was addressed to Franz Christian Kirchhoffer. In the letter, Beethoven invites Kirchhoffer and his nephew Karl to lunch at his flat on Sunday.

Cartier Coussin watch, $34,650, Hindman

A Cartier 18K gold Bamboo Coussin watch sold for $34,650 at a Watches Auction held in April by Hindman in Chicago. Also, a Cartier 18K gold Tank watch rang up $16,380; a Cartier 18K gold dual-time Tonneau watch realized $8,820; a Roger Dubuis perpetual calendar chronograph Hommage watch commanded $28,350; an Alfred Dunhill lighter with a clock went for $7,560; and an 18K gold Jaeger-Lecoultre watch garnered $21,420.

Toshiko Takaezu ceramic, Moon, $541,800, Rago/Wright/LAMA

Toshiko Takaezu’s (American, 1922-2011) ceramic creation titled Moon sold for $541,800 at a Post-War Ceramics Auction held April 13 by Rago/Wright/LAMA in Lambertville, New Jersey. It was a new world auction record for the artist. Also, John Mason’s Untitled (Vertical Sculpture) went for $258,300, setting a new world auction record for the artist; Betty Woodman’s Pillow Pitcher finished at $69,300; Peter Voulkos’s Untitled (Stack) changed hands for $44,100; and Viola Frey’s Bubble Man achieved $27,720.

Negro Motorist Green Book, $50,000, Swann Auction Galleries

A 1949 copy of the Negro Motorist Green Book sold for $50,000, breaking the previous record of $27,500, in a Printed & Manuscript African Americana auction held March 30 by Swann Galleries in New York. Also, an inscribed carte de visite by the early photographer James Presley Ball achieved $125,000; a Civil War-era photograph of Black Union recruits at Camp William Penn brought $52,500; and a copy of the Harlem Renaissance-era literary magazine Fire! went for $32,500.

Late Georgian tea caddy, $2,375, Roland Auctions

An English late Georgian shell-inlaid tea caddy of sarcophagus form sold for $2,375 at a Multi-Estates Auction held April 1 at Roland Auctions in Glen Cove, New York. Also, an 18th-century American Chippendale mahogany and marble table settled at $18,750; a GIA-certified 3.34-carat diamond in a platinum ring slipped onto a new finger for $34,375; a set of 12 Chinese paintings mounted in a fold-out book brought $50,000; and a Neoclassical-style gilt bronze chandelier made $5,000.

Qing dynasty Manchu empress’s robe, $100,000, Lark Mason Associates

A Qing dynasty Manchu empress’s 12-symbol embroidered yellow gauze robe, or jifu, sold for $100,000 in an online Asia Week auction that closed March 30 at Lark Mason Associates in New York City. Also, a Qing dynasty Chinese amber figure of Shoulao realized $26,250; and a large 20th-century Nine Peach and Blossoms vase went to a determined bidder for $22,500.

Alphonse Mucha’s The Stars, $114,000, Poster Auctions International

Alphonse Mucha’s (Czech, 1860-1939) decorative panel poster from 1902, titled The Stars, sold for $114,000 at Rare Posters Auction #89 held March 26 by Poster Auctions International in New York City. Also, Geo Ham’s Monaco Grand Prix 1933 realized $20,400; Leonetto Cappiello’s 1903 Absinthe Gempp Pernod finished at $26,400; Ludwig Hohlwein’s Besuchet den Tiergarten from 1912 earned $13,200; and Charles Loupot’s 1929 Cafe Preccia: Maquette attained $18,000.

1859 Comstock Lode mining document, $16,875, Holabird Western Americana Collections

An 1859 document dating to the very beginning of the Comstock Lode silver rush in the U.S. sold for $16,875 at a Big Bonanza auction held March 30-April 2 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nevada. Also, a U.S. $10,000 gold certificate, cancelled and not redeemable, printed in Washington, D.C. and dated May 3, 1917, achieved $2,875; and a collection of six antique Oklahoma I. T. (Indian Territory) crown top bottles brought $3,000.

Warhol Mick Jagger print, $131,250, Heritage Auctions

Artist Andy Warhol’s 1975 screenprint portrait titled Mick Jagger, signed by the Rolling Stones front man, sold for $131,250 at a Prints & Multiples auction held April 18 at Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, a 1989 set of four lithographs by Keith Haring, titled Pop Shop III, realized $125,000; Joan Mitchell’s large lithograph diptych titled Sunflowers brought $93,750; and Pablo Picasso’s linocut from 1962 titled Grande Tete Femme earned $62,500.

Majolica dish and cover, $62,225, Doyle

A Mintons majolica hare and duck head game-pie dish and cover attributed to Paul Comolera sold for $62,225 at Part 2 of the sale of the Joan Stacke Graham Majolica Collection, held April 4 by Doyle in New York City. Also, a circa-1875 T.C. Brown Westhead, Moore & Co. Egyptian Revival Majolica garden seat realized $50,400; and a circa-1875 Mintons majolica Japanese boat spill vase designed by Johann (John) Hasselmann Henk brought $28,350.

Wasatch Gasoline sign, $324,000, Dan Morphy Auctions

A Wasatch Gasoline 48in-diameter porcelain service station sign sold for $324,000 at an Automobilia, Petroliana & Railroadiana Auction held March 21-23 by Dan Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pennsylvania. Also, a Polly Gasoline porcelain neon service station sign with a parrot mascot flew to $78,000; a Mohawk Gasoline porcelain service station sign with a Native American down feather graphic earned $312,000; and an Idaho Chief Gasoline service station sign made $138,000.

Tiffany Arabian lamp, $7,200, Treasureseeker Auctions

A Tiffany Studios Arabian lamp with a signed Favrile shade and a signed brass base sold for $7,200 in an online-only Spring into Treasures: Fine Art & Collectibles sale held April 16 by Treasureseeker Auctions in Pasadena, California. Also, a Meiji-era silver and enamel floral box went for $3,840; a cat painting by Jules Leroy finished at $3,520; a 19th-century malachite and bronze clock decorated with a cherub and a rooster reached $3,300; and a Japanese silver and enamel vase settled at $2,560.

Saturday Night Fever suit, $260,000, Julien’s Auctions

The iconic white suit John Travolta wore when playing the character Tony Manero in the movie Saturday Night Fever sold for $260,000 at a Hollywood: Classic and Contemporary auction held April 22 by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, California. Also, Bela Lugosi’s vampire mirror cigarette box from the 1931 film Dracula achieved $130,000; a coat and hat worn by Warren Beatty in the movie Dick Tracy made $91,000; and a hoverboard from Back to the Future II floated to $91,000.

Porfirio Salinas painting, $47,200, Amero Auctions

An untitled Texas landscape with bluebonnets by Porfirio Salinas sold for $47,200 at a Spring 2023 Spectacular Sale held March 26 by Amero Auctions in Sarasota, Florida. Also, a pair of Spring Festival pattern elongated hexagonal tables by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne earned $18,880; a pair of Egyptian-style bronze figures by Emile Louis Picault brought $10,620; and an equestrian-themed painting by Alfred Wierusz-Kowalski, titled Morning Ride, galloped off with $44,250.

Tiffany & Co. bird brooch, $17,500, John Moran Auctioneers, Inc.

A Tiffany & Co. mother-of-pearl, diamond, yellow sapphire and onyx bird brooch sold for $17,500 at an auction titled Jewelry from the Estate of Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, held March 29 by John Moran Auctioneers, Inc. in Los Angeles. Also, a pear-shape 26-carat diamond ring realized $979,000; a Zambian emerald and diamond ring brought $21,250; and a David Webb 18K gold rock crystal and lapis lazuli bracelet changed hands for $28,125.

Pair of Chinese bowls, $94,500, Freeman’s

A pair of Chinese famille rose-decorated Balsam-Pear bowls with a Jiaqing six-character seal mark and of the period sold for $94,500 at an Asian Arts auction held April 18 at Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, a pair of Chinese yellow-glazed bowls with the Kangxi mark and of the period rose to $81,900; a Chinese carved beige jade table screen left the room for $75,600; and a Chinese blue and white porcelain figural plaque from the Kangxi period earned $44,100.

 

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

Gallery Report: Lynn Chadwick’s Winged Figures hit lofty heights at Doyle

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ATLANTA – At the start of every month, ACN columnist Ken Hall gathers top auction highlights from across the United States and the world as well. The April 2023 edition of Ken’s Gallery Report showcases strong results from the finest auction houses. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

Lynn Chadwick bronzes, $126,000, Doyle New York

British artist Lynn Chadwick’s (British, 1914-2003) bronze Winged Figures Version II from 1973, depicting male and female forms with wing-like capes and geometrical heads, sold for $126,000 at a 20th Century Abstraction auction held March 8 by Doyle in New York City. Also, Valencia I by Filipino artist Fernando Zobel (1924-1984) achieved $214,200 as well as a new U.S. record for the artist; and Fluidos by Spanish artist Juan Genoves (1930-2020) settled at $189,000, also a new U.S. auction record for the artist.

 

Roger Brown painting, $138,600, Hindman

A monumental 1989 painting by Roger Brown (American, 1941-1997), titled Crossing the Bandiagara Escarpment with Baobab Trees and Dogon Dancers, sold for $138,600 at the auction of the single-owner collection of Susann Craig held March 9 by Hindman in Chicago. Also, Untitled (Guitar Nun) by Sister Gertrude Morgan (American, 1900-1980) brought $34,650; and William Dawson’s A Group of Three Articulated Figures (1976-1977) went for a record $25,200.

Gold Rush-era gold ingot, $138,000, Holabird Western Americana Collections

A 32.15-ounce Kellogg & Humbert assayer’s California Gold Rush gold ingot sold for $138,000 at Part 2 of the sale of items recovered from the 1857 sinking of the S.S. Central America held March 4-5 by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC in Reno, Nevada. Also, a 19th-century daguerreotype photograph of an unidentified young woman that the S.S. Central America scientific mission recovery team nicknamed the Mona Lisa of the Deep changed hands for $73,200.

Chippendale corner cupboard, $8,400, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

A Maryland or Virginia Chippendale painted yellow pine corner cupboard sold for $8,400 at a Winter Americana Auction held March 2-4 by Jeffery S. Evans & Associates in Mt. Crawford, Virginia. In addition, a Buddy L Junior Line pressed-steel toy dump truck finished at $4,200; a Western Pennsylvania stoneware jar earned $2,040; a Frank Finney (American, b. 1947-) carved and painted figure of a basset hound achieved $6,600; and a group of antique and vintage pocket knives made $3,900.

Cox-Roosevelt button, $100,300, Hake’s Auctions

A James M. Cox and Franklin Roosevelt 1920 jugate button, one inch in diameter, sold for $100,300 at a Premier Auction held March 21-22 by Hake’s Auctions in York, Pennsylvania. Also, a circa-1920 Type 1 original photograph of Babe Ruth from his first New York Yankees season, credited to Paul Thompson, rose to $78,529; and a 1980 TOLTOYS (Australia) Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back JAWA vinyl-caped action figure brought $49,324.

