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Published by Colin Savage, 2019-12-04 13:41:57

ANTIQUES AND THE ARTS WEEKLY

Issue 2019 12 13

December 13, 2019ȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢȢ

Published byThe Bee Publishing Company, Newtown, Connecticut INDEXES ON
PAGES 36 & 37
SUPTEhRe DBEuAsiLnEesRsSO&f TasteNewsstandRate$2.00
By Laura Beach
Edith Halpert at the Downtown Gallery, in a photograph for Life magazine in 1952. She is joined by some
NEW YORK CITY — “Occasionally an art dealer of the new American artists she was promoting that year: Charles Oscar, Robert Knipschild, Jonah Kinig-
comes along who plays such a transformative, cru- stein, Wallace Reiss, Carroll Cloar and Herbert Katzman. Photograph ©Estate of Louis Faurer.
cial role in the development of art and artistic
movements that his or her contributions call for
celebration and study. In the United States, such
art dealers as Alfred Stieglitz, Betty Parsons, Leo
Castelli and Ileana Sonnabend served as mentors
to countless contemporary artists in their time,
and their galleries were incubators of the avant-
garde. Edith Halpert is such a figure. She made
vital contributions to the growth and even the defi-
nition of American art,” Jewish Museum director
Claudia Gould writes in her foreword to Edith
Halpert: The Downtown Gallery and the Rise of
American Art, the catalog accompanying an exhibi-
tion of the same name at the Jewish Museum
through February 9.

Organizing curator and catalog author Rebecca
Shaykin began thinking about Halpert (1900-
1970) — a Russian Jewish immigrant and cham-
pion of American art, both folk and Modern, who
founded New York’s influential Downtown Gallery
— slightly more than a decade ago, after reading
journalist Lindsay Pollock’s biography of Halpert,
The Girl with the Gallery. “Halpert’s story, one of a
successful woman in the arts, really spoke to me.
After working with curator Mason Klein on the
2014-15 show ‘Helena Rubinstein: Beauty Is
Power,’ about another tour-de-force businesswom-
an, it made me think Halpert could be the center of
an exhibition here.”

Shaykin believes history has not given Halpert
her full due. Halpert might have agreed. Speaking
at a conference in 1950, nearly two and a half
decades after she opened the Downtown Gallery,
Halpert complained good-naturedly that dealers’
contributions are often overlooked. Still, it is a
stretch to say that Halpert is “all but forgotten.”

An undated photograph of a showroom of Duveen Brothers Gallery at 720 Fifth Avenue, New York City. She is regularly cited in artists’ monographs and
Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles. single-owner collection catalogs. In addition to
Pollock’s biography, which emphasizes the fine
arts, A Kind of Archeology: Collecting American
Folk Art, 1876-1976 and Making It Modern: The
Folk Art Collection of Elie and Viola Nadelman
explore the dealer’s role in shaping the market
for American folk art.

What Shaykin does in a way no one else has is
weave the disparate strands of Halpert’s career
into a cohesive whole. She does this visually, by
arraying in the Jewish Museum display roughly
100 immensely satisfying works of art, all from
Halpert’s inventory or private collection. She
does it archivally by studying the dealer’s
detailed records, now mainly at the Archives of
American Art. Shaykin’s 1926-1968 timeline of
Downtown Gallery exhibitions offers a concise
summary of the scope, trajectory and originality
of Halpert’s accomplishment.

So what made Halpert so successful? “Oh,
goodness. There are so many reasons,” says
Shaykin, enumerating Halpert’s most salient
qualities: an impeccable eye and a knack for
spotting talent; and exceptional business acu-
men, honed in retailing and banking even before
she opened the Downtown Gallery. Shaykin
adds, “She was savvy with money and knew how
to run a business. She had a strong sense of
design and pioneered the presentation of Mod-
ern and Contemporary art in a way we take for
granted today.”

Crucially, Halpert never stopped asking what
is American about American art. For her, the
answer was deeply rooted in her social and polit-
ical convictions. She took the words E pluribus
unum — out of many, one — to heart, orchestrat-

( continued on page 30 )

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Lawrence Rinder

In 2018, it came as something of a shock to
Lawrence Rinder, the current director and chief
curator of the University of California’s Berkeley
Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMP-
FA), to receive word that his museum had been
bequeathed nearly 3,000 works by Oakland,
California-based psychologist, collector and
scholar Eli Leon. After what is almost certainly one of the largest gifts of African American art ever donated to
a museum, Antiques and The Arts Weekly wanted to catch up with Rinder to get a better handle on what the gift
entails, how he is managing it and what it will mean to his museum.

Is the Eli Leon gift entirely quilts? Do you know when he started acquir- Is there a work that you consider
ing quilts? singularly important — one that
No, it also includes embroideries, assemblages, ap- particularly stands out from the rest
pliques and other textiles, including a number of He started acquiring quilts in the 1970s but started of the collection?
African (i.e. Kuba) pieces. Also, a number of his own to focus on African American quilts in the 1980s.
artworks: Eli was an accomplished graphic designer The overall quality of the collection is extremely
and made a number of iconic works in the late 1960s. How far into cataloging the collection high. There are exceptional works by many artists.
are you? When do you expect to be To me, Rosie Lee Tompkins’s Untitled (1986),
What kind of works did he make? Are completed? which I refer to as the Blue Medallion, is a work of
they quilts as well? tremendous and unusual artistic power.
We have not yet begun to catalog the collection. We
Eli was a graphic designer. He designed posters, in- are applying for grants now that will enable us to Will some of the collection go on per-
cluding one for the UC Berkeley Centenary in 1968. hire a cataloguer. However, Eli did catalog them, and manent display?
we have access to his extensive records. We just need
How is BAMPFA uniquely suited to to bring his records into alignment with our format. No, BAMPFA does not have permanent displays
be the recipient of such a gift? of its collection. We display our collection in the
What are some of the surprises of the context of temporary special exhibitions. Currently,
Eli chose BAMPFA for this gift because he knew that collection? two major exhibitions drawing on the Leon collec-
we would appreciate the works as fine art and not see tion are planned.
them as solely craft or “outsider” art. Also, perhaps, I was surprised by the inclusion of a number of his-
because so many of the artists in his collection lived torical works, including pieces made by artists who Did BAMPFA have a sizeable collec-
and worked in the East Bay. were born into slavery, such as Hattie Mitchell and tion of African American quilts prior
Monin Brown. We have several exceptional works by to Leon’s gift?
Was the bequest really a surprise…or these remarkable sisters. Also somewhat surprising
did you have an inkling Leon’s collec- is the sheer scale. For example, there are more than No, we owned a single piece, by Rosie Lee Tomp-
tion would come to you? 400 individual artists and 500 works by Rosie Lee kins.
Tompkins alone.
It was a complete surprise. —Madelia Hickman Ring

What drove Leon to collect these
works?

Eli loved them, as works of art. He was also driven by
a scholarly interest in continuities between African
aesthetics (especially Kuba textiles) and African
American quilts. So, he often collected as a way of
studying these connections.

Emma Hall, “Double Wedding Ring,” circa 1940. Cotton Rosie Lee Tompkins, Untitled, 1996; quilted by Irene Bankhead, 1996. Cotton, cotton flannel, cotton
broadcloth; 70 by 71 inches. Sharon Risedorph photo. feed sack, linen, rayon, flocked satin, velvet, cotton-synthetic blend, cotton-acrylic jersey,

acrylic double-weave, cotton-polyester, polyester double-knit, acrylic and cotton tapestry, silk batik,
polyester velour, rayon or acrylic embroidery on cotton, wool, needlepoint,
shisha-mirror embroidery; 88 by 146 inches. Sharon Risedorph photo.

2 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019 Auction/Show Calendars - Page 36 INDEX - Page 37

Paginated by don
P:\A&A Ads\11-29-19\schwenke 1 x 2 indd.
picked up from 1-4-19, 2-22-19, 3-1-19,
3-22-19, 5-24-19, 6-28-19, 10-18-19,

email proof to:
[email protected]
and [email protected]

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 3

History & The Passenger Pigeon: A Lesson To Be Learned

HATFIELD, PENN — On December 12, pressure on the species as well as defores- Theodore Roosevelt and his family. Shoe-
at its fine and decorative arts auction, tation of the pigeon’s breeding and nesting maker espoused Teddy Roosevelt’s ideas on
Alderfer Auction will offer to the highest grounds sent their population numbers conservation and was well-known in his
bidder a relic of the past that holds a valu- into a downward spiral. The last known own right for supporting various conserva-
able moral in today’s world. The item that surviving passenger pigeon died at 1 pm on tion ideals in Pennsylvania. The presenta-
is being offered for sale is a display case September 1, 1914. In less than 100 years, tion of this case may have been a represen-
containing various items used to trap the species had gone from billions to tation of what can go wrong if man’s
pigeons in the mid-Nineteenth Century. extinct. actions go unchecked in a fragile environ-
Items included in the frame include a ment.
whistle, cord and other tools to make nets Many of the items in the case belonged to
to trap pigeons. Jacob Weisel (1802-1884) a pigeoneer/trap- In today’s news of threatened species,
per who lived north of Williamsport, Penn. unchecked pollution, global climate change
The pigeons that were being trapped The documentation states that many of and quests for environmental “responsibil-
were not the pigeons that one feeds in the these items were used in the 1850s. The ity,” these framed relics serve as evidence
park, but the passenger pigeon, a migrato- items themselves were collected by Charles and a warning to future generations.
ry pigeon indigenous to North America H. Eldon (1852-1930), a taxidermist from
that numbered in the billions in the Nine- Williamsport. Eldon mounted these items The Nineteenth Century framed group-
teenth Century. This bird became a cheap for display and presented them to Henry ing of pigeon capture will be sold on
and readily available source of food that Wharton Shoemaker (1880-1958) several December 12. The two-day event of Collec-
could be shipped from the countryside to years after the last passenger pigeon had tor’s December 11 and fine art December
the growing cities of eastern North Ameri- died. Shoemaker was a Pennsylvania 12 auctions will be conducted live at 501
ca. In the Nineteenth Century, the trap- “renaissance” man who excelled as a writ- Fairgrounds Road in Hatfield, along with
ping/hunting of these birds was commer- er, folklorist, historian, diplomat and sol- catalog viewing and online bidding at
cialized to meet that demand. This extreme dier. His family was well-acquainted with www.alderferauction.com. For information,
215-393-3000.

Noguchi Foundation Launches Digital Archive, Updates Catalogue Raisonné

QUEENS, N.Y. — The Isamu has long served as a model for ing the discovery of several sig- able to confirm as by the artist. linked with editorial features.
Noguchi Foundation and Garden artist foundations and other nificant artworks that were Moreover, completed research on The Isamu Noguchi Foundation
Museum (The Noguchi Museum) organizations undertaking simi- assumed to have been lost or objects, bibliographic citations,
has announced the digital launch lar initiatives. This latest update destroyed, as well as the identifi- and exhibitions will now be and Garden Museum is at 9-01
of the Isamu Noguchi Archive includes new research on Nogu- cation of a group of previously linked to any associated archival 33rd Road. For information, 718-
and an update of The Isamu chi’s artworks and exhibitions unknown artworks that the cata- documentation held in the Isamu 204-7088 or www.noguchi.org.
Noguchi Catalogue Raisonné. from the 1920s and 1930s, includ- logue raisonné project is now Noguchi Archive, and cross- The digital catalog is at cata-
Together, these major initiatives logue.noguchi.org.
significantly expand the muse-
um’s newly redesigned web pres-
ence, while making a vast trove
of resources on the art and life of
Isamu Noguchi accessible to the
public.

Noguchi Museum Board Chair
Malcolm Nolen states, “The
Noguchi Museum is devoted to
increasing awareness and under-
standing of Noguchi’s multifari-
ous achievements over a six-
decade career. Making this rich
cache of materials widely acces-
sible, just days from the artist’s
115th birthday, goes a very long
way toward achieving that. The
museum is deeply grateful to the
Henry Luce Foundation, which
generously supported this under-
taking with a crucial grant. This
leadership support joins an
extraordinary gift from Tsuneko
and the late Shoji Sadao to estab-
lish and sustain the Catalogue
Raisonné.

Museum director Brett Litt-
man adds, “The materials that
are now available to everyone
with access to the internet mani-
fest the protean, interdisciplin-
ary nature of Noguchi’s work.
They will not only enlighten
those who browse the digital
archive and catalogue raisonné,
but it will also inform the muse-
um’s programming as new ideas
and directions take form. Deep-
est thanks to the past and pres-
ent members of the museum’s
staff who made this happen and
who will carry the project for-
ward.”

The digital launch of the Isamu
Noguchi Archive represents the
completion of a major multiyear
project. More than 60,000 unique
items are now available online.
These include more than 28,000
photographs documenting Nogu-
chi’s artworks, exhibitions and
studios, as well as the influential
figures he knew and worked with
and never-before-seen personal
photographs documenting his
global travels. Other archival
materials include correspon-
dence, exhibition and project
records, press clippings and
architectural drawings and
plans, as well as extensive new
documentation of objects and
artifacts that Noguchi collected
during his lifetime.

First launched in 2011, the digi-
tal Isamu Noguchi Catalogue
Raisonné is the authoritative
resource for research and general
interest regarding Noguchi’s
artistic practice. As an early
adopter of the digital catalogue
raisonné format, the publication

4 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

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December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 5

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6 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

Swann Illustration Art Sale, Dec. 10, Packed With Classics

Tom H. John, “Emerald City,” mixed media, a pair of set
designs for the 1975 Broadway production of The Wiz
($2,5/3,500).

NEW YORK CITY — Swann Suey” cover illustration for the Charles Addams, “Nevermore,” watercolor, Ernest H. Shepard, “He Led Them into the
Galleries’ sale of illustration art August 27, 1927, issue ink and correction fluid, cartoon for The Chalk-Pit, Till they Stood at the Very Foot,”
on Tuesday, December 10, will ($4/6,000). New Yorker, 1973 ($12/18,000). pen and ink, illustration for Kenneth Gra-
feature a selection of original hame’s Bertie’s Escapade, 1949 ($10/15,000).
works. Highlights include an Familiar faces abound in an
array of theater set designs by offering of original works from ‘New Yorker’ Cartoon Of Poe By
some of the most recognizable children’s literature. Ernest H. Charles Addams Leads The Sale
names in the genre, classic illus- Shepard’s 1949 pen-and-ink
trations from children’s litera- drawing for the timeless Christ- time — is estimated at scenic designer is available with mentary and descriptions by
ture, as well as illustrations for mas story Bertie’s Escapade by $10/15,000. Additional designs the first color study produced for Gorey ($8/12,000) and Ballet in
The New Yorker. Kenneth Grahame is present by Seuss feature an original the award-winning 1947 produc- a Nutshell, published in the Jan-
($10/15,000). A run of works advertisement intended for bill- tion of A Street Car Named uary 1974 issue of Dance Maga-
Leading the sale is Charles from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in board and print ads for Holly Desire, signed and inscribed by zine ($7/10,000).
Addams’s “Nevermore” for Octo- Wonderland includes three Sugar (featuring a somewhat the designer ($7/10,000), as well
ber 29, 1973, issue of The New works from D.R. Sexton’s 1933 skeptical-looking Grinch-like as the design for Scene IV of the Notable fashion advertise-
Yorker. The cartoon, picturing edition, most notably a flapper character munching on a tart 1929 play The Red General ments and cover designs include
Edgar Allan Poe as he struggles Alice with the hookah-smoking blueberry pie), expected to bring ($6/9,000). Tom H. John is pres- Julie Castillo’s 1992 original ad
to find the perfect voice for his caterpillar ($3/4,000), as well as $7/10,000. ent with a run of whimsical set for Polo Ralph Lauren Stadium
famous narrative poem, is set to Harry Rountree’s 1901 illustra- designs for the 1975 Broadway Competition series clothing line
come across the block at tion featuring the queen Two original four-panel Pea- production of the African Ameri- ($1/1,500); Gerda Wegener is
$12,/18,000. Addams’s adver- ($6/9,000). H.A. Rey’ watercolor nuts cartoons by Charles Schulz can cast of The Wiz: Emerald available with two circa 1920
tisement for Chivas Regal scotch and gouache work for Rafi et les mark the high point of the com- City ($2,5/3,500), Land of the pen and ink drawings likely for
whisky published in the Febru- 9 singes — the first book to ics section. The first features Munchkins ($2/3,000), Funky Gyraldose or Malaceïne toilet-
ary 29, 1964, issue of The New introduce Curious George — Linus and Lucy contemplating Monkey ($1/1,500) and an ries ($700-$1,000); and Georges
Yorker is estimated $5/7,500. depicts Cecily Giraffe smiling as how one measures a star in a assortment of 22 set designs and Lepape’s “Sur la Terrasse,” the
monkeys ski down her long neck strip published on November 21, backdrops ($2,5/3,000). Also cover illustration for the May 10,
Further selections from the ($10/15,000). Also available is 1961, while the second, pub- available by the artist are a 1930, issue of Vogue ($8/12,000).
sale’s distinct assortment of New Ludwig Bemelmans, with sketch lished on May 9, 1963, is signed group of four set designs for the
Yorker works include current of Miss Clavel in a garden with and inscribed and portrays 1976 Broadway revival of Guys Exhibition opens on December
contributors: a group of two car- Madeline and the Eiffel Tower Patty and Charlie Brown (each and Dolls ($3/4,000). 5 & 6, 10 am to 6 pm; December
toons by Sara Lautman pub- in the background ($6/9,000). $8/12,000). 7, noon to 5 pm; December 9, 10
lished in the February 11 and Works from the collection of am to 6 pm; December 10, 10 am
July 1, 2019, issues and Emily Dr Seuss’s 1937 calendar Tom H. John and Jo Mielziner the Edward Gorey Charitable to noon.
Flake’s “Hang On—I’ll Uber Us watercolor illustration “It’s our take center stage in an offering Trust include costume designs
a School Bus,” published in the first … don’t you think it looks of theatrical set designs. Follow- for a 1975 production of the sec- Swann Auction Galleries is at
May 23, 2016, issue ($1/1,500, like George?” for the Thomas D. ing up on the record-setting sale ond act of Swan Lake with com- 104 East 25th Street. For more
each). Offered alongside these Murphy Co — the largest color of Mielziner this past spring, the information, 212-254-4710 or
works is Ilonka Karasz’s “Chop project of Seuss’s career at the www.swanngalleries.com.

In Time For Holidays, James R. Bakker Antiques’
Annual Online Auction Ends December 14
PROVINCETOWN, MASS. — Carson, Oliver Chaffee, Arthur others.
Arthur Diehl, “Cape Cod Dunes.” James R. Bakker Antiques Inc Diehl, Harvey Dodd, Harold White-line woodcuts by
Margaret Patterson, “Spring Flowers.” will hold its Annual December Lund, Ray Nolin, Alvin Ross
Online Fine Arts auction fea- and Taro Yamamoto. A lifetime Kathryn Lee Smith are on the
turing paintings, photography collection of Donald Witherst- block; she learned the single
and memorabilia from the ine woodblocks and etchings block print technique devel-
estate of Patrick Manning, a will be offered. oped in Provincetown from her
distinguished Provincetown grandmother, Ferol Warthen,
family collection, a Maine gen- Provincetown women artists whose work will also be offered
tleman and other private col- are well represented with in the sale. Other woodblocks
lections closing on invaluable. paintings by Ada Gilmore, by Provincetown printers up
com on Saturday, December Dorothy Lake Gregory, Ada for bid include Mildred McMil-
14. Rayner, Selina Trieff and len, Margaret Patterson and
Nancy Whorf. The sale also William Zorach.
A strong selection of master- includes paintings by John
works from the Provincetown Dowd and Anne Packard as Contemporary white-line
Art Colony includes paintings well as other works by contem- prints offered include works
and works on paper by Frank porary Provincetown artists by Sally Brophy, Ruth Hogan,
Anne Packard, “White Sail.” Michael Davis, T.J. Walton and Pam Jason and Lorraine Kuja-
Ferol Warthen, “Tree Candle.” wa. An interesting selection of
previously unknown drawings
by Louis Eilshemius, Philip
Evergood and Walt Kuhn
comes from a Provincetown
family collection and should
generate strong bidding activ-
ity.

A collection of contemporary
photographs and posters by
Steph Gorkii, Don Herron,
Robert Mapplethorpe and
Robert Motherwell and a col-
lection of Provincetown post-
cards and other historical pho-
tographs rounds out the sale
with something for everyone.

For additional information,
www.bakkerproject.com or
508-413-9758.

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 7

Rare Army Of Tennessee Confederate Battle Flag
Expected To Bring $40/60,000 On Dec. 10

Rare Ames US Model 1840 Corps of Engineers sword, blade length 31¾ inches. Provenance: Collection of George M.
Rapport ($15/20,000).
Maximilian-type closed helmet in the style of 1540, fluted one-piece skull and forged/pierced visor. Possibly of the
period ($5/8,000).

Morphy’s To Host Sale Of Edged
Weapons, Armor & Militaria

DENVER, PENN. — Wars Topographical Engineers of a curiosity than the Maximil-
have woven a continual thread claimed among their alumni ian-type closed helmet in the
throughout recorded history, the Civil War generals Robert style of 1540. Its design incor-
and as nations have risen or E. Lee and George B. McClel- porates a fluted one-piece skull
fallen in defeat, their historical lan. An Ames Topographical and forged and pierced visor.
artifacts have been lost or Civil War saber, whose pattern Possibly of the period, it is simi-
severely depleted. A desire to was a modification of the 1833 lar to helmets seen in museums
own and preserve relics that Dragoon Officer’s saber, is through the United States and
played a role in critical conflicts etched on its blade with the Europe ($5/8,000).
is why so many history buffs Topographical Engineers’ Henry Cassidy’s Army of Tennessee Confederate battle flag,
worldwide collect weaponry name, several American sym- Grandly embellished, a Prus- cotton-wool with side strips of white cotton. Vibrant colors.
and militaria. Morphy Auctions’ bols and acorn and oak-leaf sian artillery general’s helmet One of only two known examples in private hands
next edged weapons, armor and scrolls ($15/25,000). known as a “kugelhelm” has a ($40/60,000).
militaria sale is slated for A Philadelphia silver-hilt black leather body with gold-
December 10, beginning at 9 sword is lavishly adorned with tone fittings and a dominant banners are extremely rare, tioned at Christie’s East in May
am. a bird-head pommel with a styl- spread-winged eagle with and only a couple of survivors 1986.
ized relief four-pointed star, sword and Prussian Garde star are known to exist ($30/50,000).
Swords and sabers with dis- C-scrolls and graduating bell- at its front. The helmet’s design Morphy’s Auctions is at 2000
tinguished provenance will be flowers. The knuckle bow is is notable for the distinctive The highlight of the armor North Reading Road. For more
in plentiful supply. A rare US deeply engraved with relief knob-form finial at its crest section is a Nineteenth Century information, 877-968-8880 or
Model 1840 officer’s sword was rococo ornamentation, includ- ($6,5/9,000). Scottish 3-pounder bronze www.morphyauctions.com.
originally issued to a member naval cannon on its original
of the small, elite Corps of Engi- ing military motifs and flags. Two rare Confederate flags exhibition carriage ($6/12,000).
neers, which drew top gradu- The sword is depicted in the are expected to land in the top Cast by Miller and Pearce,
ates from West Point. They book American Silver-Hilted, ten. One of them, an 1862 Army Glasgow, it measures 51.5 inch-
played a key role in America’s Revolutionary and Early Feder- of Tennessee Confederate Bat- es long and was previously dis-
security, building forts and al Swords and comes from the tle Flag, was discovered some played at the entrance to Dr
undertaking public projects, as personal collection of its author, years ago in Bristol, Va. Seven Jack Strassman’s residence in
well as mapping the country’s Daniel D. Hartzler, complete flags of its type are thought to Altoona, Penn. Dr Strassman’s
westward expansion. “There with its elaborately decorated exist from the original 132 that firearms collection was auc-
were only 39 engineer officers repoussé scabbard ($8/15,000). were produced. Of those seven,
at the time of this sword’s pro- Ames’ US Model 1840 cavalry five are held in institutional
duction, so it was a scarce item officer’s saber is a type that was collections. Only two remain in
from day one,” said Dan Mor- used in the Mexican War and private hands, the example in
phy, founder and president of early Indian Wars on the plains Morphy’s sale being one of them
Morphy Auctions. Its 31¾-inch but also was preferred by some ($40/60,000).
blade is etched N.P. Ames/Cut- Civil War cavalry officers for its
ler/Springfield and US Corps of heavier blade and construction. The second banner of special
Engineers, along with trophy It is profusely etched with mili- note is a Washington Light
arms and a US flag. It was for- tary, floral, US and other motifs, Artillery presentation Confed-
merly in the collection of George including the image of an erate battle flag whose prove-
M. Rapport ($15/20,000). American Indian with a raised nance states that it was made
tomahawk ($10/20,000). by “the ladies of Augusta (Ga.)”
Similar in objective but a sep- Among the many pieces of in the second year of the Civil
arate organization from the headgear, perhaps none is more War for presentation to Lieu-
Engineers Corps, the respected tenant John Henry Neibling by
his unit. Georgia post-Civil War

Rubell Museum Inaugurates New Campus Installation

MIAMI — The Rubell Muse- another and deep dives into each other. In retracing our
um’s new campus opened individual careers, tracing steps, we hope visitors will dis-
December 4 with a museum- influences and revealing par- cover, as we did, that creativity
wide installation of works that allels among contemporaries thrives where artists energize
chronicle key artists, moments, and across generations. each other’s practices, and
and movements in vital arts Installed within the museum’s wrestle with shared issues and
centers over the past 50 years, 40 galleries and its public artmaking in new ways.”
from the East Village to Bei- spaces, highlights from the
jing, Los Angeles to Leipzig, installation include works The Rubell Museum is
and São Paulo to Tokyo. The acquired by the Rubells very housed in six former industrial
inaugural exhibition encom- early in artists’ careers, a sur- buildings in Allapattah that
passes more than 300 works by vey of German artists, works have been connected and
100 artists, providing one of commissioned by the Rubells transformed by Selldorf Archi-
the most far-ranging museum from their artist-in-residence tects and unfolds on a single
exhibitions of contemporary program, extensive installa- level, without stairs or an ele-
art ever presented. Drawn tions of contemporary Los vator, to make it accessible to
entirely from their expansive Angeles artists, three immer- all. Eighty percent of the
collection of more than 7,200 sive installations by Yayoi 100,000-square-foot campus
works by more than 1,000 art- Kusama, five galleries dedicat- will be open to the public and
ists, the exhibition features ed to New York appropriation includes 53,000 square feet of
defining and seminal works by artists of the early 1980s and a gallery space, flexible perfor-
artists whom the Rubells selection of works from the 100 mance space, an extensive art
championed as they were first studio visits the Rubells made research library, a bookstore,
emerging (often becoming the in China between 2001 and and an indoor/outdoor restau-
first collectors to acquire their 2012. rant that opens onto a court-
work) and those who had been yard garden. Designed by La
overlooked. The new Rubell “For more than 50 years, we Casona Garden in collabora-
Museum is located in the Alla- have been on an incredible tion with Juan Roselione-Vala-
pattah neighborhood of Miami, mission: searching for new art dez, the garden was conceived
less than a mile from its origi- and art that has been over- of as a restoration project
nal home in Wynwood. The looked. Now, with the opening using plants, many now rare
new space is closer to down- of the new Rubell Museum, we and threatened due to habitat
town and readily accessible via will be able to share the loss, native to the Everglades
public transportation. remarkable range of art we fell and the Florida Keys. The gar-
in love with along the way,” den, with its birds and butter-
Retracing the Rubells’ jour- stated Mera Rubell. “Rather flies, creates a welcoming
neys to both major and emerg- than presenting a single nar- entry to the Museum.
ing art centers around the rative or survey, we wanted to
world, the inaugural exhibi- let the many voices that con- The Rubell Museum is at
tion includes surveys of artists tribute to contemporary art 1100 Northwest 23rd Street.
working in proximity to one speak for themselves and with For information, 305-573-6090
or www.rfc.museum.

