Invite Modern Masters Into Your Home

Ask any interior designer the most affordable way to add color and style to your home, and you might hear the reply, “Modern art prints.” A blank wall is a clean slate, waiting for you to add your own personality through prints and works on paper by modern masters. You can start or add to your collection of prints by bidding in this week’s curated auction, which is filled with wonderful works by Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns, Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder and other greats of the modern era.

Thirty-one thoughtfully chosen artworks are included in this selection, which opens with eight prints from Pablo Picasso’s portfolio titled “15 Drawings from the Pantheon 1946.” From an Albert Carmen/Pantheon limited edition of 500, the portfolio’s lithographs were printed on Arches paper with Pochoir hand coloring. They include: Man with Pipe, Minotaur, Four Ballet Dancers, Two Nudes, and four others.

One of eight Pablo Picasso lithographs from the portfolio Fifteen Drawings from the Pantheon 1946, est. $1,500-$2,000

 

The sensational pop art vision of Roy Lichtenstein comes to life in a 1966 triptych titled As I Opened Fire. Composed of three lithos in Lichtenstein’s trademark primary-color, comic-book style, the triptych tells a brief story about a fighter plane in action. Part of the rare Lifetime Edition published by the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, this print is estimated between $600-$800.

Roy Lichtenstein triptych As I Opened Fire, 1966, each of the three measuring 641 x 530mm, part of the rare Lifetime Edition published by the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, est. $600-$800

 

Souvenir d’Oceanie is the title of an Henri Matisse color lithograph artist-signed in the plate and printed under his supervision at the Mourlot Studio, Paris, in 1954. The lithograph plates were erased after the edition was published. The edition was issued by Teriade for Verve, Paris, in 1958, and is offered with a $400-$600 estimate.

Henri Matisse (French, 1869-1954), Souvenir d’Oceanie, lithograph created 1954, issued by Teriade for Verve, Paris, 1958, 260 x 356mm, est. $400-$600

 

Subtle pastels combine in Kikuo Saito’s square mixed-media print titled Tin Garden. Saito began his career as a studio assistant for some of the most prominent painters of the 1970s/80s, including Larry Poons, Kenneth Noland, and Helen Frankenthaler, and later developed his own calligraphic style. Tin Garden, published in 1981 by John Szoke, New York, is numbered 10 of an edition of 35. The artist pencil-signed the print at the lower right.

Kikuo Saito (Japanese), Tin Garden, 1981, mixed media/paper, 10/35, pencil signature at lower right, est. $800-$1,000

 

Representative of another genre altogether, Mel Ramos’ lithograph The Nile Queen, is from an edition of 199 and depicts a seductive woman in an emerald-green swimsuit against a background of Ancient Egyptian imagery. A former college art professor, Mel Ramos is best known for his paintings of superheroes and female nudes, which often incorporate elements of realist and abstract art.

Mel Ramos (American, b. 1935-), The Nile Queen, edition of 199, printed in 2000, 28 x 25in, pencil-signed by artist at lower right, est. $800-$900

5 Original Works by Wonderful Artists

Ready-to-hang original works by listed artists of the 19th and 20th centuries are featured in this curated collection of paintings and drawings. Nearly 50 oil paintings, watercolors, and pastels will be available to the highest bidders. Below we highlight 5 of the most outstanding pieces in this auction.

Prominent New York artist Gustav Burkhard gets the auction off to a bold and colorful start with a large pastel on paper nude study from the estate of a private collector in Denver. This Abstract Expressionist’s works are in the permanent collections of major museums in the U.S. and abroad.

Hans Gustav Burkhard (Swiss-American, 1904-1994), ‘Nude Study,’ 1975, pastel on paper, image size 24 in. x 18 in. Estimate: $1,000-$1,500. Jasper52 image

 

Carrying the highest estimate in the sale at $2,500-$3,500 is an oil-on-canvas painting depicting a theatrical rehearsal of Othello by Abraham Solomon.

