VCA has huge toy, coin-op auction May 30-June 2

LAS VEGAS – A collection of over 1,000 antique toys, including rare tin windups, Japanese race cars from the 1950s and ’60s, comic characters, robots, and other space-related items will be the main attraction of this spectacular four-day auction event on May 30 - June 2 held by Victorian Casino Antiques (VCA). LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

In addition to this unprecedented toy collection, the event will showcase a stunning collection of antique sewing accessories such as brass and ceramic figural measuring tapes, needle cases and pincushions. Among the diverse offerings over the four days will include over 150 figural cookie jars, including hard to find items such as Champ and Blinkies jars, and an impressive selection of antique slot machines, coin-operated machines, jukeboxes and advertising collectibles gathered from select collections from around the country available for sale.

“Because of the variety of categories we’re showcasing during this event, we expect all manner of bidder,” says Peter Sidlow, president of VCA. “From the new collector to the veteran, both online and in person, this is by far the single biggest auction event we’ve been involved with and will attract the largest number of buyers we’ve ever dealt with.”

Day one of the auction, May 30, will focus on some of the rarest cookie jars available nationally. Some noteworthy lots include the rare Champ jars, designed by Don Winton for DeForest. Others include a series of Blinkies, and prototype Popeye and Olive Oyl jars, distinguished by their thick-neck bottoms. According to VCA’s in-house cookie jar specialist, the prototypes stand out because the subsequent mass-produced jars featured slim necks, making these initial originals must-haves for any rare jar collector. Day one will also feature 250 lots of antique sewing accessories. Among the many standouts among these offerings, the detail of the brass needle cases attract immediate attention, as well as do a number of rare Asian pincushions and some excellent examples of complete old-time sewing kits. That these kits are in mint condition only add to the allure of their timeless craftsmanship.

“The uniqueness of the sewing items speaks to a specific section of the collecting community that recognizes what a significant opportunity we are offering,” says Sidlow.

Day two, on May 31, will be devoted exclusively to the toys. Featuring dozens of lots either “new in box” or “with box,” bidders will find cast-iron and battery-operated toys, aircraft, racecars, as well as celluloid figures. Space-related items, such as the Tom Corbett Space Cadet tin rocket are sure to spark a fond memory and are a notable addition to any toy collection. Japanese racecars, such as the Atom and Diamond racers, make up just some of the collection, as does a “smoking” Popeye toy. Dozens of Disney and Santa-related lots are also of interest. “This is by far the best, and certainly the biggest, toy auction we’ve ever presented,” says Sidlow. “We’re excited to have the first event of this kind centered around such an impressive collection in Las Vegas.”

Days three and four, on June 1 and 2, will highlight what VCA auction events have become synonymous with in the industry: an extensive and high-quality selection of rare coin-operated machines, trade stimulators and jukeboxes. During these days, buyers will have a chance to purchase rare coin operated machines like the Electric Defense Gun. For the slot machine collector, the addition of a Triplex Slot Machine to the auction is noteworthy. And more than one Climax 10 gum ball machines will attract the attention of knowledgeable collectors. As is common to VCA auction events, a number of valuable antique cash registers will be available for sale.

Auctions on all four days will begin at 9 a.m. PDT.

For more information or to learn about consignment, call Dan Sidlow at 702-382-2466, or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . To learn more about VCA and upcoming auctions, go to www.vcaauctions.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at LiveAuctioneers.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Design classics with Gatsby flair in Palm Beach Modern's May 25 auction

“Without Art Deco to serve as its inspiration, mid-century modern might never have happened. There is an evolution from Art Deco to Moderne to mid-century design that cannot be denied, and that’s the focus of our next auction,” said Rico Baca, auctioneer at Palm Beach Modern Auctions.

Three outstanding French Art Deco period pieces represent the “Gatsby era” in Palm Beach Modern’s sale. The first of these items is a fine and rare 1939 rosewood sideboard/dresser designed by Alfred Porteneuve (1896-1949) specifically for the SS Pasteur ocean liner. It features six drawers and a single center door that smartly conceals two shelves. It is expected to make $15,000-$20,000 at auction.

Art Deco elegance is expressed to perfection by a pair of important circa-1923 Jules Leleu (French, 1883-1961) chairs with matching cushioned ottomans of rosewood with ivory upholstery. The chairs are illustrated on Pages 28 and 29 of Viviane Jutheau’s reference Jules et Andre Leleu, as well as on Page 133 of The House of Leleu by Francoise Siriex. Effortlessly chic and of impeccable quality, the pair is estimated at $50,000-$70,000.

A substantial matched pair of Egyptian Revival candelabra reflects the frenzy for Egyptian design in the decade following the 1922 discovery of King Tut’s Tomb. The motif on each silvered-bronze candelabrum includes bas-relief pharaohs’ heads and mythological imagery on fluted columns. Made in France around 1930, the pair is entered in the sale with a $6,000-$8,000 estimate.

Art Deco or mid-century modern? One would be hard pressed to tell the difference in quite a few of the 1950s-1970s pieces featured in the May 25 sale. A convincing case could be made either way for Lot 71, a circa-1975 Jacques Duval-Brasseur dining table with a whimsical dragon-sculpture base, est. $30,000-$35,000; or Lot 81, a circa-1950 Andre Arbus (French, 1903-1969) bronze-mounted cabinet of ebonized wood with Greek-key motif, ex Christie’s London, est. $20,000-$30,000.

Another mid-century interpretation of the Art Deco taste is seen in Lot 143, a rare and important Gio Ponti (Italian, 1891-1979) walnut desk with asymmetrical cutout drawers and brass sabots. Ponti said of this desk: “…this is my masterpiece, it is a piece of furniture that is very simple but not formally inert.” It is illustrated on Pages 8 and 166 in Lisa Licitra Ponti’s 1953 reference Gio Ponti The Complete Work 1923-1978. Estimate: $50,000-$70,000.

A pair of timeless 1970s Karl Springer (American, 1931-1991) torchieres/floor lamps (Ref: Karl Springer Ltd. Catalog 1977-1994) was made from mixed metals with acrylic columns and artful inverted shades. The lamps will cross the auction block together with a presale estimate of $2,500-$3,500.

Many other premier designers add cachet to the auction lineup, like Paul Evans (American, 1931-1987), whose elusive set of 10 sleekly tufted camel-colored leather and wood dining chairs – two of them having arms – date to around 1970. The set would pair up nicely with nearly any type of glass or wood contemporary table and is expected to command an auction price of $20,000-$30,000.