8 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019 COMPILED BY
ANTIQUES ANDTHE ARTS WEEKLY
Notable Prices Recently Achieved At Various Auction Houses
STAFF AND CORRESPONDENTS
Across The Block All prices

Signed Photograph Of Albert Einstein include buyer’s premium.
Rises To $20,000 At Doyle
NEW YORK CITY — Doyle’s rare books, auto- Little River Knife From Archaic Period
graphs and maps auction on November 12 offered Scores At Premiere Auctions
a broad selection of material, from incunabula to
modern first editions, color-plate books and livres ASHLAND, OHIO — Rare style, beautiful
d’artistes, illustration art and autographs. High- material and perfectly flaked, a Little River knife
lighting the from the personal collection of the late archaeolo-
sale was a pho- gist and noted author Gregory Perino sold for
tograph of $5,500 at Premiere Auctions Group’s Indian arti-
Albert Einstein fact auction on November 16. The large, perfect
signed by him condition flint knife was found in southwest
in Berlin, Sep- Arkansas and is made from high quality Novacu-
tember 1927, lite. Deaccessioned by the Museum of Native
Rodin Sculpture Seals which achieved American History, Bentonville, Ark., this relic is
Bonhams Sale With ‘The Kiss’ $20,000, many from the Middle to Late Archaic Period, circa
NEW YORK CITY —A Rodin sculpture was times its esti- 3000/1000 BCE. For information, 419-207-8787
among the top lots at Bonhams’ Impressionist mate of or www.premiereauctionsgroup.com.
and Modern art sale on November 12. Auguste $4/6,000. In
Rodin’s sculpture, “Le Baiser, 4ème réduction 1927, Einstein Il Guercino Leads Old Master Drawings
ou petit modèle (The Kiss)” sold for $350,075. was at the At Swann Galleries
“Le Baiser,” one of the most significant repre- height of his
sentations of all-consuming and undying love, powers. He had NEW YORK CITY —Swann Galleries’s sale of
was conceived in 1886 and cast circa 1904. been elected a Old Master draw-
This sculpture was cast in bronze by the Alexis corresponding ings on November
Rudier Foundry in 1945 in an edition of 21. member of the 5 brought original
Other highlights from the sale included Henri Bavarian Acad- works, studies
Le Sidaner’s “Neige,” 1924, oil on canvas, sell- emy of Sciences in February, and the month after and preparatory
ing for $375,075, and Alberto Giacometti’s he signed this image, he would attend the fifth drawings from
intense psychological 1957 portrait of Igor Solvay International Conference on Electrons and the most sought-
Stravinsky, the brilliant composer from the col- Photons in Brussels in October, where he would after European
lection of an esteemed American conductor famously debate with Niels Bohr against the lat- draughtsmen
Robert Craft, bringing $112,575. For informa- ter’s formulation (created with Heisenberg and from the past sev-
tion, 212-644-9001 or www.bonhams.com. Pauli) of the Copenhagen interpretation of quan- eral centuries.
tum mechanics. For information, 212-427-4141 or Leading the auc-
www.Doyle.com. tion was Il Guer-
cino’s late-1640s
Humpback Pintail Drake Flies Highest ‘Common Sense’ Prevails red chalk study of
For Guyette & Deeter In Skinner’s Online Auction St Gregory being
BOSTON — Published in 1776, Thomas Paine’s greeted by a dove
EASTON, MD. — A Humpback style pintail by (1737-1809) Common Sense challenged the — likely a draw-
the Ward Brothers of Crisfield, Md., was the authority of the British government and the royal ing related to an unfulfilled commission for a
highest flier at Guyette & Deeter’s November painting of the saint. “The Holy Spirit Appearing
6-7 sale, winging its way to $72,000. The decoy, monarchy. The to St Gregory” sold for $21,250. Todd Weyman,
which was signed by Lem Ward and dated 1926, plain language the house’s director of prints and drawings,
had been made for Maryland State Senator that Paine used noted, “This incredible selection of drawings,
Elwood Dize, a noted decoy collector. The decoy, spoke to the com- together with the Old Master prints from the
which carried an estimate of $70/90,000, sold to mon people of previous week’s auction, combined for a total of
a buyer in the room. Speaking after the sale, America and was nearly $1.3 million, a very strong showing for
Gary Guyette said that the Ward Brothers’ pro- the first work to the Old Masters overall.” For information,
duction took off in the 1930s, and decoys they openly ask for www.swanngalleries.com or 212-254-4710.
carved in the 1920s are rare. For information, independence
410-745-0485 or www.guyetteanddeeter.com. from Great Brit- Rare Album Of Asian Photos Surfaces
ain. Subtitled At Flannery’s
Addressed to the
Inhabitants of PINE BUSH, N.Y. — On November 18, Flan-
America, a copy of nery’s Estate Services sold a rare leather-bound
this famous pam- folio album of approximately 60 albumen prints
phlet sold at Skin- from Indonesia, China and Japan, circa 1880.
ner’s online books Bidding opened at $1,100 and finished at
and manuscripts $12,500. The images included villages, people,
sale, November landscapes and even an execution. The center of
11-17, for $28,290. The first Norwich, Conn., edi- the album included ten images that were in color.
tion, octavo, had been reprinted from the Philadel- According to Marianne Flannery, this discovery
phia edition and sold by Judah P. Spooner, and by was found in upstate New York among a collec-
T. Green, New-London, 1776. For information, tion of family antiques that had been stored
www.skinnerinc.com or 617-350-5400. away since the 1960s. Flannery’s is a full-service
auction house specializing in estate collections
Steuben ‘Balloon Rally’ and their valuation. For information, 845-744-
Goes Up, Up & Away At Nadeau’s 2233 or www.flannerysestateservices.com.
EAST WINDSOR, CONN. — A Bernard X. Wolff
Steuben “Balloon Rally,” glass sculpture depict-
ing hot-air balloons
with fitted red
leather case rose to
$3,493 at Nadeau’s
St Louis Modernist Exceeds custom mahogany,
Selkirk Expectations contemporary, fine
art and decorative
ST LOUIS, MO. — A Modernist landscape accessories auction
titled “Near Vernon Blvd” by St Louis regional on November 16.
artist Arthur Osver (1912-2006) made nearly six Wolff, an associate
times its estimate when it sold to a private col- design director at
lector bidding online for $5,938. It was one of Steuben, was
the top sellers in Selkirk Auctioneers & Apprais- involved in the
ers November 9 sale and had been estimated at firm’s new, sparer
$1/3,000. Commenting after the sale, a spokes- look emerging from
person for Selkirk’s said it was a great painting the glassworks.
by a highly prized regional artist who was an This decorative
art instructor at Washington University in St sculpture measured
Louis from 1960-83. His popularity can also be 10 inches high and
attributed to the recent publication of a book 5¼ inches wide. For
about the artist: Arthur Osver: Urban Land- information, www.
scape, Abstraction, and the Mystique of Place nadeausauction.com
(May 2018). For information, 314-696-9041 or or 860-246-2444.
www.selkirkauctions.com.

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 9

Gianguan’s December 17 Sale Is A Wonderland Of Gifts

Eighteenth Century Qing silk summer robe, embroidered
with dragon and 12 symbols of imperial royalty.

Tang group of three Apsara (deity assistants) table-top Cheng Shifa, “Spring,” 1963, ing to the power of the Dazhai and 13 inches tall with propor-
sculptures. hanging scroll. movement after the “Gang of tionate width. They are expect-
Four” had been apprehended. ed to fetch upwards of $150,000.
NEW YORK CITY — A collec- For aficionados of Chinese of the Chinese march to artistic Dated 1963, it may soar to
tion of Chinese paintings and seals, the highlight lot is a set of perfection. Of tubular form with around $300,000. Live previews begin on Satur-
art designed to express the four jade seals with tiger heads a center band, the upper half day, December 7, and run
importance of a gift — be it per- atop rectangular bases. Incised and covers are reticulated, con- Li Keran (1907-1989), beloved through Sunday, December 15,
sonal or business-related — will on the bottom are the titles of trasting linear with curvilinear for his paintings of shepherds 10 am to 7 pm. The day-of-auc-
grace Gianguan Auctions’ 17th Eastern Han generals, and it form. The lower half is incised and water buffalo, provides an tion preview closes at 5 pm.
annual Holiday Sale on Mon- starts at $40,000. with Kui dragons, zoomorphic atypical breath of his mettle in
day, December 16. forms and masks. Set atop a “Resounding Waterfalls.” The Gianguan Auctions is at West
A collection of crow-skin seals, double form base on supporting dark, towering landscape bro- 56th Street. For information,
The auction opens with 50 lots jade, jixue, red furong and tian- feet, the 8-inch-tall pair has an ken by a pale house on one www.gianguanauctions.com or
of carved jade pendants, brace- huang stone are small but estimate of $50,000 or more. level and its bridge on another 212-867-7288.
lets and necklaces in white, mighty artistic achievements. is remarkable for waterfalls
apple green, lavender, coral red, Overall, values range from Personal items include a that tumble from an unseen
yellow and classic suffusions. about $1,000 to around $3,000. brush washer carved from a heights to lowland rocks. The
Many are carved with auspi- mottled spinach green boulder lot is expected to break
cious Chinese symbols. Others Zisha clay, prized for absorp- that accentuates light green $200,000.
make a strong statement in tion properties that add subtle- hues. Featuring four flaming
form alone. ty to flavors, are a Gianguan dragons amidst fluffy clouds, A group of three gilt-silver
Auctions specialty. The day’s the Ming treasure is valued at Apsara sculptures capture the
Jewelry collectors will appre- highlight is a set of nine molded upwards of $3,000. Also, of rare graceful femininity of the
ciate a court necklace that fea- pots, each decorated with two light green tones is an archaic- attendant to deities. The Tang
tures 108 pink jade beads even- luohans engaged in an appro- style reed vase with carved group exhibit brilliant patinas
ly interspersed with larger lapis priate activity. All are topped landscapes and beast-head han- and are each between 8 inches
lazuli rounds. In the center, a with a longevity peach and have dles. It has an opening bid of
lapis lazuli double-gourd floats handles and spouts shaped like $2,500.
above a beiyun, “back cloud.” a peach tree trunk. The artist
The piece is weighted with mark is that of Jiang Rong. The A collection of Chinese paint-
three strands of blue jade beads set is estimated at about $3,000. ings — the ultimate heritage
above droplets of lapis lazuli gift — leads with “Breakoff” by
and could reach $15,000. Connoisseurs of Chinese Yuan dynasty master Zhao
carved jades will dwell on a col- Mengfu. Zhao advocated a
By the Eighteenth Century, lection that includes both sig- return to a more traditional
the Qing had produced a book of nificant works of art and schol- style of calligraphy that ran
protocol titled the Illustrated ars items. The marquee jade is through the Wei and Jin dynas-
Catalogue of Ritual Parapher- a massive, open-work sculpture ties. “Breakoff,” epitomizing the
nalia. Yellow, reserved for the of nine cranes amidst lingzhi success of his efforts has a pre-
Chinese royal family, was con- and pines — symbols of longev- sale value of $1 million or more.
sidered the most auspicious of ity. The white, translucent stone
colors. Seldom does a yellow has a soft finish and sits on a From Cheng Shifa (1921-
summer robe come to auction. carved wooden base. At 13-inch- 2007) comes “Spring, “a bold
This one is heavily embroidered es tall, the 34-inch-long sculp- interpretation of a rural couple
with a five-clawed front facing ture signifies perfection of line on a tractor, laden with pack-
dragon and the 12 symbols of and craft and starts at $360,000. ages, making their way through
imperial royalty. It opens with a a blizzard. The image pops with
bid of $50,000. A pair of Han reticulated jade bright reds and greens, speak-
censers allude to the evolution

The Season Of Wonderment
At Lyman Allyn Art Museum
NEW LONDON, CONN. — The Lyman Allyn adults can find a zoo’s worth of animals in a
Art Museum’s Season of Wonderment presents its “Grand Menagerie”-themed I-Spy activity. Once
newest family-friendly exhibit, “Grand Menager- the exploring is complete, everyone will head to
ie: Animals in Art!” Throughout November and the studio to sculpt their own exotic animals out of
December, an array of activities and programs clay. The event price is $15 for adults, $12 for kids
will provide holiday fun for the whole family. and free for children 3 and under. Full payment is
From the earliest cave draw- required at the time of reser-
ings to the sleekest modern vation. Space is limited, so call
art, the animal world has 860-443-2545, extension 2129
always been a source of inspi- to reserve a spot.
ration. Discover a zoo’s worth Free First Saturday is
of animals existing within the December 7, 10 am to 5 pm.
museum’s collection — in Spend a winter day exploring
paintings, ceramics, sculp- the museum and joining
ture, drawings, bronze, tex- instructors in the art studio
tiles and more. There are from 11 am to 1 pm to create
more than 50 artworks and snowstorm paintings. Free
artifacts on display from the admission for everyone all
museum’s collection and day.
interactive fun for all ages. Science Saturday is slated
The exhibit is on view through for December 21, 11 am to 1
January 26. pm. Create a river of cascad-
Cupcakes & Cocoa Family ing colors during this exciting
Parties run December 1, 8 frozen rainbow eruption activ-
and 15, from 1 to 3 pm. The ity. Free with admission.
fun-filled afternoon begins The Lyman Allyn Museum
with a hot chocolate bar and Morris Berd, “Boy with a Bird,” is at 625 Williams Street. For
festive treats in the Hendel circa 1947, oil on canvas. Gift of information, 860-443-2545 or
Library. After, children and Harold Kaye, 1952. www.lymanallyn.org.

Newtown Bee_February_2018_2x6.indd 1 10/25/18 2:53 PM

10 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

Phillips Exhibits Sant’s Promised Nabi Gift
WASHINGTON, DC — The Phillips
Ker-Xavier Roussel, “Le jardin (The Garden)” 1894, exe- Collection presents, “Bonnard to Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, “Cover for L’Estampe originale,
cuted by Tiffany & Co, in 1895, marbled and stained Vuillard: The Intimate Poetry of Album I, publiée par les Journal des Artistes,” 1893, Lith-
glass, 15½ by 23-5/8 inches. Everyday Life — The Nabi Collection ograph printed in six colors on folded wove paper, 23 by
of Vicki and Roger Sant.” This pre- 32-5/8 inches.
Pierre Bonnard, “Le marabout et les quatre grenouilles sentation, planned in conjunction
(The Stork and the Four Frogs),” 1889, three-panel with a major promised gift of art Félix Vallotton, “Scène de rue (Street Scene),” 1895, oil on
screen, distemper on canvas, 62¾ by 21½ inches. from Vicki and Roger Sant, features cardboard, 10¼ by 13-3/8 inches.
more than 70 rarely-seen paintings
Maurice Denis, “Mère et enfant (Mother and and works on paper as well as two All images Phillips Collection,
Child),” 1898, oil on canvas, 18 by 15 inches. major print portfolios from one of the the promised gift of Vicki and Roger Sant
Aristide Maillol, “La Ramasseuse d’herbes finest private collections of Nabi art Maurice Denis, “Les Musiciennes (Musicians),” 1895, oil
(Herb Picker),” 1925, bronze, 6 by 4 by 7¼ inches. in the United States. The museum on cardboard, 9-5/8 by 13-5/8 inches.
announces this monumental gift on
the occasion of the museum’s upcom- Édouard Vuillard, “Mère et enfant (Mother and Child),”
ing centennial in 2021. In addition to 1901, oil on cardboard, mounted on cradled panel, 20-1/8
the promised gift of the Sant Nabi by 19¾ inches.
Collection, Vicki and Roger Sant
have also designated a major bequest
to create an endowment in support of
the preservation, care and study of
the Sant Collection.

“Bonnard to Vuillard: The Intimate
Poetry of Everyday Life” sheds new
light on the decade of the 1890s,
which gave rise to the vanguard
inventions of a group of European
artists who became known as the
“Nabis” (Hebrew word for prophet).
On view to January 26, this exhibi-
tion showcases paintings, prints and
works of decorative art by the circle’s
leading artists. By juxtaposing works
by Pierre Bonnard, Edouard Vuil-
lard, Maurice Denis and Ker-Xavier
Roussel, among others, across a
range of media, including stained
glass, ceramics, needlepoint, print-
making and painting, the exhibition
reveals the various ways in which
the Nabis translated their artistic
methods across the fine and decora-
tive arts.

Inspired by Paul Gauguin in the
last decade of the Nineteenth Centu-
ry, the Nabi painters rejected natu-
ralism and embraced the abstract
power of color as a vehicle for person-
al expression. Stylistically diverse,
its members included Pierre Bon-
nard and Édouard Vuillard as well as
Maurice Denis, Félix Vallotton, Aris-
tide Maillol, Ker-Xavier Roussel, and
Paul Ranson. They experimented
with painting, ceramics, stained
glass, textiles, theatrical sets and
costumes and more, asserting the
importance of art as part of everyday
life. The Nabis were also prolific
printmakers, and their lithographs,
poster designs, book illustrations,
theater programs, and contributions
to the literary journals, or “little
reviews,” that proliferated in Paris at
the fin de siècle, were a major part of
their practice.

“Embracing a new, liberating
approach to art that rejected natu-
ralism and valued the poetry of sug-
gestion, the Nabis coalesced around
a shared belief in art’s intimate ties
to everyday life. These visionary art-
ists who considered themselves
‘prophets’ exploited the expressive
power of line and color, forging a new
path in modern art that helped fuel
the development of abstract art,”
says Elsa Smithgall, senior curator
at the Phillips.

This body of work represents a fit-
ting complement to important
French works by members of the
Nabi and the Post-Impressionists
acquired by museum founder Dun-
can Phillips. Phillips was a leading
champion of Bonnard in the United
States, assembling the largest collec-

tion of the artist’s
work in an Amer-
ican museum.
“Bonnard to
Vuillard: The
Intimate Poet-
ry of Everyday

Life” marks the
first show in the United
States devoted to the
Nabis in more than 25
years.

The Phillips Collection
is at 1600 Twenty-First

Street Northwest. For
additional informa-
tion, 202-387-2151 or
www.phillipscollection.org.

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 11

Holiday Bling At Kaminski’s Jewelry, Silver
& Objets De Vertu Auction December 8

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 18K gold watch.

English sterling six-piece tea set.

BEVERLY, MASS. — Kamin- 2.25 carats, and a lady’s 18K
ski Auctions will conduct a spe- white gold diamond wedding
cial holiday auction of jewelry, band, with 23 diamonds,
silver, and objets de vertu on approximately 1.7-carat
Sunday, December 8, starting weight.
at 10 am at the company’s auc- For men, an 18K gold Rolex
tion gallery at 117 Elliott Oyster Perpetual Day-Date
Street, Route 62. watch with sapphire face and
additional links with approxi-
A selection of 18K gold rings, mately 123 grams troy weight South Sea pearl necklace. An 18K yellow gold, ruby and diamond ring.
bracelets, earrings and jewelry is a standout lot. 18K yellow gold diamond and
are on offer, perfect for Christ- Jewelry continues with a sapphire hinged bangle, an 18K Elizabeth Locke with a pair of A 22K gold coin, a natural
mas gift-giving. A yellow gold, South Sea pearl necklace with gold signature’ bracelet and a 18K gold earrings with cabo- undrilled Northern quahog and
ruby and diamond ring with a a 14K yellow gold and diamond circa 1930s antique platinum, chon peridots, David Yurman Hermes porcelain in the Tou-
natural ruby and eight round clasp having 97 white, lustrous diamond and sapphire bracelet, with a pair of 18K yellow gold cans pattern are among the
brilliant cut diamonds and 18 South Sea pearls from a with 20 diamonds and 20 sap- J-hoop earrings with diamonds, other outstanding lots in the
tapered baguette diamonds is Kaunakakai, Hawaii estate; a phires and approximately 15 and Cartier with an 18K yellow auction.
one of the top lots of the auc- 14K yellow gold diamond and grams of troy weight. There is gold and stainless- steel lady’s
tion. The ruby is extremely emerald suite of a necklace and also a Tiffany & Co. for Schlum- “Panthere” wristwatch. Preview hours for the auction
rare, as it is from the Chantha- bracelet; and a 14K white gold berger, 18K yellow and white are Monday-Saturday, Decem-
buri mine in the eastern part of and diamond tennis bracelet gold three-row X diamond Silver highlights include a ber 2-7, 10 am to 5 pm, the day
Thailand, which is no longer with 56 round diamonds band. Danish sterling silver flatware of the auction at 8 am, and pre-
producing gemstones. Other approximately 5.0 carat weight. set, marked P. Hertz totaling 59 view is open while the auction
rings on offer include a lady’s Tiffany and Company is well Prominent jewelry designers pieces, and an English sterling is live. For more information go
diamond white gold diamond represented in the sale with an represented in the sale include six-piece tea set, hallmarked to www.kaminskiauctions.com
solitaire ring of approximately for London. or 978-927-2223.

Nye & Company Estate Treasures Auction December 11
BLOOMFIELD, N.J. – Nye &
Company’s Estate Treasures Auc- Nineteenth Century KPM porcelain plaque titled “The Lion The auction is packed with nearly 800 lots, including a fine
tion on Wednesday, December 11, Hunt, painted by A.L. Eckart (Dresden), after the Peter Paul selection of library accoutrement, sculpture and garniture.
features nearly 800 lots of fine Rubens painting, marked “KPM” verso, 11½ by 14½ inches. “Landscape with Clouds” by George Bruestle (1871-1939),
and decorative arts, so it will be oil on canvas, 11½ by 15 inches.
divided into two parts. A live auc- County collection offers a broad stered seating furniture in tradi-
tion, starting at 10 am, offers and diverse selection of vibrantly tional styles are from various
online, phone and in-person par- colored and designed Majolica other sellers. The accessories are
ticipation for the first part; the jardinières. numerous and varied, with plenty
second part begins at 3 pm as an of items that will be sure to catch
online-only format. Also offered will be Part IV of the eye, notably the pebble and
the Myrna and Bernard Posner turtleback glass window fitted as
“Our Estate Treasures Auction collection of silver and objets de a side table attributed to Tiffany
is a unique blend of traditional vertu, featuring a selection of Glass and Decorating Company.
and contemporary furniture, fine sterling silver jewelry and a Tif-
and decorative arts,” said compa- fany & Co, monogrammed belt In-person gallery previews will
ny president John Nye. “From the buckle. The Posners’ silver collec- take place weekdays, December
busts of emperors and kings to tion consisted of objects that 2-10, from 10 am to 4 pm; and on
the bronzes of Trajan’s Column, crossed all time periods and var- Sunday, December 8, from noon to
Sphinxes and Classical frag- ied from decorative objects to 4 pm. Buyers can bid in person,
ments,” he said, “the table top more utilitarian pieces. Some of by phone, in absentia and online.
accessories are accented by the English and French case fur- The online preview will be view-
antique guns and swords. Numer- niture the Posners owned will able at www.nyeandcompany.com
ous cannons sit atop Neoclassical- also be sold. November 27-December 11.
style furniture of Continental
design.” Baroque-style center tables, Nye and Company is at 20
Georgian furniture, pewter and Beach Street. For additional
The auction is anchored by a brass candlesticks, traditional information, 973-984-6900 or
large-format KPM porcelain rugs and contemporary uphol- www.nyeandcompany.com.
plaque inspired by Peter Paul
Rubens’s Seventeenth Century
painting “The Lion Hunt.” The
late Nineteenth or early Twenti-
eth Century plaque was painted
and signed by A.L. Eckart (Dres-
den), measures 11½ by 14½ inch-
es and is impressed with the
KPM mark.

A private collection from West-
chester County, N.Y., features a
great deal of sterling silver and
fine art. Some makers are Reed &
Barton, Gorham, Wallace and Tif-
fany, who made the flatware in
the Persian and Crysanthemum
patterns. Several oil and water-
color paintings depict portraits or
bucolic New England landscapes.
Decorative arts from the collec-
tion include a Gothic desk garni-
ture, a cast bronze polar bear
cigar cutter and more.

Another private Westchester

12 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

From Art Glass Lamps To Jewelry, Tiffany Name Creates Elegant Framework —

Morphy’s Fine & Decorative Arts
Auction Is Set For December 12

Tiffany Studios October Night chandelier, 26-inch diameter Rare Tiffany Studios Poppy inkwell,
shade signed “Tiffany Studios New York.” Provenance: designed by Clara Driscoll, bronze and
Texas family purchased it from Lillian Nassau circa 1980 Favrile glass, impressed “Tiffany Studios
($75/95,000). New York 867,” engraved signature “L.C.
Tiffany Favrile” ($40/60,000).
DENVER, PENN. — Perennial- the Poppy motif. Featuring richly Tiffany Studios Poppy table lamp, 22½ inches
ly one of the most beautiful sights hued red and pink poppies in con- tall, signed on shade and base ($100/150,000).
of the Christmas season in Penn- cert with a band of green leaves
sylvania is Morphy Auctions’ fine against a mottled light-blue back- the cone-form shade is encircled 1958) Impressionist Israeli land- model with a 21-jewel movement
and decorative arts pre-auction ground, this example of Tiffany by peony blossoms of red, pink scape dated “1948 Jan.” It with small seconds, Caliber 558,
gallery preview. The warmth of artistry is signed on both the base and white. The medley of various measures 27¾ by 37 inches (sight) and has a silver guilloche dial
rare antique leaded-glass lamps, and 17-inch shade ($100/150,000). types and textures of glass — and is estimated at $80/100,000. with black Roman numerals.
the fiery sparkle of fine gems and including confetti, granite tex- Another highlight is an 8-by-10½- Marked “No. 067 P” and bearing
the iridescence of Art Nouveau A circa-1910 Tiffany Studios tured, drapery, mottled and more inch (sight) Barend Cornelis serial number 2794 E, it retains
vases combine to create an atmo- table lamp with a Venetian lead- — lends depth to the motif and Koekkoek Sr (1803-1862) river its original black crocodile strap
sphere of luminescence and tradi- ed-glass shade stands 21 inches showcases the considerable talent landscape with figures. The oil on ($25/35,000).
tional quality that bidders look tall on a foliate, “jewel”-studded that went into this superior work panel is signed and dated “1841”
forward to year after year. This gilt-bronze base. The densely of art. Signed and retaining an ($30/40,000). The jewelry category also fea-
holiday season, Morphy’s will arranged glass segments run the applied “Tiffany Studios New tures ladies rings, earrings and
present a 767-lot fine and decora- gamut of warm honey, gold, and York” tag, the chandelier could More than two dozen timepieces brooches set with sparkling dia-
tive arts auction on Thursday, ruby hues punctuated by violets realize $65/80,000. will be offered, including a men’s monds and other precious gems
December 12, led by designs from and greens throughout Rolex Daytona Ref. 116520 Oys- from such distinguished jewelers
Tiffany Studios, including scores ($50/80,000). A rare Tiffany Studios Poppy ter Perpetual Superlative Chro- as Van Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany
of rare table, floor and hanging inkwell designed by Clara Driscoll nometer Officially Certified Cos- & Co. The Tiffany selection
lamps. A Tiffany bronze and leaded, is a mosaic creation of heavily iri- mograph/Chronograph. The big includes a pair of boxed 18K gold
stained-glass chandelier in the descent Favrile glass in a patinat- 40mm case encircles a white dial and diamond earrings ($8/12,000);
Topping the Tiffany lighting October Night pattern displays a ed, leaf-shaped bronze frame. It is with silver sub-dials. Made circa a gold and sapphire brooch
selection is a 22½-inch-tall table quintessentially Art Nouveau impressed “Tiffany Studios New 2010, it has never been worn and ($2/3,000); and a platinum and
lamp with a leaded-glass shade in botanical theme of red berries York 867” and engraved with the is presented mint in its original diamond ring with a natural
interspersed within an overall signature “L.C. Tiffany Favrile” box with a Rolex card and protec- 10.60-carat cabochon star sap-
network of branches and leaves. ($40/60,000). The array of decora- tive plastic over the clasp and phire at its center. Weighing 6.4
Suspended from four chains, the tive art to be auctioned also bracelet ($16/24,000). grams, the ring with intense “star
shade is signed “Tiffany Studios includes American and European characteristics” is accompanied
New York.” Ever since it was pur- glass, Asian antiques, folk art, sil- Watch connoisseurs will imme- by its original AGL Prestige Gem-
chased in 1980 from Lillian Nas- ver, furniture and 95 lots of pot- diately recognize the special qual- stone Report ($20/30,000).
sau (New York), the chandelier tery by Amphora, Rookwood, ities of a Breguet Classic compli-
has been the prized possession of Weller and Roseville. cated tourbillon Messidor Morphy’s Auctions is at 2000
a family in Texas ($75/95,000). platinum and 18K pink gold North Reading Road. For
A painting that is poised for suc- wristwatch, Ref 3450, with a information, 877-968-8880 or
Another Tiffany Studios chan- cess is Georges Rouault’s (1871- 36mm case. It is a manual-wind www.morphyauctions.com.
delier was executed in the Peony
pattern. As the name suggests,

John Sideli To Host Holiday Open House Show & Sale
WESTPORT, MASS. — Pri- annual Holiday Open House at collection of American Nine- ago, he relocated from Maine to
vate art and antiques dealer his home at 820 Horseneck teenth Century folk art, includ- the South Coast. For the past
John Sideli will present his first Road East on Saturday and ing period American weather- two summers Sideli introduced
Sunday, December 7-8, from 10 vanes, trade signs, paintings his work to the art community
am to 5 pm, refreshments on and American Nineteenth Cen- as a member of the South Coast
Saturday, 3 to 5 pm. tury furniture, as well as patri- Artists Group and participated
otic carvings. Sideli is renowned in the tour. He said he now
Sideli has been an active and in the trade for his exceptional looks forward to introducing his
prominent innovator and dealer eye and distinctive presenta- “object poems,” as he likes to
in the Americana and folk art tion and style. Many have call his artwork, and to make
world for more than half a cen- remarked that a visit to his his introduction to the antiques
tury. During those years he has home/gallery/studio is an expe- and fine art enthusiasts — he is
had a series of shops and galler- rience like no other. contemplating opening a shop
ies in New York state, Massa- in the spring at his Westport
chusetts and most recently in In addition, he has been a location.
Maine where he operated an art working artist for more than 30
and antiques gallery for ten years, having had exhibits in For additional information,
years. New York, London and through- www.johnsidelifineart.com, 508-
out New England. Three years 938-5355 or 413-717-1438 (cell).
This open house will feature a

Antique running horse weathervane made by Harris John Sideli artwork, “Christmas
& Co., Boston, Mass., circa 1875. 1911.”

