Natural History Sold December 2^nd

at Bonhams & Butterfields in Los Angeles

“There was competitive bidding for many lots, both on the telephones and in the salesroom for natural wonders of all sorts. Gold nuggets and meteorite specimens were the true highlights of the December 2, 2007 sale at Bonhams & Butterfields, as were several items that posses rare and unusual qualities,” said Natural History Department Consulting Director Tom Lindgren.

The top lot of the Winter Natural History sale at Bonhams & Butterfields in Los Angeles was a complete brilliantly mirror-polished Seymchan meteorite. Discovered in Russia, the slice displays an unusual and dramatic presentation of its iron composition. The lot is one of the largest complete slices of an iron meteorite ever offered. The Seymchan slice sold for $96,000 while its book match, a slice of Seymchan offered separately as the preceding lot, brought $48,000. 

Additional meteorites of note included a fine Gibeon Octahedrite (on a custom patinated bronze base sculpted by lapidary artist Lawrence Stoller). Its astonishing aesthetic form includes a deep scoop and innumerable regmaglypts, or thumb prints. Its shard-like shape is a result of the force with which the outer space invader sliced through Earth’s atmosphere, the intensity of its descent twisting and crushing the molten metal as it rained down to Africa (sold for: $33,000). 

Featured within a section comprising Native Metals were several lots of Australian gold nuggets such as a large 23.5-ozt nugget of rugged character with great three-dimensionality. The edges have a somewhat “molten” appearance and the specimen exhibits an overall warm buttery patina (sold for $39,000). Another nugget, weighing 14-ozt, was also catalogued as possessing dramatic character and three-dimensionality, it brought $22,800. The final lot of gold nuggets sold for $8,400, this example weighed approximately 4.9-ozt. The only example of domestic gold, a 0.61-ozt crystallized gold specimen from Nevada, sold for $3,600.   -More-

Nat. Hist. @ B&B -2-

The sale’s Décor section was robust, highlighted by an immense petrified wood desk (sold for $24,000) comprised of a polished slab of extinct pine with textured edges atop a mesquite base with two drawers. According to Lindgren: “The market for petrified wood and items comprised of this exceptional material continues to be strong.”

Highlighting the Curiosities section of the sale was a large Narwhal tusk. A widely unknown creature, the narwhal is a majestic marine mammal, a species of whale (cetacean) most closely related to the Beluga whale and the Irrawaddy dolphin, the species still dwells in the Arctic Ocean today.

Male narwhals are easily identified by their single, exceedingly long spiraling tusk -- which is actually a tooth that projects from the left side of the upper jaw. While the body of an adult male can grow up to 18-feet, the tusk can grow to be five to ten feet long — an extraordinary percentage of the beast’s overall length. Offered on a custom marble base, the tusk is impressively large and brought $11,000. Bidding was active for insect taxidermy during the start of the Sunday sale, well-prepared butterflies, spiders and even a display of four distinct species of bats attracted bidder attention, many selling above estimate (the bats brought twice their estimate, selling for $1,680). 

Additional highlights from the December 2 sale included: a superb Tanzanite of impressive size – weighing approximately 103.73-carats (sold for: $42,000); a very large Woolly Mammoth tusk (sold for: $36,000) and a fossil palm frond with fish on an irregular matrix sold for $19,200. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(C) MBN 2007 Joyce Chow

Perfect Holiday Gifts for the Entertainment Biz Insider:

Entertainment Memorabilia Auction Brings Rare Collectibles from Superstars of Stage and Screen

Marilyn, Joan Crawford, Jerry Garcia, The Beatles, and many more at

Bonhams & Butterfields

 

Live from the Sunset Strip, a star-studded line-up of vintage and contemporary TV, film and rock memorabilia from pop culture icons and groundbreaking artists comes to auction at Bonhams & Butterfields. Media Previews open in Los Angeles at B&B on Sunset Blvd. on Friday, Dec. 7 and members of the press are invited to preview the lots. Rare glimpses into the private lives of superstars include: a Marilyn Monroe archive of never before seen documents and personal items related to the star including her first contract from 20th Century Fox, documents linked to the infamous 'Happy Birthday Mr. President' gown, a never before seen group of telephone bills from her personal archive documenting calls to Washington D.C. and a snapshot taken in 1952 while the star was filming Niagara ...

Highlights include: a Geisel drawing of a Dr. Seuss character titled The I & E Officer and the Bee (est. $75/100,000); two guitars once owned by Jerry Garcia, (est. $40/50,000 each); a collection of love letters handwritten to a beau by a teenage Joan Crawford (est. $3/5,000); a Buddy Holly costume worn on stage (est. $15/20,000); a rare Beatles Butcher Cover for the now notorious 1966 album (est. $10/15,000); a one-sheet film poster from David O. Selznick's 1939 Academy Award®-winning epic Gone with the Wind (est. $10/15,000); a never-before-seen life-sized wax figure of Lady Diana (est. $6,000/6,500); a Victorian style cut-glass inkwell prop from the Academy Award®-winning film My Fair Lady (est. $1,000/1,500) and much more...

a Geisel drawing of a Dr. Seuss character titled The I & E Officer and the Bee (est. $75/100,000); two guitars once owned by Jerry Garcia, (est. $40/50,000 each); a collection of love letters handwritten to a beau by a teenage Joan Crawford (est. $3/5,000); a Buddy Holly costume worn on stage (est. $15/20,000); a rare Beatles Butcher Cover for the now notorious 1966 album (est. $10/15,000); a one-sheet film poster from David O. Selznick's 1939 Academy Award®-winning epic Gone with the Wind (est. $10/15,000); a never-before-seen life-sized wax figure of Lady Diana (est. $6,000/6,500); a Victorian style cut-glass inkwell prop from the Academy Award®-winning film My Fair Lady (est. $1,000/1,500) and much more...

 

 

A World Awash in Color and Light

Bonhams & Butterfields Announces December 10 Sale of California & American Paintings and Sculpture

Winter sale to feature works by American masters

Thomas Moran, E. Charlton Fortune and Guy Rose

Bonhams & Butterfields, California's oldest and largest auctioneers, is pleased to announce the December 10, 2007 sale of California and American Paintings and Sculpture. Barbizon and other 19^th century landscapes, Western scenes, Impressionist and Modernist compositions including plein air paintings, genre scenes, and cityscapes by established California and American artists; including those by Thomas Moran, Guy Rose, E. Charlton Fortune, Maynard Dixon, William Keith, Granville Redmond, Joseph Raphael, Frank Tenney Johnson, John Marshall Gamble, Selden Connor Gile and Maurice Braun, among others; will be on offer.

"The demand for fresh-to-market California and American works is high," said Scot Levitt, Director of California & American Paintings and Sculpture sales for Bonhams & Butterfields. "We continue to see buyer interest, particularly for better known artists and A-plus examples," continued Levitt.

The marquee lot from the sale is a rare impressionist work entitled Late Afternoon, Monterey (est. $300/500,000) by E. Charlton Fortune. Working in obscurity for most of her career, Fortune utilized the 'E.' to disguise the name Euphemia and her gender.

Although she is best known for her later work in the genres of landscape, portrait and religious compositions, Late Afternoon, Monterey is an earlier impressionistic style

painting with emphasis on color and light. The fresh-to-market work captures the natural beauty of the rugged Monterey Coast captivating the viewer.

"Fortune's works, although rare to public auction, are becoming highly collectible. Buyers are looking for her early works, such as Late Afternoon, Monterey on offer this December and Mending Nets which sold at Bonhams & Butterfields in August 2007 for $480,000 - a new world auction record for the artist," said Vice President and Fine Arts Department Director Scot Levitt.

Additional works by female artists in the winter sale include Customs House by Monterey artist M. Evelyn McCormick (est. $20/30,000) and Catherine Carter Critcher's Artist's Studio in Taos, New Mexico (est. $60/80,000).

Also in the December offing is Guy Rose's Yellow Trees, Giverny (est. $300/500,000). Rose is considered one of the most important California Impressionist painters. A native Californian, Rose studied at the California School of Design before traveling to France to study in 1888. After a time in New York, he returned to France in 1899 settling in Giverny and working closely with master painter Claude Monet. It is from this period that the oil on canvas Yellow Trees, Giverny comes. According to Levitt, "Good examples of Rose's work from that period, such as Yellow Trees, Giverny, are not seen on the market often. The work is fresh-to-market, coming from a Southern California private collection, where it has been held for some time."

