Auctions | June 4, 2018

Sargent .jpgNew York —American Art comes to Swann Galleries on June 14 with a highly curated offering of original works by artists living or working in the United States. The nearly 300 paintings, drawings and sculptures, encompassing the middle of the nineteenth century to the present, are expected to exceed $1.6M. Many have never before appeared at auction.

The auction will feature a strong section of works by PaJaMa, the artist collective consisting of Paul Cadmus, Jared French and Margaret Hoening French. Many of these works, from the collection of Jon Anderson and Philis Raskind-Anderson, are portraits by the members of one another and their partners and friends. For example, Cadmus drew Jon Anderson #1, 1965, and Portrait of Margaret French, 1944 ($15,000 to $20,000 and $8,000 to $12,000, respectively), and Jared French drew him in Portrait of Paul Cadmus, 1931, which is estimated at $7,000 to $10,000.

Jared French is additionally represented by Men in a Garden, circa 1934-35, a verdant oil painting of a semi-nude fête, carrying an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. Three-dimensional works by French will also be offered: a circa 1935 marble carving entitled Etruscan Man, and a plaster bust of the photographer George Platt Lynes, circa 1940 ($3,000 to $4,000 and $40,000 to $5,000, respectively).

Nineteenth-century works shine in a variety of media, with highlights including Head of a Young Girl, circa 1875-78, a pencil drawing by John Singer Sargent. The sketch illustrates the artist’s mastery of color, form and light, and comes with an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000. An autumnal canvas by Worthington Whittredge of a River Landscape with Sailboat, is valued at $20,000 to $30,000. Paintings of the west include a landscape by William Bradford of Inspiration Point, Yosemite, 1879, a clement change from the Arctic vistas for which he is known ($15,000 to $20,000), and Joseph Henry Sharp’s oil painting Still Life with Poppies, 1890, at $10,000 to $15,000.

Early American Modernists present a strong selection of harbingers of movements to come. A charcoal and pencil drawing by Joseph Stella, The Sewing Lesson, 1908, previously exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1994, was likely part of a commissioned series representing the immigrant communities of industrial Pittsburgh. At $20,000 to $30,000, it leads a selection of drawings by Stella, as well as a collage. Nine watercolors by Charles Burchfield will be offered, following the house’s success in June 2017, when all offered paintings by the artist were sold. These are led by Brook, 1916, with an estimate of $12,000 to $18,000. Bathers, an elegant circa 1910 painting by Abraham Walkowitz, embodies his mature style; it is valued between $5,000 to $8,000.

John Steuart Curry, known primarily for his forceful Regionalist prints, returns to the theme of the American heartland in an oil painting titled Plowing Before a Storm, circa 1935. The work, valued between $15,000 and $20,000, is one of few paintings in the artist’s oeuvre. From his circle, Thomas Hart Benton and Rockwell Kent will be represented by sketches and watercolors.

Following Swann’s offering of works from his personal collection in 2017, Will Barnet will be represented in this auction by a sketch of Boy and Cat, 1984 ($5,000 to $8,000), and an oil painting of a Park Scene, 1937, most likely in New York’s Central Park, at $7,000 to $10,000.

Joseph Cornell’s Untitled, a circa 1960 collage for the avant-garde artist Kasoundra Kasoundra, featuring a silhouette of Don Quixote and a macaw, carries an estimate of $12,000 to $18,000.

Contemporary works include a striking landscape painting by Wolf Kahn titled Poisonous Yellow-Green, 2001, with an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000. Four canvases by Leonard E. Fisher include his signature floating objects motif, intended to evoke hope and gaiety. The patriotic The 4th of July, 2014, leads the pack at $10,000 to $15,000, while the 1996 Bubbles is valued at $8,000 to $12,000.

Sketchbooks by Peggy Bacon, Rockwell Kent, Henry Varnum Poor, Fairfield Porter and Mahonri Young offer insight into the minds and processes of the artists.

The complete catalogue with bidding information is available at www.swanngalleries.com.

Image: Lot 12 John Singer Sargent, Head of a Young Girl. Estimate $15,000-20,000.