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 13

Boston Book Week—

A Tale Of Two Book Fairs & A $500,000+ Auction
BOSTON, MASS. — This was see — and handle if they so consider that it was printed dict Arnold, from the period of distributed them at no cost.
the week for book lovers. The wish — volumes that are nor- nearly ten years before the Pil- his life when he was a booksell- Reese’s catalog description of
Boston International Antiquar- mally behind glass in libraries grims landed at Plymouth Rock. er. In 1767, well before his trai- the Benedict Arnold item was
ian Book Fair, November 15-17, and museums. Perhaps one of Gray went on to say, “It was a torous activities, he had a shop about one and a half pages.
brought 132 dealers — 36 of the rarest volumes at the show good show for me. I sold two in New Haven that sold cosmet- Reese also had a copy of an
whom are from outside the was a 1632 copy of the first illuminated manuscripts that ics, rum, books and much more. extremely rare 1815 large fold-
United States — to Boston, and issue of Shakespeare’s Second date back to the time before the The receipt was priced at ing map of Ohio. Reese describes
Marvin Getman’s Book, Print Folio, Mr William Shakespeare’s printing press. They were in the $17,500. It should be noted that the history of the map and
and Ephemera Show, November Comedies, Histories, and Trage- $75,000 to $100,000 price many of the dealers at this notes that the last copy to
16, added another 50 dealers. dies. Published according to the range. You didn’t ask about the show produced informative, appear at auction, in 1968, was
Skinner’s books and manu- true Originall Copies. After age of buyers, but I had a sale to descriptive catalogs of the books the Thomas Streeter copy,
scripts sale was conducted in an Shakespeare’s death in 1616, an ‘old’ client. A 93-year-old they brought to the show and which sold at the time for $100.
online sale that ended Novem- his plays were published in one man, who has bought from me
ber 17, offering more than 500 volume, now referred to as the before, asked me to put a book Brice McKittrick Rare Books, Narbeth, Penn., had a num-
lots of books, manuscripts and “First Folio,” at the expense of on hold for him. Gray’s descrip- ber of books on medicine and science, Greek printing, poet-
maps. Buyers who wished to do his fellow actors. The Second tions are comprehensive, and ry and more. —Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair
so could spend upwards of Folio was published a few years he said, “I enjoy doing the
$500,000 or as little as $10. later. According to Mathew research needed to fully under-
Raptis, Palm Beach, Fla., who stand the context of the books
Show dealers showcased first priced the book at $500,000, I’m offering and I think that cli-
editions, maps, photographs, “No more than 1,000 copies of ents appreciate that time and
autographs, illuminated books the Second Folio were printed, effort.”
and manuscripts, prints, broad- and it is believed that fewer
sides, ephemera, wood block than 200 copies are still in exis- Other early bibles were
prints, bookplates, early games tence today, many of which are offered by several dealers.
and much more. Skinner offered incomplete or in poor condi- Exhibitors had been advised
maps, autographs, posters, first tion.” Peter Harrington had a prior to the show that the Inter-
editions, photographs, Arabic Fourth Folio, published in 1685, national Society of Bible Collec-
manuscripts and illuminated for which he was asking tor’s annual meeting was to be
books. To say that there was $240,000. conducted in Boston and would
something for everyone would coincide with the fair, so it was
be an understatement. Attend- Both Raptis and James Gray, suggested they bring early
ing the book fairs was not Princeton, Mass., had copies of bibles if they had any.
expensive. Other than the $25 the first edition of the 1611
charge for the Friday evening King James bible. The title page We’ve only space to list a few
preview of the Boston Interna- reads The Holy Bible, : conteyn- of the many rare and interest-
tional Antiquarian Book Fair, ing the Old Testament, and the ing items that were offered.
admission was free to all both New: newly translated out of the British dealer Justin Croft
Saturday and Sunday. The web- originall tongues: & with the offered the illustrated first edi-
site for the Book, Print and former translations diligently tion of the 1784 book on experi-
Ephemera show offered dis- compared and reuised, by His ments that resulted in the first
counted and free tickets along Maiesties speciall com[m]ande- successful flight of a hot-air
with subsidized parking, and ment. Appointed to be read in dirigible, and he priced it
the Skinner offerings were out churches. First editions can be $1,600. He also offered a set of
there for everyone. Dealers at positively identified due to a five copper engravings used to
both shows said they made typographical error that was illustrate the 1876 edition of
numerous sales to new custom- corrected in subsequent edi- Flaubert’s Madame Bovary and
ers and first-time buyers. tions. Gray’s copy was priced at was asking $8,000. Heartwood
$230,000, and the Raptis copy Books and Art, Fort Lauder-
The Boston International was $140,000. Gray said that dale, Fla., had dozens of first
Antiquarian Book Fair only 296 copies of this edition editions of classic science fiction
are known to exist and fewer and mysteries. The first edition
This fair is sanctioned by the than 50 complete copies exist. of Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot, of
Antiquarian Booksellers’ Asso- “Mine was missing only the last which only 5,000 were printed,
ciation of America and the leaf; otherwise, it was complete, was priced $2,200. The dealer
International League of Anti- and that missing leaf was had several of Robert Heinlein’s
quarian Booksellers. Many of included in facsimile. It’s been first editions; The Man Who
the dealers are from Europe said that it’s the only literary Sold The Moon was priced
and several are from other masterpiece ever to have been $1,700, signed by the author;
states so that buyers are look- produced by a committee. More and Podkayne of Mars was
ing at material that they might than 50 translators participat- $2,750. William Reese Compa-
not otherwise see. Rarities ed in producing the final text.” ny, New Haven, Conn., had an
abound at this show and allow In thinking about this book, autograph receipt for the sale of
attendees the opportunity to six books, signed twice by Bene-

Review and Onsite Photos by Arguably, one of the most important books to come out of
Rick Russack, Contributing Editor the Civil War was Gardner’s Photographic Sketch Book of
Additional Photos Courtesy of Skinner, Inc The War, published in 1866. In two volumes, it contains 100
large albumen photographs by Alexander Gardner. Each
is preceded by a page of text, and each photo is mounted
on a larger sheet of paper, each with a lithographed bor-
der. Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Manuscripts,
McMinnville, Ore., priced the set at $125,000.

—Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair

Ken Gloss of the Brattle Book Shop, one of
oldest bookstores in the United States. He’s
Ekaterina Kukhto, Moscow, had a case full of holding a first edition of King Kong in its Diane DuBlois and Bob Dalton, Agatherin’ Books, West
children’s books in Russian. original dust jacket, for which he was ask- Sand Lake, N.Y., specialize in ephemera, including pam-
ing $3,750. —Boston International phlets and trade catalogs.
—Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair
Antiquarian Book Fair —Boston International Antiquarian Book Fairw

14 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

Selling for $4,613 was a 1792 copy of William Bligh’s A Voy- An 1844 hand colored fraktur was priced
age to the South Sea, Undertaken by Command of His Maj- at $175 by Austin Abbey Rare Books,
esty, for the Purpose of Conveying Bread-Fruit Tree to the Mount Vernon, Va.
West Indies. Bligh commanded the HMS Bounty, and this
book contains his side of the story on the mutiny. This —The Book, Print and Ephemera Show
account was based upon Bligh’s journal, but was written,
edited and seen through the press by James Burney, under
the supervision of Sir Joseph Banks, during Bligh’s absence
from London while on his second breadfruit voyage.

—Skinner

Twenty-eight-year-old Allison MacIntosh,
with a degree in the classics, has worked
for Bauman Rare Books, New York, for
about three years. “I’m learning some-
thing new every day,” she said, holding up
a first edition of John Steinbeck’s Grapes
of Wrath priced at $29,500. —Boston
International Antiquarian Book Fair

Jonkers Rare Books, a British dealer, had a 12-part set of This copy was priced $75,000.
Aubrey Beardsley’s Le Morte D Arthur, priced at $20,000. Peter Harrington, London,

—Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair had a wide assortment of early
works of exploration, including
West Side Books, Ann Arbor, Mich., brought a selection of Orville Haberman, Connecticut River Books, Deep River, Sydney Parkinson’s Journal of
mysteries, poetry and books relating to polar exploration. Conn., had, among other things, a framed double-sided the Voyage to the South Seas in
There’s also a copy of Hunter’s Panoramic Guide From drawing by Rockwell Kent. Haberman has been collecting His Majesty’s ship, the Endeav-
Niagara Falls to Quebec. The 1857 guide book includes a Kent for more than 30 years and has decided the time has our. This 1784 edition recount-
folding panorama of the route, more than 11 feet long, and come to downsize a bit. ed Captain James Cook’s voy-
was priced at $450. age to Australia and was
—The Book, Print and Ephemera Show illustrated by 27 plates and
—Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair Ann Bromer, Bromer Bookseller, Boston, stands in front of included maps of Hawaii and
a case displaying early games and moveable books. On the New Zealand. The author was
The second highest price of the sale, $17,220, was achieved top shelf is a specially bound copy of William Morris’s Kelm- the first European artist to set
for a lot of 276 stereo views by William Henry Jackson and scott Press edition of Chaucer’s works, said by many to be foot in Australia. The book was
John Hillers. Scenes included more than 90 photos of Native one of the most beautiful books ever published. Bromer priced at $30,000. He also had
Americans and more than 180 scenic views taken during said that when she bought the book, the binding was not in an inscribed first edition, in
the Powell Expedition to Colorado. —Skinner very good condition, so she had it rebound by Hannah dust jacket, of William
Brown, London, in leather adorned with embroidered flow- Faulkner’s 1932 Light in
ers and butterflies that match the text. August, which was priced at
$65,000, and a first edition of F.
—Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the
Night, signed by the author,
priced at $40,000. Jonkers Rare
Books, also a British dealer,
offered a near fine copy of the
first edition of the first James
Bond novel, Casino Royale,
priced at $59,000, and a 1937
first edition of Agatha Christie’s
Dumb Witness, featuring Her-
cule Poirot, priced at $35,000.

Ken Gloss, Brattle Book Shop,
Boston, was the show chairman.
Both he and Nina Berger, the
show’s media relations consul-
tant, estimated that attendance
at this year’s event was about
5,000. Both commented on the
increase in women and younger
buyers. A few days after the
show, Gloss said, “I spent time
talking with other exhibitors,
and nearly all said that they did
well enough that they will plan
on exhibiting at next year’s
show. I didn’t hear any of the
dealers say they were unhappy,
or that they had done poorly.
From my experience, the
unhappy guys are usually the
loudest, and not hearing any
complaints said to me that we
got it right this year. And the
British dealers benefited from
the favorable exchange rate. We
had six free programs for show
attendees, three each on Satur-
day and Sunday. The talk on the
illustrations of Kay Neielsen by
Megan Melvin from Boston’s
Museum of Fine Arts probably
drew the largest crowd. You
asked if any books sold for more
than $100,000. The answer is
yes; I know one early Canadian
book sold for $110,000, but I
really don’t think the dealer

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 15

Johnnycake Books, Saugus, Conn., had a large selection of cookbooks. Brattle Book Shop, Boston, had 80 issues of the French fashion
—The Book, Print and Ephemera Show magazine Art-Gout-Beaute: Feuillets de l’elegance feminine. Dates
ranged from the 1920s to 1930s. Each issue includes a pochoir
illustration on the front wrap, and additional examples through-
out the magazine. The price was $15,000 for the lot. They also had
an 1876 copy of John Whittier’s Mable Martin inscribed by Long-
fellow to his daughter, and it was priced at $2,000.

—Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair

would want me to talk about it. morning and continued all day. said, “ We stayed busy all day. It tions of the classics of American leaves. We were about 100 per-
Dozens of sales were made in Dealers were pleased with their was jammed on Saturday morn- literature were led by Walt cent sold by dollar. “
the high five figures. And there sales, with some telling me it ing, and we even had two cus- Whitman’s Leaves of Grass,
was fun stuff. We sold a book on was their best Boston fair yet.” tomers in our booth at closing. which finished at $12,300. Prices given include the buy-
cats that had been written by The morning after the show, On Saturday morning, several er’s premium as stated by the
Andy Warhol and was inscribed Getman solicits comments from booksellers who were exhibiting After the sale, Devon East- auction house.
by Warhol to his mother, ‘From his exhibitors as to how the at the other fair remarked that land, Skinner’s director of books
the son of Andy Warhol’s moth- show went for them. Several the inventory on display was and manuscripts, said, “The old For additional information on
er’ and it included his daytime commented on sales to dealers exceptional. I certainly agree favorites did well, and it was the International Book Fair,
and evening phone numbers. from the international show with that; we bought a bunch of good to see some of the results http://bostonbookfair.com. For
Warhol was a cat lover, and one and the overall level of sales. first-rate ephemera and manu- we got on historical things like information on the Marvin Get-
time had as many as 25 cats. It Scott Brasseur, gallery bfa, said, script Americana. We sold well, the Thomas Paine. That sur- man show, www.bookandpaper-
was under $5,000.” “I had a very solid show. Of including a number of items in prised me. I was also pleasantly fairs.com/fairs/2016/1/23/bos-
note, I added some new institu- the $1,500 to $3,500 price surprised at the $6,150 we got ton-antiques-and-ephemera-
The Book, Print and tional contacts and my biggest range. We also recorded a dozen for a 1704 huge, colorful Domin- fair or 781-862-4039. For more
Ephemera Show sales ticket was written to a or so under-$100 sales to new ican manuscript on parchment information on the Skinner
first-time attendee from Cali- collectors. Several of our sales missal with 139 numbered sale, www.skinnerinc.com or
This 50-dealer show is pro- fornia.” Kurt Sanftleben, Read were into five figures. Obvious- 508-970-3000.
moted as a satellite show to the ‘em Again Books and Paper, ly, we’re very pleased.”
larger international show and One of the more expensive A large selection of children’s books was in the booth of
is in a facility four blocks away. books at the show was a Skinner Enchanted Books, Brooklyn, N.Y. Included were titles by
It is scheduled to start at 8 am, true first edition of one of Each year, to coincide with the Beatrix Potter, and there were Raggedy Ann books as well
allowing dealers from the other the most important books International Book Fair, Skin- as Babar and a Popeye pop-up.
show to shop comfortably before ever printed. Shown is the ner schedules a sale of good
that show opens at noon. And title page of the 1611 edition books. This year’s sale, online —The Book, Print and Ephemera Show
they do. The crowd was large of the King James bible for only, included more than 500
and selling began within a few which James Gray, Prince- lots and grossed $572,183. A set of the four A.A. Milne Winnie-the-Pooh books, first
minutes of opening. This influx ton, Mass., was asking There were 474 bidders. Top- trade editions in dust jackets, earned $4,920. This was prob-
of early morning buyers provid- $230,000. Only 296 copies of ping the sale, bringing $28,290,
ed exhibitors with the opportu- this edition are believed to was a 1776, Norwich, Conn.,
nity to show their stock to deal- exist and only 50 complete edition of Thomas Paine’s Com-
ers they might not otherwise copies are known. This copy mon Sense; Addressed to the
see — especially the 36 dealers lacked only the last page, Inhabitants of America, one of
from abroad, as well as the which was supplied in fac- the classic works of the Ameri-
dealers from other parts of the simile. can Revolutionary War period.
United States and the collectors It went far over the estimate.
that the show attracts. —Boston International Appropriate to the season, an
Antiquarian Book Fair inscribed first edition of Clem-
The selection of material was ent Moore’s poems, including
broad and the quality was high. the first printing of “A Visit
There were booths full of chil- From St Nicholas,” sold for
dren’s books, booths full of pho- $3,998. Western photographs
tographs, literary first editions, were popular with buyers and
ephemera, historical material, the second highest price of the
maps, cookbooks and more. A sale was achieved for a lot of
special exhibit, mounted by col- 276 stereo views by William
lector Brian Chidester, gave Henry Jackson (1843-1942) and
attendees a good look at Beach John Hillers (1843-1925),
Boys ephemera; album covers, including 94 views from Hillers’
photographs, concert posters series, “Indians of The Color-
and more. It traced the group’s breed Valley,” which sold for
popularity from their early $17,220. Other Western photos
recordings in the early 1960s did well, with 11 large albumen
and explained the “surfing” cul- photos by William Henry Jack-
ture that the group capitalized son taken during the Hayden
on. Expedition selling for $4,613,
while ten large albumen photos
After the show, Marvin Get- of Navaho peoples by Charles
man commented, “This was our Milton Bell (1848-1893) real-
best Boston attendance yet. The ized $7,995. Dozens of first edi-
crowd was strongest in the

ably a good buy as a similar set at the Boston Antiquarian
Book Fair was priced at more than $11,000. —Skinner

Boston
Book
Week

A 1776, Norwich, Conn., edi-
Published in 1616, after Shakespeare’s death, was a 1632 tion of Thomas Paine’s Com-
copy of the first issue of Shakespeare’s second folio, Mr Wil- mon Sense; Addressed to the
liam Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. It Inhabitants of America Alexandre Antique Prints and Maps, Toronto, had an early
was perhaps one of the rarest volumes at the show and was topped the sale finishing at prospect of Westminster, shown on the back wall, and anoth-
priced at $500,000. $28,290, far over the esti- er of London, along with other early maps and atlases.
mate. —Skinner
—Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair —Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair

16 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

G. Harvey fashioned this sculpture palette G. Harvey’s top bronze came Written to the inside of these cowboy The top lot among G. Har-
and, in his early years, would hang it around in the form of his first full boots was the signature “G. Harvey vey’s artist tools was this
his neck as he worked the clay model. It sold series casting of “The Cow- Jones.” The pair went out at $1,155. collection of paintbrushes,
at $433. puncher,” edition 1/50, that which sold for $1,617. Also
sold for $6,353. included in the sale was a
still life painting featuring a
similar collection of brushes
in a brown pot, though
painted without handles,
that sold for $2,888.

American Western Artist G. Harvey’s
Studio Contents Sell At Vogt

The sale’s top lot was found in an
early work from the artist: “Desert
Landscape” by G. Harvey, 1962, oil
on board, 36 by 48 inches, $34,073.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — The palette “Hill Country Autumn” by G. Harvey came in as
of long, blue Western skies was augment- the sale’s second highest lot. The 36-by-30-inch
ed with tools of the artist’s trade and the oil on canvas dated to 1966 and sold at $27,720.
effects of everyday life when Vogt Galler-
ies Texas offered for sale the contents of the studio as study pieces. So many of lections sold for $809 and $693. The art- which G. Harvey mounted on the walls
the studio and items from the estate of these early works were things he kept ist’s painters palette board, with a rain- throughout his studio and home and
famed contemporary Western artist Ger- and used them to inspire later works. bow of colors dried on it, went out at used as inspiration. At the top was an
ald Harvey Jones, commonly known as The large landscapes — they were pieces $723. Harvey’s sculpture palette — a American bison/buffalo, a prominent fix-
G. Harvey, in the firm’s November 16-17 he hung in his home. They were G. Har- board to which the artist affixed a rope ture in Harvey’s studio, that sold for
auction. G. Harvey passed away in vey’s G. Harveys. That really inspired on each end and wore around his neck in $2,888. Two Rocky Mountain elk shoul-
November, 2017. collectors of his work — to be able to his early years as he worked the clay on der mounts brought $549 and $520.
have something that was really special the board — found a new home at $433.
G. Harvey’s notable collectors included to the artist himself.” The lot came with a clay prototype of Furniture and decorative arts from the
President Lyndon B. Johnson and Texas what appears to be an unfinished cow artist’s estate found good bidding, includ-
Governor John Connally. The latter was The artist’s bronze sculptures were also ing a three-drawer console table that
so impressed with Harvey’s works that to be found, lead by his and calf. sold at $3,581, above a $700 estimate. A
he reportedly presented a G. Harvey 1993 work “The Cow- “The paintbrushes — lot of 35 pieces of estate silver took $924,
original to each governor of Mexico’s four puncher,” edition 1/50, while a primitive corner cabinet, 32 inch-
northern states. 26 inches tall, that sold these were not selling to es tall, brought a modest $462. A pair of
for $6,353. Two exam- dealers,” Alexander said. cowboy boots made by M.L Leddy’s and
While G. Harvey’s most recognizable ples of a 2011 bronze, “A “They were selling to col- signed by G. Harvey went out at $1,155.
subject matter is relegated to his expan- Texas Breed,” 8½ inch- lectors and the letters are
sive Western or Texas landscapes, his es tall, editions 24/100 already coming back and Alexander curated the sale with Vogt
cityscape images earned him comparison and 27/100, sold for they are pairing them Galleries Texas’ director of luxury estates
to post-impressionist artist Édouard $2,711 and $2,310, with their favorite piece, Gabe Echeverry. The auction house has
Cortès. The auction house wrote, “Har- respectively. making their own studio sold a number of notable San Antonio
vey always believed that history lives vignettes.” estates in recent past, including arts
through art, including the epic struggle Several lots of the art- patron Linda Pace.
between the states, the western migra- ist’s tools were offered Other effects included a
tion, the brief time when horses and and collectors seized collection of taxidermy, All prices reported include the buyer’s
automobiles clattered across cobble- the moment. Leading One of the most promi- premium. For additional information,
stones together.” the group at $1,617 was nent pieces of taxider- www.vogtauction.com.
a brown jug containing my in G. Harvey’s stu-
G. Harvey’s original paintings, dating a collection of the art- dio was this American Review by
between 1962 and 1966, ruled the sale ist’s paint brushes. Two bison/buffalo. It sold Greg Smith, Editor
and produced the top four lots. “Desert other paint brush col- for $2,888. Photos Courtesy Vogt Galleries Texas
Landscape,” a 1962 oil on board measur-
ing 36 by 48 inches, went out at $34,073;
“Hill Country Autumn,” a 1966 oil on
canvas measuring 36 by 30 inches, sold
at $27,720; “Forsaken Beauty,” a 1962 oil
on canvas measuring 24 by 36 inches,
sold at $15,015; and “Texas Country,” a
9-by-12-inch oil on canvas painted near
Johnson City in 1965, went out at
$13,225.

“The 60s were his early works,” said
Katy Alexander, director of specialty auc-
tions at Vogt Galleries Texas. “This
wasn’t inventory overflow or pieces sent
back from a gallery. They were kept in

G. Harvey shown here painting in his home in Fredericksburg, Texas. Photo from the
estate of G. Harvey.
“Double XX” by G. Harvey, 1968, oil on canvasboard, 12 by 16 inches, $7,230.

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 17

Dirk Soulis To Auction Railroadiana Collection

A 1928 bronze builder’s plate from SS President Warfield Original backlit aluminum Rare intact grouping that includes the builder’s plate, num-
(later SS Exodus 1947), which transported Jewish refugees drumhead passenger car ber board, aluminum oval logo, and headlight from New
in World War II. It is offered with photos of the ship (two sign created by Henry Drey- York Central locomotive No. 5449 ($5/15,000).
shown here) and the couple who rode it on their honey- fuss (American, 1904-1972)
moon ($3/5,000). for New York Central’s McHugh Estate Collection Includes Rare
streamlined luxury train Rail Transportation Artifacts & More
LONE JACK, MO. — Collec- President Warfield. Christened the 20th Century Limited,
tors won’t need a ticket to “ride in 1927 by Bessie Wallis Warf- 28 by 20 by 4½ inches ($10/15,000). tising Santa Fe Railroad’s Chi-
the rails” at Soulis Auctions’ ield, niece of the ship’s name- ($10/15,000). Dirk Soulis noted that rail- cago to Los Angeles train “The
December 14 sale of the late sake Solomon Davies Warfield the bronze plate, together with Scout,” which operated from
Edward P. McHugh III’s rail- and the future Duchess of period photos of the ship and road “drumhead” or tail signs 1936 to 1948, depicts a rider on
roadiana collection. All are Windsor, the SS President passengers Hans and Frieda are “very rare and somewhat of a galloping horse, with the dis-
welcome to view, enjoy and bid Warfield plied the waters of the Marx ($3/5,000). a Holy Grail in collecting.” He tinctive Santa Fe logo in the
on the historically significant Chesapeake Bay without fan- went on to say that the background. The 20¼-by-40½-
relics from the golden era of fare for 20 years. That is, A stylish witness to the Art McHugh collection includes inch sign is a rare original and
rail travel (1865 to 1960) unless you count the experi- Deco period, a streamlined “more authentic drumhead was part of the Ed McHugh col-
amassed over a lifetime of ences of folks like Hans and backlit aluminum railroad pas- signs than have been offered in lection “long before any copies
involvement in the hobby. Frieda Marx of Baltimore. senger car sign designed by all other railroadiana auctions came to the market,” Soulis
Henry Dreyfuss (1904-1972) on record with LiveAuction- said ($4/6,000).
The McHugh collection con- Before the Warfield — later was commissioned by New eers, combined.”
sists of rare and iconic rail- renamed the SS Exodus 1947 – York Central Railroad for its The auction will begin with
roadiana, historical locomotive became historically important luxury train the 20th Century Among the drumheads an uncataloged session at 10
hardware, mid-Twentieth Cen- for transporting displaced Jew- Limited. An industrial design- offered are a reverse-painted am Central time, followed by
tury transportation artifacts, ish refugees during World War er of renown, Dreyfuss’ com- example for the Wabash Limit- the cataloged session, which
60 porcelain signs and a spe- II, it was Hans and Frieda’s missions included smaller ed Kansas City-Omaha-Des starts at 11 am. The gallery
cialty subcollection of nautical “honeymoon boat.” Throughout functional items like fountain Moines train ($3/5,000); B&O preview will be conducted on
antiques. To refine the rail- the 1930s and 1940s they pens, cameras and appliances, Railroad signs for the Capitol Friday, December 13, from 2 to
road-related items even fur- would take many other plea- as well as the complete interi- Limited and National Limited 5 pm; on auction day from 8:30
ther, there are locomotive bells sure trips aboard the Warfield, ors and exteriors of trains and (each $2,5/3,500); and a light- am until start time or by
and lights, lanterns, china and thus strengthening their ties to even 20,000-ton ocean liners. ed, chrome-bezel Santa Fe appointment.
silver, railroad station clocks, the vessel. However, when The sign to be auctioned has a Super Chief sign with a strik-
gate and station signs and Hans learned that the Warfield slightly convex polished-alumi- ing Indian chief graphic The gallery is at 529 West
more. was to be dismantled, he num frame with horizontal ($2,5/4,000). Lone Jack Lee’s Summit Road.
rushed to the shipwreckers’ bars enclosing the message For information, 816-697-3830
If the objects in the McHugh scrapyard and obtained per- “20th Century Limited” Vibrant and eye-catching, an or www.soulisauctions.com.
collection could talk, perhaps mission to take a few souve- enameled-porcelain sign adver-
none would have more inter- nirs, including the builder’s
esting tales to tell than the plate. Soulis Auctions will offer
builder’s plate from the SS

ArtYard Presents Monumental
Sheep Meadow Views
FRENCHTOWN, N.J. — Art- brushes to Sheep Meadow every began painting at the age of five
Yard presents “Janet Ruttenberg: day that it is open. The grandeur under the tutelage of an accom-
Beholder,” an exhibition featur- of Manhattan’s skyline is put plished uncle, Abel Warshawsky.
ing eleven of Ruttenberg’s recent into poetic perspective and exhib- She went on to study art at the
10-by-15-foot canvases and its a blend of exuberance, techni- University of Iowa under master
watercolors celebrating Central cal mastery and allusions to printmaker Mauricio Lasansky.
Park’s famous Sheep Meadow. famous antecedents, such as After her formal training, she
Her works of this monumental Seurat’s “A Sunday on La Grande deconstructed the canon, making
scale have been exhibited only Jatte,” in Ruttenberg’s works. extensive study of beloved paint-
once before, in 2013 at the Muse- ings and prints in order to tease
um of the City of New York. As a A photographer and videogra- out their secrets.
rule, Ruttenberg has pursued her pher, Ruttenberg has, since
work with rigor and focus while around 2010, juxtaposed and ArtYard’s exhibition will
avoiding art-world dicta and superimposed images she has include Ruttenberg’s explora-
public recognition. Since 2013, recorded with her camera into tions of the soft-ground tech-
her art has become ever more her work, often framing the nique used by the Impressionist
experimental, as she integrates paintings with her photographs master Mary Cassatt to make
photography and video with her and videos or inserting the imag- color etchings, as well as a selec-
complex paintings to seize the es directly into the paintings, set- tion of her monumental Park
day in every way possible. ting off a conversation between Avenue panels, where the artist
two divergent approaches to rep- layered etchings with images of
An extremely private artist, resentation. She also projects people in automobiles whose
Ruttenberg is an obsessive videos onto paintings, as in her streamlined glass and steel sur-
observer of both the landscape hybrid video/paintings of the faces reflect transient images of
and the people who enjoy it. She tango dancers that encircle the skyscrapers.
documents her observations, statue of Shakespeare in Central
both mundane and poetic, bring- Park on summer nights. ArtYard is at 62A Trenton Ave-
ing lengths of paper and long nue. For information, 908-996-
Born in 1931, Janet Ruttenberg 5018 or www.artyard.org.

Installation view, “Janet Ruttenberg: Beholder.”

18 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

Small Is Beautiful At The American Art Fair

NEW YORK CITY — The ion to New York’s big fall auc- haps reflecting more activity
American Art Fair is like tions of American art and in private-treaty sales.
haiku: rigorously concise and owned by Connecticut dealer
exquisitely expressive. Con- Thomas Colville, opened with Rushing to catch a plane as
fined to 17 compact displays a by-invitation-only preview American Art Week came to a
on three consecutive floors of on Friday, November 15, and close, Colville told us, “We had
the Bohemian National Hall closed four days later. But our best attendance in the
on Manhattan’s Upper East while diminutive, the event fair’s twelve years, and it was
Side, it manages to convey at a expertly directed by Catherine standing room only at most of
glance the breadth, depth and Sweeney Singer boasted more our lectures. We seem to have
imaginative range of what the quantity and variety than the hit our stride. The show is a
top dealers in mostly pre-con- auctions. The big two offered destination in its own right.
temporary American art have only 160 lots, displayed nota- Its quality speaks for itself.”
to offer. ble gaps in many sub-special-
ties and had disconcertingly Echoing Colville’s remarks,
Now in its twelfth year, the low sell-through rates, per- Debra Force noted, “We saw
show, conceived as a compan- people who haven’t been to the
fair in a couple of years, and

“Music Hall” by Stuart Davis, 1930, oil on canvas, $1,500,000.
Jonathan Boos, New York City.

New York dealer John Driscoll with “The “Portrait of a Little Girl” by Joshua John-
Hall” by Antonia “Tony” Nell, circa 1911-12. son, about 1805-10, oil on canvas. Hirschl &
The watercolor on paper board, $12,000, Adler Galleries, New York City.
bears its original New York Water Color
Club label, inscribed by the artist.

“The Artist’s Wife in a Garden, Villiers-le-Bel” by Childe Review and Photos by
Hassam, 1889, oil on canvas. Avery Galleries, Bryn Mawr, Antiques and The Arts Weekly
Penn. Laura Beach, Editor At Large

“November Morning Sunlight” by Charles Harold Davis, Bernard Goldberg Fine Art’s sales included
circa 1910-11, oil on canvas. Thomas Colville Fine Art, Guil- Questroyal’s sales included “Peonies and Iris,” the circa 1899 “Musicians” by William Gla-
ford, Conn. a 1926 oil on canvas by Edmund C. Tarbell. ckens.

