Helmet tops Bonhams Arts of the Samurai auction

An impressive iron kawari kubuto, or “eccentrically shaped helmet,” was the top lot at Bonhams Arts of the Samurai auction held on October 8, realizing $377,000 after a lengthy telephone bidding war. Shaped like a conch shell, this Edo period (18th century) gem is likely an allusion to the traditional battle call [Read More]

Bonhams October auction of Chinese decorative art

Bonhams announce its Asian Decorative Arts auction in San Francisco, taking place Wednesday, October 9 at 10 am. The auction will include more than 500 lots of predominantly Chinese decorative art and paintings – but also featuring artwork from Japan, India and Southeast Asia. Many of the items, which have not been [Read More]

PAIR OF ANTIQUE MILLS NOVELTY COMPANY COIN-OPS – A VIOLANO-VIRTUOSO AND A PERFECT MUSCLE DEVELOPER – REALIZE IDENTICAL PRICES OF $15,930 AT FONTAINE’S

The turn-of-the-century machines shared top lot honors at an auction held Sept. 21 in Pittsfield, Mass. (PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – A pair of antique Mills Novelty Company coin-operated machines – a Violano-Virtuoso and a Perfect Muscle Developer – shared top lot honors by realizing identical selling prices of $15,930 each at an auction [Read More]

FINE JEWELRY: ONE HIGHLIGHT OF GROGAN’S OCTOBER AUCTION

Dedham, Massachusetts – Grogan and Company is pleased to announce their fall auction will be a two day affair held over Columbus Day weekend, October 13th and 14th. The auction is comprised of a large selection of Fine Art, Jewelry, Silver, Furniture, Decorative Works of Art, and Rugs from various collections and [Read More]

Whisky bottle with Mary Quant label for auction at Bonhams

A bottle of 27 year old Springbank whisky, bottled to mark the Everest Challenge in 1993 and with a label designed by the famous 1960s’ icon Mary Quant, is to be sold at Bonhams Whisky sale in Edinburgh on 2 October. It is estimated at £1,200-1,400. The Everest challenge was a charity [Read More]

Ming fish bowl for auction at Bonhams

An important and extremely rare wucai fish bowl decorated with a bird theme ? mandarin ducks, geese, swallows and crested egrets in the rippling waters of a lake – is estimated to sell for £500,000 to £800,000 at Bonhams sale of Fine Chinese Art in London on November 7. The fish bowl [Read More]

THE DAVID FORE COLLECTION PART III

The Climax of a Monumental Project Leaves Worldwide Collections More Impressive Than Ever Before A room full of enthusiastic bidders found fierce competition from buyers on the internet, and on the phone, as they fought to take home part of the celebrated David Fore Collection of Indian Coins. This concluding auction was [Read More]

Bonhams to auction film manuscripts by Faulkner and Traven

A few of the highlights of the Fine Books & Manuscripts Sale at Bonhams Los Angeles (to be simulcast in New York) include a unique collection of recently uncovered, rare film manuscripts from modern American literary figures. A mimeographed manuscript of William Faulkner’s “dialogued treatment” for Drums Along the Mohawk (est. $15,000-20,000), [Read More]