Auctions | June 1, 2018

Screen Shot 2018-06-01 at 10.01.29 AM.pngLondon—This July, Sotheby’s will offer for sale the original map of Winnie-the-Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood by E.H. Shepard. Possibly the most famous map in children’s literature, this charming sketch from 1926, has been unseen for nearly half a century and will be offered with an estimate of £100,000-150,000 at the English Literature, History, Science, Children’s Books and Illustrations sale in London on 10th July. 

Featuring on the opening end-papers of the original 1926 book, the sketch introduces readers to the delightful imagination of Christopher Robin and his woodland friends. Exactly 40 years later the map played a starring role in the landmark Disney film - Winnie-the-Pooh and the Honey Tree - where it was brought to life as an animation in the film’s opening sequence. 

As well as mapping the magical world of Winnie-the-Pooh the sketch also captures the unique personalities of A.A. Milne’s much-loved characters. Eeyore is depicted in his “rather boggy and sad” “gloomy place” with his head hanging sluggishly in the grass, whilst the energetic Roo bounces towards the “sandy pit” where he plays. A solitary Winnie-the-Pooh sits thoughtfully looking out over the wood to his friend, Christopher Robin, who stands with boyish arrogance looking back. 

The charming childishness of Christopher Robin is marked by clumsily spelt locations, such as “NICE FOR PICNICKS” and “100 AKER WOOD”, as well as a compass marked with points spelling out the title character’s name. Shepard’s own amusing personality seeps into the illustration, as the map is signed off with the words “Drawn by me and Mr Shepard helpd". 

The map will be offered alongside four further original Winnie-the-Pooh illustrations by E.H. Shepard, none of which have been seen for almost 50 years. Among them is a most poignant illustration showing Christopher Robin and Pooh walking hand-in-hand to ‘an enchanted place on the very top of the Forest’ to say their final goodbye. In the emotional conclusion to his much-loved book - The House at Pooh Corner, A.A. Milne finally signs off with one of the most heart-rending farewells in children’s literature: "…wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place in the top of the Forest a little boy and his bear will always be playing." The illustration, printed as a double-page, is, excluding a silhouette of the two friends, the penultimate time we see Christopher Robin and Pooh together as they make their way to the place of parting. 

Two additional illustrations taken from Chapter Six of The House at Pooh Corner show the characters and a game of ‘Pooh Sticks’. Originally reproduced on pages 95-6 of the published book, the ink drawings record the creation of the game with the first drawing showing Pooh, Piglet, Roo and Rabbit eagerly peering over the Poohsticks bridge, and the second, depicting an unexpected but comic turn of events, with Eeyore floating from beneath the bridge. 

The fourth, perhaps most familiar image, is a re-drawn version of another illustration from the "Poohsticks" episode which concludes with Christopher Robin, Pooh and Piglet left on the famous bridge by themselves. The tone of the illustration is somewhat different with the excitement of the Poohsticks game changing to a more contemplative mood, with the three friends looking wistfully at the river beneath them, saying nothing. Used twice in the published book, within the chapter and also as the frontispiece, this illustration accompanies a moment of unified friendship and forgiveness, in which Piglet breaks the silence and volunteers his view that "Tigger is all right, really" and Pooh suggesting further that, "Everybody is really... But I don't suppose I'm right...". 

The five original illustrations will be offered in Sotheby’s English Literature, History, Science, Children’s Books and Illustrations sale in London on 10th July 2018 with a combined estimate of £310,000-440,000. 

Image: E.H. Shepard’s The Original Map of the Hundred Acre Wood Original ink drawings, signed, 1926. Estimate  £100,000 -150,000.

Auctions | June 1, 2018

Ithaca, NY—National Book Auctions, located just outside Ithaca, NY, announces the launch of their next auction catalog.   

This catalog features rare, antique and decorative books as well as select additions of ephemera. Featured are prized first printings of titles such as "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and "Cannery Row." A selection of fine bindings will be offered, including antique fancy leather bindings and rare selections from the Folio Society and the Limited Editions Club.