Antique map after Ptolemy, $110,700, Neue Auctions

A map of the Persian and Red Seas after Claudius Ptolemy, titled Geographica and dating to circa 1482 or later, sold for $110,700 in an online-only Estate Fine Art and Antiques auction held March 11 by Neue Auctions in Beachwood, Ohio. Also, a circa-1910 carved and painted carousel giraffe by Gustav and William Dentzel, restored, brought $9,840; and a typed letter in German, signed by Albert Einstein and dated 1950, made $10,455.

 

19th-century Boston shelf clock, $49,200, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers

A 19th-century B. C. Gilman (Exeter, N.H.) Boston shelf clock sold for $49,200 at a Couture, Jewelry and Fine & Decorative Art auction held February 27 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, an early 20th-century Duffner & Kimberly heraldic armorial table lamp earned $3,900; a Jose Reyes (American and Filipino, 1902-1980) Nantucket friendship basket reached $3,600; and a Chinese Qing dynasty porcelain sculpture of a Guanyin rose to $2,400.

Emmi Whitehorse painting, $36,300, Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery

A 1992 mixed media on paper by Emmi Whitehorse (American/Navajo, b. 1956-), titled Field of Birds, sold for $36,300 at an Art of the American West & Native American Art & Objects auction held February 24 by Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery in Atlanta. Also, a 1988 oil on canvas by Frank McCarthy (American, 1944-2002), titled The Warriors of Canyon Land, made $16,940; and a patinated bronze sculpture by Robert F. Elwell (American, 1874-1962), titled Birchbark Canoe, hit $7,260.

Mark Twain’s typewriter, $106,250, Heritage Auction

The Williams No. 6 typewriter that author Mark Twain purchased in 1906 and used until his death in 1910 sold for $106,250 at a Historical Manuscripts Signature Auction held February 22 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, a pair of paintings that artist Colin Campbell Cooper created while onboard the RMS Carpathia during the rescue of Titanic survivors achieved $112,500; and a copy of LIFE magazine from May 1965 signed by Martin Luther King, Jr. went for $93,750.

Benjamin Franklin-signed document, $39,928, RR Auction

A one-page Benjamin Franklin-signed document, dated Dec. 6, 1785, ordering a loan to support Pennsylvania’s new currency, sold for $39,928 in an online auction held in March by RR Auction in Boston. Also, a Wright Brothers portrait, signed by both Wilbur and Orville, finished at $30,819; a King Henry VII letter to expedite payment of Catherine of Aragon’s dowry brought $27,164; and an Abraham Lincoln handwritten letter to Attorney General Bates earned $18,750.

Circa-1900 juggler poster, $14,400, Potter & Potter Auctions

A circa-1900 poster touting juggler the Great Knetzger as The Master Spirit of Ambidexterity sold for $14,400 at Part 1 of the Ricky Jay collection held February 25 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a circa-1869 broadside advertising the Davenport Brothers earned $11,875; a circa-1905 poster for Bostock & Wombell’s World Renowned Menagerie hit $12,500; and a copy of the 1808 book New Art of Hocus Pocus Revived realized $12,000.

George Valentine Dureau painting, $8,750, Crescent City Auction Gallery

A painting by George Valentine Dureau (American, 1930-2014), titled El Viaje Dorado, from the artist’s Dead Toreador series, sold for $8,750 at an Important March Estates auction held March 17-18 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans. Also, a 151-piece sterling flatware set by Gorham in the Old English Tipt pattern made $3,840; and an American carved walnut Rococo Revival marble-top dresser went for $2,500.

Circa-1820 flintlock pistol, $45,630, Milestone Auctions

A P & D Moll Allentown Pennsylvania brass-barrel German silver-escutcheoned flintlock pistol, manufactured around 1820, sold for $45,630 at a Premier Collectible Firearms Auction held March 11-12 by Milestone Auctions in Willoughby, Ohio. Also, a pair of circa-1860 Belgian Brevete Colt Navy revolvers, .36-caliber, hit the mark for $43,050; and a pair of 1851 Colt square-guard Navy revolvers, .36 caliber black-powder models, made $30,750.

Copy of Captain America #1, $146,000, Goldin Auctions

A copy of Captain America #1 from March 1941, graded CGC 3.0 and featuring the origin of Steve Rogers and his sidekick Bucky, sold for $146,000 in a Winter Comics, Video Games & TCG Elite Auction held in March by Goldin Auctions, based in Runnemede, New Jersey. Also, the original pen-and-ink artwork for the dust jacket of Batman: Hush 20th Anniversary Edition, signed by artist Jim Lee, brought $57,600; and a copy of Fantastic Four #1 from Nov. 1961 earned $84,000.

Ward Brothers duck decoy, $90,000, Copley Fine Art Auctions

A Ward Brothers Humpback black duck decoy sold for $90,000 at a Winter Sale held Feb. 24-25 by Copley Fine Art Auctions in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Also, a Harmon Running Curlew by Nathan F. Cobb, Jr., was the top shorebird of the sale, commanding $78,000; a Jerry Mastin Canada Goose soared to $51,000, a new world record for the maker; Richard Bishop’s painting Prairie Wings flew away with $180,000; and Bob Kuhn’s Close but No Cigar reached $78,000.

Paul De Longpre watercolor, $9,225, Michaan’s Auctions

An 1892 watercolor on paper by Paul de Longpre (American and French, 1855-1911), titled Matillija Poppies and Bees, sold for $9,225 at a Gallery Auction held March 17 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, California. Also, a 1954 mixed media on wood board by Bruce Conner (American, 1933-2008), titled Facade, went for $7,995; a pair of Etruscan Revival bronze floor lamps attributed to Caldwell earned $7,995; and a 1782 Thomas Hennell sterling silver tea caddy brought $2,214.

Gertrude Abercrombie painting, $51,250, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries

A 1956 Modernist painting by Gertrude Abercrombie (American and German, 1909-1977), titled Leaf and Chaise Lounge, sold for $51,250 at a Winter Enchantment sale held Feb. 24-26 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. Also, Andy Warhol’s (American, 1920-1987) signed and numbered serigraph on paper from 1968, Campbell’s Soup (Cream of Mushroom), realized $42,000; and a 1965 offset lithograph by Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923-1997), Shipboard Girl, earned $31,250.

Portrait of George Washington, $34,375, Nye & Company Auctioneers

A portrait of George Washington after Rembrandt Peale, titled Porthole Washington, sold for $34,375 at a March Estate Treasures auction held March 8-10 by Nye & Company Auctioneers in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Also, a lithograph by Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923-1997), titled Foot and Hand, topped out at $8,750; a Chinese Qing-style cloisonne shallow charger earned $34,375; and a Chinese famille verte porcelain ginger jar rose to $7,500.

Drawing attributed to Joan Miro, $2,048, La Belle Epoque Auction House

A drawing of a woman attributed to Joan Miro, signed and dated 1917, sold for $2,048 at a multi-estates auction held March 18 by La Belle Epoque Auction House in New York City. Also, a 17th- century Italian walnut prie dieu with marquetry and parquetry inlay throughout rose to $832; a circa-1900 group of Schafer & Vater Alice in Wonderland German bisque porcelain pieces realized $448; and a Piranesi-style print, two-sheet 18th-century engravings of the Vatican, framed, hit $960.

All images shown in this report appear courtesy of the auction houses who sold the items they depict.

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

Gallery Report: Alphonse Mucha’s ‘Seasons’ suite triumphs at Everard

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ATLANTA – At the dawn of every month, ACN columnist Ken Hall gathers top auction highlights from across the country and also the world. The March 2023 edition of Ken’s Gallery Report showcases a wealth of strong results. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

Alphonse Mucha suite, $40,625, Everard Auctions and Appraisals

A complete 1896 suite of four lithographs by Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), titled The Seasons, sold for $40,625 at a Winter Southern Estates and Collections auction held February 28 and March 1 by Everard Auctions and Appraisals in Savannah, Georgia. Also, a circa-1910 Tiffany Studios 12-light favrile glass gilt bronze Lily lamp brought $35,000; a signed Tabriz figural carpet went for $8,125; and an Eldred Wheeler maple secretary bookcase brought $6,875.

Chippendale walnut table, $22,500, Nye & Company Auctioneers

A circa-1765 Philadelphia Chippendale carved and figured walnut dressing table sold for $22,500 in an online-only Chic and Antique Estate Treasures auction held Jan. 25-27 by Nye & Company Auctioneers in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Also, an Edison Electric Pen, including the original box, wires and stone sharpening tool, realized $21,250; a Daum Nancy Blackbird frosted vase rose to $18,750; and a set of six Queen Anne dining chairs attributed to William Savery settled at $10,880.

Maud Lewis oil painting, CA$44,250, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.

A painting by the renowned Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis (1903-1970), titled Three Black Cats, sold for $44,250 in an online-only Canadiana & Folk Art auction held February 11 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., based in New Hamburg, Canada. Seven paintings by Lewis in the auction brought a combined $198,380. Also, four paintings by Nova Scotia artist Joe Norris (1924-1996) realized a total of $49,560. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Old West author / historian archive, $2,625, Holabird Western Americana Collections

An archive of material pertaining to Old West author, artist and historian Ernest L. Reedstrom (1928-2003) sold for $2,625 in Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC’s two-day Treasures from the Shelves auction held Feb. 18-19 in Reno, Nevada. Also, a USS Utah photo diary of the Tampico Affair of 1914 and the invasion of Veracruz, Mexico brought $1,750, and a circa 1894-1896 Oriental coffin flask bottle out of Lamar, Colorado, lavender in color, realized $1,500.

Eminem’s Nike sneakers, $40,625, Julien’s Auctions

Musical artist Eminem’s signed and worn Nike Air Max sneakers sold for $40,625 at a Musicares Charity Relief Auction held February 5 by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, California. Also, Paul McCartney’s personally signed book The Lyrics brought $25,600; Taylor Swift’s signed 2020 Epiphone acoustic guitar garnered $25,000; a Joe Perry stage-played and signed Gibson Les Paul electric guitar made $22,400; and a Slash-signed Gibson Les Paul electric guitar commanded $22,400.

Hemingway book, $277,200, Freeman’s

A 1924 first edition copy of Ernest Hemingway’s book in our time sold for $277,200 at a Books and Manuscripts auction held February 2 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, a Reconstruction-era map of Galveston, Texas – the only known copy to have ever been offered at auction – brought $30,240, and an inscribed association copy of Stride Toward Freedom, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s memoir of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, finished at $12,600.

1958 double die Lincoln penny, $1.136 million, GreatCollections

A 1958 Lincoln cent, described as a ‘double die’ because it was mistakenly made with doubling in some letters on the coin’s obverse, sold for $1.136 million at a series of six auctions for the collection of the late Stewart Blay ending January 29 at GreatCollections of Irvine, California. It was the most ever paid for a Lincoln cent and was the finest of the three 1958 double dies known. Blay’s collection of 276 Lincoln cents, dating back to 1909 and all in mint condition, sold for a combined $7.732 million during the six days.

