Press & Announcements
Read the latest press coverage & announcements about Freeman's.
Read the latest press coverage & announcements about Freeman's.
Freeman's reset the world auction record for Gertrude Abercrombie today, as her work Alderman Merriam's Shells sold for $1,352,600 in the firm's Post-War & Contemporary Art sale, live in New York. The result marks the first work by the artist ever to hammer over $1 million. Rediscovered at an estate sale and purchased for just $30, the work led an auction that achieved a total of $3,449,560, with an 88% sell-through rate by lot and 154% by value. The sale also brought 23% new buyers to the firm, with participation from 12 countries. Speaking to the sale is Zack Wirsum, Senior Vice President, Head of Department, Post War & Contemporary Art. “No fairytale would be complete without a storybook ending, and Gertrude Abercrombie's Alderman Merriam's Shells selling for a new auction record is as happily ever after as it gets. As happy as we are to have recaptured the record sale price for an artist we have long championed, we are even happier for our eagle-eyed consignor who saved this masterpiece from staying forever lost to time. I love it when good things happen to good people and when the story unfolds in reality just as we wrote it. The Abercrombie shooting the moon was obviously the high point of the day, but the rest of the sale shone bright, with great results across the board to add to the magic of the day.” Collectors Battle for Gertrude Abercrombie’s Alderman Merriam’s Shells, 1951, Realizes $1,352,600 Carrying a pre-sale estimate of $150,000 to $250,000, Alderman Merriam's Shells (Lot 3, 1951) opened at $80,000 before five phone bidders, and several online bidders contested the work. The bidding carried the painting to $1,352,600 (price realized, including buyer’s premium), more than five times its high estimate, and set a new world auction record for Gertrude Abercrombie (American, 1909–1977), the celebrated Chicago Surrealist. It is the first work by the artist ever to hammer over $1 million. Missing from public view for 75 years, Alderman Merriam's Shells resurfaced this past summer at a Michigan estate sale, where a longtime collector of records and mid-century furniture spotted it in a dark hallway corner and bought it for $30 on the strength of its "Abercrombie" signature. Inspired by the find, the buyer visited the Abercrombie retrospective The Whole World Is a Mystery at the Milwaukee Art Museum, where the catalog reproduced a 1952 Chicago Tribune photograph of the painting in its original frame beside the actual shells it depicts. Dr. Susan Weininger, the leading Abercrombie scholar, subsequently authenticated the work, and the owner, recognizing Freeman's as a sponsor of the Milwaukee exhibition, entrusted it to the house. Painted in 1951, the work depicts nine finely rendered seashells on a slate-gray surface, with a single conical shell suspended by a thread against a black wall, appearing to levitate above the rest. The shells belonged to Robert Merriam, alderman of Chicago's Hyde Park, where Abercrombie lived and worked. A rare instance of the artist painting directly from life, it confirms that the shell motif in her later solitary shell paintings, long presumed invented, was drawn from observation and memory. Exhibited in six solo shows in 1952 and 1953, the painting was given by Abercrombie to Dr. John Reynolds of Kalamazoo, Michigan, in exchange for medical services, and remained in his family's possession until its rediscovery this year. Henry Moore Bronzes Lead $198,400 Offering of Sculpture from the Brooklyn Museum A selection of six sculptures from the Brooklyn Museum realized a combined $198,400, with every work finding a buyer. Leading the group were two bronzes by Henry Moore, Two Piece Reclining Figure: Maquette No. 4 (Lot 53, 1961) and Two Piece Reclining Figure #6 (Lot 54, 1964), each achieving $48,000 against estimates of $30,000–$50,000. Both works were bequeathed to the museum by William K. Jacobs, Jr. Additional highlights included two further works by Moore, Mother and Child: Bone (Lot 52, 1963) and Slow Form: Tortoise (Lot 55, 1962), alongside David Hayes’s welded steel Armored Animal (Lot 56, 1964), which The Maremont Corporation gifted to the museum in 1977. Dimitri Hadzi’s bronze Bozzetto(Lot 57), exhibited at MIT in 1963 and gifted to the museum by Dr. and Mrs. Werner Muensterberger in 1971, rounded out the offering. Rosenthal Collection of Newtown, Pennsylvania Sells 100%, Led by Alice Baber's Woodhenge at $124,800, More Than Double Its High Estimate The Rosenthal Collection of Newtown, Pennsylvania, was 100% sold and led by Alice Baber's (American, 1928–1982) Woodhenge (Lot 24, 1966), which achieved $124,800 against an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. Esteban Vicente's (American/Spanish, 1903–2001) D (Lot 23, 1959) followed at $73,600, against an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000. The group of 6 works realized a combined total of $288,640. Those familiar with the Post-War New York art scene may recognize the family name. Louis H. Rosenthal, the patriarch of the collection, was the longtime proprietor of Rosenthal's Art & Hobby Supply Company in Greenwich Village, later continuing at New