Koller Auctions

Lot 67: EGYPTE - MAYER, Louis.Vues en Egypte d'après les dessins orig...
Imagine owning these beautiful views in Egypt -- prints made after originals in the possession of Sir Robert Ainslie, London. The prints are engraved (and I think also aquatint) by Thomas Milton in London in 1802 and finely painted in watercolor.

Lot 74: STEPHENS, John Lloyd (1805-1852).Incidents of Travel in Yucatan. Londo...
This two volume work printed by John Murray in London in 1843 illustrates and describes the expedition taken by John Lloyd Stephens (1805-1852) to Yucatan. The illustrations are beautifully rendered lithographs. I own one volume of this set of "Incidents of Travel in Yucatan" and so can state with conviction that a buyer of these two volumes will be enchanted and delighted with this acquisition.

Lot 80: BUFFON, Georges Louis Leclerc.Histoire naturelle général...
The great French naturalist, Georges Louis Leclerc Buffon's museum still exists. Offered here are his fabulous 29 books in 23 volumes that catalogue the King's Cabinet of natural history. Buffon held the opinion that the most majestic species were to be found on the European continent and that all others elsewhere in the world were derivative and degenerate forms of European species. Jefferson corrected that misconception by sending to Buffon specimens of animals from the new world that far surpassed in stature and magnificence any comparable animals found abroad. I would love to own this set along with the well-known natural history of animals Vol 1-31 (even though vols. 10, 11, 27, and 28 are missing).

Lot 247: RACKHAM, Arthur - BARRIE, James - Mathieu.Peter Pan dans les jardins d...
Regular readers of Artfact know that I am an admirer of the ingenious illustrations made by Arther Rackham. Here is an offering of a work illustrated by Rackham -- by James Barrie, "Peter Pan dans les Jardins de Kensington," printed in Paris in 1907. This was one of an edition of merely 270 copies.

Lot 266: WYETH - ENGLISH LITERATURE.Lot of 7 works in English, illustrated by W...
In this lot a person can acquire a group of books illustrated by N.C. Wyeth -- a treasure trove for those who admire the works of Wyeth and want to own a collection of his illustrated books. Read the entry for specific books listed. There are seven of them.

Lot 844: TIFFANY STUDIOS N.Y.
What a handsome Tiffany Studio's table lamp this is from the era of 1900. It has lovely gold and violet iridescent Favrile glass shades and an attractive bronze base.

Lot 899: GALLÉ, ÉMILE
More than one piece of furniture by Emile Galle is offered in this sale. My choice is this set of nesting tables with pictorial inlay in the Art Nouveau taste c. 1900. See also Lot 898.

Lot 937: JENSEN, GEORG
Here is a most attractive footed sterling silver bowl marked by the maker Georg Jensen of Copenhagen, c. 1930.

Lot 1144: WEGNER, HANS J.
Hans J. Wegner designed these chairs for Carl Hansen of Denmark in 1951. They are identical to those ordered by the MFA designer, Carl Zahn for the old member's room of the Museum installed in the 1950s. Over the years these chairs became worn and were removed. I salvaged them before they were thrown out. I hope that the MFA has subsequently restored them, as they are important documents of Danish modern design.

Lot 1174: VENINI
At a yard sale this past weekend I picked up for nothing a vase of this color bearing the mark of Venini. The color is rich and vibrant. The maker is a famous glass house of Murano, near Venice, Italy. There are many other examples of Venini glass in this auction. There are also beautiful examples of French glass --Daum, Galle, and others.

Lot 1236: EAMES, CHARLES & RAY
The sleek designs of Charles and Ray Eames (1907-78) & (1912-88) for the Herman Miller Furniture Co., I came to much admire. I collected several prototype models for the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. But the Chaise Longue model unfortunately was not among them.

Lot 1239: *PLATNER, WARREN
Warren Platner (1919) of New Haven, Connecticut made the design of the chromed metal based table as well as chairs and other pieces of furniture for Knoll International in 1966. The multiple reeding of the chrome metal rods create a dramatic shimmer as one walks around the furniture. I came to admire Platner's creativity when I visited with him in his architectural offices and studio/workshops in New Haven many years ago.

Lot 1336: *MALTÈS, LÉO
This is an incredible low table called a "Crepuscule"made in France c. 1990 after designs by Leo Maltes (1958-). I'd love to see it at first hand. It surely must be an altar of some sort dedicated to celebrate art. Imagine displaying special acquisitions on this table!