Antique and rare books are numerous in this catalog. Among the earliest examples are the 1631 printing of Selden's "Titles of Honor," Roscoe's "Life of Lorenzo de Medici, Called the Magnificent," produced in two leather-bound volumes in 1796, and the 1735 printing of the "Dramatick Works of John Dryden," in six volumes. We're also pleased to offer in this catalog a first printing of the "B" binding of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and the scarce signed limited edition of the "Works of Theodore Roosevelt," complete in 24 volumes produced over the years 1923 to 1926. Additional rare and antique selections relate to travel & exploration, circus history, pulp, books-on-books, theology, children's, decorative antique sets, art history, special printings by the Folio Society and Limited Editions Club, and beyond.                          

Several interesting collections will also be showcased. Highlighted are first printings of modern firsts such as Steinbeck's "Cannery Row," and "Breakfast at Tiffany's," by Truman Capote. A collection of children's books and related items is highlighted by first printings of Dr. Seuss titles, an original, framed signature by Kate Greenaway, and antique juvenile pulp magazines.        

Found throughout this catalog are interesting ephemera offerings and many group lots of desirable titles. Of particular note are numerous groupings of original vintage and antique science fiction and fantasy pulp magazines including titles such as "Amazing Stories," "Astounding Science Fiction," "Fantastic Adventures" and others.     

National Book Auctions is a public auction service specializing in books, ephemera, and art. National Book Auctions is a targeted service offering experience and expertise unique to marketing antique and modern books and ephemera for consignors and collectors alike. The upcoming auctions will feature a wide assortment of collectible, signed, and first edition books. For more information, please contact the gallery at 607-269-0101 or email mail@nationalbookauctions.com.

 

Events | June 1, 2018

Baltimore, Maryland - The Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show, now in its 38th year, is Maryland’s largest antiques event and one of the most important and anticipated shows of the summer for dealers and collectors. With countless international exhibitors drawn from the United States, Canada, France, Italy, England, China and Japan, the Baltimore Show attracts tens of thousands of patrons including knowledgeable collectors, museum curators, dealers, decorators and shoppers from all over the World. Show guests can discover many great items ranging from $100 to museum quality treasures with values of more than $1,000,000.

The Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show returns Labor Day Weekend (August 30 - September 2, 2018) transforming the Baltimore Convention Center into an epic experience for all who attend. From the lush carpet lined aisles, to the lavish floral arrangements and full-service restaurants located in the center of the show, the Baltimore Show is a must attend event for the novice buyer to the serious collector. 

The show attracts fine art dealers and serious collectors from around the globe and is known as the most important silver show in the nation, with leading silver specialists ranging from early coin, Georgian, Irish, Russian and Victorian to local Baltimore Stieff, modern Louis Tiffany and George Jensen. The quality and quantity of antique and fine estate jewelry on offer is the attraction for many knowledgeable patrons seeking bargains for both personal use and resale inventory. In addition, the show boasts quality dealers specializing in Japanese and Chinese art and antiques.

There are more than 200,000 individual items in the show, including vintage and estate jewelry, American and European silver, furniture of all kinds, crystal, art glass, ceramics, quilts, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, lamps, ethnic art, paintings, decoys, Chinese export, bronzes, music boxes, sewing collectibles, oriental rugs, textiles, posters, country store, antique armor and military, political memorabilia and much more. Everything is for sale.

Highlights will include a Norman Rockwell painting titled “Boy Graduate,” offered by M.S. Rau Antiques; a vintage antique 1941 Bally Quarter Reliance slot machine offered by Maryland dealer, Larry Debaugh; and a wheel thrown, carved sculpted, high-fired porcelain with Celadon glaze titled “Double Dragon with Ruby Eyes” on display by Lee Gallery & Studios.

The Baltimore Art, Antique & Jewelry Show is much more than a retail show, with an extensive array of prominent estate jewelers, antiquarian book dealers, and exhibitors offering everything from majolica to contemporary art and fine crafts, there is truly something for everyone at the show.

"We are thrilled to be bringing the show back to Baltimore for the 38th consecutive year. Each year the Baltimore show expands the variety of genres on offer which reinforces its reputation as the largest art, antique and jewelry show, not only in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region, but in the United States" stated Scott Diament, CEO of the Palm Beach Show Group.