Abraham Solomon, work depicts a theatrical rehearsal of ‘Othello,’ oil on canvas, inscribed ‘A. Solomon Esquire’ on stretcher, 12 in x 14 in. in the frame. Estimate: $2,500-$3,500. Jasper52 image

 

A beautiful 19th-century Mexican school portrait of a young girl is impressive in its 45×35-inch frame.

‘Portrait of a Young Girl,’ Mexican School, oil on canvas, 19th century, 35 1/4 in. x 25 1/4 in. canvas, 45 in. x. 35 in. framed. Estimate: $1,200-$1,800. Jasper52 image

 

John Fleming Gould (American, 1906-1996) contributes a dramatic Illustration for story in Delineator Magazine, 1932, which pictures a young man and woman in a classroom.

John Fleming Gould (American 1906-1996), ‘Illustration for story in Delineator Magazine, 1932,’ mixed media on paper, signed and dated, 15 1/4 in. x 15 3/4 in. image, 23 in. x 23 1/4 in. framed. Estimate: $600-$900. Jasper52 image

 

Los Angeles artist Laddie John Dill (b. 1943) is represented by an untitled oil paint, cement, wash and monotype and multiple on hand-crafted paper. His work is owned by many private collectors and is included in the permanent collections of more than 25 museums. Using natural pigments, he incorporates in his work a wide range of colors from brick reds derived from iron oxide, coal blacks from black sulphur, yellows and naturally minded cobalt blues. Combinations of these natural pigments create a variety of brilliant but still “organic” colors.

Laddie John Dill, Untitled, oil paint cement, wash and monotype multiple on hand crafted paper, signed and dated lower right as well as on verso, 23 in. x 30 in. framed. Provenance: Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Estimate: $1,000-$1,500. Jasper52 image

 

Take a look at the full catalog of 19th & 20th Century Paintings & Drawings by wonderful artists.

A Double Exposure to Japanese Woodblock Prints

Art lovers will enjoy this double dose of beautiful Japanese images in this week’s Exclusive Japanese Woodblock Prints auction, presented in two sessions. The opening session consists of 58 premium-quality Japanese woodblock prints, both vintage originals and contemporary productions; while the following sale features excellent prints at a more affordable price point.

The auction opens with a View of Miho Bay by the renowned Ando Hiroshige in the form of a fan. The impression is from the original first edition created in 1845-46. Ando Hiroshige was a ukiyo-e artist, considered the last great master of that great master of the genre of Japanese art, which flourished from the 17th through 19th centuries. He is famous for his landscapes.

Ando Hiroshige, ‘View of Miho Bay,’ original 1845-46 edition, rare fan print. Estimate: $1,300-$1,400. Jasper52 image

 

Hasui Kawase (1883-1957) was a Japanese artist and printmaker who became a prominent figure in the shin-hanga (“new prints”) movement of the early 20th century. This movement was influenced by European Impressionism, and its imagery focused on landscapes, women and nature. His Dusk at Ushibori is an excellent example. This first edition, numbered 189/300, was published in 1930 by Sakai & Kawaguchi.

Kawase Hasui, ‘Dusk at Ushibori,’ Sakai & Kawaguchi, 1930 (first, limited edition, 189/300), oban tate-e (approx. 15 x 10 in.). Estimate: $4,200-$4,500. Jasper52 image

 

Takehisa Yumeiji became famous for his paintings, prints and books expressing the particular feeling of the Taisho democracy (1912-1926) and Taisho romanticism. Next to classical depictions of young women wearing kimonos, his subjects are also depicted as a type of “modern” girl (moga) dressed in western clothes. The influence of the Art Deco style, which found its way to Japan in 1920s, is also noticeable in Yumeiji’s work. Due to the artist’s death at the age of 49, much of his work was published posthumously, as is the case of the print in this collection. Kuroi neko (Black cat) is a limited edition numbered 69/150, which was published by Kato Junki in the 1950s.