A lovely western watercolor by American master, Thomas Moran, is being offered at an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. Best known for his watercolors of the American West, most notably the works from his 1871 and 1873 expeditions to Yellowstone, Moran painted this work shortly after his first visit to the Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico's northwestern desert. "Good quality, early American western scenes are becoming harder and harder to come by in this market." says Levitt. "This work should do well considering the scarcity of high-end works of this sort."

Joseph Raphael's monumental work Spring Morning (est. $80/120,000) is also on offer. Measuring 26 x 37 inches, the painting is large in stature and impressionist in style, featuring interesting brushwork and use of light with pastel tones highlighting the overall movement across the canvas. "The market for paintings with modernist overtones and themes is strong," said Levitt. "We continue to see strong prices for impressionist works such as Spring Morning," continued Levitt.

A work entitled Study for 'Destination Unknown', a 1938 Social Realist work by Maynard Dixon, will also highlight the upcoming sale. The rare oil on board study is typical of

Dixon's Depression Era work and a drawing for the final painting, which was titled Going Nowhere. Considered highly desirable by collectors, the work depicts a homeless man with a bedroll on his back walking along railroad tracks. "The call for American master Maynard Dixon remains lively," said Levitt. "We expect the work bring $60,000 to $80,000 on December 10," continues Levitt.

Additional highlights from the winter sale include Land's End, San Francisco, 1873, by William Keith (est. $80/120,000); a colorful oil entitled Under the Open Sky, 1936, by Frank Tenney Johnson (est. $100/150,000); John Marshall Gamble's Prickly Phlox (est. $60/80,000), Sunset through the Trees by Granville Redmond ($100/150,000); an endearing portrait entitled Mother and Child, Marin County by Selden Connor Gile (est. $40/60,000) and two works by Maurice Braun - A Field of Bluebonnets (est. $80/120,000) and Lower Gale Lake, High Sierras (est. $40/60,000).

 

 

Design of the Century

20^th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts to be Offered at Bonhams & Butterfields in Los Angeles

September 24 auction features strong examples of Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern, Contemporary Studio Artists

and works with strong California roots

Timed to coincide with the closing of the celebrated California Design Biennial, Bonhams & Butterfields' September 24, 2007 auction of 20^th Century Decorative Arts features a diverse grouping of works spanning a century of design. Held in Los Angeles, the Fall sale highlights an enticing range of 20^th century artistic output -- from the important early years through the modern and contemporary periods - including works by California designers Sam Maloof, Sami Hayek, Po Shun Leong, Beatrice Wood, Michael Taylor, Sally Sirkin Lewis, and John Dickinson, among others.

Contemporary designers are well-represented in the Fall sale. Featured makers include: Ron Arad, Danny Lane, Martin Szekely, Galtano Pesce and Oswald Mathias Ungers for Sawaya & Moroni. "We are pleased to add two new names to our offering this season: Eric Powell and Sami Hayek. The latter is brother of actress Selma Hayek, a California-based artist and burgeoning 'Designer to the Stars'. We are honored to be the first major auction house to offer works by these artists," said Frank Maraschiello, 20^th Century Design Department Director.

Of interest to an international pool of collectors will be designs of Ron Arad. Arad, a self-taught designer-maker of sculptural furniture, an artist and an architect, founded the London-based architecture and design firm One Off Limited (also called Office Cum Showroom) with Caroline Thorman in Covent Garden in 1981.

One of the first pieces of furnishings produced by Arad was a compilation of two everyday objects selected and designated as art. Assembled from a seat from a Rover 2000 auto and secured to a frame of 1930s designed Kee-Klamp scaffolding, the work titled Rover Chair paved the way for other ground breaking compilations that followed, including his iconic stereo cast in concrete. Credited with capturing the essence of 1980s London, Arad designs and other pieces from One Off Limited paved the way for lost individualism in the new urban landscape that followed punk.

This month, Bonhams & Butterfields is offering a Ron Arad Rover two-seater (est. $10/15,000) and one seat (est. $4/6,000), both designed in 1981, and a concrete stereo, designed in 1983 (est. $10/15,000). Among the artists whose works were shown at Arad's One Off Limited is the American-born glass artist Danny Lane. Recognizable by the distinctive work with layer upon layer of sheet glass, a pair of Lane stacking glass side chairs come to auction with an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000 each.

On offer will be a desk commissioned by Elizabeth Letts Janss, daughter of Harold Janss, a prominent Los Angeles real estate developer who laid out the plans for Westwood, Holmby Hills and other LA County subdivisions. Ms. Janss was the granddaughter of Arthur Letts who founded The Broadway department stores and financed the chain of Bullocks department stores in the mid-1950s. The desk is a prominent, yet understated work executed with mid-century grace (est. $4/6,000) designed by Paul Laszlo. Laszlo's designs were popular with the Hollywood celebrity set and social elite of the day including: future-US President Ronald Reagan, Gary Cooper, Barry Goldwater, Fritz Lang, the Vanderbilts, Barbara Hutton, Debbie Reynolds, Billy Wilder, John D. Hertz and Barbara Stanwyck, among others.

An additional highlight from the sale's California Design section is a handsome contemporary open steel and Douglas fir bookcase by noted sculptor Eric Powell. The piece towers seven-feet tall and is signed and dated by the artist (est. $3/5,000). Highly sought after for his talents, Powell has garnered much attention from museum exhibitions and been offered important commissions for public works. His awards and accolades include those from the Museum of Modern Art, New York, a sculpture for the Northern California BART train system - viewable at the 16^th and Mission station very near the auctioneer's San Francisco salesroom, and a commission for the city of Oakland, California, among others.

Also on offer in September is property from the estate of the late Dr. Simon Pinhas, respected Beverly Hills ophthalmologist and a noted collector of fine 20^th century works in glass. Initially trained as a jeweler, Pinhas pursued a degree as a corneal specialist at New York Medical College. Over the years he became fascinated with the optical properties of glass and the history of the ancient art form. His collection will offer a full range of early pieces and rare later works in glass including examples by Daum, Gallé, Schneider, Almeric Walter, Duc de Caranza, D'Argental and others.

Another California artist represented in the September sale is Beatrice Wood. On offer will be a whimsical sculpture entitled The Cat Who Went to Philadelphia (est. $5/8,000), a small closed form vase and folded shallow bowl (est. $1,000/1,500) as well as a spherical vase (est. $1,000/1,500).

Also on offer: a collection of ceramic works including studio pottery from Gertrude and Otto Natzler displaying unusual glazes; two 1910 rare Teco vases - Model 157 by William Dodd (est. $5/8,000) and a punch bowl by Fritz Albert (est. $4/6,000); an eight-inch wide green glaze Tiffany Studios Favrile pottery tulip bowl (est. $4/6,000) and work from Harrison McIntosh. Additional ceramicists featured include Clarice Cliff, Janet Lowe and James Melchert.

The marquee lots within the sale's Art Deco section include two French Art Deco rosewood dining room suites by Lyonaise designer Christian Krass. Comprising a dining table and six chairs (est. $10/15,000) and a handsome sideboard (est. $18/25,000), this 1930s suite features sleek Modernist lines and elegant nickeled hardware.

Three lots of work by interior decorator Tony Duquette will also be featured. One highlight, a fanciful gouache on board entitled Tony Cat, is offered with an estimate of $3,000 to $5,000. The work, within a butterfly-adorned painted frame, was a wedding gift to the consignor.

Three unusual Aubusson tapestries will be offered in Los Angeles. The first, Paon de Nuit (est. $3/5,000), is by Jean Lurcat, famed painter and carpet and tapestry designer. Lurcat's works for Myrbor and the Aubusson weavers are highly appreciated -- so much so that the cultural center in Aubusson bears his name. The second, by Elie Grekoff, is a vibrant landscape scene (est. $2/3,000) and the third is by master colorist Victor Vasarely, known for his illusionary Op-Art paintings and prints (est. $4/6,000).

The Modern Design section will include furniture by Isamu Noguchi, Florence Knoll, Hans Wegner, Robert Venturi, Karl Springer and Frank Lloyd Wright for Heritage Henredon, among others.

The September 24 sale of 20^th Century Furniture and Decorative Arts is expected to attract collectors and connoisseurs alike with its wonderful examples of style, grace and a century of elegance on the auction block. Los Angeles preview events are scheduled for September 21-23 in Bonhams & Butterfields' Sunset Boulevard galleries.

 

August 29

 

 

World Record Auction Prices Highlight

Bonhams & Butterfields August Paintings Sale

California & American Paintings and Sculpture sale brings

over $5.4-million and sets 15 new records

New buyers and seasoned collectors filled Bonhams & Butterfields' galleries in San Francisco and Los Angeles for the opportunity to bid on works by legendary California and American masters on 7 August, 2007.