Several designs by Charles and Ray Eames (American, 1907-1978 and 1912-1988, respectively) will be offered, including a Model 671 rosewood, leather and metal lounge chair and ottoman manufactured by Herman Miller. A classic of the mid-century modern design realm, the chair/ottoman could make $3,000-$4,000. Another innovative design concept is reflected in Lot 218, the pair of 1972 Warren Platner (American, 1919-2006) for Knoll International padded lounge chairs with desirable bronze wire-effect frames. Estimate $5,000-$7,000.

Murano glass vases, decanters, lamp bases, sconces and candlesticks of exceptional quality are entered in the decorative art section of the sale. Several designs are by Murano master Anzolo Fuga, including three monumental vases. One of them, Fuga’s “Murrine Incantante” gourd-form vase, is a 1950 production similar to an example in Rosa Barovier Mentasti’s book Anzolo Fuga: Murano Glass Artist, Works for A.V.E.M. It carries an estimate of $4,000-$6,000.

Art Deco or mid-century interiors would be equally suitable settings for any of three Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973) etchings to be auctioned. All three are of nudes and have 1938 dates (etched into plates). Each is estimated at $5,000-$7,000.

Palm Beach Modern’s “Tribute to Great Gatsby” auction of Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern Design will commence at 12 noon Eastern Time on Saturday, May 25, 2013. The exhibition center and auction venue is located at 417 Bunker Rd., West Palm Beach, FL 33405. Preview Mon.-Fri. May 20-24 from 10-5; and from 9 a.m. on auction day.

For additional information, call 561-586-5500, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Website: www.modernauctions.com.

View the fully illustrated auction catalog online and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at LiveAuctioneers.com.

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View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Kimball Sterling to auction Van Craig unique designer dolls May 26

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Kimball M Sterling Inc. will offer a fine collection of unique designer dolls by Van Craig in the May 26 Deakins Estate Auction, which will begin at 1 p.m. EDT, 10 a.m. Pacific. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

The collection of 10 dolls has been added to the auction that will disperse a local physician’s estate.

Designer, artist, sculptor and entrepreneur Van Craig is one of the best known in his field and the offerings are spectacular, said auctioneer Kimball Sterling. Craig created and designed for many companies including Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Marshall Field and Nordstrom.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Dreweatts & Baldwin's present June 5 Inaugural Military Sale

LONDON - Last year three major players in the UK fine art and collectibles industry (Apex, Baldwin’s and Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions) combined to create the UK’s newest "top 5" generalist auctioneer under the banner of Noble Investments (UK) PLC. This year will see Baldwin’s and Dreweatts holding their first joint auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria on June 5 at Dreweatts London, 24 Maddox Street. LiveAuctioneers will provide the Internet live-bidding services for the sale.

Noble Investments (UK) PLC Managing Director, Ian Goldbart, commented: "The collective efforts of, and expertise within Baldwin’s and Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions, will enable us to provide a much broader presence in this fascinating market sector. We are delighted to be holding this inaugural joint auction and look forward to offering our vendors and buyers an enlarged platform through which to buy and sell a much broader range of collectibles."

This first auction will contain 217 lots, including the highlight of the sale, lot 6, the superb and extremely rare WWII Pathfinder’s CGM & DFM "Group of 5" awarded to Warrant Officer S J H Andrew, No 35 Squadron, No 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Warrant Officer Solomon Joseph Harold Andrew was the veteran of a staggering 89 operational sorties and 315 hours of operational flying over France and Germany between November 1943 and April 1945. He was awarded the CGM and DFM for his role as an Air Gunner "of outstanding ability," and considered to have skill "second to none" in the Halifax and Lancaster bombers of No. 8 Group -- one of only 11 suchgallantry combinations awarded, comprising: Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying), G VI R (1715306 F/Sgt. S. J. H. Andrew. R.A.F.), Distinguished FlyingMedal, G VI R (1715306. F/Sgt. S. J. H. Andrew. R.A.F.), 1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star with copy "France and Germany" clasp, War Medal 1939-45; the first two officially engraved, the remainder unnamed as issued, group court-mounted on board, with reverse pin for wear. This is an extremely rare and desirable group and is estimated to sell for £12,000 – £15,000.

In addition, lot 37, a Herbert Morton Stoops (1888-1948) oil on canvas, titled Strange Meeting, Argonne 1918 is included in the sale. The picture portrays a British WWI soldier encountering a group of soldiers in a trench, only to discover they are skeletons. Previously exhibited at the King Street Galleries in 1991 as part of a third exhibition of Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture, presented by David Cohen Fine Art, this extraordinary painting is estimated at £2000 - £3000. The painting was used as the image on the cover of the exhibition catalogue as a representation of one of the most fertile periods in the history of British art. In the introduction to the catalog, Jenny Spencer-Smith (Head of the Department of Fine and Decorative Art – The National Army Museum, London) describes the painting as inspiring "disturbing emotions."

Also included in the sale are a number of fascinating items including, lot 37, a rare and emotive South Africa 1879 Casualty Medal, estimated at £10,000 – £12,000; lot 153, a pair of silver-mounted flintlock pistols for presentation to a potentate, estimated at £2,000 - £3,000; and lot 175, An 1878 pattern Home Service officer’s blue cloth helmet belonging to Henry Singleton Pennel VC Derbyshire & Sherwood Foresters (1874 - 1907), estimated at £1,200 – £1,500.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Material Culture celebrates folk art extravaganza May 26

PHILADELPHIA – Material Culture is celebrating the spirit, animation and theatricality of folk, self-taught and ethnographic arts in its May 26 auction, “Folk Out Loud.” Featuring over 300 lots, the sale will provide an exciting mix of art and artifacts from around the world, from paintings by important self-taught artists, to African tribal art, to American cigar store Indians. Objects at the auction nearly encompass the history of folk art, with pre-historic to 12th century to 21st century artifacts being presented for sale. The auction will begin promptly at 11 a.m. EDT, on Sunday, May 26. Liveauctioneers provides an online catalog and Internet live bidding at the time of the sale.

One of the highlights in self-taught art is a masterpiece by American artist Purvis Young (1943-2010). The large untitled piece known as Father of the Peoples, an assemblage with house paint on wood, dates to 1991, and is estimated to sell for $50,000 to $75,000. Measuring 52 inches by 100 inches, the painting centers on a haloed figure robed in shades of white and cream, arms stretching upwards. Expressive faces touched with hues of red, brown and white, some of them also haloed, appear around the frame. From the Overtown section of Miami, Fla., Young is famous for blending the African American experience in the south with his private study of the masters of art history in his paintings, collages and found media artwork. He began drawing as a teenager during a period spent in prison, and his move to painting was initially inspired by the mural movements of other large cities. His work, which shows the influence of Youngʼs private study of Rembrandt, El Greco, van Gogh, Gaugin and Picasso, attracted the attention of Bernard Davis, owner of the Miami Art Museum, and eventually the praise of collectors and institutions around the country. Today, his pieces appear in many museums, including the High Museum in Atlanta, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Corcoran Gallery of Arts in Washington, D.C., the American Folk Art Museum in Atlanta, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, amongst others.

