James D Julia
This pair of cased Joseph Manton flintlock duelling pistols is estimated at $30,000-40,000 at James D Julia in the October 31-November 2 firearms sales.
Among the more than 2000 lots of firearms and related accessories on offer at US auction house James D Julia from October 31-November 2 are several items of British origin. Many of the lots come from 12 renowned private collections.
The extensive sale in Fairfield, Maine, includes a number of cased flintlock and percussion pistols. A pair of cased Joseph Manton flintlock duelling pistols which is listed in The Manton’s Gunmakers (Neal and Black, on page 255) is estimated at $30,000-40,000.
James Purdey was among the leading craftsmen who worked for Manton and were inspired by his genius. As Purdey later admitted, “but for him we should all have been a parcel of blacksmiths”.
Dorotheum
Egon Schiele’s Reclining Woman , of 1917, which spent the past 85 years in a private collection, is estimated at €700,000-1.2m at Dorotheum on November 21.
Next year marks the 100th anniversary of Egon Schiele’s death, and just before that Dorotheum auction house in Vienna is offering two drawings by this pioneer of modernism in its November 21 auction of modern art.
Reclining Woman, of 1917, which spent the past 85 years in a private collection, is estimated at €700,000-1.2m. This gouache and black crayon on paper measures 18 x 12in (45 x 30cm).
Portrait of a Woman, from the same private collection, guided at €200,000-300,000, was created only a few months before Schiele’s early death at the age of 28.
Duran Sabastas
This wool, silk and woven thread tapestry battle scene is estimated to fetch €60,000 at Duran Subastas in Madrid on October 26.
This wool, silk and woven thread tapestry battle scene above, measuring 11ft 1in x 14ft 4in (3.4 x 4.4m), is estimated to fetch €60,000 at Duran Subastas in Madrid on October 26.
Although there are no markings of the weaver, due to its technical skill and stylistic characteristics it is thought to be from the workshop of Jakob Geubels I, one of the largest and most important in Brussels at the end of the 16th century.
The detailed weaving depicts a warrior with a spear leaning over a character on the ground, while in the centre of the composition a woman on horseback is taken victorious through the crowds. The border includes allegorical figures interwoven with fruits, birds, fauns and a host of animals and other figures.
The subject is thought to represent an episode from the history of Alexander the Great, which was very much in vogue at the time of its production in c.1580-90.
Anteo Subastas
This set of 17 Chinese figures in red coral from the early 20th century is on offer in the Anteo Subastas auction on November 23.
Anteo Subastas in San Sebastián will offer a large collection of Oriental art from a Spanish private collection in its next sale on 23 November. As well as a large number of high-quality porcelain pieces in excellent condition, a highlight of the collection is a set of 17 Chinese figures in red coral from the early 20th century, remarkable for their iconography and detailed execution.
The individual pieces – all figures of deities such as the God of War, the Goddess Guanyin and representations of the Eight Immortals with their respective attributes – weigh between 600g and 3kg and are in a very good state of preservation without having undergone any restoration.
The figure of a God of War is a particularly fine example with a very good colour. It measures 12 x 7½in (30.5 x 19cm), weighs 1.2kg and is estimated to fetch €4000.
Swann Galleries
This signed letter George Washington sent to his spymaster Benjamin Tallmadge, New Jersey, 1780is estimated at $25,000-35,000 in the November 7 Swann Galleries auction.
Swann Galleries’ auction of Autographs in New York on November 7 includes a signed letter (above) George Washington sent to his spymaster Benjamin Tallmadge, New Jersey, 1780. It is the top-estimated lot of the sale, guided at $25,000-35,000.
A less formal view of the presidency comes in the form of a c.1950s inscription and drawing by John F Kennedy on Senate stationery showing the PT-109 torpedo boat he commanded during the Second World War (estimate $3000-4000).
Ansorena
This oil on panel of the Virgin and Child is estimated to sell for €27,000 at Ansorena, Madrid, in its auction series from November 6-8.
Cornelis Van Cleve (Antwerp, 1520-69) was the son and follower of the successful artist Joos van Cleve, who was known for combining traditional Netherlandish techniques with more contemporary Renaissance styles.
It is likely that Cornelis became master of the Guild of St Luke in Antwerp in 1540-41 after the death of his father, and took over his workshop.
The Leonardesque features of some of Cornelis’ paintings, together with the evident influences of Raphael and Andrea del Sarto, suggest an early trip to Italy, although there is no evidence of this.
This 2ft 8in x 23in (81 x 58.5cm), oil on panel of the Virgin and Child above follows the model of a painting of the same title by his father, which is in the Oldenburg State Museum, Germany. It is estimated to sell for €27,000 at Ansorena, Madrid, in its auction series from November 6-8.