Simulcast between Northern and Southern California, the highly competitive sale garnered 15 new auction world records for well-known artists such as: E. Charlton Fortune, Alson Skinner Clark, Benjamin C. Brown, Mary DeNeale Morgan, Paul de Longpre, Frank Cuprien, Ross Dickinson, Emil Kosa, Jr., Annie Lyle Harmon, Paul Grimm, Charles Chapel Judson, John Ottis Adams, Rachel Hartley and contemporary artists Robert Clunie and Standish Backus Jr.

The standing room only salerooms played host to highly competitive bidding both on the telephones and in the rooms for American Impressionist works, Colorist and Plein Air paintings, Western and American landscapes, seascapes and still-life paintings, among others.

The marquee lot of the sale was an oil on canvas board painting titled Mending Nets by artist E. Charlton Fortune. The work depicts a French harbor scene -- unusual subject matter for a work by an American artist. "The sale of this painting for $480,000, not only establishes a new auction world record for the artist, but solidifies the place of California and American artists in the global art market," said Vice President and Fine Arts Department Director Scot Levitt.

Working in obscurity for most of her career, Fortune utilized the 'E.' to disguise her female gender. "Fortune's works, although rare to public auction, are becoming highly sought after. Collectors are looking for her early works, such as Mending Nets, as well as later examples," continued Levitt. The color pallet and the brush strokes of this impressionist work are exquisite, greatly differing from Fortune's later body of work which is composed mainly of portraiture and religious compositions. The painting has been a part of several museum exhibits, the earliest in 1989 at the Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art.

Much like Fortune's Mending Nets, Bridge Builders by Alson Skinner Clark also depicts a European scene. Achieving a new auction world record at $204,000, the impressionistic painting was debuted in 1906 as part of a large show at the Art Institute of Chicago. The work infuses the canvas with graceful color and a sense of movement. One author wrote that the artist received the highest compliment when his former teacher William Merritt Chase purchased this work for his own collection.

"The market for American master Maynard Dixon continues to be strong. Bonhams & Butterfields sold each Dixon oil painting offered during the August sale above its high estimate," said Levitt. Along with the bountiful offering of traditional Dixon watercolors and rolling Western landscapes, a pair of gouache mural studies by the artist attracted collector interest. Utilizing Dixon's strong desert pallet, the two works depict human forms within ethereal Egyptian and classical scenes. According to Donald Hagerty, these sketches are likely the preliminary images for a Dixon mural done in 1929 for the U.S. Savings and Loan Association in San Francisco. A rarity at public auction, the four-foot wide Pair of Mural Studies, 1929, sold for $45,000.

Bringing nearly six times the pre-sale estimate, Bouquet of Pink and White Peonies by Paul de Longpre is, according to Levitt, "one of the largest floral works to come to market in recent history." Setting a new auction world record at $144,000, the 1891 painting is alive with blooms in the saturated tones of dainty pink, rich mauve, assorted greens and a skilled application of white, cream and ivory. The work will be available to the public as it was acquired by the Irvine Museum in Irvine California.

Dynamic bidding was seen for Maurice Prendergast's Two Women Seated with Parasols in a Park. "Typically associated with auctions held in the East, the artist [Prendergast] was well received at Bonhams & Butterfields on the West Coast. The overwhelmingly successful result demonstrates the broad reach of our buying base," explains Levitt.

The unframed watercolor has a rich and striking composition. Detailed facial expressions from both of the seated ladies are distinct, along with folds in clothing and accessories in the ladies' possession. Initially estimated to fetch as much as $50,000, Two Women Seated with Parasols in a Park brought $204,000.

Additional post-sale highlights of the August auction include: Granville Redmond's A Field of California Poppies which brought $420,000; Moonlight Reflections also by Redmond sold for $204,000; Lake in the Sierras by Edgar Payne surpassed its high estimate of $150,000 selling for $264,000 and John Marshall Gamble's Wild Heliotrope near Laguna Beach brought $144,000. Strong prices were also seen for contemporary Plein Air, watercolors and Southern California artists such as Robert Clunie and Harley Brown.

The next sale of California and American Painting and Sculpture will held at Bonhams & Butterfields in December 2007. The auction will feature an assortment of important Western scenes, Plein Air, Society of Six, genre painting, land and cityscapes by established California and American artists including Maynard Dixon, Frank Tenny Johnson and John Marshall Gamble, among others.

A work entitled Homeless Man a study for 'Destination Unknown', a 1938 Social Realist work by Maynard Dixon, will highlight the upcoming sale. Considered rare to the market, the highly desirable oil on board work depicts a homeless man with a bedroll on his back walking along the railroad tracks. Typical of Dixon's depression era work and a study for the final work entitled Going Nowhere, the piece is expected to bring $80,000 to $120,000.

Guy Rose, considered one of the most important California Impressionist painters, is to be represented in the December offering. A native Californian, Rose studied at the California School of Design before traveling to France to study in 1888. After a time in New York, he returned to France in 1899 settling in Giverny and working closely with master painter Claude Monet. It is from this period that the oil on canvas Yellow Trees, Giverny comes. According to Levitt, "Good examples of Rose's work from that period, such as this, are not seen on the market often. The work comes from a private collection in Los Angeles where it has been held for some time."

Additional sale highlights for the winter auction will be announced in the coming months.

 

 

June 20

Design of the Century

20^th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts

at Bonhams & Butterfields in September

Fall sale to feature strong examples of Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern and works by Contemporary Studio artists

Bonhams & Butterfields' fall 2007 auction of 20^th Century Decorative Arts, to be held in Los Angeles on September 24, 2007, features a diverse group of works spanning a century of design. The works on offer will highlight the full range of 20^th century artistic output, from the important early years through the modern period.

One highlight of the Fall sale is a selection of Ron Arad designs. Arad, a self-taught designer-maker of sculptural furniture, an artist and an architect, founded the London-based architecture and design firm One Off Limited (also called Office Cum Showroom) with Caroline Thorman in Covent Garden in 1981.

One of the first pieces of furnishings produced by Arad was a compilation of two everyday objects selected and designated as art. Assembled from a seat from a Rover 2000 auto and secured to a frame of 1930s designed Kee-Klamp scaffolding, the work titled Rover Chair paved the way for other ground breaking compilations that followed, including the iconic stereo cast in concrete. Credited with capturing the essence of 1980s London, Arad and other pieces from One Off Limited, paved the way for lost individualism in the new urban landscape that that followed punk.

This September, Bonhams & Butterfields is offering a Ron Arad Rover two-seater (est. $10/15,000) and one seat (est. $4/6,000), both designed in 1981, and a concrete stereo, designed in 1983 (est. $10/15,000).

Among the artists whose works were shown at Arad's One Off Limited is the American-born glass artist Danny Lane. Bonhams & Butterfields is offering a pair of Lane stacking glass side chairs with an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000 each.

Also included in the sale is a creation of the English-born California furniture designer, architect and wood carver Po Shun Leong. Born in 1941 after his parents emigrated from China, Leong also trained as an architect and, for a short period of time studied with pioneering architect Le Corbusier. After working in Europe, he lived in Mexico for 15 years before moving to California in 1982. The Fall sale includes a Leong carved 23½ inch Art box. The intricate and puzzle-like work is comprised of dyed mixed wood and was inscribed and dated by the artist in 1996 (est. $3/4,000).

Three unusual Aubusson tapestries will be offered. The first, Paon de Nuit (est. $3,000/5,000), is by Jean Lurcat, famed painter and carpet and tapestry designer. Lurcat's works for Myrbor and the Aubusson weavers are highly collected -- so much so that the cultural center in Aubusson bears his name. The second, by Elie Grekoff, is a vibrant landscape scene (est. $2,000/3,000) and the third is by master colorist Victor Vasarely, known for his illusionary Op-Art paintings and prints (est. $4,000/6,000).

A French Art Deco rosewood dining room suite by Lyonaise designer Christian Krass will be offered. Comprising a dining table and six chairs (est. $10/15,000) and a handsome sideboard (est.$18/25,000), this 1930s suite features sleek Modernist lines and elegant nickeled hardware.

The Modern Design section offered in Los Angeles will include furniture by Isamu Noguchi, Florence Knoll, Hans Wegner, Robert Venturi, Karl Springer, Frank Lloyd Wright for Heritage Henredon, Sami Hayek, and seminal California designers Michael Taylor, Sally Sirkin Lewis, and John Dickinson.

Additional offerings include a pair of Grosfeld House serpentine front mahogany chests of three drawers. Designed by Lorin Marsh in the 1940s, the highly sought-after pair is expected to bring as much as $6,000 at auction. A matching pair of nightstands will also be offered (est. $1,000/1,500).

