Michaan's Auctions

Lot 13: YOSEMITE POSTCARD GROUP
Massive collections of postcards are offered in the many Lots of this auction. I like this Yosemite postcard group of about 175 items because of its scenic nature. Wonders of America appeal to me. But there are many equally interesting postcards well worth collecting if only to document middle class taste in American society.

Lot 24: ALASKA POSTCARD ACCUMULATION
Here is a post card collection of 500 vintage images oriented towards the north country with Eskimos, steamships, mining, etc.

Lot 139: PINS MEDALS AND DECORATIONS
In this Lot of more than 160 pins, medals, military decorations, etc., there is bound to be some objects of rarity and unusual interest for serious collectors.

Lot 282: Chinese painting scroll Huang Zhao (1925
Deftly painted donkeys grace this hanging scroll by the Chinese artist Huang Zhao or Huang Zhou (1925-1997). There are eleven donkeys pictured in various stances.

Lot 359: AMETHYST 10K WHITE GOLD RING.
The emerald cut amethyst that is the center stone weighs about 3.00 cts. It is flanked by six caliber-cut amethysts weighing a total of about 1.15 cts. These stones are mounted with white gold. The ring size is seven. If amethyst is your favorite, then this is a ring for you.

Lot 374: SOUTH SEA CULTURED PEARL DIAMOND 14K NECKLACE
Here is a magnificent south sea cultured pearl necklace with diamond and white gold clasp. There are 34 graduated pearls that form a nineteen inch necklace.

Lot 395: Han Dynasty Pottery Group of Ladies Playing Go
This pottery group of ladies playing Go dates to the Han Dynasty according to the thermoluminescence test cited. The figures stand 12 1/2" high and the base measures 18 1/4x 4 1/2" x 9 1/2". This Chinese sculpture is both charming and early.

Ritchies Inc.

Lot 1030: PLATINUM/YELLOW GOLD EMERALD & DIAMOND RING
This size seven ring displays a rectangular emerald of about 1.02 cts with two flanking emerald cut diamonds totaling about -.64 cts. with design simplicity that appeals to me.

Lot 1148: VINTAGE ANDRE LAUG GOWN W/ SKIRT/BELT
Dazzling and rich color combinations in this smartly designed satin gown is by Andre Laug (Rome). The gown with skirt and belt looks handsome to me.

Lot 1291A: DOULTON LAMBETH STONEWARE JUG ASPREY
Here is a robust Doulton Lambeth stoneware jug made of salt glaze with muted earthen tone foliate ornament and with an engraved silver rim --made in London, 1875-76.

Lot 1324: EDO BRONZE DEER-FORM CENSER, 17/18TH C
This Edo period Bronze deer with the God of Longevity looks promising. The image is a little dark, but this seems like a refined casting with attractive decorative details. The figure is seven inches high and dates sometime between the 17th and 18th centuries.

Lot 1378: FU BAOSHI - LANDSCAPE WITH MONK, DATED 1943
A buddhist monk and a manchu official walking in a misty landscape is the subject of this Chinese painting on paper. This is the work of Fu Baoshi (1905-1965) and dates to 1943.

Lot 1412: PR FAMILLE ROSE BOWLS, DAOGUANG MARKS
What a sweet pair of famille rose porcelain bowls this is. They were made in the Qing Dynasty -- Daoguang Marks and of the period (1821-1850). Beautiful restraint in the decoration with peaches and bats within the bowl and lotus bloom and shou characters on the exterior.

Hindman

Lot 26: After Charles and Ray Eames, A Pair of DCW Chairs, Height 29 inches.
These DCW chairs after designs by Charles and Ray Eames are classics of the era c. 1946-60. I own one like these. Also, I acquired the prototype model for this chair made by Eames and sent by him for display in a landmark exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. That unique chair went into the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Lot 305: A Mexican Retalabo, Height 16 x width 12 inches including frame.
Here is a nice example of Mexican folk art -- an image of the Madonna and Child painted on tin. It was probably made in the late nineteenth century. At least that is the date when I believe mine was made. The example offered here is almost identical with mine which was acquired in a flea market in Mexico City.

Lot 372: *Two Korean Bowls, Diameter of largest 7 3/4 inches.
The muted celadon color of Korean porcelain appeals to me. I have no idea when these were made, but they would be pleasant to live with.

