Evening Prayer, a recently discovered painting by one of the best-known French Orientalist artists, Jean-Léon Gérôme, will be a highlight of the sale of American and European works of Art at Skinner in Boston on September 21.
Gérôme started on the path to Orientalism in 1856 when he made the first of a number of trips to Egypt. His Middle Eastern subjects were hugely popular with his clientele – at least three different versions of this subject are known, as well as numerous reproductions and copies. The scene shows men in various positions associated with the prayer, performed on the housetops of Cairo as well as architecturally identifiable buildings.
The 19½in x 2ft 8in (49.5 x 81cm) framed oil on cradled mahogany panel, which had been in two English collections by 1870 and an East Coast American one 15 years later, is signed JL Gerome in characteristic form along the edge of the wall of the roof and has been authenticated by Dr Emily Weeks. Skinner is expecting a price in the region of $400,000-600,000.
Indiana
Minton majolica revolving four-tier oyster server, c.1875, estimated at $2500-3500 at Strawser Auction Group.
This example of the well-known Minton majolica revolving four-tier oyster server, c.1875, is estimated at $2500-3500 at majolica specialist Strawser Auction Group of Wolcottville, Indiana, on September 29.
Minnesota
‘Still Life, White and Blue on a Green Background’ by William Scott, estimated at $30,000-40,000 at Revere Auctions.
This William Scott (1913-89) gouache on paper titled Still Life, White and Blue on a Green Background comes from a private collection in Minnesota. Measuring 23in x 2ft 6in (58.5 x 76cm) it is signed lower left and dated ‘68, and inscribed Theme Blue and Green no. 1 in pencil along the verso.
The William Scott Foundation has confirmed the authenticity of this work. It carries an estimate of $30,000-40,000 at Revere Auctions in St Paul, Minnesota, on September 28.
New Jersey
Lalique amber glass Serpent vase, estimated at $15,000-20,000 at Rago Auctions.
This 9½in (24cm) amber glass Serpent vase, a design of 1924, is one of 54 lots from the Reese collection of Lalique glass that will feature in Rago Auctions’ sale of early 20th century design to be held on September 22. It has an estimate of $15,000-20,000.
The sale will also include other French art glass from Daum and Gallé as well as pieces by a wide variety of other European and American designers.
New York: Cottone
‘Winged Figure’ by Dame Elizabeth Frink, estimated at $10,000-15,000 at Cottone Auctions.
This bronze Winged Figure by Dame Elizabeth Frink (1930-93) will feature in Cottone Auctions’ large mixed-discipline sale in Geneseo, New York on September 29.
The 2ft (61cm) high figure from 1959 is from an edition of six and has a provenance to the Bertha Shafer Gallery. It has an estimate of $10,000-15,000.
Massachusetts
Gabriel Argy-Rousseau pate-de-verre lotus or loving cup, estimated at $3000-5000 at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery.
This signed Gabriel Argy-Rousseau pate-de-verre lotus or loving cup, with blue and purple staining, is guided at $3000-5000 in the September 22 sale at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The 4in (10cm) cup is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Cento Anni Antiques of Brussels, Belgium.
Pennsylvania
Dan Morphy Auctions includes this Met Toy Dan Dare Friction Spaceship in a toy sale in Denver, Pennsylvania on October 2-3.
Retaining its hard-to-find original pictorial box, the toy, marked Earth- Mars-Venus Express and Made in Great Britain on one wing, is estimated at $400-800.
New York: Arader Galleries
A watercolour by Charles Empson, estimated at $3000-5000 at Arader Galleries.
A number of original watercolours by the English botanical artist Charles Empson (1794-1861) are included in the sale conducted by Arader Galleries of New York on September 29.
This example of grapefruit titled Pompelmus Surinam, Madame Merian, comes from the folio From Tropical, Chiefly South American Plants published in Bath, c.1832. Estimate $3000-5000.
New York: Christie’s
A pair of late 18th century grey-painted and parcel-gilt armchairs, after a design by John Linnell, estimated at $3000-5000 at Christie’s New York.
This pair of late 18th century grey-painted and parcel-gilt armchairs, after a design by John Linnell, are part of the English furniture included in a sale at Christie’s New York on September 26. The estimate is $3000-5000.
