Table of contents for April 1, 2023 in Kovels Antique Trader

Potter & Potter CHICAGO – Books by or with ties to Mark Twain and J.R.R Tolkien grabbed the spotlight in Potter & Potter’s 531-lot event, realizing $630,000 February 16. Of note was a first edition presentation copy of W.W. Jacobs’ (1863-1943) Salthaven, inscribed to and by Twain. The top lot realized $31,250. It was published by Methuen & Co. in London in 1908. Twain additionally inscribed on the half title “It’s a delightful book. Mark.” Below, Twain further reaffirmed this statement, apparently in passing the book to someone else: “Bog House, Bermuda, March/10. I have read it about 5 times. The above verdict stands.” In addition, a 37-volume collection of The Works of Mark Twain sold for $11,875. The limited-edition set was published in New York by Gabriel Wells during…

Ashford Institute Survey In many ways, 2022 was a throwback year, and not in a good way. At times it felt like the 1970s or early 80s, what with inflation running rampant, the U.S. and its European allies engaged in a not-so-cold war with Russia, and gas prices surging. Even the antiques and collectibles field felt like we were looking in the rearview mirror - all the way back to pre-Pandemic 2019. And, for the most part, that view was beautiful if you were in the antiques and collectibles business, according to the Asheford Institute’s annual survey of top decorative arts buying trends for the past 12 months. ‘‘In 2021 we were all still recovering from Covid, but this past year, buyers, dealers, and collectors were out en masse, in-person,…

Rivich Auction’s “Gimme Shelter: Design in the 20th Century” event offered an impressive collection of midcentury art and design. Highlights of the February 19 auction included artwork from esteemed feminist artist Hollis Sigler and choice post-modern pieces. Sigler’s depiction of the struggles of women draws viewers into her personal experience through her intricate creations. The two Sigler works, titled “The Torture of Guilt” and “The Heart Rendered Helpless,” sold for $15,500 and $11,160, respectively. Sigler (1941-2001) was a leading feminist artist who passed of breast cancer. After her diagnosis in 1985, she created a pictorial journal of her journey with cancer. Art in America magazine called it “one of contemporary art’s richest and most poignant treatments of sickness and health…. Taking on a kind of religious conviction, her jewel -…

An artist, collector, and champion of ceramics, Robert A. Ellison (1932-2021) donated more than 600 pieces to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in his lifetime, effectively transforming their holdings in American art pottery, late 19th and early 20th century European ceramics, and modern and contemporary works in clay. In late February, 140 works from his remaining collection were offered at auction by Rago. In the following piece, longtime friend and founder of the auction house, DAVID RAGO reflects on his more than 50-year relationship with Ellison. If you’re in the auction business, you make house calls. Consequently, during my 50+ years as a dealer and auctioneer in this field, I have been in more than my share of homes. If time permits, while waiting in a living room or other…

An important and historic silver pitcher with impeccable provenance, made by PAUL REVERE, the most famous of American silversmiths, sold for $129,875 January 18 at Weiss Auctions. The price, including buyer premiums, is a new record for a Paul Revere silver pitcher. The pitcher, 6 ½” tall, was engraved with the initials of Benjamin Russell, the American journalist and founder and editor of the newspaper The Columbian Centinel. He learned in the printing office of Isaiah Thomas where he first set type. His father participated in the Boston Tea Party. Russell’s biography is impressive; more impressive is the continued ownership through the family of the Paul Revere pitcher, a wonderful artifact from the early days of the country. Both Revere and Russell were involved in the founding of the Massachusetts…

During a spectacular two-day event in February, Richmod Auctions, Greenville, South Carolina, offered 450 Gas, Oil and Automotive Advertising lots and 350 Soda, Country Store and General Advertising lots. Highlights from the events can be found over the next several pages. For more infomation, go to RichmondAuctions.com.…

Women who had an impact on the costume jewelry industry are acknowledged every day in the collecting community. From Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel to Miriam Haskell and Hattie Carnegie, each time a piece of jewelry bearing their brands is worn or their stories are discussed, we remember how important women have been in the history of jewelry design and manufacturing. These fashion designers and business owners were indeed influential back in their day, and they’re still having an impact on jewelry that is bought, sold, and collected decades later. Women have also followed in their husbands’ footsteps keeping jewelry companies alive and they’ve taken the lead in furthering family businesses. Some women-led companies have also been instrumental in supplying components or making jewelry for other companies as well. Today…

The exhilarating experience of seeing a live show is one of the main reasons people visit New York City each year. But until recently, there was no official museum that shone a spotlight on Broadway’s rich history. Friends Julie Boardman and Diane Nicoletti decided to change that, opening the Museum of Broadway in November 2022 at 145 West 45th Street. A dream five years in the making, the museum seeks to tell the story of New York’s theater scene through photos, artifacts, art installations and an area devoted to exploring how Broadway shows are made. About 1,000 articles of memorabilia are housed, a mixture of items on loan from artists and collectors plus items in permanent collection. Of note are Patti LuPone’s "Evita” wig, a jacket worn by the actor…