Press & Announcements
Read the latest press coverage & announcements about Freeman's.
Read the latest press coverage & announcements about Freeman's.
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_column_text]Through the October and November auction season, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will conduct two unique single-owner auctions in addition to its regularly scheduled auction of decorative arts from various owners. The first collection to be offered on October 12-13 is that of Gerard L. Cafesjian, an avid collector whose interests spanned centuries and mediums. On October 20-21 the various-owner auction will be titled Period Style to emphasize its focus on English and European movements by time period. Finally, on November 17, a second single-owner auction will highlight the contents of a Chicago-area home. A Collector’s Legacy: Decorative Arts from the Gerard L. Cafesjian Collection will include furniture and decorative objects demonstrating avant-garde design from the 18th to the 21st centuries. Born in 1925 to Armenian immigrant parents, Mr. Cafesjian served in the U.S. Navy and had a long career with West Publishing, the world’s largest publisher of legal information. Upon his retirement he founded the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and the Cafesjian Center for the Arts in Yerevan, Armenia. Mr. Cafesjian’s eclectic collection includes Napoleon III furniture, 18th century porcelain, Art Nouveau ceramics, mid-20th century Italian silver sculptures, a variety of examples of important Brutalist design and rarely-offered examples of post-modern design, all unified by the same appreciation for color, form and whimsy. A pair of Napoleon III gilt bronze mounted marquetry encoignures ($20,000 / 40,000) are attributed to Grohé Frères and appear next to an upright piano ($8,000 / 12,000) by the Parisian firm of Georges Alphonse Bonifacio Monbro. Post-war design offerings are led by a group of Paul Evans furniture including a sculpture front cabinet ($100,000 / 150,000) and a custom bar cabinet ($50,000 / 70,000) as well as a Phillip Lloyd Powell bar cabinet ($30,000 / 50,000). The following week, Period Style will feature superb examples of English and Continental furniture, ceramics, tapestries, lighting, clocks and bronze sculpture, with particular emphasis on furniture of the French and Biedermeier tastes. Highlights in these areas include a pair of Louis XVI gilt bronze sconces ($40,000 / 60,000) reputed to have belonged to François Marie Ménage de Pressigny and a Spanish table ($10,000 / 20,000) fashioned in the Empire taste and bearing a stamp that suggests it was part of the Royal Collection of Ferdinand VII. The estates of Shirle Westwater (Columbus, Ohio) and Denise Selz (Chicago, Illinois) and the collection of James Wenneker (Lexington, Kentucky) complete the auction. Included are several superlative lots of Italian marble sculpture; one example from Mr. Wenneker is a figure by Roman sculptor Orazio Andreoni depicting a woman after her bath ($10,000 / 20,000). On November 17 buyers will have the opportunity to acquire fine examples of late 19th century French furniture by leading Parisian firms as well as decorative objects of the same caliber. Connoisseur and Collector: a Chicago North Shore Residence is a single owner auction from a consignor Leslie Hindman Auctioneers has had the pleasure of working with for many years, watching the collection evolve as its curator continued to acquire. Now, relocation to the South brings an opportunity for the owner to build a new collection, paying equal tribute to his taste. Form, finish and workmanship across mediums were combined in this home, celebrating the prosperity of 19th century Europe. Auction A Collector’s Legacy: Decorative Arts from the Gerard L. Cafesjian October 12 – 13 Preview opens October 7 Period Style October 20 – 21 Preview opens October 15 Connoisseur and Collector: a Chicago North Shore Residence November 17 Preview opens November 12[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”5456″ alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”5498″ alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”5502″ alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”5474″ img_link_large=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”5468″ img_link_large=”yes”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”5395″ alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”5500″ alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”5393″ alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”5466″ img_link_large=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”5470″ img_link_large=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston and Belperron Among Top Results from the Rita Dee Hassenfeld Collection: Sale Total $3.5 Million ” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4859″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”5444″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”5003″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4936″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”5445″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4854″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”5446″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”4861″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On September 16, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers conducted a single-owner auction of Important Jewelry from the Estate of Rita Dee Hassenfeld. International dealers, collectors and institutions took note early on, many traveling to Chicago to view the impressive collection. Preview events in Chicago and New York showcased the sale, presenting highlights of signed pieces from designers such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Belperron, David Webb, Harry Winston and Seaman Schepps. The collection of 250 lots outperformed presale estimates, with sales totaling $3.5 million. Stealing the show was an extremely sought after Art Deco platinum, emerald, diamond, onyx and enamel lapel watch / necklace by Cartier. Signed E.W.