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Auction Preview: Rare Books, Historical Documents and Prestige Coins at Smalls Auctions, Paddington, Aug 4

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What: Rare Books, Historical Documents and Prestige CoinsWhere: Smalls Auctions, On-Line Only Sydney, AustraliaWhen: Aug 4, 11:00 AM AESTTop Lots of the Sale:- "A Voyage to Terra Australis", Commander of the Investigator, 2 volumes (1814) with compilation replacement Atlas (post 1853) - Mathew Flinders. This is a rare 'First Edition' printed in two volumes by W. Bulmer and Co. London, 1814 and published by G. and W. Nicol , Booksellers to His Majesty, Pall-Mall. Estimated Price: AUD 50,000 - AUD 60,000 (US$ 36,900 - 44,300)- "Australia, 1921 * Shilling, PCGS MS64" - Previously graded NGC MS65 when sold as part of the Benchmark Collection and in our eyes it remains an MS65. Estimated Price: AUD 20,000 - AUD 25,000 (US$ 14,760 - 18,450)- "Australia 'Collins - Allen' V - Last Prefix £5 (1914), good Very Fine - Renniks# 36bL". Rare. Estimated Price: AUD 17,500 - AUD 20,000 (US$ 12,920 - 14,760)- "Australia. A(ustralian) S(team) N(avigation) Co. Halfpenny & Penny Token. The Halfpenny if in Good condition & the Penny is Fine in part although holed (2 coins)" - The Halfpenny Token is overstruck on a George IV Halfpenny and the Penny Token on a Victoria Penny. Both coins are exceedingly Rare. Estimated Price: AUD 15,000 - AUD 20,000 (US$ 11,070 - 14,760)- "Capt'n John Lort Stokes 'Discoveries in Australia' 2 volumes & folio of charts (T and W Boone, London, 1846)" - with an account of the Coasts and Rivers explored and surveyed during the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle. Estimated Price: AUD 12,500 - AUD 15,000 (US$ 9,230 - 11,070)- "Australia. 1922/1 'Overdate' Threepence, PCGS VF25" - Only three coins graded higher. An affordable rarity. Estimated Price: AUD 11,500 - AUD 13,500 (US$ 8,500 - 9,970)- "John Oxley's "Journals of Two Expeditions into the Interior of New South Wales, undertaken by order of the British Government in the years 1817 - 18". Minor spotting but a very clean copy throughout. Estimated Price: AUD 7,500 - AUD 9,000 (US$ 5,540 - 6,650)- "Australia. 1920 /./ 'Indian Obverse' Penny, PCGS MS65RB" - Ex Benchmark Collection and the Equal Finest known. Estimated Price: AUD 6,500 - AUD 7,500 (US$ 4,800 - 5,540)- "Australia. 1935 Sixpence, PCGS MS66" - Exceptional. Only a '+' graded higher. Estimated Price: AUD 6,500 - AUD 7,500 (US$ 4,800 - 5,540)- "South Australia Regulations for the Disposal of Land in the Colony (of South Australia), for the Preliminary Sales of Colonial Land in this Country and for the Emigration of Labourers," 1835. Original Foundation Pamphlet dated 1 Sept, 1835. Estimated Price: AUD 6,000 - AUD 7,000 (US$ 4,430 - 5,170)For details, visit: https://www.invaluable.comClick on the slideshow for the highlights of the sale.https://www.blouinartinfo.comFounder: Louise Blouin

Auction Preview: Antique Auction at Louvre Antique Auction, Los Angeles, Aug 5

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What: Antique AuctionWhere: Louvre Antique Auction, 4858 W Pico Blvd #505 Los Angeles, CA, USWhen: Aug 5, 2:00 AM PSTTop Lots of the Sale:- "19th C. French Sevres and Champleve Enamel Clock Set" - An imposing 19th century Sevres porcelain and champleve enamel clock set. Measured at clock 14.5" high, side pieces 11.5" high, in perfect condition. Estimated Price: US $ 15,000 - US $ 20,000- "A Palatial French Champleve Enamel Mirror", Circa 1880 - Measured at 24.5" H. Estimated Price: US $ 15,000 - US $ 20,000- "Magnificent Still Life KPM Porcelain Plaque", Circa 1880 - Measured at 12" x 10". Excellent condition. Estimated Price: US $ 12,000 - US $ 15,000- "A Palatial Pair of Zenith Baccarat 5 Light Candelabra" - Measured at 32" High. Acid etched Baccarat mark. Estimated Price: US $ 10,000 - US $ 12,000- "19th C. Meissen Snowball Garniture" - Measured at Small pair 7", larger 12". Good condition. Estimated Price: US $ 8,000 - US $ 10,000- "A Magnificent 5 Piece Giltwood Salon Set", Circa 1880 - A very finely carved set, wit silk covers. Excellent condition. Estimated Price: US $ 8,000 - US $ 10,000- "Large Pair of Russian / Persian Silver and Enamel Vases", Marked 84 - Measured at 15.5" High. Weigh 3250 Grams. Estimated Price: US $ 6,000 - US $ 8,000- "Large Ormolu Mounted Sevres Porcelain Centerpiece", Circa 1880 - Measured at 24"long. Good condition. Estimated Price: US $ 6,000 - US $ 8,000- "19th C. French Dore Bronze Clock Set" - Measured at Candelabra measure 26" High. Excellent condition. Estimated Price: US $ 6,000 - US $ 8,000- "Berlin KPM Porcelain Plaque", Circa 1880 - Excellent condition. Measured at Dimension of porcelain only : 27cm x 21cm (11" x 8"). Estimated Price: US $ 6,000 - US $ 8,000- "Faberge Enameled and Jeweled Silver Egg" - Stamped Karl Faberge. Measured at 6" High. Estimated Price: US $ 6,000 - US $ 8,000- "A Linke Style Lapis Top Ormolu Mounted Gueridon" - A French Like Style gueridon table, with lapis lazuli mosaic top. Measured at Height 32 1/4", Width 29", Depth 25 5/8". Estimated Price: US $ 6,000 - US $ 8,000For details, visit: https://www.invaluable.comClick on the slideshow for the highlights of the sale.https://www.blouinartinfo.comFounder: Louise Blouin