Titled Rooms as Portraits, the 228-lot sale features pieces from two private residences in New York and Los Angeles decorated by designer Michael S Smith reflecting an aesthetic that blends English country house with European style and American modernism.
The auction includes English and European furniture and works of art; 20th century design, Asian works, photographs and post-war and contemporary Art.
New Jersey
‘L’Hercule Populaire’, a clockwork strongman weightlifting toy by Fernand Martin, estimated at $6000-9000 at Bertoia Auctions.
This rare clockwork strongman weightlifting toy, L’Hercule Populaire, was made by the French firm of Fernand Martin, dates from c.1914 and comes with the original box. It is part of the collection assembled by Frank Mohr to be offered in Bertoia Auctions’ sale on September 22 in Vineland, New Jersey. The estimate is $6000-9000.
Mohr, a retired presbyterian minister, is especially well known for his Fernand Martin collection. However, he had a broader interest in toys with mechanical movements and also collected early American clockwork toys and European automata.
Mohr’s is one of three major consignments on offer in the auction, which also features Douglas Jackman’s collection of still banks and Benjamin Michel’s Märklin trains and European railway stations.
Chicago
Roman marble figure of Diana Venetrix, estimated at $50,000-80,000 at Leslie Hindman.
This c.2nd century AD Roman marble figure of Diana Venetrix is one of the antiquities that feature in Leslie Hindman’s sale of works from the collection of adventurer and explorer Steve Fossett and his wife Peggy to be held in Chicago on October 30.
The 3ft 4in (1m) high marble statue, showing the goddess with her hunting dog, has an estimate of $50,000-80,000.
Fossett, who conducted a number of record-setting races across many disciplines, was the first person to solo circumnavigate the globe in a hot-air balloon.
The auction of the Fossetts’ antiquities, fine art, furniture and Asian art will be followed the next day by the first part of Steve’s library featuring works relating to aeronautics, Arctic and Antarctic exploration, circumnavigation and mountaineering.
New York: Roland
Collage drawing, signed ‘Christo 1968’, estimated at $40,000-60,000 at Roland.
Several works by Christo (b.1935) and Jeanne-Claude (1935-2009) are included in the sale at New York firm Roland on September 25.
They come from the collection of Dr Richard and Odile Stern. This collage drawing of a wrapped tree, signed and dated lower right Christo 1968, measures 2ft 4in x 22in (72 x 57cm) and is estimated at $40,000-60,000.
California
A Jumeau doll, estimated at $3000-5000 at Robert Slawinski auction house of Scotts Valley, California.
The Robert Slawinski auction house of Scotts Valley, California, expects bids of $3000-5000 for this 18in (45.5cm) Jumeau doll (Depose E8J) in its original card box on September 23.
Chicago
‘Total $11.95’, an Andy Warhol 1984 screenprint on canvas, estimated at $40,000-60,000 at the Wright auction in Chicago.
This Andy Warhol 1984 screenprint on canvas, 20 × 16in (51 × 41cm), titled Total $11.95, was a gift from the artist to Jean-Michel Basquiat. It is signed, inscribed and dated to verso Jean Love Andy 84. At the Wright auction in Chicago on September 27 the estimate is $40,000-60,000.
New Jersey
Carved wood ancestor figure from Fiji, estimated at $100,000-150,000 at Rago Auctions.
Tribal art was one of just many passions of the prolific collector Allan Stone. Pieces from his collection will feature in a tribal art auction to be held by Rago Auctions on October 19 in Lambertville, New Jersey.
Among the highlights will be this carved wood ancestor figure from Fiji which has an earlier provenance to the famous ethnographic collector James T Hooper. The figure dates from the early to mid 19th century, stands 2ft (61cm) high and has an estimate of $100,000-150,000.
New York: Swann
A copy of the first pamphlet from Paine’s The American Crisis series carries an estimate of $25,000-35,000 at Swann Auction Galleries in New York on September 27.
Released at a time when the revolution was still viewed as an unsteady prospect, it was read aloud to the Continental Army in December 23, 1776, three days before the Battle of Trenton, in an attempt to bolster morale among patriots and shame neutrals.