Works by Contemporary Studio Artists will include ceramics by Beatrice Wood, Harrison Macintosh and Otto and Gertrude Natzler.

Los Angeles preview events are scheduled for September 21-23 in Bonhams & Butterfields' Sunset Blvd. gallery. The auction's illustrated catalog will be online for review and purchase in the weeks preceding the sale at www.bonhams.com/us.

The 20th Century Furniture and Decorative Arts Department at Bonhams & Butterfields presents two auctions each year held in the firm's Los Angeles salesrooms and two sales in the Bonhams New York galleries. Virtually every major design movement of the 20th century is well-represented in these sales with fine examples executed in the mediums of ceramics, metalwork, glass and furniture regularly offered and bringing strong prices.

 

 

June 4

Going, Going... Gone - Disney Ducks Fly at Auction

World Auction Record Set for Comic Painting Today at Bonhams & Butterfields

Carl Barks Original Art Featuring Beloved Disney Characters Sets New World Auction Record in Los Angeles

From the Sunset Strip to Abbey Road, International Fine Arts Auctioneers Bonhams & Butterfields announced the record-breaking sale of a highly sought after Carl Barks "Money Bin" painting entitled Hands Off My Playthings today in Los Angeles.

"It was a strong sale reflecting the continuing strength and interest in Hollywood memorabilia and animation" said Margaret Barrett, Director of Entertainment Memorabilia, "We are very pleased with today's result, and will continue to build on our reputation as a preeminent source for Entertainment Memorabilia in the marketplace."

An original and highly sought after Carl Barks "Money Bin" painting entitled Hands Off My Playthings sold for $204,000 - setting a world auction record for a comic painting. Barks, an unsung comic book hero, drew Donald Duck for decades while working for Disney Studios. His offered work featured depictions of timeless Disney characters Huey, Duey and Louie making a castle out of thousand dollar bills and gold coins while Donald admires himself while donning a crown and Scrooge throws a fit in the background. Dated 1975, the highly recognizable oil on masonite work is signed in the lower left. Barks commented publicly that this was his favorite "money bin" painting -- according to the auctioneers, it was one of the most compelling examples of Barks' paintings ever brought to public auction.

Also on the block at Bonhams & Butterfields today was a fresh to market archive of Marilyn Monroe collectibles featuring a classic black & white headshot of the actress autographed in red ink. In the lower left corner the "Blonde Bombshell" wrote "To Diana & Joe Ellen / Love & Kisses / Marilyn Monroe;" the signees being the daughters of Second Unit Director Joseph E. Rickards, who worked with Monroe on the 1955 classic The Seven Year Itch. Initially estimated between $3,000-3,500, the lot sold for $14,400.

Additional highlights from the archive included: a limited edition suite of color and black and white photographs of the actress taken by David Conover in 1945 (sold for: $7,200); a set of her handwritten notes for the 1957 romantic comedy The Prince and the Showgirl (sold for: $4,800); a late 1950s-era typed and signed letter from noted playwright Arthur Miller, her husband at the time, regarding Marilyn's problems and his sadness at their temporary separation -- she was in Los Angeles and he was in New York (sold for: $3,900); a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) membership card belonging to the actress (sold for: $2,700) and the 1953 Marilyn Monroe issue of Playboy Magazine (sold for: $2,700).

A collection of household items from the Palm Desert residence of the late actor/producer/director William Boyd was also on offer. Known affectionately to most as the cowboy character he portrayed in countless films and TV shows "Hopalong Cassidy," highlights from his residence included: two William Boyd personalized writing pens initially estimated at $25-50 which brought $300; a group of bolo ties - all worn at various times by "Hoppy" sold for $7,800; a black and white signed image depicting "Hoppy" next to his beloved horse Topper (sold for: $330) and a brass horse head door knocker which brought more than double the estimate to sell for $720.

Also on offer was a selection of vintage movie posters including property from the Louis Leithold Collection. Much of the collection was offered in large lots, according to Barrett, "perfect for the new collector or seasoned dealer." The offering featured an array of titles spanning the history of cinema -- from the silent era to the contemporary blockbuster. Select highlights from the offering include posters from noted films such as: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, La Dolce Vita, Citizen Kane, Bon Jour Tristesse, a variety of Western films. Prices realized include: a large collection of 1940s linen-backed one-sheets ($3,900); a collection of Brigitte Bardot posters ($840) and a linen backed one-sheet from the 1959 Marilyn Monroe classic comedy Some Like It Hot ($1,200).

Other highlights from the Entertainment Memorabilia sale include: a black wool Victorian-style knee-length coat worn by Spencer Tracy in the first scene of the 1941 classic film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (sold above the high estimate for $2,280); a complete set of Beatles signatures (sold for: $7,800); a massive collection of autographs featuring a "Who's Who" of mid-to-late 20^th century movie stars (brought: $7,800); a Rex Harrison costume design sketch from the original 1967 Doctor Dolittle (brought $3,000);an inscribed black and white photograph of Cary Grant (sold for: $1,680); a Frank Sinatra geometric pattern shirt worn on his wedding day to Barbara Marx in 1976 (brought: $1,020); a rare Carl Barks -Artist Proof to An Embarrassment of Riches (sold for: $9,600); and a red, beige and gold majorette-style hat worn by Judy Garland in MGM's 1941 Ziegfeld Girl sold above estimate for $1,320.

 

June 3

Natural History Sale Brings Over $1.1-Million Today at Bonhams & Butterfields in Los Angeles

Bonhams & Butterfields June 3, 2007 sale of Natural History in Los Angeles brought more than $1-million Sunday. The sale featured property from the collection of Tucson-based gem and mineral dealer Albert Jon 'Zee' Haag - one of the most significant private collections of natural wonders to be sold at auction for many decades, unique fossil specimens from other collections and highly desirable décor, mineral carvings, meteorites, gold and wearable art.

Featured works from the Haag Collection included: an illuminated quartz and wrought iron sculpture titled "The Goddess with the Golden Heart" designed by Haag and sold for $20,400; an impressive petrified wood tree stump sold above the high estimate for $19,200; a unique Burlwood tree root bench brought $6,600; a classic iron Campo del Cielo meteorite on customized stand from Gran Chaco, Argentina sold for $4,500 and a selection of unmounted gemstones, lapidary, rough cut gems, spheres, classic Arizona and international minerals, sculpture, fossils, meteorites and large-scale décor from across the globe also brought strong prices. The offering was comprised of approximately 60 works and specimens, featuring examples of Haag's own design as well as pieces acquired by the Tucson-based collector.

The décor section was highlighted by an immense Smoky Quartz Specimen from the Govenador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil prepared by Oregonian gemstone sculptor Lawrence Stoller. The present example exhibits completely natural texture, displays two points of deep amber/citrine color and, on some faces, the interesting surface pattern known as crocodile skin. It represents one of the very few specimens of the original discovery available on the market. Resting on an artful, custom-fitted bronze stand designed by Stoller, the work brought $60,000. According to Consulting Department Director Thomas Lindgren, "Works by Stoller could one day be sought after and collected with the same desire and fascination as Faberge eggs.

Each piece is a work of art that expresses the harmony of beauty found in nature." Additional lots by Stoller from the June 3 sale include: "Down the Rabbit Hole" - a Large Drusy Quartz Geode on bronze stand (sold: $30,000) and a Shikhote Alin Meteorite on a custom base which sold above its high estimate for $32,400.

Highlighting the Lapidary Works of Art was a virtuoso flower study of very large scale, several times larger than creator Manfred Wild's typical flower studies sold previously at Bonhams' auctions. The work incorporates five separate stems, each with a different flower set - lilies and lilacs - in a removable rock crystal vase. The 18-inch study sold for $84,000.

Other featured works from the June 3 sale include: a 2-million year-old fossil of a now extinct species of Giant Armadillo (brought $36,000); a fantastic museum-quality Morganite specimen from the Urucum mine in Brazil (sold for $72,000); a magnificently aesthetic Woolly Mammoth Tusk on a custom wooden stand (brought $24,000); a

very large 110.75-carat Melo pearl from Vietnam (sold for $34,800); a massive petrified wood log which surpassed its high estimate of $10,000, selling for $16,800; a 95.12-carat rare yellow sapphire from Sri Lanka (brought $42,000) and a suite of Aquamarine and freshwater pearl jewelry (sold for $25,200).

Bonhams & Butterfields' Natural History auctions are the largest of their kind, both in terms of number of lots and overall estimated value. Each sale includes an extensive selection of distinctive mineral specimens, gold, lapidary works of art and gemstones & jewelry. Along with the exceptional offerings are numerous well-preserved fossils suitable for display (and for use in décor as wall art and sculpture).