Auction Preview: Chinese Antiques Auction at Number 1 Auction Inc., Richmond Hill, Aug 5

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What: Chinese Antiques AuctionWhere: Number 1 Auction Inc, 12108 Jamaica Ave, Richmond Hill, NY 11418When: Aug 5, 6.00 pm ESTTop lots of the sale:- A Rare Chinese Copper Red Glazed Pear Shaped Vase. Daoguang Mark and Period (1821-1850) Raised on a short foot, the globular body rising to a short neck with wide flaring rim, the even glaze a light copper red to deep peachbloom tone, the base with six-character Daoguang mark. Height: 30 cm. Estimate: CAD 20,000 – CAD 40,000 (US$ 15,302 – US$ 30,604)- An Extremely Large, Museum Piece, Familie Verte Vase. Possibly Kangxi Peroid, from an important collection The three-piece vessel is most likely the largest famille verte vase exist, with a various depiction of Kangxi style images on all six sides. Note: A Qianlong Tianqiuping from the same Taber Family Collection was sold at a record brak-ing price of HKD 130,600,000 in Christie's HongKong on May 30, 2018. Height: 156.5 cm/61.5 inches. Estimate: CAD 10,000 – CAD 100,000 (US$ 7,651 – 76,510)- A Rare and Large Chinese Under-Glaze Blue and Red Jar and Cover. Kangxi Period (1664-1722). The ovoid body rising to a cylindrical neck, the exterior with large ruyi-shaped lappets enclosing large peony blooms, the large cover surmounted by a fu-lion. Note: Compare to a similar example sold at Sotheby's London, 5 November 2014, lot 332, and Sotheby's New York 19 March 2013, lot 155 Height: 86 cm (34 inches). Estimate: CAD 10,000 – CAD 12,000 (US$ 7,651 – 9,181)- A LargeFrench Cloisonne Clock with Two Candle Holders. Circa 1860. A three piece garniture with one largeFrench Cloisonneclock and two candle holders. Dimension: Clock: height 49cm/19.5 inch; Candle Holder: Height 43.5 cm/17.2 inch. Estimate: CAD 8,000 – CAD 12,000 (US$ 6,121 – US$ 9,181)- A Fine Celadon-Glazed Cong Form Vase. Gaungxu Mark and Period. Cong shaped vase is modelled after the archaic jade prototype, the body of square section rising from a short straight circular foot to a tapering circular neck with a lipped rim. The mark is Guangxu six-character in underglaze blue with double circles. Note: A highly similar vase can be found in Sotheby's September Auction in 2017, lot 828. Height: 30.5 cm/12.3 inch. Estimate: CAD 8,000 – CAD 15,000 (US$ 6,121 – US$ 11476)- An Important wood Brush Holder, carved by Master Du Shiyuan. Early 18th Century An important early 18th century wood brush holder, carved by master Du Shiyuan. Note: A Qianlong Tianqiuping from the same Taber Family Collection was sold at a record brak-ing price of HKD 130,600,000 in Christie's HongKong on May 30, 2018. Estimte: CAD 10,000 – CAD 20,000 (US$ 7,651 – US$ 15,302)- 19th Century French Gil-Brass and Enamel Mantel Clock. 19th Century French Gil-Brass and Enamel Mantel Clock, made for Chinese Market. Height: 38 cm/15 inch. Estimate: CAD 8,000 – CAD 12,000 (US$ 6,121 – US$ 9,181)For details, visit: https://www.invaluable.com/Click on the slideshow for the highlights of the sale.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/Founder: Louise Blouin

30th Edition of La Biennale Paris 2018 at Grand Palais

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The popular La Biennale Paris will be returning with its 30th Edition at Grand Palais, from August 8-16, 2018.The 2018 edition of the La Biennale Paris will focus on 30 exhibitors, including Ary Jan gallery, Helene Bailly Gallery, Jacques Barrere Gallery, Gallery Boulakia, Ana Chiclana Gallery, Laurent Dodier Gallery and La Pendulerie, Marc Maison, and Ar-Pab among many others. The art fair will showcase many artworks pertaining to Orientalism and Belle Epoque art, Indo-Portuguese furniture, Modern and Contemporary Art, Archeology and primitive arts, Decorative arts of the 20th-century, and glass and Contemporary Ceramics.In 2017, La Biennale Paris featured 94 exhibitors, which has been cut down to 85 this year. Around 40,000 visitors are expected for the fair.“The event will uphold its distinctive features: a limited number of galleries on display so as to widen the exhibition space thereby welcoming more furniture, paintings, and exceptional objects, promote a beautiful scenery and host a unique dinner with nearly 800 guests amid exceptional artworks,” said Mathias Ary Jan, president of the Syndicat National des Antiquaires.  La Biennale Paris will host “Journees europeennes du Patrimoine” (European Heritage Days) for the first time this year. Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, French fashion designer, will be the guest artistic director of 2018 fair. The Gala Dinner of 2018 will be hosted by the exhibitors and the SNA and it will be attended by nearly 1000 participants. The Biennale Commission carried out the major guidelines of La Biennale Paris 2018 as well as the selection of exhibitors, under the aegis of its President, Christopher Forbes.In 2017, Biennale des Antiquaires was renamed to La Biennale Paris and it also became an annual event the same year. The first Biennale at the Grand Palais was held in 1962 and it underwent several changes and modifications since then.The exhibiting galleries will be rewarded the Biennale Commission Prize based on the scenography of their stand as well as the quality of their exhibited pieces, says the commission. The Biennale Commission Prize was established in 2017 by Christopher Forbes, president of The Biennale Commission and Mathias Ary Jan, President of the Syndicat National des Antiquaires. The Delalande Gallery and the Munich Gallery Robbig Munchen shared the prize in La Biennale 2017.The fair will be held from August 8-16, at the Grand Palais, Paris.For details visit: https://www.labiennaleparis.com/Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the fair.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/Founder: Louise Blouin