Pastel portrait by Beauford Delaney, $48,000, Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals

A vivid pastel portrait of a blue-eyed man by the Tennessee-born African American abstract expressionist Beauford Delaney sold for $48,000 at a Winter Auction held Jan. 28-29 by Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals in Knoxville, Tennessee. Also, a church picnic scene by the self-taught African American artist Helen Lafrance realized $25,600; a painted blanket chest from Wythe County, Virginia brought $40,960; and a Korean silver inlaid iron censer went to a determined bidder for $37,500.

C. Gilman shelf clock, $51,250, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers

A 19th-century B. C. Gilman (Exeter, N.H.) Boston shelf clock sold for $51,250 at a Couture, Jewelry and Fine & Decorative Art auction held February 27 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, an early 20th-century Duffner & Kimberly heraldic armorial table lamp brought $4,062; a Jose Reyes (American and Filipino, 1902-1980) Nantucket friendship basket hit $3,750; and an Old Master oil painting of Christ by Charles Robert Leslie made $3,750.

1952 Topps baseball brick, $873,300, Morphy Auctions

An unopened 1952 Topps baseball brick containing eight factory-sealed 5-cent wax packs sold for $873,300 at a Toys, Sports Cards & General Collectibles Auction held Feb. 1-3 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pennsylvania. Each of the eight packs held five cards and it was widely speculated they were likely from Topps’ first series. The brick could be traced back to a private purchase in Seattle in 1991. The new owner is a collector who wished to remain anonymous.

Five-volume maritime atlas, $38,525, Old World Auctions

A five-volume maritime atlas from 1764 by J. N. Bellin, including 581 maps of the world and continents, plus many regional maps and city plans and coastal charts, sold for $38,525 in a sale held Jan. 25-Feb. 8 by Old World Auctions in Richmond, Virginia. Also, A New Map of Texas, with the Contiguous American & Mexican States from 1837, by Samuel Augustus Mitchell, earned $14,950; and a carte-a-figures world map created in 1652 by Claes Janszoon Visscher achieved $10,925.

Tiffany Studios window, $237,500, Fontaine’s Auction Gallery

A Tiffany Studios Jesus in a Field of Lilies window sold to a church for $237,500 at a Fine and Decorative Arts auction held January 28 by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Also, a grouping of yellow diamonds from one estate, led by an 18K white gold, yellow gold and diamond ring, rang up $181,250; a circa-1910 Tiffany Studios Curtain Border floor lamp achieved $100,000; and a circa-1905 Tiffany Studios Moorish and Turtle Back chandelier rose to $81,250.

Wolfgang Paalen painting, $163,000, Hindman

A vibrant untitled 1943 painting by Wolfgang Paalen sold for $163,000 at a Figuratively Speaking auction held February 10 by Hindman in Chicago. Also, two other works by Paalen, from 1947 and 1943, went for $47,250 and $20,160, respectively; two paintings by Alice Rahon, Paalen’s wife, one untitled from 1946 and one dubbed Le Chat from 1943, each went for $13,860; and a portrait of the artist and critic Florence Arquin by Kathleen Blackshear earned $9,450.

Colt Model 1847 revolver, $105,750, Rock Island Auction Company

A C Company U.S. Colt Model 1847 Walker percussion revolver sold for $105,750 at a Sporting & Collector Auction ending February 17 at Rock Island Auction Company in Rock Island, Illinois. Also, an engraved Civil War New Haven Arms Company Henry lever action rifle hit the mark for $41,125; an early serial number 5 Colt black powder SAA in scarce 44 Rimfire made $18,880; and a Civil War-era LeMat Grape Shot changed hands for $16,450.

W. Jacobs’ Salthaven, $31,250, Potter & Potter Auctions

A first edition presentation copy of W. W. Jacobs’ (British, 1863-1943) book titled Salthaven, inscribed to and by Samuel C. Clemens (aka Mark Twain, 1835-1910), sold for $31,250 at a Fine Books & Manuscripts auction held February 16 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a near-fine set of J.R.R. Tolkien’s (1892-1973) the Lord of the Rings trilogy brought $19,200, and a 37-volume collection of The Works of Mark Twain realized $16,250.

Daniel Boone compass, $109,375, Heritage Auctions

A compass owned by legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone sold for $109,375 at an Americana & Political Signature Auction held Feb. 25-26 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, a carte de visite signed by President Abraham Lincoln as a donation to a Sanitary Fair held Oct. 18, 1864 in Tazewell City, Illinois earned $106,250; a circa-1857 double partner’s desk designed by Thomas U. Walter made $40,000; and a display with signatures of both Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth rose to $37,500.

Marc Chagall artwork, $8,400, Nadeau’s Auction Gallery

An artwork by Marc Chagall (1887-1985), titled Daphnis et Grathon, signed and numbered (26/60), sold for $8,400 at a Midcentury, Modern Art & Contemporary Sale held January 28 by Nadeau’s Auction Gallery in Windsor, Connecticut. Also, a pair of Mies van der Rohe Barcelona leather lounge chairs left the room for $5,000; a 1981 landscape by Charles Griffin Farr (1908-1997), titled Tuolumme, reached $4,305; and Salvador Dali’s Manhattan Skyline finished at $5,700.

2007 factory-sealed iPhone, $63,356, LCG Auctions

A 2007 factory-sealed first-edition iPhone sold for a new record price of $63,356 at a Winter Premier Auction held February 19 by LCG Auctions in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Also, a 1978 Star Wars Boba Fett action figure (Canada 20-Back AFA 85) realized $22,206; a 1982 Masters of the Universe Battle Ram vehicle (AFA 85) sped off with $20,920; a 1983 G.I. Joe Dragonfly vehicle (XH-1 AFA 85) brought $9,418; and a 1984 Transformers Bumble Bee (AFA 85) earned $18,353.

Orville Bulman work, $63,000, Doyle

A 1967 tropical landscape painting by Orville Bulman (American, 1904-1978), titled Les Nouveaux Familles, sold for $63,000 at a Fine Art auction held February 15 by Doyle in New York City. Also, a 1991 sculpture by Olbram Zoubek (Czech, 1926-2017), titled Eve-Arrow, attained $9,825; an unframed color lithograph after Pablo Picasso, titled Tete de Bouffon, realized $9,450; and a 1992 painting by Hunt Slonem (American, b. 1951-), titled Chandelier 8, hit $8,820.

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

 

Gallery Report: 1921 Martiros Saryan mountain landscape climbs to $40K

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ATLANTA – At the start of each month, ACN columnist Ken Hall gathers top auction highlights from across the United States and the world at large. The February 2023 edition of Ken’s Gallery Report features an abundance of intriguing results. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

Martiros Saryan landscape, $40,625, Roland Auctions

A landscape painting by Martiros Saryan (Armenian, 1880-1972) sold for $40,625 at an auction held January 7 by Roland Auctions in Glen Cove, New York. Also, a painting by Jean Dufy (French, 1888-1964), titled Clown, realized $5,000; a multicolor filet-de-verre vessel by Mary Ann “Toots” Zynsky (American, b. 1951-), achieved $7,500; a Le Coultre Marina angel fish clock earned $1,125; and an Adrian Pearsall walnut Crescent lounge chair and ottoman made $4,062.

 

Copy of Tales to Astonish, $18,125, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers

A copy of Marvel Comics Tales to Astonish #90 (April 1967), graded CGC 9.8, featuring the first appearance of the Abomination and the first Silver Age appearance of Byrrah, sold for $18,125 at the auction of Part 2 of the Andy Yanchus collection held January 1 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, a copy of Marvel Comics Marvel Premiere #28 (Feb. 1976), graded CGC 9.8, featuring the first appearance of the Legion of Monsters, changed hands for $6,125.

Rolex Jean-Claude Killy watch, $80,000, Nadeau’s Auction Gallery

A late 1950s or early 1960s Rolex Jean-Claude Killy Chronograph Calendar stainless steel wristwatch, model 6036, sold for $80,000 at a New Year’s Day Signature Auction held January 1 by Nadeau’s Auction Gallery in Windsor, Connecticut. Also, a platinum ring set with a 10.07-carat pear-shape brilliant diamond flanked by tapered baguette diamonds realized $66,000, and an abstract landscape painting signed by Milton Clark Avery (1885-1965), titled Rolling Hills, rose to $45,000.

George Viavant watercolor, $13,750, Crescent City Auction Gallery

A watercolor on paper by George Louis Viavant (American, 1872-1925), titled Nature Morte: Crawfish, sold for $13,750 at a Winter Estates Auction held Jan. 20-21 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans. Also, a 101-piece set of Herend porcelain dinnerware in the Rothschild Bird pattern flew to $8,125; a circa-1880 French provincial Henri II carved oak bookcase earned $4,062; and a painting by Alexander Drysdale (American 1870-1934), titled Louisiana Marsh, floated to $4,062.

Painting after Frank Stella, $35,280, Freeman’s 

A bright, dynamic painting after Frank Stella, titled Metropolitan Museum M, sold for $35,280 at an auction titled The Personal Collection of Vladimir Kagan, held January 25 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, a green Kagan Omnibus sofa exceeded its low estimate by a multiple of seven to realize $22,680, while a selection of paintings by James Hiroshi Suzuki included his canvas dubbed Gens, which achieved $16,360. His works Poems in October and Untitled both bested their estimates as well.

1923 Babe Ruth baseball card, CA$23,600, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.

A 1923 Willards Chocolates Babe Ruth baseball card from a Canadian-issue set, graded BSA 3 VG, sold for $23,600 in an online Advertising & Historic Objects auction held January 21 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., in New Hamburg, Canada. Also, a cutaway model of a 1962 Vickers VC-10 BOAC jet plane soared to $18,880, and a monumental Coca-Cola porcelain sign from 1939 made $9,440. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Lalique Anemones Grand vase, $24,200, Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery

A Lalique Anemones Grand vase and pedestal sold for $24,200 at an auction of items from the collection of entertainment attorney Joel A. Katz held January 12 by Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery in Atlanta. Also, an artist proof’s bronze sculpture on a brass base by Tolla Inbar (German and Israeli, b. 1958-) brought $20,570; a painting by Robert Jessup (American, b. 1952-) realized $18,150; and a Gibson Les Paul guitar custom-made for Katz captured $7,865.

Granville Redmond oil, $237,500, Andrew Jones Auctions

An oil painting by Granville Redmond (American, 1871-1935), titled Rolling hills with California poppies, sold for $237,500 at the auction of the Jack and Ellen Phillips collection held Jan. 15-16 by Andrew Jones Auctions in Los Angeles. Also, a painting by Guy Rose (American, 1867-1925), titled View from Arroyo Terrace, Pasadena also brought $237,500; and an oil by Edgar Alwin Payne (American, 1883-1947), titled Fishermen’s Harbor, Concarneau, France, went for $81,250.