 

May 31

 

 

 

 

Carl Barks

 

 

Carl Barks (March 27, 1901 – August 25, 2000) was a famous Disney Studio illustrator and comic book creator, who invented Duckburg and many of its inhabitants, such as Scrooge McDuck (1947), Gladstone Gander (1948), the Beagle Boys (1951), Gyro Gearloose (1952) and Magica De Spell (1961). The quality of his scripts and drawings earned him the nick names The Duck Man and The Good Duck Artist. 

 

 

In November 1935, when he learned that Walt Disney was seeking more artists for his Studio, Carl decided to apply. He was approved for a try-out which entailed a move to Los Angeles, California. Carl was one of two in his class of trainees who was hired. His starting salary was 20 dollars a week. He started at Disney Studios in 1935, more than a year after the debut of Donald Duck on June 9, 1934 in the short The Wise Little Hen.

 

 

Carl initially worked as an "inbetweener". This involved being teamed and supervised by one of the head animators who did the key poses of character action (often known as extremes) for which the inbetweeners did the drawings between the extremes to provide smoothness to the illusion of movement. While an inbetweener, Carl submitted gag ideas for cartoon storylines being developed and showed such a knack for creating comical situations that by 1936 he was transferred to the story department.

 

 

 

 

In 1937 when Donald Duck became the star of his own series of cartoons instead of co-starring with Mickey Mouse and Goofy as previously, a new unit of storymen and animators was created devoted solely to this series. Though he originally just contributed gag ideas to some duck cartoons by 1937 Barks was (principally with partner Jack Hannah) originating story ideas that were storyboarded and (if approved by Walt) put into production. He collaborated on such cartoons as Donald's Nephews (1938), Donald's Cousin Gus (1939), Timber (1941), The Vanishing Private (1942) and The Plastics Inventor (1944).

 

 

 

 

 Unhappy at the emerging wartime working conditions at Disney plus bothered by ongoing sinus problems caused by the studio's air conditioning, Barks quit in 1942. After quitting the Studio, Barks relocated to the Hemet/San Jacinto area in the semi-desert inland empire region east of Los Angeles where he hoped to start a chicken farm. But to earn a living in the meantime he inquired whether Western Publishing, which had published Pirate Gold, had any need for artists for Donald Duck comic book stories. He was immediately assigned to illustrate the script for a 10 page Donald Duck story for the monthly Walt Disney's Comics and Stories. At the publisher's invitation he revised the storyline and the improvements impressed the editor sufficiently to invite Barks try his hand at contributing both the script and the artwork of his follow-up story. This set the pattern for Barks' career in that (with rare exceptions) he provided art (pencil, inking, solid blacks and lettering) and scripting for his stories.

 

 

The Victory Garden, that initial 10 page story published in April, 1943 was the first of about 500 stories featuring the Disney ducks Barks would produce for Western Publishing over the next three decades, well into his purported retirement. These can be mostly divided into two categories:

• 10 pagers, comedic Donald Duck stories that were the lead for the monthly flagship title Walt Disney's Comics and Stories (whose circulation peaked in the mid-50s at 3 million copies sold a month!)

• Humorous adventure stories, usually of 24-32 pages in length. In the 1940s these were one shots in the Four Color series (issued 4-6 times a year) that starred Donald and his nephews. From the early 1950s Barks undertook the quarterly adventures of Uncle Scrooge and the duck clan in Scrooge's own title.

He surrounded Donald Duck and nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie with a cast of eccentric and colorful characters, such as the aforementioned Scrooge McDuck—the wealthiest duck in the world, Gladstone Gander—Donald's obscenely lucky cousin, inventor Gyro Gearloose, the persistent Beagle Boys, the sorceress Magica De Spell, Scrooge's rivals Flintheart Glomgold and John D. Rockerduck, Daisy's nieces April, May and June, Donald's neighbour Jones, and The Junior Woodchucks organization

 

 

At the urging of fan Glenn Bray, Barks requested and obtained permission from Disney to produce and sell oil paintings of scenes from his stories. These paintings quickly became highly sought after and their price rocketed much to Barks' astonishment.

 

 

From 1993-1998 the Carl Barks Studio guided Barks' career. This involved numerous projects and activities, including a tour of 11 European countries in 1994, appearances at several Disneyana conventions and the release of prints of paintings along with high-end art objects (such as tiles and statutes) based on designs by Barks. Tensions between Barks and the Studio eventually resulted in a lawsuit that was settled with an agreement that included the disbanding of the Studio. By this time Barks had ceased drawing and declared his chief activity thereafter would be watching football on TV.

 

 

 

May 30

Minerals, Meteorites, Gold and Wearable Art

June Sale of Natural History at Bonhams & Butterfields Highlights Works from American Artists

Oregon's Lawrence Stoller, Santa Barbara's George Brooks,

Honolulu's Robert Wander and wonders of the natural world

Bonhams & Butterfields, international fine arts auctioneers, will offer several examples of the most significant and highly desirable mineral carvings, meteorites, gold and wearable art ever to come to auction in its June 3, 2007 sale of Natural History in Los Angeles. 

Since its inception in 1998, the Natural History Department at Bonhams & Butterfields has conducted a series of exciting auctions, establishing the firm as the field's international forerunner.  A wide range of decorations and collectibles are offered in June including objects for every taste and collecting category: unmounted faceted and cabochon gemstones, cat's eye and other rare phenomenal gemstones, mineral specimens, amber, pearls, seashells, meteorites, archeological artifacts, petrified wood, ammonites, plant and animal fossils, dinosauria and renowned jewelry and gemstones by artists from around the globe  -- including award-winning Oregonian gemstone sculptor Lawrence Stoller, Santa Barbara's George Brooks and Honolulu's Robert Wander, among others. 

Stoller is widely known for his work on the American Express 9/11 memorial in New York City.  He's previously teamed with gemstone carver and jewelry designer Glenn Lehrer of San Rafael, California to create the world's largest gemstone sculpture, known as "Bahia."   The Bonhams & Butterfields sale features two Stoller works.  The first is a spectacular geode specimen of drusy quartz from Brazil on a bronze stand exhibiting sparkling drusy quartz crystals in the interior, its shape wonderfully accented by the custom-made bronze stand.  The work measures 40 x 30in with an overall height of 69in and is estimated to bring $30,000 to $35,000. 

The second work, from the Govenador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil is an immense smoky quartz specimen.  In February of 2000, excavators near Govenador Valadareswere searching for aquamarine crystals when they found a thin area of stone while tunneling deep into the mountain. (Rudimentary methods of searching for crystal-bearing cavities include tapping on the earth's rocky surface to detect hollow chambers which might yield the amethyst, citrine and aquamarine for which Minas Gerais is famous.) To the excavators' astonishment, they'd opened a treasure trove of immense smoky quartz crystals.  Dubbed the Pocket de Venancio crystals--the largest point eight feet in height - the collection of smoky quartz represents a remarkable discovery.  Thirty-eight pieces were removed from the cave by hand, and carried down the mountainside.

The present example, exhibiting completely natural texture, displays two points of deep amber/citrine color and, on some faces, the interesting surface pattern known as crocodile skin. It represents one of the very few specimens of the original discovery available on the market.  Resting on an artful, custom-fitted bronze stand designed by Stoller the work is estimated at $60,000 to $80,000 and measures 71 x 26 x 26 inches, including the stand.

According to Consulting Department Director Thomas Lindgren, "Works by Stoller could one day be sought after and collected with the same desire and fascination as Faberge eggs.  Each piece is a work of art that expresses the harmony of beauty found in nature." 

A relatively recent find on the auction block is a large highly sculptural gold nugget, weighing approximately 76.73 ozt (2,326.4 grams).  From Maryborough, Central Victoria, Australia, the nugget is bright and buttery in color, while exhibiting a tiny bit of residual clay.  The matte patina bears evidence of large expanses of molten surfaces, yet it possesses sharp, semi-crystalline features to the interior.    This highly sought after nugget is expected to fetch $95,000 to $110,000. 

Highlighting the Lapidary Works of Art section is a spectacular carved flower study by artist Manfred Wild from the renowned carving and lapidary center of Idar-Oberstein, Germany.  An 18-inch high virtuoso flower study is several times larger than Wild's typical diminutive flower studies (several examples previously sold in Bonhams' auctions).  It incorporates five separate stems, each with a different flower set into a removable rock crystal vase  (est. $65/85,000). 

