Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Lot 47: Patrick Hennessy, (Irish, 1914 - 1980), Variation on Theme of Flight
Both classical and surreal -- this oil on canvas signed by the artist Patrick Hennessy (Irish, 1914-1980) references "Variations on [the] Theme of Flight."

Lot 76: Harry Bertoia, (American, 1915-1978), Untitled
The American sculptor Harry Bertoia (1915-1975) is perhaps best known for his designs for wire-constructed chairs made by factory production in quantity and used throughout the world. I presume that these copper rods vibrate and make a pleasant noise.

Lot 77: Harry Bertoia, (American, 1915-1978), Untitled
Almost like an organic coral or sea fan, this work by Bertoia is made of bronze and stands 22" high.

Lot 89: Francisco Zuniga, (Mexican, 1912-1998), Mujeres
Monumental in concept is this drawing in graphite, charcoal, ink by the Mexican artist Francisco Zuniga (1912-1998). It is signed by the artist and dated 1963.

Lot 101: David Hostetler, (American, b. 1926), Yellow Dress, 1965
David Hostetler is a sculptor and teacher from Ohio who spends his summers making and selling his works on Nantucket. He is a senior figure in the arts as he was born in 1926. Many years ago I acquired examples of his works for the Museum of Fine Arts collections. This carved wooden "Standing Woman" must be a fairly early example of his series of female figures as he now makes tall and polished bronze figures. I like the elegant simplicity of this work and the natural color of the wood with the grain showing through the tinted face. I wonder if the wood is osage orange.

Lot 470: John Francis Murphy, (American, 1853-1921), The Storm
Influenced by painters of the French Barbizon and perhaps by William Morris Hunt and/or George Inness, the painter of this oil on canvas, John Francis Murphy captures the essence of a storm with economy of means and through dramatic coloring.

Lot 473: William Merritt Chase, (American, 1849-1916), Two Fish
William Merritt Chase was a marvelous American painter. He is known for his textural still life paintings of slippery fish -- but even more was he renown for magnificent landscapes filled with light.

Lot 509: Jessie Willcox Smith, (American, 1863-1935), Realization
This drawing, touched with opaque watercolor and other media, by Jessie Willcox Smith, is beautifully made. It is filled with feeling without being "sentimental".

Lot 534: Stuart Davis, (American, 1892-1964), Drying Sheds
This small, but wonderfully observed image of drying sheds (I presume for fish) shows how well Stuart Davis understood principles of linear perspective.

Lot 556: David Shepherd, (British, b. 1931), The Mud Bath
This is an oil on canvas for lovers of big game African art. It is a great trophy picture ("The Mud Bath" of Elephants) made by the British artist David Shepherd in 1986.

Lot 26: A Pair of Yellow and White Gold, Sapphire and Diamond Earrings,
Very handsome and nicely wrought is this pair of white gold, sapphire and diamond earrings.

Lot 27: A Platinum, Sapphire and Diamond Ring,
To go with the earrings of Lot 26 it would be nice to provide a spouse or friend with this c. 1930 Sapphire and Diamond ring!

Lot 72: *An 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Blue Enamel Hinged Bangle Bracelet, Carti...
With its original box comes this handsome bracelet from Cartier of Italy. Blue enamel with 18 Karat yellow gold makes a beautiful combination.

Lot 507: *A Native American Sterling Silver Squash Blossom Necklace, Veronica P...
Many examples of Native American jewelry are offered in this sale. Here is but one example that I select because it has such an amusing gathering of animal images. It would be loved by my twelve year old granddaughter. Look at all the other works by native Americans in this sale.

Sloans & Kenyon

Lot 2: CHINESE NEOLITHIC POTTERY VESSEL, Machang phase, Majiayao culture (230...
Imagine being able to own a piece of Chinese Neolithic pottery of this vintage in this condition. Its shape and decoration is magnificent. Look also at Lot #4 for another impressive piece of neolithic pottery.

Lot 17: CHINESE GREYISH GREEN STONEWARE FIGURE OF CAMEL, Tang/Song dynasty. - ...
How to date such an attractive work is difficult without a thermo luminescent test. This camel is beautifully sculptured and stands an impressive 13" high.

Lot 24: CHINESE CIZHOU POTTERY MEIPING, Ming Dynasty. - 12 1/2 in. high.
The form of this vessel and its decoration are both admirable. The rabbits and flowerheads must have had symbolic meaning at the time. They are magnificently painted.

Lot 29: CHINESE QINGBAI PORCELAIN EWER AND COVER, Northern Song dynasty. - 6 1...
If the price realized for this superb Song Dynasty porcelain ewer and cover surpasses your purse, do not despair. There are several other Song Dynasty masterworks in this sale. For examples see Lots # 28, 43, 48, 56, 64, and 66.

Lot 635: PAIR GORHAM STERLING SILVER THREE-LIGHT CANDELABRA. - 13 3/4 in. high.
At its height, the Gorham Company in Providence, Rhode Island was one of the largest producers of silver objects in the U.S. This pair of stirling silver candelabra was made to appeal to those who wished to own American colonial forms.

Lot 643: 169-PIECE GORHAM AND J. DIXON & SONS SILVER PLATED FLATWARE SERVIC...
This is my favorite flatwear produced by Gorham, Dixon & Sons. It is known as the "Kings" pattern because indeed in London such a pattern was used in the Edwardian court. I know that because a relative some generations back on my mother's side made off with a few examples of the court's flatware just before she was discharged because she became pregnant ([in the court] with whom-no one knows).