&C. Co., it sold for $473,000, tripling its presale estimate of $100,000 – 150,000. Of similar interest, a ring by Harry Winston containing a pear shape brilliant cut diamond weighing approximately 9.12 carats of D color and VS2 clarity sold for $515,000 against a presale estimate of $375,000 – 425,000. An additional Harry Winston ring of platinum, 18 karat yellow gold, emerald and diamond sold for $149,000 with a presale estimate of $70,000 – 90,000. Suzanne Belperron also lured competitive bidding. A pair of silver, green beryl and grey chalcedony dress clips sold for $197,000 against a presale estimate of $30,000 – 50,000. A silver, carved aquamarine and green beryl ring sold for $55,000 while a silver, aquamarine and green beryl double strand necklace sold for $37,500, both Belperron with presale estimates of $7,000 – 9,000. Mrs. Hassenfeld was an accomplished ballerina in her youth and later a dedicated philanthropist and humanitarian. She married the late Harold Irwin Hassenfeld, a member of the founding family of Hassenfeld Brothers, now known as Hasbro Inc. The couple divided their time between two homes in Nashville and Palm Beach. Mrs. Hassenfeld was a founding member of the Swan Ball, one of the premier charity events in the United States attended by hundreds of prestigious supporters. The event continues to benefit Cheekwood Estate in Nashville, Tennessee, a privately supported nonprofit educational institute for the study and appreciation of the arts and botany. Top 10 lots: Lot 186, A Platinum and Diamond Ring, Harry Winston, sold for $515,000 Pre-sale estimate: $375,000 – 425,000 Lot 90, An Art Deco Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Onyx and Enamel Lapel Watch, Cartier, sold for $473,000 Pre-sale estimate: $100,000 – 150,000 Lot 250, A Pair of Silver, Green Beryl and Grey Chalcedony Dress Clips, Suzanne Belperron, sold for $197,000 Pre-sale estimate: $30,000 – 50,000 Lot 169, A Platinum, 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Emerald and Diamond Ring, Harry Winston, sold for $149,000 Pre-sale estimate: $70,000 – 90,000 Lot 149, An 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Colored Diamond and Diamond Butterfly Brooch, sold for $100,000 Pre-sale estimate: $18,000 – 22,000 Lot 228, A Pair of 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Platinum, Colored Diamond and Diamond Earclips, Van Cleef & Arpels, sold for $100,000 Pre-sale estimate: $25,000 – 35,000 Lot 184, A Fine Platinum and Diamond Necklace, Van Cleef & Arpels, with a Detachable Cultured Pearl and Diamond Pendant, sold for $93,750 Pre-sale estimate: $60,000 – 80,000 Lot 237, A Yellow Gold and Diamond Link Bracelet, Van Cleef & Arpels, sold for $93,750 Pre-sale estimate: $50,000 – 70,000 Lot 227, An 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Colored Diamond and Diamond Flexible Collar Necklace, Van Cleef & Arpels, sold for $84,375 Pre-sale estimate: $30,000 – 50,000 Lot 187, A Pair of Platinum and Diamond Spray Earclips, Van Cleef & Arpels, with Detachable Cultured Pearl and Diamond Drops, sold for $81,250 Pre-sale estimate: $50,000 – 70,000[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Fashion History Made at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers with Ebony Fashion Fair Tripling Presale Estimates On June 10, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers conducted the last of three Ebony Fashion Fair auctions with Johnson Publishing Company. This installment was named Treasures from the Ebony Fashion Fair Collection as the 567 garments offered were considered the “best of the best,” essential pieces from the Ebony collection making their debut at auction. The first two auctions took place in 2011 and 2013. While both were successful, the demand on June 10 bore witness to the unique opportunity to shop some of the biggest names in fashion while owning a piece of Ebony Fashion Fair history. A sale of this stature from the iconic organization will not happen again. Bringing over $470,000, the high-energy sale offered an exciting and highly successful close to the run of sales, and a portion of the proceeds will go to Johnson College Prep, a public, 4-year charter high school located in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago’s south side. With a 100% sell-through rate, the collection impressed stylists, fashion bloggers and designers a like. Notable industry influencers flew to Chicago to participate live or were phone bidding throughout the course of the day. There was something for everyone, but a handful of garments brought competitive bidding that pushed looks to impressive heights. Favorites from the day included a black velvet and marigold faille evening ensemble attributed to Yves Saint Laurent, which sold for $17,500. Another Yves Saint Laurent gown sold for $13,750, this one a couture black and sequin lace gown. Pierre Cardin shared the spotlight with a couture red sequin evening gown that sold for $6,000, and another red evening ensemble by Nina Ricci drew $5,250. The contemporary flare of Issey Miyake was well represented. A multicolor inflatable dress brought $4,375 and a similar skirt runway ensemble sold for $3,125.