Takehisa Yumeiji, ‘Black cat (‘kuroi neko’), Kato Junji, limited edition, 69/150, 1950s, dai oban (approx. 17 x 12 inches). Estimate: $1,900-$2,000. Jasper52 image

 

Contemporary examples of Japanese woodblock prints in the auction include a limited-edition work by Daniel Kelly, an American based in Kyoto, Japan. His pencil-signed and dated 2009 print Camellia is numbered 69/90.

Daniel Kelly (American, b. 1947), ‘Camellia,’ limited edition, 66/90, pencil signed and dated 2009, 40 1/2 x 37 in. Estimate: $3,200-$3,500. Jasper52 image

 

The second session features excellent-quality Japanese woodblock prints at attractive price points. A standout in the second collection is Katsuhira Tokushi’s woodblock print titled Kamado (Cooking Stove), which depicts the interior of a Japanese dwelling. This 1939 print from Tokushi’s Customs of Akita series was self-published by the artist.

Katsuhira Tokushi, ‘Kamado’ (Cooking Stove), Customs of Akita series, 1939, self-published by the artist. Size: Oban. approximately 16 x 11 1/2 in. Estimate: $900-$1,000. Jasper52 image

 

Ikeda Eisen (1970-1848) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist who specialized in bijn-ga (pictures of beautiful women). His woodblock print titled Geisha of the Eastern Capital is a prime example. It is from the original edition done in 1825 by Sano-ki and comes from the Huguette Berés collection, Paris.

Ikeda Eisen, ‘Geisha of the Eastern Capital,’ Sano-ki. Size: oban (approx. 15 x 10 inches), from the original edition of circa 1825. Estimate: $4,000-$4,500. Jasper52 image

 

Take a look at the fully illustrated catalogs and enjoy the two auctions.

An Ark Full of Americana Gems

Americana and folk art go hand-in-hand in this week’s curated Americana auction, much like the pairs of animals in a circa-1850 Noah’s Ark play set.

The finely made set, one of the few toys many children knew in the 19th century, consists of the 15 1/2-inch-long ark, seven members of Noah’s family, eight pairs of animals, 17 single animals, 18 pairs of birds and 10 single birds; a total of 86 figures. The figures are top-quality and retain their original colors. Other than having some small repairs, the set is in excellent condition. It is expected to sell for $2,200-$2,500.

Noah’s Ark set, circa 1850, total of 86 figures. The ark on its stand is 15 1/5 in. long x 10 in high. long. Estimate: $2,200-$2,500. Jasper52 image

 

Several gaming wheels are included in this sale. A rather curious example is a spinner arrow on a board with the names of automobile models. It appears to date to the 1940s. This whimsical game has a $500-$600 estimate.

Game board with car names – some abbreviated, from the 1940s – Nash, Cad’c, Bui’k, Pack, Chevy, 23 in. x 23 in. x 2.5 in . Estimate: $500-$600. Jasper52 image

 

Also having an automotive theme is a wooden whirligig that depicts an early motorist cranking to start his tin lizzie. The whirligig, in old weathered paint, has an estimate of $200-$300.

Whirligig, circa 1920, 18 1/4 in. high (on museum stand) x 20 in. wide x 15 in. deep. Estimate: $200-$300. Jasper52 image

 

A half dozen handmade generic signs are offered, with messages ranging from “fresh eggs” to possibly noting the location of a men’s room.

‘Gents’ sign, incised letters on thick board with good surface & original carefully worked hangers, Boston, 7 in high x 31 in. h x 31 w x 1 3/4 d c 1940s. Estimate: $300-$400. Jasper52 image

 

Several fine examples of chip-carved tramp art are in the catalog, topped by a large frame with mirror, which is adorned with carved stars and maple leaves. It dates to the turn of the last century and is valued at $700-$900.

Tramp art mirror with carved stars and leaves, circa 1900, 25 in. x 28.5 in. x 3 in. Estimate: $700-$900. Jasper52 image

 

For the fireplace, two cast brass andirons, each in the form of a lighthouse, have a mellow-colored oxidized patina.