York Central Art Supply Company. For over four decades, Rosenthal was not only a supplier of materials but a trusted friend and advisor to a generation of artists whose work would come to define the modern and Abstract movements of the twentieth century, among them Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, Alice Baber, Esteban Vicente, Mary Abbott, Milton Resnick, Karel Appel, and Paul Jenkins. Before their breakthroughs, many of these artists worked with limited means, and it was not uncommon for them to trade their work with Louis in exchange for the very materials that later shaped their successes. The works from the Rosenthal Collection stand as a testament to the family's unique material and personal contributions to the Post-War New York artistic community. Additional Highlights Lot 5 | Alex Katz (American, b. 1927) | Swimmer #2, 1973 Sold for $217,600 Lot 29 | Paul Jenkins (American, 1923-2012) | Phenomena Divining Rod, 1971 Sold for $172,800 Lot 76 | Hassan el Glaoui (French, 1924-2018) | Untitled Sold for $83,200 Lot 97 | Paul Feeley (American, 1910-1966) | Lacona, 1962 Sold for $76,800 Lot 4 | Roger Brown (American, 1941-1997) | Michigan Color Watch, 1981 Sold for $70,400 Lot 92 | Cosima von Bonin (German, b. 1962) | HALFWAY BUBBLES 1, 2, and 3, 2011 (three works) Sold for $51,200 About Freeman’s Freeman’s is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 16 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman’s strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.
Highlights included the 100% sold Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography, a Navajo “Claflin” Serape that realized $217,600, and a Tlingit Chilkat Blanket that sold for $35,200.
Sale sees 91% sell-through rate by lot, 108% by value, led by a Colombian emerald ring that soared past estimate
“We could not be more pleased with these exceptional results for our clients. These two auctions prove that when you bring together important works with significant historical provenance and pair them with high-quality, desirable Asian art that is accessible for all buyers, the market will respond in a big way,” Annie Wu, Senior Vice President and Head of Asian Art.
Sale also highlights a group of Post-War New York works from the Rosenthal Collection of Newtown, Pennsylvania, tied to the legendary Greenwich Village art-supply house that served de Kooning, Pollock, and their circle
Landmark rediscovery of Alderman Merriam’s Shells (1951), found at a Michigan estate sale for $30, to be offered October 1 with an estimate of $150,000–250,000
A Harry Winston diamond ring, Colombian emeralds, Burmese sapphires, and rare, signed pieces by Buccellati, Bulgari, Cartier, Fabergé, and Verdura lead Freeman’s $2.7 million Important Jewelry auction on September 23. With property sourced from across the country, the sale features several notable collections, including Property from the Collection of Sydell Miller, Property from the Estate of Rebecca Lee, and two prominent Midwest collections. “We are thrilled to present our September Important Jewelry auction. It represents an opportunity for collectors to acquire pieces that rarely come to auction, including Fabergé, French Art Deco, and unique Verdura pieces from several prominent collections,” said April Matteini, Freeman’s Senior Vice President and Head of Department for Jewelry. The auction features a remarkable selection of ruby, sapphire, and emerald pieces, headlined by an important set of emerald and diamond earrings (lot 109, estimate: $125,000 – 175,000). The earrings feature two cushion cut emeralds weighing approximately 15.03 and 14.58 carats, emerald cut diamonds weighing approximately 3.51 carats and 3.51 carats, and round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 1.02 and 1.07 carats mounted in yellow and white gold. Diamond rings, as always, are prominently featured throughout the sale, headlined by an important Stephen Russell diamond and platinum ring (lot 101, estimate: $100,000 – 150,000). Coming from the collection of a New York Lady, the ring features a cushion brilliant cut diamond weighing 5.02 carats, with the basket and shank set with single cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.50 carat total, mounted in platinum. Other Highlights Lot 20 | Lacloche Frères, Art Deco, Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, and Sapphire Lapel Watch Property from an Important Midwest Collection $30,000 – 50,000 Lot 104 | Bulgari, 'Profumo', Cultured Pearl, Diamond, and White Gold Necklace Property from a Private Collection, Cleveland, Ohio $30,000 – 50,000 Lot 107 | Alexandrite and Diamond Ring Property Sold to Benefit the Children's Museum of Indianapolis $25,000 – 35,000 Sale Preview Weekdays: 10 am – 5pm | Weekends: 11 am – 5 pm | All Times Local New York: September 3 - 4 & 8 – 10 Philadelphia: September 13 – 14 Chicago: September 18 - 22 How to Bid Important Jewelry will be offered on September 23 at 10 AM CT in Freeman’s Chicago saleroom. Bidding will be available in person, over the phone, and via absentee or live online bidding. About Freeman’s Freeman’s is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 16 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman’s strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.