Lot 1451: L'EPLATTENIER, CHARLES
What a strong self portrait was made in charcoal by the artist Charles L'Eplattenier in 1928! It is signed and dated by the artist. There are several outstanding works by this artist in this auction. For example, look at lots 1453, 1455,1456, 1464 and 1466.

Lot 1461: L'EPLATTENIER, CHARLES
I am particularly taken by this oil on canvas painted by Charles L'Eplattenier who captures the mystery of late afternoon or twilight colors effectively.

Lot 1475: MESTROVIC, IVAN
Ivan Mestrovic (1883-1962) was a sculptor whose massive works reflected a sense of great power. This is a fairly small but seemingly monumental study for a Caryatid -- a bronze with black patina. 39.5 cm high above plinth.

Lot 1575: PERINCIOLI, MARCEL
What charm is to be found in this candlabrum sculpture of 1968. It looks like Phoenician or a Viking vessel but has spikes for holding six candles. The work is by Marcel Perincioli (Berne, 1911- ).

Lot 1583: HAUCHCORNE, PHILIPPE
This oil on canvas by Philippe Hauchcorne (1907-1976) is an abstraction composed of yellow and black in 1963 that in a strange way offers a very strong sense of space. I read it as if I were underwater looking up at the bellies of sharks and perhaps a manta ray. But everyone who looks at this painting will "see" something different, as it is powerfully three dimensional.

Thomaston Place Auction Galleries

Lot 4: 4 19th C Wooden Horse Pull Toys Sewn Hide
Here is an instant collection of wooden horse pull toys of the nineteenth century. In the museum called Bayou Bend in Houston, there is a painting made by Charles Willson Peale of Philadelphia, that depicts a daughter with her pull-toy horse -- earlier than these, of course, but the same general design that must have please children for generations.

Lot 9: Set 4 Graduated Redware Jugs Ovoid
I wonder if these four redware jugs were made in Newburyport, MA. They have the form of those that came from the excavation made by Laura Woodside Watkins. But I would have to see the pieces at first hand to be sure. Her findings from Newburyport are now owned by the Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

Lot 12: 3 19th C Shaker Boxes Fingered Oval Wood
These three Shaker boxes are a beautiful set -- rare and beautiful.

Lot 13: 19th C Shaker Rocker Mt. Lebanon #0 Child's
A number of Shaker rockers from Mt. Lebanon, NY. are offered in this auction. Look at all and make your choices. This one is small-- for a child. It has its original stained surface and original taped seat in blue and gold. Lot 21 has a re-taped seat and is larger -- #1, with the Shaker's trade mark, Mt. Lebanon, NY. See also Lots 248 ,249, 289, and 324 for other Shaker rockers.

Lot 42: 19th C Harvest Table Canadian Cherry Pegged
I much admire this 19th century Canadian cherry harvest table -- what a beautiful example of "plain style" workmanship this is.

Lot 53: Parian Bust George Washington 19th C Carr Edge
Since it is not possible for most collectors to own an original Houdon marble bust of George Washington, this is a Parian example that can be afforded. It is life size and probably made for Philadelphia's Centennial Exposition in 1875/6 by James Carr's pottery in Trenton, N.J. What a great example of Americana this is -- as is the John Bellamy carved eagle of Lot 66!

Auction Team Breker

Lot 7: Rare American Slide Rule Drum Thatcher 1881
Once upon a time -- before computers, engineering students on the campus of the U. of Mich. all wore slide rules on their hips -- at the ready to whip out and solve math problems. But here is a "Thatcher" slide rule drum of 1881 that came before that era of the '30s and '40s. It comes with its original mahogany box and manual. Here is a rarity for the historian of the development of technical instruments at the service of solving complex numbers problems.

Lot 41: Cash Register St. Louis Mod. 49 c. 1915
A St. Louis Mod. 49 c. 1915 cash register is the right size for a candy store as it was manufactured by The Candy Store National Cash Register Co, of Dayton, Ohio. This specimen has its original wooden crate. It is a spectacular exhibition piece and collector's treasure!

Lot 42: "National" Cash Register Registrierkasse
More familiar than the above is this "National" cash register c. 1910 -- with its nickel-plated body and registered as the "National Mod. 347". What a decorative wonder!

