Sotheby’s New York – Important Judaica Sale Announcement

November 13th, 2011 by

This year’s offerings in Hebraica and Judaica include the most important Hassidic prayer book still in private hands. The personal manuscript prayerbook of Rabbi Mordecai of Chernobyl, pupil of Rabbi Israel Ba’al Shem Tov, disciple of the Maggid of Mezeritch and founder of the Twersky Hasidic dynasty ($450,000-650,000.) A further broad selection includes Hebrew illuminated manuscripts, early printed books, original decorative bindings, early documents of Jewish Americana and several important archival collections.

Among the important paintings in the sale are Moritz Daniel Oppenheim’s The Betrothal and an exquisite Isidor Kaufmann, The Newlywed.

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Sotheby’s New York – Historic Contemporary Art Sale Achieves $315.8 Million

November 13th, 2011 by

Sotheby’s the Contemporary Art Evening Sale brought an outstanding
total of $315,837,000, well above the $192/270.8 million pre-sale estimate and nearly 85% sold-by-lot. The total is the
highest for a Contemporary Art Evening sale at Sotheby’s since May 2008 and the Company’s third highest ever,
virtually matching the $315,907,000 set at Sotheby’s in November 2007.

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Sotheby’s New York – The Elegant John Traina – A Portrait in Style

November 13th, 2011 by

John A. Traina, Jr. (1931-2011) was a shipping executive, vintner, author and a mainstay of San Francisco society, legendary for his great style and many interests.  He has been described as “the gentleman you wanted to be seated next to at dinner, a charming raconteur, elegantly dressed and beautifully mannered.”  A born collector, he loved gems and the intracacies of workmanship, and eventually shared his fascination by writing ‘Extraordinary Jewels’ in 1994 and ‘The Fabergé Case: From the Private Collection of John Traina’ in 1998.  This tribute sale is dedicated to John Traina’s extensive collection of dress sets and cufflinks, cigarette cases and Fabergé-like objects.  All the major jewelers are represented including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston, David Webb, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari and Verdura.  The array of jeweled accessories in this sale present the ideal opportunity for any collector to add elegance, whether formal or whimsical, to their lifestyle.

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Sotheby’s New York – Israeli and International Art

November 13th, 2011 by

Sotheby’s is pleased to present our annual auction of Israeli & International Art on December 14th. This year we are honored  to present Property from the Estate of Lillian Cottin, New York, a collection that notably includes three large, rare synagogue interiors by Marc Chagall from 1931 and 1935, which have been in the collection since 1945. Other highlights include important works by Mordecai Ardon, Reuven Rubin and Nahum Gutman.

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Sotheby’s Paris – Un Hommage au XVIIIe Siècle – Adriano Ribolzi, Antiquaire

November 10th, 2011 by

The criteria guiding my choices have always been perfect quality, aesthetic appeal and authenticity. I believe that the evocative nature of a work of art lies in the simultaneous perception of its timeless aesthetic value and the circumstances in which it was created, which help us appreciate its origins. Its beauty then assumes its true emotional dimension.
– Adriano Ribolzi

These are the words used by the renowned antiques-dealer Adriano Ribolzi to explain the thinking behind his acquisitions. Mr Ribolzi, based in Monaco since 1974, is a highly cultivated man with an in-depth knowledge of the art market. Throughout his career he has rigorously selected works imbued with the characteristics sought by the world’s most demanding connoisseurs.

 

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Sotheby’s London – Russian Works of Art, Fabergé and Icons

November 10th, 2011 by

The forthcoming Russian Works of sale in London will take place on November 30th.

Highlights will include a Fabergé jewelled gold, enamel and agate box executed in 18th century Parisian taste, property from a private Far Eastern collector estimated at £40-60,000.

It will also include a charming Fabergé silver-mounted clay brick match holder at £20-30,000.

Amongst porcelain, enamelled and silver objects, we will also be offering a wide choice of bronzes including portraits of Tsar Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna.

The Orthodox world will be represented by highly decorative icons made of silver-gilt and cloisonné enamel as well as earlier Russian icons dated to the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

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Sotheby’s Paris – Regards sur l’Orient – Orientalist Paintings and Islamic Art Exhibition Reminder

November 10th, 2011 by

Sotheby’s Paris is pleased to announce this next Regards sur l’Orient sale on November 16th.
This sale will offer a group of ten distinguished paintings by Jacques Majorelle: several market scenes, a testimony of the artist journeys in Africa, revealing a taste for acid shades contrasting with dark skin tones. Nudes show the artist’s fascination for African beauties and spectacular crowd scenes in Marrakech complete this nice group.