Auction Preview: Antique Sale at 5 Treasure, Port Jefferson, Aug 11

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What: Antique SaleWhere: 5 Treasure, 17 N Country Rd, Port Jefferson, NY 11777, USAWhen: August 11, 10.00 am ESTTop lots of the sale:- A Chineese Stamp from circa 1897. Estimate: $ 60,000 - $ 200,000- A Guangxu dish (1875 - 1908). Diameter: 18 cm. From Christie. Estimate: $ 30,000 - $ 40,000- A Guangxu dish (1875 - 1908). Diameter: 18 cm. From Christie. Estimate: $ 30,000 - $ 40,000- A Chineese Stamp from circa 1897. Estimate: $ 20,000 - $ 30,000- A fine dish from Qianlong and Guangxu Period (1736 - 1795). Diameter: 19 cm. From Christies. Estimate: $ 20,000 - $ 30,000- A fine Porcelain lujun incense burner. Estimate: $ 20,000 - $ 30,000- A Massive Chinese Export Rose Medallion Antique Porcelain JAR for king us. From Late 19th Century. Estimate: $ 10,000 - $ 50,000- An Antique Baltic Butterscotch Amber. Weights: 87.8 g. Estimate: $ 8,000 - $ 50,000- A Massive Chinese Export Rose Medallion Vase. From Late 19th Century. Height: 88 cm. Estimate: $ 6,000 - $ 10,000- Three (3) Error Stamps from China. Estimate: $ 5,000 - $ 99,999- An Antique Chinese Snuff Bottle. Estimate: $ 5,000 - $ 10,000- A fine, antiquated and very attractive Butterscotch Amber Turquoise Necklace. Weights:46.6 g. Estimate: $ 4,000 - $ 5,000- Three (3) Error Stamps from China. Estimate: $ 4,000 - $ 5,000- A fine and attractive Natural Butterscotch Amber Necklace. Weights: 48 g. Estimate: $ 3,500 - $ 5,000- Figure of Guandi. From Kangxi Period (1662-1722). Height: 26 cm. From Christie. Estimate: $ 3,000 - $ 5,000For details, visit: https://www.invaluable.com/Click on the slideshow for the highlights of the sale.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/Founder: Louise Blouin

Auction Preview: Asian Art & Antiques at AAA Art, New York, Aug 11

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What: Asian Art & AntiquesWhere: AAA Art, New York, NY, USWhen: Aug 11, 9:00 AM ESTTop Lots of the Sale:- "Large Estate Yellow Diamond Ring" - Large Yellow Diamond Ring from Personal Collections, With GIA Certificate (6281688222); 3.01 ct fy si1 ex vg n. Estimated Price:  US $ 60,000 -  US $ 80,000- "Antique Rosewood Screen Stand, With Cloisonne Vase, Gem Stone and Jade Inlaid Decorations, Double Sided" - China. Measured at H: 135 cm W: 85 cm L: 37 cm. Estimated Price:  US $ 30,000 -  US $ 50,000- "Tibetan Gilt Bronze Avalokitesvara Bidhisattva" - China, Rare Tibetan Old Gilt Bronze Four-Armed Avalokitesvara Bidhisattva/Guanyin Buddha Figure with Base. Measured at H: 42 cm Weight: 5930g. Estimated Price:  US $ 28,000 -  US $ 45,000- "Chinese Jadeite Bangle" - A Natrual Clear Round Shaped Green Jade/Jadeite Bangle, A Class, Translucent Color, With Certificate. Estimated Price:  US $ 26,000 -  US $ 30,000- "A Rare Chinese Gilt Bronze Buddha" - China, Ming dynasty. Measured at H: 10 3/5 in. Estimated Price:  US $ 18,000 -  US $ 30,000- "Large Chinese Mutton Fat White Nephrite/Jade Stand, In A Lady Figure Shape". Measured at H: 310 mm L: 115 mm W: 43 mm Weight: 1555.00g. Estimated Price:  US $ 16,000 -  US $ 20,000- "Burmese Violet Jadeite Bangle Edit" - A Natrual Clear Round Shaped Purple/Lavenda Color Jade/Jadeite Bangle, A Class, Translucent Color, With Certificate. Estimated Price:  US $ 14,000 -  US $ 18,000- "Archaic Eggshell Jadeite Bowl" - China, Qing Dynasty. Measured at D: 11 cm. Estimated Price:  US $ 12,000 -  US $ 16,000- "Chinese Long Quan Multi-faceted Vase" - good condition. Measured at H: 9 1/2 in. Estimated Price:  US $ 12,000 -  US $ 15,000- "Chinese Gilt Brass Stupa" - China, Tang Dynasty Gilt Bronze Stupa/Pagoda/Tower, Decorated with Gem Stone and Gold Wire Inlaid. Measured at H: 35 cm L: 12.8 cm W: 12.8 cm. Estimated Price:  US $ 9,000 -  US $ 12,000- "Large Natural Hetian Jade Fire Dragon Seal Chop" - China. Measured at W: 65 mm H: 130 mm L: 121 mm Weight: 2216g. Estimated Price:  US $ 8,000 -  US $ 10,000- "Pair of Archaic Jade Bottles with Lid" - China. Decorated with Handles with a Ring on Each Side, Carved Ancient Beast Patterns. Measured at H: 230 mm L: 70 mm Weight: 1263g. Estimated Price:  US $ 6,000 -  US $ 8,000For details, visit: https://www.invaluable.com/Click on the slideshow for the highlights of the sale.https://www.blouinartinfo.comFounder: Louise Blouin