Also on offer during the June sale will be an exceptional array of jewelry, led by a suite of work by modernist jeweler George Brooks.  Trained in sculpture in his native Montreal, Canada, Brooks went on to master goldsmithing.  Initially he studied at the well-known Canadian jeweler Henry Birks & Sons, and then as an apprentice to Georges Delrue, a contemporary jewelry designer.  It was there that he learned to produce one-of-a-kind hand-fabricated jewelry (without casting) by forging, shaping, welding and soldering materials.  Applying techniques of hammering and doming metal previously used in silversmithing, he was able to achieve a more sculpted, three-dimensional look for his jewelry.  In 1962 he opened his own store, first in Santa Barbara and then in Montecito Village, where he remained until 1991.

Working in a style of fine jewelry started in the 1950s and known as "wearable art," George Brooks' jewelry is appealing for the Modernist aesthetic it conveys.  His jewelry has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums, most recently in 2007 at The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia for a "Modernism in Jewelry" exhibition.

Also on offer is a suite of aquamarine and freshwater pearl jewelry by Hawaii-based jeweler, Robert Wander, owner of Winc Creations.  From the "Crystal Candy" Collection, the piece consists of an 18k yellow gold choker necklace, a bracelet, a ring and a pair of earrings formed of 21 "mirror-cut" sea-blue Brazilian aquamarines.  The piece weighs a total of approximately 154.5 carats, within borders of small brilliant-cut blue, orange and yellow sapphires and tsavorite garnets alternating with 22 very large freshwater pearls. 

Additional highlights from the June 4 sale include: a desk of petrified wood from Arizona (est. $25/30,000); a gem-quality Imperial topaz mineral specimen (est. 30/35,000); several Australian gold nuggets   with estimates ranging from $9,000 to 95,000; a multi strand Burmese ruby necklace (est. $25/35,000); and a fantastic museum-quality Morganite specimen from the Urucum mine in Brazil (est. $70/80,000).

Auction previews open to collectors and Natural History enthusiasts on Friday, June 1 and continue daily from 10am-5pm until the start of the auction. 

 

 

May 22

 

Rocks & Rock n' Roll

Natural History and Entertainment Memorabilia Auctions in LA Feature Rare Fossils, Meteorites and Collectibles from Super-Stars of Stage and Screen

Marilyn & Elvis, Dinos & Décor, and much more at Bonhams & Butterfields - Special Media Preview: Thursday, May 31 10AM-1PM 

Incredible examples of natural wonders, organic design and evidence of evolution, as well as vintage and contemporary TV, film and rock memorabilia from pop culture icons come to auction at Bonhams & Butterfields in early June.  Media Previews for the two auctions will open in Los Angeles at Bonhams & Butterfields on Sunset Blvd. on Thursday, May 31 and members of the press are invited to preview select lots including scientific wonders and unique personal items from celebrities: a 50 million-year-old intact miniature fossil horse skeleton (est. $75/95,000); an archive of materials related to Marilyn Monroe featuring her SAG card and Joe DiMaggio honeymoon photos (estimates vary); one of the largest and most complete Stegodon skulls ever discovered in Southeast Asia ($35/40,000); an Elvis Presley personal checkbook from his $1-million dollar account ($25/30,000); three prodigious sculptural creations synergizing metals with crystals/semi-precious stone; William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd's collection from his Palm Desert, CA home and a highly recognizable original Donald Duck painting featuring Disney characters Huey, Duey and Louie and Scrooge (est. $150/200,000).  Along with a wide selection of fine fossils, lapidary works of art, gold, meteorites, amber, gemstones, archeological artifacts and rock n' roll, entertainment and animation and first issues of classic comic books.... 

Who:    Bonhams & Butterfields, the premier West Coast auctioneers

What:   Preview two auctions: Natural History and Entertainment Memorabilia with Rock n' Roll Collectibles, as well as Classic Animation Art and Vintage Film Posters

Where:  Bonhams & Butterfields, 7601 Sunset Blvd. (at Curson)

Comments/sound bites from experts Margaret Barrett, Tom Lindgren and Claudia Florian; excellent visuals

 

May15

Auction features property from Hollywood greats and music and TV legends: Monroe, Presley, "Hopalong Cassidy," Sinatra, James Dean, Spencer Tracy and Bill Bixby ...

Bonhams & Butterfields, the world's most dynamic auctioneers, is tuning up for the Summer 2007 auction of vintage and contemporary film and rock memorabilia in Los Angeles. The sale will feature collectibles from the heydays of Hollywood and Rock-n-Roll and will be offered on Monday, June 4, 2007.

Sale highlights include:

· A Marilyn Monroe Archive
An interesting archive of materials related to Marilyn Monroe on offer this June is comprised of several fresh to market lots including a set of never-before-seen honeymoon photographs featuring her and her then-new husband Joe DiMaggio. Evidently shot moments apart at what appears to be a press conference, the 4x6-inch black & white snapshots capture the newly married couple in a brief, happy moment. The candid images were taken during their honeymoon trip to Japan in 1954 by an amateur photographer.

Monroe's personally owned Screen Actor's Guild card and an autographed headshot of the actress will be offered, as will a set of her handwritten notes for the 1957 romantic comedy The Prince and the Showgirl (est. $3/5,000). The actress was nominated for a "Best Foreign Actress" award by The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) for her work in this film.

A classic black and white headshot of the actress is autographed in red ink. In the lower left corner the "Blonde Bombshell" wrote "To Diana & Joe Ellen / Love & Kisses / Marilyn Monroe." The signees are the daughters of Second Unit Director Joseph E. Rickards, who worked with Monroe on the classic film The Seven Year Itch. Included with the lot is a handwritten letter of provenance from the original owner stating that he received this 8x10-inch photograph from Rickards' widow in 1992 (est. $3,000/3,500).

Additional Monroe lots on offer include: a late 1950s-era typed and signed letter from noted playwright Arthur Miller, her husband at the time, regarding some unspecified problems she was having and expressing his sadness at their temporary separation -- she was in Los Angeles and he was in New York when the letter was written (est. $2,000/2,500).

· An Elvis Presley personal checkbook
A rare but brief and fascinating look into Presley's daily expenses for a six-month span in the early 1970s is found in a lot estimated to sell for $25,000 to $30,000. The Presley checkbook maintains unused checks printed with his Graceland address from "The King's" personal account held at the National Bank of Commerce in Memphis, Tennessee. Check stubs, thirteen with handwritten notes indicating to whom the checks were written, are dated from October 1971 to April 1972 -- each penned in blue ballpoint ink (in three different hands). Some of Elvis's expenses included $4,000 for "Expenses" on November 11, 1971, payment of airline tickets, and even a $150 payment to the "Dept. of Motor Vehicles / Regst. of Dune buggy / and penalty" on April 24, 1972

The checkbook was consigned by Sonny West, Elvis' longtime friend, bodyguard, and member of his inner-circle. According to Mr. West,"This particular checking account of Presley's always had a minimum balance of $1,000,000 in it at all times because Elvis liked the idea of being able to write out a personal check for that amount which the recipient could cash right away." West also informed the auctioneers that Presley himself rarely wrote out the checks, but would have his trusted friends and inner-circle members handle much of his day-to-day affairs. Notes from West himself appears on the stubs as does the writing of several other Presley confidants. Included with this lot is a letter of authenticity signed by Sonny West, discussing this piece.

· A Collection from the Palm Desert, California Residence of William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd
A collection of household items from the Palm Desert residence of actor/producer/director William Boyd, known affectionately to most as the cowboy character he portrayed in countless films and TV shows "Hopalong Cassidy".

Featured highlights from his residence include: a collection of seven horse saddles that he converted to outdoor bar stools - all named for 19^th and 20^th century iconic Western film stars (and their horses) including Roy Rogers and "Trigger," Gene Autry and "Champion," The Lone Ranger and "Hi Ho Silver," Wyatt Earp and "Jughead," and Doc Holiday and "Red" (most saddles are estimated at $2,000-2,500 a piece). Although it's not clear if these saddles actually belonged to the actors or if Boyd simply named them (as an homage), it is more than likely that the barstool marked "Hopalong Cassidy / Topper" was actually one of the saddles he used on his adored stallion (est. $3,000/5,000). Additionally, a custom club chair in Boyd's signature colors (black and white) will be offered (est. $1,000/1,500) as will a 1960s-era Exercycle exercise bike custom-painted black and white (est. $800/1,200). Items such as a matching pair of horse statuette lamps, a brass horsehead doorknocker, and a personalized 1950s-era rotisserie with a plaque engraved "Hoppy" should attract collector interest.