Lot 491: After James Frothingham, (American, 1786-1864), Portrait of John Endic...
Here is a copy of a copy of the original portrait of John Endicott that hangs in the Boston State House. The original seventeenth century painting is in very rough shape and exhibits lots of retouching or badly handled restoration. This copy of James Frothingham's copy takes the viewer back closer to what the original might have looked like. Since the original Endicott portrait was painted c. 1670 and will never leave the collections of the State House, one could find that this copy is a very satisfactory opportunity to own an image of an early Puritan worthy. Look at the gloves in the hand of Gov. Endicott. Gloves were emblems of wealth and station in seventeenth century society.

Lot 645: *Attributed to Ruth Hallensleben, (German, 1898-1977), A Group of Four...
What a powerful photograph is the one shown in this lot of four photos attributed to Ruth Hallensleben (German, 1898-1977). Look elsewhere in this auction and find several others by or attributed to the same photographer.

Lot 2059: BERGAMA RUG, WEST ANATOLIA, CIRCA 1900
Handsome color with bold striking patterns are exhibited in this Bergama Rug from West Anatolia c. 1900 -- it measures 8' x 5' 10 in. This is a good size, with abrashed colors -- that is to say, variable colors according to the dye lots.

Lot 2127A: GOTHIC REVIVAL MAHOGANY GLAZED BOOKCASE
The gothic revival begins in earnest in 1837 with the publication in London of Pugin's Contrasts. But this gothic revival bookcase with glazed doors must date towards the 4th quarter of the 19th century. It seems well constructed and an attractive piece of furniture that would prove useful and harmonic in almost any home decor.

Lot 2187: AMERICAN FEDERAL DROP LEAF DINING TABLE
What a nice looking American Federal Drop Leaf table this is. It is cited as having been made in the first quarter of the nineteenth centry.

Lot 2190A: CANADIAN RED PAINTED PINE LIFT-TOP DESK
This Canadan red painted pine lift-top desk of the 2nd quarter of the 19th century is a form both convenient and practical. In the southern states of the U.S. it would have been called a "plantation desk" In Northern states it may have been called a Counting House desk. Smaller versions of this form, but with straight legs were made for students at Harvard University by the middle of the eighteenth century.

Lot 2195: QUEBEC POLYCHROME PAINTED PINE ARMOIRE
I am intrigued with this brilliantly painted pine wardrobe or Armoire from early nineteenth century Quebec. It would make a striking addition to a collection of folk art. Acquire the pine figure of a Madonna made in Quebec offered in Lot 2247, and place it on the top of this Armoire and/or acquire the Grenfell Labrador Industries Hooked Mat of Lot 2252 and hang that above or beside the Armoire.

Swann Auction Galleries

Lot 2: JAMES A. M. WHISTLER The Unsafe Tenement.
This is an admirable Whistler etching that was printed on a tan chine colle -- or thin japan tissue that was placed on heavier stock before putting the print through the etching press. This is "tricky" workmanship and a print that must never be "washed" as the image will float away with such treatment. The image is powerful -- a building in severe decline and properly titled: "The Unsafe Tenement." Five other impressive Whistler etchings are offered in Lots following this one. I like every one of them! Purchase them all and have the satisfaction of owning a small museum of brilliant prints by Whistler! Also look at Lot 237-- another superb print by Whistler. Also, do not neglect the famous print by Millet of "The Gleaners" offered in Lot 20. This is a very good impression on imitation vellum!

Lot 144: CONSTANTIN GUYS Deux femmes dans un voiture.
When I have the chance to acquire an original pen and ink sketch or drawing I do so. This little picture by Constantin Guys is an original and unique work of art. It is very directly rendered with bold patterns.

Lot 156: PETER ILSTED At the Spinet.
Mezzotint prints in the hands of a master best renders subtle tonalities of shapes. This image in mezzotint by Peter Ilsted is another chine colle that reminds me of interior spaces painted by the Dutch artist, Vermeer.

Lot 432: GRANT WOOD Approaching Storm.
The power of this Grant Wood lithograph of 1940 resonates with me. It is an idealized image of the farm worker gathering crops in advance of a storm. It honors the nobility of the farm worker in America.

