As the holiday season starts to pick up, auction houses around the country begin to release their catalogs in hopes that we may find that perfect gift for that special someone. It’s a sound idea in theory, but all we ever do is find things that we want to buy, which doesn’t leave much room for anyone else on the list. With all of the lots on offer, we had no issue finding these treasures tucked away in the upcoming sales. A New York City Whirligig, Peter Shire’s Bone Air Chair, a hot Bo Bartlett painting and more make this weeks top picks.
FREEMAN’S
Sale Date: November 16, 2016
Lot 315
Carved and Painted Whirligig of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor
Circa 1940, with the skyline of Manhattan in pierced sheet metal, rocking ships.
Estimate: $5/7,000
LARK MASON ASSOCIATES
Sale Date: Now through November 17, 2016
Lot 4430613
Horace Pippin (American 1888-1947),
“Figure in Forest,” oil on canvas board, signed ‘H. Pippin’ in red on the lower right corner.
Estimate: $15/25,000
JEFFREY S. EVANS & ASSOC.
Sale Date: November 12, 2016
Lot 260
Important Shenandoah Valley of Virginia Folk Art Cut-Work/Scherenschnitte Valentine
Watercolor and ink on paper, executed by Sarah Weaver (1839-1918) of Rockingham Co., Virginia, design featuring a central eight-point star within an inner border of eight cut-out seven-point stars, outer border of eight large elliptical cut-outs, each featuring a bird perched on floral/foliate devices and heart, sawtooth scalloped edges, vivid polychrome watercolor embellishment. Verse running circuitously throughout, including “Sarah Weaver is my name and single is my life and happy is the man gets me for a wife”, dated “the 9th day of March 1856”. Unframed. Circa 1856. Diameter 13 inches.
Estimate: $6/9,000
COWAN’S AUCTIONEERS
Sale Date: November 18, 2016
Lot 400
Rare John Wesley Hardin Signed and Shot-Through Playing Card
A king of spades playing card shot through five times, signed J.W. Hardin in the right margin and dated July 4 ’95 in the lower margin. The handful of other known examples appear to be from the same deck and singed on the same date (or 8-4-95 which may have just been a mistake numbering the month on Hardin’s part), just a month and a half before Hardin was killed in the Acme Saloon in El Paso, TX. The gunslinger was part owner of the bar and gambling venue and he reportedly signed these cards for patrons as a souvenir of a shooting demonstration he put on for the Fourth of July. Card is accompanied by signed statements from two previous owners.
Estimate: $6/8,000
FAIRFIELD AUCTION
Sale Date: November 11-16
Lot 22
Sol Lewitt
“Untitled,” gouache on paper, signed lower right and dated 1999.
Estimate: $20/30,000
THOMASTON PLACE AUCTION GALLERIES
Sale Date: November 18-20, 2016
Lot 575
William Trost Richards (American, 1833-1905)
“Stormy Sky with Coastal Schooners Passing Beach,” oil on academy board, signed lower right, in gilt oak molded cove frame.
Estimate: $20/30,000
CLARS
November 12-13, 2016
Lot 6198
Bo Bartlett (American, born 1955)
“Lifeboat,” 1998, oil on linen, canvas, unframed height 81 by width 100 inches. Provenance: Property from the Estate of Thomas J. Perkins (San Francisco, and Belvedere, CA). Note: This work was featured on the cover of Bo Bartlett by David Houston and Carter Radcliff (published May, 2016).
Estimate: $30/50,000
ROYAL ANTIQUES
Sale Date: November 13, 2016
Lot 151
Fine Napoleon III Gilt Bronze and Mirrored Cave à Liqueur
Late Nineteenth Century, pagoda-form hinged top with egg-and-dart molding, shaped mirrored back framed by grapes and foliate scrolls, mirrored base, toupie feet, fitted with three crystal decanters and nine cordials.
Estimate: $5/15,000
HERITAGE AUCTIONS
Sale Date: November 18, 2016
Lot 79282
Peter Shire (American, born 1947)
Bone Air Chair, 1985, Memphis, lacquered wood, wool upholstery over foam.
Estimate: $4/6,000
STAIR AUCTIONEERS
Sale Date: November 19, 2016
Lot 239
Kimbal & Cabus Ebonized Side Cabinet
Gilt-incised decoration, paper faux inlay and brass hardware.
Estimate: $2/4,000