Vintage cast brass lighthouse andirons, 13 1/2 in. high x 12 in. deep. Estimate: $600-$700. Jasper52 image

 

Check out the full catalog of Americana items and find your next treasure. 

Broaden Your Horizons in This Book Auction

Art, architecture, design and history come together in this week’s comprehensive book auction. The curated collection of books visually and textually spans various artistic periods, historic endeavors, iconic memoirs and cultural wonders. No matter your interest, you will uncover an invaluable story to broaden your horizons. Take a look at a few highlights from this curated sale.

One of the oldest and most valuable books in the auction is a hardbound volume of papers by 17th-century British philosopher John Locke relating to money, interest and trade. The book is the first collected edition of Locke’s most important economic papers, which was published in 1696. It is estimated at $8,000-$10,000.

‘Several Papers Relating to Money, Interest and Trade … ’ by John Locke. First Collected Edition of Locke’s most important economic papers. London: Printed for A. and J. Churchill, at the Black-Swan in Pater-Noster-Row, 1696. Estimate: $8,000-$10,000. Jasper52 image

 

Another Renaissance man of the 17th century was Sir Andrew Balfour, whose first edition Letters Written [sic] to a Friend… Containing Excellent Directions and Advices for Travelling thro’ France and Italy is highly prized. Published posthumously in 1700 by the author’s son from his father’s original manuscript letters, the book has firsthand advice on what to see and do in England, France and Italy, with special attention to buying natural history books. The first edition, first state volume offered in this auction is estimated at $1,000-$1,2000.

‘Letters Writen [sic] to a Friend … Containing Excellent Directions and Advices for Travelling thro’ France and Italy … ’ by Sir Andrew Balfour, first edition, first state, Edinburgh, MDCC [1700]. Estimate: $1,000-$1,200. Jasper52 image

Sportsmen can relive the time of the great French Hunts of the early 20th century in Baron Karl Reille’s famous book La Vénerie Française Contemporaine. This profusely illustrated book, with its text drawings and music scores, numerous full-page color plates, is filled with anecdotes and, often amusing, comments. This important work presents all the hunts existing in France at the time, with each hunt illustrated by the author. It has a $4,000-$4,500 estimate.

‘La Vénerie Française Contemporaine’ by Baron Karl Reille, 1914: Adolph de Goupy, Paris. Famous early 20th century book about hunting in France, profusely illustrated. Estimate: $4,000-$4,500. Jasper52 image

 

Also from France is a first edition of The Decisive Moment: Photography by Henri Cartier Bresson, published in English by Simon and Schuster in 1952. The book, which features a cover illustration by Henri Matisse, contains 126 photographs by the pioneer of street photography. With losses to the surface of the book’s spine, it is estimated at $300-$400.

‘The Decisive Moment: Photography by Henri Cartier Bresson,’ first edition, 1952: Simon and Schuster & Verve Publication. Estimate: $300-$400. Jasper52 image

 

The most recent book in the sale is a first edition of Carlos Diniz’s Views of Venice II, which was published in 2000. The volume is illustrated with 10 full-page color reproductions of his paintings of Venice, and one large foldout plate, which is also in color. Carlos Diniz (1928-2001) is recognized as one of the most important practitioners of architectural illustration in the 20th century. He is known for his work with many Pritzker, Gold Medal and pioneering architects of the 20th century.

‘Views of Venice II,’ by Carlos Diniz, first edition, 2000, Santa Barbara, Calif., illustrated with 10 full-page color reproductions of Diniz’s paintings of Venice, and one large foldout plate also in color. Estimate: $200-$300. Jasper52 image

 

Moving to America, a scarce special edition of The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie And Rocky-mountain Life by Francis Parkman is prized for its Frederick Remington illustrations. The remarkably clean example in the auction features the beautiful blue, red, black and gilt decorative design on cover cloth and gilt design on spine. It carries a $500-$600 estimate.