Diverse Series of Post War and Contemporary Art Draws Global Bidding at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers The May 21 Post War and Contemporary Art sale at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers showcased a significant single-owner session alongside many important works that spanned sculpture, paintings and works on paper. The single-owner session came from the Claudia R. Luebbers Trust. For over four decades, Mrs. Luebbers acquired works by distinguished 20th century artists including Lee Bontecou, Jackson Pollock, William Kentridge, Gilbert & George, Sol LeWitt and Nick Cave, among many others. From her collection, top-selling lots included a 1959 untitled Lee Bontecou that sold for $350,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $200,000/300,000; Gilbert & George’s 1982 “Night Crusade,” which sold for $92,500; and the 1991 “Hare with a Telescope” by Barry Flanagan that sold for $80,500 against a pre-sale estimate of $20,000/30,000. The Luebbers session offered many outstanding works that added to the diversity of the entire Post War and Contemporary Art sale. Outside of this session, highlights included multiple Francoise Gilot canvases. His 1981 “A Window onto the Mediterranean” sold for $116,500 against a pre-sale estimate of $10,000/15,000. The sale featured five Victor Vasarely paintings, “ARCTU” fetching the highest bid and closing at $86,500. A series of Pablo Picasso ceramics drew numerous bidders. His 1953 “Vase deux anses Hautes” sold for $37,500 against a pre-sale estimate of $20,000/30,000. Chicago imagists, such as members of Hairy Who, were well represented in the sale. Karl Wirsum’s 1968 “Skullpture Y” sold for $92,500 against a pre-sale estimate of $10,000/15,000. Auction records were set for other Chicago imagists with Suellen Rocca’s “Lamp Poem” selling for $22,500 (pre-sale estimate $1,000/2,000) and Barbara Rossi’s “Wee Purr” selling for $32,500 (pre-sale estimate $5,000/7,000). The May 21 Post War and Contemporary Art sale was followed by a Fine Prints evening sale where contemporary artists fared well. The top lot was Benton Murdoch Spruance’s “Traffic Control,” which sold for $60,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $8,000/12,000. Multiple Andy Warhol and Joan Miro prints sold well and above high estimates. Wayne Thiebaud’s 1987 “Candy Apples” brought $32,500.
American painting auction results exceed expectations on May 20 at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers Property from the Collection of Carol H. and Richard M. Levin brought an important collection of 33 American paintings to Leslie Hindman Auctioneers for an evening sale held May 20 in Chicago. Five works by Thomas Hart Benton were sold, including his 1967 Discussion, which brought $1,052,500 against a pre-sale estimate of $200,000/400,000. With significant interest, phone bidders battled it out for the work, attempting to secure the quintessentially American scene of a laborer and union recruiter of the mid-20th century. Also available was Study for “Discussion,” which was reproduced in a 1937 issue of Life. It sold for $11,250 against a pre-sale estimate of $6,000/8,000. Two additional Benton studies sold well above high estimates: the 1951 Study for “Flood Disaster (Homecoming – Kaw Valley)” drew $362,500 against a pre-sale estimate of $120,000/180,000 and the 1956 Study for “Portrait of Carl Sandburg” brought $68,500 against a pre-sale estimate of $30,000/50,000. Highlights from other American artists included John Steuart Curry’s 1946 Self Portrait, which drew $62,500 and Charles Burchfield’s 1948 Basswood Tree in Winter, which sold at $98,500. Important American paintings also sold well in the May 20 day sale at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. The hallmark of the sale was Ralston Crawford’s 1937 Pennsylvania Barn, which sold well above its high estimate, realizing $572,500. The modern painting has been in the Collection of Brown Shoe Company, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, since 1971 and drew aggressive telephone bidding. Another lot from the day sale that experienced enthusiastic bidding was Charles Courtney Curran’s 1891 Peach Blossoms. The painting quickly surpassed its high estimate and sold for $104,500. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is thrilled to have brought such a significant collection of American paintings to the auction market. Both the May 20 day and evening sales offer a testament to the deep interest collectors continue to exhibit for early to mid-20th century American artists.