Freeman's will present two Asian art auctions this September in its New York saleroom: Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Estate of Dr. Thomas Klein, sold to benefit the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, on Thursday, September 17, followed by Asian Works of Art on Friday, September 18. Bringing together imperial porcelain, museum deaccessions, a rediscovered piece from the collection of J. Pierpont Morgan, and snuff bottles from a connoisseur's lifetime pursuit, the two sales offer collectors a wide-ranging and historically rich selection heading into the fall season. Annie Wu, Senior Vice President and Head of Asian Art, commented: "We are pleased to present Asian art of this caliber for the fall season. Bringing together important works with significant historical provenance, from the Yamanaka-Shelton 'nine dragon' vase to the Koger Dehua porcelains, offers an excellent opportunity for collectors. Our goal is to offer high-quality, desirable Asian art that is accessible for all buyers. Whether you are an established institution or a new enthusiast, this auction provides an opportunity to acquire notable objects with confidence." Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Estate of Dr. Thomas Klein — September 17 Freeman's is privileged to bring Philadelphia collector Dr. Thomas Klein's collection of Chinese snuff bottles to auction. On September 17, some of Dr. Klein's finest examples will be made available in New York for the next generation of enthusiasts. Many of these bottles were previously held in some of the most important collections assembled in the last quarter of the 20th century, including the Bloch, Grimberg, J & J, and Bob C. Stevens collections, and were handled and published by leading dealers in the field such as Hugh Moss, Robert Kleiner, Robert Hall, Clare Chu, and Susan Page. Dr. Klein was known as a determined competitor for puddingstone bottles, and his broader interest in mineralogical examples is evident in the jasper, agate, jade, and jadeite bottles offered in the sale. Glass — particularly monochrome, overlay, and carved examples — was also a focus of his collecting, as were "organic" materials such as amber, coral, and carved bamboo. Molded and enameled porcelain bottles round out this wide-ranging collection. Ben Farina, Senior Vice President and International Representative, Asian Art, commented: "Snuff bottles have been a relatively overlooked segment of the market for Chinese antiques and works of art, still offering great opportunities for both beginning and advanced collectors. The variety of materials and techniques, historical and cultural references, and accessible scale make snuff bottles an appealing area for exploration. The jade, hardstone, glass, porcelain, and other examples of bottles offered in New York on September 17th illustrate this range. Highlights Include: Lot 24 | An Unusual Chinese Hexagonal Puddingstone Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty, Circa 1750–1860 | Estimate: $2,000 – $3,000 Puddingstone was a particular passion of Dr. Klein's, its mottled inclusions cut by the lapidary into painterly, near-abstract patterns. This hexagonal example shows off the stone's dense speckling and Dr. Klein's eye for material and pattern. Lot 37 |An Imperial Chinese Carved Yellow Glass Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty, Circa 1750–1820 |Estimate: $1,500 – $2,000 Carved from a rich imperial yellow glass, this bottle belongs to a group of monochrome glasswares made for court use in the mid- to late Qing dynasty; its saturated color and confident carving reflect the imperial glassworks at their best. Lot 58 |A Chinese White Overlaid Blue Glass Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty, 18th Century |Estimate: $2,500 – $3,500 A fine example of overlay glass, pairing a deep blue ground with crisply carved white relief — a technique Qing glassworkers used to evoke the look of carved hardstone. Asian Works of Art—September 18 Freeman's Asian Works of Art auction features over 290 carefully curated lots tailored for discerning connoisseurs, collectors, and institutions. Leading the sale is a remarkable group of individual masterpieces distinguished by