The Oregon Trail, Sketches Of Prairie And Rocky-mountain Life’ by Francis Parkman, first editon of the Frederick Remington-illustrated special edition. Little, Brown and Co. Estimate: $500-$600. Jasper52 image

The Vintage Silver Lining

Beautifully crafted sterling silver treasures from two continents are the highlights of this curated vintage silver auction. Take a look below as we tour a few of the standouts from this selected collection.

Capping off more than 50 lots is a George III sterling silver teapot and tea caddy set by John Denziloe of London, 1780. Both the teapot and tea caddy are in a classic oval shape and each is embellished with an ornate border on both the top and bottom rims of the body and around the rim of the lid. Each also has a floral swag and bow motif with an oval cartouche on the sides. The teapot has a wood handle and finial.

George III sterling silver teapot and tea caddy, John Denziloe, London, 1780. Estimate: $4,800-$5,500. Jasper52 image

 

London silversmiths Joseph and John Angell made two ornate sterling silver wine bottle coasters, which are dated 1838. These coasters have tall ornate sides embellished with a pierced design and feature an ornate shell and scroll design around the rim. The bases are wood and each coaster has a large round chased button at the center.

Pair of Victorian sterling silver wine/champagne bottle coasters, Joseph & John Angell, London, 1838. Estimate: $3,100-$3,500. Jasper52 image

 

A sterling silver and enamel vanity set by Henry Matthew of Birmingham, England dates to 1924. Each piece in this set is created in solid silver and embellished with a rich blue guilloche enamel design. The set consists of a hand mirror, a pair of hairbrushes, a pair of clothes brushes, two scent bottles, a jar/pot and a small clock. The bottles and the jar both have lovely cut glass patterns.

Sterling silver and enamel woman’s vanity set made by Henry Matthews, Birmingham, England, 1924, excellent condition. Estimate: $2,200-$2,500. Jasper52 image

 

German silver in the sale includes a large pair of well-modeled pheasants. Probably composed of 800 silver, the game birds have hinged wings and date to the 1890s.

Pair of German solid silver pheasants, probably 800 silver, circa. 1890, approx. 22 3/4 in. long x 11 1/4 in. high. Estimate: $3,800-$4,200. Jasper52 image

 

 

A small but colorful silver and enamel clock in the auction was made in Vienna circa 1875. It features a champlevé enamel dial with Roman numerals. The back of the face depicts the mythological Rape of the Sabine Woman in vibrantly colored Viennese enamel. The foot of the clock is also covered with Viennese enameled classical images. A silver gilt and enamel camel stands on a pedestal on the domed foot, and supports the clock on its back. The clock face also has a majestic eagle finial.

Enamel and silver clock, circa 1875 Vienna, Austria, 6 1/2 in. high. Estimate: $4,100-$4,600. Jasper52 image

 

A dozen lots of designer jewelry are included in the auction. Featured is a lovely sterling silver and amethyst bracelet by noted Mexican silver jewelry designer Margot de Taxco.

Margot de Taxco amethyst and sterling silver bracelet, 16 eagle mark, used after 1948, 11/16 in. wide x 7 1/4 in. long. Estimate: $1,100-$1,200. Jasper52 image

6 Impactful Vintage Photoengravings

Photography as an art form became available to a wider audience through photoengraving, which is a photomechanical process for making halftone cuts by photographing an image on a metal plate and then etching. A photoengraving is a plate made by this process, and a print made from such a plate is also called a photoengraving. This week, our specialists have curated a collection of these prints, including the work of some of the foremost photographers of the 20th century.

In this process of photoengraving, the continuous tones of a photograph image were translated into dots through repographic technique that produces a halftone. By means of a basic optical illusion the human eye blends these dots of differing size and spacing back into their continuous tone.

This photoengraving collection boasts some of the most significant names in photography, as well as their distinguished models. Subject matter ranges from portraiture to street photography.

Two names forever linked are American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989) and singer-songwriter Patti Smith, who lived together in New York City from 1967 to 1972. Mapplethorpe’s photographs of her became the covers for the Patti Smith Group albums, and they remained friends until Mapplethorpe’s death in 1989. An iconic Mapplethorpe portrait of Smith is included in the auction.