Important Civil War Letter from Lee to Grant Leads Hindman’s May 7 Auction An important letter from Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant leads an impressive selection of autographs in Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ May 7 Fine Books and Manuscripts auction. The letter, dated February 21, 1865, Richmond, Virginia, discusses their agreement to begin exchanging prisoners until one or the other party has been exhausted of them. The letter from Lee to Grant ($40,000-60,000) is one of 118 lots of historical, musical and literary autographs opening the May 7 auction, largely from Chicago-area private collections. In addition to examples from Louis XVI, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Verdi and Charles Dickens, the session includes two letters from Abraham Lincoln ($15,000-25,000), Thomas Jefferson ($6,000-8,000) and another from Robert E. Lee as superintendent of West Point ($10,000-15,000). The sale will feature a total of over 400 lots, including a number of important architectural books, John James Audubon prints, modernist and surrealist art and literary publications, and a small session of memorabilia. Highlights include a first edition of Colin Campbell’s tome, Vitruvius Britannicus ($20,000-$30,000), Herman Melville’s Moby Dick ($8,000-12,000) and Audubon’s Great Northern Diver ($10,000-15,000) and Black-Throated Diver ($8,000-12,000). Auction Schedule Fine Books and Manuscripts 1338 West Lake Street Chicago, Illinois 60607 Thursday, May 7 | 12 PM CT Preview Schedule Sunday, May 3 – Wednesday, May 6 Contact Kathryn Coldiron 312.334.4231
Eclectic Collectors and Loyal Fans Flock to See Auction of Oprah Winfrey’s Property The auction of Property from the Oprah Winfrey Collections was held on April 25 at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers after a week of preview parties, fan admiration and media buzz surrounding the sale of property from Ms. Winfrey’s Water Tower apartment in Chicago. Days leading up to the sale, endless foot traffic busied the exhibition floor of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago. Curious faces and intrigued collectors peered into glass cases, surveyed the walls and wondered what furniture arrangements Ms. Winfrey would have had in her own home. Camera crews from major news networks lit up the scene, capturing shots of the formal, the personal and the unpredictable items once owned by the global icon. On auction day, April 25, over 550 lots were up for sale, ranging from fine art to impressive party provisions to clothing worn on The Oprah Winfrey Show. With something for everyone, the sale had nearly 800 participants from 10 different countries with an active audience of bidders on the live, online bidding platforms, LHLive and Bidsquare. In addition to online bidders, the Chicago based auction house witnessed an influx of eager buyers and spectators in the saleroom. Many out of town guests traveled both near and far to participate in the sale. One participant traveled from San Francisco to partake in her second auction to date, coming in on a red-eye with hopes of securing items from the Property from the Oprah Winfrey Collections. Another fan from the west coast came into town for a chance to land one of the couture pieces worn by Ms. Winfrey on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Collectors from downstate Illinois drove up to inspect the Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica collection, which they placed winning bids on for both the luncheon and salad plates, selling together for $17,000. Highlights of the sale included a Danish parcel gilt pine tall case clock that sold for $8,750 against a presale estimate of $3,000/5,000 and a pair of Biedermeier parcel ebonized walnut side chairs that sold for $5,250 against a presale estimate of $2,000/4,000. The Jorg and Olif Bicycle, estimated at $200/400, sold for $875. An additional highlight was Hovsep Pushman’s Little Mother, which sold for $45,000. Leslie Hindman took to the podium as the sale’s first auctioneer and later went on to say, “We were thrilled to handle property from the Oprah Winfrey collection. It brought both new and experienced buyers together to raise money for a good cause.” The sale grossed nearly $800,000. Proceeds from the auction will benefit The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation, supporting the continued education of students from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, South Africa.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ summer Arts of the American West auction, June 4 and 5, will include over 500 lots of Navajo textiles, pueblo pottery, Western paintings and decorative arts and Southwestern jewelry. The property being offered will represent private collectors and estates from across the country, including collections from the now defunct Two Rivers Gallery in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. The sale will include a live and online only sessions. Among the highlights is a Western Apache figural basket ($1,500/2,500) and a collection of five McKenney & Hall portraits from History of the Indian Tribes of North America, 1836-38, hand colored lithographs ($1,500/2,500). Fine art is well represented in the summer auction and is led by Allan Capron Houser’s (American, 1914-1994) Dance of the Mountain Spirits, bronze, which is estimated to sell for $10,000/15,000 and Charles Partridge Adam’s (American 1858-1942) Lizard Head Peak, watercolor and gouache, which carries a presale estimate of $3,000/5,000. Other highlights include Gustav Baumann’s (American 1881-1971) Apple Blossoms, woodblock ($3,000/5,000); William Sanderson’s (American, 1905-1990) Clouds, oil on canvas board ($4,000/6,000) and Dan Namingha’s (American, b. 1950) Hopi Symbolism #1, 1996, acrylic on canvas ($5,000/7,000). Additional artists represented include Peter Hurd, Gerald McCann, James Kivetoruk Moses, Jose D. Royal, Birger Sandzen, Harry J. Schaare, Fritz Scholder, Jose D. Roybal, Olaf Wieghorst, Robert Wood and others. The Southwestern jewelry session offers several pieces by Edison Begay including silver and turquoise decorative boxes and jewelry. Of note: a Hopi 14K gold, silver and lander or red mountain turquoise pendant depicting a Kachina figure by Watson Honanie ($800/1,200); a silver and turquoise concha belt by Frank Patania Jr. ($1,500/2,500) and a Preston Monongye tufa cast belt buckle ($4,000/6,000) depicting a Kokopelli on a highly textured tufa-cast ground with turquoise cabochon. The jewelry session also has works by Frank Dishta, Harvey Begay, Rick Morrow, Effie Calavaza and others. Two Rivers Gallery was owned and operated by Douglas Kenyon from 1992- 2006 in Steamboat Springs. Featured in the auction is a selection of after L.A. Huffman handcolored reproduction photomurals. Laton A. Huffman was a post photographer at Fort Keogn in the Montana Territory in 1879. For the next 35 years, with a crude homemade camera, he became a frontier photographer capturing everyday life in the West. His iconic images depict cowboys and Plains Indians living and working, documenting the untamed Western landscape. These images will be of interest to private collectors and Western designers looking for quintessential cowboy imagery. In a similar vein, also available are Audubon prints, McKenney & Hall prints, hand-colored photo reprints of Western scenes, movie posters, folk art and a collection of original black and white contact prints by contemporary Western photographers. Auction Arts of the American West Thursday, June 4 | Denver Preview Friday, May 29-Wednesday, June 3 | Denver
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is pleased to announce a single-owner auction of property belonging to Ms. Oprah Winfrey. The auction will be conducted on April 25 in Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ Chicago saleroom. The auction is comprised of over 500 lots and includes English, French and Continental furniture and decorative arts, paintings, prints, drawings, porcelain, crystal, silver, memorabilia, clothing and accessories. The majority of the collection is property from Ms. Winfrey’s Water Tower apartment. Proceeds from the auction will benefit The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation, supporting the continued education of students from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, South Africa, as they continue their education at universities in South Africa and a range of prestigious American institutions such as Stanford University, Spelman College, Smith College, Brown University and others. “Oprah’s acumen as a media icon and businesswoman has been an inspiration for millions. Perhaps even more inspiring is her dedication to altruistic endeavors, built on the foundation of sharing her success to better the lives of others,” said Leslie Hindman, founder of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. “On a more personal level, I have long revered Ms. Winfrey as a collector. I once met with Ms. Winfrey in 2003, and we discussed my perspectives and advice regarding collecting. It was immediately evident that she had extensive market knowledge and had made it a priority to form relationships with dealers, collectors and industry contacts to make informed decisions regarding acquisitions.” Leslie Hindman (pronounced “Hi-ndman”) Auctioneers is pleased to offer some of these unique items from Ms. Winfrey’s time spent in this great city during the Property from the Oprah Winfrey Collections auction to take place Saturday, April 25. Auction Property from the Oprah Winfrey Collections Saturday, April 25 Preview Thursday, April 16-Friday, April 24
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts sale to include collection from The Toledo Museum of Art as well as antiquities from the Estate of John Harney of St. Louis, Missouri. A Louis XVI console desserte once in the collection of Baron Alphonse de Rothschild will be offered at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts auction to take place on April 29 and 30. The console ($30,000/50,000) is attributed to Bernard Molitor and was acquired by The Toledo Museum of Art in 1967; it had previously belonged to Baroness Clarice de Rothschild, to whom it was returned after its confiscation by the Nazis in 1938. The console is one object from The Toledo Museum of Art being sold for the benefit of the museum’s art acquisition fund. Also included is a pair of Italian Renaissance style cassoni ($20,000/40,000), a pair of 18th century northern European chandeliers ($10,000/20,000 each), French, English and Continental furniture and a group of bronze works from the Chiurazzi Foundries. The Chiurazzi foundries were established in 1840 by Gennari Chiurazzi, an apprentice of Pietro Masulli, a Neapolitan sculptor who copied ancient works of art. The foundries flourished in the late 19th century through the end of the Second World War. The April auction also includes a group of antiquities from the Estate of John Harney of St. Louis, Missouri. Harney ran his family’s design firm, Warfield Inc., for most of his life and traveled extensively while furthering his knowledge of history and design. Included in his collection is a Roman marble torso depicting the waist and parts of both legs ($8,000/12,000), a Roman marble Ionic capital ($3,000/6,000), a marble head of a young satyr ($1,500/2,500) and other objects. Highlights of property from various owners include English and Continental furniture, decorative arts, rugs and carpets and bronze sculpture, among them a Frederick William Macmonnies figure of Diana ($8,000/12,000) and a replica of Laocoön and His Sons cast by the Barbedienne foundry ($6,000/8,000), among others. Auction Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts, Including Objects from The Toledo Museum of Art Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30 Preview April 25-28 Image Captions A Pair of Italian Renaissance Style Parcel Gilt Walnut Cassoni, $20,000/40,000 (Toledo) Roman Marble Torso, 1st century A.D., $8,000/13,000 (Harney) A Louis XVI Gilt Bronze Mounted Mahogany Console Desserte, $30,000/50,000 (Toledo)