significant historical provenance. Highlights include a magnificent Jiaqing/Daoguang period blue and white 'Nine Dragons' vase (Lot 286) tracing back to Yamanaka & Company, a pair of Mid-Tang Dynasty engraved 'Ladies' tomb doors (Lot 212) formerly with Ton-Ying & Co. and J.T. Tai & Co., and an impressive Qing Dynasty green-enameled yellow-ground 'Dragon' moon flask (Lot 386) from the prestigious J. Pierpont Morgan Collection. Highlights Include: Lot 286 | A Magnificent, Monumental, and Extremely Rare Chinese Blue and White 'Nine Dragons' Vase, Qing Dynasty,Jiaqing/Daoguang Period 清嘉慶/道光 巨型青花九龍大瓶（附山中商會1943年圖錄) | Estimate: $40,000 – $60,000 | Property from the Collection of The Honorable Robert C. Shelton, Jr. The centerpiece of the sale, this monumental blue-and-white vase is accompanied by a 1943 Yamanaka & Co. catalogue documenting its distinguished history. Painted with nine dragons in a composition long associated with the emperor and his heirs, the vase was an extraordinary technical achievement, built in three luted sections and successfully fired intact. The central, frontal-facing dragon and the smaller, upward-gazing five-clawed dragon rising from the waves below evoke the design known as "the Emperor instructing the Crown Prince," reserved for only a select few imperial commissions. Comparison of its ruyi-head borders, wave bands, and archaistic scrolling handles to related imperial and high-quality unmarked wares supports a dating to the late 18th or early 19th century — a reminder that not every porcelain of imperial quality and dramatic scale from this era left the kiln bearing a reign mark. Lot 250 | A Rare Chinese Blanc-de-Chine Porcelain Oil Lamp and Stand, Mid 17th–Early 18th Century 清早期 德化白瓷暗刻花卉紋帶座油燈 Estimate: $6,000 – $8,000 | Property Deaccessioned from The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art / Florida State University This finely potted Dehua "blanc-de-chine" oil lamp and stand, carved beneath its glaze with subtle floral decoration, comes to auction after being deaccessioned from the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art at Florida State University. Its inclusion in the sale reflects Freeman's collaboration with museums and public institutions nationwide, relationships considered important for bringing well-documented works to market. Lot 386 | An Impressive Chinese Green Enameled Yellow Ground Porcelain 'Dragon' Moon Flask, Qing Dynasty 清 黃地綠彩龍紋大抱月瓶 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 | Property from a Philadelphia Main Line Collection Consigned without any accompanying history, this striking yellow-ground moon flask, enameled in green with dragon roundels, presented a research challenge for Freeman's specialists. The investigation traced the flask back to the collection of financier J. Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), confirming its inclusion in an early catalogue of his holdings. This discovery gives the consignment a documented pedigree extending back over a century to one of the most important collections of Chinese Porcelain assembled in the United States at the turn of the 20th century. Auction Dates Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Estate of Dr. Thomas Klein: Thursday, September 17 Live | New York | 9:30 AM ET Asian Works of Art: Friday, September 18 Live | New York | 10 AM ET Previews 32 East 67th St | New York | NY 10065 September 11-12, 10 AM- 5 PM September 14-17, 10 AM- 5 PM For more information or to browse the full catalogues, visit freemansauction.com. How to Bid Both auctions will be offered in Freeman's New York saleroom. Bidding will be available in person, over the phone, and via absentee or live online bidding. For more information, please visit freemansauction.com. About Freeman’s Freeman’s is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 16 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman’s strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.
“This remarkable collection of unique documents dealing primarily with the abolitionist movement, but also educational reform and anti-slavery in general, descended through May’s family and has never before been offered for sale,” Darren Winston, SVP, Head of Department, Books & Manuscripts.