Auction Preview: Collectibles at The Auction at Graceland, Memphis, Aug 12

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What: CollectiblesWhere: The Auction at Graceland, Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. 3734 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, TN 38116When: August 12; 12.30 pm CSTTop lots of the sale:- Historic August 27, 1956, Elvis Presley Signed and Initialed Songwriters Contract for the Song "Love Me Tender" - Also Signed by Ken Darby's (The Song's Writer) Wife Vera Matson and Freddy Bienstock. Based on their content and context to each other, these documents emanate from the files of Hill and Range Songs, Inc. They document historical, even seminal, points in the career of the 20th century's most important entertainer. The pages of the contract measure 11 by 8 1/2 inches (27.94 x 21.59 cm) and are accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated. Estimate: $20,000 - $40,000- July 8, 1955, Publishing Agreement Between Elvis Presley and Hill and Range Songs, Inc. Signed by Elvis, Vernon Presley, Gladys Presley and Jean Aberbach. Elvis would continue a relationship with Hill and Range for several years as the company managed his song catalog. The stapled document contains the handwritten notations "file" in black ink in the upper right corner and "Vol. 937 / p. 118-119 / Aug. 5, 1955" in fading ink in the lower left corner of the front page. Both pages have been stamped with the number "13495." The pages of the agreement measure 11 by 8 1/2 inches (27.94 x 21.59 cm) and are accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated. Estimate: $20,000 - $40,000- 1970s Elvis Presley's 3.5 Carat Diamond Stage Ring "EP" Engraved - Given to Dr. Elias Ghanem. portion of a copy of a John Fish Jewelers appraisal in which this ring is best described as #2 on the list, "Mans Ring - 14k yellow gold diamond ring hammer set with 14 round diamonds ranging from .40ct. down to .16cts. The diamonds are of H color and SI clarity. The ring tapers 24 mm down to 10.9 mm at the bottom. The ring weighs 30.8 grams and the total diamond weight is 3.50cts." This bold, solid, and striking ring, a timeless treasure befitting a king, is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated. Estimate: $15,000 - $20,000- Elvis Presley Owned Large 14kt Yellow Gold and Blue Lapis Ring with Diamonds and Garnets with Photographs of Elvis Wearing on Stage and Letter of Provenance from Alan Fortas. The stone's association with strength, power, and honor makes it the perfect accessory for a star of Elvis' caliber and he certainly wore it well as evidenced in the accompanying copy of a photo depicting Elvis wearing this very bauble. The ring face measures 1 1/4 by 1 inches (3.17 x 2.54 cm) and is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated. Estimate: $15,000 - $20,000- Elvis Presley Owned Mother-of-Pearl Cross Gifted to Ginger Alden, Mentioned in Her Book. identical but larger cross was sold from the Dr. Nick Collection, given to him while on that same Hawaiian vacation-it was common for Elvis to buy items in multiples when he found them appealing. The cross measures 10 3/4 by 6 inches (27.30 x 15.24 cm) and is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated. Estimate: $15,000 - $25,000- Elvis Presley Owned Microphone Used in the Jungle Room Sessions at Graceland - with Letter from Charlie Hodge. A monumental artifact from a significant event, this microphone measures 6 1/2 inches long (16.51 cm) and is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated. Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000- 1970s Elvis Presley's 18k Diamond Ring with "E" Engraved. The ring is marked 18k with an engraved letter "E" on the interior band-it's possible an accompanying "P" may have worn off. The ring, measuring a size 9.5, was gifted to Marty Lacker and comes with a signed, typed letter from Marty, dated August 12, 1978. Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000For details, visit: https://www.invaluable.com/Click on the slideshow for the highlights of the sale.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/Founder: Louise Blouin

“Selected Animal Sculptures” at Gallery Ralph Gierhards Antiques / Fine Art

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“Selected Animal Sculptures,” an ongoing exhibition at Ralph Gierhards Antiques / Fine Art has been extended till August 30. The exhibition showcases various animal sculptures made of marble, bronze, and terracotta of the 19th and 20th century.Ralph Gierhards Antiques / Fine Art was founded in 1977 as a gallery specializing in 18th-century German furniture and works of art, and Impressionist paintings. Drawn from the gallery’s collection, the exhibition showcases some rare antiques that speak of the artistry of 19th century.While most works presented are dated in 18th-century France, works from places like Russia, Rome, and the United States could also be seen.The exhibition  include works by Georges Lucien Guyot,  Harry Christlieb, Pierre-Robert Christophe, Paul Lazerges, Harry Christlieb and Francesco Casella. Sculpture like a bronze “French Bulldogg” , “Lioness on the scout,” (1930 – 1940), “Setter with suckling puppy” (1866), “Sculpture of a sitting orangutan,” (1886) and “Sitting cat” (1877 – 1949) are some of the special highlights.The exhibition will be on view August 30, 2018, at Ralph Gierhards Antiques / Fine Art, Konigsallee 44, 40212 Dusseldorf, Germany.For details, visit http://www.blouinartinfo.com/galleryguide/ralph-gierhards-antiques/overviewClick on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibition.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/                        Founder: Louise Blouin 

"Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China" at Cincinnati Art Museum

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Last few days remain for the curtain to fall on the "Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China" at Cincinnati Art Museum. The exhibition showcases exclusive objects of ancient China, dating from Pre-Qin period (770–221 BC) to the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC).  It offers the viewers the last chance to get a glimpse of the rich archeological findings that represent history, myths, and burials in ancient China."Terracotta Army: Legacy of the First Emperor of China" features around 120 individual objects, which include "Terracotta figures of warriors, arms and armor, ritual bronze vessels, works in gold and silver, jade ornaments, precious jewelry, and ceramics." The rare objects were excavated from the emperors' mausoleum, aristocratic and nomadic tombs. All works on display are loaned from collections of art museums and archaeological institutes in Shaanxi province, China. will represent history, myths, and burials in ancient China.The exhibition, divided into specific chapters,  explores the themes of "the birth of the Qin empire and cultural diversity in ancient China"; "the First Emperor and unified China"; and "the quest for immortality.""Through presenting rich archaeological finds," the museum writes, "the exhibition provides a glimpse into the ongoing excavations and research, which continue to shed new light on the Qin culture and the First Emperor’s burial complex."The exhibition is organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Cincinnati Art Museum. The show is in partnership with Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau, Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre, and Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum of the People’s Republic of China.The exhibition will be on view through August 12, 2018 at the Cincinnati Art Museum,  953 Eden Park Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45202, USA.For details, visit www.cincinnatiartmuseum.orgClick on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibition.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/                        Founder: Louise Blouin 