· A Gold Record Collection (Janis Joplin, Doobie Brothers, Santana, Heart, etc.) Consigned by Robert E. Gordon
Robert E. ("Bob") Gordon is an attorney, born in Los Angeles, who has been active in representing major musical acts since the early 1960s. He was the founding lawyer for A&M Records and over the years was primary counsel for such noteworthy recording and performing artists as: Big Brother and the Holding Company, Janis Joplin, the Doobie Brothers, Jefferson Airplane, the Estate of Jerry Garcia and many others. He relocated his practice to the San Francisco Bay Area in l972 and currently practices Entertainment and Music Law from offices in Sausalito. In addition to his law practice, Mr. Gordon served as Adjunct Professor of Entertainment Law at Hastings College of Law in San Francisco and taught that subject at UC Berkeley (Boalt Hall). He was awarded a "Bammie" (SF's version of a Grammy^®) in 1982 for service to the SF Bay Area music community. Mr. Gordon served as Executor for the Estate of Janis Joplin and accepted the induction of Joplin into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 (the only practicing lawyer ever granted that privilege). In the course of his music representations, his various clients presented him with a large number of "Gold" and "Platinum" award plaques issued by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Mr. Gordon's gold record collection is estimated to fetch a few thousand dollars.

Other highlights from the June 4 sale include: a Frank Sinatra 3-piece tuxedo with interior label "Frank Sinatra / June '75." (est. $1,000/1,500); a Bill Bixby archive of color slides and other ephemera from The Incredible Hulk TV series (est. $300/500); a James Dean life mask by artist Kenneth Kendall who also created a statue of Dean which stands in LA's Griffith Park (est. $2,000/2,500); a short but funny Lenny Bruce note handwritten in 1960 to the owner of a comedy club (est. $1,000/1,500); an autographed Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle photograph (est. $1,000/1,500); a black wool Victorian-style knee-length coat worn by Spencer Tracy in the first scene of the film "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (est. $600/800); a large archive of 1940s-'80s movie star autographs, (est. $3/5,000) and for animation buffs - The Carl Barks Collection of selected paintings, animation and illustrations.

Also on offer this summer is additional property from the Louis Leithold Collection of vintage movie posters - to be sold without reserve. Much of the collection will be offered in large lots, according to auction house specialist, "perfect for the new collector or seasoned dealer." The lots feature an array of titles spanning the history of cinema -- from the silent era to the contemporary blockbuster. Selected highlights from the collection include posters from noted films such as: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, La Dolce Vita, Citizen Kane, Bon Jour Tristesse, a variety of Western cinematography, countless Brigitte Bardot films and many, many others. Estimates range from $25 to $3,000.

Previews open to the public June 1-4 in Los Angeles.

 

 

May 8

Ram Rod's Grateful Dead Collection Brings

More than $1.1-Million Today in San Francisco

Deadheads were Live and Bidding at Bonhams & Butterfields

Bonhams & Butterfields' Tuesday, May 8, 2007 auction of Grateful Dead memorabilia from the Ram Rod Shurtliff Collection fetched more than $1.1-million today -- garnered from competitive bidding on telephones and in the crowded San Francisco auction room.  Top lots of the day included guitars played on stages and in-studio by Jerry Garcia, original art used on album covers and equipment and collectibles associated with the Grammy Award®-winning band.

 

Lawrence 'Ram Rod' Shurtliff, long-time Road Manager and President of the Grateful Dead's corporation, passed away in 2006.  The property on offer was consigned for sale by his son Rudson Shurtliff.

 

Spotlighted in the sale were Jerry Garcia-played instruments including an electric guitar custom-made by noted San Francisco guitar-maker Doug Irwin in 1971, known as "The Eagle."  It sold for $186,000.  A circa 1975 Garcia electric guitar made by Travis Bean has been seen in numerous photos, played on stages as well as in studio recording sessions - the cream-colored guitar sold for $312,000 (est. $250/300,000). It was offered with its custom black leather case and several collector treasures: Garcia's Vinci guitar strings, a tuning fork, a string winder and an unopened pack of Garcia's cigarettes (Camel non-filters).  A buyer paid $102,000 for a Jerry Garcia acoustic guitar and $39,000 was paid for a Garcia Gibson electric.

Jerry Garcia's circa 1973 stage-worn tooled leather guitar strap by Nudie's, "Western tailors to the stars," sold for $20,400, quadrupling its estimate, while a flight case filled with Garcia's picks, never-opened guitar strings and other accessories sold for $16,800.

 

April 27

 

 

Bonhams & Butterfields Offers

Fine European Furniture and Decorative Arts

in Los Angeles on April 30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (C) MBN 2007 William Hoehne

April 24

 

The Silver Screen Collectibles Sizzle at

Bonhams & Butterfields in June

Auction features property from Hollywood greats and music and TV legends: Monroe, Presley, "Hopalong Cassidy," Sinatra, James Dean, Spencer Tracy and Bill Bixby ...

Bonhams & Butterfields, the world's most dynamic auctioneers, is tuning up for the Summer 2007 auction of vintage and contemporary film and rock memorabilia in Los Angeles. The sale will feature collectibles from the heydays of Hollywood and Rock-n-Roll and will be offered on Monday, June 4, 2007.

Sale highlights include:

· A Marilyn Monroe Archive

An interesting archive of materials related to Marilyn Monroe on offer this June is comprised of several fresh to market lots including a set of never-before-seen honeymoon photographs featuring her and her then-new husband Joe DiMaggio. Evidently shot moments apart at what appears to be a press conference, the 4x6-inch black & white snapshots capture the newly married couple in a brief, happy moment. The candid images were taken during their honeymoon trip to Japan in 1954 by an amateur photographer.

Monroe's personally owned Screen Actor's Guild card and an autographed headshot of the actress will be offered, as will a set of her handwritten notes for the 1957 romantic comedy The Prince and the Showgirl (est. $3/5,000). The actress was nominated for a "Best Foreign Actress" award by The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) for her work in this film. A classic black and white headshot of the actress is autographed in red ink. In the lower left corner the "Blonde Bombshell" wrote "To Diana & Joe Ellen / Love & Kisses / Marilyn Monroe." The signees are the daughters of Second Unit Director Joseph E. Rickards, who worked with Monroe on the classic film The Seven Year Itch. Included with the lot is a handwritten letter of provenance from the original owner stating that he received this 8x10-inch photograph from Rickards' widow in 1992 (est. $3,000/3,500).

Additional Monroe lots on offer include: a late 1950s-era typed and signed letter from noted playwright Arthur Miller, her husband at the time, regarding some unspecified problems she was having and expressing his sadness at their temporary separation -- she was in Los Angeles and he was in New York when the letter was written (est. $2,000/2,500).

· An Elvis Presley personal checkbook

A rare but brief and fascinating look into Presley's daily expenses for a six-month span in the early 1970s is found in a lot estimated to sell for $25,000 to $30,000. The Presley checkbook maintains unused checks printed with his Graceland address from "The King's" personal account held at the National Bank of Commerce in Memphis, Tennessee. Check stubs, thirteen with handwritten notes indicating to whom the checks were written, are dated from October 1971 to April 1972 -- each penned in blue ballpoint ink (in three different hands). Some of Elvis's expenses included $4,000 for "Expenses" on November 11, 1971, payment of airline tickets, and even a $150 payment to the "Dept. of Motor Vehicles / Regst. of Dune buggy / and penalty" on April 24, 1972

The checkbook was consigned by Sonny West, Elvis' longtime friend, bodyguard, and member of his inner-circle. According to Mr. West,"This particular checking account of Presley's always had a minimum balance of $1,000,000 in it at all times because Elvis liked the idea of being able to write out a personal check for that amount which the recipient could cash right away." West also informed the auctioneers that Presley himself rarely wrote out the checks, but would have his trusted friends and inner-circle members handle much of his day-to-day affairs. Notes from West himself appears on the stubs as does the writing of several other Presley confidants. Included with this lot is a letter of authenticity signed by Sonny West, discussing this piece.

· A Collection from the Palm Desert, California Residence of William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd

A collection of household items from the Palm Desert residence of actor/producer/director William Boyd, known affectionately to most as the cowboy character he portrayed in countless films and TV shows "Hopalong Cassidy".

Featured highlights from his residence include: a collection of seven horse saddles that he converted to outdoor bar stools - all named for 19^th and 20^th century iconic Western film stars (and their horses) including Roy Rogers and "Trigger," Gene Autry and "Champion," The Lone Ranger and "Hi Ho Silver," Wyatt Earp and "Jughead," and Doc Holiday and "Red" (most saddles are estimated at $2,000-2,500 a piece). Although it's not clear if these saddles actually belonged to the actors or if Boyd simply named them (as an homage), it is more than likely that the barstool marked "Hopalong Cassidy / Topper" was actually one of the saddles he used on his adored stallion (est. $3,000/5,000). Additionally, a custom club chair in Boyd's signature colors (black and white) will be offered (est. $1,000/1,500) as will a 1960s-era Exercycle exercise bike custom-painted black and white (est. $800/1,200). Items such as a matching pair of horse statuette lamps, a brass horsehead doorknocker, and a personalized 1950s-era rotisserie with a plaque engraved "Hoppy" should attract collector interest.