Paul Revere silver pitcher, $138,000, Weiss Auctions

An original Paul Revere silver pitcher sold for $138,000 in an online-only estates auction held Jan. 18-19 by Weiss Auctions, based in Lynbrook, New York. Also, Alfred von Wierusz-Kowalski’s oil on canvas titled Bedouin Camp realized $99,000; and Charles Schulz original art for a Peanuts strip 10-panel Sunday page, dated 12/26/1982, changed hands for $44,400.

Tobacco trade figure, $121,500, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

An American folk art carved and painted tobacco trade figure depicting Sir Walter Raleigh, attributed to the shop of Samuel Robb, sold for $121,500 at a Premier Americana Auction held Nov. 17-19 by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mount Crawford, Virginia. Also, a first edition copy of The Book of Mormon settled at $60,750; a 19th-century American School portrait of a Southern belle rose to $42,525; and a Daniel Seagle 15-gallon stoneware jar scooped up $25,515.

Sargent charcoal portrait, $69,300, Sarasota Estate Auction

A charcoal-on-paper portrait by John Singer Sargent of Elisabeth Mills Reid sold for $69,300 at an auction held Jan. 8-9 by Sarasota Estate Auction in Sarasota, Florida. Also, Hunt Slonem’s Toco Toucans realized $37,800; a portrait of George Washington attributed to Gilbert Stuart brought $26,460; Fernando Botero’s wooden sculpture of a gentleman seated atop a horse, titled Man on Horse, galloped to $5,040; and a Jorge Blanco sculpture titled Thinker made $11,340.

Tom Wesselmann artwork, $162,500, Clars Auction Gallery

A 1962 artwork comprising oil, fabric and collage cutouts on a seven by seven inch tin by Tom Wesselmann (American, 1931-2004), titled Little Great American Nude #13, sold for $162,500 at a Fine Collectors Auction held November 20 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, California. Also, a Golden Sea Horse bicycle designed for Playland at Sutro Baths in San Francisco rolled to $15,000, and an Italian micromosaic of the Doves of Pliny by the Vatican Mosaic Studio earned $13,750.

Tiffany Studios Nasturtium lamp, $123,000, Morphy Auctions

A Tiffany Studios Nasturtium leaded-glass table lamp on a telescoping cat’s-paw base sold for $123,000 at a Fine & Decorative Arts Auction held Dec. 19-20 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pennsylvania. Also, a Loetz Lotus Leaf vase with iridescent gold and purple-blue glass settled at $33,210; an Amphora monumental Gres-Bijou cat vase with an 8179 Amphora Crown mark achieved $11,685; and a luminous signed A. Walter pate-de-verre Hermit Crab bowl changed hands for $10,455.

French marble figure, $34,650, Doyle

A dynamic 19th-century French marble figure of Victory sold for $34,650 at an auction of English & Continental Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts held January 25 by Doyle in New York City. Also, a second quarter 18th-century George I marble-top giltwood side table came to rest at $12,600; a set of 16 George III-style painted dining chairs realized $13,860; and a pair of Italian Neoclassical terracotta masks went for $10,080.

1870-S $3 US gold coin, $5.52 million, Heritage Auctions

An 1870-S $3 US gold coin, SP50, sold for a record $5.52 million at an auction of the Bass collection, Part II US Coins Signature Auction, held January 5 in Florida at Orlando FUN by Heritage Auctions, based in Dallas. Also, the finest known 1795 Capped Bust Right Eagle coin, MS64, reached $2.1 million; an 1835 Quarter Eagle, HM-1, PR67 Deep Cameo, finished at $1.2 million; a 1798/7 BD-2 Eagle, MS62, brought $1.1 million; and a 1796 BD-2 No Stars Quarter Eagle, MS63, garnered $990,000.

Sculptures after Giacometti, $40,590, Michaan’s Auctions

A pair of lithe, monumental bronze sculptures after Diego Giacometti (one shown), both dubbed Le Chat Maitre d’Hotel, sold for a combined $40,590 ($18,450 and $22,140, respectively) at a Gallery Auction held January 20 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, California. Also, a Dominick & Haff sterling silver tea set earned $5,227; a set of 12 Maitland Smith-style side chairs with gilt-patinated chinoiserie motifs realized $2,460; and a set of Israeli ship’s binoculars found a new owner for $2,460.

1902 Reno, Nevada $10 banknote, $12,500, Holabird Western Americana Collections

A 1902 $10 red seal banknote from the Farmers & Merchants National Bank in Reno, Nevada, PMG graded Very Fine 20, sold for $12,500 at a Pikes Peak or Bust! Auction held Jan. 19-22 by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC in Reno. Also, an 1852 slave broadside offering a reward for “the apprehension of (two) runaway Negroes” (both females) went for $8,750; and a circa-1868 dark lime green Dr. Boerhaave’s Stomach Bitters bottle reached $8,435.

1980 Winter Olympic medal, $86,136, RR Auction 

The silver medal won by Soviet ice hockey player Sergei Starikov when the USSR beat Sweden in the contest for second place at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, sold for $86,136 in an online auction held Dec. 16-Jan. 19 by RR Auction in Boston. It was the year of the storied Miracle on Ice hockey match between the Soviet Union and the U.S., which was famously won by the U.S., 4-3. Starikov appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated when he joined the NHL’s New Jersey Devils in 1989.

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

Gallery Report: Auction sector wraps 2022 with exceptional results

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ATLANTA – At the start of each month, ACN columnist Ken Hall gathers top auction highlights from around the United States and the world as a whole. Please enjoy the January 2023 edition of Ken’s Gallery Report. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

Bo Bartlett painting, $352,800, Freeman’s

A monumental 2015 painting by American artist Bo Bartlett, titled The Promised Land, sold for $352,800 during American Art Week sales held Dec. 4-6 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, William Herbert Dunton’s Grizzly Bear earned $302,400; Edward Willis Redfield’s Winter Brook brought $151,200; Robert Spencer’s Courtyard at Noon achieved $63,000; Charles Burchfield’s The Garden Path wound its way to $119,700; and Everett Shinn’s Philadelphia Docks went for $113,400.

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, CA$54,870, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.

A Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch, Ref. 116515, with 18K Everose gold, sold for $54,870 in an online-only Luxury Watches Sale held November 19 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., based in New Hamburg, Canada. Also, a circa-1988 Rolex Day-Date President watch, Ref. 18038, with an 18K gold case, made $23,600; and a circa-2001 De Grisogono Grande ladies’ watch brought $20,060. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Chanel shoulder bag, $4,062, Crescent City Auction Gallery

A classic double flap Chanel shoulder bag in black quilted lambskin calf leather with gold hardware sold for $4,062 at a Holiday Estates & Couture Auction held December 2 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans. Also, an oil painting titled Portrait of a Lady with Fan by Fernand Toussaint (French and Belgian, 1873-1956) went for $2,176; an early 20th-century Louis Vuitton steamer trunk finished at $1,920; and an etching by Charles Marion Russell (1864-1926) won $1,024.

Gold Rush-era jeans, $114,000, Holabird Western Americana Collections

Miner’s work pants recovered from the 1857 sinking of the S.S. Central America, the oldest known California Gold Rush-era jeans of their kind, possibly made by or for Levi Strauss, sold for $114,000 at auction held December 3 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nevada. Also, the historic brass name tag and keys from the ship’s Purser, Edward W. Hull, collected $102,300; and the lid to the oldest known Wells Fargo treasure shipment box went for $99,600.

‘Don’t Tread on Me’ flag, $28,566, Hake’s Auctions

A circa-1864 ‘Don’t Tread on Me’ Civil War-era Confederate Gadsden flag sold for $28,566 at a Pop Culture auction held Nov. 15-16 by Hake’s Auctions in York, Pennsylvania. Also, hand-colored stat paper sheets for the 1987 ‘Marvel Masterworks’ #1 hardcover book that reprints the 1963 Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1, #1, with artwork by Steve Ditko, commanded $14,437.

Diamond Planet Robot, $33,210, Milestone Auctions

An original Yonezawa 10in tin windup Diamond Planet Robot with reproduction box sold for $33,210 at a Winter Toy Extravaganza held December 10 by Milestone Auctions in Willoughby, Ohio. Also, a Masudaya 15in battery-op Target Robot from the Gang of Five robot series, with correct dart gun and dart, brought $14,400; and a Distler 8in tin windup Directional Policeman car with comical bug-eyed driver and graphics hit $14,400.

Marklin Fidelitas clown train, $84,000, Bertoia Auctions

A Marklin Fidelitas clown train with all-original paint sold for $84,000 at a sale held Nov. 17-18 by Bertoia Auctions in Vineland, New Jersey. Also, a Tippco lithographed tin Santa car rolled away for $60,000; a Santa belsnickle with reindeer-drawn sleigh pull-toy, accompanied by what might be its original wooden crate realized $50,400; and a Hubley cast-iron Hill Climber motorcycle, olive green with nickel wheels, made $48,000.

Gertrude Abercrombie painting, $437,500, Hindman

A 1947 painting by Gertrude Abercrombie (American, 1909-1947), Untitled (Woman with Tethered Horse and Moon), sold for $437,500 and a new world auction record for the artist at a Post-War & Contemporary Auction held December 14 by Hindman in Chicago. Also, Subterrachial Bop Boop, a 1967 work by Gladys Nilsson (American, b. 1940-) realized $75,000; and a complete Locus portfolio, dating to 1972-1975 and made by Dorothea Rockburne (Canadian, b. 1932-), rose to $46,875.

Bird-form lamps, $63,000, Doyle

A pair of 1950s Italian ceramic bird-form lamps retailed by Beth Weissman sold for $63,000 in Day 1 of a Doyle+Design auction held Dec. 7-8 by Doyle in New York City. Also, a 1950s carved Sapele cabinet by Alexandre Noll with provenance to his estate changed hands for $44,100. Day 2 saw record prices for paintings and prints spanning the 20th century to the present day.

Theodore Roosevelt’s Smith & Wesson, $910,625, Rock Island Auction Company

A documented Col. Theodore Roosevelt Smith & Wesson No. 3 pistol sold for $910,625 at a Premier Auction held Dec. 9-11 by Rock Island Auction Company in Rock Island, Illinois. Also, a factory Cuno Helfricht Master engraved Colt Model 1877 Lightning realized $323,125, and an exhibition grade Gustave Young engraved gold Winchester Model 1866 garnered $211,500.

Molesworth-style sofa, $18,750, John Moran Auctioneers

A 21st-century New West Furniture Co. Molesworth-style sofa sold for $18,750 at an Art of the American West sale held November 16 by John Moran Auctioneers in Los Angeles. Also, a circa-1890-1910 cigar store Native American figure in the style of Samuel Robb went for $18,750, and a 2012 painting by Logan Maxwell Hagege (b. 1980-), titled Dry Air, changed hands for $22,500.