Frick Acquires Rare Vase by 18th Century Roman Silversmith Luigi Valadier

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The Frick Collection has announced the acquisition of a rare vase by Luigi Valadier, a preeminent silversmith in Rome during the second half of the eighteenth century.Luigi Valadier’s work was admired by popes, royalty, and aristocrats throughout Europe. His oeuvre will be the subject of an upcoming monographic exhibition and publication at The Frick Collection, “Luigi Valadier: Splendor in Eighteenth-Century Rome,” which opens on October 31, 2018 and runs through January 20, 2019.“The vase, believed to be a special commission, is the only known marble example attributed to Valadier that was executed with gilt silver mounts, rather than his more typical gilt bronze. The marble used for the vase is also unusual, a rarely used blood-red variety identified as Rosso Appennino,” the museum says.The design bore by the vase — an ovoid body on a square base, with lanceolate leaves at the bottom and two lion heads with rings in their jaws at the neck, has appeared in a number of Valadier drawings: two sheets in the Museo Napoleonico, Rome, and one in the Museo di Roma. They all illustrate marble or alabaster vases to be used for flowers or as candlesticks, with lion heads on their sides.Four vases in alabaster following this design were given by the Roman senator Abbondio Rezzonico to Cardinal Giuseppe Doria Pamphilj and are still preserved in the family palace in Rome.According to the museum, Professor Alvar Gonzalez-Palacios, the world’s expert on Valadier and the curator of the Frick’s upcoming exhibition, believes that the marble vase may have been carved by Francesco Antonio Franzoni (1734–1818), a sculptor known for producing precious objects, often in bizarre and uncommon materials.The precious materials used for this vase — Rosso Appennino marble and gilt silver — and the quality of the chasing of the metal suggest that it was a private commission for an important aristocrat.Internationally recognized as a premier museum and research center, the Frick is known for its distinguished Old Master paintings and outstanding examples of European sculpture and decorative arts.The collection was assembled by the Pittsburgh industrialist Henry Clay Frick (1849–1919) and is housed in his former residence on Fifth Avenue. One of New York City’s few remaining Gilded Age mansions, it provides a tranquil environment for visitors to experience masterpieces by artists such as Bellini, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Gainsborough, Goya, and Whistler. The museum opened in 1935 and has continued to acquire works of art since Mr. Frick’s death.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/                              Founder: Louise Blouin 

‘Life, Love & Marriage in Renaissance Italy’ at Chazen Museum of Art, Wisconsin

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Stunning panels, ornate Italian wedding chests or cassoni, textiles, majolica ware, paintings and other domestic items have been put together for the exhibition "Life, Love & Marriage in Renaissance Italy" at the Chazen Museum of Art. The exhibition explores life, love, and marriage in Renaissance Florence.Organized in conjunction with Museo Stibbert and Contemporanea Progetti in Florence, Italy, the exhibition places its primary focus on the "cassoni" which were an important part of marriage rituals during the Italian Renaissance. These ornate marriage chests were considered as the most glamorous and high-end pieces of furniture, a present given to the bride to be placed at the bridal suite. The designs of the cassone served as status symbols, that illustrated the wealth and position of a family in the society. Inlaid or carved, cassoni were mostly prepared with gesso ground, and then painted and gilded."Cassoni were often conspicuously paraded through the streets from the bride’s family home to her husband’s home as a clear statement of a new economic and political alliance between elite families. The stories and imagery selected to decorate the chests tell us much about Renaissance life and society," the Chazen Museum of Art writes.Among the many other objects displayed in the exhibit, a painting "Madonna and Child" by Sandro Botticelli, and another one "Enthroned Madonna and Child with Saints and Crucifixion" from 1350 are special highlights. The objects, drawn from the Stibbert Collection in Florence, have never crossed the Atlantic Ocean before. The exhibition also comprises interactive stations, including family heraldry, gaming tables, and tarot cards, that are aimed at giving visitors an immersive Renaissance experience.The exhibition will be on view through November 4, 2018, at the Chazen Museum of Art, 750 University Ave, Madison, WI 53706, USA.For details, visit http://www.chazen.wisc.edu/Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibition.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/                        Founder: Louise Blouin 

