~ An American silver punch bowl by Cornelius Kierstede (ca. 1700-1710) sold for $5.9 million at a sale of Important Americana held Jan. 22 by Sotheby’s in New York. Also, a Chippendale-figured mahogany Bombe slant-front desk made in Marblehead, Mass. (ca. 1770) hammered for $698,500; “The Maxwell Vase,” an American silver... [Read more]

On February 2, Christie’s in London will present its Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale and The Art of the Surreal featuring 48 lots, including: “Gitane” by Kees van Dongen (1877-1968), estimated at £5.5 million to £7.5 million; “Espagnole” by Natalia Goncharova (1881-1962), estimated at £4 million to £6 million;... [Read more]

~ Bonhams & Butterfields’ Native American Art Department’s Winter Sale on December 14 yielded $2.3 million from property offered from estates, museums and private collections from across the U.S. and Europe. Grease bowls in use circa 1800 by the Tinglit or Haida from the Berthusen Collection were the top items. A 12-inch... [Read more]

~ Boris Karloff’s costume from 1934’s “The Black Cat” sold for $89,625 at Heritage Auctions’ 20th Century Icons auction November 6-7 in Dallas. Jack Ruby’s hat, which he was wearing when he shot Lee Harvey Oswald, hit $53,775. Also, a John F. Kennedy-signed “Dallas Morning News” hammered at $38,837. At... [Read more]

~ Christie’s First Open-Post-War and Contemporary Art sale in New York on September 23 was highlighted by Andy Warhol’s (1928-1987) “Flowers” which hammered for $1,082,500, including buyer’s premium. The work is synthetic polymer and silkscreen inks on canvas, 22 x 22 inches, and is signed and dated “Andy Warhol 64”... [Read more]

~ The crypt above Marilyn Monroe’s in the Westwood Cemetery in Los Angeles sold on eBay on August 24th for $4,602,100. A total of 21 bids were made on this piece of real estate that comes with a deed. (Fifty-five bids were withdrawn by bidders making mistakes or by eBay for administrative reasons.)  __________________________ ~... [Read more]