Signed Marilyn Monroe photo, $300,000, Heritage Auctions

The only known photograph of Marilyn Monroe that she inscribed to Joe DiMaggio sold for $300,000 at an auction held December 1 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. It was a new auction record for a signed Monroe photograph. The picture was a publicity still taken in 1953 for the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and it was already among the most famous and coveted of Monroe’s portraits. Monroe inscribed it, “I love you Joe, Marilyn,” and it came with a signed letter from DiMaggio’s daughters Paula and Kathie.

Aaron Judge home run ball, $1.5 million, Goldin Auctions

The baseball that New York Yankees star Aaron Judge hit for his American League record 62nd home run sold for $1.5 million in an auction that began Nov. 29 and ended Dec. 18 at Goldin Auctions in Runnemede, New Jersey. The seller was Cory Youmans, who caught the ball in his glove when Judge launched it into the left field stands at Globe Life Field in Texas on Oct. 4. It was the second highest amount ever paid for a baseball at auction. The most was $3 million for Mark McGwire’s 70th home run, hit on Sept. 27, 1998.

Thurston Master Magician poster, $9,000, Potter & Potter Auctions

 A linen-mounted ‘Thurston Master Magician. Million Dollar Mystery’ broadside poster, printed in Cleveland around 1928 by Otis Lithograph Company, sold for $9,000 at a Winter Magic Auction held December 10 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a pair of Tower Bean Pattern handcuffs believed to have been worn by Harry Houdini realized $7,200, and a Silk and Water Vase magic apparatus made in Philadelphia in 1925 by Carl Brema and Sons earned $6,600.

Martha Walter painting, $27,500, Lark Mason Associates

An oil on panel by Martha Walter (American, 1875-1976), titled Coney Island on Monday Morning, sold for $27,500 at a Fine and Decorative Works of Art auction held Nov. 16-17 by Lark Mason Associates in New Braunfels, Texas. Also, a maritime painting by Henry Moret, titled Marine, finished at $78,500; a Chinese jade mounted wood table screen realized $22,500; a Roman-style marble torso of Aphrodite won $12,438; and a Qing dynasty porcelain Jue made $43,750.

Bob Dylan love letters, $669,875, RR Auction          

An archive of 42 love letters written by Bob Dylan to a high school sweetheart, Barbara Ann Hewittt, sold for $669,875 in an auction that began Oct. 26 and ended Nov. 17 at RR Auction, based in Boston. Included in the archive were early drawings and photos, including one of the earliest signed Dylan photos known to exist, which realized $24,361. Another Dylan archive in the sale consisted of 24 handwritten works collectively dubbed Poems Without Titles, written while he was at college. It brought $249,563.

E.T. mechatronic model, $2.56 million, Julien’s Auctions

The original, film-used mechatronic model for the 1982 movie E.T. The Extraterrestrial sold for $2.56 million at an Icons and Idols: Hollywood auction held Dec. 17-18 by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, California. Also, the E.T. character maquette went for $125,000 and the Kuwahara BMX bike from film production brought $115,200; Charlton Heston’s so-called “Holy Staff” from The Ten Commandments summoned $448,000; and dresses worn by Marilyn Monroe rose to $256,000 and $224,000, respectively.

“Mean” Joe Greene jersey, $60,043, Lelands

A “Mean” Joe Greene Pittsburgh Steelers game-worn jersey from the team’s 1975 Super Bowl-winning season sold for $60,043 at a Fall Classic Auction that closed on December 10 at Lelands in Matawan, New Jersey. Also, a New York Yankees batting helmet worn by Mickey Mantle circa 1957-1958 settled at $51,868; an early 1930s Home Run Special baseball signed by Babe Ruth brought $32,497; and a Frank Robinson 1966 Orioles jersey from his MVP / Triple Crown season hit $50,400.

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

Gallery Report: Vibrant untitled Lynne Drexler painting wins $450K

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ATLANTA – At the beginning of each month, ACN columnist Ken Hall gathers top auction highlights from around the United States and the world at large. Here is the December 2022 edition of Ken’s Gallery Report. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

Lynne Drexler painting, $450,000, Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers

A 1963 untitled painting by Lynne Mapp Drexler (American, 1928-1999) sold for $450,000 at a Fall Fine Art auction held October 27 by Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers in Milford, Connecticut. Also, a 1940 oil on canvas by Daniel Garber (American, 1880-1958), titled Elm Bough, realized $262,500; a 2017 oil on linen by Scott Kahn (American, b. 1946-), dubbed The Woods, rang up $212,500; and Venice, a 1903 oil painting by Thomas Moran, made $162,500.

1936 Packard 1407 coupe, $140,400, Milestone Auctions

A 1936 Packard 1407 coupe with a rumble seat, a V-12 473 c.i. 175hp engine and 64,033 original miles on its odometer sold for $140,400 at an auction held October 15 by Milestone Auctions in Willoughby, Ohio. Also, a Wurlitzer classic Model 1015 Bubbler jukebox in excellent condition earned $7,500; a black and silver 1956 Chevrolet Corvette C1 convertible with an odometer showing 94,681 miles sped off for $78,975; and a single-cylinder cutaway motor for a 1916 Model K Indian motorcycle brought $6,000.

Duffner & Kimberly lamp, $72,000, Cottone Auctions

A Duffner & Kimberly Poppy hanging lamp sold for $72,000 at an Art & Antiques sale held Nov. 2-3 by Cottone Auctions in Geneseo, New York. Also, a 3.81-carat diamond and emerald ring slipped onto a new finger for $40,800; a German silver gilt heraldic lion cup went for $3,900; Court Room Scene, a painting by Clyde Singer (Ohio, 1908-1999), realized $3,300; and an oil on canvas by Emile A. Gruppe, titled King Street, Rockport, Mass., finished at $5,700.

Magic: The Gathering Beta set, $120,000, Weiss Auctions

A complete Magic: The Gathering Beta card set from 1993, the second MTG set produced, with a print run of 3,200 cards, sold for $120,000 in an online-only Comics, Comic Art, MTG Booster Boxes & More auction held October 19 by Weiss Auctions in Lynbrook, New York. Also, an original Peanuts daily comic strip dated “8-27-1962,” signed and inscribed by Charles Schulz, rose to $32,400; and a copy of Detective Comics #29 from 1939, with a Batman cover, made $46,800.

Three-stone diamond ring, $78,650, Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery

A three-stone diamond ring, weighing 8.7 carats in total, sold for $78,650 at an Important Jewelry & Timepieces Auction held November 18 by Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery in Atlanta. Also, a Laura Munder 18K garnet and diamond necklace achieved $37,500; a Vacheron 18K gold Tourbillon watch brought $39,325; a Nicholas Varney fire opal and diamond bracelet went for $36,300; a Henry Dunay emerald and diamond necklace made $33,275; and a Patek Philippe 18K Calatrava watch rose to $22,500.

Letter sent by George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, $2.39 million, Freeman’s

A letter sent by George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, announcing the completion of the Constitution, one day following its adoption by the Constitutional Convention in 1787, sold for $2.39 million at a Books and Manuscripts: Rare Americana auction held November 15 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. At the time, Jefferson was the America ambassador to France, but Washington was eager to pass along the news of the landmark document.

Grandma Moses oil painting, $31,250, Dallas Auction Gallery

Grandma Moses’ 1943 oil with glitter on pressed wood painting titled We Have All Gone Sledding sold for $31,250 at a Fine and Decorative Art Auction held November 9 by Dallas Auction Gallery in Dallas. Also, a circa-1925-1930 oil on canvas signed by Edouard Leon Cortes, titled Le Boulevard Saint Denis au Crepuscule (Boulevard Saint Denis at Twilight) settled at $28,750.

Diamond and bloodstone box, $68,750, Hindman Auctions

An 18th-century antique diamond and bloodstone box featuring 25 carats of old mine, European and rose cut diamonds sold for $68,750 at a Gold Boxes and Vertu estate auction held October 18 by Hindman Auctions in Chicago. Also, a gold and enamel snuff box went for $17,500; a French gold figural compound scent flask, snuff box and hand-seal brought $13,750; and a French gold, diamond and mother-of-pearl cigarette case realized $53,125.

1966 Ford Ranger 250 camper, CA$82,600, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.

A 1966 Ford Ranger 250 Custom Cab Camper Special pick-up truck with Avion camper and 39,966 miles on its odometer sold for CA$82,600 in an online Petroliana & Advertising auction held October 29 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. in New Hamburg, Canada. Also, a 2006 Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe black cherry motorcycle with an odometer reading of just 51 kilometers went for CA$16,520. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Astronaut’s gold watch, $1.9 million, RR Auction

Astronaut Wally Schirra’s Omega Speedmaster Professional gold watch sold for $1.907 million in an online auction ending October 30 by RR Auction, based in Boston. The timepiece was given to Schirra at a special gala dinner held Nov. 25, 1969 at the Hotel Warwick in Houston. Omega presented 26 of the engraved commemorative watches – known as the Tribute to Astronauts watch – to NASA astronauts alive and deceased.

Italian salt cellar, $28,350, Doyle

An Italian Renaissance patinated-bronze salt cellar (or inkwell) sold for $28,350 at auctions held Oct. 19-20 by Doyle in New York. Also, two circa-1810 Regency satinwood banded rosewood side cabinets achieved $16,380; a Worcester porcelain covered two-handled urn by Flight Barr and Barr rose to $10,710; Thomas Lawrence’s 1827 portrait of Mary-Ann Capel reached $15,120; and a painting by Pier Francesco Mazzuchelli (aka il Morazzone) went for $13,860.

Chinese Daoist watercolor, $8,125, Crescent City Auction Gallery

A large, framed Chinese Daoist watercolor painting on silk sold for $8,125 at a Major Estates Auction held Nov. 4-6 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans. Also, an early 20th-century 15-piece sterling punch set by Whiting in a grape and vine motif achieved $3,750; a 19th-century American carved mahogany full tester double bed earned $2,375; and a salt glazed stoneware jardiniere with pedestal rang up $2,000.

Poetry book carried by Ernest Shackleton on an expedition, $96,000, Potter & Potter Auctions

A copy of Robert Browning’s Poetical Works, carried by Ernest Shackleton during the 1907-1909 Nimrod expedition, sold for $96,000 at a Fine Books and Manuscripts Sale held October 20 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a William Morris for Kelmscott Press edition of The Poems of William Shakespeare brought $16,800; a signed 1937 copy of Ulysses by James Joyce attained $45,600; and a copy of The Call of the Wild realized $13,200.

Swiss 18K gold snuff box, $10,625, Clarke Auction Gallery

A Swiss 18K gold and enamel snuff box having enamel decoration throughout sold for $10,625 at an auction held Oct. 29-30 by Clarke Auction Gallery in Larchmont, New York. Also, a painting signed by Roberto Matta, titled Se Conduire, achieved $57,500; a signed oil on canvas by Ivan Fedorovich Choultse, titled Garden, finished at $35,000; and a nearly five-carat diamond and platinum ring earned $30,000.