Lot 433: FRANCISCO ZUÑIGA Mujer sentada en profil.
Here is a masterpiece -- an original drawing made in crayon on heavy cream wove paper in 1977 by Francisco Zuniga.

Lot 3100: JOHN GEOFFREY CARUTHERS LITTLE ARCA (1928- )
A cold grey day on Rue St. Antoine, Quebec is captured in this 10"x 14" oil on canvas that is dated 71 by the artist John Geoffrey Caruthers Little (1928-). Looks to me like it was made on the spot by the artist standing before the Vieilles Maisons of De Rue Street. Antoine, Quebec.

Lot 3123: PHILLIP SURREY RCA,CAS,CSGA,OC(1910-1990)
This nocturne is essentially an abstraction inspired by a night view of railway tracks. It is an oil on masonite (6"x8") sketch by Phillip Surrey (1910-1990) that employs a vigorous use of opaque versus translucent colors with contrasts and overlaying of warm and cool tones.

Lot 3162: MOE (MOSES) MARTIN REINBLATT CSGA (1917-1979)
Here is a powerful figural drawing in charcoal and pastel. It is signed by the artist Moses Martin Reinblatt (1917-1979) and dated 1947.

Lot 3170: THOMAS DE VANY FORRESTALL RCA (1936- )
Three paintings by Thomas De Vany Forrestall, RCA (1936) are offered in this sale. See also Lots 3169 and 3171. Two are beautifully rendered watercolors and the third (3171) is a splendid tempera painting on masonite. The themes are evocative of the passing of time. The compositions of all three are spectacular. They all appear to have been inspired by the work of Andrew Wyeth. Yet they do reflect a distinctive artistic vision -- one who is not a copy-cat artist. If I had the means, I would purchase all three works. Of the three, this lot is my favorite.

Lot 3217: NINGEOSEAK PETER (1937- )
From Cape Dorset comes this carving by Ningeoseak Peter (1937-) that shows a hunter with Avatoq or a seated man with a seal (mouth to mouth) after the hunt. It is signed with initials; titled and dated 2001 and accompanied with a Co-op tag. (12x14 inches)

Lot 3232: UNIDENTIFIED
What an impressive whalebone carving of a polar bear with cub this sculpture is! It stands 21 1/2" tall. I like its primitive directness and its creative use of naturally textured material.

Lyon & Turnbull

Lot 10: GRAHAM SUTHERLAND O.M (BRITISH, 1903-1980) BEETLES FROM THE BESTIARY 6...
This is an arresting lithograph by Graham Sutherland (British, 1903-1980), depicting beetles from the Bestiary and adapted to a highly decorative format of black on green.

Lot 12: HENRY MOORE (BRITISH, 1898-1986) UPPER HALF OF STANDING FIGURES, FROM ...
These are otherworldly standing figures with hollow centers, pictured in a collotype by the famous British sculptor, Henry Moore (1898-1986). They are curious both in form and color. Collotype is a graphic process involving image transfer through the use of gelatine. There is no grain or texture imposed through collotype. It is a process difficult to control except by an expert collotype press operator. Collotype is almost an extinct graphic process today.

Lot 42: PETER EVANS (BRITISH, CONTEMPORARY) REFLECTIONS AT ST. CHRISTOLY (NEAR...
This oil painting on panel by the contemporary British artist, Peter Evans, is a brilliantly painted image that manages to capture all the rumpled textures in both sunlight and shadow. Sky and shapes reflected in the windows are equally well painted.

Lot 68: KARL MAUGHAN (NEW ZEALAND, B. 1964) EARTH 1 45cm x 35cm (17.5in x 13.7...
The detail and variety of plants pictured in this oil on canvas by Karl Maughan of New Zealand (b. 1964) is truly amazing.

Lot 164: ANDREW MACARA R.B.A. N.E.A.C. (SCOTTISH, B. 1944) THE BEACH 71cm x 91c...
The composition of this oil on canvas engages the viewer. Strong shadows moving from foreground to middle ground are effectively employed by Andrew Macara (b. 1944) of Scottish descent.

