Fairfield, Maine, - For the last few weeks, the talk in the rare lamp and art glass world has been the Julia auction of June, 19th & 20th. Without question the auction was the epitome of diversity, quality, rarity and value. This was the finest offering to take place in the glass world this year! The presentation at the preview was simply breathtaking. Showcase after showcase was filled with art glass treasures and row after row of spectacular colorful lamps were a beautiful sight to behold. Julia’s department head, Dudley Browne, together with his administrative assistant, Julie Killam had been exceedingly busy for the last six months gathering one of the finest groupings the firm has ever offered. But equally important were the energy, effort and expense put into the marketing program to entice participants, which resulted in a significant payoff. The days of the auction featured one of the largest crowds to attend such an event at the Julia firm in many years. There were a great number of strong prices and robust participation in all areas and the bottom line was a healthy gross of approximately $1.8 Million, a tremendous feat in this economy! Browne also stated that there were a number of negotiations in the works on unsold items so the gross will likely increase in the coming week as a result of post-auction sales.
Part of the success of Julia’s is a result of some decisions made in early December of last year. In a meeting involving all management and department heads in the Julia firm they discussed how to proceed in this new economy. One possibility was to do as 90% of all U.S. businesses had done in the past few months (i.e. let a significant portion of their staff go, cut back on services offered to their clients, ensure their commission charges would produce profit, etc.). But the Julia firm decided upon an entirely different approach. Jim Julia stated emphatically that his current auction company team was the finest that had ever worked for him and literally every employee was valuable to their success. Hence, he made a commitment to all the employees after that meeting that they would all be kept on full time and there would be no intention of cutting any positions. As a result of the meeting, an aggressive ad campaign was developed including what was referred to as the “Julia Stimulus Plan”. The “Plan” outlined a host of benefits and features to be provided to consignors in the future. Foremost was the 0% commission fee on expensive items. The theory of the Julia team was to charge less, give better service, and work harder and smarter. This new approach has proven to be exceedingly successful for the auctioneer, buyer, and seller. There can be no question that their formula is working. The spring firearms auction this year grossed an incredible $11.5 million dollars, one of the highest ever in the firearms auction industry in the world (Julia’s set the world record in March 2008 at $12.7 Million). Their glass & lamp auction was unquestionably the finest offering of glass & lamps offered this year in the auction world. Julia’s toy, doll, and advertising auction a week later was their best in the past three years, producing a final gross of over $1.3 Million against a low estimate of items sold of $796,000. To date, their new business model is performing admirably in an economy that would normally dictate an entirely different approach.
Of the numerous headliners in the auction was a marvelous clematis lamp with flared shade and featured pastel flowers over a mottled amber background with a band of geometric panels around the bottom perimeter. One of Tiffany’s more exceptional creations, distinguished by their internal dash numbering system, this stunning piece brought $69,000 within a presale estimate of $65,000-75,000.
The grand selection of Tiffany leaded lamps also included an impressive leaded shade with mottled translucent green tiled background with an elaborate Tyler scroll pattern across the entire top half. Seeing very active bidding, it finished up above its $10,000-15,000 estimate at $17,250. A Tiffany Studios 12-light lily lamp featured a bronze lily pad base from which a cluster of long stems emerge and terminate in brilliant iridescent shades. It approached the midway point of its presale estimate, selling for $37,375. An exceptional green linen fold table lamp in which the glass panels look like stretched fabric sold for $23,000 against a $20,000-25,000 estimate. And a wonderful Colonial leaded lamp in warm yellow, which when illuminated reveals dark internal mottling that contrasts beautifully with the lighter background. The piece sold within its $20,000-25,000 estimate for $20,700.
Complementing the fine array of Tiffany were examples by other astounding makers such as a lively Duffner & Kimberly Louis XV leaded lamp. With intricate floral design and cast brass overlay extending from its permanent high relief heat cap and resting on its original matching base, the lamp exudes extravagance at its finest and sold for $47,150 (est. $45,000-55,000) a price worthy of its appeal. A rare Pairpoint Puffy White Owl lamp, only the seventh known to exist on the planet, is considered to be the more desirable of the two versions created (the other is brown). The base consists of an elaborate heavy cast full bodied owl perched on a branch. Its glass shade is in the form of an owl in flight whose head is affixed with piercing yellow paperweight eyes. This piece saw much attention and several phone bids to swoop past its $15,000-25,000 pre-auction to sell for $42,550. Other highlights included a Handel reverse painted lamp depicting exotic birds flitting among the peonies. The vibrant colors and most realistic rendering helped push the lamp to a selling price of $13,800 against a $9,000-12,000 estimate. Even a contemporary lamp artist’s work saw active participation and a strong price. World renowned Tiffany expert Paul Crist’s massive spider mum table lamp in a broad palette of cool rich colors and intricate lead work sold for $17,250 against an estimate of $12,000-15,000.
In addition to the lighting was an expansive selection of art glass including works by Tiffany, Steuben, Quezal, Lalique, and others. This session was highlighted by a magnificent and large Tiffany vase with wheel carved and cameo decoration as well as padded white poppies. “It is truly stunning,” Browne stated. “This is perhaps one of the finest Tiffany vases we’ve ever had the pleasure of offering.” Condition, quality, and rarity meant a selling price of $37,375, exceeding expectations of $25,000-35,000. A lovely 18” Jack in the Pulpit vase with bright gold favrile finish and brilliant iridescence from top to bottom sold for $17,250 against an estimate of $15,000-20,000. A stunning flower form vase with a heavily ruffled top flowing from vibrant orange to a green pulled feather stem was a sleeper, bringing $12,075, more than tripling its $4,000-6,000 estimate. A rare and seldom seen Tiffany cameo vase consisting of a clam broth iridescent background decorated with yellow flowers sold for $11,500 (est. $10,000-15,000) and a mammoth Tiffany trumpet vase in deep crimson red brought $7,475 (est. $5,000-7,000).