“Gas Alarm Outpost, Argonne” by Horace Pippin, 1931, oil on fabric. Right and left are William Gerdts chatted with acquaintances at Vose Galler-
works Marsden Hartley. Alexandre Gallery, New York City. ies on opening night. The American arts authority wrote
the introduction to the new book Theodore Wendel: True
Notes of American Impressionism by Laurene Buckley. Wen-
del is the subject of a major exhibition at Vose Galleries.

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 19

“New England Sea View — Fish House” by Marsden Hartley,
1934, oil on academy board. Meredith Ward Fine Art, New
York City.

there were more museum this year can be directly Taylor Graham sold “Por- Winter Show principals Lucinda Ballard, co-chair, and
curators from all over the attributed to the fact the auc- trait of a Young Woman” by Helen Allen, executive director, were at the fair on opening
country.” The New York deal- tions were contiguous for the Thomas Waldo Story, 1905, night. They caught up with consultant Michael Diaz-
er’s sales included “The Snake first time in several years. marble, priced $28,000. Griffith, right.
and the Bird,” a 1937 hooked This meant that out-of-town
rug by Marguerite Zorach; and American art buyers didn’t
“Woman Washing Her Hair,” a have to choose one sale or the
carved wood relief by Elie other to make their travel
Nadelman. In a nod to the plans,” said Eric Baumgartner,
Jewish Museum’s popular senior vice president at
exhibition “Edith Halpert and Hirschl & Adler Galleries, not-
the Rise of American Art,” ing that curators regarded the
many exhibitors brought work fair as a “cost-effective way to
by artists associated with survey the state of the Ameri-
Halpert’s Downtown Gallery. can art market in one quick
trip to New York.”
“Part of the show’s success

Left, “Centennial, Wyoming” by Ilya Bolotowsky, 1949, oil
on canvas, $150,000, and right, “Geometric Abstraction” by
Carl Holty, 1940, oil on canvas mounted on Masonite,
$85,000. D. Wigmore Fine Art, New York City.

A highlight at Driscoll Bab-
cock was “Turning Torso”
by Alexander Archipenko,
1921, cast 1960. Priced
$565,000, the bronze with
blue patina was acquired
directly from the artist by
actor Anthony Quinn in
1962 and was newly offered
for sale here.

Fair director Catherine Sweeney Singer, center, with, clock- Jonathan Boos, center, con-
wise from bottom left, her show staff, recent graduates verses with clients on open-
Jomo Falconer, Tessa Goldsher, Kayla Seifert, Andrea More- ing night. The bronze figure
no and Gabriel Rose. Courtesy Catherine Sweeney Singer. “Honorably Discharged,”
$45,000, by Gertrude
Vanderbilt Whitney sold.
Behind it is “The Send-Off,”
an oil on canvas by Alton
Pickens, $85,000.

Gallerist Abby Taylor shows clients pieces by Johannes Hirschl & Adler Galleries president Stuart Feld studied three paintings by Hyman Bloom
Schiefer, Elizabeth Catlett, Allen George Newman and Wil- at Alexandre Gallery, New York City. Right is “Bas Relief, Woman” by Gaston Lachaise,
liam Rush. Rear center is “Jazz Singer” by Victor Seach, an modeled 1925-34 and cast in bronze in 1934.
oil on canvas of 1948. Taylor Graham, New York City.

20 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

“The Lower River, Ipswich” by Theodore Wendel, circa Coinciding with their exhibition “Recon- “Blonde and Brunette” by Guy Pene du
1908. Vose Galleries, Boston. structing Ralston Crawford,” on view through Bois, 1921, oil on canvas, $250,000.
December 13, Menconi + Schoelkopf showed Kraushaar Galleries, New York City.
Crawford’s oil on canvas “Basin Street Ceme-
tery” of 1974.

Two oil paintings by Everett Gee Jackson (1900-1955), “To Admission to the American nie Herdrich talked about are diversifying their collec-
Pick The Top Crop,” about 1932, and “On The Plantation, East Art Fair is free, as were the Winslow Homer, whose rare, tions, adding art by women
Texas,” about 1927. Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York City. quartet of scholarly programs beautiful 1880s etchings and minorities at an acceler-
“Approaching Storm, Racetrack” by Guy Pene du Bois, 1929, that enlivened the weekend. “Saved” and “The Life Line” ating pace. The Baltimore
oil on canvas, $1,200,000. Debra Force Fine Art, New York City. The programs reflected new were highlights at Avery Gal- Museum of Art, for instance,
scholarship and current muse- leries. Curator Barbara recently announced it would
um displays, offering exhibi- Haskell previewed her upcom- acquire only work by women
tors a chance to show related ing Whitney Museum exhibi- artists in 2020. Eager to
material. While independent tion “Vida Americana: Mexi- assist, dealers are showing
scholar Avis Berman was can Muralists Remake overlooked and underpriced
speaking on William Glack- American Art.” The influence talent.
ens, Bernard Goldberg Fine of those muralists reverberat-
Arts was selling a captivating ed at Hirschl & Adler, which On the American Art Fair’s
ink, pencil and wash drawing hung two paintings by Everett third floor, Kraushaar Galler-
by the Philadelphia-born art- Gee Jackson, a Texas artist ies, D. Wigmore Fine Art and
ist. Curator Erica Hirshler who fell under the muralists’ Taylor Graham met the chal-
lectured on Hyman Bloom, the spell in the 1920s. lenge. Kraushaar Galleries’
subject of a Museum of Fine Katherine Degn mounted
Arts, Boston, display and a Though not avant-garde, the pieces by Neel, Slobodkina,
dramatic feature of the Alex- American Art Fair gives shape Ryan, Dehner and Rothschild,
andre Gallery booth. Stepha- to some broad trends afoot in all women working in the mid-
“Making Her Toilet” by Wil- the American art market. Twentieth Century.
liam Merritt Chase, 1889, Prominent among these is the
pastel on gessoed wood wide acceptance of illustration “This was our second year at
panel. Thomas Colville Fine art as an important expres- the show. We were delighted,”
Art, Guilford, Conn. sion of the American experi- said Degn, who paired Mar-
ence. Work by illustrators and guerite Zorach’s sympathetic
their progeny dominated the 1925 portrait of Bea Ault with
auctions while also surfacing a drawing of the subject by
in a half dozen American Art her first husband, artist
Fair booths, most notably at George Ault. On another wall
American Illustrators Gallery. were depictions of Dogtown, in
New to the show, gallery Gloucester, Mass., as con-
owner Judy Goffman Cutler ceived in different decades by
led with Norman Rockwell’s John Sloan, Marsden Hartley
“Volunteer Fireman,” pub- and William Kienbusch.
lished in the Saturday Eve-
ning Post in March, 1931. The Bronzes by the African
affiliated National Museum of American sculptor and print-
American Illustration in New- maker Elizabeth Catlett fig-
port, R.I., is honoring the cen- ured at Taylor Graham, where
tennial of American women’s Catlett’s patinated bronze
right to vote and the twenti- “Fluted Head” of 1991 paired
eth anniversary of the muse- with the ethereal “Blue Form”
um with the exhibition “The by Vivian Springford of 1963.
American Museum.”
“The intimacy of 17 dealers
Seeking to redress past over- is what makes us want to be
sights, American museums in the American Art Fair,” said
gallerist Deedee Wigmore,
who “pushed forward” with

Susan E. Menconi, senior advisor, and Alana Cheryl Fishko of Forum Gallery displayed works A visitor to Questroyal Fine Art enjoyed works
Ricca, director of administration, at Menconi + by David Burliuk, Preston Dickinson, Raphael ranging from Sanford Robinson Gifford’s “The
Schoelkopf. Above left, “The Intellectuals,” a Sawyer, Chaim Gross and Charles Green Shaw. Mouth of the Shrewsbury River,” 1867, to
1912-14 oil on panel by Guy Pene du Bois. Center Edmund C. Tarbell’s “Peonies and Iris,” 1926.
is “Whitehead (Monhegan)” by Rockwell Kent.

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 21

The American Art Fair

Abstract paintings by Al Loving, Irene Rice Pereira, Ilya Bolotowsky and Carl Holty fig- Thomas Colville’s sales included “Boston Harbor from
ured at D. Wigmore Fine Art, New York City. Parker Hill Reservoir Embankment” by Frank H. Tomp-
kins, an oil on board of 1910.

geometric abstraction and derich at Hirschl & Adler; and Cole oil sketch; and a Homer a sunny watercolor by the lit- by Winslow Homer and Henry
constructions by Al Loving, a large Alfred Thompson watercolor of Cuba. tle-known Nell. Priced Roderick Newman. Museums
Ilya Bolotowsky, Irene Pereira Bricher seascape at Avery $565,000 and $12,000 respec- are looking at our Gugliemi
and Charles Green Shaw, Galleries. “We sold paintings by Anto- tively, both pieces represented and William Morris Hunt.
mounting them opposite fluid nia Nell, Samuel Halpert, special opportunities for col- Even our little Howard Pyle
landscapes and figure paint- At Menconi + Schoelkopf, Paul King and Edgar Levy, lectors. had some attention. So we’re
ings by Sally Michel and her “Whitehead (Monhegan)” by and as a follow-up to the fair, happy.”
husband, Milton Avery. As the Rockwell Kent was a crowd an Edwin Dickinson,” said Two days after the fair’s
fair closed, the Metropolitan pleaser. “Everyone loves a big, New York dealer John Driscoll. close, Debra Force was in con- Colville, who sold pieces by
Museum of Art announced the bright, beautiful scene of the Navigating between the cele- versation about her two most Joseph Stella, Charles Green
promised gift of 88 American Maine coast, and this 1940s brated and the not yet discov- expensive pieces, Robert Hen- Shaw and Rockwell Kent,
Aesthetic and Gilded Age oil is a masterpiece some- ered, Driscoll Babcock juxta- ri’s 1906 “Spanish Girl of remarked, “The show’s a great
paintings assembled by Wig- where astride Modernist color posed Archipenko’s sleek, blue Madrid (Modiste),” $1,250,000, venue for looking at art and a
more and her husband, Bar- and an illustrator’s eye for bronze “Turning Torso,” from and the 1929 “Approaching wonderful adjunct to every-
rie. The assemblage will be on drama,” explained gallery the collection of actor Anthony Storm, Racetrack” by Guy thing else that is going on.”
view in the Met’s new Wig- director Jonathan Spies, call- Quinn and on the market for Pene du Bois, $1,200,000. “We
more Galleries from Decem- ing attention also to Thomas the first time since 1962, with have interest in watercolors For more information, visit
ber 2. Hart Benton’s “We, The Peo- www.theamericanartfair.com.
ple,” designed as a book jacket
“The stars aligned this year,” in 1932; a “jewel” of a Thomas Andrew Goffman, Sara Bliss Cohen and Judy Goffman Cutler with the 1931 oil on canvas
said gallery director Carey “Walking Woman” by Gaston “Volunteer Fireman” by Norman Rockwell, reproduced in the Saturday Evening Post the
Vose of Vose Galleries, Boston. Lachaise at Forum Gallery, same year.
“We sold one very important New York City. Visible rear,
piece by Mary Bradish Tit- “Modiste (Spanish Girl,
comb and have multiple paint- Madrid)” by Robert Henri,
ings out on approval. One is a 1906, oil on canvas,
rare Mary Macomber, acquired $1,250,000. Debra Force Fine
by my great, great grandfa- Art, New York City.
ther, R.C. Vose, in 1901. It was
one of the first three paintings
he ever purchased by a woman
artist. We had three different
museum curators clamoring
for it, so I’m hopeful it will
find a good home where it will
be appreciated by the public
for years to come.”

Forty-five paintings, sculp-
tures and drawings sold dur-
ing the show, 17 on opening
night, Sweeney Singer con-
firmed. Additional transac-
tions are pending. Sales
included the nearly life-sized
bronze figure of a World War I
veteran by Gertrude Vander-
bilt Whitney at Jonathan
Boos; pieces by Richard
Pousette-Dart, Joseph Stella
and John Marin at Meredith
Ward Fine Art; examples by
Leon Kroll, Irving Ramsay
Wiles and Edmund C. Tarbell
at Questroyal; Andrew Wyeth’s
“House on Stone’s Point” at
Forum Gallery; cut-paper sil-
houettes by William Hunt Die-

“Bea Ault” by Marguerite Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts offered six original watercol- At Debra Force Fine Art, “The Snake and the Bird,” a 1937
Zorach, 1925, oil on canvas, ors created by Marguerite Zorach during a 1915 trip to New hooked rug by Marguerite Zorach, $135,000. “Fishermen’s
$165,000. Kraushaar Galler- Hampshire. Abby Aldrich Rockefeller purchased the pieces Children,” a 1919 oil by her husband, William, below left,
ies, New York City. from the Downtown Gallery. $245,000. Robert Laurent’s carved alabaster bust “La Toi-
lette,” circa 1940, was $110,000.

22 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

Beattie Auction Set For Dec. 9 In Seabrook, N.H.
SEABROOK, N.H. — Auction-
eer Edward B. Beattie will offer There will be a selection of Advertising and folk art lots Eighteenth Century slant-front desk attributed to prized
the personal property of a long- estate rugs. will be offered. cabinetmaker John Cogswell.
time North Shore collector/deal- chest; a spool chest; local adver- homes, there is something for
er that has been storage for tising and folk art. As with any everyone, and we will start at 5 merchandise. There will be a preview on the
years, along with antiques and estate sale, there will be an pm with box lots for the bargain “There is a listing and photos day of sale, December 9, 3 to 5
collectibles from two other area eclectic mix of furniture from a hunters,” said Beattie. “There is pm.
estates, on Monday, December 9, rolltop desk signed Derby and no online bidding, and many at www.auctionzip.com/list-
beginning at 5 pm, at the Trinity an oak buffet to smalls, includ- items will be sold in large lots. ings/3372907.html, but check The Trinity Parish Hall is on
Parish Hall. ing a colorful advertising box Just in time for holiday shop- back frequently as we are still Route 1, 103 Lafayette Road For
from John Pearson & Son bak- ping, this will be a fun sale of adding photos.” information, 603-770-9878.
“We are privileged to sell this ers, Newburyport and a tramp 250 lots with a wide variety of
collection at auction,” said Beat- art wall pocket with mirror.
tie. “This collector was well-
known for having a great eye, “Because this is all fresh out of
especially when it came to folk
art and antique furniture by
local craftsmen. The most excit-
ing piece from this home is a
beautiful Eighteenth Century
slant-front desk with shell
carved interior and skirt attrib-
uted to John Cogswell, Boston/
Salem (1738-1818). Examples of
his work are in the Boston
Museum of Fine Arts and the
Peabody Essex Museum in
Salem.”

Highlights will include an
array of estate rugs, jewelry and
sterling silver. There is a selec-
tion of country items consisting
of firkins; blanket boxes, sea

At Swann Galleries Auction—

Classic & Contemporary Photographs Bring $1.5 Million
NEW YORK CITY —Swann al. “The sale cast a wide net
Galleries’ October 17 sale of with icons of popular culture,
classic and contemporary pho- important historical images
tographs featured a broad and classic masterpieces of
range of photographic materi- fine art photography,” noted
Daile Kaplan, the house’s
PO Bo x 2 90 ; Wh i te P l a in s , N . Y. 1 0 6 0 5 director of photographs and
photobooks.
Edward S. Curtis’s portfolios
and orotones attracted robust
bidding. Highlights included
“Prayer to the Stars,” orotone
plate, 1904, which earned a
record for the image at
$21,250; “The North American
Indian, Portfolio II,” with 33
photogravures, 1908, which
reached $27,500; and “The
North American Indian, Port-
folio IX, “25 photogravures,
1913, which brought $13,750.
Irving Penn’s sumptuous
platinum-palladium print
“Cuzco Children, Peru,”
December, 1948, printed 1978,
led the sale at $93,750. Also John Divola, “Five Prints,” complete portfolio of Edward S. Curtis, “Prayer to the Stars,”
among the top lots was Penn’s five dye transfer prints, 1983-86, printed 1987, orotone plate, 1904, sold for $21,250, a
“American Ballet Theatre,” finished at $20,000. record for the image.
platinum-palladium print,
1947, 1968, which brought Historical images included 1939 World’s Fair, $6,250; and $6,000.
$18,750. Further fine art pho- Henri Cartier-Bresson’s press photographs, including Prices given include the buy-
tography included Roy DeCar- “Gestapo informer recognized images from the Great Depres-
ava’s “Boy with Bowed Head,” by a woman she had sion at $4,000, the Yalta and er’s premium, as stated by the
silver print, 1961, printed denounced, Dessau, Germany,” Tehran Conferences at $813, auction house. For informa-
early 1970s, at $17,500. ferrotyped silver print, 1945, as well as the Vietnam War at tion, www.swanngalleries.com
printed 1947, which brought or 212-254-4710.

$42,500, a record for the Auction Action In New York City
image; and W. Eugene Smith’s
“Tomoko Uemura in Her
Bath,” silver print, 1971-73, at
$13,750. Dorothea Lange was
present with “San Francisco
Waterfront (Demonstration),”
silver print, 1934, $20,000;
and “Migrant Mother,” silver
print, 1936, printed circa 1965,
$18,750. Also of note was a col-
lection of 54 silver prints on
carte-postale paper depicting
the architecture of Cuzco,
Peru, by Martin Chambi,
which earned $15,000.
Colorful works by contempo-
rary photographers featured
John Divola’s “Five Prints,”
1983-86, a complete portfolio
of dye-transfer prints that
earned $20,000; and “McLean,
Virginia,” December 4, 1978,
dye transfer print, 1978, print-
ed 1984, by Joel Sternfeld,
which brought $17,500.
The popular vernacular sec-
tion saw competitive bidding
for albums and folios docu-
menting life in Asia and the
South Seas in the late Nine- Irving Penn, “Cuzco Children,” Peru, December, platinum-
teenth Century, $6,250; the palladium print, 1948, printed 1978, realized $93,750.

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 23

Fine Art, Jewelry & More Bring
$2.5 Million At Grogan’s Sale

Auction Action In Boston

BOSTON — On November 8, president and jewelry director, at Massachusetts General Hos- gram postings accounted for in the sale. One of the other
the Grogan & Company sale of after the sale commented that pital in gratitude for her care, the sale of at “least four pieces Marins, “Boat and Gull” was a
486 lots began with 193 lots of a woman who bought a particu- 2008.” It had remained in that of jewelry.” watercolor painted in 1945,
fine art, followed by 226 lots of larly nice diamond ring said to nurse’s family and it sold for which quickly sold to a phone
jewelry, then by silver, Chinese her that she had two daughters $24,400. There may be a moral The first 200 lots of the day bidder for $79,300. The catalog
Export porcelain, tall case but only one engagement ring in that story somewhere. When were paintings, many of which This platinum and diamond
clocks and American furniture of her own. Her purchase would asked about the importance of sold over estimate. Two sold for ring with an Asscher-cut
and more. Grogan’s gallery is allow her to leave a fine dia- provenance of the Rockefeller $97,600 each. One was a water- diamond weighing 4.59 car-
located in the historic and mond to each, “creating a sense family, Edwards said, “I think color by John Marin (1870- ats flanked by 12 fancy-cut
affluent Beacon Hill section of of legacy.” Edwards also com- that’s of more interest to trade 1953), “Stonington Harbor, diamonds was the highest
Boston. The firm has been mar- mented that one result of draw- buyers than it is to the retail Deer Isle, Maine,” signed and priced item in the sale. It
keting to that demographic ing so many buyers to the buyers.” dated 1924, selling well over its finished at $146,400.
with success, and the salesroom salesroom was that there was a estimate. It had been included
was standing room only, as it substantial amount of “cross- One of the rings that Edwards in exhibitions of Marin’s works
was for Grogan’s last sale. over” buying. Someone might liked was a platinum ring cen- and is included in the artist’s
Much is sold to retail trade. have come to the sale intending tering an old European-cut dia- 1970 catalogue raisonné. The
More than 50 lots sold in the to bid on jewelry and then see a mond weighing approximately other was a large oil on canvas,
five-figure price range and the painting that would go nicely in 2.50 carats flanked by eight old “Fog Bank,” by Wolf Kahn,
sale grossed $2,576,000. Thir- their home, and bid on that as full-cut diamonds. It sold for signed and dated 1997-2006. It
ty-five percent of the lots sold well. $14,640, and she said, “I have a had been included in a retro-
above estimate. Internet bid- soft spot for chunky facets of spective of the artist’s work at
ders, absentee bidders and Several pieces of jewelry had old diamonds.” Her email two the Brattleboro Museum and
phone bidders engaged in impressive provenance, includ- weeks prior to the sale, “Lucy’s Art Center, Brattleboro, Vt., in
strong competition with the ing the Rockefeller family and Jewelry Picks,” pictured and 2006. There were additional
crowd in the room. A couple of the Aga Khan IV. The prove- described a dozen of her choices works by both of these artists
weeks before the sale, Michael nance of the piece from the Aga in varying price ranges and
Grogan and each of the depart- Khan, a signed and numbered this was one of her top choices.
ment heads, Lucy Grogan Cartier platinum, diamond, Another of her choices was a
Edwards and Georgina Win- sapphire, emerald and mother- Patek Phillipe 14K gold wrist-
throp, separately sent out of-pearl “Fauna and Flora” watch with Arabic numerals
emails calling attention to brooch in the form of a dia- and a manual-wind movement.
about a dozen items that they mond-encrusted parrot, was Her email stated, “I don’t wear
particularly liked, with brief particularly interesting. The a watch, but if I did, it could be
comments stating why they catalog stated, “A gift from the this classic.” It sold for $4,270.
chose those items. Aga Khan IV, Prince Shah A few days after the sale,
Karim Al Hussaini, to a nurse Edwards said her active Insta-
Leading the day, selling for
$146,400, was a platinum and Georgina Winthrop, fine art director, alternated at the
diamond ring with an Asscher- podium with Michael Grogan during the fine art portion of
cut diamond weighing 4.59 car- the sale.
ats, flanked by 12 fancy-cut
diamonds. It was accompanied This watercolor by John Marin, signed and dated 1924,
by a GIA certificate, which “Stonington Harbor, Deer Isle, Maine,” which sold for
graded the diamond as D, $97,600, was one of more than 30 works in the “A Maine Per-
VVS1/Potential, no fluores- spective” collection. It was one of the two paintings selling
cence. Two diamond rings, each at that price.
finishing among the top ten
lots for the day, sold for $48,800
each. One was 14K gold and
platinum, centering a round
brilliant-cut diamond weighing
3.03 carats flanked by two
pear-shaped diamonds weigh-
ing 1.03 carats and 1.02 carats.
The other ring selling for that
price was a signed Tiffany & Co
18K gold and diamond ring
centering an old European-cut
yellow diamond weighing
approximately 1.75 carats
flanked by two old European-
cut diamonds weighing approx-
imately 2.50 total carat weight.

Lucy Grogan Edwards, vice

Review and Onsite Photos by
Rick Russack, Contributing Editor

Additional Photos Courtesy of
Grogan & Company

The salesroom was full as the day started with close to 200
pieces of fine art.

The Tiffany silver service for 18, English “The Crucifixion,” cataloged as “in the man- A portion of the John Marin watercolors displayed during
King pattern, was in a fitted oak case and ner of Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), an oil on the preview.
sold for $13,420. canvas laid on panel” brought $30,500, far
over the estimate.

24 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

A large oil on canvas, “Fog Bank” by Wolf Kahn, signed and
dated 1997-2006, was one of two paintings that led the fine
arts section of the sale, finishing at $97,600.

One of the Rolex watches in The provenance of this
the sale was this diamond brooch was particularly inter-
and sapphire Oyster Perpet- esting. The catalog stated, “A
ual Datejust wristwatch. gift from the Aga Khan IV,
The bezel was set with 32 Prince Shah Karim Al Hus-
diamonds and four sap- saini, to a nurse at Massachu-
phires. It fetched $10,370. setts General Hospital in
gratitude for her care, 2008.”
The signed and numbered
Cartier platinum, diamond,
sapphire, emerald and moth-
er-of-pearl brooch in the
form of a diamond-encrusted
parrot earned $24,400.

Arthur Grover Rider spent nine summers painting in Spain. across centuries, styles and Zorach, Alfred Thomas Bricher
“On the Coast of Spain” sold for $51,850. mediums.” The collector stated, and Charles Henry Gifford.
“The weather and hence the
Made in Roxbury, Mass., by entry for this one stated: “The Georgina Winthrop, Grogan’s landscapes of coastal Maine are There were several pleasant
William Cummins, a Federal work was painted in 1945, by fine art director, sent out prior in constant flux. The same sub- surprises among other paint-
period inlaid mahogany which time Marin had devel- to the sale, commenting to cli- ject — a pier, a gull, a breaking ings. “The Crucifixion,” cata-
“Rocking Ship” tall case oped his mature style and was ents about the dozen or so art wave — inspires unpredictable loged as “in the manner of
clock was one of several tall at the peak of his artistic works she liked best. opportunities.” This collection Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), an
case clocks in the sale. It career. It aptly demonstrates included three of the John oil on canvas laid on panel,”
was bid to $16,640. why Marin is considered one of The Deer Isle Marin men- Marin watercolors in the sale, brought $30,500 against an
the foremost American Mod- tioned above was part of a col- each from a different decade, estimate of $2,500. Also selling
ernist painters.” This painting lection of more than 30 paint- allowing for a comparison of well over the estimate was a
was included in the email that ings that were cataloged and how the artist’s style developed work by Frank Shapleigh
described as “ A Maine Perspec- and changed over time. In addi- (1842-1906), signed and dated
tive: the Collection of a Maine tion to the Deer Isle scene, F.H. Shapleigh 1878, titled and
Gentleman.” Winthrop’s cata- Marin’s “Sea Movement, signed, on the verso “Mote (sic)
log description for this collec- Maine,” a watercolor done in Mountain From Jackson, New
tion states: “This group of 1937, earned $36,600. Marin’s Hampshire,” which reached
works was carefully collected 1917 watercolor, “Sea and $27,450. Another Shapleigh
over the past several decades Rocks, Small Point, Maine,” White Mountains oil realized
by a gentleman with a lifelong realized $39,650. A buyer in the $4,880.
connection to the Maine coast. room paid $61,000 for “Mount
This love for the coast of Maine Desert VI,” an oil on wood from Nine works by Anne Packard
is the current that runs through that collection by Richard (b 1933) also did well. “Solitude
the collection, unifying works Estes, one of Winthrop’s favor- III,” a moody scene of clouds,
ites about which she said, “Hav- surf and beach, reached
ing grown up spending sum- $21,960. Two other works by
mers on Mount Desert Island, Packard each sold for just
this is a view close to my heart.” under $20,000. An oil on canvas
The Maine seacoast collection by Robert Swain Gifford (1840-
included works by Martin 1905) “The Citadel of Cairo,
Johnson Heade, William Evening,” signed and dated R.
Swain Gifford ‘71, realized
$17,080. Winthrop’s comment

“Pyramids and Clouds,” a very colorful lithograph by Alex-
ander Calder, signed in pencil and numbered XL/L, reached
$7,930.

One of nine works by Anne Packard, “Soli-
tude III” brought $21,960. Two of the others
sold for just under $20,000. All exceeded
their estimates.

One of the John Marin watercolors in the sale, “Boat and About two years ago, Grogan sold a collection of mammoth plate albumen photos of west-
Gull” was painted in 1945 and sold to a phone bidder for ern scenery by Carleton Watkins. The purchaser of some, deciding it was time to downsize,
$79,300. consigned four to this sale. This one, “North Dome, Front View, Yosemite,” realized $9,760.
It sold for $2,074 at the earlier sale. Others also exceeded the prices obtained in the earlier
sale. When these views of Yosemite were shown to President Lincoln, he proclaimed that
the Yosemite Valley would forever remain in the public domain, thereby establishing the
precursor of today’s Yosemite National Park.

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 25

Grogan & Company

This pair of Angela Cummins 18K gold, coral and “I picked it for the cover of the catalog — enough said.” This
black jade polka dot ear clips sold well over the esti- was the comment Lucy Grogan Edwards made about this
mate, reaching $5,795. Lucy Edwards said it was Van Cleef & Arpels 18K gold, diamond and sapphire brace-
another of her favorites “...an interesting use of let that sold for $30,500.
material resulting in a great color combination.”

