One of the most exciting events in the auction calendar since 1999, the sale of 20th Century Italian Art presents a strong selection of works by artists ranging from Marino Marini and Gino Severini to Alberto Burri and Lucio Fontana.

Examples of Modernism include a group of superlative works from a distinguished private New York collection.

Testament to the collector’s passion for Italian art is the superb Marini bronze Cavaliere which was a gift from Eric Estorick and the important Severini Natura morta con arance of 1917 which documents the artist’s foray into Cubism and demonstrates his experiments with sand, colour and flattened form.

The sale also includes Severini’s Train arrivant à Paris, one of the most important works on paper by the artist to come to the market in decades, the work is closely related to the painting of the same subject in the Tate Gallery; whilst Morandi is represented by a tranquil still life which celebrates nuance and stillness.

Sotheby’s is delighted to announce an exclusive collection of leading designers and artists for MATERIAL WORLDS, its second outdoor selling exhibition in collaboration with Sudeley Castle, from 28 July to 30 September 2011. The exhibition brings together cutting-edge, one-off and limited edition works in strikingly different materials by 11 artists and designers, including Tord Boontje, Amanda Levete, David Adjaye, Ingo Maurer and Paul Fryer. Set amongst the romantic ruins of Sudeley and its award-winning gardens, the works will challenge the boundaries of Design, Art and Craft.

Kim Muller-Thym, 'Cloudy Creek,' oil, 9 x 12 in., estimate $1,200. Image courtesy of Salmagundi Club.

NEW YORK – New York City’s revered Salmagundi Club – an artists’ organization founded in 1871 – is planning a major fundraiser during the month of October that comprises three auctions of juried artworks submitted by its artist-members. The auctions will be held at the Salmagundi Club on Friday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. (following a brunch in the dining room), and Friday Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. As a special incentive, no buyer’s premium will be payable on any artwork purchased, and to accommodate those who cannot attend in person, there will be Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com.

“Over the years, collectors have flocked to our semiannual auction fundraisers to buy top-quality artworks from some of America’s finest artists, often at very attractive prices,” said Salmagundi Club President Claudia Seymour. “When we included Internet live bidding at our March auction, it opened a new bidding avenue for art lovers around the world and resulted in some lively battles over premier artworks. We expect to see exciting competition in the October auctions, as well.”

All painting media will be represented in the October auctions, including oils on canvas, acrylics on canvas, etchings, watercolors, sculptures, pastels under glass and lithographs, some of them hand colored. Additionally, there will be original drawings, pen-and-ink works and photographs. Most of the two-dimensional works are framed, while a few are gallery-wrapped with canvas.

Anne Kullaf, 'Daydreams on 14th Street, oil, 20 x 20 in., estimate $1,500. Image courtesy of Salmagundi Club.

“We have many outstanding, well-known artists on our membership roster, and the quality of what is offered in our

upcoming auctions is quite exceptional. Our board is committed to maintaining a high level with our auctions, and that includes introducing bidders to the work of talented emerging artists, as well,” said Seymour.

In the past, Salmagundi Club auctions have operated under a fixed, flat-rate structure whereby nearly all artworks opened at $300, sculptures at $300-$400, and photos or multiple impressions at $150.

“We have done away with that method, now. We don’t want low opening prices to discourage better-known and more-accomplished artists, who get good prices in galleries, from putting their work in our sales,” said Seymour. “Our new policy is to ask the artist for a reasonable, typical price on an artwork they wish to submit, and we’ll open it at 30% of that price.”

Seymour explained how the artworks are selected for inclusion in the auctions. “Each artist-member may submit up to three pieces for consideration. Our art committee juries the art and selects those pieces that we believe have both the highest artistic merit and the greatest likelihood of selling. If three artworks from a particular artist are chosen, each will go into a different sale so they aren’t competing against each other,” Seymour said.

John Traynor, 'Jeffersonville, Vermont,' oil, 9 x 12 in. Image courtesy of Salmagundi Club.

Proceeds from the auctioned artworks are divided evenly between the artists and the club. “Normally, if an artist sells a work through one of our exhibitions, they receive 70% and the club receives 30%, but because the fall auction series is our principal fundraiser, our artist-members have graciously agreed to a 50/50 split,” Seymour said.

Beginning on Monday, Oct. 3, all artworks entered in the fall auction series will be displayed in a public exhibition at the Salmagundi Club. On Thursday, Oct. 6, the club will host a reception from 6-8 p.m. that includes the presentation of awards to the exhibition’s prizewinners.

Exhibition hours are Monday through Friday from 1-6 p.m., and weekends from 1-5 p.m. Auction dates and times are Friday, Oct. 14 commencing at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. (following a brunch from 11 a.m. till 3 p.m. in the club’s dining room); and Friday Oct. 28 starting at 8 p.m. All events, including the brunch and reception, are open to the public. The Salmagundi Club is located at 47 Fifth Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets in Manhattan.

For additional information about the auction, call 212-255-7740 or e-mail info@salmagundi.org. Visit the club’s website at www.salmagundi.org.

Online catalogs for the three October auctions may be viewed online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com, where prospective bidders may also sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet. Absentee bidding will also be available via written bidding forms at the preview.

About the Salmagundi Club:

Steeped in history, the Salmagundi Club is one of the oldest art associations in the United States. Since 1917, it has been headquartered in what is now the only remaining brownstone on Fifth Avenue, directly across from the First Presbyterian Church. Its roster of past members includes such fine-art luminaries as Thomas Moran, William Merritt Chase, Louis Comfort Tiffany, N.C. Wyeth and Childe Hassam. Of its 850 currently active members, more than 600 are artists.