Robert Mapplethorpe, ‘Patti Smith,’ 1988, duotone photoengraving, printed in the U.S. in 1989. Jasper52 image

 

Bertram “Bert” Stern (1929-2013) was an American commercial photographer, whose best-known work is arguably “The Last Sitting,” a collection of photographs taken for Vogue of Marilyn Monroe weeks before her death in 1962. The auction includes an intimate portrait of the actress, a black and white photoengraving printed in 1964.

Bert Stern, ‘Marilyn Monroe,’ photoengraving, printed in the U.S. in 1964, 8 x 10 in. Jasper52 image

 

Irving Penn (1917-2009) was an American photographer known for his fashion photography, portraits and still lifes. Penn’s career included work at Vogue magazine. He is represented in the auction with an arresting image titled Chanel Sequined Suit.

Irving Penn, ‘Chanel Sequined Suit,’ quad-tone photoengraving, printed in the U.S., 1991. Approx. 7 x 7 in. Jasper52 image

 

Not as widely known today, Geroge Hoyningen-Huene was a seminal fashion photographer of the 1920s and 1930s. He was born in Russia to Baltic German and American parents and spent his working life in France, England and the United States. Beyond fashion, he was a master portraitist as well from Hollywood stars to other celebrities. His portrait of French fashion designer Madame Lucien Lelong (1889-1958) is one of the stars of this collection.

George Hoyningen-Huene, ‘Madame Lucien Lelong,’ photoengraving, printed in Germany in 1932, 5.5 x 8 in. Jasper52 image

 

Karl Blossfeldt (1865-1932) was a German photographer, sculptor and artist. He is best known for his close-up photographs of plants and living things, published in 1929 as, Urformen der Kunst (Primal forms of Art). ‘Japanese Golden Ball Tree‘ is a classic example of his work.

Karl Blossfeldt, ‘Japanese Golden Ball Tree,’ photoengraving, 1936, printed in: Germany, 7 x 10 in. Jasper52 image

 

Also from Germany is a silhouetted image of people on an amusement park ride. Hans Nordhoff’s image titled Sky was printed in 1936.

Hans Nordhoff, ‘Sky,’ photoengraving, printed in Germany in 1936, 8.5 x 5 in. Jasper52 image

200 Years of Japanese Prints

Travel in time through 200 years of Japanese history and culture. This week’s Japanese woodblock prints auction presents a curated collection of 50 prints, which explore how printmakers of the past impacted the development of modern art. Prints in this catalog range from Nishijima Katsuyuki’s Boat on Shore, a signed and numbered first edition from 1990, to the iconic Great Wave off Kanagawa, created by Katsuhika Hokusai in the 1820s.

Nishijima Katsuyuki, ‘Boats on Shore,’ 21 x 14 3/4 inches, 1990, first edition, signed and numbered 116/500. Estimate: $400-$500. Jasper52 image

 

The Great Wave print was purchased at the National Museum of Tokyo about 25 years ago. Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) was a ukiyo-e painter and printmaker of the Edo period. He is best known as author of the woodblock print series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, which includes the internationally recognized The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

Hokusai Katsushika, ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa,’ 15 1/2 in. x 10 1/2 in. Estimate: $300-$400. Jasper52 image

 

Katsuyuki Nishijima (born 1945) is known for his woodblock prints that maintain the tradition and spirit of the ukiyo-e printmakers, while adding his own touch of modern simplicity. His prints show a romantic image of Japan.

The term ukiyo-e translates to “pictures of the floating world” and refers to a genre of Japanese art with a wide span of imagery. This movement was critical in forming the Western perception of Japanese art.

Another first edition in the auction is Silhouette of a Woman with Umbrella by Kamatsu Shiro (1898-1991), a Japanese artist who found success early in his career. Shozaburo Watanabe first saw his work in 1919 and published more than 50 of his prints by the late 1940s. Shiro was a part of the shin-hanga movement, which was created from the late Meiji era until World War II, showing a mixture of traditional Japanese and modern western elements.