The auction also showcases a number of other pieces by Purvis Young, including two early dated portraits (1973), which show, from the shoulders up, a haloed figure. In one, measuring 18.75 inches by 22 inches by 2 inches with the frame, the haloed figure is additionally distinguished by a beret. The other measures 19.5 inches by 21.5 inches by 2 inches, including its frame. Both are estimated to bring $8,000-$12,000. The third piece, a portrayal of five figures titled Chain gang, dates to 2000. This work of paint on found bonded industrial fabric measures 33.25 inches by 35.5 by 1.5 inches, and is estimated to sell for $1,000-$2,000.

Another highlight of the sale includes an important work by Sister Gertrude Morgan (1900-1980), titled New Jerusalem. A preacher, missionary, musician and poet who worked in New Orleans, Sister Gertrude is now known primarily for her folk art. Brightly colored and joyous, her paintings and drawings depict religious scenes, inspired by the Book of Revelations, illustrations of her sermons, or other conceptualizations of a Biblical idea. According to the American Museum of Folk Art, which holds some of her work, her vision of a New Jerusalem is her most important theme. This painting, measuring 22 inches by 14 inches, bears many of the hallmarks of Morganʼs representation of the New Jerusalem, including multi-storied houses, flowering trees and a sky arrayed with angels of many ethnicities. Sister Morgan frequently appeared within her own work, and the figure dressed in white standing in front of the building, just to the left of center, is likely a depiction of the artist. Around 1957, Sister Morgan received a revelation that she was to become the “bride of Christ,” and thereafter she dressed only in white. Her many revelations throughout her life included one in 1974 that instructed her to move away from painting and devote herself to poetry, and in later life she produced text-only pieces. Text is frequently an integral part of her work in the decades prior, however; this painting bears an inscription in the blue and white of the sky above the building, reading “that great ship is landing,” “paradise” and “get on board.” The piece is estimated to sell for $20,000-$30,000.

Other art at the auction includes a serigraph by American artist Shepard Fairey (born 1970). A portrait of Woody Guthrie, the serigraph is dated 2010 and in a signed and numbered edition of 450, estimated to sell for $500-700. Fairey is an influential street artist, most famous for his Barack Obama “Hope” poster of the 2008 election, and his “Obey” posters featuring the face of Andre the Giant. His work appears in the collections of the Smithsonian and the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, among others. A rare cameo glass vase designed by Louisiana artist George Rodrigue (born 1944) bears the artistʼs signature “Blue Dog,” a large-eared spaniel with yellow eyes. Produced by the Pilgrim Glass Co. in a limited edition—the underside is etched “XX/35”—the vase is estimated to sell for $7,000-10,000.

Sculpture at the auction includes a mixedmedia duck figure made by Leo Sewell (born 1945), an American found object artist. Sewell describes himself as a “junk sculptor,” creating representational sculpture using an assemblage of recycled materials, such as, in the case of this Duck Sculpture, scissors, belt buckles, and a toy car, among hundreds of other pieces. The sculpture is estimated to sell for $1,000-2,000.

Ethnographic art at the sale includes several pieces from the Bill Liske Collection of Antique Tibetan and Chinese Textiles and Artifacts, the harvest of three decades of Liskeʼs travel and work in the Himalayan region. Originally a mountaineer and guide, Liskeʼs natural eye for textiles was honed by textile dealers in the area. In 1998, he curated an exhibition of his work titled “From the Heart of a Continent: Carpets and Textiles of the Tibetan Realm,” in his home state of Colorado, at the History Museum in Denver. Pieces from his collection have also been shown at the Krimsa Gallery in San Francisco, the Shaver-Ramsey Gallery in Denver, and in Hali magazine. One of the most remarkable pieces from his collection to appear in this sale is a Buddhist manuscript cover dating to the 12th-13th centuries. Made of wood and bearing traces of paint, the cover features Amoghasiddhi, the last of the Five Wisdom Buddhas of the Vajrayana tradition of Buddhism, flanked by scrolling vines. The name “Amoghasiddhi” means “unfailing success,” and, as the Buddha of accomplishing wisdom, he is identified by the hand gesture symbolizing fearlessness. What is unique about this particular portrayal is the altered “fear not” hand position of Amoghassidhi, with the left hand, and not right hand, lifted, while the right hand is draped across the knees, not placed in the lap. This Tibetan piece is strikingly similar in size, style and composition to the Metropolitan Museum’s Budhhist Manuscript cover with Buddha Shakyamuni flanked by Manjushri and Vajrapani (accession # 1987.407.6), dated as early 12th century. It is estimated to sell for $3,000-$5,000.

A Tibetan thangka scroll painting, also depicting Amoghasiddhi, likely dates to the late 16th century, and shows the Buddha in the more commonly seen mudra, with the right hand in the “fear not” position. Backed by a field of miniature Buddhas with its original hand-loomed cotton and linen border, this 43 inch by 21 inch thangka is estimated to bring $1,500-$2,500. Leading Tibetan carpets at the sale is a temple rug or Khagangma meditation square dating to the 19th century. A red quadrant design marches across a blue-green field, with blue plied wool fringe. The rug is estimated to sell for $1,500-2,500.

Items from the Max Garb Collection of Ethnographic Arts, subject of its own auction at Material Culture on April 28, include an eccentric African power or fetish figure complete with real pelts, bones and skulls. Made by the Songye people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the figure measures 43 inches by 15 inches by 12 inches, and is estimated to bring $1,000-$2,000. African tribal art is well-represented at sale, with another outstanding collection of top-rate artifacts coming to auction from a Main Line Philadelphia estate. Of particular note is a fine helmet mask made by the Mende people of Sierra Leone. This dark, polished mask of carved wood likely dates to the early 20th century and is estimated to sell for $1,000-$2,000. Fine carving is particularly apparent below the faceʼs eyes and ornamenting the base of its crest. Another helmet mask, made by the Dogon people of Mali, employs a more raw state of its carved wood in giving the mask its character. Also dating to the early 20th century, this 16-inch by 8-inch by 8-inch mask is estimated to sell for $600-900. A wooden staff made by the Yoruba people, who predominantly live in Nigeria, represents the god Shango or Sango, known as the god of lightning, thunder and fire. Shangoʼs weapon is double-headed ax, seen at the top of the staff, and the figure below it may be a devotee of Shango struggling to maintain self-control, one possible purpose of religious rituals for the god. The staff was probably carved in the early 20th century, and, measuring 22 inches by 8 inches by 4 inches, is estimated to sell for $1,000-1,500. Other notable pieces from this collection include a wood figure carved by the Lobi people of Ghana, and, from the lower Sepik River area of New Guinea, a carved wood figure sporting cowrie shell eyes.

