Artfact Live! July Auction Results Roundup

(Boston, MA) – Whether at home or abroad, Artfact's loyal community of online bidders didn't take a vacation from bidding or buying in July. With outstanding sales in almost every category, bidder and sales volumes continued to grow. Highlights include: Leonard Joel's "Dr Dinesh Parekh Camera Collection" with bidders from around the world snapping up rare Leicas and Rolleiflexes; Garth Auction's two-day "Fine & Decorative Asian Arts" auction with almost $500,000 in online demand and J Levine Auction & Appraisals July 25th "Stamps, Coins & Currency" auction with 75% of the lots offered selling to online bidders.

James D. Julia, “Historic, Toy, Doll & Advertising Auction, Day 2” – July 1, 2010
Early Bru Bebe
Price Realized: $13,000
Produced from 1866-1899 by French doll manufacturer Bru, Jne & Cie, Bru Bebes are highly sought after by antique doll collectors. Dating to the 1880s, the diminutive Bru sold by James D. Julia on July 1st bears the traditional half-circle mark and appears to retain her original pleated skirt and blue factory dress with ecru lace – both important factors for collectors. Estimated at $6,000 to $9,000, the French bisque doll – which was listed in very good to excellent condition – attracted considerable attention from online bidders. After less than 30 seconds of bidding, the doll had already doubled its low estimate – selling to an online bidder for $13,000.
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/early-bru-bebe.-26-c-5b8e11fa42

Freeman’s, “The Vader Project” – July 10, 2010
Huck Gee (b. 1973), “Kurai No Kurai”
Price Realized: $8,500
One of 100 contemporary and pop artists to participate in “The Vader Project,” UK artist and designer Huck Gee lists Japanese and Hong Kong pop art among his main influences. Best known for his “Skullhead” character and “Gold Life” creations, Gee’s “Kurai no Kurai” Vader offered a nod to Star Wars samurai film roots. Estimated at $3,000 to $5,000, the mustached Vader was a surprise favorite during Freeman’s July 10th auction – selling to an online bidder for $8,500.
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/huck-gee,-b.-1973-,-kurai-no-kurai-37-c-fd0ca8534f

Eldred's, "Annual Marine Art Auction" – July 22, 2010
Wendell F. Macy (1845-1913), “The Island Home”
Price Realized: $35,400
To 19th century inhabitants of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, “The Island Home” was an iconic vessel. Purchased by the newly formed Nantucket & Cape Cod Steamboat Co. in 1855, the vessel provided Nantucket with its first reliable transportation to the mainland. Known mostly for his small coastal vignettes, “The Island Home” was a departure for Macy who painted the work in 1897. One of two known examples by Macy – the other resides in the Nantucket Historical Society collection – “The Island Home” sold to an online bidder for $35,400 (including buyers premium).
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/wendell-f.-macy,-american,-1845-1913,-the-island-2ic3my0l1c-2-m-8d6241ebf0

Garth’s Auctions, “Fine Decorative & Asian Arts” – July 24, 2010
19th Century Vase, China
Price Realized: $21,690
Standing just 12” tall, it would have been easy to miss this Daoguang period (1821-1850) vase during Garth’s Auctions July 24th sale. Nevertheless, its lovely Fanghu glazed caught the eye of more than one online bidder on sale day. Estimated at $3,000 to $6,000, the vase sold online for an astounding $21,690 (including buyers premium) and was one of the top selling lots during the two-day sale.
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/vase.-3-c-5114d7610e

Harlowe-Powell Auction Gallery, “Period Furniture & Fine Art” – July 24, 2010
Fifty-nine Piece Set of 1880s Russian Sterling Flatware
Price Realized: $5,000
Thanks to a new found global interest in Russian artistic and cultural history, prices for Russian silver have soared in recent years. Most valuable are pre-revolutionary items as many pieces were melted down to mint silver ingots and rubles during the early 20th century. Dating to the 1880s, the Russian flatware set sold during Harlowe-Powell’s July 24th auction consists of fifty-nine pieces of 84 zolotniki silver with niello checkerboard inlay on the handles and backs of bowls. The set, which has an assayer's mark of Viktor Savinkov and maker's mark of Ivan Semenovich Gubkin, sold to an online bidder for $5,000.
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/a-fifty-nine-piece-set-of-1880-s-russian-sterling-10-c-a75af63ab7

Note: Auction lot details and enlarged lot images available at www.artfact.com with free registration.

About Artfact:
Founded in 1989, Artfact is the largest global marketplace of fine and decorative arts, antiques, collectibles, and estate auctions. On January 1, 2009, Artfact launched Artfact Live!, its proprietary live auction bidding platform, enabling users to bid real time on auctions being held around the world by its prestigious auction house partners. Currently, over 1,000 fine auctioneers actively list their catalogues with Artfact.com and its U.K. sister site Invaluable.com, reaching the Artfact community of more than 10 million knowledgeable collectors and dealers worldwide. Artfact's industry leading database includes more than 58 million complete auction results totaling more than $204 billion in value, including information on more than 500,000 international artists. In 2006, Artfact acquired RFC Systems, the leading provider of enterprise software developed specifically for the fine art and antique auction house industry. RFC helps prestigious auction houses around the world manage their businesses by automating their day-to-day operations.

Editor’s Notes:
- Additional background information available.
- Interviews with Doug Ellinger, VP Marketing, dellinger@artfact.com, (617) 746-9882
- Complimentary media subscriptions to the Artfact database available upon request.