A brilliant example of Belgian Africanist painting, Fernand Allard-Olivier’s Le fou du chef shows a traditional scene observed in Belgian Congo. A rare and charming Oriental woman, by Frederic Arthur Bridgman with her captivating look and her elegant oufit makes her one of the highlights of this sale. The painting cession also includes major works by Jose Cruz Herrera and Roubtzoff and lovely landscapes by Henri Pontoy, Eugène Deshayes and Delahogue.

The sale will also include a group of modern turkish paintings from French Private collections acquired directly from the artists in the 60’s and 70’s.  Amongst this group, we are offering Important works by Orhan Peker, Bedri Rahmi Eyuboglu and Fikret Moualla. the last section will be dedicated to ottoman works of art.

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Vignos Estate Auction Achieves Over $3 Million

November 10th, 2011 by

Jasper Francis Cropsey Sells For $660,000

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers auctioned the personal collection of accomplished Cleveland rheumatologist Dr. Paul J. Vignos Jr. to a packed room of bidders and thousands of others on the telephones and internet. The November 6-8, 2011 auction included American and European paintings and prints, English, French and American 18th and 19th century furniture, European and American silver, porcelain and glass, antiquities, sporting decoys and angling and fishing equipment.

Competitive bidding resulted in a successful sale total of $3,018,378 and set numerous auction records. John Bunyan Bristol, Gate, St. Augustine, Florida, sold for $73,200, becoming the highest price ever paid for a work by Bristol. Jasper Francis Cropsey, Dawn of Morning, Lake George, sold for $660,000, setting an auction record as the fourth highest price ever paid for a work by the artist.

Other highlights included William Trost Richards, Rocky Coast, sold for $170,800 more than doubling its estimate of $60/80,000. A Greek pottery skyphos, sold for $41,480 and a gilt and patinated bronze figural mantle clock sold for $34,160.

“Dr. and Mrs. Vignos were consummate collectors,” said Leslie Hindman, President and CEO. “We are thrilled to have handled their extensive collection in a single-owner auction. The collection is reflective of their style: thoughtful, elegant and magnanimous.”

Sold for $34,160

Sold for $73,200

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San Raphael Auction Gallery – Maritime & Nautical Antiques Auction Reminder

November 10th, 2011 by

Paintings, prints, instruments of navigation, sextants, telescopes, depth instrument, diving helmets, tell/tale compass, compass’, barometers, Civil War items, clocks, speaking trumpets, whaling items, scrimshaw, swifts, canes, pie crimpers, sea chests, RARE presidential life saving medal, cased models, half hull models, dioramas, RARE Confederate Vessel Registry, and more.

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Larry DeBaugh tapped to head Morphy’s Coin Op & Gambling Machines division

November 10th, 2011 by

DENVER, Pa. – Veteran coin-op and gambling machine collector Larry DeBaugh has joined Morphy Auctions as head of the company’s Antique Coin Op & Gambling Machines division.

 

“All of us at Morphy’s are very pleased that Larry has agreed to join our team,” said Morphy. “Larry has an excellent reputation among his peers and brings a lot of credibility to what we’re doing. He has a passion for the hobby and will enable us to take the Coin Op department forward.”

 

A lifelong resident of Baltimore, DeBaugh has collected slots and other coin-ops for the past 40 years. His fascination for the machines goes back to his childhood.

 

“In 1965, it became illegal to transport gambling machines across state lines, and outside of Nevada, Maryland was the last state where it was legal to operate slot machines,” DeBaugh explained. “I can remember, as a boy, going to yacht clubs with my parents and seeing slot machines in play. Even after it became illegal, there were still places on Maryland’s eastern shore that had them in operation. I was always fascinated by them.”

 

While in his early twenties, DeBaugh bought his first slot machine. “After that, it snowballed,” he said with a laugh.

 

In addition to collecting machines, DeBaugh amassed what may be the country’s largest collection of original coin-op machine literature and gambling tokens. Having a natural mechanical aptitude, DeBaugh also learned how to restore machines that were no longer functional. “But the most fun has come from meeting other collectors at shows and auctions who share my interest in these machines,” DeBaugh said.

 

Morphy’s first specialty auction of coin-operated and gambling machines under the supervision of Larry DeBaugh will take place on March 17, 2012. The sale will feature machines from the collection of the late Frank Zygmunt Sr., a well-known Chicago-area collector whose name lives on through Zygmunt & Associates, the antique slot machine and jukebox business now run by his son Frank Jr.

 

To contact Larry DeBaugh, call 410-336-1728 or e-mail watling1@comcast.net.

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