Stories for August '23
(Issue Story)Letter from London, August 2023
Something different for this month’s “Letter,” which instead of looking at a broad range of antiques sales takes a different turn, and just for a change focuses throughout on the world of books, manuscripts, and comics as seen in a mix of UK and US auctions of relatively recent times. ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)Auction Prices Realized, August 2023
Here are a few notable prices of antiques sold recently at auction, as provided by press releases. All prices include the buyer’s premium when charged. We’re always looking for news of prices realized at auctions, particularly unusual or top lots. Send pictures, complete descriptions, and information to A.P.R., Maine Antique ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Harvard Art Museums Announce New Free Admission Policy
The Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge, Massachusetts, have implemented a new free admission policy for all visitors. The new policy represents a significant expansion of free access to the museums’ collections, exhibitions, and research for public audiences.
The museums are open to visitors Tuesday through Sunday (except major holidays), 10 a.m. ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Changes Announced by Battersea Foundation
The Battersea Foundation has announced that following three successful antiques shows at the historic Petersburg, Virginia, property, there will be no show in 2023. Restoration of the villa is nearing completion, and the logistics involved in staging an antiques show are prohibitively difficult. Instead, the foundation has announced that it ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)The China Problem
Beneath the Surface
Defense and security are often top of mind these days. It is easy to feel as if there are threats everywhere, and you can never tell where or how you might be attacked. We want our friends to be safe. Do not meet someone strange in a dark ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)Hanging with Dennis Raleigh and Phyllis Sommer
As the first guy in the parking lot to show up when Phyllis Sommer reopened her shop every spring, Dennis Raleigh was the definition of “the early bird catches the worm,” or in this scenario, the woman.
“I was a regular customer,” he said. For close to 20 years.
However, one hot ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Nine Indicted in 20-Year Theft Spree
There are two ways to put a price on an object. The first is to take into account the object’s history, provenance, rarity, and creator. For example, nine World Series rings, seven other championship rings, and two MVP plaques belonging to the legendary Yankees catcher Yogi Berra would be valued ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Center for Painted Wall Preservation Launches Virtual Museum
The first rooms in the virtual museum of historic painted interiors are live on the website of the Center for Painted Wall Preservation (CPWP). The virtual museum (www.pwpcenter.org/virtual-museum) provides access to the best examples of the surviving interiors in the Northeast. Most of these geographically scattered spaces are in private ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)Sold...to the Globe
On July 1 and 2, Casco Bay Auctions, the Freeport, Maine-based auction house founded by Andrew Davis in 2019, held an on-site sale in Wiscasset.
Dispersing the stock and personal collection of William Dykes, the two-day sale had all the hallmarks of a throwback auction. On-site sales used to be a ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Artist Sues Gallery—Wins by Default
In early May, artist Jeffrey Gibson filed suit against K R J S Corporation, which does business under the name Kavi Gupta Gallery. The gallery failed to answer the suit, and an entry of default was entered by the court.
Gibson, based in Hudson, New York, is an artist who combines ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)Exhibitions, August 2023
J.C. Leyendecker, Couple in Boat, painting for an Arrow Collar advertisement, oil on canvas, 1912. National Museum of American Illustration, Newport, Rhode Island.
—Through August 13 —New York City
Under Cover: J.C. Leyendecker and American Masculinity at the New-York Historical Society examines the work of Joseph Christian Leyendecker (1874-1951), an illustrator and ... (Read More)
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(Fragment)Daniel Morgan Medal Goes on Display
A unique gold medal celebrating the Revolutionary War victory by Brigadier General Daniel Morgan over British Army forces in the 1781 Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina has made its first appearance since it sold at auction for $960,000 at the April 4, 2022, auction conducted by Stack’s Bowers Galleries ... (Read More)
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(Issue Story)Skilled Artistry in Jewelry of Various Periods
Antique Jewelry & Gemology
Photos courtesy Toomey & Co.
Toomey & Co., Chicago, Illinois, held a jewelry, silver, and objects of vertu auction on May 31, with offerings from “the skilled artistry of various periods: antique, Georgian, Victorian, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, Modernist, mid-century, and contemporary,” according to a ... (Read More)
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(Show)Antiques at Rhinebeck: Spanning Centuries and Cultures
Rhinebeck, New York
The spring Antiques at Rhinebeck show in Rhinebeck, New York, at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, May 27 and 28, spanned centuries and cultures, from ancient Asian crafts to Art Deco designs. Diversity has always been the key to Rhinebeck’s success over the decades, especially since Frank Gaglio and ... (Read More)
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(Show)Sunday in the Country with Rusty
Farrin’s Country Auctions, Randolph, Maine
At 10:30 on Sunday morning, May 21, auctioneer Rusty Farrin of Farrin’s Country Auctions, Randolph, Maine, banged his gavel to begin the firm’s Americana, firearms, and sporting goods auction.
