Midcentury Modern furniture had a good week, evidenced by results for a set of eight Kai Kristiansen chairs at Eldred’s and a pair of horn-veneered commodes that prodded bidders at the Auction Barn. Also popular with bidders recently were early sculptural figures, as seen in the prices realized for an early Roman marble fragment of a lamb at David Killen Galleries and a kneeling African kneeling terracotta guardian figure that led the February 12 sale at The Cobbs. But the prize for the highest price in this week’s Across The Block goes to PBA Galleries in Berkeley, Calif., which achieved $181,250 for a Seventeenth Century map of Brazil. Read on for some of this week’s other top lots.
Rare Map Of Brazil Sells For $181,250 At PBA Galleries
OAKLAND, CALIF. – PBA Galleries conducted a Platinum sale on February 10 consisting of 113 lots of rare material in all fields, with printed books from the Sixteenth to Twenty-First Centuries. The auction took place at the Oakland Marriott City Center Hotel, venue of the 54th California International Antiquarian Book Fair. Brasiliae qua parte paret Belgis, a rare 1657 oversized map of Brazil by Georg Margraff, published by Joan Blaeu in the mid-Seventeenth Century, brought $181,250. Among the very few copies the firm could locate is one at the British Library, noting that its copy was one of only four known – this perhaps makes five. For information, 415-989-2665 or www.pbagalleries.com.
Wonder Woman Bondage Cover Breaks Twice High Estimate At Moggies
MARLBOROUGH, NH. – Moggies Auction Service’s graded and non-graded comic books and McFarlane toys extravaganza on February 13 offered about 60 CGC- and CSBS-graded comics, including comics from the 1950s through the 1980s, Golden, Silver and Bronze Age, Wonder Woman, Conan and more. Leading it all was a CGC 9.8 bondage cover for Wonder Woman #207, which broke through its $500/600 estimate to land at $1,476. For information, www.moggiesauction.com or 603-494-5964.
Roman Lamb Goes Out Like A Lion In Part I Of Solomon Collection
NEW YORK CITY – On February 13, David Killen Gallery presented Part I of the collection of the late Dr David Y. Solomon of New York City, a heart surgeon and avid collector of rare French, Middle Eastern and African antiques, who passed away at age 92 in December 2015. On offer were fine art, antiquities and furniture from his New York City residence. A notable lot was a marble fragment of a lamb from Roman antiquity, 14 inches long and 4 inches wide. It was estimated $200/300, but sold for $3,600. Part II of the collection will be offered on February 27. For information, 646-590-2788 or www.davidkillengallery.com.
Hokusai’s ‘The Wave’ Sweeps Over Estimate At New Haven Auctions
BRANFORD, CONN. – Fred Giampietro’s Discovery sale at New Haven Auctions on February 15 offered selections from area estates, including property from Choate Rosemary Hall. Among the Americana, folk art, Outsider art, Asian, gold and silver, gold coins, fine art, a collection of teddy bears, toys and more that crossed the block, the beloved image by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai, “The Wave,” was notable, selling for $5,937 against a $250/500 estimate. The old woodblock print was unframed and measured 10 by 15¼ inches. For information, www.newhavenauctions.com or 475-234-5120.
Eldred Bidders Stand Up For Midcentury Modern Chairs
EAST DENNIS, MASS. – Among the many highlights in Eldred’s February 10-11 Antiques & Accessories auction was a set of eight Midcentury Modern rosewood chairs by Kai Kristiansen, which enthusiastic bidders took to $3,375 from an estimate of $2/3,000. The “Model 42” chairs, which were upholstered in Alexander Girard for Maharam “Millerstripe” upholstery, were dated to the 1960s and came from a private collection in the Northeast. An online buyer was the successful bidder. For information, 508-385-3116 or www.eldreds.com.
Kneeling Guardian Figure Brings Luck To The Cobbs
PETERBOROUGH, N.H. – The February 12 Fine and Decorative Tribal Art auction conducted by The Cobbs was led at $2,976 by a Djenne terracotta kneeling guardian figure from Mali which stood 6¼ inches tall. It had provenance to the Irv Fischer Collection in Michigan, as well as a Canadian private collection. While a date was not provided, the figure had areas of encrustation and loss consistent with extreme age and encouraged bidders to surpass its $900-$1,200 estimate. For information, 603-924-6361 or www.thecobbs.com.
Flannery’s Bidder Gets Good Buy For German Silver Flatware Service
PINE BUSH, N.Y. – One of the highlights of Flannery’s Estate Services’ February 7 Estate sale was a 153-piece .800 silver flatware service that the auction catalog described as “large and exquisite” that sold for $5,700, just below its $6/8,000 estimate. Comprised mostly of a service for 12, the set also included gold wash small spoons and forks, as well as assorted serving pieces. For information, 845-744-2233 or www.flanneryestateservices.com.
Single-Owner Collection Of Hudson River School Views Find Favor At AAR Auctions
PLEASANT VALLEY, N.Y. – An online-only auction dedicated entirely to a single-owner collection of paintings by noted artists from the renowned Hudson River School – 62 works in all – was conducted online by Absolute Auction & Realty and closed on February 16. Up for bid were paintings from the personal collection of Robert and Susan Doyle of Fishkill, N.Y., dedicated collectors of the first American School of Art that later became known as the Hudson River School in upstate New York. A top highlight was William Rickarby Miller’s (1818-1893) “View of New York City from Weehawken, N.J.” Signed and dated 1860 lower left, the framed oil on canvas measuring overall 32 by 46 inches brought $22,540. For information, www.aarauctions.com, 800-243-0061 or 845-635-3169.
Horn Veneered Commodes Prod Auction Barn Bidders
NEW MILFORD, CONN. – An unusual offering among the 350 lots of mostly conventional estate sale fare at The Auction Barn’s February 15 sale was a pair of Midcentury Modern-style horn veneered commodes that came from a seller downsizing a house in Watchung, N.J. Bidders were not deterred by some moderate condition issues, such as horn loss, chips and flaking paint, and the pair, which had been estimated at $1/1,500, sold to a trade buyer for $2,375. For information, 860-799-0608 or www.theauctionbarnct.com.