A select grouping of Steuben included two fantastic Frederick Carder era pieces. Considered very innovative for the time and rather sought after today, Carder’s early works for Steuben are true works of art. A gorgeous Steuben green aurene pulled feather vase was a must have for several bidders. It eventually went to the one willing to pay $15,225, ignoring an estimate of $7,000-10,000. A scarce 13” Tyrian vase transitioning from blue to sea foam green iridescence with leaf and vine decoration boasted the size, color, and iridescence to make this the one of the best examples available. It sold for $10,925 within expectations of $10,000-15,000. Other Steuben included an iridescent gold aurene vase with pulled peacock feather decoration over a calcite background, which sold for $11,500, beating out an estimate of $7,000-10,000. And a cire purdue figure of a panther vanquishing a snake combined action and realism with a pleasing texture and appearance. It was signed and dated by Frederick Carder whose cire purdue creations are true works of art. Considered very innovative for the time and rather sought after today, the figure sold at the upper end of its $8,000-10,000 estimate for $9,200.
Adding to the breadth of the sale was an ample offering of French and English Cameo glass by the most sought after names in the genre including Daum, Galle, Le Verre Francais, Webb, and others. A magnificent selection of French Cameo included some of the finest pieces the firm has seen. Included was a terrific Galle marquetry vase with purple, mauve, and amber crocus flowers on a saucer foot that brought $34,500 against an estimate of $30,000-40,000. A wild naturalistic free form vase with green leaves and stems featured a mottled yellow to brown background that was cameo cut with spider webs all around the outside. It was further highlighted by cameo and enameled red flowers and finished with two cameo and enameled bumblebees, and sold for $14,950. A Galle mold blown vase with fuchsia flowers and dark leaves on a pastel yellow background was a gorgeous piece and broke into its $10,000-15,000 estimate to sell for $10,925. A Daum Nancy pillow vase decorated with a graceful swan swimming through a quiet marsh sold for $10,350 above a pre-auction estimate of $7,000-10,000. And a massive Daum Nancy tri-cornered vase with padded narcissus flowers standing against a mottled blue sky sold for $9,200 against an $8,000-12,000 estimate.
English Cameo glass was also quite popular and included two junior sized kerosene lamps with finely carved white floral decoration. The first, a rare amethyst example with ivy and branches, finished with cameo butterflies nearly tripled its $6,000-8,000 estimate to sell for $17,250. The second, a junior banquet lamp with pomegranate leaves and fruit on a rich blue background exceeded its $5,000-7,000 estimate, finishing up at $10,925. But it was a rare Jules Barbe cameo and enamel vase that surprised those in attendance. Beautifully rendered red plums and currants with gold leaves over an etched leaf background, it sold for $24,725 versus expectations of $8,000-12,000. And one of the finest Webb vases to ever grace an auction block features allover carved white flowers, stems and leaves on a deep blue background, finished with dragonflies and bumblebees. It created a buzz and ultimately sold for $12,937 against a presale estimate of $5,500-6,500.
Helping to round out the sale was a selection of Victorian glass, Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre, and rare Tiffany bronze desk accessories with which Julia’s has had great success. This time around, highlights included a Tiffany Studios Spanish desk lamp with an antique gold dore finish with intricate art nouveau decoration. The lamp’s heavy casting and exquisite detailing was most appealing, finding a buyer at $8,625 (est. $8,000-10,000). Other Tiffany Studios desk accessories included an elaborate bronze and jeweled frame in the 9th Century pattern that brought $5,750 against a $4,000-6,000 estimate and a Venetian letter rack with heavy ornamentation that sold for $1,725 (est. $1,500-2,500).
Selections of Wedgwood’s wild line of Fairyland Lustre included a Firbolg vase consisting of a midnight blue lustre background on which was a gilt design of goblins and trees. It sold for $4,025 against an estimate of $3,000-4,000. And a Fairyland Lustre plate in the Imps on a Bridge pattern approached its $7,000-9,000 estimate to bring $6,900.
Of the Victorian glass, a Mount Washington lava glass vase with colorful slashes on an obsidian background sold for $4,887 against expectations of $2,000-4,000. A Mount Washington Royal Flemish cracker jar with a silver portrait coin of Nero on the front brought a solid $3,450, tripling its $1,000-1,500 estimate.
For the last eight months, Jim Julia has advocated, “These are times of great opportunity, and astute buyers will stay vigilant and involved in the market. For the first time in the last eight years, there are fabulous buying opportunities.” Any of the unsold items from the auction are now posted on their website, and Julia’s invites you to make an offer and possibly get a bargain!
Julia’s upcoming auctions include their fabulous end of summer antiques & fine art extravaganza in August. Always the highlight of the New England summer auction season it will feature approximately $5 Million in spectacular merchandise. Julia’s important firearms and military memorabilia auction will take place in October. Julia’s toy & doll auction as well as a rare lamp & glass auction will take place in November. Julia’s is currently accepting consignments for these and other upcoming auctions. These economic times are indeed a time for opportunity. One dealer, frustrated with the results from his recent shows elected to consign his entire inventory. The results were $230,000 in sales, far greater than he had realized in total for his past eight shows combined! Call immediately for inclusion in these exciting sales. For more information, contact their offices at 207-453-7125. James D. Julia, Inc., P.O. Box 830, Dept. PR, Fairfield, ME 04937. E-mail: info@jamesdjulia.com.