Lot 654: DUTCH DELFT BLUE AND WHITE CHARGER, 18th century. - 12 in. diam.
This eighteenth century Dutch Delft blue and white plate measures twelve inches in diameter . However, twelve inches does not quite qualify it for a charger. Technically, this requires a 14" diameter. Yet twelve is good enough. And who goes around measuring plates anyway? This one would look wonderful hanging on the wall. Judging by evidence of plate hooks on its rim, this is how the plate was displayed before entering this sale.

Lot 667: TWELVE WEDGWOOD PORCELAIN DINNER PLATES. 20th century. - 10 1/4 in. di...
These twelve Wedgwood porcelain dinner plates of the 20th century could help make an impressive setting for an elegant dining table.

Lot 743: AFTER ALBRECHT DÜRER (German, 1471-1528). SAINT GEORGE AND THE DRAGON,...
These are very famous etchings or engravings by the German artist Albrecht Durer of the sixteenth century. Just what state or version of printing they represent I cannot say. But they are impressive images!

Lot 1240: 23-PIECE PARIS PORCELAIN PARTIAL DINNER SERVICE. Circa 1830. - 9 1/2 i...
This set of Paris porcelain of c. 1830 beautifully represents the taste of the classical or greek revival era. Tucker porcelain in Philadelphia made wares in this style and coloring. The set offered in this lot is numerous. It includes ten dinner plates, seven luncheon plates, two square lidded dishes, two small oval platters, a large oval platter and a covered soup tureen.

Lot 1277: VICTORIAN PAPIER MÂCHÉ AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID SEWING BOX, 19th cen...
In Victorian England the papier mache craze to simulate Oriental lacquer was all the rage by the mid nineteenth century. Note Lots 1276 and 183 as well as other lots in this auction for more examples of this genre. The gleam of mother of pearl showing through the black paint is one clue to identify papier mache simulated lacquer objects. They were shipped in quantity for sale in the U.S.

Lot 1595: GEORGIAN JAPANNED TALL CASE CLOCK, early 18th century, dial signed All...
Running condition is cited for this early eighteenth century tall case clock with dial signed by Alldridge Deale. The clock is japanned or painted to look as if it bears Chinese lacquer.

Lot 1674: RAFFAELLO ROMANELLI (Italian, 1856-1928). THREE HORSEMEN, signed and l...
This strong sculptural composition of three horsemen (are they Crusaders? - I cannot tell from the image) was made by Raffaello Romanelli (Italian, 1856-1928). The Romanelli studio was located across the Arno from Florence in a district that is still densely populated by craftsmen and artists. The height of this sculpture is 18".

Doyle New York

Lot 1051: Victor David Brenner High Relief Bronze Plaque, Dated 1907
Here is a fine low relief portrait of Abraham Lincoln by the sculptor Victor David Brenner (1871-1924) who made the original portrait for the Lincoln penny. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has a number of Brenner reliefs in its collection. For a full biography and examples of his work see the book American Figurative Sculpture in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, distributed by Northeastern University Press, 1986, pp. 329-337. That book was a labor of devotion produced by several members in my department at the Museum of Fine Arts. It has become a standard reference work essential for understanding American figural sculpture.

Lot 1192: 1924 $20 St. Gaudens
In previous newsletters I've told the story about the design of this coin by the great American sculptor Augustus Saint- Gaudens. There are several of these coins offered in this sale. Look at all and make your own choices.

Lot 1248: Kellogg and Humbert 66.59 Ounce Gold Ingot
History and weight are combined in this ingot from the California gold fields. If I could afford to buy this I'd love to have it on my desk at home in my library! What a paperweight!

Lot 1253: Gold Nugget, .7 Grams
There are other gold nuggets in this auction from the California Gold Rush era. I especially like this one because of its figural shape.

Lot 1277: 1857 S $20 Double Eagle, San Francisco
From San Franscisco comes this $20 beautiful coin with lustrous surfaces -- a goldpiece of 1857.

I.M. Chait

Lot 143: SONG GLAZED FUNERARY URN
This funerary urn of the Song Dynasty has a yingquing glaze over its highly sculptured and ornamented body.

Lot 195: RARE NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY CIZHOU JAR
Here is a Northern Song Dynasty glazed jar of Cizhou carved designs -- beautifully potted, and decorated with scraffito or cutting through the light colored slip of the exterior to reveal a dark coloring of the body of the ware.

Lot 196: NORTHERN SONG JUNYAO BOWL
Wow! I admire this Northern Song Junyao bowl very much. Its diameter is 9 12". Lots 175 and 183 are other fine examples of Song -Junyao masterworks. In fact, there are several examples of Song ceramics offered in this sale. It was during the Song Dynasty that porcelain- making was perfected in China.

Lot 200: PAIR TANG POTTERY CAMELS WITH RIDERS
I presume that the C-Link Research & Development TL reports are thermo luminescent tests that are reliable tests to determine the age of a ceramic object. What happens when ceramics are fired is that all cosmic energy is driven off when firing takes place. Cosmic energy is thereafter absorbed at a steady rate. This makes it possible to measure the absorbed energy by burning a small sample in a dark chamber and measuring the energy output to calculate the age of the object. The pair of pottery camels with riders is masterfully made and therefore deserves to be well documented as to its age.

Lot 282: MASSIVE ANTIQUE JAPANESE BRONZE CENSER
What an impressive Japanese bronze censer this massive work is! It stands 23" tall. Japanese craftsmen excelled in making bronze sculpture during the nineteenth century.