A significant portion of the sale consists of folk art from the United States and around the globe. Leading this category are two fine cigar store Indian statues. One is attributed to John L. Cromwell (1805-1873), who is credited as being one of the first carvers of these kinds of figures to arrive from England. Standing an impressive 87 inches tall, the statue dates to circa 1850 and shows the male figure with a hatchet raised in his right hand. Though these hand-carved statues were once frequent sights in front of 19th century cigar stores, original examples are now rare and highly collectible due to the resurgent popularity of cigars and related memorabilia. The John L. Cromwell cigar store statue is estimated to sell for $75,000-125,000. The second statue presents a variation on this form, with a cigar store Indian maiden by Thomas by Thomas V. Brooks (1826-1895), estimated to bring $50,000-80,000 at auction. Measuring 85 inches by 25 inches 25.5 inches, this brightly attired maiden holds up a set of cigars. Brooks was a student of John Cromwell; along with Samuel Anderson Robb and the Skillin family, Cromwell and Brooks are considered the most prominent cigar store Indian craftsmen of the 19th century. The folklore about cigar store Indians in the late 18th century suggests that they provided a visual marker, much like a barberʼs striped pole, for customers who were illiterate, or, in the following century, for the swelling population of immigrants that spoke different languages.

Another highlight of American folk art at the auction is a weather vane made by the Boston manufacturer Harris and Co., dating to circa 1890. A horse depicting the trotter Black Hawk made of copper with zinc ears, the weather vane has a patina of green verdigris on the surface, consistent with its age. It measures 25.5 inches by 19 inches by 1.5 inches and is valued at $3,000-5,000. Also from the George and Sue Viener collection are two face jugs by Lanier Meaders (1917-1998), both made of glazed ceramic. The face jugs at auction are each valued at $1,000-1,500.

The auction also features a panoply of folk and popular art surprises from roadsides around the world, including folk signage and hand-painted advertisements, found objects and African folk art coffins. A mid-century palmist sign made of painted wood, reading “Ora-Lee” at top, stands 96 inches high. Electrified and in full working condition, it is estimated to sell for $2,000-3,000. Another American sign advertises a “Snake Preview” of a carnival act involving “Hugh and Sue,” and is estimated to bring $400-600. An Arabic sign in the shape of a bottle-cap advertises Pepsi, likely to sell for $300-500. An African medical stand from a roadside, complete with its accoutrements, is estimated at a $400-800 value. Fantasy coffins from Ghana include those in the shape of a hammer and a beer bottle. Folk sculptures such as a mid-20th century painted wood carving of a hand holding aloft a Bible from West Africa demonstrate much of the spirit and originality of the assembly.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Cavalcade of stars in Solid Ground autograph auction May 19

LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

There are boots signed by Madonna (her size 8). There are a Michael Jackson signed fedora, belt and photo.

A postcard advertising pop singer Connie Francis is signed by both Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. All the above have letters of authenticity posted with the photos.

There are over 100 other items either signed or with actual signature cards from top Hollywood icons to famous authors and screenwriters—from Fellini and Beckett to Richard Burton and Liz Taylor.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Five collections unite in Mosby's June 8 Toy & Advert. Auction

“Collectors like a good mix. It heightens the curiosity factor and often leads to the discovery of great cross-over items,” said Mosby & Co.’s owner, Keith Spurgeon. “This is probably one of the most widely varied auctions we’ve produced to date. There are lots of toys and a tremendous selection of antique advertising, from early Coca-Cola to seven very desirable Stan Lee comic book signs made to display at Comic Con.”

The auction will open with country store and advertising, led by a fine collection of approximately 30 early Coca-Cola items. Among the Coke highlights are a beautiful 1903 serving tray, a 1901 calendar, and two rarities from the 1930s: a double-sided porcelain fountain service sign and a new/old stock embossed tin sign with in its original Coca-Cola shipping crate.

Two very rare promotional items issued by the Pure Oil Company (USA) date to the 1930s. “One is a figural radio shaped like an English cottage, which is what the Pure Oil gas stations looked like during that period. The other item is a figural cottage-shape birdhouse, wood with an enameled tin roof,” Spurgeon said.

Next up will be five Buddy Lee advertising dolls, which the manufacturer customized with advertising for the companies that commissioned them. The dolls are all original and complete. The rarest dolls in the group are the one advertising Coca-Cola and the doll dressed in Lee coveralls with a railroad conductor’s cap, made for Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Railroad.

Several European tin and porcelain signs are among the fascinating items in a steamship collection to be offered by Mosby & Co. Also included in the grouping are two circa-1900 reverse-on-glass promotional items for North German Lloyd steamship line – a thermometer and a barometer.

One of the finest signs in the sale is a colorful and profusely detailed tin sign advertising Thomas’ Inks and Mucilage. Its busy embossed image depicts a cat tipping over a jar of red ink. “These signs, for some reason, usually have extensive flaking, and most that I’ve seen were in very poor condition,” said Spurgeon. “This is the nicest one I’ve come across personally.”

A lineup of early gumball machines includes a number of book examples from Bill Enes’ respected reference titled “Silent Salesmen Too.” Among the rarities are a very nice Rex machine and a Digesto vendor. The same collection was the source for a Watling Twin Jackpot penny slot machine, which is entered in the sale, as well.

A wealth of desirable advertising smalls will be offered within the country store section of the sale. There are numerous peanut butter tins, cooking range-related items and several toys and other pieces pertaining to C.D. Kenny grocery store chain.

Toy buyers can bid to their hearts’ content in this auction, as the choices will be varied and plentiful. The headliner is a single-owner collection of 12 gas-powered tether or rail cars from California, including several types very seldom encountered at auction. The cars are from the acknowledged “golden age” of the 1930s-1950s, by manufacturers such as Dooling, McCoy, C&R and others. Some measure 17-20 inches long, and their estimates are generally in the $1,000-$4,000 range.

Several pressed steel automotive toys will be offered, as will a rare 1934 Buddy ‘L’ pressed-steel Golfer. Ex Dick Keats/Buddy ‘L’ Archive collection, it is the only known Golfer that retains its original box.