Not Fade Away Gallery and Allan Tannenbaum, Famed SoHo Weekly News Photographer, announced today that the Gallery is holding a silent auction of over 70 rare Artist’s Proofs and Limited Edition photographs from the Allan Tannenbaum exhibition NEW YORK IN THE 70s, and Not Fade Away Gallery’s inaugural exhibition THE BRITISH ARE COMING: THE BEATLES AND THE ROLLING STONES 1964-66, THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF BOB BONIS.

Thirty percent of the realized prices will be donated to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, a non-profit charitable foundation dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in America’s public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child’s complete education.

The auction presents an opportunity to bid on a variety of important and rare Artist’s Proofs and limited edition photographs from Not Fade Away Gallery’s two premiere exhibitions. The images included in the auction represent some of the most important and iconic images of the 1970s, including the disco scene, the rise of punk, famous celebrities and musicians, as well as important political and cultural happenings that shaped this decade. In addition, a number of images from the famous “Lost” Beatles and Rolling Stones photos by Bob Bonis are also included.

Bidders may preview all photographs at the Gallery every day through July 9, at 12 East 20 Street, 2nd Floor, New York City, as well as on the web site www.NFAgallery.com. Bids may be entered in person at the Gallery, on the Gallery’s web site, or on eBay by searching for seller “NotFadeAwayGallery”.

The auction will close on Thursday, July 9 with a reception at Not Fade Away Gallery, and all bidding will be closed promptly at 10 pm EST. All bids entered at the Gallery, online and on eBay will be tabulated and winners will be announced and notified on Friday, July 10 by phone and email.

Larry Marion, Director of Not Fade Away Gallery said: “This auction is a unique opportunity to acquire extremely rare fine art photographs that document both the music, cultural, social and political scenes that dominated the 1970s, as well as a number of the rarest images of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones from 1964-66, taken by their US Tour Manager Bob Bonis, and support an extremely important charity to preserve music in our schools. We welcome all bidders to preview these photographs and bid early.”