Top New York Art Shows this Week: Tanya Aguiñiga to Fred Wilson

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A loaded schedule of art events and exhibitions is scheduled in New York for the week of August 10-16, featuring artists such as Francois Morellet, Fred Wilson, Anna Boghiguian, Tanya Aguiñiga, and many others. Blouin Artinfo has compiled a list of the coming week’s must-visit art shows.Opening Soon:“From the Collection: GOLD” at Museum of Arts and DesignAugust 14 onwardThe exhibition brings together a selection of pieces from the permanent collection of the Museum of Art and Design, emphasizing on the use of gold across art mediums beyond jewelry. “Gold embodies the transformation of the ordinary into the extraordinary,” says the museum, “whether representing immortality, glory, wealth, power, beauty, luck, or love, gold carries an abundance of cultural associations that transcend time and place.” Historically, gold has been a symbol of power and piety, as for example, “the painted saints and religious icons of the Byzantine era were gilded with the lustrous metal to manifest divine light,” the museum points out. “The funerary mask of King Tutankhamun was made of gold, which the Egyptians associated with the sun god Ra, to aid him on his journey to the afterlife.” Gold was so valued that in the Medieval period, gold was thought to prolong life through the practice of alchemy, the museum says. During the Renaissance, goldsmiths were held in the highest esteem; Victorians glorified the purity of love through gilt jewelry; and even today, golden decorative tokens remain important in the commemoration of important events.https://madmuseum.org/Recently Opened:“Eckhaus Latta: Possessed” at the WhitneyAugust 3 through October 8Founded in 2011 by Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta, now both in their early 30s, the fashion label Eckhaus Latta boasts of a design team that has captured a space at the crossroads of fashion and Contemporary art. The New York- and Los Angeles-based designer label’s practice is known for its use of unusual materials, which also incorporate elements of text, performance, and video. Eckhaus Latta “addresses the crosscurrents of desire, social relations, and consumption,” says the museum. For this exhibition, marking the team’s first solo show in a museum, the label presents a new three-part installation that “embraces and brings into conversation various aspects of the fashion industry, from advertising and the consumer experience to voyeurism.”https://whitney.orgLast Chance to See:Illuminated installations by Francois Morellet and James Turrell at Levy GorvyThrough August 18The two appealing summer exhibitions at Levy Gorvy— “Neon in Daylight: Francois Morellet” and “Depth Perception: James Turrell” — will close August 18. Both the exhibitions are celebrations of the phenomena of light. Turrell and Morellet began working with light in the 1960s, with Morellet experimenting with neon tubes and Turrell working with projections as part of the Southern California Light and Space movement, the gallery says. The shows include five late neon sculptures by Morellet, and Turrell’s 1974 installation “Wedgework V.” “Both Turrell and Morellet have turned to light as a revelation in itself, rather than a source that illuminates another object,” says Levy Gorvy.https://www.levygorvy.com/“The Loom of History” by Anna Boghiguian at New Museum of Contemporary ArtThrough August 19The Armenian-Egyptian artist Anna Boghiguian uses many mediums — painting, drawing, writing, collage, and sculpture — in her exploration of the past and present through a cross-section of economics, philosophy, literature, and myth. On view are a selection of recent cut-out paper figures, mixed-media works on paper, collaged paintings in beehive frames, large-scale painted sailcloth and hand-painted texts on the gallery wall. These address subjects such as wars and revolutions, histories of materials and labor, and the foundations of modern imperialism.https://www.newmuseum.org/“Fred Wilson: Afro Kismet” at PaceThrough August 17The artist Fred Wilson’s most recent body of work, originally conceived for the 15th Istanbul Biennial in 2017, is on view at Pace gallery’s West 25th Street location through August 17. For this exhibition, the artist has reconfigured the installation, which includes two chandeliers, two monumental Iznik tile walls, four black glass drip works and a globe sculpture, as well as installations and vitrine pieces that accumulate cowrie shells, engravings, photographs, a Yoruba mask and furniture, alongside objects that Wilson discovered in his frequent trips to Istanbul in 2016 and 2017. A selection of Murano glass works and drip sculptures by the artist will accompany the installation in the adjacent gallery.https://www.pacegallery.com/"Painting: Now and Forever, Part III" at Matthew Marks and Greene Naftali GalleryThrough August 17Installed across the Chelsea spaces of Matthew Marks and Greene Naftali Gallery, the third installment of “Painting: Now and Forever” is on view through August 17. The group show features works by more than40 international artists such as Magnus Andersen, Monika Baer, Robert Bechtle, Nayland Blake and others. Working across a wide range of styles, the artists who created these works collectively prove the vitality of Contemporary painting, the galleries say. http://www.matthewmarks.com/Also on View:“Tanya Aguiñiga: Craft & Care” at Museum of Arts and DesignThrough October 2This is the first institutional solo exhibition of works by the Los Angeles-based artist and designer Tanya Aguiñiga, whose art is a combination of fiber work, design, social practice, and activism. “Her work, ranging from her ‘Performance Crafting’ series—which uses craft to generate dialogues about identity, culture, and gender—to furniture whose material and form reimagine its functionality to provide ‘support,’ shows a commitment to design thinking as political,” says the museum. “At the heart of her practice is an inquiry into how community is created, and the role that craft, design, and materiality play in its formation.”The exhibition also sheds light on Aguiñiga’s long-term initiative, AMBOS (Art Made Between Opposite Sides), which activates sites along the US-Mexico border through collaborative art-making and storytelling projects.https://madmuseum.org/“History Refused to Die: Highlights from the Souls Grown Deep Foundation Gift” at Metropolitan Museum of ArtThrough September 23The show presents a collection of 30 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and quilts by Contemporary African American artists. The exhibition celebrates the 2014 gift to The Met from the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, based in Atlanta. “Remarkably diverse in media and technique, the works showcased in the exhibition nonetheless suggest a cultural and aesthetic kinship among the makers through their use of found and repurposed materials,” the museum says. On view are works by artists such as Thornton Dial (1928–2016), Annie Mae Young (1928–2012), Nellie Mae Rowe (1900–1982), and Ronald Lockett (1965–1988) among others.https://www.metmuseum.org/“Toward a Concrete Utopia” at MoMAThrough January 13, 2019The exhibition explores one of the rarely studied subject of modernist architecture — the post-war works of Yugoslavian architects. “Situated between the capitalist West and the socialist East, Yugoslavia’s architects responded to contradictory demands and influences,” says MoMA. “Toward a Concrete Utopia: Architecture in Yugoslavia, 1948–1980” brings together over 400 drawings, models, photographs, and film reels drawn from various municipal archives, personal collections and museums from the region, featuring works by architects such as Bogdan Bogdanović, Juraj Neidhardt, Svetlana Kana Radević, Edvard Ravnikar, Vjenceslav Richter and Milica Šterić. The featured works on view examine the post-war scenarios of large-scale urbanization, the introduction of technology in everyday life, consumerism, and Yugoslav architecture’s international reach. “From the sculptural interior of the White Mosque in rural Bosnia, to the post-earthquake reconstruction of the city of Skopje based on Kenzo Tange’s Metabolist design, to the new town of New Belgrade, with its expressive large-scale housing blocks and civic buildings, the exhibition examines the unique range of forms and modes of production in Yugoslav architecture and its distinct yet multifaceted character,” says the museum.https://www.moma.org/Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibitions.www.blouinartinfo.comFounder Louise Blouin 

“Eternal Springtime: A Persian Garden Carpet from the Burrell Collection” at The Met