Seasoned specialist brings more than two decades of international auction experience and deep expertise in European painting from the Renaissance through the early twentieth century
Spanning virtually all 250 years of American Independence, the sale brings together rare and important books, presidential manuscripts, fresh-to-market abolitionist and African American material, natural history, and important works of literature, offering collectors the opportunity to acquire objects that helped shape the American experience.
Freeman's Summer Edit auction, held July 22 and July 23 in the firm's Chicago saleroom, realized $1,604,288 as collectors competed for exceptional luxury watches, handbags, jewelry, and accessories from the world's leading maisons. The two-day sale achieved a 90% sell-through rate by lot, while 23% of buyers were new to the firm, reflecting continued demand for rare luxury property and Freeman's growing reach among collectors.
Freeman’s presented 15 exceptional works in its inaugural Vietnamese Modernists auction on July 21, 2026, featuring works by some of the most influential and celebrated voices in Vietnamese modern art, including Lê Phổ and Vũ Cao Đàm. Enthusiastic participation drove the sale to 201% sold by value, with a 93% sell-through rate by lot, and welcomed 38% new buyers, achieving total $1,201,216.00. The strong results underscore market interest in and appreciation for this important category of Vietnamese modern art. "I'm elated with the results of Freeman's inaugural sale. It is further proof of the robustness of this emerging market and a confirmation of Freeman's vital role in it, said Raphaë. We can't wait to put together our next edition come January." Le Pho 黎譜 Leads the Sale with Strong Results Leading the Vietnamese Modernists sale was the lush, dreamlike Les Fleuristes by Le Pho 黎譜 (Lot 11), which sold for $371,200—more than three times its low estimate of $120,000. Among the sale’s top performers was Dans le Jardinby Le Pho 黎譜 (Lot 2), a rare oil on silk, which achieved $153,600, also selling for more than three times its low estimate of $40,000. Rich in color and atmosphere, both works exemplify Lê Phổ’s enduring fascination with the natural world, capturing the graceful interplay between figures and their surroundings. Strong Results Across a Range of Artists Notable top lots also includedHanoi Street, 2014 by Trần Luu Hau 陳劉厚 (Lot 15) which achieved $118,403—nearly four times its low estimate of $30,000 and now the second top price for a work by the artist. Le Printemps, 1983 by Vũ Cao Đàm 武高談 (Lot 3) sold for $89,600,more than twice its low estimate of $40,000. Rounding out the group, Fernando Amorsolo’s 阿莫索羅’s Philippine Landscape, 1920 (Lot 8) hammered for $83,200, nearly three times its low estimate of $30,000. Together, these results demonstrate the breadth of collecting interest across the sale, spanning significant works by leading figures in Vietnamese and Southeast Asian modern art. Additional Highlights Lot 7 | Le Serment, 1955, Vũ Cao Đàm 武高談 (French/Vietnamese, 1908-2000) Sold for $89,600 Lot 5 | Deux Jeunes Filles, 1958, Vũ Cao Đàm 武高談 (French/Vietnamese, 1908-2000) Sold for $76,800 Lot 13 | La Jeune Famille, 1960, Vũ Cao Đàm 武高談 (French/Vietnamese, 1908-2000) Sold for $64,000 Lot 14 | Les Renoncules, Fond Jaune, c. 1976, Lê Phổ 黎譜 (French/Vietnamese, 1907-2001) Sold for $57,600 Lot 9 | Roses au Vase Bleu, Lê Phổ 黎譜 (French/Vietnamese, 1907-2001) Sold for $38,400 About Freeman’s Freeman’s is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 16 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman’s strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.
Freeman’s summer European Furniture & Decorative Arts auction exceeding its presale estimate by more than $800,000 on its way to a two-day total of $1,812,096. The July 14 and 15 auction was headlined an extraordinary single-owner session of property from the collection of Ada and Barrie Regan and their historic Strawberry Hill home on the San Francisco Peninsula. The collection beat its estimate by more than $100,000 and saw 98% of its lots sell as bidders vied for the opportunity add pieces from the historic home to their collections.
Monumental glass installation realizes $243,200, leading strong summer auction in Chicago
Firm delivers 122% sell-through by value as historic discoveries, white-glove sales, and standout Fine Art drive market momentum