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The Collection of Carl DeSantis showcases beautiful objects in a variety of rich materials, such as carved ivory, mounted rock crystal, enameled gold, exquisitely painted porcelain, and Gorham’s Martelé silver; the luxurious combination evokes the great collections of the 19th century.
Additional property from the Collection of Dodie Rosekrans will be offered in the following sales:
Impressionist & Modern Art Day Sale
Contemporary Art Evening Sale
Contemporary Art Day Sale
Old Master Paintings
Old Master Drawings
This December Sotheby’s will offer Property from the Collection of Dodie Rosekrans. A celebrated philanthropist, style icon and patron of both fine and decorative arts, Dodie Rosekrans was known internationally both for her sense of adventure and unfailingly generous spirit. A trailblazer and trendsetter in fashion, the arts and society, she made a name for herself in each of the cities in which she lived with her late husband John Rosekrans: San Francisco – where she was born to Michael Naify, founder of the movie chain that became United Artists – Paris and Venice. Mr and Mrs Rosekrans’s charitable contributions were numerous, highlighted by their efforts to support the museums of San Francisco and Paris, the latter of which earned Mrs Rosekrans France’s Légion d’Honneur.
This sale features a pristine case of Château Pétrus 1982 from the private collection of a Continental connoisseur that also includes some top Classed Growth Claret. There is a fabulous array of Château Cheval Blanc and its ‘baby brother’, Le Petit Cheval, in young vintages and a variety of formats. Great Sauternes, White and Red Burgundy, Rhône, California and historic German wines direct from members of the Prüm family vie for attention. Extra ‘glitz’ can be found in a Methuselah of Louis Roederer Cristal 2000, 1990 vintage and a bottle of Cognac Hennessy Timeless in a Baccarat crystal decanter.
The sale of Impressionist and Modern Art in Paris on December 8th will present a host of exceptional Surrealist works, beginning with three major paintings by Max Ernst (in particular La Carmagnole painted circa 1927), a masterpiece by Roberto Matta from 1942 (Le Pendu) and a remarkable composition by Wifredo Lam (L’arbre aux miroirs, 1945) as well as impressive works by André Masson, Victor Brauner and Salvador Dalí. Other highlights include important works of modern art by artists such as Picasso, Metzinger, Picabia and Miró, who is represented by a rare sculpture from the 1960s.
Sunday, November 6 | 12:00 pm
Monday, November 7 | 12:00 pm
Tuesday, November 8 | 10:00 am
PREVIEW
Wednesday, November 2 | 10am-5pm
Thursday, November 3 | 10am-5pm
Friday , November 4| 10am-5pm
Saturday, November 5 | 10am-3pm
The November 9th auction of Contemporary Art in New York is highlighted by a rare and significant offering of four paintings by Clyfford Still, sold by the city of Denver to benefit the Clyfford Still Museum. The museum, which opens November 18, 2011, will permanently house the estate of the artist and his widow which encompass nearly 94% of the oeuvre of this founder of the Abstract Expressionist movement. Only 77 paintings by Clyfford Still are known to remain in private hands, so the four paintings to be offered through Sotheby’s (expected to realize over $50 million) are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire an icon of 20th century art. Spanning the years 1940-1976, the selection of paintings traces the arc of the artist’s career from his early Surrealist period to the majestic abstractions of 1947-1949 that presage the expansive canvases of the 1970s.
“The House” – final installment of Sotheby’s new film series, available at sothebys.com
Scarce circa-1885 full-color stone-lithographed paper advertising sign for Grand Chief Cigars, 28in. by 22in., est. $2,500-$3,500. Noel Barrett Auctions image.
NEW HOPE, Pa. – “In this business there are only about a half dozen people who can honestly be described as having a golden eye. Bill Powell is one of them,” said Noel Barrett, whose Nov. 18-19 auction features Powell’s peerless personal collection of antique advertising and toys.
Those who have come to know Bill Powell over the years from his beautiful displays at major antique and Americana shows know him as the “go-to guy” for great trade signs, fabulous store fixtures and rare lithographed paper-on-wood toys, Barrett said.
“Bill is one of the great pickers. He would hop into his car and drive all night if something special awaited him at the other end. Whenever you would come upon his booth at a show, you’d know immediately whose it was. He has always favored antiques that are figural, unusual, and have marvelous colors and patina,” Barrett said.