The toy parade continues with celluloid toys, scores of tin wind-ups including a mint-boxed Eberl Topsy Turvy Tom toy, and an appealing TootsieToy Speedway set. Additional toy highlights include a Converse private-label horse-drawn wagon produced for a dairy in the Charlottesville, Va., area; 5-6 rocking horses, and a Eureka Bugatti tourist model pedal car with fenders and opening door and trunk.

A mixed selection of bisque- and china-head dolls is joined by children’s crockery and ABC plates. Also featured in the nursery section are four lithographed-tin high chair trays, American and dating to the 1870s. Each tray is decorated with a charming scene typical of its period of production. One of the trays depicts elegantly gowned young girls dancing around a maypole. Another has a vibrant scene of children playing animatedly, with steamships and ocean liners on the water in the background.

“Within the scene, children are firing off a toy cannon and cap gun, and a boy has slipped firecrackers under a gentleman’s formal jacket as a prank. The artwork includes an American Flag and quite likely represents a holiday, perhaps the Fourth of July. This is an item that firecracker and holiday collectors might really like,” said Spurgeon.

The auction also includes part two of a ceramic bank collection, plus a few cast-iron mechanical banks. The top lot amongst the mechanicals is a superb short-sleeve version of the “Dinah” bank.

Pop culture fans will immediately appreciate the desirability of a set of seven different 5-by-3ft foam core signs made specifically to display at Comic Con 2010. The main sign, which includes Stan Lee’s face within the artwork, is flat, while the other six were created in relief. All promote “Stan Lee’s Super Seven” comic book, which never saw the light of day. “The comic book project was shelved because of a copyright issue. The idea may be revived at some point in time, but if it is, it will be released under the title ‘Mighty Seven’ and not ‘Super Seven,’” Spurgeon explained.

Mosby & Co.’s Saturday, June 8, 2013 Toy & Advertising auction will commence at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at the company’s gallery at 5714-A Industry Lane, Frederick, MD 21704. Preview hours are 4-7 p.m. on Friday, June 7; 8-10 a.m. on auction day, and by appointment during the week prior to the sale. Catered food service will be available.

For additional information on any item in the auction, call 240-629-8139 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Visit Mosby & Co. online at www.mosbyauctions.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Kedem sale May 21 rich in Jewish history, culture

JERUSALEM – Kedem Auction House Ltd. will conduct its auction no. 31—Jewish and Israeli History and Culture—on Tuesday, May 21, at 17:00 Israel time, 7 a.m. Pacific. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide the Internet live bidding.

This auction will include an impressive variety of important items and collections in the fields of Zionism and early Eretz Israel settlement, Israeli Art, Hebrew and Yiddish poetry and literature, Jewish culture, research and bibliography.

Highlights include an important collection of early illustrated Hebrew children's books; a unique archive of items belonging to the poet Leah Goldberg, including personal letters, drawings by her and a manuscript notebook of poems in her handwriting.

For more information email Kedem Auctions: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 972-77-5140223.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Antiquities Saleroom showcases Asian art in May 17 auction

BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. – Antiquities-Saleroom.com unveiled details of its May 17 absentee and online auction this week. Titled 'Asian Art Through the Ages, ' it is the fourth in a series of specialized auctions planned for 2013 and will be conducted through LiveAuctioneers.com.

The sale features two lifelong snuff bottle and netsuke collections from well-known collectors in San Francisco and Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 100 snuff bottles are featured, including many published examples, signed bottles from noted artists and some very unique and beautiful examples created from exotic stones. Also included are important and extremely detailed ivory and ox-bone netsuke from world-class artisans.

“Even if you do not specialize in Asian art, you can’t help but be taken by the beauty of the art of this enigmatic and complex region,” said Teresa Dodge, executive director and co-founder of Antiquities Saleroom.

With more than 415 lots, Asian Art through the Ages will appeal to a wide variety of tastes and interests, Dodge said. The auction begins with exquisite ancient Asian art pieces, created long before the immense and powerful Chinese dynasties took the world stage. The first 12 lots include Neolithic stone and pottery objects, dating back more than 4500 years. Each piece has been carefully curated by private collectors from across the United States and is a fine example of the period and form it represents.

The auction continues with an array of Chinese, Southeast Asian and Persian art created under dynastic rulers whose immense power impacted Asia and the world beyond. These pieces include a series of beautiful royal daggers and sabers bearing the maker’s mark of Asad-O-lah, a royal sword maker of 16th century Persia.

A group of incredible Chinese snuff bottles and Japanese netsuke from two prominent collectors will bring the auction into the modern era. These pieces are truly museum quality, and several of them have been featured in museum collections. The collectors have spent decades refining their collections and are now sharing them for the first time.

Antiquities Saleroom invites those who appreciate the art of ancient cultures to peruse the stellar offerings in the Friday, May 17 auction, which begins at 12 noon Eastern Time. Bids may be placed absentee prior to the sale or live on auction day through LiveAuctioneers.com.

For additional information about any item in the auction, please call Teresa Dodge directly at 720-502-5289 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Patek Philippe watch may top $250,000 at Heritage, May 21

NEW YORK – A pristine, rare and important Patek Philippe Ref. 5004P platinum wristwatch is expected to realize more than $250,000 on Tuesday, May 21, in New York as the centerpiece of Heritage Auctions’ 361-lot Watches and Fine Timepieces Signature® Auction, taking place at the company’s new expanded space at 445 Park Ave. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

“This is definitely an auction for Patek Philippe aficionados,” said Jim Wolf, director of watches and fine timepieces at Heritage. “They’ll have a tough time choosing between all the top examples in this impressive collection.”

Highlights from the famed watchmaker include a rare, important and never before offered Patek Philippe Ref. 1463 very fine 18K yellow gold men's chronograph, circa 1949 (estimate: $120,000-plus), a very fine and rare Patek Philippe Ref. 5146P-001 platinum annual calendar with moon phases and power reserve indication (estimate: $50,000-plus), an important Patek Philippe minute repeater with split seconds chronograph and register for Tiffany & Co., circa 1903 (estimate: $30,000-plus) and new, very fine Patek Philippe Single Sealed Ref. 5130R-001 rose gold World Time wristwatch (estimate: $27,500-plus).

Important pocket watches and marine chronometers from a superior estate collection will also be showcased, including an amazing Tiffany pocket watch attributed to Louis Audemars, circa 1873, expected to bring more than $40,000.

Further highlights include:

• E. Howard & Co. important and rare gold fancy dial multicolor box hinge hunters case made for Maj. Gen. A.S. Roberts, presented by the Texas Volunteer Guard 1895: estimate $28,000-plus.
• Rolex rare Ref. 6538 "James Bond" Big Crown Submariner, circa 1956: estimate $20,000-plus.
• Vacheron Constantin Ref. 42005 very fine white gold Malte Dual Time Régulateur: estimate $15,000-plus.
• Jules Jurgensen very fine gold minute repeater with patent bow setting, circa 1880s: Estimate $10,000-plus.