One of the first items sold
was a silvered bronze by
Angel Botello (1913-1986),
titled “Francoise with Pig-
tails,” which brought
$13,420.

was, “This painting is a fasci- A scene just across the street from Grogan’s gallery, “Swan “You Ring, We Bring (Kelloggs Diner),” a watercolor by
nating departure from Gifford’s Boats, Boston Public Garden,” by Stephen Morgan Etnier John Baeder, realized $9,760.
more typical seascapes.” sold for $6,710, probably to one of the Beacon Hill residents the paintings pretty much left
in the salesroom. after they were sold, and they
The sale included more than were replaced by the jewelry
jewelry and paintings. A Tiffa- Nathaniel Gladding of Warren, early Nineteenth Century Fed- crowd. So we had a full house
ny flatware service for 18 in the R.I., in 1800, and is a fine eral carved and inlaid mahoga- most of the sale. Anytime we
English King pattern, earned instrument in a mahogany- ny lift top games table, closed can sell over $2.5 million worth
$13,420, and a Georg Jensen inlaid case, in perfect condition. on a positive note as it sold for of material, with the 91 percent
silver rose bonbonniere, No. A figure of a ship rolling in a $6,100, four times the estimate. sell-through rate we achieved,
262, earned $7,930. A Jensen heavy sea is shown above the we’re all happy with the day’s
Cactus pattern silver flatware dial, an interesting feature that After the sale, Michael Gro- work.”
service brought $8,450. There is unusual.” It had an old refin- gan, the company president,
were also five early American ish and the feet and fretwork summed it up, “We finished up Prices given include the buy-
tall case clocks. were believed to be original. at 8 pm. It was a long day, and er’s premium as stated by the
we had the crowd with us most auction house.
The highest price, $16,640, The very last lot of the day, an of the day. Those interested in
was obtained for a Federal peri- For information, 617-720-
od inlaid mahogany “Rocking 2020 or www.groganco.com.
Ship” example from the Rox-
bury maker William Cummins
(1768-1834). Pasted inside the
door was an interesting con-
temporary newspaper article
from the Newport Daily News,
November 25, 1809, reading,
“The directors of the Aquidneck
National Bank have purchased
of George E. Vernon & Co. a
hall clock for the lobby of the
banking room. It was made for

Dali Museum Examines
Catalysts For Surrealism

ST PETERSBURG, FLA. — Paris in 1929 was tury, including Jean Arp, André Breton, Luis
an avant-garde hothouse rife with artistic con- Buñuel, Alexander Calder, Giorgio de Chirico,
flict and friendly rivalry, fueled in the wake of a Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, Alberto Giacometti,
tragic world war. Would painting survive the René Magritte, Joan Miró, Francis Picabia, Man
new experiments with photography, film and Ray, Yves Tanguy and others.
collage? Would politics replace art? “Midnight
in Paris: Surrealism at the Crossroads, 1929” at Through a host of Twentieth Century works
The Dali Museum immerses audiences in this from the Centre Pompidou in Paris, “Midnight
particularly rich and vital creative awakening in Paris” brings to life the personal relation-
by examining the work, friendships and clashes ships and the intellectual passions that threat-
of more than 20 artists of the era. That tumul- ened to tear apart the newly formed artistic
tuous year also marked a crucial watershed in movement called Surrealism. Just as this art
particular for Salvador Dalí, who first appeared form began to penetrate Western culture, from
on the scene with the film Un Chien Andalou. literature to fashion to advertising, disagree-
The exhibition will feature works by artists who ments erupted among its famous practitioners.
have defined the course of art for nearly a cen- Are dreams or spontaneous emotions more cen-
Salvador Dalí (Figueras, 1904-1989) “Dor- tral to image-making? Should painting take
meuse, cheval, lion invisibles (Invisible precedence, or are more technical approaches
Sleeping Woman, Horse, Lion),” 1930, oil on and media more effective tools? Perhaps most
canvas, Inv. AM 1993-26. Centre Pompidou, importantly, how could Surrealism embody the
Paris, Musée national d’art moderne / Cen- concerns and values of a new class of activist
tre de creation industrielle. Photo credit: artists shaped by the profound destruction of
©Philippe Migeat — Centre Pompidou, the first World War?
MNAM-CCI /Dist. RMN-GP ©Salvador Dalí,
Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, (ARS), 2019. “As the preeminent movement of its era, Sur-
realism reached an innovative turning point in
1929, a crisis of consciousness that has had a
sweeping impact on visual art ever since,” said
Dr Hank Hine, executive director of the Dalí
Museum. “The Dalí Museum, with its outstand-
ing legacy, collection and international partner-
ships, looks forward to affording our visitors
this rare window into one of the most critical
epochs in cultural history.”

Organized by the Centre Pompidou, Paris, and
the Dalí Museum, “Midnight in Paris” is curat-
ed by Dr William Jeffett, chief curator of special
exhibitions at the Dalí Museum, and Didier
Ottinger, deputy director of the Musée national
d’art moderne at the Centre Pompidou.

The exhibit will be on view through April 5.
The Dalí Museum is located at One Dalí Bou-
levard. For additional information, 727-823-
3767 or www.thedali.org.

26 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

Dallas Auction Gallery Romances Bidders
With Aboriginal & Native American Fine Art

Auction Action In Dallas

This 1973 synthetic polymer paint on composition board by The top lot of the auction was a familiar
the Australian Aboriginal artist Clifford Possum Tjapalt- bronze sculpture by Frederic Remington
jarri (1926-2002) sold for $93,750 to a phone bidder. “The Rattlesnake,” 23½ inches high, which
realized $125,000.
DALLAS — “There was a lot house,” Shuford said, “some-
of romance in this auction, and thing you don’t see as much Long Jack Phillipus Tjakamarra “Women’s Review by
lots of bidding,” Scott Shuford, with internet being so strong. It Corroboree” synthetic polymer paint on Antiques and The Arts Weekly
owner of Dallas Auction Gallery was fun selling to a crowd.” The composition board mounted on plywood, Anne Kugielsky, Assistant Editor
(DAG), said after the November internet did play a big role, as 1972, was estimated at $7/9,000 but realized Photos Courtesy Dallas Auction Gallery
20 evening sale. With collec- did phone bidding. In fact, when $46,875.
tions ranging from blackamoors a 1973 synthetic polymer paint
from Derrill Osborn (of Neiman on composition board by the wait, but she gave up.” interested collectors world- scholarships.
Marcus men’s clothing fame) to Australian Aboriginal artist Some of the other aboriginal wide,” Shuford said. It was a piece more familiar to
Aboriginal and Native art from Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri
the SMU-Taos campus being (1926-2002) sold for $93,750, it works, including “Untitled (Art- The provenance for the Tja- US collectors, which also
sold to benefit scholarship pro- was to a phone bidder. “We had ist’s Stories)” attributed to Long paltjarri work was similar to all embodied the romance of the
grams, there was active bidding a woman calling from outside Jack Phillipus Tjakamarra, also the Aboriginal works offered. Old West, that was the top lot of
in the auction which totaled the US who really wanted the sold to phone bidders. Like the From the Papunya Tula Artists, the auction: Frederic Reming-
over $1 million and recorded an artwork, but her phone was giv- other Aboriginal works, Native Alice Springs Argyle Arts Cen- ton’s “The Rattlesnake,” bronze,
86 percent sell through rate. ing her trouble so she couldn’t turquoise jewelry, rugs and pot- tre (Tjapaltjarri was chairman original cast #36 by Roman
get her bid in — we tried to tery, it was from the SMU-Taos from the 1970s to the 1980s), to Bronze Works, won the top posi-
“There was a large crowd in campus collection, which had a Sydney, Australia, private col- tion when it sold at $125,000.
been donated to the school lection to the SMU-Taos cam- Modeled in 1905, and reworked
decades ago. “When we got the pus collection. The 36-by- three years later, the posthu-
word out about the aboriginal 48-inch work came with an mous cast is circa 1914; prove-
art and Native American estimate of $8/12,000 and was nance includes Richard M. Nes-
objects from the SMU collec- one of several works from the bitt, New York, Amon G. Carter
tion, we were inundated by collection being sold to benefit and the Amon Carter Museum,

Two Grey Hills rug, with central diamond medallion and
linear geometric border, had 25 bids before closing above
estimate for $3,437.

Attributed to Long Jack Phillipus Tjakamar- From the Estate of Derrill Osborn, Dallas,
ra (1932-1993), “Untitled (Artist’s Stories),” this elaborate Venetian carved polychrome
garnered more than 40 bids on its way from wood console table, the shaped faux marble
opening at $1,000 to selling at $17,500. top covered with a faux drapery and hang-
ing tassel pendants, with a standing blacka-
moor figure, realized $5,312.

Two of Derrill Osborn’s signature ensembles included a A three-piece Zuni Indian silver and tur- This regal Santa Clara blackware vessel,
London-based Lock & Co bowler hat, silver bow tie, three- quoise jewelry, all with bezel set cabochon with carved geometric design to shoulders,
piece suit, a pair of monogrammed Shipton and Henege vel- cut turquoise, estimated at $200-400, sold by Margaret Tafoya (1904-2011), matriarch
vet loafers and a cape, which sold for $1,000. His wide- after more than 18 bids at $1,625. of Santa Clara Pueblo potters, sold at $7,500.
brimmed hat with the front turned up, signature red and
green plaid vest and trousers, wool cape and a pair of Fort
Worth-based M. Leddy’s leather cowboy boots, no doubt
custom and handmade, sold for $937.

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 27

This circa late Nineteenth/early Twentieth An Acoma vase by Stella Shutiva, with geo- Paul Strisik’s (1918-1998) “Taos Pueblo” oil on canvas, 30 by
Century Black Forest figural group depict- metric design throughout and estimated at 40 inches, sold above its high estimate at $7,500.
ing a bull, cow and calf, from Derrill $300/500, sold at $1,000.
Osborn’s estate, brought $3,125.

Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa 24-by-29 oil on canvas, circa necklace, having a large naja (6 Eanger Irving Couse (1866-1936), “Untitled (The Pottery
Fe, and a private Dallas collec- 1930 and signed lower left, “E.I. inches), accented by turquoise Decorator),” 24 by 29 inches, oil on canvas, circa 1930, sold
tion. Couse,” was authenticated by clusters with a silver blossom, for $62,500.
Virginia Couse Leavitt, founder circa mid-Twentieth Century,
Other Aboriginal works drew of the Couse Foundation and sold at $2,500. Forest figural group, depicting amount.
competitive bidding. Long Jack will be included in her forth- a bull, cow and calf raised atop Rounding out the diverse,
Phillipus Tjakamarra (1932- coming catalogue raisonné of A series of works by American a scrolling base, circa late/early
1993) was one of the founders of the artist’s work. artist William Acheff (b 1947), Nineteenth Century, exceeded almost 400-lot auction, were a
the Papunya Artists Coopera- known for the illusory qualities high estimate at $3,125. variety of lots. A Mexican Colo-
tive in the early 1970s, and he Another oil on canvas with a and lifelike perfection of his nial polychrome carved wood
often painted dream-like Native American motif and classic trompe l’oeil paintings, “Then he began to collect figure, depicting the Virgin
visions, which became highly from the SMU-Taos collection, had provenance to the Prix de blackamoors [a European art Mary, with an upward gaze and
sought after. His “Women’s Cor- Paul Strisik’s (1918-1998) “Taos West Exhibition and Sale. His style from the Early Modern raised on a round wood base
roboree” (a corroboree is a dance Pueblo” oil on canvas, 30 by 40 “Good Smoke,” oil on canvas, period depicting highly stylized ($2,500); an Acoma vase by
ceremony that can take the inches, sold above its high esti- sold at $25,000; “Harmony,” oil figures, usually African males]. Stella Shutiva, with geometric
form of a ritual event) is paint- mate at $7,500. on canvas, went to $18,750; and He had more blackamoors than design throughout estimated at
ed in synthetic polymer paint “Family Colors,” oil on canvas, I have ever seen,” Shuford said. $300/500 sold at $1,000; a
on composition board mounted The West is shrouded in mys- brought $13,750. All were Topping all of the lots of blacka- three-piece Zuni Indian silver
on plywood, 1972. Inscribed tery and romance, and with art- signed and dated 2011, and all moors was an elaborate Vene- and turquoise jewelry, all with
verso, “Long Jack Phillipus ists who work in traditional sold within estimates. His real- tian carved polychrome wood bezel set cabochon cut turquoise
Tjakamarra,” it bears the label mediums like weavings, pottery istic compositions often reflect console table, the shaped faux ($1,625); a Chinese Ming carved
for Aboriginal Art from Papun- and jewelry. DAG’s auction was the distinctive influences of marble top covered with a faux wood Buddha, hands in Dharm-
ya, Central Australia. It came filled with such items. A regal Native American cultures and drapery and hanging tassel achakra-Mudra, estimated at
up with an estimate of $7/9,000 Santa Clara blackware vessel, of the Southwest, where he pendants, with a standing $800/1,200, sold at $4,687; and
but realized $46,875. with carved geometric design to makes his home. blackamoor figure, realized a rare Daum Nancy bird’s beak
shoulders, by Margaret Tafoya $5,312. A pair of blackamoor vase with Venetian canal scene
A second painting attributed (1904-2011), matriarch of Santa Another collection in the auc- polychrome wood end tables, decoration, signed “Daum
to Long Jack Phillipus Tjaka- Clara Pueblo potters, sold at tion was also replete with many with figural standard in blue Nancy with the Cross of Lor-
marra garnered more than 40 $7,500; a Twentieth Century lots. Shuford said the estate of and gilt garb raising a shaped raine,” surprised when it went
bids on its way from opening at Two Grey Hills rug, with cen- venerable icon of international faux marble top overhead, early well beyond estimate to sell at
$1,000 to ending at $17,500. tral diamond medallion and lin- fashion Derrill Osborn of Dallas Nineteenth Century, sold above $4,375.
The “Untitled (Artist’s Stories),” ear geometric border, 78½ by was unbelievable. “He used to their $800/1,200 estimate at
synthetic polymer paint on 53½ inches, had 25 bids before collect cows — anything con- $2,500. A patinated and poly- Prices, with buyer’s premium,
composition board, 1973, 21 by closing above its $1/1,500 esti- nected with cows,” and after chrome metal blackamoor ped- as reported by the auction
18 inches, is inscribed verso mate to an internet bidder for some time doing that, he sold estal, 40½ inches high and house. DAG will offer Modern
with the size, date and Papunya $3,437; and a Zuni Indian silver some of that collection. Osborn adorned with beaded bone jew- fine art at its next auction in
Tula Artists catalog number, (J) and turquoise squash blossom once described his estate as “a elry and feather skirt, flanked mid-January. For information,
P730635, but was unsigned. Its little Oriental here, a little by roped bells went for the same www.dallasauctiongallery.com
provenance, like most in the French thrown in there, red and or 214-653-3900.
SMU-Taos collection, was green, and a whole lot of cows.”
directly from the artists collec- From Osborn’s estate, a Black
tive to the collector and to
SMU-Taos.

An untitled work by Eanger
Irving Couse (1866-1936),
“Untitled, (The Pottery Decora-
tor),” sold for $62,500. The

A Mexican Colonial poly- A rare Daum Nancy bird’s
chrome carved wood figure beak vase with Venetian
depicting the Virgin Mary, canal scene decoration,
with an upward gaze and signed “Daum Nancy with
raised on a round wood base the Cross of Lorraine,” real-
went to $2,500. ized $4,375.

A patinated and polychrome Bidders begin taking their seats at Dallas Auction Gallery A pair of blackamoor polychrome wood end tables, with fig-
metal blackamoor pedestal, before the start of the auction. A bank of phones are at the ural standard in blue and gilt garb raising a shaped faux mar-
40½ inches high and rear, with DAG staff ready to go. ble top overhead, early Nineteenth Century, sold at $2,500.
adorned with beaded bone
jewelry and feather skirt,
flanked by roped bells, went
for $2,500.

28 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

Card Pigeon automaton fetched Looping the Loop, an automaton Bird Cage Production earned
$6,000. billiard ball stand, was bid to $4,320. $4,320.

Potter & Potter’s Magic Sale Harlequin automa-
Conjures Nearly $325,000 ton and table sold
for $13,200.

Auction Action In Chicago

The Automatic Billiard Ball CHICAGO — Potter & Potter Auctions’ ball ladder from 2000 sold for $4,080. His display, this cauldron and a companion
Ladder went out at $4,080. magic sale on October 26 featured 51 lots looping the loop automaton billiard ball piece are pictured in early editions of the
that realized between $1/2,000; 22 lots stand from 1999 came full circle at company’s catalog. A probably one-of-a-
that made $2,001/9,999; and three lots $4,320. His card pigeon automaton from kind German circa 1930 ring and hand
that broke the five-figure mark. Follow- 2000 soared to $6,000, and his Hofzinser illusion realized $2,880. And a circa 1920
ing the wishes of key consignors Rüdiger “wonderful wand” from 1999 more than all hardwood sliding die box made in
and Ute Deutsch, proceeds from the sale tripled its low estimate, casting its spell Prague more than doubled its high esti-
of Deutsch items in this sale were donat- at $3,840. mate, selling at $3,120.
ed to Shining Eyes, a medical charity and
hospital that operates in Bengal. A Ger- Antique props, illusions and apparatus Magic-related coins, tokens and medal-
man historian, builder and performer, were headliners in this sale. An early lions were also favorites at this event,
Deutsch amassed a collection that was Twentieth Century bird cage production with several examples soaring dramati-
considered one of the great assemblages said to be from the show of illusionist cally above their estimates. A collection
of magic apparatus of the modern era. Alois Kassner (1887-1970) made $4,320. of more than 40 Cortini aluminum adver-
Willmann’s circa 1910 “Magic Cauldron” tising and souvenir tokens was estimated
Museum-quality apparatus from a flamed to $4,080. Believed to be the only at $250/350 and traded hands at $2,280.
range of manufacturers took the top slots remaining piece of the Willmann stage Paul Korth Cortini (1890-1954) was a
in this event, with several examples fea- magician best known for his performance
turing Halloween themes. Auction Features Magic of the Miser’s Dream. A circa 1980 Magic
Collection Of German Circle of Germany award medallion sold
A sculpted and hand painted circa 1939 Historian, Builder And for $1,200 on its $100/200 estimate. One
talking skull traded hands at $13,200 on Performer Rüdiger Deutsch side featured an image of Kalanag’s
a $1/1,500 estimate. This piece was one of famous levitation; the reverse was blank
four or five examples known and crafted This McElroy Talking Skull also fin- and intended for engraving. And a bronze
by puppet makers Glen and George McEl- ished at $13,200. Magic Circle of Germany honorary medal
roy. It was sold exclusively by Abbott’s presented to Rüdiger Deutsch made
and was only available for a handful of $1,080 — more than five times its high
years, starting in the late 1930s. estimate.

An automaton talking skull made by Examples of magic-related ephemera —
John Willmann around 1930 was esti- including photographs, posters and
mated at $6/9,000 and delivered $13,200. advertising materials — were also among
The jaw of the skull rapped out answers this auction’s best sellers. A 1901 framed
to questions, clicking once for “yes” and bust portrait of a young Harry Houdini
twice for “no.” It was one of two examples came into focus at $7,200. A conjuring
known, likely the most elaborate talking broadside from 1867 advertising a perfor-
skull ever constructed, and one of a hand- mance by magician Johan Nepomuk
ful known using a real human skull in its Hofzinser (1806-1875) made $8,400, and
design. a collection Magie periodicals spanning
1918 through 2009 scored $2,880.
A circa 1999 harlequin automaton and
table built by Deutsch brought $13,200. Books, contemporary tricks and illu-
This example was only one of two con- sions and other magicana rarities
structed and was the most ambitious brought this sale full circle. A 16-volume
prop to come from Deutsch’s workshop. set of Johann Samuel Halle’s Continued
This version, a technical masterpiece, Magic, or The Magic Powers of Nature
was modeled on original apparatus from landed at $2,640. This rare and remark-
the collection of Jacques Voignier and able offering was printed in the 1787/1798
John Gaughan and was used in perfor- timeframe.
mance by Deutsch with great success.
Prices given include the buyer’s premi-
Many of Deutsch’s astonishing and um, as stated by the auction house. For
hand-constructed modern illusions information, www.potterauctions.com or
caught the imagination of bidders from 773-472-1442.
around the globe. His automatic billiard

Willmann’s Magic Cauldron
conjured $4,080. Hofzinser Wonderful Wand left the gallery at $3,840. A Willmann automaton Talking Skull realized $13,200.

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 29

Quinn’s Getz-McDonagh Dance Library Auction
Will Offer 60-Year Collection December 12

Interior pages from “Ballet,” Alexey Brodovich, 1945, com-
pilation of photographs of classical dancers, one of 500 pro-
duced, retains dust jacket ($800-$1,200).

“Lydia Lopokova, An Album of Camera Portraits,” 1920, “Le Ballet,” by Boris Kochno
with the cover art by Arabella Yorke, portrait frontispiece with Maria Luz, Hachette
in sanguine by Glyn Philpot, nine full-page pochoir illustra- (France), 1954, includes this
tions, and a portrait by Picasso ($200/400). Pablo Picasso (Spanish,

FALLS CHURCH, VA. — On sity, one of them allocated 1881-1973) lithograph,
Thursday, December 12, entirely to the library,” said which is seldom present in
Quinn’s Auction Galleries will Catherine Payling, director of copies of this book
host a single-consignor auction Quinn’s Rare Books division. ($400/600).
of the Getz-McDonagh Dance “They were devoted to dance
Library, a 60-year privately and served as lifetime stew- inclusion of a Pablo Picasso This 1920 two-volume set is titled “Ruth St Denis: Pioneer
held assemblage of historical ards to an extraordinary (Spanish, 1881-1973) litho- and Prophet,” authored by Ted Shawn and signed by both
literature, correspondence, archive that has few peers, if graph, which is still present in Shawn and St Denis, co-founders of the Denishawn School
ephemera and illustrations any, since much of it was the book to be auctioned of Dancing and Related Arts in Los Angeles ($200/300).
pertaining to classical dance. amassed at a time when the ($400/600). “It is unusual to
Originally known as the Getz field of dance literature was find a copy of this book with the four-volume A Bibliogra- Sitwell, a noted art and music
Dance Library, in reference to still in its infancy.” the lithograph intact,” Payling phy of the Dance Collection of critic, and poet ($200/400). The
its founder Leslie Getz (1945- observed. Doris Niles & Serge Leslie, intimate archive from the
2019), it is also known to many The library’s 6,800-plus books published 1966-1981. The set is 1970s and 1980s also includes
in the dance community inter- and thousands of periodicals, A 1920 book titled Lydia offered with an unpublished seven softbound books of poems
nationally as the Getz- souvenir programs, press kits, Lopokova, An Album of Camera Serge Leslie typescript about by Sitwell.
McDonagh Dance Library. annotated playbills and other Portraits, is dance-focused but Beaumont, with tipped-in pho-
Donald McDonagh is Leslie ephemera will be offered by not expressly about ballet tographs and handwritten Also featured in the auction
Getz’s steadfastly supportive Quinn’s in approximately 350 ($200/400). The cover art is by edits, contained in a three-ring is an unbroken run of issues of
husband, who shared his wife’s auction lots. Also included is a Arabella Yorke, while the por- binder. The lot also includes a Dance Magazine dating back to
passion for dance and took an small selection of dance illus- trait frontispiece in sanguine 1998 letter from Leslie to Getz, 1948; and issues of Britain’s
active partnership role in the trations. was created by Glyn Philpot. and a photo of the three friends Dancing Times dating as early
library’s growth and mainte- Additionally, there are nine ($100/200). as 1918. “Leslie Getz put pro-
nance until the day of his wife’s One of the top highlights is full-page pochoir illustrations, tective wrappers around all of
death. Ballet by Alexey Brodovich, a an interior portrait by Picasso, Evidence of the warm friend- her books and publications, so
1945 collection of his photo- three decorations, and an ships fostered within the dance the magazines are in beautiful,
Leslie Getz’s June 2, 2019, graphs of dancers. From a appreciation by publisher Cyril and greater arts communities clean condition,” Payling said.
obituary in The New York small edition of 500, the book W. Beaumont, London. during the Twentieth Century
Times described her as “a wide- was designed with stiff card- is clearly seen in the collection Quinn’s is at 360 South Wash-
ly known, valued and admired board “boards” that would have A 1935 Cyril Beaumont- of 18 letters, notes and tele- ington Street. The auction will
member of the New York City tended to become fragile over authored and published book grams to and from Doris Niles, begin at 6 pm. For additional
dance community,” noting that time. The library example is in titled Michel Fokine & His Bal- Serge Leslie and Sacheverell information, 703-532-5632 or
she also created, edited and uncommonly nice condition lets is a hardcover octavo edi- www.quinnsauction.com.
published Attitudes and Ara- with its dust jacket ($800- tion with gilt lettering and
besques, a monthly newsletter $1,200). decoration on the spine
of worldwide dance periodicals ($100/200). The book contains
and publications. Le Ballet by Boris Kochno Fokine’s uncommonly encoun-
with Maria Luz, published in tered ink signature on a plate
“Leslie and Donald occupied 1954 by Hachette, France, fea- pasted onto the title page.
two New York apartments tures a Matisse (French, 1869- Beaumont, who wrote exten-
belonging to Columbia Univer- 1954) illustration of a ballerina sively about ballet, also edited
on its binding and the bonus

Slawinski Sells China Art Center Collection December 15
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIF. — She spent two years in Rome eth Century jade carvings. preview at Robert Slawinski
On Sunday December 15, Rob- and five years in Haiti to Auctioneer Robert Slawinski Auctioneers. The in-gallery
ert Slawinski Auctioneers will serve the poorest of the poor. said, “[It is] an absolute preview will be open from
conduct a Chinese Art and In 1992, Mother Teresa asked delight to discover so many noon to 3 pm on Saturday,
Antique Auction that features Frances to return to Carmel fine jade carvings and snuff December 14, and beginning
more than 600 lots, with the to care for her mother. Fran- bottles in her collection...we at 9:30 am on Sunday, Decem-
majority of the collection com- ces passed away in 2017 and are thrilled to present this ber 15, before the sale com-
ing from Francis Chew of Car- her philanthropy continues collection for auction.” mences at 11 am.
mel, Calif. Chew was born in today as the proceeds will con-
1945, daughter to Thomas and tinue her mission and will be Buyers in the sale will be Robert Slawinski Auction-
Joan Chew. Her parents met used to benefit those in need. available to bid online, as well eers is at 1500 Green Hills
at the University of Southern Robert Slawinski Auctioneers as bid by phone, absentee and Road. For more information,
California (USC) and ran the is honored to offer the collec- in person. A complete listing www.slawinski.com or 831-
Great Wall, Inc on Hollywood tion from the China Art Cen- with estimates is available for 335-9000.
Boulevard. In 1956, the Chew ter for auction, including hun-
family moved to San Francis- dreds of textiles, Chinese Qing Dynasty carved rosewood bench ($3/5,000).
co, and opened the China works of art, a jade collection, Qi Baishi, grapes and dragonfly, watercolor ($20/30,000).
Commerce Company on Grant porcelains, jewelry and furni-
Ave and Pine Street in China- ture.
town. In 1970, they settled in
Carmel and later opened the Chinese works of art, includ-
China Art Center in Carmel. ing works in the manner of,
The China Art Center was include Qi Baishi, Li Damu,
originally the Monterey Coun- Wang Zhuangwei, Wu Zhen,
ty Trust & Savings Bank in Wu Yan and Zhang Daqian.
1929, then converted into the Auction attendees can view
Carmel Art Museum and then and examine all works in per-
the China Art Center. son at the public preview or
online. The auction includes
Chew taught French at Yale works of art from the Frances
from 1967 to 1971 and was an Chew collection as well as
author and poet. She was also local San Francisco and Mon-
able to pursue her vocation terey Bay, Calif., area estates
and entered the Missionaries and collectors. Additionally,
of Charity, the order founded the sale features a number of
by Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Nineteenth and early Twenti-

30 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

“Edith Gregor Halpert and Adam” by Bernard
Karfiol, 1935. Oil on canvas. The Jewish Muse-
Duveen Brothers Gallery at 720 Fifth Avenue, New um, New York, gift of the World Savings and “Bird and Flowers,” circa 1825. Watercolor and
York City, circa 1912. Getty Research Institute, Los Loan Association and the Fine Arts Museums ink on wove paper. Philadelphia Museum of
SUPTEhRe DBEuAsiLnEesRsSO&f TasteAngeles. of San Francisco.
Art, promised gift of Joan and Victor Johnson.

( continued from page 1C ) acted on those feelings, in 1941 organizing passed-over tures for “Mister” and “Missus.”
ing shows that emphasized diversity, tolerance and inclu- pieces into the show “What Is Wrong with This Picture?” It In 1963, Halpert organized “Signs & Symbols U.S.A.
sion. As Shaykin records, Halpert championed the art of “should make the critics and museums and collectors
women, immigrants and African Americans. In 1942, she blush,” the dealer said at the time. In 1952, her exhibition 1780–1960,” examining the affinities among folk, early
rallied to the defense of Japanese American painter Yasuo “Art for the 67%” targeted married couples, who accounted Modern and Pop art. Ever current if no longer cutting edge,
Kuniyoshi, classified an enemy alien during World War II, for two-thirds of the adult population, offering for sale pic- the dealer had paved the way for a new group of tastemak-
with a retrospective loan exhibition of his work. ers, among them Betty Parsons, whose gallery opened in
1946, and Sidney Janis, who debuted as a dealer in 1948.
Halpert sought to demolish class barriers, sometimes
with mildly amusing results. In an “Upstairs Downstairs” In Duveen Brothers and the Market for Decorative Arts,
twist, folk art filled the second floor of her 13th Street gal- 1880-1940, Charlotte Vignon, curator of decorative arts at
lery. After moving to midtown Manhattan in 1940, she the Frick Collection and visiting associate professor at the
reversed the equation, showing folk art on the first floor as Bard Graduate Center in New York, reveals the workings
a preliminary to viewing Modernist work in the space of the foremost dealer in European art and antiques in
above, a juxtaposition meant to encourage visitors to think London, Paris and New York in the first half of the Twenti-
about the DNA of American art. eth Century. Though not a breezy read — for more sensa-
tional accounts of the colorful Joseph Duveen (1869-1939),
Her egalitarian instincts prompted her to seek ways to a.k.a. Baron Duveen of Millbank, see popular biographies
make art affordable and accessible for Americans of all by Samuel N. Behrman and Meryle Secrest — Vignon’s
means. She did this most notably between 1927 and 1934 treatise is nevertheless an indispensable companion to
with annual exhibitions of American printmaking. In some other studies of the era’s great collections and collectors,
ways these initiatives were little more than window dress- from Benjamin Altman (1840-1913) to John D. Rockefeller
ing. In truth, wealthy clients such as Abby Aldrich Rocke- Jr (1874-1960).
feller, who spent $20,000 on folk art with Halpert in 1928
alone, kept the gallery afloat in its early years. An outgrowth of her doctoral research at the Sorbonne in
Paris, the book is the first one based on the Duveen firm’s
Her salesmanship, as Shaykin describes it, was “theatri- own business records, housed at the Getty Research Insti-
cal.” The Exhibidor, a revolving panel Halpert invented for tute in Los Angeles. Vignon documents the company’s
showing artwork to clients, evokes memories of the rotat- ambitions, business practices and ethics, in doing so illumi-
ing stages later used by auction houses. Halpert’s market- Duveen Brothers and the Market for Decorative
ing schemes were ingenious. “She wasn’t afraid to have Arts, 1880-1940 by Charlotte Vignon is published
fun,” says Shaykin. Every dealer knows the frustration of by the Frick Collection in association with D
owning a great piece that fails, inexplicably, to sell. Halpert Giles Limited. A storage room at the Duveen
Brothers gallery at 720 Fifth Avenue in New York
City is shown on the book’s cover. Getty Research
Institute, Los Angeles.