For further information about the auction, complete auction rules, previews of all photographs up for sale, and to place bids, please go to www.NFAgallery.com.

About the VH1 Save The Music Foundation
The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit 501c3 organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in America’s public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child’s complete education. Since 1997, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation has successfully restored and sustained instrumental music programs in 1,600 public schools in more than 100 cities across the country, including Memphis, Houston, Chicago, New York, Denver, Baltimore and Milwaukee. Over the past ten years, various artists and celebrities have shown their devotion to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation by partnering with the organization as they’ve reached out to struggling school districts across the country. This year, Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, Chris Webber, Gavin DeGraw, NE-YO, Johnny Rzeznik, Natasha Bedingfield, The Fray, Tamia, 3 Doors Down and Venus Williams serve as The Foundation’s Inaugural Class of Ambassadors, each raising funds and delivering key messages on behalf of The Foundation. To date, VH1 Save The Music has provided more than $43 million in new musical instruments, affecting the lives of more than 1.2 million children. It is The Foundation’s renewed commitment to donate one hundred million dollars worth of new musical instruments to ensure that even a greater number of students receive a comprehensive music education in the coming decade! To join the movement to First Make Music, Then Make History, visit www.vh1savethemusic.com.

During a recent auction at Stair Galleries Auction House in Hudson, New York, well-known American artist Donray sold a painting entitled Butterfly #20 for a price exceeding the artist’s existing record. The painting, measuring 15.5 inches by 19 inches, was one of three top sellers among the 240 lots of fine art items sold. A second painting, a pastel on paper of a Native American Indian titled Paladin, sold for $5,175 and measures 25 inches by 19 inches. Paladin was not only among the top 10 percent of lots sold in the auction, the painting was the artist’s first pastel to be sold at auction.

Even given the current economic outlook, market and collector support of Donray appears strong. Although Butterfly #20 is considered an important painting as one in the Butterfly Series completed by the artist, a large work of Donray has yet to come to auction. With a selling price of $12,870, Butterfly #20 reached more than $43 per square inch.

Recently, a substantial body of Donray’s work was purchased by investment banking firm, Allegiance Capital Corporation, of Dallas and New York. According to David Mahmood, CEO of Allegiance Capital, “Donray’s work is sharply on the rise and I believe collectors are anxiously awaiting the offering of a large Donray painting at auction.”

Additionally, The Prestige Financial Center, an investment services firm in Manhattan, acquired several early pieces by Donray, including a self-portrait. According to esteemed art critic and author, Donald Kuspit, the artist’s work reveals “a verve, an energy, a dynamic surging gesture, violent movement, an overall vividness and vitality that places Donray’s paintings among the most interesting of what might be called post-modern expressionist painting.”

An artist who epitomizes dynamic artistry through his powerful, energetic and sometimes dreamlike use of color, Donray’s work exudes movement and emotional images. Many of his works use human and animal imagery to create moments of breathtaking lightness and transcendency and provide other instances of profound gravity and intensity. In particular, his special technique involving acrylics and glaze provides many of his canvas works with a depth not commonly found in the art world.

For many of his acrylic pieces, Donray continues to use an innovative technique that he pioneered and for which he is known involving an acrylic-on-acrylic collage created by the artist. The collage material is the same as that being used to paint with and developed through a tedious process of mixing, pouring, manipulation and cutting. The result is a dramatic display of intermingling color, texture, reflecting light and exciting energy.

About the Artist

Often called an American Expressionist, Donray’s works have been lauded on both sides of the Atlantic. Powerful, energetic, pulsating and sometimes dreamlike, his use of color, movement and imagery is emotional, visceral and thought-provoking. Many of his works use human and animal imagery to create moments of breathtaking lightness and transcendency and provide other moments of profound gravity and intensity. In particular, his unique technique involving acrylic on acrylic collage provides many of his canvas works a depth not commonly found in the art world. You may learn more about Donray at Wikipedia, or via a Web site set up by his supporters at http://www.donrayartist.com/.

Christie’s Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction realised £19,063,350 / $31,778,604 / €22,513,816 selling 88% by lot and 86% by value.

Francis Outred, International Director and Head of Post-War and Contemporary Art, Christie’s Europe: ‘We are delighted with the results of our sales tonight which continued the trend of strong sold rates seen in the first 6 months of this year at our international auctions. This evening, an active market saw 86% of lots find buyers in a sale that achieved strong prices - in particular, the outstanding result for Peter Doig’s ‘Night Playground’, which made the second highest price ever achieved for the artist at just over £3 million. What was most interesting was that 80% of works sold within or above their pre-sale estimates, and that we welcomed bids from a significant number of new collectors.’

