Antiques

Two superbly documented fragments of the original Star Spangled Banner, which inspired America’s national anthem in 1814 as it flew in defiance of the British over Ft. McHenry in Baltimore, MD, and were later in the collection of a Philadelphia museum, are expected to bring $60,000+ when they come up for bid [Read More]

One of the largest and most impressive groups of bronze and ivory figures to appear at auction in recent years comes under the hammer at the Bonhams ‘Design from 1860’ sale in London on 22 June. Elsewhere in the sale are six highly unusual stained glass windows made for the famous Belgian [Read More]

The 300-lot collection belonging to Helen Burton of Arlington, Va., serves as the centerpiece for Morphy Auctions’ June 11 Fine Doll sale. The collection comprises of approximately 75% of the auction inventory, and according to Morphy’s doll specialist and cataloger Jan Foulke, the contents are highly select. “Helen has always been very [Read More]

A selection of French decorative arts from the Estate of legendary Dallas power couple Ray and Clare Stern will form the centerpiece of Heritage Auctions’ June Signature® Decorative Arts Auction, being presented June 1 at Heritage’s Design District Annex, 1518 Slocum Street. Heritage Auctions will host a wine and cheese reception on [Read More]

Christie’s announce the descendants of James Ward Packard have entrusted the auction house with the sale of exceptional timepieces from this legendary collection. These extraordinary watches remain in pristine condition, having been stored away in a bank vault for the last 60 years. They will be unveiled for the first time to [Read More]

Bonhams Hong Kong secured another ‘Golden Gavel’ triumph on 25 May 2011 with the sale of the legendary Mary and George Bloch Collection of Chinese Snuff bottles: Part III. All 142 lots sold out for a total of HK$38,361,600 (£3,054,329). The blockbuster sale proves that the international market for the finest Chinese [Read More]

On June 7, Christie’s New York will present French Classicism: Selections from the Private Collection of Michael Simon, a variety of over thirty superb examples of French furniture and decorative arts of the Ancien Régime, all owned by one of the most respected connoisseurs in the field. The pieces selected are characterized [Read More]

Cowan’s May 21 Spring Fine and Decorative Art Auction was hailed a success as a grouping of 80 lots of Chinese decorative arts in the auction sold for significantly higher than their pre-auction estimates. Sales of these Chinese decorative arts, totaling just over $378,500, accounted for over a third of the auction’s [Read More]

Silver dollars and golden treasures are among the most important highlights of Heritage Auctions’ Official Auction of the June 2011 Long Beach Expo, with floor sessions held June 2-3 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA. “For more than a decade, Heritage has been the Official Auctioneer of the [Read More]

A rare and unique early 20th century cosmetic box by Asahi Gyokuzan was the star lot of the highlights of the Fine Japanese Art sale that took place on the 12th May at Bonhams, New Bond Street London. Asahi Gyokuzan was a designated Imperial Court Artist and one of the most famous [Read More]

Bonhams Hong Kong 2011 Spring Auctions will offer The Q Soapstone Collection, on 25 May at 11:30am. The Q Collection is arguably the greatest collection of soapstone figures ever to be offered at auction. The 78 figures represent the personal journey of the collector, who showed remarkable vision in collecting these figures, [Read More]

Christie’s Hong Kong Spring sales of Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, to be held on Wednesday, 1 June 2011 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, will present over 450 rare and exquisite Chinese Imperial ceramics and works of art, valued at close to HK$1 billion. This represents an [Read More]

Sotheby’s Geneva have sold the most important emerald and diamond tiara to have appeared at auction in over 30 years for CHF 11,282,500 /$12,736,927, the highest price ever achieved for a tiara at auction. Six bidders competed for the magnificent and extremely rare emerald and diamond tiara, circa 1900, which was formerly [Read More]

A magnificent ten-fold ‘Dragon and Clouds’ screen measuring an imposing 9 ft 5 in. x 20 ft (2.9 m x 6.1 m) will be offered on 1 June at the Imperial Sale at Christie’s 2011 Spring Hong Kong Sale series. Incorporating the finest work carving, kesi weaving, lacquerwork and painting, the rosewood [Read More]

Old Toy Soldier Auctions will offer for sale the late Don Darnieder’s collection of important antique and vintage soldiers on Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22, 2011. The auction comprising more than 1,500 lots will also feature part II of the late Fred Wehr’s collection and other select properties. Internet live bidding will [Read More]

Two items in Bonhams Fine Chinese Art sale in London on12 May, sourced in Scotland, achieved astonishing prices. Lot 368, a rare pair of famille rose ‘melon’ teapots with iron-red Imperial Qianlong seal marks, moulded with five lobes in a naturalistic form, were estimated to sell for £20,000-30,000 but went on to [Read More]

A portrait miniature of the 18th century actress Margaret “Peg” Woffington by the artist James Ferguson, is one of the highlights of the Fine Portrait Miniatures sale on the 25th May at Bonhams, Knightsbridge and is estimated to sell for £1,500- 2,500. Peg Woffington was born in Dublin and began her career [Read More]

The Ronnie and Sandy Rosen collection of comic character toys is among the featured attractions in Bertoia’s big 1,480-lot auction to be held June 10-11, 2011. It took weeks to catalog the enormous array of beautiful toys, banks and doorstops chosen for Bertoia Auctions’ June 10-11 Toys with Character sale, and gallery [Read More]