“Sunday Morning Breakfast” by Horace Pippin, 1943. Oil on fabric. Saint “The Swimmer” by Yasuo Kuniyoshi, circa 1924. Oil on canvas. Columbus
Louis Art Museum. Halpert’s 1944 Horace Pippin exhibition featured this Museum of Art, Ohio, gift of Ferdinand Howald, 1931. ©Estate of Yasuo
painting. Pippin merged elements of folk art and high Modernism with Kuniyoshi / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
social critique. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Japanese-born painter was
named an “enemy alien.” Halpert responded by mounting a defiant retro-
spective of his work.

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 31

Horse weathervane, 1850-75, Rochester Iron Works, New
Hampshire. Iron. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the
Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Miss Ima Hogg. In Novem-
ber 1932, the Museum of Modern Art organized “Ameri-
can Folk Art: The Art of the Common Man in America,
1750–1900.” All but two of its more than 175 objects came
from the private collection of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller,
lent anonymously and acquired from Halpert. Included
was Rockefeller’s version of this weathervane.
Joseph Duveen sitting for his painted portrait, 1933.
Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles.

Updated studies of Edith Gregor Halpert and the Duveen Brothers explore the
qualities that made them great and offer lessons for today.

nating the extensive network of dealers, decorators, fabri- copying pieces to fill out sets created a gray area for deal- Charming and charismatic, they moved in the highest
cators and restorers with whom the Duveens worked. She ers, as did the practice of creating two pieces of furniture social circles. Their ultimate genius was in recognizing and
observes, “Most of these documents were intended to be from a single old piece. In one fascinating passage, Vignon exploiting the potential of the emerging American market.
seen only by members of the firm, who were bound by the describes a “suite of furniture, a Carlhian-Duveen pastiche
need for professional confidentiality, but here everything is combining old tapestries and modern wooden frames, that Part two of Duveen Brothers examines the trade in Chi-
discussed openly: secret negotiations, the prices for art- Duveen sold in 1919 to John D. Rockefeller Jr for the nese porcelains, Eighteenth Century French furniture and
works, issues regarding the condition of objects, even mis- extravagant sum of $650,000. Rockefeller, who assumed he objects, and medieval and Renaissance furniture and
representations meant to encourage clients to purchase a was buying antique furniture, donated the suite to the objects from the vantage point of the Duveens. The Duveen
given work.” Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1935. At the time, no one style, most pronounced between 1910 and 1940, lingered
doubted its authenticity — neither the museum’s furniture well into the late Twentieth Century and, Vignon says, can
Vignon charts the rise of the antiques trade in the late curator nor Mitchell Samuels, director of French & Com- even be detected in the Charles and Jayne Wrightsman
Nineteenth Century. Once a hawker of bric-a-brac, the pany and a highly regarded specialist in tapestry and Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, endowed by
antiques dealer became “a man of the world with impecca- antique furniture, who had examined the dismantled com- the couple in 1983 and reinstalled in 2006-07.
ble manners… one who receives his visitors in large recep- ponents when he cleaned the tapestry covers in the 1920s.”
tion rooms soberly furnished with a few pieces in the best Overall, Vignon concludes, “Duveen did what The curator forgives the Duveens their “machinations,”
taste,” to quote French art critic Henri Clouzot, writing in his colleagues did; he indicated some writing, “their influence was enormous. They not only
1923. Few individuals exemplified the new breed of mer- restorations but let the rest pass transformed the international art market but also contrib-
chant better than Joel, Henry and Joseph Duveen. unremarked. He allowed a gener- uted to changes in American artistic and cultural life.”
al impression of honesty to mask
Brilliant marketing and an ability to capitalize on trends procedures that were less than Their legacy endures through the thousands of mag-
ensured the success of both Edith Halpert and the Duveens. honest.” nificent objects that passed through their hands and
But while Halpert’s approach was rooted in social idealism, The Duveens created a dura- now reside in the world’s leading museums.
the Duveens were pragmatists. The emerging portrait of ble business model. They bid Duveen Brothers and the Market for Decora-
the Duveens, Vignon says, “is one of art dealers willing to up prices at auction and tive Arts, 1880-1940 by Charlotte Vignon is
do anything necessary, legal or otherwise, to obtain success. bought en bloc to protect their published by D Giles Limited, London, in asso-
In addition to manipulating their clientele, as well as the investments. They manipulated ciation with the Frick Collection in New York
press, they circumvented the law by deceiving American the press and the courts to their City. It sells for $59.95 hardcover. For more
customs officials, which led to one of the greatest fraud and advantage. They understood the information, go to www.frick.org or call 212-
smuggling scandals of the Twentieth Century.” value of staging and the importance of a 547-6848.
prestigious address. They provided interi- “Edith Halpert and the Rise of American Art”
Vignon writes that, while the Duveens inevitably sold or design services as a way of selling
fakes, “it has not been established that they did so know- merchandise. They marshalled a net- is on view through February 9. An accompanying
ingly or that they had anything to do with their fabrica- work of tradesmen and experts in the catalog of the same name is published by the Jew-
tion.” They worked closely with experts, made every effort United States and Europe, and ish Museum and Yale University Press. Hardcover
to document what they sold and, if the authenticity of an established trust with museums copies are available at the Jewish Museum’s Cooper
object was questioned, generally took back a piece to avoid and collectors by working with Shop for $50. The Jewish Museum is at 1109 Fifth
scandal. acknowledged authorities.
Avenue at 92nd Street. For more information, go to
The scholar describes the tendency of legitimate dealers www.thejewishmuseum.org or call 212-423-3200.
of the day to disclose some, but perhaps not all, that was “Edith Halpert” by William King, 1959.
known about a work’s condition. Though commonplace, Painted terracotta. Guild Hall Museum,
East Hampton, N.Y., gift of Virginia
Zabriskie.

“The Peaceable Kingdom,” attributed to Edward Hicks (1780-1849), “This Is Harlem” by Jacob Lawrence, 1943. Gouache and pencil on paper. Hirsh-
circa 1846. Oil on canvas. De Young | Fine Arts Museums of San Fran- horn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, gift
cisco, gift of Mr and Mrs John D. Rockefeller 3rd. Hicks was virtually of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1966. Artwork ©The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Law-
unknown when Halpert included one of his “Peaceable Kingdom” rence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; photograph by
paintings in her “American Ancestors” exhibition in 1931. Cathy Carver. When Lawrence joined the Downtown Gallery in 1942, Halpert
became the first mainstream dealer in Manhattan to represent a black artist.

32 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

Ralph’s active lifestyle sometimes got the better of him. Here, at the Marion Ralph’s rapport with children was nowhere more evident than with his
Antiques Show around 15 years ago, he crept out back to ice a ruptured grandchildren, two of whom are seen in a 2018 photograph by Rachel’s
Achilles tendon. friend Brandi Deziel. “They are incredible little people,” Ralph said of
Dylan, left, and Carter.

Ralph N. DiSaia, 70

Dealer and Show Promoter Led By Example

By Laura Beach and no little brawn, he made the
WATERFORD, CONN. — A show go on, whatever the cir-
photograph shared by Old Lyme, cumstance. In that way and in so
Conn., dealer Jeffrey Cooley many others, Ralph was indis-
shows Ralph N. DiSaia as we will pensable.
always remember him. Tall, Johns backed up? Newport.
strong, playful and exuberant, he Carpet deliveryman missing in
stands, all 6-foot-5-inches of him, action? Southport-Westport.
with his head thrown back, his Walls absorbing unfathomable
arms outstretched in a giant vic- quantities of paint? Washington.
tory sign. Seated nearby, Karen, Duck pond resulting from 3 am
his wife of almost 39 years, downpour? Wayside. At the
regards his antics with affection height of their careers as show
and knowing amusement. dealers, the DiSaias traveled six
DiSaia, 70, left this world on months a year. Karen recalls, “I
November 22 after a brief, brave woke up in our hotel room one
struggle with cancer. “His death night to find a light on. Ralph
was much like his life — quick, was seated on the floor of the
calm, graceful and sure,” Karen company Karen and Ralph walk-in closet creating a sche-
told friends. To the end, his con- launched as an outgrowth of matic on a salvaged piece of
cern for the well-being of others their first business, Oriental cardboard. Rain was forecast,
was foremost. Rugs Ltd. In the former, Ralph and he was worried the dealers
Within the antiques communi- sometimes went by the title of would get wet packing out.”
ty, Ralph was known as one half facilities manager, which under- “If there was so much as a cock-
of the indivisible DiSaia Man- stated his herculean contribu- roach, I’d scream and Ralph
agement, the show management tions. With humor, tact, empathy would be there. He was gracious,
modest, never lost his cool and
always did what needed to be A 2004 photograph shared by Old Lyme, Conn., dealer Jeffrey
done,” says dealer Diana Bittel, Cooley shows Ralph N. DiSaia as we will always remember
who, like the DiSaias, learned him — tall, strong, playful and exuberant. “It was just so typi-
the art of show management as cal — Ralph clowning around and me laughing,” Karen says.
an Antiques Council volunteer
before going pro. Years later, she greet customers.” Antiques Dealers Association of
and the DiSaias joined forces to “I’m sure dealers never knew America and by the greater
manage, among others, the Phil- half of what he dealt with, the antiques community of dealers
adelphia Antiques and Art Show. disasters he single-handedly pre- and collectors,” says ADA presi-
Ralph often hailed dealers and vented. If a light went out in dent Steven Powers.
others from on high during set someone’s booth, he was on it,” Born March 18, 1949, to Irene
up. As Antiques and The Arts said Connecticut dealer Arthur and Ralph A. DiSaia, Ralph Nel-
Weekly publisher R. Scudder Liverant. son DiSaia excelled at tennis,
Smith recalls, “We would hear a “Ralph was able to take on basketball and football at North
‘Hello’ coming from above, and 50-plus dealers who wanted to Kingstown High School in Rhode
there was Ralph on a ladder load in or out now. He saw the Island before attending Provi-
doing some repair for a dealer. big picture, broke down the dence College, where he cap-
Somehow, we never thought he issues one by one, all with a joke tained the school’s tennis team
“Ralph loved to get Karen going. At the 2018 Antiques in needed a ladder. By the opening, or three or four. He will be great- and was the Friars’ number one
Manchester show, he had the entire opening gate... sing her there stood Ralph, handsome as ly missed by all of us who knew singles player. As a true son of
‘Happy Birthday,’” said Greg Smith, editor of Antiques and always in suit and tie, ready to and worked with him at the the Ocean State, he loved water.
The Arts Weekly. He spent youthful summers on
the beach in Wickford, R.I., and,
with Karen, lived in a succession
of houses near the shore. Active
leisure suited the couple, who
loved strolling the nearby dunes
overlooking Long Island Sound
and took annual snorkeling trips
to the Caribbean, where Karen
photographed a world of shim-
mering underwater beauty while
Ralph spotted her.
Their first meeting was in 1979
at the Lyme Shores Tennis Club,
where, as their adult daughter,
Rachel DiSaia, an administrator
at Ryerson University in Toron-
to, explained, Ralph quickly fell
in love with Karen and her son,
Adam Demorest, creative tech-
nologies manager for Cinco
Design in Portland, Ore. The cou-
ple married in 1981. “Karen
“If a light went out in someone’s booth, he was on it,” said introduced me to antiques soon
Connecticut dealer Arthur Liverant. Here Ralph uses a after we met. I found it interest-
Ralph and Karen made frequent trips to Toronto to see their blower at the 2011 Fairfield County Antiques Show to con- ing and enjoyed the hands-on
daughter, Rachel, and grandchildren Dylan, left, and Carter. tend with detritus released by the artificial turf. activity. I liked the personal

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 33

“What I loved most about Ralph was his value system,” said A former Providence College tennis team “Karen introduced me to antiques soon
Anne Hamilton, right, chairman of the Newport Antiques captain, Ralph later coached teams at Con- after we met,” said Ralph, who worked with
Show and honorary chair of the Philadelphia Antiques and necticut College, Saint Bernard School and, his wife to build Oriental Rugs Ltd. Their
Art Show. Dealer and show manager Diana Bittel, left, from 2003 to 2019, Waterford High School daughter, Rachel, recalled, “My brother and
remarked, “He was gracious, modest, never lost his cool with distinction. “I’ve never won a point. I washed a lot of rugs growing up. It wasn’t
and always did what needed to be done.” The kids do all the work,” he told Antiques necessarily our favorite thing.”
and The Arts Weekly.

interaction with buyers and sell- larly bright ones. He is known for “We would hear a ‘Hello’ coming from above, DiSaia Management grew out of Karen and
ers and found the pursuit of his never-ending ‘dad’ jokes, his and there was Ralph on a ladder doing some Ralph’s long experience as show dealers
exceptional rugs, notable for use of a joke book as a dictionary, repair for a dealer,” Antiques and The Arts and volunteer work for the Antiques Coun-
their age, design, coloration and his ability to make tennis balls Weekly publisher R. Scudder Smith recalled. cil, ADA and human services charities such
condition, very rewarding,” keep bouncing and his real-life as The Arc and High Hopes.
Ralph once told Antiques and Tetris skills. Resilient and eter-
The Arts Weekly. nally optimistic, Ralph never the kids to snorkel in the back- With Karen away at the New Hampshire shows, their son Adam
stopped advocating for everyone yard pool and how to swing a helped Ralph, recovering from an injury, at the first Newport
“Theirs was a home built on he loved to live their lives to the racket. In 2016, he jokingly told Antiques Show. “They were a great team,” Karen says.
love and trust. You felt at peace fullest,” the family wrote. The Day that he hoped Carter, A holiday gathering with children and grandchildren.
there, even in the midst of their now 6, would do a “junior year Adam and Rachel are seated to Karen’s right.
personal tempest,” says Jona- “With all the commotion going abroad” in Connecticut so that he
than G. Willen, executive direc- on in the set-up of a show, he could play tennis for his grandfa-
tor of the Washington Winter always had something funny to ther at Waterford High. “That’s
Show, who collaborated with the say or some way to make Karen another 15 years,” athletic direc-
DiSaias on the January event at blush,” says Greg Smith, editor tor Dave Sousa remarked at the
American University’s Katzen of Antiques and The Arts Weekly. time. “Your point?” Ralph replied.
Arts Center. As Ralph’s health “Ralph loved to get Karen going.
deteriorated, Willen made the At the 2018 Antiques in Man- We mourn the loss of a thor-
14-hour round-trip drive from chester show, he had the entire oughly good and generous man,
DC to be with the DiSaias, deliv- opening gate — all packed into still in his prime, with much yet
ering to Ralph one of his favorite the St Anselm arena waiting to to enjoy and offer others. But if
Boston Crème donuts. get into the show — sing her we are consoled, it is by the per-
‘Happy Birthday.’ There must fection of the life Ralph and
“For the most part, we’ve sur- have been 400 people.” Karen built together and by the
vived by humor. We’ve been example that Ralph, ever the
through a lot, and you just have It was possible to interact with teacher, left us to follow. As Steve
to roll with it,” Karen once told Ralph for decades without know- Huber put it, “Ralph has left a
the New London Day. The DiSa- ing that he was a much admired hole in our hearts but filled it
ias’ 36-year-old son, Logan, was figure in the world of student with love.”
born severely disabled, a chal- tennis, a man recognized as
lenge every member of the fami- coach of the year by the Connect- “Gosh, I’ll miss him,” added Jeff
ly met with steadfast love and icut High School Coaches Associ- Cooley, speaking for us all.
compassion. Volunteerism — ation, the Norwich Bulletin and
whether for Easterseals, The Arc the New London Day, which Ralph is survived and lovingly
and High Hopes or for the each spring hung breathlessly on remembered by his wife, Karen;
Antiques Council and the ADA Coach DiSaia’s predictions for sons Adam (Karly) and Logan;
— was integral to their lives. the coming season. Congratulat- daughter, Rachel (Laurie);
“They fought for what they ed on his team’s victories, he grandchildren Eero, Carter and
believed was right, as founders, demurred, giving credit instead Dylan; his beloved dog, Nellie
leaders and volunteers… Equity, to his students. “I’ve never won a Noodle; aunts, uncles, cousins,
transparency and overall human point. The kids do all the work,” nieces, nephews and many dear
kindness were and always will he told Antiques and The Arts friends.
be remembered as their guiding Weekly.
principles,” the family wrote in A public celebration of Ralph’s
tribute to Ralph. In 2013, The Day’s sports editor life is planned for December 7 at
ran with the headline “Waterford 2 pm, at the Big Red Barn at
Ralph intuitively used humor Boys’ Tennis Program is One Big, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center,
to connect, bond, diffuse and Happy (Winning) Family Under 305 Great Neck Road, in Water-
motivate the disparate, unpre- DiSaia.” Ralph coached players ford, Conn.
dictable, sometimes fractious at Connecticut College, the Saint
temperaments he dealt with on a Bernard School and at Waterford In lieu of flowers, donations in
daily basis, whether as a dealer, High School, where he led the Ralph’s memory may be made to
manager, parent or coach. He Lancers from 2003 to 2019. Dedi- Healing Therapies Through
could charm birds out of trees, or, cated to the personal growth of Sharing, a new nonprofit provid-
less probably, make tractable his young charges, he was one of ing a holistic approach in sup-
New York City’s truculent con- the first high school tennis port of families who are dealing
struction crews. “Hey Ralphie, coaches nationally to run a no- with cancer. Gifts may be sent to
come eat your pizza,” Karen was cuts program, believing that 83 Boston Post Road in Water-
startled to hear a gruff crew chief every student deserved a chance ford, Conn., 06385.
say to her husband, famished to play and the opportunity to
after a day of show building and learn. “He was and forever will
still out on the street directing be my favorite coach, a mentor
traffic. and a friend. He helped me
through challenges on and off
“You know what I loved most the court. I am where I am today
about Ralph? His value system. because of him,” a former stu-
He cherished his family and dent, now in his 30s, recently
friends. He never judged. He was wrote Karen.
understated and unselfish. He
treated everyone the same. His Ralph’s rapport with children
work ethic was extraordinary,” was nowhere more evident than
says Anne Hamilton, chairman with his own family. “We make
of the Newport Antiques Show lots of trips to Canada to see our
and honorary chair of the Phila- grandchildren, Carter and
delphia Antiques and Art Show. Dylan, who are incredible little
people. They provide us with a
“Ralph was the highlight of sense of unconditional love and
many gatherings, an innovator admiration, in both directions,”
at heart and a creative soul with Ralph told us. As the days grew
a true appreciation of colors, long last summer, Ralph taught
especially if they were particu-

34 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

Transitions Met Gets Gift Of Late Nineteenth Century
American Decorative Arts & Paintings
Following a nationwide search, Janet
Alberti, currently the deputy director NEW YORK CITY — Barrie A. and Deedee Wigmore Sanford Robinson Gifford (1823–1880), “An Indian
of finance and administration at the San have promised 88 superlative examples of American Aes- Summer Day on Claverack Creek,” 1877–79, oil on
Francisco Museum of Modern Art, has thetic Movement and Gilded Age decorative arts and con- canvas. Promised gift of Barrie A. and Deedee Wig-
been named the Anne and Jim Rothen- temporaneous paintings from their collection — one of more, in celebration of the museum’s 150th anni-
berg vice president the preeminent holdings of late Nineteenth Century versary
and chief financial American art in private hands — to the Metropolitan Lejambre and Daniel Pabst of Philadelphia — that
officer of the Hun- Museum of Art. catered to a wealthy clientele. One of the most exception-
tington Library, Art al examples is a large Herter cabinet with delicate mar-
Museum and Botani- The gift is part of the Met’s 2020 Collections Initiative quetry decoration of butterflies and spiderwebs, intricate
cal Gardens. Alberti celebrating the museum’s 150th anniversary. carving and gilding. The Wigmores were among the first
will join the Hun- to recognize the significance of “art brass” (decorative
tington’s senior staff “Aesthetic Splendor: Highlights from the Gift of Barrie objects made of bronze), and their impressive holdings
in mid-January and and Deedee Wigmore” is currently on view in the muse- include exuberant work by principal makers, notably the
will oversee all as- um’s American Wing in a gallery named for Deedee Wig- Charles Parker Company in Meriden, Conn.
pects of the financial more and devoted to decorative arts of the Aesthetic
portfolio — the museum’s $55 million Movement of the 1870s and 1880s. The Met’s temporary The period of the Aesthetic Movement was one in which
annual operating budget as well as its installation will evoke the scrupulously restored interiors art infused every aspect of a domestic interior, and the
$500 million endowment. She will also of the Wigmores’ home (which was constructed in the Wigmores have collected in nearly every medium. Their
have responsibility for human resourc- same period), with reproduction wallpapers of the same gift includes several large-scale vases from the Rookwood
es, food services (three restaurants, a era as their collection. While a few of the works have been Pottery in Cincinnati, dating to its first years of opera-
coffee shop and catering) and the Hun- included in major exhibitions, most of those on display tion, as well as Aesthetic silver, primarily from the Gor-
tington store. have never been seen by the public. ham Manufacturing Company in Providence, R.I. The gift
also includes four necklaces, three of which are among
Paddle8, a cultural e-commerce and Speaking about the gift, Mr and Mrs Wigmore said: the evocative art jewelry produced by Louis C. Tiffany in
benefit auction platform, has an- “Having our collection go to the American Wing is like the early years of the Twentieth Century and express his
nounced the appointment of Valentine having it stay in the family.” interest in semiprecious stones and enameling.
Uhovski as new chief executive offi-
The focus of the Wigmores’ collection is art dating from The Metropolitan Museum of Art is at 1000 Fifth Ave-
cer (CEO). Uhovski the 1860s to the early 1890s, a period that coincides with nue. For additional information, www.metmuseum.org or
joined the brand this many significant cultural achievements in New York, 212-535-7710.
summer as head of including the founding of the Met in 1870. The enormous
partnerships, market- wealth earned by post-Civil War industrialists and finan-
ing and social media ciers gave rise to what is known as the Gilded Age — a
from Tumblr where period when highly skilled craftspeople, mainly immi-
he served as head grants, produced sumptuous objects for a discerning cli-
of fashion, culture entele.
and events for seven
years. Uhovski’s ap- The Wigmores’ holdings are a testament to their com-
pointment as CEO mitment to collecting works of the highest quality. Assem-
comes on the heels of a two-year busi- bled over four decades, the collection features outstand-
ness turnaround under CEO Izabela Dep- ing works by luminaries of American art. Their early
czyk, who will transition into an advisory focus in American painting was on members of the second
role helping to spearhead partnerships generation of the Hudson River School, including multi-
and expansion of Paddle8 business in ple works by Albert Bierstadt, Sanford R. Gifford, John
selected key markets in Europe and Asia. Kensett, Alfred Thompson Bricher and Jervis McEntee.
Because the Wigmores began collecting at an early date,
Joining Alderfer Auction as the firm’s they were able to acquire some of the finest examples by
trusts and estate specialist and senior these leading artists. Among the highlights of their col-
appraiser is Leon Castner. Castner has lection are the many masterful plein air oil sketches of
been an auctioneer and appraiser for the American wilderness, which they purchased at a time
more than 40 years, spending most of his when these vibrant, quickly executed works were over-
time as owner of Cast- looked; today, they are much sought-after and highly val-
ner Estate Service in ued. These sketches provide a window into the artists’
Branchville, N.J. He thought processes and served as inspiration for their
is senior partner of large-scale paintings. Of particular note are the plein air
National Appraisal study and the much larger finished canvas for Gifford’s
Consultants of Hope, 1877-79 work “An Indian Summer Day on Claverack
N.J., a firm that tack- Creek.” The collection of paintings are in gilded, Nine-
les difficult appraisal teenth Century frames that the artists of the Hudson
assignments, one of River School regarded as critical to the aesthetic presen-
which was the Nixon tation of their work.
“Watergate” papers.
He is a certified USPAP instructor and The Wigmores were pioneers in collecting the decorative
has taught at the collegiate level, as well arts, especially furniture and artistic brass furnishings,
as being the director of education for the of the 1870s and 1880s, the period when the Aesthetic
International Society of Appraisers and Movement was in full favor in America. They concentrat-
chief appraisal methodology instructor. ed on premier furniture firms — including Herter Broth-
He has written thousands of professional ers and Kimbel & Cabus of New York and A. and H.
articles and was co-host of the nationally
syndicated radio show Value This with Artist Heide Fasnacht Is 2019 Recipient
Brian and Leon. Of Anonymous Was A Woman Award

At the Museum of Contemporary ALLENTOWN, PENN.— Artist Anonymous Was A Woman Award. ical junction in their career. The name
Art Detroit (MOCAD) Jova Lynne Heide Fasnacht, whose premiere of Anonymous Was A Woman is an of the grant program refers to a line
has been named the museum’s Susanne new work can be seen at Muhlenberg in Virginia Woolf ’s A Room of One’s
Feld Hilberry curator. An interdisci- College’s Martin Gallery, was named a unrestricted grant of $25,000 award- Own. The award was begun in 1996 in
2019 recipient of the prestigious ed each year to ten woman-identifying response to the decision of the Nation-
plinary conceptual Heide Fasnacht “Past Imperfect.” artists over the age of 40 and at a crit- al Endowment of the Arts to cease
artist and curator support of individual artists. To date,
based out of Detroit, Anonymous was a Woman has award-
Lynne has been a ed more than $6 million to 240 artists.
Ford curatorial fel-
low at MOCAD for Fasnacht’s exhibition, “Past Imper-
the last two years. fect,” is featured in Muhlenberg’s
Lynne replaces Larry main gallery and adjacent galleria
Ossei-Mensah, who display spaces through Saturday, Feb-
is leaving the mu- ruary 8. She will give a public artist
seum to be one of talk at 7 pm on Thursday, January 23,
the curators of the 7th Athens Biennale. in the Recital Hall, adjacent to the
Ossei-Mensah will continue to partner gallery.
with MOCAD as a guest curator, where
he will curate two solo exhibitions this Fasnacht has returned to painting
spring by Peter Williams — co-curated after several decades. This return has
by Rebecca Mazzei and Conrad Egyir. ushered in a commensurate new area
of interest: the depiction of neglected
and long forgotten playgrounds. This
work is more personal in nature than
her previous sculptures. The bodily
feelings evoked by climbing and
swinging include vertigo, confusion,
excitement and mastery. All of this
and more are explored through the
more direct and fluid medium of
paint.