For more information about Heritage Auctions visit HA.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Gems in bloom at John Moran Auctioneers jewelry sale May 21

PASADENA, Calif. – John Moran Auctioneers’ May 2, HQ Jewelry Auction is set to impress, blooming with gorgeous jewels freshly gathered from estates and private collections. Diamonds, colored gemstones, pearls and more make up the 250 lots of antique, vintage and retro pieces, including Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco, and creations by top makers such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Tiffany, Vedura, Ippolita and Tacori.

LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding. Watches, luxury goods, costume jewelry and exquisite decorative items for the home complete the rich array, which will be presented in two sessions. Every price point is represented, though the level of quality is consistently high throughout the expertly vetted selection.

A pearl necklace by Harry Winston features an 18K gold and diamond centerpiece set with a spectacular Ceylon sapphire. The rectangular-cut stone measures an astonishing 24 carats. Sapphires of this size are a rarity, and this stone is further distinguished by its rich, velvety hue and its virtual lack of inclusions. The necklace is the sale’s top lot by value, carrying an estimate of $70,000-$90,000.

Moran’s is also delighted to present two wonderful pieces by Verdura: a whimsical camel brooch, the camel’s body set with a large baroque pearl and topped with a crown made from a yellow sapphire (estimate: $8,000-$10,000) and a lion’s paw-shell brooch / necklace (estimate: $10,000-$15,000). The latter is based on one of Verdura’s best-known designs, after the original made for Millicent Rogers in 1940, consisting of an actual shell set with lines diamonds to imitate sea foam. The present brooch includes sapphire cabochons whose deep blue color dramatically complements the orange of the shell. Duke Fulco de Verdura was one of the most important jewelry designers of the 20th century, responsible for many innovative looks that today, 35 years after his death, remain modern classics. His career was set in motion in 1925, when he met Coco Chanel at a party given by his good friends Cole and Linda Porter. After a few years working for Chanel, during which he firmly established himself as a favorite of society luminaries and celebrities and created several iconic designs, such as the Byzantine-inspired Maltese Cross cuffs that Chanel made a trademark element of her own look, Verdura settled in America, opening a shop in New York in 1939. Though he sold the business in 1973, five years before his death, his name remains synonymous with joyful exuberance and timeless glamour, his designs as sought-after as ever.

Several other items in the sale stand out for their distinctive designs or antique charm, among them:

– A sinuous Art Nouveau diamond and platinum pendant necklace (estimate: $2,000-$3,000);

– A late Edwardian platinum ring set with three cultured pearls ($1,500-$3,000);

– An adorable 18K gold tiger brooch, his eyes set with a sapphire, his collar set with a line of diamonds, one foot set with a larger diamond (estimate: $400-$600);

– An antique diamond and platinum lorgnette, circa 1900 (estimate: $4,000-$6,000);

– A simple but stunning jadeite cabochon and diamond ring (estimate: $8,000-$12,000).

Luxury items include crystal minaudiéres and other accessories by Judith Lieber, vintage Louis Vuitton trunks, and several classic Hermes silk scarves from the 1950s forward. A selection of exquisite small decorative items encompasses a Tiffany & Co Art Deco nephrite jade eight-day desk clock, and several antique Continental boxes, including German and French mechanical singing bird boxes, glass paperweights from Baccarat, Perthshire and Whitefriars and American makers Paul Stankard and Rick Ayotte, and a large collection of fanciful boxes, frames and fish figurines by Jay Strongwater.

This will be the second of Moran’s "HQ" sales, so-called because they are conducted at Moran’s headquarters in Altadena, rather than at the company’s usual larger venue, the Pasadena Convention Center. John Moran’s headquarters are located at 735 W. Woodbury Road, Altadena, CA 91001.

The sale is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, May 21. The catalog can be viewed by visiting www.JohnMoran.com.

Consignment inquiries are always welcome. Interested parties are encouraged to contact John Moran Auctioneers directly at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 626-793-1833.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Hampton Estate Auction presents spring jewelry sale May 19

The sale features notable lots of signed pieces from the great jewelry houses of Tiffany & Co., Buccellati, Cartier, Maubossin, Mikimoto, Oscar Heyman, Hammerman Bros., Chopard and prominent designers Seaman Schepps, David Webb, Elizabeth Locke, Henry Dunay, Faraone Mennella, Peruzzi, Baraka, Leo Pizzo, David Morris for Fred Leighton, Sauro and Erté.

Highlights of this auction include:

– Tiffany & Co. platinum 4.26-carat diamond engagement ring (lot 399), clarity VVS1, color I, with diamond baguettes totaling 0.65 carats. It comes with a Tiffany & Co. diamond certificate and the retail replacement valuation is $204,500.

– Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Moon Watch 5039 (lot 228), circa 2000, 18K yellow gold perpetual calendar, moon phases, astronomic, self-winding, water-resistant. Accompanied by a Patek Philippe box and papers.

– EGL Certified natural, nonheat treated sapphire and diamond ring (lot 148), 2.56 carat and has side diamonds that total 1.08 carats, color H-I, clarity VS2-SI2.

– Vintage Seaman Schepps 18K turquoise, sapphire and diamond brooch (lot 11), a beautifully sculpted floral piece with yellow sapphires that total approximately 0.95 carats, seven diamonds that total approximately 0.35 carats and pretty robin's-egg blue turquoise. It is marked “Seaman Schepps 16230 750” and measures 72mm x 56mm.

– David Webb 18K and platinum emerald, ruby, diamond earrings (Lot 398), with diamonds that total 1.05 carats, clarity VS, color G, cabochon rubies that total 4.22 carats, and cabochon emeralds that total 4.84 carats. The earrings measure 28mm x 19mm and the current retail is $17,900.

– Fabergé 14K gold and sapphire cigarette case from the Tony Curtis estate (Lot 74), marked with Fabergé hallmarks and the Russian goldmark for 14K. It is accented with a cabochon sapphire push-piece and comes with its original fitted box.

Hampton Estate Auction will also presents a diverse selection of Tiffany & Co. jewelry in this auction. Included are iconic Tiffany signature pieces—the zigzag, the “x,” the bean, the teardrop, the heart and arrow, the seagull bird and others.

Antique and estate jewelry lots represent all the major periods of distinctive jewelry design including Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, 1940s Retro, 1950s Cocktail Era and 20th century “modern” jewelry.