The club’s activities include art classes, exhibitions, painting demonstrations and both fundraising and social events. The nonprofit Salmagundi Club owns a collection of more than 1,500 works of art spanning its 140-year history.

Featuring the Property from the Estate of
William Sproule, San Francisco,
President of Southern Pacific Rairoad from 1911-1928.

Catalog now online

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. is proud to announce their second consecutive million dollar sale.  As with all LLAES, Ltd. catalogued auctions, this sale garnered an international audience and a packed house.  Over 1200 absentee and phone bids were executed on sale day, with an additional 800 bidders registered through Live Auctioneers.  More than 200 bidders energized the house with traditional floor bidding.

Important French Parcel Gilt & Gem Set Jewel Casket, Sold $69,000

This auction was held at LLAES, Ltd’s auction gallery in Hillsborough, North Carolina, which is currently being expanded by 5,500 square feet, bringing their overall square footage to 15,500 square feet.  This expansion will offer 2000 square feet of additional gallery space, a state of the art walk in wine cooler, and ample storage space for consignors.  Construction is expected to be complete by December of 2011.

This landmark auction was led by the catalogue cover lot, a 19th century French Parcel Gilt & Gem Set Jewel Casket, which brought top honors selling for $69,000 (prices include the 15% buyers premium).  Despite strong international interest, this casket will remain in the United States.  Another top lot was a bronze by Janet Scudder (Am., 1869-1940) which breezed past its estimate to achieve $52,900.

The remainder of the 700 lot Catalogue Auction saw strength and consistency

Confederate North Carolina Contract Forage Cap, Sold $14,375

from start to finish.  An outstanding Confederate and militaria collection opened the bidding on sale day.  A Confederate North Carolina Contract Forage Cap more than doubled its estimate, hammering for $14,375.  With fervent bidding between phone and floor bidders a rare Mendenhall, Jones & Gardner Confederate Rifle rose to $17,250.  Another top lot was a McElroy Confederate Foot Officer’s Sword, which sold for $10,350.

This sale offered an impressive collection of North Carolina and southern pottery, the quality of which was reflected by bidding activity on sale day.  An Alamance County Redware plate, circa 1880, North Carolina, which was a property deaccession from the Museum of Southern Decorative Arts to benefit their acquisitions fund, sailed past its estimate to achieve $13,225.  Other top sellers include a NC Slip Decorated Redware Plate which sold for $5,750 and a NC Slip Decorated Redware Pitcher which hammered for $4,370.

Southern Federal Inlaid Serpentine Sideboard, Sold $21,850

American Furniture brought solid and strong bidding throughout the sale.  Top lots include a Southern Federal Inlaid Serpentine Sideboard which achieved $21,850 and an outstanding American Classical Secretary Bookcase which rose to $7,475.

Estate Jewelry was led by an Edwardian Platinum & Aquamarine Pendant, which blew past its estimate with heated bidding between phone bidders and brought

Amethyst, Turquoise, Diamond, and Pearl Choker, Sold $6,900

$13,800.   Other lots of note include a 44-carat Amethyst, Turquoise, Diamond, and Pearl Choker, which brought $6,900 and a Platinum and Three Stone Diamond Ring which hammered for $6,612.50.

Carved Soapstone Buddha, Sold $17,825

Asian lots elicited much excitement from both floor and telephone bidders.  Two exciting lots to watch were a Carved Soapstone Buddha, which exploded to $17,825 and a Large Chinese Porcelain Jardiniere which rallied to $17,250 and left with a floor bidder.

Fine Arts offerings were diverse and of top quality.  Lots of note include an oil on canvas by Lendall Pitts (1875-1938) entitled, “Source of Romanche” which sold for $4,600; a woodcut on wove paper by Albrecht Durer (1471-1528), “The Annunciation,” which hammered for $3,910; an etching by Adriaen van Ostade (Dutch, 1610-1685), “The Gossips,” which brought $2,300; a pencil signed screen print on paper by Andy Warhol (Am. 1928-1987) which brought $3,910; and an untitled Alexander Calder (Am. 1898-1976) which sold for $2,185.

The Decorative Category was led by the sale of an outstanding Ormolu & Cut Glass Chandelier, 19th century, which

Janet Scudder (American, 1869-1940) “Bird Fountain,” Sold $52,900

between phone and floor bidding rose to $8,050 and a Northwest Coast Polychrome Bentwood Box which soared past its estimate and brought $20,700.  Another lot of note was a Swedish Gilt Bronze Garniture Set, 19th century, which hammered for $4,600.

The Fine Wine session, which was held Friday, September 16th at 6PM, was energized by a magnum bottle of La Tache, vintage 2005, which hammered for $8,912.50.  Other top achievers include:  four bottles of Chateau Margaux, vintage 1985, which sold for $1,380 and two lots of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, vintage 1981 and 1985, which both sailed past their $300-$400 estimates to achieve $977.50 and $920 respectively.  The next Fine Wine Auction is scheduled for Friday, December 2nd at 5:30PM.  To discuss buying or selling fine wines contact Mark Solomon, Fine Wine Director, at mark@llauctions.com.

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.’s Two Day Winter Catalogue Auction will be held on December 2nd and 3rd, 2011.  LLAES, Ltd. is always seeking quality consignments, whether it be an entire estate or a significant item. If you would like to discuss selling please call the gallery at 919-644-1243 or email at info@LLAuctions.com.  To learn more about Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. please visit their website at www.LLAUCTIONS.com.

Accepting consignments through Oct. 12th

Featuring Silver and Jewelry, Decorative Arts, Fine Art, Furnishings, Asian, Ethnographic, Musical Instruments, Coins and Currency, Ephemera, Memorabilia, and Militaria