Lot 65: Skeleton Telephone "Deckert & Homolka" c. 1905
Look at all the strange telephone receivers and speakers in this auction to make your choices of instruments from the past. This Hungarian example c. 1905 is among my favorites. See also the numerous typewriting machines offered in this auction. They are extraordinary!

Lot 94: World's 1st Patented Copying Press by "James
For anyone curious about how copies of letters were made in the lifetime of Jefferson and Washington, here is a 1780 letter copier by James Watt & Co., Soho/ Birmington, England. Read the entry to learn its history and how the copy machine worked.

Lot 136: "Edison Electric Pen" and "Edison Mimeograph
Thomas Edison devised this stencil copying system to copy handwritten documents -- this he did with his "Electric Pen." He was granted a U.S. patent (no. 180857) on August 8, 1875 for his invention. Read the entry to learn how it worked and the various articles that come with this wonderful lot.

Lot 300: The Stanhope Press 1780 printing Druckpresse
Here is the world's first all-metal printing press. It is the Stanhope press designed and manufactured by Lord Earl Stanhope in England in 1780!

Lot 501: Arts & Crafts Theta Bronze Candlestick Jarvie
Here is a beautiful classic candlestick made after designs of Robert Jarvie (Chicago, 1865-1941) who worked in the American Arts and Crafts mode. This tall "Theta" candlestick bears his signature with his Lamda mark. It stands 13 3/8" high.

Lot 545: 19th C Fall Front Writing Desk D Pabst Phila
Daniel Pabst of Philadelphia was an exceptional furniture maker and designer of the third quarter of the nineteenth century. This desk has many carved motifs that recall his work. -- Some of Pabst's furniture was made after designs of the architect, Frank Furness who designed the building of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts at Broad and Cherry Streets, Philadelphia.

Lot 725: c1900 Stacking Oak File Cabinet 4-Section
Here is a perfect cabinet for the serious collector. There are enough drawers of varied shapes to house lots of flat works of art or documents that need to be enclosed in acid free folders to prevent contact with the oak.

Lot 728: Arts & Crafts Lamp Table Gustav Stickley
Gustav Stickley was a leading figure in the Arts and Crafts Movement in America. While this is a fairly simple example of furniture made under his direction, it is an attractive piece that would go well in a room of a Bungalow style home with a big fireplace holding the andirons of Lot 729.

Freeman's | Hindman

Lot 1: Danish style sterling silver bracelet Georg
Unusual is this silver Danish style silver bracelet with love birds and moon stones in the Georg Jensen manner.

Lot 27: Gold and white enamel flower pin early 20th
Lot 26 is a pin depicting the flower of the pink dogwood. But I prefer this example of the white that reflects the blossom that currently blooms in the woods around our New England home.

Lot 193: Impressive 18 karat yellow gold sapphire
Here is a spoke necklace of 18 karat yellow gold that holds sapphires, diamonds and pearls -- worthy of a dear lady who deserves to be pleased and impressed!

Lot 230: Lady's yellow gold filled and beryl necklace
If you miss buying the necklace of Lot 193, then here is a second chance to buy a lovely lady's Edwardian yellow gold filled necklace with cut beryl set into a feathered wreath design -- nicely designed! This necklace was originally acquired in Paris.

Lot 250: 16th century style velvet and lace jacket
How unusual and theatrical is this velvet and lace jacket made to reflect the style of the 16th century. Wonderfully rich appearing --as if it comes out of an Elizabethan court. It bears a label: "Waas & Son/226 N.8th St., Philadelphia."

Lot 252: Northern American Indian deerskin beaded
In contrast to the Elizabethan style jacket, here is a North American Indian deerskin beaded blazer made in the first half of the 20th century. It is mostly unlined and does not bear a label. But it would easily accept a lining and appears to be comfortable.

Lot 258A: Black chiffon rhinestone Art Deco dress
From the Art Deco or early modern era of the 1930s comes this classic black chiffon sleeveless gown decorated all over with silver rhinestone circle patterns. This dress has a matching wrap and belt and has a faux tucked train in chiffon that attaches at the hem.

Lot 319: Oscar de la Renta evening gown 1990s Fitted
Here is a beautiful evening gown of the 1990s -- size 10 -- that is labeled "Oscar de la Renta". Unusual it is with black iridescent feathers throughout -- and comes with a matching beaded tulle bolero.

Lot 420: Micro-beaded purse 1920s-30s Brass hinged
One example of many purses offered in the sale -- this micro-beaded purse of the 1920s-30s would probably look well with the dress of 258 A.