Muhlenberg College is at 2400 Chew
Street. For information, 484-664-3100
or www.muhlenberg.edu

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 35

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36 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

Auction Donald “Nick” Clifford, 98, Last Living Mount Rushmore Carver
Previews
RAPID CITY, S.D.— Donald Leo Clifford wrote wryly in his book,
Alderfer Auction “Nick” Clifford, the last living Mount Rushmore Q&A. “When I
Fine & Decorative Arts........ 3 carver of Mount Rushmore, died started drilling Lincoln, Borglum
November 23 at the age of 98. [Gutzon Borglum’s son and project
Beattie manager] told me where to drill and
Antiques & Collectibles..... 22 Clifford began working on the how to do it.”
Mount Rushmore project at 17
Bonhams years old, working there from 1938 Until the end of his life, Clifford
Jerry Garcia’s to 1940 and earning 55 cents an could not understate the impor-
Alligator Guitar.................. 39 hour. He was the youngest person tance of that work and its impact
ever hired to work on Mount Rush- on him. He told the Rapid City
Gianguan Auctions more, according to the Rapid City Journal, “I feel like Mount Rush-
Wonderland Of Gifts............ 9 Journal. Clifford was one of 400 more was the greatest thing with
workers who carried out sculptor which I was ever involved. It tells a
Heritage Auctions Gutzon Borglum’s vision for the story that will never go away — the
Animation Art.................... 45 memorial between 1927 and 1941. story of how America was made
and the men who helped make it
James R. Bakker “I knew how to run a jackhammer, what it is today.”
Online Fine Arts................... 6 and that was the main requirement,”

Kaminski Auctions Mount Rushmore. Photo David Zalubowski / AP
Jewelry, Silver &
Objets De Vertu................. 11 DATE LOCATION AUCTIONEER PG 13, Dec..........South Deerfield, MA................Douglas Auctioneers........... 63
14, Dec........... bakkerproject.com...................... James Bakker................ 58
Morphy Auctions Every Tues...........Coventry, CT.............................. Weston’s.................... 54 14, Dec................Cranston, RI........................... Bruneau & Co................ 6C
Edged Weapons, Every Thurs..... East Windsor, CT........................Golden Gavel................ 62 14, Dec............ East Windsor, CT........................Golden Gavel................ 54
Armor & Militaria................ 7 Now-10,Dec.. igavelauctions.com.............. Lark Mason Associates......... 4C 14, Dec................. Lewes, DE......................... Ford Art Auctions............. 5C
6, Dec................ Jewett City, CT........................Leone’s Auction................ 2 14, Dec............New Windsor, NY................. Mid-Hudson Galleries.......... 62
Morphy Auctions 6, Dec................. Kingston, NY.................... JMW Auction Service.......... 62 14, Dec...............Plainfield, NH.......................... William Smith................ 64
Fine & Decorative Arts...... 12 7, Dec................ Glen Cove, NY....................... Roland Auctions................ 2 14, Dec...............Red Hook, NY................... George Cole Auctions.......... 62
7, Dec................ Glen Cove, NY....................... Roland Auctions.............. 25 14, Dec............... St Louis, MO........................ Selkirk Auctions.............. 63
Nye & Company 7, Dec................ Glen Cove, NY....................... Roland Auctions.............. 59 15, Dec............Chevy Chase, MD.....................Sloans & Kenyon............. 60
Fine & Decorative Arts...... 11 7, Dec............ tacauctioneers.com................ TAC Estate Auctions........... 54 15, Dec.............. New Hope, PA...................... Ashcroft & Moore............. 60
8, Dec.................. Beverly, MA............................... Kaminski.................... 56 15, Dec...............New York City............................Showplace.................. 3C
Phillips 8, Dec..................Coventry, CT......................... Ingraham & Co............... 58 14-15, Dec.......... Oakland, CA............................Clars Auction................ 57
Jack Nicklaus’ Rolex......... 46 8, Dec................. Lakeville, MA........................ AC & DR Morris.............. 56 15, Dec.................Orange, CT......................Joseph Kabe Auctions......... 58
8, Dec............. lotusauctions.com.................. Lotus International............ 58 15, Dec................Sarasota, FL.................... Helmuth Stone Gallery......... 7C
Potter & Potter 9, Dec....kensingtonestateauctions.com....Kensington Estate Auction...... 54 15, Dec............ Scotts Valley, CA.....................Robert Slawinski.............. 55
Magicana.......................... 39 9, Dec................ Pine Bush, NY................Flannery’s Estate Services...... 56 15, Dec............St Petersburg, FL....................Burchard Galleries............ 59
9, Dec.................Seabrook, NH......................... Edward Beattie............... 58 15, Dec..............Timonium, MD......................... Richard Opfer................ 61
Quinn’s Auction 11, Dec.......potomackcompany.com............. Potomack Company........... 55 17, Dec............... Medway, MA......................... Coyle’s Auction............... 53
Dance Library 13, Dec.............. New Hope, PA...................... Ashcroft & Moore............. 60 17, Dec...............New York City.............................. Phillips..................... 2C
Auction.............................. 29 13, Dec..........South Deerfield, MA................Douglas Auctioneers........... 58 17, Dec...............New York City.............................. Phillips................... 11C
17, Dec...............New York City................. Swann Auction Galleries........ 51
Robert Slawinski 17, Dec.......potomackcompany.com............. Potomack Company........... 55
China Art Center 18, Dec............. Dania Beach, FL...................... Kodner Galleries............ 10C
Collection.......................... 29 18, Dec............... Mt Kisco, NY........................... Benefit Shop................. 52
20, Dec.............. Jewett City, CT........................Leone’s Auction................ 2
Showplace 1, Jan.............. Ballston Spa, NY...............Talk of the Town Auction........ 52
Objets D’art To Luxury...... 46 1, Jan.................. Bellport, NY..................... Thos Cornell Galleries............ 2
1, Jan.................. Copake, NY..........................Copake Auction..........8C-9C
Soulis Auctions 22, Feb............... Litchfield, CT.................Litchfield County Auctions........ 2
Railroadiana 29, Mar......... Bedford Village, NY............ Butterscotch Auctioneers......... 2
Collection.......................... 17 10, Apr................cowans.com........................ Cowan’s Auctions........... 10C

Swann Galleries
Illustration Art..................... 6

EVENT 12-15, Dec............ Atlanta, GA........................ 3 Sun................... New Milford, CT.................... 2
21-22, Dec......... Columbus, OH...................... 3 The Following Ads
DATE LOCATION PG 4-5, Jan................ Chantilly, VA................... 10C May Be Found
14-16, Feb..... West Palm Beach, FL............. 12C
10, Dec................New York City...................4-5 Weekly Events In Last Week’s (12/6) Issue
Fri & Sat............... Norwich, CT..................... 17 7-8, Dec...........Old Greenwich, CT......... 12
Sat......................New York City.................... 22 7-8, Dec.............. Westport, MA............. 19
Sat & Sun..........Farmington, CT..................... 7 8, Dec...................... Bath, ME................. 49
Sun.................... Jewett City, CT...................... 2 8, Dec...................Hampton, NH............. 29
Sun.......................Milford, NH...................... 41 10, Dec................ New York City............... 3

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December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 37

Northern Indiana Museum’s Historic Sculpture Sold For $7.5 Million
ELKHART, IND. (AP) — Offi- that much. A very pleasant thing else. It’s never been done Firstenberger noted that none
cials at a northern Indiana shock,” Firstenberger said. before, and we hope it’s never of the museum’s top donors
museum say it was “a very pleas- ever needed to be done again,” have said the sale was a bad
ant shock” that a Nineteenth Profits from the sale of the Firstenberger said. idea or indicated they would
Century sculpture it had owned Rodin sculpture, named “La stop their financial support,
for more than 40 years recently Cariatide Tombée Portant Sa In addition to the endowment, adding that he feels confident it
sold at auction for $7.55 million, Pierre,” or The Fallen Caryatid he added, the sale could show was right decision.
exceeding estimates for the work. Carrying Her Stone, will help donors that the museum is seri-
build a $10 million endowment ous about not wasting resources. “We’ve had it for 40 years.
The Ruthmere Museum’s 1894 for the Elkhart museum. We’ve been the stewards of it
limestone sculpture by French “We don’t want to capriciously for 40 years, and were able to
artist Auguste Rodin sold on The proceeds will also pay for sit on a resource that’s not only share it with everyone,” he said.
Nov. 12 at Sotheby’s New York overhauls that museum officials draining some of that resource “It was time for it to serve a
gallery. had wanted to address but away but could be used toward new purpose.”
lacked the necessary cash. the goal,” he said.
Bill Firstenberger, the muse-
um’s executive director, said the But the sale comes with mixed This undated photo provided by Sotheby’s shows a Rodin
final selling price had surpassed feelings for the people at Ruth- sculpture named “La Cariatide Tombée Portant Sa Pierre,”
Sotheby’s initial estimates, which mere. or The Fallen Caryatid Carrying Her Stone, that The Ruth-
was between $4 million and $6 mere Museum in Elkhart, Ind., had owned for more than 40
million before the auction began. “This is absolutely a one-off, years that recently sold at auction for $7.55 million. (Cour-
one-time decision thing. There tesy Sotheby’s via AP)
“It was a shock that it sold for is no appetite or desire to see
what else we can get for some-

Snowy Currier Lithograph INDEX - 76 Pages - INDEX
Brings Holiday Cheer To
antiques Show REVIEWS
Litchfield Auction

(Boston) A Tale Of Two Book Fairs & $500,000-Plus Auction At Skinner...............................................13
(New York City) Small Is Beautiful At The American Art Fair..................................................................18

Auction reviews

LITCHFIELD, CONN. — Top- was reportedly one of Currier’s (New York City) Classic & Contemporary Photographs Brings $1.5 Million At Swann Galleries............22
ping Litchfield Auctions’ favorite images. Estimated at (Boston) Fine Art, Jewelry & More Bring $2.5 Million At Grogan & Company’s Sale.............................23
November 30-December 1 sale $1/1,500, the lot came down to a (Dallas) Dallas Auction Gallery Romances Bidders With Aboriginal & Native American Fine Art...........26
of approximately 1,100 lots of battle between two long-time (Chicago) Potter & Potter’s Magic Sale Conjures Nearly $325,000........................................................28
luxury accessories, modern art clients, with one — a private (York, Penn.) Hake’s Shatters World Auction Record For “Star Wars” Toy............................................38
and Twentieth Century Design New York collector bidding on (New York City) Marsden Hartley’s “Birch Grove, Autumn” Led At Bonhams........................................40
was a lot of two hand-colored the telephone — prevailing at (New York City) Christie’s American Art Sales Total $24.1 Million.........................................................40
lithographs by Nathaniel Cur- $22,100. The two-day sale (New York City) Sotheby’s Sells $20.8 Million In American Art..............................................................41
rier, titled “The Road Winter” grossed $852,124, including (Grasbrunn, Munich, Germany) Marathon Of Sales Inaugurate Hermann Historica’s New Facilities......42
and “The Road Summer.” buyer’s premium, ahead of the (Sarasota, Fla.) Amero Pleased With Results Of Well-Attended Auction................................................47
According to the auction house, aggregate high estimate of (Columbus, Ohio) Wooden Sugar Box Sells For $27,600 At Garth’s......................................................47
the winter scene depicted Cur- $792,985. Watch a future issue (Mount Crawford, Va.) Folk Art Brings Top Dollar At Jeffrey S. Evans’ Americana Auction....................48
rier and his wife in a sleigh and for a more extensive sale review.
ExHibitions
Antique Dealers Targeted
In Apparent Phishing Scam (Miami) Rubell Museum Inaugurates New Campus Installation...............................................................7
(New London, Conn.) Season Of Wonderment At Lyman Allyn Art Museum...........................................9
By Greg Smith dealers a “OneDrive” file and (Washington, DC) Phillips Exhibits Sant’s Promised Nabi Gift...............................................................10
UNITED STATES — Two New asks that they open it to see a list (Frenchtown, N.J.) ArtYard Presents Monumental Sheep Meadow Views.............................................17
England antique dealers are of things they are interested in (St Petersburg, Fla.) Dali Museum Examines Catalysts For Surrealism.................................................25
reporting that their identity is purchasing. This is the tell-tale (New York City) Museum Of Illustration, Society Of Illustrators Presents “The Original Art”.................41
being used in a scam that sign of a “phishing” scam, and it (Clinton, Mass.) Two Holiday Themed Exhibitions At Museum Of Russian Icons..................................41
attempts to buy antiques over is recommended that dealers do (Basel, Switzerland) “Williams S. Burroughs & Brion Gysin — The Dreamachine” At Miklos Von Bartha.... 43
the internet from sellers located not open that file or click on that
in the United States and Europe. link as it may contain a virus. And Also...
The unknown suspect is using a
slight variant of the dealers’ email The suspect has sought ship- Across The Bock......................................................................................................................................8
addresses to proposition shipping ping quotes to Newark, N.J.; Estate Sales..........................................................................................................................................47
quotes and best prices on objects Hungary; Los Angeles; the Unit- Historic Homes
listed for sale online. The suspect ed Kingdom and more. Holiday Happenings.............................................................................................................................44
has created email addresses that International.................................................................................................................................... 42-43
look similar to the dealers’ known One dealer received more than Q&A
email addresses — as listed on ten inquiries to verify interest Lawrence Rinder....................................................................................................................................1
their websites and various dealer from individual sellers after the Services................................................................................................................................................39
directories — though typically suspect began making proposi- Transitions.............................................................................................................................................34
with one additional letter added. tions to purchase with them. (Queens, N.Y.) Noguchi Foundation Launches Digital Archive, Updates Catalogue Raisonné..................3
To the dealers’ knowledge, the The sellers were reportedly (Westport, Mass.) John Sideli To Host Holiday Open House Show & Sale............................................12
suspect has not been successful apprehensive after the suspect (San Antonio, Texas) American Western Artist G. Harvey’s Studio Contents Sell At Vogt......................16
in purchasing anything and it is used slightly improper English (Waterford, Conn.) Ralph N. DiSaia, 70, Dealer & Show Promoter Led By Example..............................32
not clear how they intend to and decided to follow up with (Allentown, Penn.) Artist Heide Fasnacht Is Recipient Of Anonymous Was A Woman Award................34
pass payment. the email address listed on the (New York City) Met Gets Gift Of Late Nineteenth Century American Decorative Arts & Paintings........34
According to emails sent to us, dealer’s website. (London) Tate Modern Gets Seminal Frankenthaler Work......................................................................43
the suspect sometimes sends (Berlin) Thieves Steal “Priceless” Jewel Sets From Dresden Museum...................................................43
One dealer has made a police (London) UK Treasure Hunters Jailed For Stealing Viking-Era Hoard.....................................................43
report and the other is in the (Newburgh, N.Y.) Newburgh Historical Society’s Candlelight Tour, Open House....................................45
process of doing so.

Inspector General Recommended
Firing Of Lincoln Museum Head

By The Associated Press ments from the museum. Pritz-
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (AP) — ker did not give a reason at the
Illinois’ inspector general recom- time he fired Lowe.
mended firing the director of the
Abraham Lincoln Presidential The inspector general’s report
Library and Museum because a says the Lincoln Museum’s
copy of the Gettysburg Address copy of the Gettysburg Address,
was loaned last year to an one of five written in Lincoln’s
upstart museum operated by hand, was lent to a Texas muse-
political pundit Glenn Beck. um called Mercury One. The
The inspector general’s report report says Lowe ignored the
making the recommendation Illinois Historic Preservation
was released on November 22. Agency’s standard practices for
It says Alan Lowe, who was loaning items.
fired by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in
September, also improperly The report says Illinois is for-
received travel reimburse- tunate the Gettysburg Address
“returned safely” to the Lincoln
Museum.

38 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

Auction Action In York, Penn.

Star Wars Darth Vader 12-Back-A Star Wars Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi Captain America Comics #1, Bringing a record $185, 850 Star Wars
AFA 75+ EX+/NM double-telescop- 12-Back-A AFA 70 EX+ double-tele- Timely Comics, March 1941, Boba Fett J-slot rocket-firing prototype
ing action figure changed hands for scoping action figure, white footer, CGC Qualified 4.0 VG with mar- action figure (front and back views), with
$62,820. attained $64,900. ried centerfold, features origin J-shape slot clearly visible on back. Grad-
and first appearance of Cap- ed AFA 85+ NM+ in AFA archival case, con-
tain America, Bucky and the veyed with CIB COA, letter of provenance
Red Skull was bid to $44,250. from noted Star Wars expert Brian Rach-
fal, and LOAs from Kenner technician
John R. Howison (original owner) and
Tom Tumbusch of Tomart Publications.

Hake’s Shatters World Auction Record For ‘Star Wars’ Toy

YORK, PENN. – Hake’s has to 100 Boba Fett prototypes were Darth Vader 12-back-A AFA 75+ published by Marvel in February lection that we sold in 2013 for
rewritten the history books yet shipped to Kenner from Hong followed closely behind at $62,823. 1980. It changed hands for $27,830.”
again with its $185,850 sale of an Kong for safety testing, and of Another rarity, a 1979 Sonic Con- $17,850.
elusive Star Wars action figure. those, approximately 24 to 26 trolled Land Speeder, AFA Disney collectors also responded
Finishing at the top of the firm’s examples of the J-slot variety — 85NM+ in its encapsulated box, The auction featured more than enthusiastically to the Tom Wood
November 6-7 auction that referring to the J-shape slot on earned $18,950 against a presale 1,000 comic books, from the Plati- original art for “The Grasshopper
grossed $2 million, the Boba Fett the figure’s reverse side — are estimate of $5/10,000. num to Modern Age, including and the Ants,” which originally
J-slot rocket-firing prototype thought to have survived. nearly every Marvel Silver Age appeared in adapted form in the
came with a storied history that Star Wars prevailed in the origi- key issue and one of the most April 1934 issue of Good House-
began at the 1979 New York Toy Hake’s broke its own house nal comic art section, as well. The sought-after of all Golden Age keeping. It sold within estimate
Fair. Although the figure made its record with the sale of the Boba original art for Marvel’s Star books: Timely’s Captain America for $14,160.
debut there, it never actually saw Fett prototype. The previous Wars #3, drawn by Howard Comics #1. CGC Qualified 4.0 VG
production, making it exceedingly world auction record for a Star Chaykin and inked by Steve with a married centerfold, it fea- A boxed and unused Ideal Cap-
rare. According to Hake’s presi- Wars toy was $112,926, which Leialoha, consisted of seven pan- tures the origin and first appear- tain Action Spider-Man uniform
dent Alex Winter, its astronomical was paid for the AFA 85 NM+ els depicting Obi-Wan Kenobi ance of Captain America, Bucky and equipment set flew to an
selling price is a world auction Boba Fett L-slot rocket-firing pro- training Luke Skywalker with and their nemesis Red Skull. The above-estimate price of $12,071.
record for any Star Wars toy. totype that led Hake’s July 11, the help of a Marksman-H com- March 1941 comic sold for The complete array included a
2019, sale. That selling price over- bat remote. Signed by both artists, $44,250. Spider-Man “Face Mask” and
Winter said that in the run-up turned the previous world record the artwork for the film-adapted hood, uniform suit, utility belt,
to the auction, the toy captured auction price for a Star Wars fig- comic book published in 1977 sold Hake’s has been a prime source spider light, spider venom spray,
the attention of major newspa- ure — $86,383 — which was set for $33,748. This price nearly tri- for vintage Disney toys, art and spider grappling hook with rope
pers, national television news out- by an unpainted L-slot prototype pled the lot’s high estimate and collectibles, and fans found some and boots. The 1967 first-issue
lets and “many serious collectors graded AFA 85 that Hake’s sold in set a new record for any Marvel pieces to consider in the Novem- box was expressly designed to
worldwide.” It received a total of March 2018. Comics Star Wars interior-page ber sale. A circa 1930 Distler (Ger- accommodate the included Spi-
15 bids before achieving its final art. Another highlight of the cate- many) Mickey Mouse Organ der-Man “Video-Matic” flicker
selling price. The buyer’s identity Two Star Wars double-telescop- gory was Al Milgrom’s original Grinder tin wind-up toy was even ring.
has not been revealed. ing action figures, so named for pen-and-ink original cover art for more desirable with the addition
the second extendable piece in the Captain America Volume 1 #242, of its colorfully graphic box. All Interest in Negro League base-
Graded AFA 85+ NM+, the lightsaber’s design, also put in a Star Wars #3 comic book original with no missing parts, it ball continues to grow. A historical
3¾-inch figure is a fully painted powerful performance at the page original art drawn by sold for $32,450. Alex Winter photo from the Eastern Colored
Kenner Toys engineering pilot November 6-7 auction. A Ben Howard Chaykin and inked observed: “This was the nicest League’s 1927 Opening Day line-
with country of origin and copy- Kenobi 12-back-A AFA 70 figure by Steve Leialoha, Marvel, example we’ve seen or offered in up captured some of the greatest
right stamps, indicating it had with a white footer in the packag- Sept. 1977, signed by both our 52 years, even nicer than the names in black and Cuban base-
reached the final phase of proto- ing (denoting an early production) artists, Marvel copyright one from the Maurice Sendak col- ball, suited up and ready to play
type development. Originally, 80 commanded $64,900, while a stamp, reached $33,748, Al Milgrom original cover ball. The teams depicted are the
(world record price for any art for Captain America Philadelphia Hilldales and New-
Left, Taft and Sherman with Miss Liberty jugate button, Marvel Comics Star Wars #242 (Marvel, February ark Cuban Stars, both power-
“Hake #4,” 1908 campaign only, ex Ron Koot collection, sold interior-page art). 1980), inked by Klaus Jan- houses of their day. The only
for $6,879, right: a second version that is not listed in any son fetched $17,850 known photo of its type, it knocked
price guides, 1908 campaign only, sold for $4,543 it out of the park at $7,530.

The foundation of any Hake’s
sale is political and historical
Americana. Several campaign
buttons surpassed expectations
this time around. A rare 1908 Taft
and Sherman with seated Miss
Liberty jugate “Hake’s #4” button
pinned down $6,879; while a sec-
ond version, not listed in any price
guides, reached its upper estimate
range at $4,543. An important
Teddy (Roosevelt) The Rough
Rider “Equal Rights For All” but-
ton, copyright 1904 and only the
third ever encountered by Hake’s,
sold for $6,425.

Prices given include the buy-
er’s premium as stated by the
auction house. For more infor-
mation, 866-404-9800, 717-434-
1600 or www.hakes.com.

Distler (Germany) Mickey Mouse Organ Grinder litho- Negro League Baseball panoramic photo of the Eastern Colored League’s 1927 opening day
graphed tin windup toy, circa 1930, all original with origi- lineup, featuring the Philadelphia Hilldales and the Newark Cuban Stars realized $7,530
nal box earned $32,450

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 39

Bonhams Dec. 10 Sale To Offer
Jerry Garcia’s Alligator Guitar

LOS ANGELES — Bon- signature sound of the 1970s.
hams will offer Alligator, a Giles Moon, Bonhams direc-
Fender Stratocaster owned tor of music & entertainment
and played by Jerry Garcia of memorabilia, commented,
the Grateful Dead, in the sale “This iconic Fender Strato-
of Alligator! A San Francisco caster was Jerry Garcia’s gui-
Rock Star’s Guitars, Art & tar of choice from early 1971
More on December 10. The until the fall of 1973. It was
guitar was nicknamed Alliga- clearly a favorite, as it was the
tor after the dancing alligator first of only a handful of Gar-
sticker on the pickguard. It cia’s guitars that were ever
has an estimate of named. Garcia played this
$250/400,000. The personal guitar in numerous live per-
collection of more than 70 lots formances, notably on the
also includes additional gui- Grateful Dead’s 1972 Europe-
tars, paintings by Jerry Gar- an tour.”
cia, his large collection of com- Additional highlights in the
ics as well as his Hawaiian sale include a watercolor of an
shirts. Alligator by Garcia (1942-
With a build date of 1955, 1995), watercolor on paper
Alligator is believed to have ($4/6,000); a Martin D-28
been given to Jerry Garcia in acoustic guitar played by Gar-
1970 by Graham Nash (ex- cia on the Festival Express
Hollies; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Tour, Canada, 1970
Young) in appreciation of Gar- Watercolor of an Alligator by Jerry ($30/50,000); a Hawaiian shirt
cia’s guitar work on Nash’s Garcia, 1992, signed by Jerry Garcia owned and worn by Garcia,
solo album Songs For Begin- and dated 92 lower right corner, early 1990s ($500/800); a pair
ners. Nash supposedly bought framed ($4/6,000). of prescription sunglasses
the guitar in 1970 for $250 at owned and worn by Garcia,
a pawn shop in Phoenix, Texas. The guitar has circa 1990 ($2/4,000); and a Jerry Garcia group of a
numerous external and internal modifications near complete run of EC Comics Crime Suspense
largely carried out by Frank Fuller and Rick Turn- Stories, early 1950s ($1/2,000). A Martin D-28 acoustic gui- Alligator, a Fender Strato-
er of Alembic, a company founded in 1969 composed Public exhibition for the sale is December 5-9 tar played by Jerry Garcia caster owned and played by
of a small group of instrument and hi-fi specialists Bonhams is 7601 Sunset Boulevard. For informa- on the Festival Express Tour, Jerry Garcia of the Grateful
who were closely involved in achieving the Dead’s tion, 323-850-7500 or www.bonhams.com. Canada, 1970 ($30/50,000). Dead ($250/400,000).

Giovanni Pasqua’s Collection Of Conjuring Books Featured—

Potter & Potter Magicana Sale December 14

CHICAGO — Potter & Potter 1910, is estimated at $6/9,000. Century record/minutes book Comte de Caglyostro au sujet de and an original photograph of
Auctions has announced its Early Twentieth Century with a heavy brass lock incorpo- l’Affaire du Cardinal de Rohan Houdini supervising a movie
nearly 400 lot Magicana sale rated into its binding. The book is estimated at $300/500. Henri shoot.
will take place Saturday, books by or concerning magi- was used in the trial to expose Decremps’ 1788, I Segreti Disv-
December 14, beginning at 10 cian Harry Houdini are well Henry Slade, a supposed spirit elati Della Magia Bianca / The offerings of contemporary
am. All lots from this event will represented in this signature medium, by Remigius Weiss. Cinque Sessioni Oltre un Trat- apparatus bring the sale full
be on display and available for early winter sale. The Houdini- Years later, Weiss presented tato Della Bacchetta Magica, is circle.
public preview on Thursday Slade-Weiss locked book, as this book to Houdini. This his- estimated at $600/900.
and Friday, December 12 and profiled in A Magician Among torically important volume is Potter & Potter is at 3759 North
13, 10 am to 5 pm. the Spirits, is estimated at accompanied by a handsomely Several vintage photographs Ravenswood Avenue. For addi-
$10/15,000. The tome is a hand- framed collage of Houdini mem- offer a first-hand view into the tional information, 773-472-1442
Important promotional post- somely detailed, Nineteenth orabilia. A 1924 copy of Houdini world of magic from the first or www.potterauctions.com.
ers featuring early and popular quarter of the Twentieth Cen-
magic performers, acts and per- Exposes the Tricks used by the tury onward. A Houdini Society — Services
sonalities take several of the Boston Medium “Margery” is of American Magicians pan-
top slots in this auction. Among estimated at $1,5/2,500. A first oramic photograph taken at the
these is a circa 1900 half sheet edition of The Unmasking of Hotel McAlpin on June 4, 1926
color lithograph of magician Robert-Houdin by is estimated at $800-$1,200.
Harry Kellar (American, 1849- Harry Houdini is esti-
1922) titled “A Walk in the mated at $1,2/1,800. Playing cards, handcuffs,
Woods,” which is estimated Centuries-old conjuring ephemera and vintage appara-
at $9/12,000. A circa 1905 books will appeal to collec- tus include a sturdy pair of
color lithograph of coin trick tors worldwide, many of Bean Cobb handcuffs owned by
artist Nelson Downs (Ameri- which are from Giovanni Houdini ($6/9,000), which are
can, 1867-1938) is estimated Pasqua’s extraordinarily curat- accompanied by a certificate of
at $8/10,000. An advertising ed, personal collection. A 1786 authenticity signed by Sidney
poster for Chung Ling Soo by copy of Cagliostro’s Memoire Radner, former owner of the
William Ellsworth Robinson pour Servir a l’Histoire du Houdini Historical Center. An
(American, 1861-1918), circa archive of items from Houdini’s
Appearing magic kettle ($3,5/4,500). career in the film industry is
estimated at $1,2/1,800 and
includes a typed letter signed
on Houdini Picture Corporation
letterhead; a Houdini Picture
Corporation stock certificate

Houdini Exposes the Tricks used by the Kellar, “A Walk in the Woods,” lithograph
Boston Medium “Margery” ($10/15,000). ($9/12,000).

40 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

American Art Sale In New York City—

Marsden Hartley’s ‘Birch Grove,
Autumn’ Leads At Bonhams

Marsden Hartley, “Birch Grove, Autumn,” realized $500,075. NEW YORK CITY — “Birch “Sunset in the Adirondacks” by Frederick Kensett, painted
Grove, Autumn” by Marsden in 1859, left the gallery at $225,075.
Auction Action In New York City Hartley, which achieved $552,500,
was the top lot of Bonhams’ sale collection of theatrical set design- included “Sunset in the Adiron-
Niles Spencer (1893-1952), “Ordnance Island, Bermuda,” of American Art on November 19. er, architect, artist and long-time dacks” by Frederick Kensett,
1828, finished at $225,075. This significant work, plus a friend of Hartley’s, Lee Simonson, painted in 1859, which left the
selection of eight Modernist who acquired it from Alfred Stieg- gallery at $225,075. This work
works, all deaccessioned by the litz and bequeathed it to MoMA. was formerly in the collection of
Museum of Modern Art, New the publishing magnate William
York (MoMA) and sold to benefit Another important work and Randolph Hearst and stands in
the acquisitions fund, were 100 strong sale result was achieved Kensett’s oeuvre as one of the art-
percent sold by lot. Overall the for Niles Spencer’s “Ordnance ist’s largest and most accom-
sale also achieved a strong sell- Island, Bermuda,” which sold for plished works on the subject of
through rate of 81 percent sold by $225,075. This work exhibited the the Adirondacks. Gaston
lot. highly refined geometric aesthet- Lachaise’s” The Knees” [LF 195],
ic, muted tones and the focus on marble, carved in 1932-33, sold
Jennifer Jacobsen, director of simplification of form that are for $75,075, which was also deac-
American art, commented: “Bon- hallmarks of the artist’s strongest cessioned by MoMA and sold to
hams is honored to have sold all work and tie him to the group of benefit the acquisitions fund; and
of the works offered that were American artists known as the Wolf Kahn’s “The Clark Farm
deaccessioned by the Museum of Precisionists. “Ordnance Island, III,” 1976, sold for $56,325, which
Modern Art to benefit the acquisi- Bermuda” was part of the collec- was from a property of a New
tions fund for a total price real- tion of the American lawyer, York corporate collection.
ized surpassing the high estimate financier and renowned philan-
expectations. We saw strong com- thropist and art collector Sam Prices given include the buyer’s
petitive bidding from collectors on Lewisohn, who donated it to premium as stated by the auction
these superb Modernist works MoMA in 1938. house. For information, 212-644-
with their significant provenance 9001 or www.bonhams.com.
and exhibition history. We are Further highlights in the sale
also delighted to have achieved
world auction records for three
artists, including two female art-
ists, Sally Michel and March
Avery, who deserve this growth in
recognition and the market’s
attention.” Sally Michel Avery’s
(1902-2003) “Feline Family,” 1980,
was bid to $38,825, a world auc-
tion record for artist.

Painted in 1910, Hartley’s
“Birch Grove, Autumn” is part of
a small series of works from
Maine that included arguably
some of the most modern and
avant-garde compositions to have
yet been painted in the United
States. This work was once in the

Christie’s American Art Sales
Total $24.1 Million

Auction Action In New York City

Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) “Oliver’s Cap,”
tempera on panel, 1981, realized $2,415,000.

Winslow Homer’s (1836-1910) “Sounding Reveille,” oil on
canvas, brought $1,815,000.

NEW YORK CITY — Chris- totaled $1,935,000; and Win- Newell Convers Wyeth (1882-1945), “Oh, the auction house. For addi-
tie’s American art sale on slow Homer’s “Sounding Rev- Morgan’s men are out for you; and Black- tional information, 212-636-
November 20 realized eille,” which achieved beard — buccaneer!...” oil on canvas, real- 200 or www.christies.com.
$21,895,250, and the Ameri- $1,815,000. ized $2,295,000.
can art online auction totaled Fetching $1,935,000 was Georgia O’Keeffe’s
$2,237,625. The top lot of the A grouping of the Nine- (1887-1986) “Pink Spotted Lilies,” oil on
sale was Andrew Wyeth’s “Oli- teenth Century landscapes canvas.
ver’s Cap” from the collection from the Ron and Diane Dis- “Child at Photographer,” $5/7,000.
of Ron and Diane Disney Mill- ney Miller collection per- which totaled $137,500, soar- Prices given include the
er, which sold for $2,415,000. formed strongly, bringing the ing past its estimate of buyer’s premium, as stated by
collection total to $13,017,670,
Other top works included including the Diebenkorn and
N.C. Wyeth’s painting of the Thiebaud sold during Twenti-
infamous pirate Blackbeard eth Century sales week.
titled “Oh, Morgan’s men are
out for you; and Blackbeard The American art online
— buccaneer!...”, which sold sale saw strong prices for
for $2,295,000; Georgia illustration art, including new
O’Keeffe’s “Pink Spotted Lil- world auction records for
lies” from the James and Mar- George Hughes’s “Writing
ilynn Alsdorf collection, which Thank You Notes,” which sold
for $200,000, and Kurt Ard’s

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 41

Sotheby’s Sells $20.8 Million In American Art

Auction Action In New York City

Sold in a private transaction after the sale was Emily Carr’s
“Skedans,” 1912, oil on canvas, 35¼ by 58¼ inches, signed M.
Emily Carr lower right. It was said to have sold within its
$3/5 million estimate.