The story wasn’t the stuff—there was plenty of salable midrange Americana. The story wasn’t that Farrin, who rarely ... (Read More)
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(Show)Fishersville Celebrates Its 70th Installment
Fishersville Antiques Expo, Fishersville, Virginia
There is very little new to say about the Fishersville Antiques Expo. That’s a good thing. Heritage Promotions, owned by Raymond and Martha Stokes, along with their daughter, Lesley Bartram, seems to have hit on an excellent format and mix of dealers that appear to be ... (Read More)
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(Auction)A Landmark Sale: The Barrow Collection
Brunk Auctions, Asheville, North Carolina
Photos courtesy Brunk Auctions
Jim Barrow made a living giving advice. He was cofounder and executive vice president of Dallas-based Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney and Strauss (BHMS), the investment firm that managed a third of Vanguard’s Windsor II funds. From 1985 to 2019, BHMS rewarded investors with an ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Rescued Tiffany Windows Sold at Freeman’s
Freeman’s, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Photos courtesy Freeman’s
When Paul Brown, a salvage dealer in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, bought two large rose windows encased in the stone walls of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in West Philadelphia, he had no idea they were made by Louis Comfort Tiffany or had been paid for by John Wanamaker, ... (Read More)
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(Show)The American Art Fair 2023
New York City
With an infusion of new dealers and an increased advertising budget, The American Art Fair, held in New York City May 13-16, with a preview on May 12, had its best showing in its 16 years.
Avery Galleries sold these circa 1935 untitled paintings of swans by Joseph Stella ... (Read More)
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(Auction)American Art Auction
Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas
Photos courtesy Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions’ May 12 sale of American art offered a small but thoughtfully curated selection of masterworks that resulted in total sales of more than $6.1 million.
“Diverse Visions: Important Works by American Masters”featured works by notable American artists and by lesser-known artists and rising ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Dogs in Art and Sporting Art
Doyle, New York City
Photos courtesy Doyle
A small pack of dog and sporting art aficionados were in the salesroom for Doyle’s May 10 New York City auction “Dogs in Art & Sporting Art.” Held in the back of Doyle’s exhibition space on East 87th Street, the live sale offered 154 lots ... (Read More)
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(Auction)A Southern Star
Bonhams Skinner, Marlborough, Massachusetts
Photos courtesy Bonhams Skinner
Bonhams Skinner’s May 9 Americana sale in the Marlborough, Massachusetts, gallery brought 74 lots of historical and aesthetic interest to the market. The highlight was a southern walnut Chippendale desk-and-bookcase that left its estimate in the dust when it sold for $277,575 (including buyer’s ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Fine Art and Fine Jewelry at Grogan
Grogan & Company, Boston, Massachusetts
Photos courtesy Grogan & Company
There has been an ownership change at Grogan & Company in Boston. The company has been sold to Georgina Winthrop, who is now president and fine art director. Founder Michael B. Grogan has assumed the role of chief auctioneer. The new president ... (Read More)
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(Show)Hanover Tavern Unveils Founding Father’s Cupboard
Antiques At The Tavern, Hanover, Virginia
The fifth annual Antiques At The Tavern show was held May 5-7 at the historic Hanover Tavern in Hanover, Virginia. The Hanover Tavern Foundation is the host, and proceeds from the show go to benefit the foundation’s goals related to education and preservation. This year ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Americana and International Auction
Pook & Pook, Inc., Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Photos courtesy Pook & Pook
Although there was no sound on the first online livestreamed session of Pook & Pook’s May 4 and 5 sale, it did not seem to matter much except for the frustration of not knowing if a lot was sold in the ... (Read More)
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(Show)The Antiques Street Fair That Wasn’t
Spring Antiques Street Fair, Cameron, North Carolina
Cameron, population 359, is one of North Carolina’s most picturesque small towns. Along its sandy sidewalks are elaborate late Victorian mansions and Arts and Crafts bungalows, 61 of them on the National Register of Historic Places. When passenger trains stopped arriving and the dewberry ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Historical Arms, Armor, and Militaria
Lewis & Grant Auctions, Newport, Kentucky
Photos courtesy Lewis & Grant Auctions
A cannon from the Alamo brought the top price during a sale of arms, armor, and militaria held by Lewis & Grant Auctions of Newport, Kentucky, May 5. The piece realized $48,300 (including buyer’s premium) against an estimate of $1000/2000.