Collection of Interiors Master, Lars Bolander, Draws International Designers to Leslie Hindman Auctioneers On March 21 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers sold the collection from Lars Bolander’s Bamboo Hill home in Palm Beach, Florida, drawing enthusiastic bidding from designers and collectors alike. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ Dixie Highway saleroom was filled to capacity on Saturday morning, packed with local admirers of Swedish designer Lars Bolander’s unique Anglo-Nordic style. Bidders from around the world participated as well, inspired by the many tastes of the renowned designer who amassed much of his collection through extensive travel over the last four decades and nearly doubled the pre-sale high estimate. The most desired items in the sale were decorative arts and furniture of primarily French and Swedish origin, in addition to the traditional and contemporary designs throughout the collection. Burmese, Thai and other wooden and terra-cotta figures of monks and deities also drew vigorous interest. Top lots sold include a pair of Venetian terra cotta busts that brought $25,000 against their $15,000/20,000 pre-sale estimate. The kitchen table at Bamboo Hill, a Continental Walnut Refectory Table, brought $12,500 (estimate $800/1,200). A portrait of Elizabeth I by an unknown artist drew competitive bids, realizing $10,625 against a pre-sale estimate of $4,000/6,000. A pair of Italian Marble Urns also sold well, drawing a bid of $21,250 (estimate $5,000-7,000). After many years of having a showroom on “Antique Row” in West Palm Beach, Mr. Bolander has decided to sell his nearby home and personal treasures in order to establish residence elsewhere. A preview party was held on March 19 in Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ Palm Beach saleroom. The exhibition for the auction was designed by Mr. Bolander himself, who relished seeing his collection
Single-owner sales at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers bring important American and contemporary artworks to spring fine art auction schedule. During its spring fine art auction season, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will be handling two significant single-owner collections that will be incorporated into both the American and European Art sale on May 20 and the Post War and Contemporary Art sale on May 21. Highlights of the American and European Art sale include an important Precisionist work by the American artist Ralston Crawford, Pennsylvania Barn, 1937 ($200,000/400,000) as well as American Impressionist Charles Courtney Curran’s Peach Blossoms, 1891 ($50,000/70/000) and Still Life, 1924, by Modernist Preston Dickinson ($50,000/70/000). A notable selection of European paintings is also on offer, including Frederico del Campo’s Venice Waterway, Emilio Sanchez Perrier’s Alcalà de Guadaira and a watercolor by Paul Signac, titled Le Port de St. Servan. Property from the collection of Carol H. and Richard M. Levin will be included in the American and European Art sale. Mr. Levin, a Kansas City native, began collecting in the second half of the 20th century. He collected with a connoisseur’s eye and put an emphasis on acquiring paintings that paid homage to American roots. This evening sale, comprised of 34 works of art, will feature prominent American artists including works from Ashcan School painters best known for portraying city and modern life of the early 20th century in rejection of the more genteel, polished movements of the time. These artists include members of “The Eight,” such as Robert Henri, William James Glackens, Everett Shinn, George Benjamin Luks, Arthur B. Davies, Ernest Lawson and John French Sloan. Other movements represented in the sale include, Social Realism, American Modernism and American Impressionism. American Regionalism is well represented by five works of art by Thomas Hart Benton. Highlights from the collection include Robert Henri’s Bridget Lavelle, 1926 ($400,000/600,000), Charles Burchfield’s Basswood Tree in Winter, 1948 ($80,000/120,000) and John Steuart Curry’s Self Portrait, 1946 ($40,000/60,000). Also in the sale are three studies, a lithograph and a painting by Thomas Hart Benton, including Discussion, 1967 ($200,000/400,000) and Study for Flood Disaster (Homecoming – Kaw Valley), c. 1951 ($120,000/180,000). Another single-owner collection will be featured in the Post War and Contemporary Art sale: the Estate of Mrs. Claudia Luebbers. Mrs. Luebbers was an avid collector who impacted the Chicago art and philanthropic communities. She spent much of her time contributing to and serving on the boards of organizations such as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; the Society of Contemporary Art; the Renaissance Society; the Woman’s Board of the Art Institute of Chicago; the Hyde Park Art Center; and the Chicago Art Salon. Highlights of the collection include Jackson Pollock drawings, a mixed media image, Night Crusade, by Gilbert & George ($100,000/150,000), a Lee Bontecou, Untitled, 1959, wall relief ($200,000-300,000), a marble sculpture from Jenny Holzer’s survival series ($40,000/60,000) and many other unique works. Proceeds from the sale of Mrs. Luebbers’ collection will benefit the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. From outside of this collection, another contemporary highlight includes Amy Sillman’s Prize, 1997 ($30,000/50,000). Coming off of her strong showing at the 2014 Whitney Biennial, Sillman continues to inspire the international contemporary art world with her exquisite colors and abstract compositions. Prize signifies the short but important period of Sillman’s early transitional work that will maintain its significance in the lexicon of her career. To conclude the Fine Art spring schedule, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ Fine Prints sale will occur on the evening of May 21 and include works by artists such as Joan Miro, Andy Warhol, Wayne Thiebaud, Pablo Picasso, Jacob Lawrence and Jordan Wolfson. Image Captions Ralston Crawford, Pennsylvania Barn, 1937 ($200,000/400,000) Thomas Hart Benton, Discussion, 1967 ($200,000/400,000) Lee Bontecou, Untitled, 1959 ($200,000/300,000) Jackson Pollock, Number 62, 1939-40 ($40,000/60,000) Amy Sillman, Prize, 1997 ($30,000/50,000). Fine Art Auction Schedule American and European Art (372) Wednesday, May 20 – 10 AM CT Property from the Collection of Carol H. and Richard M. Levin (373) Wednesday, May 20 – 5:30 PM CT Post War and Contemporary Art (374) Thursday, May 21 – 10 AM CT Fine Prints (375) Thursday, May 21 – 5:30 PM CT
Colored Stones and Unique Diamonds Bring a Splash of Color to Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ Fine Jewelry and Timepieces Spring Sales Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will conduct their spring Important Jewelry and Timepieces sales on April 19 and 20. The Important Jewelry sale will include over 1,200 lots while the Fine Timepieces sale will offer a varied selection of vintage and contemporary watches. In addition to a range of signed jewelry, the collection will feature an impressive selection of certified colored stones and diamonds. The timepieces collection includes a number of desirable Rolex wristwatches. The Important Jewelry auction includes numerous single owner collections that feature unique diamonds and colored stones. A representative example to be offered is an Art Deco platinum, Burmese sapphire and diamond ring containing an antique cushion cut sapphire of extraordinary color, weighing approximately 6.00 carats within a surround of old European cut diamonds weighing approximately 1.31 carats. The ring is estimated at $30,000-50,000.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Anchoring the timepieces group is a stainless steel ref. 6239 “Paul Newman” Daytona Cosmograph wristwatch, Rolex, Circa 1969, with its original box and papers. The watch features impeccable provenance and is one of the most sought after collectible Rolex references and carries an attractive $50,000-70,000 estimate. Auction Fine Jewelry Sunday, April 19 12 PM Monday, April 20 10 AM Fine Timepieces Monday, April 20 5:30 PM Preview Wednesday, April 15-Sunday, April 19 Image Captions An Art Deco platinum, Burmese sapphire and diamond ring $30,000/50,000 A stainless steel ref. 6239 “Paul Newman” Daytona Cosmograph wristwatch, Rolex, Circa 1969 $50,000/70,000
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is pleased to announce a single-owner auction of property from the collection of Carol H. and Richard M. Levin. Led by the American and European Art department, the sale will be conducted on May 20 in the Chicago saleroom. Mr. Levin, a Kansas City native, began collecting in the second half of the 20th century. He collected with a connoisseur’s eye and put an emphasis on acquiring paintings that paid homage to American roots. This evening sale, comprised of 33 works of art, will feature prominent American artists including works from Ashcan School painters best known for portraying city and modern life of the early 20th century in rejection of the more genteel, polished movements of the time. These artists include members of “The Eight,” such as Robert Henri, William James Glackens, Everett Shinn, George Benjamin Luks, Arthur B. Davies, Ernest Lawson and John French Sloan. Other movements represented in the sale include, Social Realism, American Modernism and American Impressionism. American Regionalism is well represented by five works of art by Thomas Hart Benton. Highlights from the collection include Robert Henri’s Bridget Lavelle, 1926 ($400,000/600,000), Charles Burchfield’s Basswood Tree in Winter, 1948 ($80,000/120,000) and John Steuart Curry’s Self Portrait, ($40,000/60,000). Also in the sale are three studies, a lithograph and a painting by Thomas Hart Benton, including Discussion, 1967 ($200,000/400,000) and Study for Flood Disaster (Homecoming – Kaw Valley), c. 1951 ($120,000/180,000). With his knowledgeable and gifted eye, Richard Levin was able to uncover details of an artist’s style and oversee preparatory studies for important commissions. His advocacy for the arts extended into the public sector where he is remembered and respected for his tenure on the board of directors for multiple institutions, such as the Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City Art Institute, Kemper Museum and Truman Library. Mr. Levin enjoyed a career as founder and CEO of Jason Empire, Inc., an importer of optics that went public in 1969 and became a part of Bushnell. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is honored to be handling the property of a collector devoted to significant 20th century American paintings. This single-owner evening sale follows Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ American and European Art spring sale, which will take place during the day on May 20. Rounding out the Fine Art department spring schedule will be the Post War and Contemporary Art and Fine Print sales on May 21.