NEW YORK CITY — American the offering with “Skedans,” Maxfield Parrish, “Mill Pond,” sold for Milton Avery, “Homework,” 1946, oil on
Art Week in New York toted up 1912. Although it did not find a $2,420,000. canvas, 36 by 24 inches, signed Milton
$47 million in sales at Sotheby’s, buyer in the auction, according Maxfield Parrish in particular Avery and dated 1946 lower center, real-
Christie’s and Bonhams. Favor- to a Sotheby’s spokesperson, it selling for multiples of their high ized $1,580,000.
ites were early Modernists and was sold privately shortly after- estimates. From Albert Bierstadt
illustration artists, although wards to a private collector for a and Frederic Edwin Church to
there was a range of genres price in the region of the esti- Georgia O’Keeffe, works by iconic
across the block. mate, which had been $3/5 mil- artists spanning the full breadth
lion). of our field brought top prices.”
At Sotheby’s, the grand total
was $20,867,000, with 61.4 per- Additional highlights included Prices given include the buyer’s
cent sold by lot. The top two lots Norman Rockwell, “Boy Hiding premium as stated by the auc-
were captured by Maxfield Par- Under Couch Sneezing (The tion house. For information, 212-
rish with his “Mill Pond” taking Sneezing Spy)” at $740,000; 606-7000 or www.sothebys.com.
$2.3 million and “Cleopatra” for Frederic Remington’s “The Frederic Edwin Church,
$1,580,000, nearly double its Round-up” going out at $740,000; “South American Land-
high estimate. and Parrish’s “Giant with Jack scape,” oil on canvas, 16 by
at His Feet (Poems of Child- 24 inches, signed F.E.
A work by Milton Avery, hood)” being bid to $548,000. Church and dated ‘57 lower
“Homework,” took 1,580,000, right, was bid to $1,580,000.
while a luminous Frederic Kayla Carlsen, head of Sothe-
Edwin Church “South American by’s American art department,
Landscape” lit up to $1,364,000. commented, “Our November auc-
Perennial American art favorite tion was in line with results from
Georgia O’Keeffe was represent- recent seasons, demonstrating a
ed by “Anthurium,” $1,340,000, discerning market for American
and “My Backyard,” $920,000. art that will compete for the very
best. Illustration ruled the day,
Canadian artist Emily Carr with exceptional examples by
had been a projected highlight of

Two Holiday Themed Exhibitions At Museum Of Russian Icons

CLINTON, MASS. — Cele- crackers includes traditional tions. commonly known as the chil- that mentions him dates back
brate the holidays with the Russian pieces, festive wood- The Leavenworth Nutcrack- dren’s hero, Santa Claus. The to the Sixth Century. Scholars
Museum of Russian Icons by en soldiers and a Nutcracker exhibition will feature more agree that Nicholas lived dur-
visiting two small exhibitions; Suite set created by Christian er Museum was founded in than 40 rarely seen icons of ing the Third and Fourth Cen-
one tracing the intriguing his- Ulbricht of Germany, who was 1995 by George and Arlene the saint taken from the turies in Lycia, a province in
tory of nutcrackers, and the one of the world’s foremost Wagner, who donated their museum’s collection. what is now Turkey.
other, exploring the remark- manufacturers of handcrafted enormous nutcracker collec-
able life and legend of St nutcrackers. tion and the building in which Historically, very little is The Museum of Russian Icons
Nicholas, Russia’s most popu- it is housed. The museum’s known about the life of this is at 203 Union Street. For addi-
lar saint and the man behind Traditionally nutcracker collection has continued to generous saint; there are no tional information, 978-598-
the legendary figure of Santa dolls looked like toy soldiers grow and now contains more known written works by him, 5000 or www.museumofrussiani-
Claus. and were the inspiration for than 7,000 specimens, proba- and the earliest document cons.org.
German author E.T.A. Hoff- bly the world’s most extensive
On view through March 8, mann’s story The Nutcracker collection.
“Nuts about Nutcracker,” will and the Mouse King, which
be a special mini-exhibition of was adapted into a ballet that “The Lore of Saint Nicholas”
unique nutcrackers on loan premiered in St Petersburg, will be on view through March
from the Leavenworth Nut- Russia in 1892 with choreog- 15 and explores the mysteri-
cracker Museum in Leaven- raphy by Marius Petipa and ous and wondrous persona of
worth, Wash. This small Lev Ivanov, set to a score by Russia’s most popular saint.
exhibit will explore the fasci- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Per- Saint Nicholas, a Fourth Cen-
nating history of nutcrackers formances and recordings of tury bishop, was known
that evolved from simple The Nutcracker have since throughout the Christian
stones into innovative works become a treasured part of world as a wonderworker, a
of art. The selection of nut- Western Christmas tradi- gift-giver and a protector; in
the secular world he is more

Society Of Illustration Celebrates
Year’s Best Children’s Book Illustrations

NEW YORK CITY — The This year’s silver medal win- grant and Artist (Random House EXCITING NEW 2012
Museum of Illustration at the ners are Frank Morrison for The Children’s Books / Schwartz & PRE-BRIMFIELD EVENTS!
Society of Illustrators presents, Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Wade Books).
“The Original Art,” an annual Pillars of Hip Hop (Little Bee Milford
exhibit celebrating the fine art of Books) and Sydney Smith for The Society of Illustrators and Antiques Show
children’s book illustration, on Small in the City (Holiday House/ its Museum of Illustration are at
display through January 4. Neal Porter Books). The gold 128 East 63rd Street. For more Over 100 Dealers in
medal is awarded to Melissa Cas- information, 212-838-2560 or Quality Antiques and Collectibles!
Founded in 1980 by illustrators’ trillon for The Balcony (Simon & www.societyillustrators.org.
agent and art director Dilys Schuster / Paula Wiseman Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness Club
Evans, this exhibit showcases Books). RIDGEFIELD, CONN. — The
the original art from the year’s Aldrich Contemporary Art 50 Emerson Rd. (Intersection of Rtes. 101 & 13)
best children’s books. The 2019 The Original Art honors excep- Museum presents Eva LeWitt’s Milford, New Hampshire
exhibit features a diverse list of tional children’s book artists with first solo museum exhibition
books selected by a jury of out- two other awards each year. The debuting a new site-specific Four Great Buying Opportunities!
standing illustrators, art direc- Dilys Evans Founder’s Award installation, the artist’s largest
tors and editors. Gold and silver celebrates the year’s most prom- to date. L”Eva LeWitt: Untitled
medals honoring top books and ising new talent in the field. The (Mesh A-J)” is on view through
artists are determined by the 2019 jury has selected Chris April 5 at 258 Main Street. For
jurors through a discussion and Sasaki for Paper Son: The Inspir- information, 203-438-4519 or
final vote. ing Story of Tyrus Wong, Immi- www.aldrichart.org.

42 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019

INternational Compiled By
Antiques and The Arts Weekly

Madelia Hickman Ring

Marathon Of Sales Inaugurate
Hermann Historica’s New Facilities

Auction Action In Grasbrunn, Munich, Germany

GRASBRUNN, MUNICH, times its starting price of A large Buddha head carved An ebony cabinet, Antwerp, mid-Seventeenth Century, sold
GERMANY — Nearly 8,900 $8,800; it related to an example in volcanic rock, Borobu- for $34,644.
lots were scheduled to cross the on view in the Musée des dur/Java, Ninth Century,
block — either live or only- Beaux-Arts, Dijon. A mid-Sev- topped out at $80,001. It was ple at the Wallace Collection did not disappoint, exceeding
online — at Hermann Histori- enteenth Century ebony cabi- acquired by a private collec- in London. Other notable expectations when it closed at
ca’s new location in a marathon net from Antwerp brought the tor in the United States. works in the sale included a $41,572. A mid-Nineteenth
of sales from November 11-25. second-highest result of the from around the world crossed silver-mounted and gold-inlaid Century Japanese tsuba
Categories offered included day — $34,644 from a starting the block. Headlining the sale kilij belonging to the Ottoman soared beyond its opening
antique and modern firearms, price of $27,715. The cabinet was a Venetian etched parade Sultan Gazi Selim Khan price of $1,330 to finish at
works of art and antiquities, had a silk-lined interior, which pole axe, circa 1500-10, that (1789-1807), which was dated $26,329.
international orders and mili- differed from examples that opened for bidding at $16,600 1794. It nearly doubled its
tary collectibles, imperial uni- more commonly featured metal and closed at $69,288. It was opening price to finish at Hermann Historica offered
forms and German historical or ivory; it was compared to decorated with the lion of St 69,288. An early favorite was a more than 1,200 lots of mili-
collectibles dating pieces in the Royal Museums of Mark, tritons and sea mon- circa 1620 French cuirassier’s tary orders November 18-19.
from after 1919. Fol- Art and History in Brussels. sters and related to an exam- black and white armor that Doubling early expectations
lowing are just a few Headpieces seemed to be in A Japanese Mokkogata and a start price of $13,857 to
of the highlights of vogue, and the crown was fol- Tsuba, dated 1856, brought sell for $26,329 was a Russian
those sales. lowed by an Eighth-Seventh $26,329. Order of St Anna, First class
cross with crown, dated 1867.
The string of Century BCE Assyrian Among military and imperial
sales kicked off bronze helmet compared to
with two days of sales one in the Louvre that tripled historica offered November
of antique and modern its start price of $7,700 to fin- 18 was Kaiser Wilhelm II’s
firearms — a total of ish at $22,172. General field marshal and
nearly 1,500 lots, which Continuing the sale of works commander of the Garde
were led on the first day of art and antiquities on du Corps Regiment
by a cut and gold-inlaid November 14, a larger-than- parade helmet, which
deluxe percussion side- life sized head of Buddha, brought more than five
by-side rifle made by carved in volcanic rock from times its opening bid to
Anton Vinzent Lebeda Borobudur/Java in the Ninth top out at $77,602. A top
of Prague around 1850 Century, took top honors. hat owned by Adolf Hitler
for Emperor Franz Josef With an opening price of was purchased by a Leba-
I. It sold for $72,059, $42,000, it saw lots of compe- nese millionaire for
nearly twice the opening tition before selling to a pri- $55,000; it was one of ten
price of $43,235. objects from the Third Reich
vate collector from the Unit-
More than 1,000 lots ed States for $80,000. the collector acquired to pre-
were sold in two days of vent the items from being
sales titled “Works of Art On November 15, acquired by neo-Nazis.
and Antiquities” on Novem- approximately 600 lots of
ber 13 and 14. Topping the Hermann Historica is at Bret-
first session was a Fifteenth antique arms and armor onischer Ring 3. For more infor-
Century travelling French mation, www.hermann-histori-
crown closed at $44,344, five A silver-mounted, gold-inlaid deluxe kilij belonging ca.de.
to the Ottoman Sultan Gazi Selim Khan (1789-
1807), dated 1794, made $69,288.

A Fifteenth Century French traveling A Venetian etched parade pole axe, circa
crown achieved a regal price of $44,344 1500-10, finished at $69,288.
from a German museum.

Assyrian bronze helmet, Eighth- Empress Elisabeth of Austria’s two- A parade helmet of Kaiser Wilhelm A French cuirassier’s black and
Seventh Century BCE, realized piece salmon-pink summer dress II as General Field Marshal and white armor, circa 1620, closed at
$22,172. was sewn up for $38,801. Commander of the Garde du Corps $41,572.
Regiment, ended at $77,602.

December 13, 2019 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — 43

UK Treasure Hunters Jailed Thieves Steal ‘Priceless’ Jewel
For Stealing Viking-era Hoard Sets From Dresden Museum

LONDON (AP) — Two amateur The hoard “represents a By David Rising and Frank Jordan
British treasure-hunters were nationally important assem- for Associated Press
sentenced Friday to long prison blage created at the very point
terms for stealing a hoard of England was forming and BERLIN (AP) — Thieves broke into Dresden’s
1,100-year-old Anglo-Saxon coins becoming a nation with a single Green Vault, one of the world’s oldest museums,
and jewelry valued at millions of identity under the vision of early Monday morning, making off with three
pounds (dollars). (King) Alfred the Great,” he “priceless” sets of Eighteenth Century jewelry
Experts say the hoard — much said. that German officials said would be impossible to
of which is still missing — could Powell, 38, who was described sell on the open market.
shed new light on a period when as having the leading role in the
Saxons were battling the Vikings crime, was sentenced to 10 years The treasury of Augustus the Strong of Saxony
for control of England. The trove in prison by a judge at Worces- was established in 1723 and today contains
is thought to have been buried in This undated handout photo provided by ter Crown Court in central Eng- around 4,000 objects of gold, precious stones and
the late Ninth Century by a mem- the British Museum shows a gold ring land. Davies, 51, received an other materials on display in Dresden’s Royal
ber of a Viking army that was from the Ninth Century which was part of 8½-year sentence. Two other Palace.
being pushed east across England a £3 million ($3.9 million) Viking hoard, men were convicted of helping
by an alliance of Saxon forces. metal detectorists George Powell and Lay- to conceal the find. Authorities said it appeared the thieves had
The collection of gold and silver ton Davies have been convicted of steal- Judge Nicholas Cartwright broken open only one glass case containing three
jewelry and up to 300 coins was ing. Two amateur British treasure hunters said the irony was that if the sets of Baroque jewelry made up of dozens of
dug up in 2015 on farmland in have on Friday, November 22, 2019 been two treasure hunters had just gems each.
central England by metal detecto- imprisoned for stealing a hoard of reported the find to the authori-
rists George Powell and Layton 1,100-year-old Anglo-Saxon coins and jew- ties, they would have been in “This is a bitter day for the cultural heritage of
Davies. They were convicted this elry valued at millions of pounds. Experts line for a reward of a third to Saxony,” the state’s interior minister, Roland
week of failing to report the hoard, say the hoard, much of which is still miss- half of its value. Woeller, told reporters.
as required by law. ing, could shed new light on a period when “You could not have done
Instead, they tried to sell some Saxons were battling Vikings for control worse than 500,000 pounds He said the thieves “stole cultural treasures of
of the bounty through antiquities of England. (British Museum via AP). each,” he said. “But you wanted immeasurable worth — that is not only the mate-
dealers. Some of the jewelry and more.” rial worth but also the intangible worth to the
about 30 coins are all that have been recovered. The two men have not disclosed the location of the miss- state of Saxony, which is impossible to estimate.”
Prosecutor Kevin Hegarty said the hoard’s value had ing items.
been estimated at between 3 million and 12 million Powell’s lawyer, James Tucker, said his client now “wish- Police are still carrying out forensic exams of
pounds ($3.9 million to $15.4 million) and added that a es he had never found the treasure.” the crime scene, and museum officials said they
find of “immense archaeological, historical and academic “It became a temptation — and for him, a curse,” he have not yet been able to determine whether all
value” had been lost to the nation. said. the 100-or-so pieces were missing, but that the
sets included intricate and dazzling broaches,
‘William S. Burroughs & Brion Gysin — buttons, buckles and other items.
The Dreamachine’ At Miklos Von Bartha
Green Vault director Dirk Syndram stressed
BASEL, SWITZERLAND — William A Dreamachine is a perforated paper first worked as a painter in the Surre- that the collections in the museum have “invalu-
S. Burroughs visited Basel exactly 20 tube, which is illuminated from the alist tradition, then moved to Tangier able cultural value” — particularly their com-
years after the publication of his book inside by light bulbs and placed on a in Morocco, where he ran a bar, worked pleteness.
Naked Lunch, together with Brion turntable. Holes are cut into the tube as an artist and novelist and where he
Gysin at the invitation of the art dealer according to a specific pattern devised met Burroughs. In the early 1960s, “Nowhere in any other collection in Europe
Carl Laszlo. He not only managed to by Gysin. The observer sits at eye level Gysin designed the first Dreamachine have jewels or sets of jewels been preserved in
completely shock Basel society with a with their eyes closed in front of the with the help of mathematician Ian this form and quantity,” he said. “The value is
reading from the novel at Galerie von Dreamachine. If the “dream machine” Sommerville. really in the ensemble.”
Bartha, but he and Gysin also found is constructed correctly and set at the
someone who was able to construct the right rpm, it emits light waves between Carl Laszlo (1923-2013) studied Police said they were alerted shortly before 5
first fully functional Dreamachine in 8-13Hz, the exact rhythm of the alpha medicine in Pécs, Hungary, followed am by unarmed museum security guards who
Miklos von Bartha. waves in the brain. These prevail dur- by deportation to Auschwitz. In had spotted two burglars inside the downtown
ing the alpha status, which is the state autumn 1945, Laszlo moved to Basel, museum on video surveillance cameras.
Von Bartha announces the exhibi- of the brain in the stages of meditation where he continued his medical stud-
tion, “William S. Burroughs & Brion or early stages of sleep. Alpha waves ies. His medical studies were aban- The first officers arrived on the scene within
Gysin — The Dreamachine,” an exten- are associated with a healthy state of doned, and he then began to study minutes, but the thieves had already fled in a
sive retrospective of the universe mind and a relaxed life. psychoanalysis, which led him to dis- waiting getaway car, which managed to elude
around the Beat Generation, on view cover surrealism. He ran a private immediate attempts to find it in the surrounding
through February 1. In addition to Burroughs (1914-1997) studied Eng- gallery in Basel for many years, wrote area and on the nearby highway, Dresden police
original construction plans, prototypes lish literature at Harvard and attend- plays and several books, and was edi- chief Joerg Kubiessa told reporters.
of the Dreamachine, archival photo- ed lectures in medicine at the Univer- tor of the magazines Panderma and
graphs and numerous works by artists sity of Vienna before meeting Allen Radar. “It’s not just the State Art Collections that was
from the Beat Generation will be on Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac in New robbed, but us Saxons,” Michael Kretschmer, the
display. York in 1943-44. Gysin (1916-1986) Von Bartha is at Kannenfeldplatz 6. governor of Saxony, where Dresden is located,
For information, www.vonbartha.com. tweeted. “One can’t understand the history of
Saxony without the Green Vault.”
Tate Modern Gets Seminal Frankenthaler Work
Investigators are currently looking into wheth-
LONDON — The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation has er a fire at an electrical junction box near the
made a rare gift of an early, large-scale painting by Fran- museum, which took out the streetlights at the
kenthaler to Tate’s collection. Marking the first time the time of the robbery was linked to the crime, said
foundation has gifted a painting to an organization and Volker Lange, whose department is leading the
the first canvas by the artist to enter a public collection probe.
in London, “Vessel” (1961) is an important example of the
artist’s signature “soak-stain” technique. The work, He said the outage affected lights in front of a
together with four other masterpieces on loan from the window through which the thieves gained
foundation from throughout Frankenthaler’s career, is entrance, somehow getting through bars and
now on long-term view in a dedicated monographic room safety glass.
at Tate Modern.
Lange said they were also trying to determine
Established by the artist during her lifetime and active whether an unregistered car, found on fire nearby
since 2013, the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation is dedi- with all four doors open and smelling of gasoline,
cated to supporting the visual arts, advancing Franken- may have been the getaway car.
thaler’s legacy and inspiring and supporting a new gen-
eration of practitioners. This singular gift and Dresden’s State Art Collections director Marion
accompanying installation provide an unusual opportu- Ackermann said it was impossible to estimate
nity for international audiences to consider the creative the value of the items.
practice and resounding impact of the abstract painter,
whose career spanned six decades. “We cannot give a value because it is impossible
to sell,” she said, appealing to the thieves not to
For information, www.tate.org.uk. break the ensembles into pieces. “The material
value doesn’t reflect the historic meaning.”
“Vessel” by Helen Frankenthaler, 1961, oil on unsized, unprimed canvas. Collection of Helen Franken-
thaler Foundation, New York. ©2019 Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc / Artists Rights Society (ARS), A special team of investigators has been estab-
New York City. Jordan Tinker photo, courtesy Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. lished to pursue the case, Woeller said.

“We will do everything in our power not only to
bring the cultural treasures back, but to capture
the perpetrators,” he said.

Exhibition rooms at the museum focus on trea-
sures featuring jewels, ivory, silver and amber
among other objects.

One of its most famous and precious treasures,
the Dresden Green Diamond, is currently on loan
with other valuable pieces to the Metropolitan
Museum of Art in New York for an exhibit.

The 41-carat green diamond was acquired by
Augustus III, the son of Augustus the Strong, in
1742, according to the museum.

The museum said that at the time of its pur-
chase it cost 400,000 thalers, compared to the
288,000 thalers it cost to build Dresden’s lavish
Frauenkirche church at around the same time.

A virtual tour of burgled room can be found at
https://gruenes-gewoelbe.skd.museum/en/exhibi-
tions/historisches-gruenes-gewoelbe.

Historic Homes & Properties

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44 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — December 13, 2019 Compiled by Madelia Hickman Ring

A Brandywine Christmas

CHADDS FORD, PENN. — and basic truths. Guest curat- and the complicated multitask-
The magic of the holiday sea- ed by H. Nichols B. Clark and ing it takes to keep everything
son returns to the Brandywine organized by the Brandywine, running. This before-hours
River Museum of Art during the exhibition includes more event includes a private tour of
Brandywine Christmas, than 100 drawings from books the trains in action with Bran-
through January 5. This holi- illustrated by 35 artists, reveal- dywine Railroad engineers,
day experience for all ages ing both cultural and stylistic special activities for the young-
includes a gallery filled with diversity. er train fans and a continental
an expansive model train dis- breakfast in the museum’s
play; a special exhibition fea- Brandywine Railroad Millstone Café. $20 members;
turing a selection of three On view through Sunday, $25 nonmembers
beloved fairy tales and their January 5: The Brandywine Children’s Christmas Party
evolution through time and dif- River Museum of Art’s model
ferent cultures; towering trees train display, a holiday family Wednesday, December 11, 6 to
decorated with whimsical crit- favorite since 1972, offers 8 pm: Enjoy magic and wonder
ter ornaments; and a wide something for everyone with during this beloved Brandy-
selection of holiday events and its dazzling array of both toy wine family tradition! Visit
programs for the whole family. and scale model trains made by with Santa and Mrs Claus and Carlos Alejandro photo.
Lionel, Williams, Atlas, Mike’s enjoy entertainment, costumed Sensory-Friendly Train
Cinderella & Co — Three Train House, K-line and oth- characters, face painting, Morning social stories; reduced crowd-
Fairy Tales Reimagined ers. The Brandywine Railroad model trains, trees adorned Saturday, January 4, 8:30 to ing and noise; a sensory break
On view through Sunday, features trains running on with hundreds of critter orna- area; on-hand support of
January 5: “Cinderella & Co — 2,000 feet of track and includes ments and Cookie Land! Mem- 9:30 am: Individuals on the skilled and friendly volunteers,
Three Fairy Tales Reimagined” more than 1,000 pieces, includ- bers: $12 adults, free for chil- autism spectrum or with sen- which include occupational
explores the enduring stories ing locomotives, passenger and dren. Nonmembers: $15 adults, sory processing disorder and therapy graduate students and
of Cinderella, The Three Little freight trains, and trolleys that $5 children (3-11), free for chil- their families are invited to faculty; and fidgets and noise-
Pigs and Goldilocks and the pass through a small town, a dren younger than 3. join us for early access to the cancelling headphones to bor-
Three Bears, presenting a wide farm, factories and even a car- Museum’s Brandywine Rail- row. This program welcomes
array of illustrations created nival. Piano Performance by road, a holiday favorite featur- participants of all ages and
through time and across cul- “Breakfast with the Trains” Jennifer Nicole Campbell ing O-gauge model trains run- their families (siblings wel-
tures. For centuries, fairy tales will take place from 8:30 to Wednesday, December 18, 1 to ning on nearly 2,000 feet of come!). Space is limited, and
have enchanted children and 10:30 am on Saturdays, Decem- 2 pm: Award-winning pianist track. Created in conjunction registration is requested.
adults alike. These age-old sto- ber 7 and 14. All Aboard! Join and composer Jennifer Nicole with local families and occupa-
ries, endlessly told and reimag- in an exclusive, behind-the- Campbell will perform a variety tional therapists, this inclusive The Brandywine River Muse-
ined over time and place, spark scenes visit with the Brandy- of classical and holiday songs in and accessible program strives um of Art is at 1 Hoffmans Mill
our imaginations, teach life les- wine Railroad. Discover how the museum atrium for visitors. to provide a welcoming experi- Road. For more information,
sons and touch on dark fears the extensive layout is created Free with museum admission ence through offering pre-visit www.brandywine.org/museum
or 610-388-2700.

Christmas At Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum, Hanukkah At Museum
Guided Tours December 12-29 Of Fine Arts Boston
TORRINGTON, CONN. — The and is listed on the National Register Fyler Hotchkiss. The interior features
Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum is of Historic Places. It was the residence impressive woodwork, painted and BOSTON — The sixth annual Hanukkah
once again decorated for the Christ- of the Hotchkiss and Fyler families for stenciled walls, original furnishings celebration at the Museum of Fine Arts,
mas season. One of Connecticut’s more than half a century until 1956, and collections of fine and decorative Boston (MFA), is presented in partnership
notable house museums, the Hotch- when it was bequeathed to the Tor- arts. with Jewish Arts Collaborative (JArts)
kiss-Fyler House was built in 1900 rington Historical Society by Gertrude and Combined Jewish Philanthropies
Library, Hotchkiss-Fyler House. During the Christmas season, the (CJP) on Wednesday, December 18. The
house takes on a special ambiance as free event begins at 4:30 pm and includes
trees, lights and other Christmas dec- music, tours of the MFA’s Judaica collec-
orations sparkle against the richly tion, art making, Hanukkah treats and a
embellished interior of this historic community candle lighting — all in the
home. The woodwork is accented with spirit of the Jewish festival of lights.
greenery, wreaths and several Christ-
mas trees. Some trees are decorated The largest community Hanukkah gath-
with vintage ornaments, and beneath ering in Boston, a highlight of the evening
the boughs of the trees are antique is a special menorah installation created
toys from the society’s collection. In by artist Caron Tabb that embodies and
addition, the dining room table is set tells the tale of Hanukkah — the miracle
for Christmas dinner with the china, of light over darkness, good over evil and
crystal, silverware, and linens that freedom over servitude.
belonged to Gertrude Fyler Hotchkiss.
A special treat this year is the newly An array of musical performances by
restored Hotchkiss bedroom, which artists from around the world features
has just reopened after a two-year Rosalie Gerut, who sings in her native
restoration. Yiddish as well as in Hebrew, English,
Ladino/Spanish and Russian; and Yaeko
Guided tours will take place Decem- Elmaleh Group, a unique klezmer-world
ber 12-29, Thursdays through Sun- music fusion. Families can sing and dance
days, with tours hourly between noon with Vanessa Trein or enjoy Musical Story
and 3 pm. Admission is $10 for adults Time with authors and songwriters Joni
and $5 for society members. Children Klein-Higgins and Barbara Scharff. Also
12 and younger are free. offering performances is Moth storytelling
champion Rabbi Dan Judson, who will
The Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum share Hanukkah-inspired tales, and Bos-
is at 192 Main Street. For more infor- ton choreographer Jenna Pollack, who
mation, 860-482-8260 or www.tor- premieres her JArts commission on the
ringtonhistoricalsociety.org. holiday themes of light and dark.

Woodlawn’s Christmas Celebration Of Trees “Brighter Beyond,” a collaborative, inter-
active blacklight experience, invites visi-
ELLSWORTH, MAINE — The trees the Black House, visitors will enjoy a their cameras and capture the holi- tors to add their light to a glowing instal-
will be lit and the holiday tea brewing bird’s eye view of this magnificently day magic.” lation led by artist Tova Speter and
as Woodlawn presents Christmas at decorated 12-foot tree. featuring work from more than 100 local
Woodlawn — The Trees of Woodlawn, The festively decorated Black House students. Additional art-making activities
through December 23. This annual The Christmas calendar of events is will be open from 10 am to 4 pm daily, include making two-dimensional meno-
custom is being offered in conjunction filled with ways to celebrate the holi- through December 23, with a special rahs, Stars of David and Hanukkah pins,
with Christmas in Ellsworth, A Maine day season with family, friends and audio tour on the history of Christ- as well as a commemorative postcard pro-
Holiday, a collaboration of organiza- co-workers. Annual favorites all mas at Woodlawn and in New Eng- vided by Chase to take home.
tions working together to make Ells- month include holiday house tours land.
worth a holiday destination. and afternoon high teas. On Satur- Other highlights from the evening
days, starting December 14, children Tour admission is $7 for adults and include four 15-minute talks on an object
The Trees of Woodlawn will include and adults can visit with Santa on $3 for children ages 5-12, with chil- from the MFA’s collection of Judaica and
decorated trees by nearly 40 area the sun porch as part of their tour. dren younger than 5 are admitted an American Sign Language Tour of Juda-
businesses and organizations. Wood- free. Group and school tours are avail- ica.
lawn volunteer, Peter Lione, has once Woodlawn’s executive director Josh- able by appointment.
again created a masterpiece tree ua Torrance said, “We can’t wait to Hanukkah treats include latkes in the
alongside the elliptical staircase. experience the delight of wide-eyed Woodlawn is at 19 Black House New American Cafe and Rugelah and a
While heading to the second floor of children sharing their wishes with Drive. For more information or a com- Sufganiyot bar (non-kosher) in Taste Café.
Santa. We encourage families to bring plete schedule of holiday events, www.
woodlawnmuseum.org. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is at
465 Huntington Avenue. For information,
617-267-9300 or www.mfa.org.


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