Kasamatsu Shiro, ‘Silhouette of a Woman with Umbrella,’ first edition Japanese woodblock print, 5 in. x 10.3 in. Estimate: $200-$250. Jasper52 image

 

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) is considered the last great master of the ukiyo-e movement. His Lingering Snow at Asukayama is a Showa era (1926-1898) print published by Adachi from re-carved woodblocks. His approach was more poetic and ambient than the typical ukiyo-e style, and his innovative compositions were a great influence to Western painters.

Ando Hiroshige, ‘Lingering Snow at Asukayama,’ 14 3/4 in. x 10 in., Showa-era edition published by Adachi from re-carved woodblocks. Estimate: $250-$300. Jasper52 image

 

Koitsu Tsuchiya (1879-1949) specialized in landscape images. His 1934 print titled Snow at the Ukimido, Katada is from an edition published in 1946-57 by Watanabe with the publisher’s seal.

Koitsu Tsuchiya, ‘Snow at the Ukimido, Katada,’ 10.3 in x 15.4 in. Estimate: $400-$500. Jasper52 image

 

Another highlight of the collection is an atmospheric image of a Tokyo landmark, Rain at Nihonbashi Bridge, by Noel Nouet. Created in 1936, this print is a later edition from the original block published by Doi on Doi watermarked paper.

Noel Nouet, ‘Rain at Nihonbashi Bridge,’ 10 1/2 in. x 15 1/2 in. Estimate: $400-$500. Jasper52 image

Antique Cartography: Exploring the Ends of the Earth

Let’s take a journey to the far corners of the earth. Let’s take a trek up the Missouri River. Let’s go on an adventure and dive deep into these antique atlases and maps all being offered in a curated auction this weekend.

One of the most colorful maps in the catalog is a double hemisphere map of the world published in 1792 in Amsterdam by J. Elwe. This lavish world map was first issued by Alexis-Hubert Jaillot nearly a century earlier. Elwe retains the cartography with the island of California, one of the last maps to do so, with Terre de Iesso just off shore of North America. In the Pacific there is only a partial New Zealand coastline and Van Diemens Land together with partial coastline for Terre Australe et Inconnue et Magellanique. The map is beautifully decorated with a rich allegroical background.

1792 Elwe world map, ‘Mappe Monde ou Description du Globe Terrestre & Aquatique,’ by J. Elwe after Haukkit’s 1694 map, published in Amsterdam, 18 in. x 24 in., expertly repaired marginal splits and chips. Estimate: $3,200-$3,600. Jasper52 image

 

From the same era is Brion de la Tour’s rare map of North and Central America. It represents the second issue of one of the first maps to name the United States. While the lands east of the Mississippi are highly detailed with many place names and good topography, the regions west of the Mississippi and north of Spanish New Mexico are labeled as “unknown lands.” The superb cartouche features an allegorical figure of America feeding her young amid native flora and fauna and European shipping.

‘ L’Amerique Septentrionale ou se Remarquent les Etats Unis,’ by cartographer Brion de la Tour, Paris / 1779/1783, 28 5/8 in. x 19 7/8 in. Estimate: $650-$750. Jasper52 image

 

A magnificent and highly informative map of the Western Hemisphere is made even more informative by three inset maps. The United States inset, with its own decorative title cartouche, focuses on the fledgling nation of 13 states and includes a huge number of place names and notes on topography and native tribes. The two other inset maps depict the northeastern and northwestern extremes of North America. The northwestern inset shows Alaska as a thing promontory marked “Alaschka.” The northeastern inset shows Greenland as part of the North American mainland and includes speculation on the possible location of a Northwest Passage.