Buddy Holly concert poster, $447,000, Heritage Auctions

The only known Winter Dance Party concert poster from Feb. 3, 1959, promoting Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper and Dion – a date subsequently known as The Day the Music Died because all except Dion were killed in a plane crash that day – sold for a record $447,000 at a Music Memorabilia Signature Auction held Nov. 11-13 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. The previous record was $275,000 for a Beatles poster.

Galle French table lamp, $93,500, Woody Auction

A circa-1920 signed Galle French cameo art glass table lamp sold for $93,500 at the Part 1 sale of the Ron Blessing estate collection held October 29 by Woody Auction in Douglass, Kansas. Also, a circa-1910 Galle cameo art glass vase realized $40,250; a signed Daum Nancy cameo art glass pillow vase attained $21,850; and a museum-quality two-piece urn, signed Moser, changed hands for $17,000.

Caille Bros. slot machine, $246,000, Morphy Auctions

A circa-1904 Caille Bros. 5-cent Roulette floor-model slot machine with seven coin slots sold for $246,000 at an Antique Coin-Op Machines & Advertising auction held Nov. 3-5 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pennsylvania. Also, a 1920s Mills coin-op Deluxe Violano-Virtuoso with dual violins that played simultaneously went for $63,960, and a restored Regina Style 37 music box changer with more than 20 discs played a sweet tune for $23,370.

Sam Doyle folk art painting, $66,250, Slotin Folk Art Auction

A folk art painting by Sam Doyle titled Dr. Buz Ha Lo! sold for $66,250 at a Self-Taught Masterpiece Sale held Nov. 12-13 by Slotin Folk Art Auction in Buford, Georgia. Also, Doyle’s folk art painting of Jackie Robinson was a hit for $63,750; Beverly Buchanan’s SC House finished at $55,000; Bill Traylor’s Black Dog fetched $47,500; Joseph Yoakum’s Persian Plateau peaked at $29,375; and David Drake’s Storage Jar captured $27,500.

Chinese ink-on-paper hand scroll, $118,750, Lark Mason Associates

A Chinese ink on paper hand scroll showing a pair of antlers, signed Qianlong Emperor, sold for $118,750 in an online sale of works of Asian art ending November 3 by Lark Mason Associates in New Braunfels, Texas. Also, a Chinese Peking amber glass octagonal bottle vase reached $17,500; an ink-on-silk Korean four-panel screen by Kim K-Chang (1913-2001) made $18,125; and a pair of Chinese faux cloisonne porcelain jardinieres, dating to the mid-Qing dynasty, realized $25,000.

Kyser & Rex bank, $24,000, Bertoia Auctions

A Kyser & Rex (Philadelphia) Roller Skating cast iron mechanical bank with bright, colorful original paint sold for $24,000 at an auction titled Abby’s Attic Finds held October 14 by Bertoia Auctions in Vineland, New Jersey. Also, a 1950s Mark Haber second casting of a J & E Stevens Bull & Bear mechanical bank climbed to $7,800, and an Ives clockwork tin alligator with its original box earned $14,400.

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

Gallery Report: Le Pho painting blooms at Hindman

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

Le Pho painting, $337,500, Hindman

A painting by Vietnamese artist Le Pho (1907-2001), titled Femme Peignant (Woman Painting), sold for $337,500 at Fine Art auctions held Sept. 27-29 by Hindman in Chicago. Also, Le Pho’s paintings La Lettre and Les Dahlia Jaunes brought $237,500 and $137,500, respectively; an untitled portrait of a baseball player by Ernie Barnes rang up $312,500; Friedel Dzubas’s 1978 work Aglaura went for $137,500; Ron Davis’s Red Top, from 1968, realized $131,250; and Gertrude Abercrombie’s Blue Screen, completed in 1945, hit $225,000.

Copy of Wonder Woman #1, $54,000, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers

A copy of DC Comics’ Wonder Woman #1, featuring the first appearance of Ares and a retelling of the origin of Wonder Woman, graded CGC 5.5, sold for $54,000 at a sale of the Henry Anderson collection held October 1 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, a copy of DC Comics’ Detective Comics #38, featuring the origin and first appearance of Batman’s sidekick Robin, the Boy Wonder, graded CGC 3.0, brought $51,600.

American National pedal car, $66,000, Milestone Auctions

An American National Deluxe Coupe pedal car, fitted with opening doors, sliding windows, interior upholstery and curtains, sold for $66,000 at a sale of antique and vintage toys from the Mark Smith collection held September 24 by Milestone Auctions in Willoughby, Ohio. Also, a Gendron 50in-long chain-drive pedal car with a steel body and a wooden radiator, tires and frame sped off for $24,000; and a Domo Maserati 4cl tether race car made in Italy brought $6,600.

Chinoiserie-style table, $10,000, John Moran Auctioneers

A black lacquered Chinoiserie-style console table with gilt highlights sold for $10,000 at an auction of Property from the Thomas and Erika Jayne Girardi Residence held September 21 at John Moran Auctioneers in Los Angeles. Also, an 81in-tall bronze sculpture of a man by J. Seward Johnson, Jr. brought $13,750; a pair of Michael Taylor Monticello outdoor garden armchairs realized $7,150; and a 19th-century Continental hand-painted, black lacquered cabinet with mythological oil paintings rose to $11,875.

John Speed map of the world, $12,650, Old World Auctions

 A New and Accurat Map of the World by John Speed, an iconic 1626 first state version of Speed’s double-hemisphere world map with blank verso, sold for $12,650 in an online auction held in September by Old World Auctions, based in Richmond, Virginia. Also, Islandia, a 1585 map by Abraham Ortelius – one of Ortelius’s most decorative maps, featuring fantastical sea monsters – earned $12,075, and an unusual 1658 oval bible map of the world by Danckert Danckerts made $7,475.

1821 Half Eagle gold coin, $4.62 million, Heritage Auctions

An 1821 Half Eagle $5 gold U.S. proof coin, graded PR65 Cameo, the only proof in private hands and one of only two proof examples known (the other is in the Smithsonian Institution), sold for $4.62 million at Part 1 of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection held September 29 by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions in Long Beach, California. Also, a 1795 BD-1 13 leaves $10 U.S. coin, MS64, rose to $690,000; and an 1848 CAL. quarter eagle coin, MS64, garnered $552,000.

Chinese porcelain vase, $504,000, Doyle

A Chinese famille rose porcelain vase with the Qianlong mark and of the period sold for $504,000 at an Asian Works of Art auction held September 21 by Doyle in New York City. Also, another exceptional Qianlong mark and period tianqiuping-form vase, decorated with a monochrome blue glaze, went to a determined bidder for $94,500, many times its $10,000-$15,000 estimate.

Maud Lewis folk art painting, $100,300, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.

A mixed media painting by Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis (1903-1980), titled Winter Sleigh Ride, sold for $100,300 in an online-only Canadiana & Folk Art auction held October 8 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., based in New Hamburg, Canada. Also, a mixed media diorama by Adelard Brousseau of Quebec, titled Maple Sugar Time, rose to $10,620; and an acrylic on paper by Norval Morrisseau (Canadian, 1932-2007), titled Ancestral Visitors, made $11,800. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Tiffany Poppy table lamp, $93,750, Fontaine’s Auction Gallery

A circa-1905 Tiffany Studios Poppy table lamp with vibrant red poppies surrounded by blue and yellow background glass sold for $93,750 at a fall sale held Sept. 24-25 by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Also, a circa-1910 Tiffany Studios Peony Border chandelier realized $87,500; a platinum bracelet with more than 45 carats of diamonds finished at $81,250; and a circa-1880 Eastlake walnut four-piece bedroom set commanded $27,500.

Winchester Model 21 shotgun, $14,100, Rock Island Auction Company

An engraved and gold-inlaid Winchester 16-gauge Model 21 double-barrel shotgun set, offered with its case, hit the mark for $14,200 at a Sporting & Collector Auction held Oct. 5-6 by Rock Island Auction Company in Rock Island, Illinois. Also, a Ben Shostle signed master relief engraved Colt first generation single-action Army revolver with its case earned $11,750, and a pair of Remington Custom Ship Model 547 sporting bolt action rifles scored a bull’s-eye for $10,575.

William Skilling elephant painting, $18,750, Dallas Auction Gallery

An undated, signed oil on canvas dubbed Untitled (Elephant profile) by William Skilling sold for $18,750 at a Fine & Decorative Art auction held September 21 by Dallas Auction Gallery in Dallas. Also, an undated oil on canvas by Edouard Leon Cortes, titled La Place de l’Opera, realized $18,750; Texas artist Jose Vives-Astara’s 1982 painting titled Landscape of Vail – Colorado went for $6,875; and a pastel by Texas artist Reveau Basset, titled Mallards Landing, attained $3,750.

John Steinbeck letter, $32,426, RR Auction

A two-page letter John Steinbeck wrote to his 14-year-old son, Thomas, dated Nov. 10, 1958, in which he offers wise, fatherly advice on matters of the heart, sold for $32,426 in an online auction held Sept. 23-Oct. 12 by RR Auction, based in Boston. Also, Edgar Allan Poe’s handwritten letter soliciting a donation for the Southern Literary Messenger garnered $149,999, and Benjamin Franklin’s handwritten letter regarding the mutinous crew of John Paul Jones’s flagship earned $62,500.

Ansel Adams Yosemite photo print, $38,750, Holabird Western Americana Collections

An Ansel Adams-signed Yosemite photo print from around 1959 sold for $38,750 at a Western Frontiers auction held October 13-16 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nevada. Also, a Gibson model ES175 Sunburst electric guitar with a factory Bixbee whammy bar realized $3,500; a beautiful circa-1900 red mesa chief pattern rug went for $4,000; and a gold 1914 $50 American Buffalo coin brought $2,250.

Diamond and gold brooch, $2,080, Clars Auction Gallery

An antique diamond and platinum-topped 14K gold brooch designed as an old mine or old European-cut diamond-set flower, the diamond weighing 2.0 carats, sold for $2,080 at an auction held Oct. 15-16 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, California. Also, a monumental 1996 work by Nathan Oliveira (American, 1928-2010), titled Wing-Owl, flew to $28,750; and a suite of prints by Richard Diebenkorn (American, 1922-1993), titled Six Soft Ground Etchings, finished at $16,250.

Lion model circus wagon, $6,600, Potter & Potter Auctions

A lion model circus wagon from around 1940, finely detailed and painted, sold for $6,600 at a Circus Sale held September 24 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a 1944 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey / World’s Biggest Menagerie bird’s-eye view poster settled at $3,600; a 1930s Sells-Floto Miss Arline and Kiddo Balloon horse poster maquette earned $4,080; and a pair of gloves believed to have been owned by Buffalo Bill Cody changed hands for $1,560.

First edition 2007 factory-sealed iPhone, $39,340, LCG Auctions

A factory-sealed 2007 first-edition iPhone sold for a record price of $39,340 at a Fall Premier Auction held October 16 by LCG Auctions in New Orleans. Also, a 1978 Star Wars Luke Skywalker action figure with a double telescoping lightsaber, graded AFA 85, achieved $33.359; a 1987 G.I. Joe Defiant playset, CAS 80, earned $32,513; a 1982 Masters of the Universe He-Man action figure, AFA 80, brought $32,513; and a 1985 Transformers Jetfire, AFA 90, realized $18,353.