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The “Wagner” Garden Carpet — a late 17th-century Persian carpet never before seen in the United States — is on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art this summer and fall in the special installation “Eternal Springtime:  A Persian Garden Carpet from the Burrell Collection.”The carpet, displayed for the first time outside Great Britain, is considered to be one of only three early surviving Persian garden carpets in the world. The rare masterpiece is on display for visitors until October 7, 2018.The earliest example of a garden carpet outside of Asia, the exhibit is a Persian Kirman pile carpet with a formal garden layout. The design was inspired by both the pre-Islamic Persian Paradise and the descriptions of the Garden of Heaven in the Qur’an.“Through their design, garden carpets evoke an image of the ancient Iranian ‘chahar-bagh’ —  four-quartered garden with water channels that divide the walled garden and meet at a central pool. The “Wagner” Garden Carpet — which depicts eternal springtime — also teems with life. The trees, bushes, and shrubs are abloom; animals (both predators and prey), birds of all types, multicolored butterflies and moths inhabit the landscape; and fish and ducks populate the waterways. Shimmering water is cunningly illustrated by a lattice pattern drawn with varied thicknesses of line and color,” the museum says.Woven with cotton threads, wool, cotton, and silk wefts, The “Wagner” Garden Carpet, acquired its name from a previous owner. It was woven in Kirman, a city from the Safavid period known for carpet making, and measures 531 x 432 cm. At  “Eternal Springtime: A Persian Garden Carpet from the Burrell Collection,” the “Wagner” Garden Carpet is presented along with additional eight historical carpets from the museum’s collection. These carpets, also made in Iran highlights the fine craftsmanship that existed during the reign of Safavid Dynasty in the 16th and 17th centuries and thereafter.“Eternal Springtime: A Persian Garden Carpet from the Burrell Collection” will be on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, USA.For details, visit http://ww.blouinartinfo.com/galleryguide/the-metropolitan-museum-of-art/overviewhttp://www.blouinartinfo.comFounder: Louise Blouin 

Kröller-Müller Acquires Odilon Redon’s Tête De Persée

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The Kroller-Muller Museum announced the purchase of “Tete de Persee (Head of Perseus),” circa 1875, oil on canvas (54.7 x 45.7 cm) by Odilon Redon (Bordeaux 1840-Paris 1916). The purchase was made with the support of the BankGiro Lottery participants. “Tete de Persee” was purchased at Eric Gillis Fine Art in Brussels for an amount of € 540,000.“Tete de Persee” is a special work in Redon's oeuvre, because it is a very early work in color and also because it is one of the earliest versions of the Redon-typical theme of the 'loose' or severed head. This theme occurs in different forms and with constantly changing meanings in his work.“In this painting the head of the Greek demigod Perseus was placed on a sacrificial dish, against a cloud-like, indefinable background. He seems lost in thought, unaware of his surroundings. A bright white light falls on his face and on the edge and back of the scale. The painting is strongly reminiscent of the traditional representations of John the Baptist, whose head was chopped off at the request of Salome. Perseus, however, did not undergo such a gruesome fate. He in turn decapitated Medusa, one of the three Gorgons. By mixing the two histories — from classical mythology and the New Testament — a mysterious and original representation emerges,” the museum says.Odilon Redon started as a draftsman, learned to make prints of his teacher Rodolphe Bresdin and worked for a long time exclusively in black and white, with lithography as his main medium. It was not until the nineties that color began to play a greater role in his oeuvre.“The Kroller-Muller Museum has a sizeable Redon collection, mostly assembled by Helene Kroller-Muller. Because of the early dating and the theme, ‘Tete de Persee’ is an important addition to the existing collection, especially in relation to two slightly later representations of the 'loose' head: the drawings ‘Tete de martyr’ (Head of a martyr, 1877) and ‘Tete d'Orphee flottant sur les eaux’ (Head of Orpheus floating on the water, 1881),” the museum adds.The Kroller-Muller Museum is a national art museum and sculpture garden, located in the Hoge Veluwe National Park in Otterlo in the Netherlands. The museum was founded by art collector Helene Kroller-Muller and opened in 1938. It has the second-largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh, after the Van Gogh Museum.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/                                              Founder: Louise Blouin 

Auction Preview: Incredible Selection of Autographed Documents, Manuscripts, Books & Relics at University Archives, Westport, Aug 22

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What: ​ Incredible Selection of Autographed Documents, Manuscripts, Books & RelicsWhere: University Archives, 49 Richmondville Ave, Westport, CT 06880, USAWhen: August 22Top lots of the sale:- 1p ALS inscribed overall and signed by 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) as "A. Lincoln" at lower right. Written in Washington, D.C. on July 22, 1863, just two weeks after the decisive Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. Addressed to Freedmen's Inquiry Commissioner Robert Dale Owen (1801-1877). On cream bifold stationery printed with "Executive Mansion, Washington, 186--" letterhead. The remaining pages are blank with the last page is affixed to a cream board. Possibly paper clip impression at top, else near fine. Originally accompanied by a free franked transmittal panel. Each page of the ALS measures 5" x 8. Not published in Basler. Est: $50,000 - $60,000- Abraham Lincoln, Fragment of Shirt Worn by Abraham Lincoln on Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865.   Also includes copy of David T. Valentine, comp., Obsequies of Abraham Lincoln, in the City of New York, Under the Auspices of the Common Council (New York: Edmund Jones & Co., 1866), 254 pp., measures 7" x 10.5" given by John Straiton to Henry Spear in 1867. The shirt fragment is pinned to page 120 and measures 1.5" x 10." Est: $25,000 - $30,000- George Washington Autograph Manuscript, 20 June 1771 - A Survey and Plot Drawing for a Tract of Land Comprising 587 Acres in the Ohio Valley. Single page on laid paper, 8" x 12.75", penned on the recto and verso. The front page consists of a survey map drawn in the hand of George Washington with his additional autographed notes identifying two land marks. Est: $20,000 - $25,000- The Finest Known Marilyn Monroe Signed Photo, Graded 10 by PSA/DNA, Signed the Year She Transformed from Norma Jean to Marilyn Monroe! Black and white matte photograph boldly signed and inscribed by Marilyn Monroe circa 1947, as "My very best wishes, Marilyn Monroe". 8' x 10". Est: $20,000 - $24,000- George Washington, Autograph Letter Signed, to William Moultrie, January 27, 1785, Mount Vernon, Virginia. 1 p., 8" x 9". Framed with image of Washington. Est: $14,000 - $16,000- A rare life-size wax mold of Albert Einstein's head.  Commissioned by Albert Einstein personally, to be created by Katherine Stubergh (the legendary wax sculptress of the stars) after he came to America in 1947. Est: $15,000 - $20,000- Extremely Scarce Stalin Signed Photo Print, One of Three Known, With Great Association & Provenance. Reproduction photo print, 9.25" x 7". Signed by Joseph Stalin in cyrillic for "J Stalin" to the lower left corner. Est: $15,000 - $20,000For details, visit: https://www.invaluable.com/Click on the slideshow for the highlights of the sale.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/Founder: Louise Blouin