Westbridge Fine Art Auction House

Lot 2: Victor Laredo, American, photograph, New York
This seeming chance encounter with a moment on 46th Street at Longacre Square in 1960 is a powerful photo image by the American Victor Laredo whose works are well represented in this auction. What strikes me when I look at this photo is the emotional disconnect between all the elements of the street landscape including the human figures.

Lot 3: Victor Laredo, American, photograph, New York
Here is Beekman Street, New York, pictured in 1960 by Victor Laredo. This is a historic area of downtown Manhatten that shows its age with its rich texture of iron fire escapes all of which suggests architectural adaption to multiple uses and human survival over time.

Lot 39: Victor Laredo, American, photograph, New York
The photographer Victor Laredo pictures two girls seated under the wings of a giant stone eagle. The image was made in Central Park, New York, in 1960.

Lot 86: Surendorf, Southwest woodcut, windy street scene
Haunting is this woodcut image of a windy street scene on the Main Street of Columbia, CA. The artist is the American, Charles Frederick Surendorf. This image makes the Main Street look like that of a Ghost Town.

Lot 112: Southwest School, watercolour, Santa Fe scenes
The watercolour pictured in this entry shows the entrance to the Santa Fe Museum. It is charming enough to persuade me to bid. Also, there is a second watercolour of a dog by a well that is not pictured.

Lot 25: An 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Sapphire and Diamond Ring, Hennell London, Si...
I find the design and free-flowing lines of this ring of yellow gold, sapphire and diamonds by Hennell of London appealing. It is size 5 1/2.

Lot 33: A Platinum, Diamond and Fine Sapphire Ring, Size 5.
This size 5 platinum, diamond and sapphire ring is impressive. The sapphire weighs 11.12 carats!

Lot 134: An 18 Karat White Gold with Yellow Gold Plated and Diamond Wristwatch,...
This is a dazzling wristwatch studded with diamonds -- a work by Piaget. This is an ultimate "dress" watch for evening wear!

Lot 160: A Pair of 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Malachite Cufflinks.
Gold and Malachite contrast beautifully in this pair of 18 Karat cufflinks.

Lot 190: A Single Strand of Black Tahitian Cultured Pearls,
Black Tahitian cultured pearls I love. I suspect that any lady friend would adore them. These are graduated in size and are held together with a white gold and diamond clasp.

Doyle New York

Lot 2127: Chinese Blue and White Glazed Porcelain Vase
This is a very handsome and tall (17 1/2") vase of beautiful shape with painted in blue and white images of mythical animals -- Kangxi Period. There are several other Kangxi period works in this sale. Note the spectacular Peach Bloom Glazed Amphora Vase of Lot 2156 and the pair of covered vases in Lot 2097.

Lot 2197: Japanese Kakiemon Porcelain Figure of an Elephant
By comparing the Japanese porcelain elephant of this lot with the bronze elephant of Lot 2168, it is clear that Japanese sculptors gained a better realistic understanding of this subject at the later date. I like the charm of this porcelain elephant, but admire the more robust and realistic treatment of the bronze figure. Look at both and make your own choices.

Lot 2202: Chinese Gilt-Wood Buddhist Figure of a Guardian
This Chinese guardian figure that stands 18 inches tall is impressively fierce, as it should be. It is handsomely carved of wood and gilded. Made in the early Ming Dynasty 14-15th century.

Lot 2247: Chinese Buddhist Figure of a Bodhisattva
I like the quiet simplicity of this early Chinese Buddhist figure of a Bodhisattva or an attendant with the left hand raised holding a lotus or cintamani. This figure is cited as dating from the 9th -11th century. The entry does not state the material, but it appears that it is carved stone.

Lot 2329: Hamada Stoneware Bottle with Green and Red Square Design
Soji Hamada (1894-1987) was one of Japan's best known potters of the 20th century. This may be in part be due to the fact that he often demonstrated his art in the U.S. , that he studied in Japan under the famous potter, Kawai Kanijiro, became a designated Living National Treasure in his lifetime in Japan, and was a friend of the British potter Bernard Leach. He more than once came to UCLA at the invitation of his friend, the marvelous potter, in California, Laura Andreson who I persuaded to donate two of her great platters by Hamada to the Asiatic Department of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. This nine inch tall stoneware bottle has the touch of the master and genius about it -- a work for the serious collector of ceramic arts.