This auction will appeal to admirers of Art Deco filigree bracelets, period diamond and gemstone eternity band rings, and large single gemstone rings, including a 25.33-carat aquamarine and 24.90 kunzite. Collectors of Victorian mourning jewelry and Etruscan revival pieces will find many offerings as well.

Jewels of naturalism abound in this event with a flurry of vintage insect, bird, frog and flower jewelry. Of note is a Buccellati 18K gold and silver mother-of-pearl leaf brooch. (lot 110)

Objects of whimsy lots include a Vhernier 18K gold crystal diamond earrings shaped like balloons (Lot 142); a pair of 18K gold rabbit gemstone charms (lot 139); an 18K gold enamel jester (Lot 98); and a 14K gold turquoise sapphire and ruby porcupine pin (lot 156).

For fans of mixed metals and unusual combinations of metal with other materials there are Tiffany & Co.'s Peretti sterling silver wood coral bangles (lot 48), Buccellati's silver and rose gold engraved cufflinks (Lot 96), an onyx fly motif brooch (lot 90), a Japanese Shakudo antique gold bird motif brooch (lot 130), and Los Castillo's Mexican mixed metals sterling silver cufflinks (lot 283).

Silver jewelry lots include Robert Lee Morris' ultra-modern cuff bracelets and an array of Tiffany, Judith Ripka and David Yurman sterling silver pieces. For admirers of Native American and Mexican silver jewelry there will be bracelets, rings and necklaces with signed lots of Stephen Webster, Fransisco Gomez, Touchine and Los Castillo.

Many outstanding fine silver hollowware pieces will be featured. One exceptional piece is the Buccellati sterling silver tea set (lot 307), which includes a teapot, hot water pot, sugar bowl and creamer, which has folds that are reminiscent of luxurious linen.

A fine antique Russian silver enamel cigarette case (lot 338) made by the Grachev Brothers of St. Petersburg is noteworthy. It has exquisite cloisonne enamel work.

Watch lots in this sale present a variety of Rolex and better brands including Wakmann, Cartier, Breitling, Omega, Le Coultre Vacheron Constantin, Daniel Baumann, Bulgari, Baume Mercier, Raymond Weil, Elgin and Movado. For pocket watch enthusiasts there is a rare Patek Philippe pocket watch and a Tiffany pocketwatch.

Coin enthusiasts will find coins of all kinds, including an 1875 S Trade Dollar coin, proof sets like the 1994 Royal Hawaiian gold series, and commemorative coins in honor of U.S. states including Oregon, Alabama and Texas and such notables as Grant, Monroe and Daniel Boone.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Hampton Estate Auction is always seeking quality jewelry, diamonds, silver, watches and coins. To consign an item, call 877-355-9500.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Cowan’s hosts contemp. ceramics, 20th century design auctions May 17

LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

Masterworks from Peter Voulkos will hit the auction block in the ceramics portion of the sale. An untitled stoneware sculpture from 1957 is estimated at bring anywhere between $40,000-$60,000. Another vessel by Voulkos titled Stack-Bottle from 1975 is expected to sell for $40,000-$50,000, and a plate from 1980 has an estimate of $10,000-$14,000.

Other featured items include a pink and gray bottle vase by Lucie Rie, expected to sell for $20,000-$30,000, a stoneware work by Jun Kaneko titled Dango is estimated at $18,000-$25,000, and an untitled vessel by Hans Coper is expected to bring anywhere between $25,000-$35,000.

Photography from well-known artists such as Elliot Porter and Ansel Adams will be included in the sale. Two photographs by Elliot Porter from In Wilderness, estimated at $1,500-$2,000 will be hitting the auction block Friday. A photograph by renowned artist Ansel Adams, titled Alfred Stieglitz at the American Place, New York, is expected to bring $2,000-$3,000. Another photograph by Adams is titled EdwardWeston, Carmel Highlands, California, and is expected to sell for $2,000-$3,000.

Items by Roy Lichtenstein, a leading figure in the American Pop Art movement, will be selling in the May 17 auction. A silkscreen poster, titled Aspen Winter Jazz is expected to fetch $2,000-$3,000, a Turkey Shopping Bag by Lichtenstein is estimated at $2,000-$3,000, and a set of Paper Plates by the artist will hit the block with a low estimate of $500-$1,000

Sterling silver by Georg Jensen will be up for auction. A large hammered sterling silver Georg Jensen compote is estimated to sell for $4,000-$6,000, and a pair of Georg Jensen Sterling candlesticks are expected to sell anywhere between $3,000-$5,000.

For more information about the auction or to consign for future auctions, visit cowans.com or call Sam Cowan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call our offices at 513-871-1670.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

African-American art featured at Gray’s Auctioneers, May 15

LiveAucitoneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

Lawrence gained national acclaim as a painter while still a young man in his 20s when a portion of his work from the Migrations Series, a suite of paintings depicting the early 20th-century passage of African-Americans from the Deep South to the urban North, was featured in a 1941 issue of Fortune Magazine. His paintings illuminate the black and working class experience in the United States and he is recognized among the greats of African-American artists alongside Augusta Savage and Romare Bearden. The New York Times has called Lawrence "one of America's leading modern figurative painters" and "among the most impassioned visual chroniclers of the African-American experience.”

In addition to this spectacular painting by Lawrence, Gray’s auction also highlights a collection of rare early screenprints by another great Harlem artist, Roy DeCarava. While the art world recognizes DeCarava primarily for his work in photography, these early screenprints illustrate the artist’s development of an introspective approach to art and dramatic exaggeration of reality with particular attention given to the African-American experience, for which he has been so praised. The collection of DeCarava’s works, which comprise lots 55 through 59 in the auction, includes as an intimate, close-up image of a male African-American youth and also a dynamic view of a Harlem tenement airshaft with suspended clotheslines. The artist’s wife and longtime collaborator, Sherry Turner DeCarava, once said of her husband, “Roy’s work was the expression of his personal and individual ethos and it was a sensibility that was classical in its visual construction and deeply empathic to the nuances and subtleties contained within the human heart.” These highly personal images also demonstrate DeCarava’s dynamic approach to composition that would progress naturally to the photographic medium.

Finally, Gray’s has included in this fine gathering of African-American artworks a fantastic collection of ceramics by Ohio-native artist Gene Gant. Regrettably, there is very little known about Gant and his career. He supposedly attended Kent State University in the 1970s and trained as a ceramicist in the School of Art under a primarily white faculty. According to some accounts, Gene’s talent earned him a surfeit of recognition from the local art establishment, much to chagrin of his more established and experienced professors. Gant was reportedly alienated by the department for his success to such an extent that he eventually left the university and abandoned his work. Though his story as an artist ended prematurely, one must only view Gant’s artworks to see that his accomplishments as a student ceramicist were well deserved. His pieces, which are offered in Gray’s auction as Lots 295 through 312, demonstrate his brilliant command of organic color, texture and form. Gray’s hopes to reignite interest in this forgotten artist and see recognition of both his name and his art restored.