Powell’s collection will be offered in approximately 400 lots during the auction’s
Painted tin on wood ice cream shop sign that advertises confections and beverages, 5ft. tall, est. $8,000-$12,000. Noel Barrett Auctions image.
second (Saturday) session. It includes many highly desirable late-19th- and early 20th-century painted-wood signs, each a unique creation. Some are monumental in size, like the 5-ft.-wide “Harness and Horse Collars” trade sign decorated with two stylized horses’ heads and made to fit over a barn door. Two Ingersoll Watch signs are of equally grand size, while several optician signs – one with an oversized pair of spectacles, complete with peering eyes, and the message “Glasses Fitted” – measure 4ft. from end to end.
Another exceptional trade sign is crafted as an actual sled, nearly 8ft. long and painted in red, white and blue with the name “Sonny-Boy.” Other dimensional trade signs include a stylish high-button shoe, a butcher shop bull’s head, and a milliner’s figure of a gentleman wearing a stovepipe hat.
Late-19th-century stone lithography created some of the most colorful signs and posters ever made. Favorites in Powell’s collection include “Laugh At Cigar,” which depicts a circa-1895 saloon interior; and “DeWitt’s Remedies,” with an elaborately detailed image of an early dry goods store.
1940s-vintage painted tin sign advertising Bud’s Service Center, artist signed, classic depiction of mid-century Americana, 61in. tall by 56in. wide, est. $8,000-$12,000. Noel Barrett Auctions image.
America’s early shipping and display containers bore colorfully illustrated labels. Powell’s collection includes many such tobacco barrels, cardboard boxes and tins; as well as wood shipping crates with applied paper labels.
In the same vein, Powell built an exquisite sub-collection of lithographed paper-on-wood toys. Many of his superb 19th-century American boats came from the collection of the late William F. Holland, a pioneer American toy collector. Vehicular toys include a wonderful S.A. Smith wheeled eagle with flapping wings, a Paris Mfg. Co. child’s hook & ladder wagon, and an all-original circa-1880 velocipede.
The “endless variety,” as Barrett describes it, also includes metal and porcelain signs; salesmen’s samples, early cigar boxes and figures; lithographed heavy cardboard signs, antique barber poles and primitive fire escape systems; advertising thermometers, and 10 early air rifles and BB guns.
The 400-lot Friday session offers a panoramic history of American patriotism with the Greg and Molly Caron collection.
Half-round leaded-glass window featuring Liberty figure, from a Hartford Insurance Co. building, 82in. wide by 44in. tall, est. $7,000-$10,000. Noel Barrett Auctions image.
One of the most highly prized pieces in this connoisseurs’ collection is a painted-wood shield from a War of 1812 warship. The shield was among the contents of the Barbour family’s White Birches Lodge at Follensby Pond in New York’s Adirondack region. It is thought to have come from a ship that operated on Lake Champlain; its counterpart bowsprit is held in the Shelburne Museum collection. The shield is estimated at $18,000-$22,000.
The Caron collection also includes an Adirondack twig table with flag, a painted camp chair with shield, early Uncle Sam parade costumes, a huge array of political and patriotic memorabilia; and a spectacular half-round leaded-glass window featuring a Liberty figure from a Hartford Insurance Co. building.
Selection of boxed antique clockwork character toys by the French maker Fernand Martin. Noel Barrett Auctions image.
Adding the finishing touch to the Friday session is the Frank Mohr collection of classic 19th- and early 20th-century American and European trains and toys; extraordinary automata, and Continental toys by Fernand Martin, Lehmann and Gunthermann.
The Mohr collection features one of the largest selections of Ives clockwork toys to come to market in recent years. There are many dancers, including the seldom-seen revolving cakewalk couple; acrobats, boxers, a scarce circus horseback rider, General Grant Smoker, and numerous desirable forms with an African-American theme, such as Suffragette, Stump Speaker, Washerwoman and Nursemaid.
An impressive mid-18th-century Scottish dolls’ house is known by the name of its one-time owner, a Mrs. Farie. The Farie House was a 6-room cottage-style structure when it came into Mrs. Farie’s possession in the 19th century. She added a basement, third floor and finely crafted staircases and paneled doors. During the 20th century, the house was thoroughly cleaned, redecorated and electrified. It has been featured in several books by renowned doll authority the late Flora Gill Jacobs, and appeared in House & Garden magazine. Its auction estimate is $40,000-$50,000.
Noel Barrett’s Friday, Nov. 18 session will commence at 4 p.m., with a same-day preview from 9-4. The Saturday, Nov. 19 session starts at noon with a three-hour preview starting at 9 a.m. The auction will take place at the Eagle Fire Hall, 42 N. Sugan Rd., New Hope, PA 18938. Internet live bidding and online absentee bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com.
For additional information call 215-297-5109 or e-mail toys@noelbarrett.com. Visit Barrett’s website at www.noelbarrett.com.
