From The New York Times:
Christie’s to Value Vintage Gucci

Gucci, the up-upscale leather and fashion company, has long suffered from counterfeiters. In time for its 90th anniversary in a couple of years, it has come up with a creative way to fight fakes. It has teamed with Christie’s, which will do online appraisals of vintage Gucci.

From Bloomberg:
Saint Laurent Auction Fetches $13.4 Million, Double Estimate

The auction of designer Yves Saint Laurent’s personal items was a wow, going two times above estimates. The millions raised with go to the Saint Laurent’s and partner Pierre Berge’s charity that for HIV and AIDS research.

From The New York Times:
Art Prices (and Mood) Inch Back Up

Collectors are returning to high-end art auctions, and hoorah, they are buying. That’s on the plus side. On the minus, selling prices are still considerably lower than last year.

From The Associated Press:
Red Cross sells pieces of history to cut deficit

The Red Cross is running an enormous operating deficit, more than $200 million. To refill its coffers, the disaster-relief charity is cleaning out its warehouses and sending items, some that predate Clara Barton’s starting the Red Cross, to the auction block. “White Cross Nurse,” a painting by illustrator Haddon Hubbard Sundblom will go. Rose Percy, a 23-inch doll complete with Tiffany jewels (first sold in 1864 for $1,200) is being offered along with a rare Cartier clock lamp, World War I nurses uniforms and a document issued by Swede Raoul Wallenberg that gave a Jewish chemist safe passage out of Hungary.

From Auction Central News:
Black Cat movie poster leaps to $334,600 at auction

You might want to kick yourself for not keeping that “Star Wars” or “Animal House” posters you chucked when moving. Movie posters become vintage movie posters and can bring big bucks, as evidenced by recent auction results.

From The Associated Press:
Bernard Madoff’s jacket, watch auctioned in NYC

Update on the auction of Bernie Madoff’s personal stuff. We do not want to keep you in suspense. The satin Mets baseball jacket with Bernie’s name in large letters on the back: $14,500. His Hofstra College ring: $6,000. All in all, $1 million came in, which will go to victims of his Ponzi scheme. A tiny drop in the bucket, still a moral victory.

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The official signed marriage certificate issued to Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley in the Dominican Republic in 1994 will be the top item up for bid in a Jan. 22-24 auction hosted by Philip Weiss Auctions.

OCEANSIDE, N.Y. – The original marriage certificate issued to Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley—signed by both Jackson and Presley—on May 26, 1994 in the Dominican Republic, where the couple embarked on their brief but highly publicized life together, will be sold in an important multi-estate sale slated for the weekend of Jan. 22-24, 2010.

“Anything relating to Michael Jackson is of extreme interest right now because of his untimely death and the release of the movie,” said Philip Weiss of Philip Weiss Auctions, who will facilitate the auction, “but when you have an item that combines his name and legend with the Presley name and legend, their marriage certificate no less, with both of their signatures on it, you’ve got something that’s almost impossible to predict what it will bring at auction.”

That same weekend, another slice of music and pop culture memorabilia will be sold by Philip Weiss Auctions: a large photo of the Beatles, signed by all four members of the group, personalized to the late pianist Liberace. In their lighthearted way, the Beatles signed it “to Liber-Archie” as a play on words. Also in the auction will be many other pieces of authentic signed Beatles-related memorabilia.

While the Jan. 22-24 auction event is bound to generate tremendous industry buzz, it will be preceded by another important multi-estate auction scheduled for Friday, Nov. 27. Featured lots will include a monumental Francois Linke four-door dore bronze mounted cabinet with ram’s head and lyres, and a large-size original oil painting attributed to Girlando Marsiglia (N.Y., 1792-1850).

Another item to garned a lot of interest is this large photo of the Beatles, signed by all four members and personalized to Liberace.

“Girlando Marsiglia was one of the 15 founders of the National Academy and a renowned Hudson River School painter,” Weiss said. “The work we are selling comes with an actual daguerreotype of Marsiglia—an astounding fact by itself—plus a sterling silver box that was brought to America by him in 1828 and later engraved in 1885. I can’t overemphasize the importance of this lot.”

The Nov. 27 sale will also feature a galaxy of fine decorative accessories, to include a mirror plateau with French ormolu mounts by G. Bointaburet (Paris, circa 1880); a pair of F. Barbedienne bronze plaques; a 19th-century gilt bronze plaque with dancing putti; porcelains; an Argy-Russeau powder box; a collection of Mettlach and Satsuma; Sevres pieces; and 19th century Oriental porcelains.

Other decorative accessories will include hand-painted plates; a gilt and signed bronze and enamel box; pottery and art glass; hand-painted and enameled vases; a monumental gilt bronze center piece; tons of French porcelains; Oriental rugs; and a monumental gilt French Trimue mirror with top center painting. Also sold will be clocks and a collection of vintage phonographs and cylinder players.

Fans of fine art will not be disappointed Nov. 27. Many noted, listed artists will be represented that day, to include the following:

Gustav Prucha (1875-1952), the Austrian painter; Karl Felix (U.S./Austrian, 1837-1906), known for his landscapes, figural paintings and sculptures; Leonardo Nierman (N.Y./Mexican, b. 1932), an abstract expressionist also known for sculptures and murals; Samuel Chaffee (Am., 1850-1930), a painter of landscapes and coastal views; and Frederick Matzow (Conn., 1861-1938), a landscape artist.

This large-size original oil painting attributed to Hudson River School artist Girlando Marsiglia will be sold in another Weiss auction, this one to be held on Nov. 27, 2009.

Other artists of note include John C. Hare (Mass./Fla., 1908-1978), known for his watercolor seascape paintings and rural scenes; Philip R. Morris (U.K., 1838-1902), a landscape painter also known for genre and allegorical works; Mary G. Ascher (N.Y./U.K., 1900-1988), an abstract painter and printmaker); and Yolande Ardissone (Fr., b. 1927), known for landsacapes, still lifes and marine works.

Other artists include Willering Epko, a French painter born in 1928; David Peretz, a French painter (1906-1982); Jacob Van Diegham, the 19th century Dutch painter; Paul Emile Pissarro (Fr., 1884-1972), a landscape painter; French painter Lucien Boulier (1882-1963); Francois Gall (Fr./Hungarian, 1912-1987), known for still life paintings; and Edgar Farasyn (Belgian, 1858-1938).

Rounding out the fine art category, a work attributed to the renowned French and American painter Mary Cassatt (1844-1926), best known for her mother and child portraits, will be sold, as will a large lithograph by Alexander Calder (Conn./N.Y., 1878-1976). Also offered will be a group of rare South American 16th and 17th century religious works and a collection of Art Nouveau and other posters.

Returning to the Jan. 22-24 sale, other lots sure to pique bidder interest include the contents of a train and hobby store that closed in the 1970s that featured trains, soldiers, play sets and more; stamps galore, featuring a complete sheet of 80 Peoples Republic of China Scott #1586 (Monkey New Year); a single-owner lifetime stamp collection; and horse racing trophies won by the jockey Willie Shoemaker.

Wedged between the Nov. 27 and Jan. 22-24 auctions will be a “Let’s Go Hog Wild Sale” planned for Dec. 18-20, featuring a single-owner collection of pig-related memorabilia. The auction will also include a rare boxed G.I. Joe Australian doll; items from the German and French Resistance; dolls; more from the Weaver Circus Collection; and Coca-Cola items, to include early signs and a rare clock.

The three-day weekend event will break out as follows: Friday, Dec. 18, will be dedicated to dolls and toy soldiers; Saturday, Dec. 19, will feature a Christmas collection, an advertising collection and premiums, to include a rare Little Orphan Annie secret decoder ring. Sunday, Dec. 20, will have the pig memorabilia and circus items. The auction house may be serving pulled pork in honor of the theme.

Previews for most sales begin the Wednesday before the sale date, from noon to 5; Thursday and Friday from noon to 8 each day; and 8:30 a.m. on sale day. A 13 percent buyer’s premium will be added to each lot purchased through the gallery. All auctions will be held at #1 Neil Court in Oceanside, N.Y. Online bidding will be facilitated through Proxibid.com. Absentee and phone bids will also be accepted.

For more information about these auctions, call (516) 594-0731, e-mail to phil@prwauctions or visit the Philip Weiss Auctions Web site.

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Auctioneer Tim Chapulis with a guitar signed by the members of the rock group Jay & the Americans, just one of several pieces of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia items to go up for auction to benefit the Litchfield Firehouse.

LITCHFIELD, Conn. – Items gathered from private homes, family estates, important collections and even the contents of a safety deposit box will be auctioned off later this month to help pay for the finishing of the interior of the new addition to the Litchfield Firehouse.

The auction, to be held on Saturday, Nov. 21 at the firehouse, will be conducted by Tim’s, Inc., of nearby Bristol. The sale will feature sports cards, coins and stamps, rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, artwork, autographed items, collectibles and more.

“This will be no average fundraising auction,” said Tim Chapulis of Tim’s, Inc., himself a resident of Litchfield. “In many ways it will be a somewhat smaller version of our Cabin Fever Auction, held every spring at the Litchfield Firehouse.”

The two-story, 2,150-square-foot brick addition to the existing firehouse was started in April and completed at the end of August. It comprises a meeting room, two offices, a storage room, two rest rooms and a communications room that is 90 percent complete. But much is still needed to complete the job, and that’s where the auction comes in.

The money would go toward interior walls, heating and air conditioning, electricity and phone service, insulation, carpeting, furniture, artwork and other decorations and appointments that will make the current shell habitable.

“The work will take six months to complete,” said Litchfield’s Fire Chief James Koser, “We’d like to stud the walls and install the plumbing within three weeks of the auction.”

The first hour of the sale (from 5-6 p.m.) will be dedicated to sports cards, coins and stamp collections. The antiques and other items will follow, starting at 6 p.m. The contents of the safety deposit box includes dazzling estate jewelry, including a stunning 1-carat single stone lady’s diamond ring, appraised at more than $5,000, an antique gold men’s gold pocket watch in a hunter’s case, and estate gold and silver jewelry.

Also sure to get paddles wagging is an outstanding group of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia items.
Included in the group is a guitar signed by members of the rock group Jay and the Americans; a Martin Sigma folk guitar signed by Merle Haggard, Toby Keith, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, members of the group Trick Pony and others; sheet music signed by the late guitar legend Les Paul, with matching framed record; and a Les Paul-signed poster for his CD “Chasing the Sound” with an accompanying DVD.

Vintage cylinder music box (circa 1880s), with bells and butterflies and bees inlay, in rosewood case.

Other rock ‘n’ roll items include a photo signed by five of the six members of The Marshall Tucker Band; a red Mercedes-Benz edition bottle of Jim Beam whiskey, never opened and signed by Jay and the Americans; a Telecaster model guitar signed by Willie Nelson and Les Paul; and a 78 rpm record and photo of ’50s icons Bill Halley and the Comets, signed by Halley and members of the group. Also offered will be a pair of Charles A. Lindbergh autographs, both signed and dated 1972, when the famed aviator was nearing the end of his life.

A private collection of some 20 pieces of Hitchcock furniture (made in Connecticut; the company is no longer in business) will include a tall chest of drawers with cherry finish and stenciled design; a Harvest pattern bed; a Queen Anne lowboy; an entertainment cabinet for TV and stereo; and a table with four matching chairs in a nice stenciled decoration. “It can’t be overstated how beautiful Hitchcock furniture is,” Chapulis said.

Also sold will be a great collection of sports memorabilia, to include a photo and framed baseball card, signed by Mickey Mantle; multiple lots of baseball and sports cards; collectible baseball plates; and wall plaques, figurines and statues. The auction will also feature a Regina oak music box with 30 discs, in original finish, and another cylinder music box (circa 1880s) with bells and butterflies and bees inlay and other decorations, in a rosewood inlaid case.

Beautiful vintage clocks will cross the block, with offerings to include a Howard Miller signed on the dial 3-weight grandfather clock that plays music, an Atmos clock, an unusual wall-hanging gingerbread-style clock in a carved oak case, other antique wall clocks and more. Also auctioned will be Oriental carpets (some of them Persian, all high quality) and some gorgeous, clear Arts and Crafts period leaded glass windows with nice designs.

Turn-of-the-century silver spoons, along with a letter written by the sender (John P. Kennedy), will be among the items up for bid.

Bidders will also be treated to an unusual collection of early coin 800 silver flatware and spoons dating to the 18th century (around 250 pieces, much of it made in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts). One of the more unusual lots is a pair of turn-of-the-century silver spoons, sent via air mail from the noted writer John P. Kennedy to Mrs. Hugh L. Thompson of Waterbury, Conn., in 1959, along with an accompanying letter he penned to her. Coins will feature a collection of proof uncirculated U.S. American Eagle silver coins (1986 to near-present), Indian Head gold coins (1909 $5, a pair of 1913 $2-1/2; 1928 $2-1/2, 1910 $2-1/2, 1914 $2-1/2, 1929 $2-1/2), silver Mercury dimes, silver dollars, Walking Liberty half-dollars and Franklin half-dollars. Also sold will be two big stamp albums and a boxful of stamps from another collection.

From a prominent Litchfield home, the following items will be sold: a two-piece Queen Anne highboy, a two-piece secretary desk, early lighting (to include very nice Victorian-era banquet lamps, two of them signed Bradley & Hubbard, in original oil, with ball shades with flower decorations and champleve enameling), and a monumental oil portrait by the noted, listed artist (and one-time Litchfield resident) Roland Lee Anderson (1929-2002), imposing at more than 7 feet tall. Anderson maintained studios in New York City and Palm Beach, Fla. He studied at the Baltimore School of the Arts, where he trained under painters versed in the techniques of the Old Masters. He became famous as a painter of judge’s portraits. The portrait to be sold, executed in 1966 of an unknown subject, was reportedly used as a prop in a movie, but which one? Perhaps someone reading this can solve the riddle. Another artwork that should wow the crowd is a variant print of an 1854 folk art piece titled “Tree of Life,” measuring 31 inches by 24 inches in a nice oak frame. The work was originally executed by the renowned Shakers of Pennsylvania.

Collection of proof uncirculated U.S. American Eagle silver coins (1986 to near-present).

Rounding out the list of top lots: a collection of early black and white photos, some depicting Thomaston and Plymouth, Conn., and some featuring GAR (Grand Army Republic) soldiers; a Stanton Hall pattern Meeks lady’s chair, laminated in rosewood (circa 1860s); a 1950s-era red Coca-Cola vintage cooler; and a leather-bound copy of Herman Melville’s classic book, “Moby Dick” (Random House, 1930), desirable to collectors because it was illustrated by Rockwell Kent. A preview will be held two hours before auction, from 3-5 p.m., when all lots may be viewed. At press time, Tim’s, Inc., was still seeking goods, services and donations from local merchants to make the auction a success.

All sales will be subject to an 18 percent buyer’s premium. Terms are cash, known checks, Visa, Master Card and Discover cards. Admittance to the auction and preview will be a donation of $5 per person, which will go to benefit the Litchfield Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department building is located at 258 West Street (Route 202) in Litchfield, located not far from the Litchfield town green and next to CVS Pharmacy.

For more information about this auction, visit the Tim’s, Inc. Web site, call (800) 255-8467 or e-mail to tims.inc@snet.net.

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This rare Edgefield District “Dave the Slave” 5-gallon jar in ovoid form, dated 1857, is expected to bring in an estimated $20,000-$30,000 at a Fine & Decorative Arts Cataloged Auction scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, hosted by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. – Nearly 750 lots—including Classical American period art and furniture, Continental furniture; American portraits and traditional American art, Southern pottery and vintage lamps and art glass—will be sold at a Fine & Decorative Arts Cataloged Auction scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.

Most of the inventory in the auction is fresh to the market items from prominent local estates. Other categories to be found in this auction include Americana, vintage musical instruments, first-edition books, more than 70 lots of Asian art, and gold and silver coins.

A special lecture will be presented by June Lucas, the director of research at Old Salem Museums and Gardens in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Dec. 4, the day before the auction. Lucas’ talk will be titled “Wood as Canvas: the Paint-Decorated Furniture of Piedmont, N.C.,” and will center on the late 18th- and 19th-century furniture makers in the piedmont region of North Carolina and their use of paint decoration.

The auction will be preceded by previews, on Saturday, Nov. 28 (from 10-3); Thursday, Dec. 3 (from 10-6); and Friday, Dec. 4 (from 10-6). An evening reception will be held Thursday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. Bidding may be done in-house, over the phone, through absentee bidding or via the Internet at LiveAuctioneers.com.

Southern pottery pieces will include an extremely rare Edgefield District “Dave the Slave” 5-gallon ovoid form jug, with applied ear handles and an even medium brown alkaline glaze, with wide mouth and rolled rim, inscribed and dated (1857); and a Jugtown (North Carolina) Chinese blue “Tang” vase, Oriental translation form, with applied extruded handles and strong deep wine all over the glaze.

This Chippendale step-back cupboard (circa 1800-1820), from western North Carolina, is estimated to realize between $10,000 and $15,000.

Furniture will abound at the sale. Examples of period American furniture include a Southern Chippendale walnut stepback cupboard (circa 1800-1820), made in western North Carolina; a walnut early 19th century Southern chest on frame (Rowan County, N.C.); an early 19th century mahogany New York Federal tilt-top candlestand; and a circa 1800 fine Southern mahogany Hepplewhite inlaid cellaret.

Classical American furniture will feature a nice diminutive pier table (circa 1830), mahogany and mahogany veneers, with a marble top, Corinthian columns and mirrored base on carved paw feet; a carved sofa (Philadelphia or New York), dated on the back in chalk (1827), mahogany over white pine; and a recamier in the Baltimore manner (circa early 19th century), mahogany and mahogany veneers.

Not to be outdone by their American counterparts, the Continental furniture pieces will include a Renaissance Revival dressing table (circa 1860), fruitwood and wood veneers with light and dark inlay; a Belle Epoque French escritoire, Louis XV style, mahogany with ormolu mounts; and a lovely Irish late 19th century Chippendale-style triple-back settee, mahogany, with a shaped crest in a carved eagle motif.

This still life oil on canvas by Paul Lacroix (NJ/NY, 1827-1869), signed lower left may bring as much as $25,000 in auction on Dec. 5, 2009.

Traditional American art will include a still life oil on canvas of fruit by Paul Lacroix (NJ/NY, 1827-1869), signed lower left and housed in the original gilt wood frame; and an oil on canvas rendering titled “Moonlit Snow,” by Aldro T. Hibbard (MA/VT, 1886-1972), framed and signed. A nice selection of” European art will feature an oil-on-canvas work by Patrick Hennessey (Irish, 1915-1980), titled Summer.”

Antique American portraits will also cross the block. Some stars of the category include a framed oil on canvas of William Bicker Walter (1796-1822) by Sarah Peale (MI/PA, 1800-1885); a miniature, possibly ivory, of Robert Brooke (1770-1821) attributed to Thomas Cummings (NY/CT, 1804-1885); and a pair of watercolor on paper portraits by the renowned New England artist James S. Ellsworth (1802-1873).

A Tiffany Studios bronze and favrile glass lamp, four-arm electrified candelabra form, should gavel down for between $5,000 and $8,000.

Paddles will be wagging when vintage lamps and art glass come up for bid. Star lots will include a Tiffany Studios bronze and Favrile glass lamp in a four-arm electrified candelabra form on a bronze base, with five shades; a similar lamp, but featuring a lobed base with harp support and pivoting socket; and a Daum Nancy art glass tall vase in an organic shape, with red and yellow mottled glass and matte finish.

Examples of Americana are sure to wow the crowd. A few include a large carved American eagle (New England, late 19th century), white pine with a dark red-brown tone; a 19th century Virginia leather key basket, oblong form, hand-stitched brown tinted leather; a rare Joseph Farr Bass surveyor’s compass (N.Y.); and a Northampton County, Pa., needlework sampler (Oct. 7, 1832) by Susanna Lerch.

Bronzes and statuary will include pugilists in pose by Eberhard Encke (German, 1881-1936); four putti in drunken revelry by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (Fr.); a bronze titled Bear by Anna Hyatt Huntington (1876-1973); a 19th-century marble statue of a girl and dog by J. Roulleau; a pair of gilt bronze dancers by Agathon Leonard (Fr., 1841-1923); and a bronze greyhound dog by Eli Harvey (American, 1860-1957).

Gilt bronze dancer by Agathon Leonard (Fr., 1841-1923). inscribed by the artist, is estimated to bring in $15,000 to $25,000.

Sterling silver will feature an important Southern coin footed silver cup by Leinbach with an applied handle, a beaded border to the foot and mouth and a body with an elaborately hand-engraved landscape scene; a 125-piece “King” pattern Dominick & Haff sterling flatware and “Kings III” Reed & Barton, retailed by J.E. Caldwell & Co.; and an important American coin silver beaker owned by William Walker, rector of Trinity Church and Christ Church in Boston prior to and after the Revolutionary War.

Estate jewelry and watches will abound. Just a few examples include a 14kt white gold diamond brooch (circa 1955), in floral spray design with a 1.65ct. prong-set Old European cut diamond with 4 smaller brilliant cut diamonds; a stunning 14kt opal and diamond cocktail ring centering on an oval cabochon white opal with strong color; and a 14kt gold gentleman’s diamond ring with 3 diamonds.

Rounding out the top lots will be vintage musical instruments (to include a 1915 Gibson F-4 mandolin, serial #24534), with red sunburst spruce top and oval sound hole; vintage books (to include a true first-edition copy of Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” published by J.B. Lippincott Co. in 1960); and around 45 lots of antique gold and silver coins, most of them late 19th and early 20th century.

For more information about this auction, call (919) 644-1243; or, e-mail to info@LLAuctions.com of visit the Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Web site.

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This is the restored Robert Scott Duncanson landscape with the original colors intact. It is valued at $300,000.

CINCINNATI – The dingy dirty canvas showed up at Doug Eisele’s Old World Restorations in Cincinnati in March 2009. The owner of the painting, a dentist from London, KY, had rescued the work from an obscure corner in ClaireBourne Antiques in Lexington by paying $900. It looked like it might need to be cleaned up a bit so he took it to Old World based on its excellent reputation.

When Eisele saw the painting he remarked, “That’s a nice painting” which turned out to be an understatement of some magnitude. He thought the work looked vaguely familiar but he couldn’t see a signature. As the cleaning progressed the letters “…son” emerged from the right corner and Eisele knew he was looking at a previously unknown work by former Cincinnati artist and resident Robert Scott Duncanson (African-American/Canadian 1821-1872). He immediately called the owner suggesting he insure the painting for at least $100,000 but now he believes it would actually sell in the $300,000 range.

This is how the Duncanson landscape looked before the work by Old World Restorations was completed.

Eisele was familiar with Duncanson’s work having seen his eight mural works on exhibit at the Taft Museum in Cincinnati, formerly known as the Belmont, the home of Nicholas Longworth who commissioned the works in 1851. He also had previously restored several Duncanson works.

Duncanson was born in Fayette, NY, the son a Scottish Canadian father and an African American mother, making him a “free born person of color.” He was raised in Canada by his father to avoid racial conflicts, returning to the United States in 1841. He became a self-taught artist by copying prints and painting portraits. Seeking more commissions he set up a studio in Detroit in 1845 but returned to Cincinnati in 1846 and focused on landscapes of the Ohio River Valley, inspired by works of the Hudson River School. By the early 1850s he was a recognized landscape artist.

He became associated with the abolitionist movement in 1848 through a commission by Charles Avery, an abolitionist Methodist minister, which established him within a network of abolitionist patrons for the rest of his life. He is considered to be the first African-American to make a living selling art.

Duncanson was noted for painting partly from real life and partly from imagination. Eisele thinks this is the case with the current work, as he believes the painting is a combination of the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the Hudson River School style and an unidentified European landscape.

But before he could make that judgment, though, Eisele had to see enough of the painting to identify it, and that took the restorative skills at Old World. The first task was to remove the layers of smoke, soot, dust and dirt that had accumulated on the surface over the last 140 years. Then the original over layer of yellowed damar varnish needed to be removed. As that process evolved, the green sky began to turn back to blue, but it also revealed that significant over painting had been done at some point during a previous restoration. When the over painting was removed, using all reversible procedures, the sky returned to its original hue. Old World’s inch-by-inch restoration took nearly eight weeks to complete, but the result was worth the wait.

The owner of the restored Duncanson has placed the work on long-term loan to the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, KY where the chief curator, Ruth Cloudman said, “It’s a fantastical landscape. When the opportunity came up to have one of his paintings on extended loan we knew that would be very exciting.”

For more information about this painting or restoration in general, call Old World Restorations at 513-271-5479, e-mail deisele@oldworldrestoration.com, or visit the Old World Restorations Web site.

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“Glasgow & Cutter Scout,” one of two original marine oil paintings by Thomas Buttersworth (Br., 1768-1842), sold for a combined $33,925 at auction on Oct. 21, 2009.

WAYNE, Pa. – A pair of gorgeous marine oil paintings by the noted British artist Thomas Buttersworth (1768-1842) sold for a combined $33,925 at a multi-estate sale held Oct. 21 by Gordon S. Converse & Co. The paintings were the top achievers in a two-session sale that featured around 275 lots of fine art, period American furniture, ceramic objects, decorative accessories, vintage clocks and more.

The Buttersworth oils included “Glasgow & Cutter Scout,” the top-earner at $19,550, and “Glasgow & Albion,” which finished at $14,375. Glasgow refers to the H.M. Frigate Glasgow, a 50-gun warship. The Albion was a 74-gun ship. Both paintings were executed circa 1826-27 and were housed in later gilt wood frames. Each possessed identical measurements of 19 inches by 23 ¼ inches in the frame.

“It seems to me that the added value to these otherwise attractive paintings by this popular marine artist is that they are a pair, having survived together since the original execution,” said Gordon S. Converse, adding the paintings were both purchased by the same bidder.

The auction was held at the Italian-American Club in Wayne, a suburb of Philadelphia located about a half-hour west of the city, at 301 West Wayne Ave. Around 100 bidders combined participated live, by phone and through absentee bids. In addition, approximately 200 people registered to bid online, via LiveAuctioneers.com. Session one was a Discovery Auction, while session two was a Gallery Sale.

“We had a lot of real, genuine antiques in this auction,” Converse said, “so I was pleased with the quality of the merchandise. As for prices, I was a little disappointed in the furniture, but the good items held up well because quality is what people crave. The same was true for fine art. Signed artwork of beauty will bring top dollar, but not so much mediocre pieces. That has been a mantra this past year.”

Converse said ceramics held their own without breaking any records, but damaged pieces didn’t sell well at all. “As soon as they see that nick or chip, the paddles come down,” he commented. “That’s sad, because some of those pieces are highly collectible and would fetch much more in better condition,” he added. “Overall, considering this was only our fourth auction, I’d say we did quite well.”

Following are additional highlights from the sale (all prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium):

This well-crafted early 19th century American mahogany dresser with lyre carved supported mirror brought $1,840.

• Tops in the furniture category was a well-crafted early 19th century mahogany American dresser or vanity with a drawer commode and lyre-form carved supported cheval mirror ($1,840). Also, an 18th century English (or Irish) walnut dish-top Georgian walnut veneer tea table brought $1,380; and a nice Chippendale-style solid mahogany, closed bonnet highboy, 84 inches tall by 40 inches wide, hit $1,150.

• Staying with furniture, a high chest of drawers stamped with the maker (Leopold Stickley of New York) and with a Chippendale-style casement realized $748, while a grand gaming table in three tiers, with the top opening to reveal either a felt-covered card table or a roulette surface, rose to $748. Also, a Winchester repeating rifle (“the rifle that won the West”), model 1873, hit a bull’s eye for $920.

• An interesting and rare 18th century silk marriage pillow, dated 1722 and with tassels at each corner and the initials of the soon-to-be-betrothed (“EH” and “HJ”), and decorated with tulip flowers and hearts, garnered $1,725. Also, a 20th century Charles Lotton etch-signed art glass vase, 10 inches tall, made $1,035; and a fine white Federal American mantel, 58 inches by 67 ½ inches, brought $1,035.

• Returning to fine art, a framed and matted 19th century engraving after Benjamin West’s William Penn’s Treaty with the Indians, one of the more fanciful images in Philadelphia history, went for $1,150. Also, a Victorian-era antique oil portrait of a happy cavalier at a tavern merrily drinking wine breezed to $900, which seemed to be a great value, since the elaborate gilt frame was about perfect and the image strong by a listed artist, while portraits of colonial figures Aaron Foster and Hannah Brown Foster sold for $805 and $748, respectively.

This beautiful Charles Lotton etched signed art glass vase, measuring 10 inches tall, signed and dated 2003, sold for $1,035.

• An antique oil painting on tin, measuring 7 ½ inches by 5 ½ inches and titled on the frame, Self Portrait Thomas Scully 1783-1872, painted by Scully at age 80 and framed later, demanded $805; a pointillist painting of sailboats at a dock by George W.K. Newbold (Am., 1879-1948) realized $633; and a set of four scenes of Italy, each signed Ellore Gianni and measuring 6 by 9 inches, commanded $633.

• In ceramics, a pair of nicely decorated yellow and blue glazed bowls soared to $2,645, and a celadon yellow glazed bowl, 7 inches in diameter and embossed with landscape suggestions, hit $891. Clocks seemed to sell at low levels, but a few also did well. A solid walnut Chippendale Pennsylvania tall case clock, 90 inches tall, chimed on time for $3,795, and a Federal American solid cherry grandfather clock (circa 1800-1830) made $2,300.

• Care to have a seat? A walnut Chippendale-style side chair in the manner of 18th century Philadelphia with carved ball and claw feet hammered for $690; a walnut American Chippendale-style carved stool with cabriole legs and ball and claw feet topped out at $690; and a solid mahogany Empire era upholstered arm chair with scroll-shaped armrests and mounted with brass ormolu mounts hit $633.

For more information about this auction, visit the Gordon S. Converse & Co. Web site, call (610) 722-9004, or e-mail to Gordon@ConverseClocks.com.

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This rare .44 caliber Henry rifle, purchased by the U.S. Government for use during the Civil War, sold for $48,300 at an sale held by Cottone Auctions in August.

GENESEO, N.Y. – A vintage E. Howard & Co. (Boston) Astronomical Observatory Regulator clock soared to $52,900 and a rare and antique Henry rifle purchased by the U.S. government for use during the Civil War hit a bull’s eye for $48,300 at a pair of sales held by Cottone Auctions at its facility here in Geneseo.

The events were dedicated to antique guns and historical books and featured the estate collection of John Wallace of Pavilion, N.Y. and fine clocks, including the collection of Joe Butta of Larchmont, N.Y.

“These were guy sales for the most part,” Sam Cottone of Cottone Auctions said with a chuckle. “Lots of guns and clocks—let’s say there weren’t many ladies in attendance either day.”

This vintage E. Howard & Co. (Boston) Astronomical Observatory Regulator clock sold for $52,900, toping the August event hosted by Cottone Auctions.

Nevertheless, both auctions enjoyed a brisk turnout—about 150-200 people per sale. Some 250 lots came up for bid at the guns and books auction, while a little more than 200 clocks changed hands. The online bidding component for both events was facilitated by Artfact.com, and Cottone said “quite a few” absentee and phone bids were recorded both days, adding “it was a good month.”

“I was happy with the results of the first auction. The market for antique guns has been good and remains quite strong. As for books, they were mainly European titles, and the market for those is also strong. There weren’t many American books in the sale,” Cottone said. “As for the second auction, I was pleased with that as well. Clock enthusiasts are very specialized. They look for specific things at a sale.”

The Howard clock and the Henry rifle were the top lots in their respective sales. The Howard boasted a cherry case with original rosewood finish, original signed and silvered engraved brass dial, brass engraved 8-day time-only pendulum and unusual 24-hour hand. The .44 caliber Henry featured a period cavalry leather scabbard and the official mark of government inspector Charles George Chapman.

Following are highlights from the Aug. 15, 2009 antique guns and historical books auction (all prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium):

• Another Henry rifle performed well, as an early first model (serial #1588) hit $32,200. The totally original and untouched .44 rimfire caliber firearm featured a nice uncleaned patina on the brass frame and butt plate. Also, a vintage box of 53 rounds of ammunition for Henry’s Repeating Rifles climbed to $7,590. The green box was intact and of the “Bold 4’s” type, with a raised “H” in a circle headstamp.

This five-volume atlas of the world, by Jacques Nicolas Bellin (Paris, 1764), with 575 maps, sold for $17,250.

• A five-volume atlas of the world, by Jacques Nicolas Bellin (Paris, 1764), titled <i>”Le Petit Atlas Maritime: Receuil de Cartes et plans des Quatre Parties du Monde,”</i> with 575 copper-engraved maps, went for $17,250. Also, a book titled “Texas in 1840, or, The Emigrant’s Guide to the New Republic” (New York, W.W. Allen, 1840), with a hand-colored litho of Austin on the frontpiece, brought $4,140.

• Most of the day’s top lots were dominated by Winchester, a name familiar to and coveted by collectors. A Model 1866 (second model) .44 rimfire caliber rifle with 24-inch barrel (serial #20478) fetched $24,150; a Model 1886 .50 caliber (express) rifle with 26-inch barrel (serial #102658) garnered $21,160; and a Model 1886 .45/70 caliber saddle ring carbine rifle (serial #38881) commanded $10.062.

• Other Winchesters included a Model 1886 .45/70 caliber rifle (serial #102958), with 26-inch round barrel ($10,235); a Model 1885 .44/40 caliber saddle ring carbine rifle (serial #75759), with standard 15-inch barrel ($8,280); a Model 1886 .33 caliber rifle (serial #155352), with 24-inch takedown barrel ($6,325); and a Model 1886 .45/90 caliber rifle (serial #32882) with 26-inch barrel ($8,510).

• Rounding out the Winchesters, two rifles breezed to identical sale prices of $6,326. One was a Model 1873 (third model), .44 caliber (serial #139830), with 28-inch special-order barrel. The other was a Model 1876 (second model), .45/60 caliber, with a standard 28-inch barrel. Also, a Model 1873 (third model) .44/40 caliber rifle (serial #153295) rose to $4,888, while a Model 1876 “50 Express” hit $4,600.

Following are highlights from the Aug. 29, 2009 fine clocks auction (all prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium):

This Juvet table-top clock with 11-inch globe and gilt bronze 3-dolphin base, mounted on marble, sold for $24,150.

• A rare Juvet table-top clock with 11-inch globe, gilt bronze three-dolphin base, mounted on marble, 34 inches tall, with painted Roman numerals, sold for $24,150; an unusual and scarce figural magician oil night timepiece with original polychrome, patina and gilt decoration rose to $5,405; and a Sawin & Dyer of Boston lyre clock with carved mahogany case in a fine old finish topped out at $4,600.

• A fine Joakim Hill (Flemington, N.J.) tall case clock in a fine inlaid mahogany case with fluted ¼-columns and a nice old patina realized $18,975; a very rare Laporte Hubbell solar globe shelf clock in a carved walnut case in the Gothic style, one of only a few examples known, wowed the crowd for $10,350; and a Joakim Hill tall case clock with original signed and painted iron dial achieved $9,200.

• A beautiful Seth Thomas #14 floor regulator with a carved and burl walnut case in the original finish, two side finials and wood bezel around the dial earned $16,905; a fine and rare Simon Willard & Son banjo clock in a mahogany case with stenciled front in original finish and stenciling commanded $14,950; and a J.C. Brown acorn shelf clock with laminated rosewood and mahogany case hit $9,200.

• Rounding out the top lots: an 18th century Italian bracket clock in an ebonized case with brass finials brought $4,140; a Howard & Davis (Boston) #1 banjo clock in a cherry case with nice old patina hammered for $4,830; a Sawin & Dyer (Boston) lyre clock in a carved mahogany case with old finish and good color went for $4,600; and an Asa Munger (Auburn, N.Y.) Empire shelf clock brought $4,140.

For more information about these two auctions, call (585) 243-3100, e-mail to scottone@rochester.rr.com or visit the Cottone Auctions Web site.

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From Reuters:
Activity, prices bounce back at Sotheby’s auction

First Warren Buffett signals the economy is coming back by buying Burlington Northern. Then a Sotheby’s Impressionism and modern-art auction brought in $180 million, 10 percent above estimate. Could happy days be here again?

From The Dallas Morning News:
Jack Ruby’s hat commands $53,775 at Kennedy assassination item auction

It was an image that is hard to forget. Alleged JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald was being spirited out of the Dallas city jail when nightclub operator Jack Ruby shot him—on live TV. The fedora Ruby wore was recently auctioned for more than $50,000.

From The Associated Press via The Denver Post:
Saint Laurent’s everyday objects to be auctioned

Even if you’re an acclaimed designer with an incredible art collection, you have to eat and sit on something. So it was with Yves Saint Laurent. Of course, he ate off 18th-century porcelain and reclined on gilded armchairs that Queen Hortense of Holland had made in 1812, but don’t we all? Saint Laurent’s personal items are set to hit the block next week.

From The Associated Press via the San Francisco Chronicle:
Madoff collectibles being sold to aid victims

Speaking of personal items, wouldn’t you just love to have a satin New York Mets jacket once worn by Bernie Madoff? It even has the king of the Ponzi schemes name on it. Or what about a “vintage Rolex O.P. ‘Monoblocco’ chronograph,” which is sometimes referred to as the “Prisoner Watch”? Or a wallet with the initials “BLM”? These choice items, among others, are being auctioned with the proceeds going to the victims of Madoff’s massive fraud.

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Steve and Judy Allman, owners of Allman Productions LLC, have announced that they have acquired all of the shows previously managed by Yvonne and Jim Tucker of Antiques Shows of Florida.

NAPLES, Fla. – Judy and Steve Allman, owners of Allman Productions LLC, have announced that they have acquired all of the shows previously managed by Yvonne and Jim Tucker of Antiques Shows of Florida, allowing them to extended their seasonal Florida base in conjunction with their newly organized Old Naples Antiques Show, set to premier in Naples on January 30, 2010.

The Allmans have been in the antiques show promotion and management business more than 30 years, having acquired the Holliston (Ma.) Antiques Show in 1978. They currently operate the Syracuse Thanksgiving Antiques how in Syracuse, NY (to be held on Nov. 28-29, 2009), the Holliston show in Holliston, Ma. (scheduled for Feb. 20-21, 2010), the Greater Syracuse Antiques Expo (March 13-14, 2010), the Round Lake Antiques Festival in Round Lake Village, NY (June 26-27, 2010) and the Great American Antiquefest in Long Branch Park, of Onondaga Lake Parks, just west of Syracuse (July 23-25, 2010).

The Allmans, residents of Naples for nine years, have offices in Florida and New York and decided to add their hometown to their itinerary in 2010 by organizing the Old Naples Antique Show for January 30-31, one week after the Miami Beach Antique Show. The Allmans plan to make the show as convenient and pleasurable as possible for 50 or more dealers of quality antiques. Discounted lodging will be available in close proximity to the show for participating exhibitors and visiting show guests. The immediate show area abounds with world class restaurants and shopping making a trip to Naples a double pleasure.

The Old Naples Antique Show will be held in the brand new beautiful Jubilee Center of St Ann’s School, 542 8th Ave. South, steps away from the classic shopping areas in the heart of Old Naples. The previously scheduled Antique Shows of Florida, also set for Jan. 30-31 in Naples, will be combined with the new Old Naples Antique Show on the same date.

“The Florida market reminds me of when we started in the business—smaller shows with less pressure but with strong attendance and good dealer participation,” said Steve Allman. The Allmans say they have always maintained a very low key, dealer friendly approach to shows and they are sure they will fit well with the pattern established by the Tuckers. Allman says they have a successful track record because they value the dealers and have proven dates and locations reinforced with advertising. Allman says many of their northern dealers are already signed up for some of the Florida shows, especially those from New York.

The previous schedule of shows set up by Antique Shows of Florida will remain unchanged for the 2010 season under Allman Promotions. The other Florida antique shows will be held at Crystal River (Jan. 9-10 and March 20-21), Venice (Jan. 16-17 and Feb. 20-21), Punta Gorda (Jan. 23-24 and March 13-14), Inverness (Feb. 13-14) and Tampa (Feb. 27-28), in addition to the Old Naples Show on Jan. 30-31.

For more information contact Allman Promotions at (315) 686-5789, e-mail allman@gisco.net or visit their Web site for complete schedule and venue details.

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This Tiffany Studios 20-inch Dragonfly table lamp with excellent 6-dragonfly shade is estimated to bring between $75,000 and $100,000 at a massive three-session auction on Nov. 21 hosted by Fontaine's Auction Gallery.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Antique lighting by Tiffany, Handel, Duffner & Kimberly, Pairpoint and others will highlight a massive three-session cataloged auction boasting nearly 525 lots to be held on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009.

The auction will also include many sought-after vintage clocks and watches, pieces of Arts & Crafts furniture and accessories, bronzes, coins, paintings, porcelains and more. The sale is being facilitated by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery.

A Duffner & Kimberly modern floral table lamp (est. $50,000-$75,000) and a Tiffany Studios Dragonfly table lamp (est. $75,000-$100,000) are the prizes of the show.

“Originally, this auction was envisioned as three separate sales, but in the end we decided to just combine them into one huge event, held on one day,” said John Fontaine of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. “For that reason alone we expect a healthy turnout.” Online bidding will be facilitated via Artfact.com and the Fontaine’s Web site. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

Session I will kick things off with vintage clocks and watches, a category for which Fontaine’s has become renowned in the industry, thanks to semi-annual sales that have featured blockbusting top lots. Among the expected top lots include an E. Howard & Co. #60 astronomical hanging regulator (est. $75,000-$125,000) and a Howard & Davis astronomical regulator (est. $75,000-$125,000). Several fine examples of the E. Howard #61 astronomical floor standing regulator clocks were sold by Fontaine’s within a year, hitting prices of $195,500, $189,750, and $161,000.

This Duffner & Kimberly 22-inch #508 modern floral table lamp with a rare leaded shade is expected to bring between $50,000 and $75,000.

The name Howard will be very much in evidence at the Nov. 21 sale, with the aforementioned clocks figuring to dominate the session. The E. Howard & Co. #60 astronomical hanging regulator has a fantastic walnut case with burled trim and quality carvings and is in great condition. The Howard & Davis astronomical regulator has a signed 16-inch silvered dial and a massive quality brass movement.

Other clocks expected to do well include a large bronze French industrial automated locomotive clock with gilt bronze trimmings (est. $20,000-$30,000); a French conical marble and bronze clock, in excellent condition (est. $15,000-$20,000); an Aaron Willard Massachusetts shelf clock (est. $12,000-$15,000); and a signed Herter Brothers mantle clock in a heavily carved case (est. $5,000-$7,000).

Yet another E. Howard & Co. clock will come under the gavel: a Figure 8 #8 wall clock with black pierce diamond hands and original signed 11-inch dial (est. $12,000-$15,000). Vintage watches will feature a Tiffany & Co. minute repeater pocket watch with split-second chronograph (est. $8,000-$10,000) and a Verge Fusee ¼ hour dumb repeater watch with encrusted pearls (est. $6,000-$8,000).

Session II will feature some 375 lots of furniture, lamps, accessories and coins, with anticipated top achievers including a an early Gustav Stickley #6 chalet plant stand (est. $15,000-$25,000), a set of six mahogany R.J. Horner figural carved dining room chairs with oversize frames and maidens on the sides (est. $18,000-$25,000); a monumental 9-piece figural oak dining room set attributed to R.J. Horner (est. $15,000-$25,000); and a carved floral inlaid Herter Brothers ebonized parlor cabinet (est. $15,000-$25,000).

And early Gustav No. 6 chalet plant stand, with deep brown finish and original paper label, could realize between $15,000 and $25,000 at auction on Nov. 21.

Other stars of the furniture category include a 7-piece laminated rosewood parlor set by J.H. Belter in the Rosalie with Grapes pattern (est. $15,000-$25,000); an Egyptian Revival marble-top credenza (Allen Bros., Philadelphia, est. $15,000-$20,000); a carved 4-door walnut breakfront (est. $12,000-$15,000); and an oak game carved sideboard attributed to A. Roux (est. $10,000-$15,000).

The Tiffany Studios Dragonfly table lamp and Duffner & Kimberly table lamp will be the undisputed champs of the lamps category, but other lots to watch include a 12-inch Pairpoint Apple Tree reverse painted table lamp (est. $20,000-$30,000); a Tiffany Studios Apple Blossom table lamp (est. $18,000-$22,000); and a Handel reverse painted Daffodil table lamp (est. $12,000-$15,000).

Art glass will include an unusual conical form Galle leaf and bud cameo cut vase (est. $2,500-$3,500) and a bulbous form Mt. Washington Crown Milano goldfish vase with a trumpeted neck (est. $6,000-$8,000). Also sold will be a lovely original oil on canvas river valley scene by David Johnson (N.Y., 1827-1908), signed and dated (1866), relined and with visible touch-ups (est. $40,000-$60,000).

Rounding out the expected top lots of Session II: a huge walnut figural mantle with timepiece, heavily carved with large figural robed maidens (est. $20,000-$30,000); a nice Symphonion No. 192 mahogany music box with bells, playing 27-inch discs, in original finish and condition (est. $15,000-$25,000); and a Pierre-Francois Jumeau bisque head bebe doll, 19 inches tall (est. $4,000-$6,000).

Bridging Sessions II and III will be a number of gold coins, to include a pair of Walking Liberty $20 gold pieces (est. $2,000-$3,000). Session III will feature Arts & Crafts furniture, to include a Gustav Stickley #703 Ellis designed leaded 2-door bookcase with a long arched apron (est. $8,000-$12,000) and the aforementioned early Gustav No. 6 chalet plant stand with a deep brown finish and original paper label, lacking its original Grueby tile.

For more information, call Fontaine’s Auction Gallery at (413) 448-8922, e-mail to info@fontaineauction.com or visit the Fontaine’s Web site.

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