The complete illustrated catalog for this auction can be found at GraysAuctioneers.com. Condition reports and shipping estimates are available upon request.

For more information contact Serena Harragin at 216-458-7695 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Willard clock, Impressionist painting lead Case auction May 18

Both the clock and the painting are from the estate of Margaret Wemyss Connor of Nashville, whose collection of American art and antiques accounts for over 125 lots in the sale. The 725-lot auction also features pieces from other estates and collections including an institutional collection of Native American objects, Asian antiques, and Case’s standard fare of fine Southern regional art and antiques.

The Simon Willard tall case clock with Roxbury case is notable for its Isaiah Thomas engraved and printed label, retained inside the waist door, and its original French-style feet. Purchased by Connor out of a Middle Tennessee estate in the 1960s, it is the first time the clock has ever been on the auction market. It is estimated at $35,000-$45,000. Also originating from the Boston area is an Impressionist oil on canvas painting of a young brunette with enigmatic smile, peering out from behind black lace draperies. The work is by Philip Leslie Hale (1865-1931), who studied and later taught at the Boston Museum School and wrote several books on art. The painting is estimated at $25,000-$35,000.

The Connor estate also includes a collection of New England furniture, early Worcester (Dr. Wall period) porcelain, Chinese Export porcelain, 17th and 18th century brass candlesticks, English and American sterling silver hollowware and flatware, and American coin silver from New Orleans, Mobile and Tennessee.

Also expected to draw attention is a 17th century portrait of Sir Willoughby Aston by John Michael Wright (British, 1617-1694), formerly in the collection of the Dulin family, whose collection later formed the basis for the Knoxville Museum of Art. There is also also an early 19th century charcoal portrait, possibly an early image of President James K. Polk, attributed to artist Charles Burton, and a rare family trio of portraits depicting William Spencer Hungerford, his wife, Louisa, and their daughter Sarah, who resided in Litchfield and Hartford, Conn., in the early 19th century.

Other American art highlights include a canine portrait titled Champion Jersey JoJo by Frank Leonard Stick (1884-1966), a seascape by Prosper Louis Senat (1852-1925), a view of the Grand Canal in Venice by Warren Sheppard (1858-1937), an abstract floral by Mizue Sawano (Japanese, b. 1941), a Lucite sculpture Lovers by Fred Hart (1943-1999), outsider artworks by Howard Finster (1916-2001) and Sibyl Gibson (Alabama, 1908-1995), and landscapes by William McKendree Snyder (Indiana, 1848-1930), Louis E. Jones (Tennessee, 1878-1958) and Harry D. Fluhart Williams (1861-1938). European works include a still life with lilacs by Raoul Maucherat De Longpre (French, 1859-1911), a Parisian street scene by Edouard Cortes (1882-1969), two pastoral landscapes by Anthony Oberman (Dutch, 1781-1845), a horse portrait by George Paice (British, 1854-1925), a large scale depiction of The Dice Players after Murillo, an oversized landscape with cattle by Jean Aime St. Cyr-Girier (French, 1837-1912), and four Erte bronze sculptures. Prints include an Andy Warhol signed Colorado State University screenprint and two Leroy Neiman signed serigraphs, F.X. McCrory’s Bar and Lake Placid, 1980.

A collection of Native American pottery and utilitarian artifacts being deaccessioned by an East Tennessee institution is featured in this auction, along with a large San Ildefonso blackware jar by Maria and Santana Martinez; Pima, Apache and Papago baskets, and Navajo rugs acquired in the Southwest in the 1930s.

Several of the furniture highlights come from the Connor collection, including a Southern Federal inlaid cherry sideboard attributed to Western Virginia or Eastern Kentucky, an early Southern Chippendale chest with prospect door and documentation label from the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, a Federal inlaid card table attributed to New Hampshire, a Philadelphia Chippendale card table, a diminutive Queen Anne tea table from possibly Rhode Island, and a pair of Federal tiger maple canopy beds. There is also a vine-inlaid Tennessee corner cupboard and a rare hunt table having the height of a huntboard but the width of a small worktand, both in desirable old surfaces.

Adding an extra sparkle to this auction is an especially strong selection of jewelry. Several of the expected top sellers are rings, including a 3.04-carat brilliant diamond ring; an Art Deco diamond, platinum and sapphire ring; an Art Deco platinum, diamond and onyx stickpin; and an antique diamond brooch/pendant decorated with an image of the Virgin Mary. A silver and tortoiseshell necklace designed as two hands by William Spratling and a silver necklace by Frederick W. Davis are featured, along with a vintage Movado 14K white gold diamond and sapphire wristwatch, and vintage costume jewelry.

Leading the silver category is an ivory elephant tusk tankard decorated with Gorham silver mounts including a figural elephant head handle. There is also a large Art Nouveau sterling loving cup weighing 70 ounces troy, a George III sterling tankard with engraved coat of arms, a Tiffany Art Nouveau book cover, a 120-piece set of Reed & Barton Francis I flatware, a set of Tiffany “Clinton” flatware, and two coin silver spoons by early 19th century New Orleans silversmith Anthony Rasch, along with other assorted English and American sterling silver and coin silver.

The historical category includes several Civil War photographs and archives including a Pennsylvania soldier’s letters graphically detailing the Battle of Antietam; a Matthew Brady portrait of Thomas Terry of the 117th Ohio; a daguerreotype of a Mexican War soldier; documents signed by Sam Houston, James K. Polk and John Sevier, and ephemera related to the Titanic and Buffalo Bill.

Other interesting lots include a collection of early colored glass Christmas globes; several folk art walking sticks; dolls; Southern pottery including a collection of miniature whiskey jugs; Southern quilts; an Alabama sampler; rare books, 164 pieces of Herend porcelain in the Queen Victoria pattern, and a number of Asian antiques including Chinese porcelain, Imari, ivory and jade.

The auction will take place at the company’s gallery in the Cherokee Mills Building, 2240 Sutherland Ave. in Knoxville, on Saturday, May 18, at 9:30 a.m. Online, absentee and phone bids will also be accepted. The catalog for the auction, with price estimates, photos, and descriptions for items in the order in which they will be sold can be viewed online at www.caseantiques.com. For more information, call the gallery in Knoxville at (865) 558-3033 or the company’s Nashville office at 615-812-6096 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

To view the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet, visit www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.