Gorham silver candelabras, $84,000, Cottone Auctions

A pair of Gorham sterling silver Art Nouveau candelabras made for the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair sold for $84,000 at a Fine Art & Antiques auction held September 23 by Cottone Auctions in Geneseo, New York. Also, a 1963 gouache on paper by Alexander Calder (American, 1898-1976), titled The Beams, went for $90,000; a Tiffany Studios Peony table lamp lit up the room for $103,200; and a Chinese Ming-style blue and white ewer, with a Qianlong mark and of the period, brought $282,000.

William S. Kendall painting, $24,000, Kaminski Auctions

A painting by William Sergeant Kendall (American, 1869-1938), titled St. Ives Pray for Us, signed and dated 1890, sold for $24,000 at a two-day estates auction held Sept. 24-25 by Kaminski Auctions in Beverly, Massachusetts. Also, a set of six circa-1970 Tucroma leather chairs, by Guido Faleschini for Pace Furniture, climbed to $4,800; an 18K gold bracelet with two sapphires at the closure settled at $12,000; and a set of Hermes Le Jardin de Pythagore dinnerware made $4,200.

Rolex Daytona Big Red watch, $90,000, Jones & Horan

A Rolex Daytona Big Red ref 6263 watch sold for $90,000 at a four-hour afternoon sale held September 25 by Jones & Horan in Manchester, New Hampshire. Also, a Patek Philippe Calatrava ref 2526 achieved $27,000; a Rolex Submariner ref 16808 reached $26,000; and a Tropical Deep Sea Alarm Diver finished at $25,000.

Zhang Daqian handscroll, $23,370, Michaan’s Auction

A large handscroll painting attributed to Zhang Daqian (Chinese, 1899-1983), titled Landscape, sold for $23,370 at an Annex Auction held Aug. 15-18 by Michaan’s Auction in Alameda, California. Also, a Chinese blue and white moon flask realized $19,680; an oil on canvas Self Portrait by Henrietta Berks (American, 1919-1990), achieved $9,225; an unmounted 2.20-carat diamond with pendant mount made $10,455; and two Flora Danica items, a tureen and a dish, won $3,382.

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

Gallery Report: Alice Baber painting sets record at John Moran

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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: Green Goblin action figure scampers off with $76K at Hake’s

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

Green Goblin action figure, $76,700, Hake’s Auctions

An eight-inch Green Goblin action figure, issued by Meego in 1977 as part of its World’s Greatest Super-Heroes line, AFA-graded 80+ NM, sold for $76,700 at an auction of pop culture rarities held July 26-27 by Hake’s Auctions in York, Pennsylvania. Also, Gil Kane and Dick Giordano’s seven-panel art for page 27 of Marvel Premiere #15 from May 1974, featuring the debut of Iron Fist, reached $20,350; and Al Plastino’s original art for page 1 of Superman #184 from Feb. 1966 achieved $15,055.

Nantucket curlew decoy, $228,000, Copley Fine Art Auctions

A Harmon Hollow Nantucket curlew decoy sold for $228,000 at the 17th annual Sporting Sale held July 14-15 by Copley Fine Art Auctions in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Also, an oil on canvas image of Setter Puppies by Edmund Henry Osthaus earned $102,000; a dog painting titled Steady by A.F. Tait, depicting two setters pointing quail, achieved $73,800; a miniature shorebird set of 22 decoys by Elmer Crowell realized $92,250; and Crowell’s Wing-Up Greater Yellowlegs made $84,000.

12-cent U.S. postage stamp, $19,520, Holabird Western Americana Collections

A 12-cent U.S. postage stamp with a portrait bust of George Washington sold for $19,520 at a Wild West Auction held July 21-24 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nevada. Also, an 1860 U.S. Army Colt revolver with a Richards conversion attained $13,750; a light aqua Endlich & Good squat-shaped beer bottle, dating to circa 1861-1864, realized $7,187; and an early 1900s First National Bank of Foraker (Oklahoma) $10 bank note went for $4,458.

Chinese Export porcelain punch bowls, $64,000, Nye & Company Auctioneers

A pair of 19th-century Chinese Export porcelain punch bowls sold for $64,000 at an Estate Treasures auction held July 20 by Nye & Company Auctioneers in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Also, an early 20th-century folk art cowboy iron shooting gallery target, attributed to William F. Mangels and titled The Stick-Up, earned $19,200; and a taupe-upholstered sectional sofa designed by Joe DiUrso for Donghia, with squared corners and raised ends, finished at $12,160.

Camille Claudel sculpture, $150,000, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers

A bronze and hardstone sculpture of a woman sitting in a chair with her head resting against a fireplace mantel, created by Camille Claudel (French, 1864-1913), sold for $150,000 in an online Fine & Decorative Art auction held August 1 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers, based in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, an oil on canvas by B. Prabha (Indian, 1933-2001), titled Fisher Women Painting, achieved $18,750; and an ornately carved Victorian desk attributed to R. J. Horner brought $7,500.

19th-century French Japonisme armoire, $30,000, Andrew Jones Auctions

A late 19th-century French parcel paint decorated Karelian birch and faux bamboo Japonisme armoire sold for $30,000 at the Part VI sale of the John Nelson collection, held July 24-25 by Andrew Jones Auctions in Los Angeles. Also, a pair of circa-1900 Louis XV/XVI transitional style parcel gilt and blue painted bibliotheques brought $30,000, and a third quarter 20th-century Modernist fossil marble, granite and steel table went to a determined bidder for $27,500.

Machine Man Robot, $84,000, Morphy Auctions

A circa-1960 Machine Man Robot from the Japanese company Masudaya’s famed Gang of Five robot series, one of only a few known, sold for $84,000 at a Toys & Collectibles Auction held Aug. 9-10 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pennsylvania. Also, a Japanese battery-operated Electroman Robot attained $78,000, and a scarce 1950s Italian gumball vending machine in the form of a 54in full-figure robot, with prizes visible inside its chest, finished at $48,000.

39-star American flag, $24,120, New Frontier Western Show & Auction

A 39-star American flag flown at the Capitol Building in Santa Fe in 1912, the year that New Mexico joined the Union, sold for $24,120 at auction held August 27 by New Frontier Western Show & Auction of Loveland, Colorado. The auction was held in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Also, an antique Colt Single Action Army revolver attributed to the 101 Ranch sold for $8,100, and a pair of Buermann inlaid spurs with cut-out snake heelbands found a new owner for $5,700.

Jean Shrimpton photo print, $3,438, John Moran Auctioneers

A massive photo print on canvas with a neon attachment, titled Jean Shrimpton Astronaut and created in 2014 by Andrew Martin Designs after Richard Avedon, sold for $3,438 at a ReDesigned auction held July 19 by John Moran Auctioneers in Los Angeles. Also, a lapis blue 1980 Mercedes Benz 450 SL automobile in pristine condition sped away for $18,750, and a red 1961 Gibson Les Paul Jr. electric guitar with a 1960s-era Gibson amp earned $8,750.

Albert York oil-on-plywood work, $110,250, Sarasota Estate Auction

An oil-on-plywood painting by Albert York, titled Imaginary Playground (Trees and Fence), sold for $110,250 at an auction held July 23-24 by Sarasota Estate Auction in Sarasota, Florida. Also, Romare Bearden’s The Quilters rose to $73,000; an unsigned, untitled Itzchak Tarkay acrylic on canvas achieved $20,790; a gouache on paper by A. R. Penck brought $13,230; a sculpture by Jorge Blanco, titled Later, made $14,490; and an antique 22K gold, sterling and diamond necklace hit $11,970.

Covered Meissen dish, $4,250, Kamelot Auctions

A 19th-century covered Meissen dish sold for $4,250 at a three-day sale held July 19-21 by Kamelot Auctions in Philadelphia. Also, an original circa-1950 set of rattan armchairs went for $3,750, and an 18K gold and sapphire necklace by Marco Bicego slipped around a new neck for $2,250. The auctions were divided into Luxury Goods: Jewelry & Handbags; Mod Interiors: Chic, Bamboo & Rattan; and Estate Continental Furniture & Decorative Arts. Most lots sold above their estimates.

King Henry VIII document, $66,435, RR Auction

A one-page vellum manuscript document signed by King Henry VIII and dated July 26, 1536, in which he discusses sponsoring the feast day of St. George, patron saint of England, sold for $66,435 in an online auction held July 20-August 10 by RR Auction, based in Boston. Also, a document Abraham Lincoln signed as president, regarding rebuilding the North-South economy in 1865, realized $41,321; and an early Marilyn Monroe document, signed twice by the starlet, earned $32,103.

Nathan Cobb, Jr. swimming Canada goose, $252,000, Guyette & Deeter

A swimming Canada goose by Nathan Cobb, Jr. of Cobb Island, Virginia sold for $252,000 at a Decoy & Sporting Art auction held July 29-30 at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland, by Guyette & Deeter. Also, a Ward Brothers greenwing teal hen flew away for $33,000; an Edmund Osthaus sporting art canvas realized $69,600; a mute swan by Maryland carver Oliver Lawson finished at $15,600; and a set of Nantucket lightship baskets carried away $10,800.

Anne Ramsdell Congdon painting, $123,000, Rafael Osona Auctions

A 1941 oil on canvas by Anne Ramsdell Congdon, titled View from Monomoy, sold for $123,000 at an Americana, Fine Art & Marine auction held Aug. 6-7 by Rafael Osona Auctions in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Also, an iconic red sail painting by Robert Stark, Jr., titled Sunset Sail, drifted to $70,725; an 1895 portrait painted by Wendell Macy, titled Lady in the Sun, Nantucket, won $20,910; and Sybil Goldsmith’s View of Town from the Creeks, painted in 1976, rose to $8,190.

David Hockney lithograph, $20,480, La Belle Epoque Auction Gallery

A lithograph by David Hockney (British, b. 1937-), titled Four Flowers in a Still Life, dated and numbered 6/50, sold for $20,480 at a Multi-Estates Summer auction held August 13 by La Belle Epoque Auction Gallery in New York City. Also, an early 20th-century floral still life by Charles E. Porter (American, 1847-1923) achieved $1,920; a 102-piece set of Kirk sterling silver flatware weighing 127 troy ounces earned $2,300; and a Lucien Picard 14K Art Deco ladies’ watch brought $640.

1927-D Double Eagle gold coin, $4.44 million, Heritage Auctions

A 1927-D Double Eagle US gold coin, part of the Bob R. Simpson collection and graded MS66 PCGS, sold for $4.44 million at a US Coins Signature Auction held August 23 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. The price bested the previous record for the 1927-D Double Eagle of $2.16 million, set at Heritage’s Fun US Coins Signature Auction in January 2020. In the recent sale, five bidders continued to chase the coin after it exceeded $3 million.

