The forthcoming auction of Art Contemporain will take place in Paris on 29-30 May, 2012.

Daughter of the celebrated and visionary gallery-owner Pierre Loeb, the Parisian dealer of the greatest modern artists of the inter-war period, including Picasso, Miró and Giacometti, Florence Loeb inherited her father’s passion for distant cultures and his gift for forging special affinities with the most fascinating artistic personalities of his generation.

In part this came from a life changing meeting in 1946, when Florence, aged only 16, first encountered the playwright, poet, actor and theatre director Antonin Artaud. A seminal moment, she spent the rest of her life fulfilling the quest he set for her, the search for the “thunderbolt of second life”, travelling the world and punctuating her voyages with conferences that she entitled “Celebration of Life”. The finest ensemble of books and drawings by Antonin Artaud, including the legendary Autoportrait of 1946, a portrait of Pierre Loeb by Alberto Giacometti and a selection of works from Africa, Oceania and the Americas from the collection of Pierre Loeb represent the highlights of this sale, which Sotheby’s is honoured to present in homage to Florence Loeb.

The upcoming Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale in New York will be held on May 2nd, 2012. Highlights of the sale include a rich and varied selection of works by prolific Impressionist & Modern artists including the recently announced inclusion of Edvard Munch’s iconic work, The Scream.

Romualdo Locatelli’s Ritratto di Fu Ku Ko (Portrait of Fu Ku Ko) and Juan Luna’s En el Palco (In the Theater Box) are rare and superb examples of European Academic style that influenced early 20th Century Modern Southeast Asian Paintings, combining evocative brushstrokes with a balanced and refined composition. These depictions of Indonesian and Filipino society in the first half of the 20th century are also rich with historical and allegorical references that give the paintings gravitas beyond their enigmatic beauty.

Welcome to Sotheby’s new catalogue app exclusively for the iPad. Complimentary catalogues for our 2012 sales are available in this exciting new format. Additionally, the full selection of our catalogues is accessible using your browser on our website, Sothebys.com.

Leland Little presenting check to Treasurer for the Foundation for Appraisal Education Vicki Nash Shaw

The Foundation for Appraisal Education is pleased to announce the establishment of a new 2012 scholarship in the area of fine and decorative arts. In alliance with the scholarship sponsor, Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., the Foundation will be offering the Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. Scholarship in Fine and Decorative Arts for the first time in 2012. This $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to an individual applicant under the age of 30, attending college level courses, seminars or specialty training in fine and decorative arts.
A non-profit organization, The Foundation for Appraisal Education promotes the advancement of education related to the field of personal property appraising, and it assists individuals through scholarships for educational development to improve their capabilities by attending courses, classes, workshops and conferences. One of their key initiatives is the awarding of educational scholarships annually to aid those seeking to improve their knowledge in the field of personal property.
“We are enthusiastic about our new partnership with Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.,” said Beth Szescila, President of the Foundation. “Their innovative approach to promoting fine and decorative arts education among young adults will foster training and development of future appraisers and other professionals in the field. The sponsorship of this scholarship is an indication of their strong commitment to the field of fine and decorative arts and its future. We are grateful for their financial support and focus on education.”
Established by Leland Little in 1998, Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. is located in Hillsborough, North Carolina and specializes in the auctioning of quality estate objects. They have achieved national prominence through their specialties, including their Fine Art, Decorative Arts, Fine Jewelry, Furniture, Historical Documents, Coins, Militaria and Fine Wine Departments. Their Asian Art Department is nationally renowned with dramatic growth during the past two years with both domestic and international clients.
In regards to the scholarship, firm president Leland Little commented “We are honored to be able to provide this opportunity for a young adult to pursue fine and decorative arts training, as it is important to encourage and support young adults entering the professional careers of appraisers, auctioneers, and curators.” Individuals under the age of 30 may apply through the Foundation’s defined application process. Students, appraisers, auctioneers, museum curators, or any individual wanting to further their educational development in the area of fine and decorative arts personal property may apply for the scholarship. According to Foundation Treasurer Vicky Nash Shaw, “this scholarship is the largest single scholarship ever awarded by the Foundation for Appraisal Education.”
Scholarships are awarded to cover the costs for tuition of courses, classes, workshops, programs or conferences and do not include travel, hotel or other associated expenses.
Applications for this scholarship will be accepted through June 30th of this year, and detailed information and applications can be found on the website for the Foundation for Appraisal Education: www.foundationforappraisaleducation.org or by contacting Diane Marvin, Vice President and Scholarship director, at dmappraise@aol.com. Leland Little Auction and Estate Sales, Ltd. can be contacted through its website: http://www.llauctions.com.
The Foundation for Appraisal Education offers two additional scholarships in the field of appraising personal property; one is for experienced and one for new appraisers. Information on those scholarships may be found on the same website and the application deadline is May 31st. The Foundation also promotes appraisal education through an annual publication, The Journal of Advanced Appraisal Studies. The 2012 issue will be released in April and further information will be forthcoming on the Foundation’s website.
Funding for all of these programs comes from donations, gifts and memorials from groups and individuals, as well as from corporate donations and sponsorships. Donations are tax

Wednesday, March 28 | 10:00 am
Thursday, March 29 | 10:00 am

Preview

Wednesday, March 21 | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday, March 22 | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday, March 23 | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday, March 24 | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sunday, March 25 | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Monday, March 26 | 10:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Tuesday, March 27 | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

The Chinese porcelain collection known by the poetic name Meiyintang (Hall Among Rose Beds) is one of the finest and most impressive in private hands.

This third sale dedicated to the collection again makes available a phenomenal range of rare imperial works from the kilns at Jingdezhen, China’s first and foremost porcelain manufacturing centre. Covering imperial porcelains from all major reigns, it includes some of the protagonists of the Yuan (1279-1368), many of the mature masterpieces of the Ming (1368-1644), and a great variety of sophisticated gems of the Qing (1644-1911) dynasty.

One of the most spectacular pieces is the majestic (nearly 60 cm wide) charger of the Yongle period (1403-24), a unique example that is masterfully painted with a long-tailed bird swooping down from a branch laden with lychees to catch an insect. Such freely executed brush paintings, with their careful shading of the cobalt blue, here used particularly for the bird’s plumage, and of course the sheer size of the vessel, reflect China’s blue-and-white porcelain production at its greatest moment.

Auction Venue:

Hall 5, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (New Wing), 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong