Today in art, antiques and collectibles news, Christie’s auctions off punk-era memorabilia, archaeologists make important discoveries in Connecticut, a Beatles contract sells for six figures, and Sotheby’s plans to feature a Titanic survivor’s firsthand account of the disaster.
From The New York Times:
On the Block: Anarchy and Nostalgia
Christie’s sale of punk-rock memorabilia and collectibles on Monday brought in less than originally expected. Many lots, like concert posters, photographs and handbills, went for below their estimates, but a few lots—most notably a Debbie Harry-autographed poster inscribed with the lyrics to Blondie’s hit “One Way or Another”—sold for several times their estimates. Overall, rock-and-roll items that were auctioned later in the day, including several Jimi Hendrix tapes and notes, fared better than the punk lots from the morning.
From Auction Central News:
Artifacts from Colonial era found during Connecticut road project
Several dozen 18th- and 19th-century artifacts have been found in advance of a Connecticut road-widening project. Before road construction can begin, the state requires an archaeological study of the land to be completed. This study phase has uncovered five sites where archaeologists found pearlware pottery, kaolin pipe-stem fragments, blue-green window glass, a machine-cut nail and blue decorated pottery—all from the late 1700s and early 1800s.
From Auction Central News:
Ticket to Ride—Fame Bureau sells signed Beatles contract for $211,597
In 1962, the Beatles signed their first contract with manager Brian Epstein. That now-famous paper sold at auction for $211,597. The contract was sold online through Fame Bureau, a British company that specializes in rock-’n’-roll memorabilia. All four Beatles signed the contract, dated Jan. 24, 1962, as well as George Harrison and Paul McCartney’s fathers. (Harrison and McCartney were under 21 at the time.)
From Art Daily:
Sotheby’s To Sell a Rare First-Hand Survivors Account of the Sinking of the Titanic
On Dec. 17, Sotheby’s will auction Archie Jewell’s account of the sinking of the Titanic as part of its English Literature, History, Children’s Books and Illustrations sale. Jewell, one of the Titanic’s watchmen, survived the disaster and dictated his experience to his sister. The account is estimated to sell for £15,000-20,000 ($22,370–$29,828) at the London sale.
From Daily Breeze:
Collective soul leads to Cypres’ Sports Museum of Los Angeles
A new museum for fans of all things baseball opened last week in downtown Los Angeles. The Sports Museum of Los Angeles contains all of Gary Cypres’ extensive baseball-memorabilia collection, thought to be the largest private collection in the country with more than 10,000 objects valued at some $30 million total. Because of space limitations, the entire collection isn’t on display. Cypres also owns vintage and antique sports equipment from several other sports, all organized into 30 galleries at the museum. Highlights include Barry Bonds’ 755th home-run ball, a T206 Honus Wagner baseball card, Bruce Smith’s Heisman trophy, Babe Ruth’s 1934 uniform and the Dodgers’ 1956 National League Championship banner.
From Auction Central News:
Prominent art dealer accused of selling forgeries
Guiseppe Concepcion, a widely known New York art dealer, was arrested last week on charges of wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property. Concepcion is accused of selling forged paintings to clients between 2005 and 2007, including charging one victim $180,000 for a fake Alexander Calder painting. The painting was determined to be fake by the Calder Foundation. Concepcion, who has been under investigation for several years, apparently obtained original paintings by artists such as Matisse and Chagall, had them reproduced and then sold the reproductions to clients.
From MSNBC:
Federal agents recover ‘Hitler’ bookmark
An undercover agent in suburban Seattle recovered a bookmark that reportedly belonged to Adolf Hitler. The engraved 18-karat-gold bookmark is said to have been a gift to Hitler from his mistress, Eva Braun, during World War II. It was among the items taken in a theft at a Madrid auction house several years ago, and the Romanian man who was trying to sell it for $100,000 was promptly arrested.
From The New York Times:
In Mexico, an Ownership Fight Sends an Art Collection Into Hiding
A legal battle has erupted over the rightful ownership of a collection of Mexican art that once belonged to Jacques and Natasha Gelman. The collection consists of 95 works by such Mexican artists as Frida Kahlo, Gunther Gerzso and Diego Rivera. Mrs. Gelman bequeathed the collection to close friend and curator Robert R. Littman, who expanded the collection and found a temporary home for it. A cousin of the Gelmans has launched a legal attack to obtain ownership of the collection, using an obscure piece of Mexican law to back up his claim. Littman has since taken many of the works and hidden them, maintaining that the collection must be kept safe.
From The New York Times:
The China Trade, Portrayed in Porcelain
Kentshire Galleries in New York, along with British gallery Cohen & Cohen, is holding a selling exhibition of Chinese porcelain pieces. The items were made between the 17th and 19th centuries, and range from $19,000–$500,000. Highlights of the sale include a pair of blue-and-white tulipiere and a small rose medallion punch bowl.
From Philadelphia Business Journal:
Collectibles maker Lenox files for bankruptcy
Bristol, Pa.-based Lenox Group Inc. has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company is known for producing housewares and collectibles, and is currently looking for a buyer.
From The Wall Street Journal:
220 MLB Signatures, One Chevy Tahoe Hood = a One-of-a-Kind Piece of Baseball Memorabilia
Baseball memorabilia collectors will want to be on hand January 16 at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz. The hood of a Chevy Tahoe up for sale bears the signatures of 220 Major League players, former players and Hall of Famers. Goose Gossage, the only player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this year, was in charge of collecting all of the signatures, which have all be authenticated by Steiner Sports.
By Elizabeth Hendley, a WorthPoint writer based in Seattle.
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