Nineteenth-century ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Clemens Sand Bottle Brings $113,400
Doyle, New York City
Photos courtesy Doyle
On May 2 Doyle held a 372-lot Americana auction in New York City that brought a total of approximately $784,000. The auction was topped by a sand art bottle by deaf and mute artist Andrew Clemens (1857-1894) of McGregor, Iowa, that sold for $113,400 (includes ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Spring Americana Auction
Freeman’s, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Photos courtesy Freeman’s
Freeman’s traditionally holds previews for its spring Americana sales during the weekend of the Philadelphia Show so that the dealers, collectors, and curators in town for the show can have a look at what’s for sale. The auction held on the following Tuesday gives those from ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Decoy and Sporting Art Show and Auction
Guyette & Deeter/North American Decoy Collectors Association, Lombard, Illinois
“No one else is crazy enough to do this,” Jon Deeter said shortly after his annual auction that happens along with a show of decoy and sporting collectibles in Lombard, Illinois.
The mega-event involving Maryland auction house Guyette & Deeter, Inc., and the ... (Read More)
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(Show)Liberty Rain or Shine
Liberty Antiques Festival, Liberty (Staley), North Carolina
Thunderstorms racked central North Carolina on Thursday, April 27, setup day for the spring iteration of the Liberty Antiques Festival’s two-day run. Dealers and the public checked their phones and expected rain to wash out Friday, April 28, but only the early birds got ... (Read More)
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(Auction)American Art at Shannon’s
Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers, Milford, Connecticut
Photos courtesy Shannon’s
American art dominated Shannon’s spring fine art auction of 139 artworks on April 27 in its Milford, Connecticut, gallery. Auctioneer Peter Coccoluto called the sale, which had online, telephone, and absentee bidding and had a 90% sell-through rate.
Maurice Brazil Prendergast (1858-1924) painted Beach ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Western Art at Bonhams
Bonhams, Los Angeles
Photos courtesy Bonhams
“Both contemporary and historic” paintings did well in Bonhams’ April 26 auction in Los Angeles, said specialist Katherine Halligan. The sale featured “nice, fresh to the market” selections, resulting in “spirited bidding” by “many hungry buyers.”
Tudi-Tur (Sun Elk) by Bert Geer Phillips (1868-1956), 12" x 9", ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Plein-Air Painting Leads Sale
Bonhams, Los Angeles, California
Photos courtesy Bonhams
Bonhams’ fine art specialist Scot Levitt said he was pleased with the auction house’s California art auction held April 25 in Los Angeles. “There were lots of people at the previews”—held in Los Angeles and San Francisco—“which is always a good sign. We set five ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Entire Range of Self-Taught Art Offered by Slotin
Slotin Auction, Buford, Georgia
Photos courtesy Slotin Auction
Slotin Auction, Buford, Georgia, keeps getting it right. Steve Slotin and his wife, Amy, have been at this for years. They have seen the confusion as to just what Outsider or self-taught and folk art is. They’ve also witnessed the enlightenment, awareness, and ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Eclectic Offerings from CRN
CRN Auctions, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Photos courtesy CRN Auctions
Eclectic is the watchword for any sale held by CRN Auctions. Principals Carl R. Nordblom and Karin J. Phillips of the Cambridge, Massachusetts, auction house really laid it on for their April 23 auction. The sale presented a wide and deep array of objects ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Modern American Art, Including the Ted Shen Collection
Christie’s, New York City
Photos courtesy Christie’s
Christie’s tried a new strategy by holding a dedicated modern American art sale, and the results were positive.
At 10 a.m. on April 21, 26 lots of masterworks from the collection of musical theater composer and philanthropist Ted Shen were offered, and the results gave the ... (Read More)
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(Show)Old Venue or New, Right Turn or Left, Bowmanville Is Still the Best
Bowmanville Antiques and Folk Art Show, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
All prices are in Canadian dollars.
Left or right? Trust me, the choice had nothing to do with ideology. Rather, heading out of my driveway, it was a decision of how to travel on the morning of April 7 to cover the annual ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Online Sale of Overbeck Pottery Figurines and More
Walther & Hawkins Auctioneers, Centerville, Indiana
Photos courtesy Walther & Hawkins Auctioneers
A mammy holding a raised rolling pin brought a near-record price for an Overbeck Pottery figurine when it sold for $4972 (including buyer’s premium) during an online sale that closed April 5 at Walther & Hawkins Auctioneers, Centerville, Indiana. ... (Read More)
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(Auction)Ship Models Sail to Market
Boston Harbor Auctions, Norwell, Massachusetts
Photos courtesy Boston Harbor Auctions
Boston Harbor Auctions’ April 1 online maritime sale brought to market a range of ship models and half-hulls, along with navigational equipment and engine order telegraphs (E.O.T.s). The sale comprised just shy of 400 lots.
Larry Lannan, principal of the auction house and ... (Read More)
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