The house is also for sale through the realty firm of Pacific Auction Exchange in Pleasanton, California.

· A Gold Record Collection (Janis Joplin, Doobie Brothers, Santana, Heart, etc.) Consigned by Robert E. Gordon

Robert E. ("Bob") Gordon is an attorney, born in Los Angeles, who has been active in representing major musical acts since the early 1960s. He was the founding lawyer for A&M Records and over the years was primary counsel for such noteworthy recording and performing artists as: Big Brother and the Holding Company, Janis Joplin, the Doobie Brothers, Jefferson Airplane, the Estate of Jerry Garcia and many others. He relocated his practice to the San Francisco Bay Area in l972 and currently practices Entertainment and Music Law from offices in Sausalito. In addition to his law practice, Mr. Gordon served as Adjunct Professor of Entertainment Law at Hastings College of Law in San Francisco and taught that subject at UC Berkeley (Boalt Hall). He was awarded a "Bammie" (SF's version of a Grammy^®) in 1982 for service to the SF Bay Area music community. Mr. Gordon served as Executor for the Estate of Janis Joplin and accepted the induction of Joplin into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 (the only practicing lawyer ever granted that privilege). In the course of his music representations, his various clients presented him with a large number of "Gold" and "Platinum" award plaques issued by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Mr. Gordon's gold record collection is estimated to fetch a few thousand dollars.

Other highlights from the June 4 sale include: a Frank Sinatra 3-piece tuxedo with interior label "Frank Sinatra / June '75." (est. $1,000/1,500); a Bill Bixby archive of color slides and other ephemera from The Incredible Hulk TV series (est. $300/500); a James Dean life mask by artist Kenneth Kendall who also created a statue of Dean which stands in LA's Griffith Park (est. $2,000/2,500); a short but funny Lenny Bruce note handwritten in 1960 to the owner of a comedy club (est. $1,000/1,500); an autographed Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle photograph (est. $1,000/1,500); a black wool Victorian-style knee-length coat worn by Spencer Tracy in the first scene of the film "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (est. $600/800); a large archive of 1940s-'80s movie star autographs, (est. $3/5,000) and for animation buffs - The Carl Barks Collection of selected paintings, animation and illustrations.

Also on offer this summer is additional property from the Louis Leithold Collection of vintage movie posters - to be sold without reserve. Much of the collection will be offered in large lots, according to auction house specialist, "perfect for the new collector or seasoned dealer." The lots feature an array of titles spanning the history of cinema -- from the silent era to the contemporary blockbuster. Selected highlights from the collection include posters from noted films such as: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, La Dolce Vita, Citizen Kane, Bon Jour Tristesse, a variety of Western cinematography, countless Brigitte Bardot films and many, many others. Estimates range from $25 to $3,000.

Previews open to the public June 1-4 in Los Angeles.

 

Bonhams & Butterfields Offers

Fine European Furniture and Decorative Arts

in Los Angeles on April 30

April sale brings an eclectic selection of property from around the globe including a prominent Santa Barbara philanthropist's collection

Offering a global array of works for all collecting tastes, the April 30, 2007 Bonhams & Butterfields auction of Fine European Furniture Decorative Arts and Silver in Los Angeles will showcase pieces from the 16^th through 20^th centuries, with origins from Paris to Russia. The sale is timed to coincide with the 12^th annual Los Angeles Antique Show sponsored by the Antique Dealers Association of California, held at the Santa Monica Air Center in the Barker Hangar.

The Spring auction features a wide variety of interesting material for private and institutional collectors, dealers and those with an eye for quality and the whimsical -- from two wonderful imposing Regency mahogany wine coolers to a 19^th century bone ship model of a man'o'war. Highlights from the 560-lot sale include furnishing and decorations from the estate of Ernestine Koska Smith of Santa Barbara and other owners with a diverse selection of English, French, Italian, Spanish, KPM German porcelain, clocks, silver by Georg Jensen and other prominent makers, garden furniture, architectural elements, carvings and Continental automotons.

The crown jewel of the English section is a fine George III breakfront bookcase (est. $20/30,000). Highly sought after for residential or corporate interiors, this outstanding breakfront bookcase successfully blends design and handcrafted skill of the highest order with premium grade timbers and embellishments. On the block during the Continental section is a selection of eight KPM Berlin porcelain plaques. Estimates for these colorful and intricately painted panels range from $3,000 to $30,000. Varying in subject matter from beautiful exotic women to Biblical scenes, the 19x16 inch works should peak collector interest.

In the French section of the sale is a rare late 19^th century clock of gilt, silvered brass and rouge marble in the shape of an industrial weather station -- said to illustrate Europe's fascination with the life and times of the industrial revolution." With a working automaton steam engine, it is expected to bring $6,000 to $8,000. Also on offer will be a large selection of Louis XV and XVI style decorative works and furnishings including several pieces by Francois Linke, F Barbedienne and G. Durand (estimates range from $3,000 to $80,000) highlighted by a late 19^th century French gilt bronze mounted and paint decorated Linke cabinet (est. $60/80,000).

From the Netherlands comes an 18^th century inlaid walnut automaton tall case clock by Henricus Van Vlymen Amsteldam (est. $12/15,000). The painted automaton dial depicts a mythological scene of vessels at sea with Perseus riding Pegasus in flight, Cupid in pursuit, the figures of Mercury and Neptune, and a small town in the background. The nine-foot tall clock is expected to garner interest from Antique Show attendees and collectors alike.

The April sale will feature a large collection of property from the Estate of Ernestine Koska Smith, a prominent Santa Barbara resident. Smith was born in 1919 in Zanesville, Ohio. She attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). She and her family went on to live in York, Pennsylvania and Palm Beach, Florida, before settling in Montecito, California in the 1970s. Smith held a seat on the Board of Directors for the St. Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara. As a world traveler and connoisseur of the arts, her Estate's property features a range of offerings including two large Regency carved mahogany wine coolers (est. $8/12,000 and $12/18,000) and a selection of 18^th century Sevres porcelain. Considered plain by later tastes, several of the porcelain pieces were repainted a vivid canary yellow in the 19^th century (estimates range from $400 to $800).

The sale also features a strong Italian section of furnishings and decorative arts. A magnificent Baroque shell and ivory inlayed walnut secretary bookcase from Milan highlights the offerings. Made in the late 17^th century, both the upper and lower cases are decorated with classical figures and fabulous beasts. The piece stands more than eight feet tall and is estimated to bring $60,000 to $80,000 on April 30^th.

A selection of carvings from around the globe will be included in the sale. For the garden is a set of four imposing carved marble figures of the Four Seasons (est. $40/60,000). Of interest is a private collection of finely carved French and German ivory figures depicting people in elegant attire and mythological subjects. Also on offer is an unusual polychrome decorated carved wood near life-size automaton chestnut vendor from the second half of the 19^th century with moving eyes and head and a working oven (est. $10/15,000). Black Forest furniture includes a late 19^th century carved eagle attributed to Swiss artist Alfred Stähli. Standing very patriotic at nearly three-feet tall, each of the eagle's feathers is carved with painstaking detail (est. $4/6,000).

Additional highlights from the sale include: an unusually large and colorful Crown Darby porcelain dessert service with more than 18 plates (est. $4/6,000); four services of stunning Georg Jensen silver (estimates range from $6,000 to $15,000); an 18^th century Flemish Baroque garden tapestry (est. $6/8,000); a bone model of a 19^th century thirty-four gun war ship more than 4 ft-8inches in length (est. $8/12,000); a George III silver four-arm five basket epergne by Robert Hennell, London, 1781 with armorial (est. $15/20,000); a pair of 19^th Venetian polychrome decorated carved pine console tables each supported by a vibrantly painted harlequin and masquerader (est. $20/30,000) along with other Venetian Grotto style furnishings and decorative items.

Previews of the property will open to the pubic April 27-29, or by appointment during the 12^th annual Los Angeles Antique Show. For Los Angeles clients and Show attendees, private appointments will be available in addition to the adjusted preview hours -- Friday, April 27, Saturday 28^th open 10am-5pm each day- Sunday, April 29, open: 12 noon-5pm. Auction starts 10am Monday 30^th April