The top price was paid for Night Playground by Peter Doig (b.1959), 1997/98, an exemplary large scale painting described by the artist as one of his own favourites. It was offered at auction for the first time and realised £3,009,250 / $5,016,420 / €3,553,924, the second highest price for the artist at auction (estimate: £1.5 million to £2 million). A particularly rare urban view, the painting shows night falling on a city playground and portrays the contrast between nature and the man-made. At this evening’s auction, 4 works of art sold for over £1 million / 11 for over $1 million, and buyers (by lot / by origin) were 65% UK and Europe, 29% Americas and 6% Asia.

Further highlights of the sale:

· Country Nurse, 2003, by Richard Prince (b.1949), one of the largest works created for the artist’s celebrated and highly coveted Nurse series, sold for £1,721,250 / $2,869,324 / €2,032,796. For the Nurse series, Prince mined his own extensive collection of trashy romance novels from the 1950s and 1960s, lifting the protagonists and titles from their lurid covers and immersing them in layers of pigment. An exploration of female stereotypes, the series was subject to great attention in 2003 when Prince photographed Kate Moss for W magazine in front of one of his pictures while she was wearing a suggestive nurse’s outfit.

· 1025 Farben (1025 Colours) by Gerhard Richter (b.1932) realised £1,385,250 / $2,309,212 / €1,635,980, and was offered at auction for the first time having been in the ownership of the present European owner since 1974, the year in which it was painted. From a series considered to coincide with the most fruitful period in the artist’s career, the work sold this evening is from the last and most accomplished group of colour charts which he painted.

· The auction offered 3 works by Jeff Koons (b. 1955) which represented three distinctive moments from the artist’s career, and all of which were offered at auction for the first time. Moustache, 2003, from the artist’s Popeye series sold this evening for £1,105,250 / $1,842,452 / €1,305,300. Flowers, 1986, from the artist’s Statuary series which also included his masterpiece, Rabbit, sold for £337,250 / $562,196 / €398,292; and Walrus (Blue), executed in 1999, sold for £361,250 / $602,204 / €426,636.

· Untitled, by Cy Twombly (b.1928) realised £802,850 / $1,338,351 / €948,166, exceeding its pre-sale estimate of £500,000 to £700,000. This important work was executed in 1961, a watershed year in the artist’s career during which he created a number of masterpieces including the Ferragosto series which was recently united in an exhibition dedicated to the artist at Tate Modern last year.

· Rosso Gilera 60 1232 Rosso Guzzi 60 1305 by Alighiero Boetti (1940-1994) sold for £713,250 / $1,188,988 / €842,348 against a pre-sale estimate of £280,000 to £350,000 setting a record price for the artist at auction. Further artist records were established by Transiente by Julie Mehretu (b.1970) which realized £229,250 / $382,160 / €270,744; and Golden Independent Heart, 2004, a 4.5 metre tall, rotating heart made of plastic cutlery by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos (b.1971) whose work has never before been offered at an international auction and which sold for £163,250 / $272,138 / €192,798 (estimate: £80,000 to £120,000).

Washington, DC-based Sloans & Kenyon Auctioneers and Appraisers is to present at auction on July 26th the entire estate of Jeane Dixon (1904-1997), one of the pre-eminent astrologers and psychics of the 20th century best known for predicting John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

The July 26th auction includes:
*Mrs. Dixon’s crystal ball and famous desk
*Hats and vintage clothing included Dixon’s celebrated gold-beaded evening dress
*Furniture and fine and decorative art from Dixon’s Washington, DC Victorian townhouse
*Lifetime accumulation of personal possessions and memorabilia, personal and business papers and correspondence; ephemera, scrapbooks and travel souvenirs; religious artifacts
*Books on prophecy, astronomy, astrology, paranormal studies, and presidential studies, including books authored by Mrs. Dixon

Auction lots can be viewed in person at Sloans & Kenyon’s Chevy Chase gallery during the five-day exhibition, Tuesday, July 21st through Saturday, July 25th. A limited edition auction catalogue is available for $15. Multiple-view online images of auction lots, detailed images, and alternate views of auction lots can be viewed at www.sloansandkenyon.com/search.htm beginning July 11.