Kobe Bryant rookie card, $34,375, Hindman

A 1996-1997 Skybox E-X2000 Credentials Kobe Bryant rookie basketball card No. 30, graded BGS 9 Mint, sold for $34,375 at a sale of The Definitive Collection of Kobe Bryant Rookie Cards held August 24 by Hindman in Chicago. The card was considered to be a holy grail collectible and featured a die cut image of Bryant, foiled borders and a cloud background. The auction was held on August 24, which has become known as Mamba Day in honor of the numbers Bryant wore during his basketball career: 8 and 24.

Jamie Wyeth painting, $192,000, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries

A mixed-media work for Study for Lighthouse by Jamie Wyeth (American, b. 1946-) sold for $192,000 at a Splendor sale held Aug. 26-28 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. Also, a watercolor painting by Andrew Wyeth (American, 1917-2009), titled The Pantry, achieved $162,000; an oil on canvas by Robert Scott Duncanson hit $138,000; and a Modernist color composition painting by Beauford Delaney (American, 1901-1979) made $102,000.

Herend Rothschild Bird pattern table service, $10,710, Doyle

A Herend porcelain table service in the Rothschild Bird pattern sold for $10,710 at an Entertaining with Style auction held August 11 by Doyle in New York City. Introduced in 1860, the pattern portrays a story about Baroness Rothschild of Vienna, who lost her pearl necklace in her garden. Several days later, the necklace was discovered by her gardener, who saw the birds dangling it from a tree. In addition, a group of Lettuce Ware by Dodie Thayer sold as several lots for a combined $20,853.

 

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

Gallery Report: Tiffany Poppy lamp flourishes at Morphy’s

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

Tiffany Studios Poppy table lamp, $541,200, Morphy Auctions

A circa-1905-1910 Tiffany Studios Poppy leaded-glass table lamp sold for $541,200 at a Fine & Decorative Arts Auction held June 8-10 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pennsylvania. Also, a pair of circa-1920s Cartier Art Deco platinum and diamond drop earrings in the original display-case box, with a total diamond weight of 4.68 carats, attained $98,400; and a circa-1780 Connecticut Chippendale cherry slant-lid secretary went to a determined bidder for $41,820.

Presidential presentation set, $17,500, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers

A set of presentation items sent to Eleanor Roosevelt following the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1945, from King Abdul Aziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, including a traditional Arabian robe, headdress, scarf, dagger and belt, sold for $17,500 at a Historic Arms & Militaria auction held July 21 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, a circa-1941 World War II USMC Johnson Model 1941 rifle and bayonet, missing the scabbard, earned $9,038.

Queen Anne-style secretary, $25,000, Andrew Jones Auctions

A 20th-century Queen Anne-style parcel gilt ebonized Chinoiserie-decorated secretary bookcase sold for $25,000 in an At Home auction held July 17 by Andrew Jones Auctions in Los Angeles. Also, a French first standard silver six-piece tea and coffee service with two-handled tray (Fanniere Freres, Paris, 1868) settled at $18,750; and an English lacquered cabinet on a giltwood stand, the cabinet dating to the first quarter of the 18th century and the stand to the late 17th century, realized $18,750.

 

Colt No. 5 Paterson revolver, $38,188, Rock Island Auction Company

A cased Colt No. 5 squareback Texas Paterson percussion revolver hit the mark for $38,188 at a Sporting & Collector Firearms Auction held June 22-24 by Rock Island Auction Company in Rock Island, Illinois. Also, a U.S. Ainsworth inspected Colt Cavalry SAA revolver nearly doubled its high estimate, finishing at $10,575; and a U.S. Rock Island Arsenal model 1903 sniper rifle also surpassed estimate to achieve $10,575. Overall, the auction grossed $7.059 million.

Staffordshire platter, $14,580, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

A Staffordshire American historical transfer-printed ceramic platter featuring the Arms of Pennsylvania sold for $14,580 at a Premier Americana Auction held June 23-25 by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mt. Crawford, Virginia. Also, a blown-molded GII-6 deep bowl in an unusual brilliant yellow green, probably made in Kent, Ohio around 1830, realized $39,487; and a pair of Charles Peale Polk (American, 1767-1822) portraits of Gerard and Margaret Briscoe from 1799 brought $72,900.

‘Islandia’ map by Ortelius, $12,650, Old World Auctions

A 1585 map titled Islandia by Abraham Ortelius, decorated with images of sea monsters, sold for $12,650 in an online auction held June 22 by Old World Auctions in Richmond, Virginia. Also, a 1735 world atlas with 99 maps in contemporary color by Covens & Mortier achieved $19,925; a World War II persuasive map with images of Hitler, Stalin and Churchill made in 1941 by Antonio Soares realized $8,625; and A New Sectional Map of Florida from 1923, published by Matthews-Northrup Co., rose to $11,500.

Art glass tall vase, $10,620, Bodnar’s Auction

An art glass tall vase, initially believed to have been made by Duran but later found to be by Fenton, sold for $10,620 at an estate auction held June 23 by Bodnar’s Auction in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey. Also, an electrified oil lamp made in the style of Tiffany changed hands for $7,965; a 14K gold Burmese ruby and diamond bracelet realized $3,068; a platinum tanzanite and ruby diamond ring made $3,068; and a Louis C. Tiffany art glass lamp shade went for $2,124.

1992 Chinese gold coin, $576,000, Heritage Auctions

A 1992 People’s Republic of China gold proof Completion of the Lunar Cycle 2000 Yuan (Kilo) coin, graded PR69 Ultra Cameo NGC, sold for $576,000 at a World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session & Signature Auction held in Hong Kong on July 7-9 by Heritage Auctions, based in Dallas. Also, a Republic Yuan Shih-kai silver Pattern Dollar Year 3 from 1914, MS64 NGC, ended at $564,000; and a 1908 Kuang-hsu Dollar ND, MS67 PCGS, went for $528,000.

Sally Michel painting, $26,250, John Moran Auctioneers

A 1975 oil painting by American artist Sally Michel (1902-2003), titled Deserted Beach, sold for $26,250 at a Post-War and Contemporary Art + Design auction held June 21 by John Moran Auctioneers in Los Angeles. Also, a 1941 painting by Milton Avery, titled Girl on Balcony, realized $24,700; a painting by Thomas Nozkowski, Untitled (8-50), earned $23,750; a colorful print by Frank Stella, titled The Monkey Rope, rose to $23,750; and an untitled ceramic by Doyle Lane achieved $7,500.

Nikola Tesla letter, $51,651, RR Auction

A four-page letter penned by innovator Nikola Tesla, dated July 14, 1899, handwritten from his Colorado Springs Experimental Station, in which he insists his wireless technology is superior to Marconi’s, sold for $51,651 in an online auction held June 24-July 13 by RR Auction, based in Boston. Also, a Benjamin Franklin-signed document from 1786 made $24,079; a Pope Francis-signed baseball brought $17,125; and a George Washington-signed document from 1795 hit $18,750.

Illuminated manuscript leaves, $43,750, Clars Auction Gallery

A group of three Persian illuminated manuscript leaves, gouache and gilt on paper and script in ink, sold for $43,750 at an auction held July 17 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, California. Also, a 2004 screenprint by Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929-), titled A Pumpkin GB-D, signed, titled and dated, edition 47/80, realized $40,625; a Chinese huanghuali rounded corners cabinet made $20,000; and a 1965 Salvador Dali lithograph, titled Drawers of Memory, earned $10,625.

Sitting Bull’s Winchester rifle, $132,000, Cowan’s Auctions

A Winchester 1st Model 1876 rifle, believed to have been taken from Sitting Bull’s cabin on the day of his death in 1890 during a botched arrest attempt by U.S. Indian Police, with documentation, sold for $132,000 at a Frontier Firearms auction from the collection of Larry Ness, held June 8 by Cowan’s Auctions in Cincinnati. The rifle, along with other weapons recovered that same day, were turned in to Standing Rock Reservation Indian Agent Major James McLaughlin.

Marilyn Monroe gown, $218,750, Julien’s Auctions

A gown and headpiece Marilyn Monroe wore in the film There’s No Business Like Show Business sold for $218,750 at a Hollywood Legends auction held July 15 by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, California. Also, Chris Evans’s Captain America original hero prop Vibranium shield used in The Avengers went for $200,000; an original Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope stormtrooper helmet achieved $192,000; and a Harry Potter Nimbus 2001 broomstick flew away with $76,800.

1987 Hermes handbag, $8,125, Crescent City Auction Gallery

A circa-1987 Hermes Kelly Sellier handbag, in natural black box calf leather with gold hardware, sold for $8,125 at a Summer Estates Auction held July 15-16 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans. Also, a watercolor on paper by Alberta Kinsey (American, 1875-1952), titled Still Life with Roses, signed and framed, brought $2,250; and a limited-edition Louis Vuitton Jeff Koons Masters Van Gogh MM Neverfull printed coated canvas bag with leather accents made $4,375.

Signed B.B. King Gibson Lucille guitar, $16,800, Potter & Potter Auctions

A Gibson Lucille electric guitar signed by B.B. King, Eric Clapton and some members of King’s original band, part of King’s 70th birthday tribute concert held in Memphis in 1995, sold for $16,800 at a Pop Culture, Disneyana & Collectibles Sale held June 16 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a James Bond Secret Agent shooting attache case toy with the original box brought $3,840; and a card inscribed by Bob Marley with accompanying backstage photos rose to $3,360.

John Singer Sargent charcoal on paper, $72,000, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries

A charcoal-on-paper portrait of Sir William Headworth Williamson, 10th Baronet, by John Singer Sargent (American, British and Italian, 1856-1925) sold for $72,000 at an auction held July 8-10 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. Also, Andy Warhol’s iconic image of Marilyn Monroe, one of a series of 10 serigraphs from a 1967 portfolio, finished at $93,750; and a profile bust portrait oil painting of a young woman by Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978) realized $25,000.

Colt .41-caliber Army revolver, $19,800, Milestone Auctions

A pearl-handled Colt .41-caliber Army Special revolver sent in 1909 as a shipment of one to J.B. Crook & Co. (N.Y.), with engraving by Cuno Helfricht’s shop, sold for $19,800 at a Premier Collectible Firearms Auction held June 17-18 by Milestone Auctions in Willoughby, Ohio. Also, a Colt Model 1861 Navy revolver, manufactured in 1863, brought $18,600; and a replica Colt 1851 Navy .44-caliber gun used by Clint Eastwood in the Western film The Outlaw, Josey Wales earned $17,400.

 

William Herbert Dunton oil, $1.2 million, Coeur d’Alene

A circa-1915 oil on canvas by William Herbert Dunton (American, 1878-1936), titled Treed, sold for $1.2 million at a Coeur d’Alene Art Auction held July 23 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. It was a new auction record for the artist. Also, Philip R. Goodwin’s work Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea realized $968,000 (also a record); and Charles M. Russell’s 1925 work Mexican Vaqueros Roping a Steer hit $544,500.

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