Written by: chicagoarchitecture.org The allegorical figure who, quite literally, stood head and shoulders above the rest of Chicago for 20 years is going on the auction block. The statue of the goddess Diana was a weathervane in the form of a naked woman holding a torch in one hand and a caduceus in the other. She was made by sculptor John Massey Rhind in 1898 to top the tower that used to rise above 6 North Michigan Avenue. At the time, the building was the Montgomery Ward Headquarters. In 1947 she was removed from the building and chopped into pieces, which were snatched up by Chicagoana collectors. Her breasts went one way, her arms another. After 67 years in private hands, Diana’s head is coming on the market. It will be auctioned off November 4th at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers (1338 West Lake Street). More information, check the press release after the photos. For some reason it refers to her as “Amazonian,” even though she was Greek (see Wikipedia link above). Chicago, Illinois – October 3, 2014 – This Amazonian beauty once towered over the Chicago skyline at 18 feet tall, making the Montgomery Ward headquarters the tallest building in the Windy City for over 20 years. In 1947, the Progress Lighting the Way For Commerce weathervane was dismantled and cut into 30 pieces. The remnants were claimed by astute souvenir- seeking Chicagoans. A Chicago Tribune article from July 20, 1947 reports that a prominent Chicagoan requested her bust! At that time, the David V. Nelson family acquired the head of “Progress” which will be offered at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers on November 4 in the 20th Century Decorative Arts auction. In 1898 Richard E. Schmidt was hired to add a tower to the existing Montgomery Ward building at 6 North Michigan Avenue. “Progress” was designed by Scottish-American sculptor John Massey Rhind and topped Schmidt’s pyramid form tower. In her original form, “Progress” was depicted as a nude, bearing a flaming torch in her right hand and a caduceus in her left balancing atop a globe. The metallic erosion at the top of her face reveals the wear of nearly half a century outside amongst the Chicago elements. John Massey Rhind was said to be influenced by Augustus Saint-Gaudens Diana which topped the Agriculture Building at the Chicago World’s Fair. For more information on the weathervane or the 20th Century Decorative Arts auction, please call Rebecca Williams at 312-280-1212. Preview for the sale will begin October 31 and continue until November 3.
Jewelry from the Estate and Trust of Elise Reeder Olton, Boca Raton, Florida Chicago, Illinois – April 10, 2014 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ April 6-8 auctions of Fine Jewelry and Timepieces grossed over $6 million. The highly successful sales included highlights of signed pieces from firms such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., and Ruser among others. Reflecting the fervent demand for vintage Van Cleef & Arpels, the Olton Estate jewels met with tremendous success in the sale, exceeding all pre-sale expectations and achieving an impressive 100% sold for the collection. The strong interest and incredible results perfectly exhibit the potent combination of marquee names and private estate collections. As a frequent world traveler and consummate collector of fine art, the jewelry of Elise Reeder Olton exhibits a refined taste for design and quality. An exquisite 6.06 carat emerald cut diamond of rare Type IIa D color and potentially flawless clarity brought $464,500 against a pre-sale estimate of $250,000-300,000 amidst spirited bidding. The session was highlighted by several important examples of Van Cleef & Arpels earrings, such as the invisibly set ruby and diamond earclips ($60,000 realized) and an elegant pair of channel set turquoise and diamond earclips ($45,000 realized). Specially commissioned works by Van Cleef & Arpels also prominently featured a fine, unheated Burmese sapphire within a classic diamond surround ring setting which incited intense bidding, driving it to a final price $122,500 from the pre-sale estimate of $40,000-60,000. Though Van Cleef & Arpels figured strongly in her collection, Mrs. Olton’s eclectic selection also included many fine pieces from other top jewelers which resonated with collectors. A meticulously color-matched sapphire and diamond bracelet by Oscar Heyman Brothers for Ruser was a favorite, achieving $40,000 from an estimate of $15,000-20,000. An unusual star sapphire and diamond articulated ring by Tiffany brought $30,000 while an elegant pair of diamond spray earrings by Ruser hammered at $25,000. Jewelry from the Estate of Gerard L. Cafesjian, Naples, Florida The eclectic, colorful and whimsical collection of Gerard L. Cafesjian proved extremely popular amongst collectors during the single-owner session on April 8th. Mr. Cafesjian’s taste for bold color combinations and fanciful design spread across an incredible array of mediums including the glass works of Dale Chihuly and his important Fine Art collection to name just two. The joyful nature of his jewelry was met with an eager response. Featuring an incredibly diverse group of jewels ranging from antique to modern, conservative to avante garde, the sale exceeded all expectations and achieved 93% sell-through amidst an exciting auction day. Several notably rare and important pieces changed hands during the sale. A highly unusual gold, emerald and green beryl compact attributed to Suzanne Belperron sold for $55,000, well over double the previous auction result from 1998 and evidence of her ever-increasing importance amongst collectors. An exquisite and complex carved coral and gem bracelet by Lorenz Bäumer brought $35,000 while a bold fire opal and colored diamond necklace by Michael Youssoufian also achieved $35,000. Traditional classics such as a fancy deep yellow diamond and diamond necklace ($79,300 realized) were also offered to the eager audience. Leading a strong session notable for its large selection of Patek Philippe, the ref. 3448 for Tiffany well exceeded expectations by achieving a remarkable $182,500 against a pre-sale estimate of $70,000-90,000. The Patek timepiece, consigned by a collector in Florida, combines all of the elements inherent in a truly fine, collectible watch. Rounding out the auction was a fine single-owner collection highlighted by a number of contemporary commemorative Patek Philippe pieces. The group, offered in very fine condition and impeccably complete with all accompanying materials, was embraced with confidence by discerning collectors and proved highly successful.