Map of the Americas, ‘Karte von Amerika Nach d’Anville und Pownall/Karte von der Republik der Vereinigten Dreyzehen Staaten in Nord Amerika,’ by Von Reilly, Vienna, 1795, 30 in. x 23 in. Estimate: $500-$550. Jasper52 image

 

An 1852 Levasseur Atlas of France shows in single pages the 86 ‘departments’ and possessions of that nation. The maps in this seminal large atlas are in excellent condition, while the cover is fragmented and detached.

1852 atlas of France and its possession, ‘Atlas National Illustre des 86 Departements et des Possessions de la France,’ cartographer V. Levasseur, Paris, 21.8 in. x 14.8 in. Estimate: $775-$875. Jasper52 image

 

A modern reproduction of the Atlas Accompanying the Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition 1804-1806 is one of an edition of 750 copies. The maps, folder to 9×5 inch size, are chiefly by American explorer William Clark, illustrating the route of the expedition, with sites of camping places and Indian villages. Also included is a modern map of the route prepared especially for this volume.

‘Atlas Accompanying the Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition 1804 – 1806,’ Antiquarian Press Ltd., 1959, New York, quarto, housed in original red cloth solander box, maps folded to 9 x 5 inches size. Estimate: $375-$415. Jasper52 image

 

Extracted from a composite atlas of early 18th century maps is a large map of Africa by cartographer/engraver Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d’Anville and dated 1749 in Roman numerals. Printed in four sheets, the map is in good condition and suitable for framing. It is printed on thick, good quality paper with original outline hand color and has a decorative title cartouche.

Large folding map of Africa, 1749, cartographer/engraver: Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d’Anville, approximately 39.25 in x 40 in., printed on four sheets. Estimate: $900-$1,000. Jasper52 image

 

 

Dive into the full catalog here and take a trip around the world.

 

How to Set Your Table in High Style

If your dining table is in need of a high-style makeover, this week’s Decorative Arts auction is just the place to look. Elegant crystal and porcelain from the finest European makers are featured in this highly curated collection. You’re destined to find an item or two (or three!) to glam up your home decor.

Stunning in cobalt blue is a set of six champagne flutes by Saint Louis of France. The glasses, which stand over 9 inches high, feature hand-cut “bubbles” on the side.

Six Saint Louis champagne flutes, hand cut and polished, 9 1/4 in. high, in the original box. Estimate: $750-$1,000. Jasper52 image

 

Murano art glass is well represented in the auction, topped by a tall Dino Martens “Bianca Nera” vase, which was developed in 1954 for Aureliano Toso.

Murano art glass vase by Dino Martens, 1954, for Aureliano Toso, 12 in. high x 7 in. diameter. Estimate: $700-$1,000. Jasper52 image

 

A Murano hand-blown cornucopia designed by Archimede Seguso features bright cranberry glass with gold flecks.

Murano hand-blown cranberry pink and gold flecks Italian art glass cornucopia documented to designer Archimede Seguso, 5 in. long x 4 1/2 in. high x 3 1/2 in wide. Estimate: $100-$200. Jasper52 image

 

Standing at nearly a foot tall, this Gustave Gillot bronze sculpture of a woman and a fox has the auction’s high estimate at $1,000-$1,500.

Gustave Gillot bronze bronze sculpture of a woman with a fox, 11 3/4 in. high x 12 1/8 in. wide x 3 in. deep. Estimate: $1,000-$1,500. Jasper52 image

 

A nice selection of beautifully painted plates is in the auction, including an ornate pair of Limoges cabinet plate. One depicts a courting scene while the other depicts a trio of women attending another woman.

Pair of Limoges porcelain portrait cabinet plates, artist signed, approximately 11 in. diameter. Estimate: $500-$700. Jasper52 image

 

A 19th-century hand-painted Sevres plate that pictures a young couple and a monk has an iridescent teal border and scalloped rim decorated in raised floral gilt. It is marked Sevres on the reverse.

Sevres France hand-painted plate, interior courting scene, approximately 10 in. diameter. Estimate: $600-$800. Jasper52 image

 

Other hand-painted plates in the auction are done by Royal Viena, Dresden and Quimper. Take a look at the full collection and enjoy the high-quality shopping.