“Ornamental Traditions: Jewelry from Bukhara” at AIC

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The Art Institute of Chicago is hosting “Ornamental Traditions: Jewelry from Bukhara,” a long-term exhibition that brings together around 50 jeweled objects from the Central Asian region of Bukhara. The exhibition runs until June 30, 2019.The Emirate of Bukhara (1785–1920), located in present-day Uzbekistan, was an important center of the Islamic religion. It was a major transit point of the silk route, and hence, in addition to a population of Uzbek and Tajik, Bukhara was home to diverse communities, Arabs, Jews, and Turkmens. The confluence led to the development an iconic style of jewelry in Bukhara, characterized by intricate blue enamelwork that mirrored the area’s blue-glazed, tiled architecture. Russia’s colonization of the in 1866 and the subsequent introduction of advanced enameling techniques led to the creation of more complex and exquisite designs. The objects on display at the exhibition offer viewers, an exceptional experience of a rich and vibrant artistic heritage that is but a rarity in places outside the former Soviet Union.“In almost every context, the jewelry of Bukhara embodied great meaning and was rarely considered mere decoration. Incredibly large, ornate suits of jewelry were thought to protect the wearer from evil spirits, particularly during important events like weddings, and were the strongest assertion of a person’s power and wealth. Throughout Uzbekistan, such objects were designed to be worn assets rather than exist as singular pieces,” writes AIC.The jewelry of Bukhara signified various meanings, political status and wealth, religious and spiritual practice, important rites of passage and ethnic identity.Some of the most stunning examples of Uzbek jewelry come from the court of the last Emir of Bukhara, Mohammed Alim Khan (1880–1944). The objects exhibited in “Ornamental Traditions: Jewelry from Bukhara,” are promised gifts from the private collection of Barbara Levy Kipper and her late husband, David. The exhibition also shows rare ikat and embroidered textiles from the Art Institute’s permanent collection.The exhibition is on view through June 30, 2019, at  Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603, USA.For details, visit: http://www.artic.eduClick on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibition.  http://www.blouinartinfo.com                          Founder Louise Blouin  

Auction Preview: The Erwin Tomash Library on the History of Computing at Sotheby’s, London, Sept 18 - 19

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What: ​ The Erwin Tomash Library on the History of Computing Where: Sotheby’s, 34 - 35 New Bond Street, London. W1A 2AA.When: September 18 and 19; 10.00 am BSTPublic Viewing: FRI, 14 SEP 18 | 09:00 AM - 04:30 PM BST; SAT, 15 SEP 18 | 12:00 PM - 05:00 PM BST; SUN, 16 SEP 18 | 12:00 PM - 05:00 PM BST; MON, 17 SEP 18 | 09:00 AM - 04:30 PM BSTTop lots of the sale:- Galileo Galilei (1564-1642): Defense ... Against The Calunnies & Settings Of Baldessar Capra Milanese, Use It In The Astronomical Consideration Above The New Star Of M Dc Iiii As (& Assai More) In Publishing Newly As Its Invention The Fabrica, & The Uses Of The Geometric Compass, & Military, Under The Title Of Usus & Fabrica Circini Cuiusdam Proportionis, & C. Venice: Tommaso Baglioni, 1607. 4to (240 x 170mm.) Estimate: 300,000 — 400,000  GBP (USD 396,810 - 529,080)- Galileo Galileo (1564-1642): The Operations of the Geometric Compass, And Military Etc. Padua: In the House of the Author, By Pietro Marinelli, 1606, folio (285 x 193mm.) Estimate: 60,000 — 80,000 GBP (79,362 - 105,816 USD)- Pietro Borgo (d.1491): [Mercantile Arithmetics] Here Comita the Nobel Opera De Aritmethica in Which He Tracks All Costs to Pertinent Mercantia. Venice: Erhard Ratdolt, 2 August 1484. 4to (201 x 152mm.), 118 leaves. Estimate: 40,000 — 50,000 BP (52,908 - 66,135 USD)- John Napier (1550-1617): Declination of the sun, and its use in both trigonometry, so that even in omni Logistica mathematicians are very wide, easily and expeditiously Explanation. Edinburgh: Andrew Hart, 1614. First Edition, First Issue, 4to (186 x 143mm) Estimate: 30,000 — 40,000 GBP (39.681 - 52.908 USD)- Baldassare Capra (1580-1626): Use And Manufacture Dividers Cuiusdam proportions, through which nearly every Then Euclides, The mathematician of all these problems is easily loosened. Padua: Pietro Paolo Tozzi, 1607. 4to (193 x 137mm.) Estimate: 30,000 — 40,000  GBP (39.681 - 52.908 USD)- Giovanni Bianchini (dc 1470): Registry Astronomiae laws, Manuscript, in Latin [Italy (Venice?), C.1460 (1474 or earlier)], Folio (290×220mm.) Estimate: 30,000 — 50,000  GBP (39,681 - 66,135 USD)- Filippo Calandri (dc 1469): Aritmetica. Florence: Lorenzo Morgiani And Johannes Petri, 1 January 1491/92. 8 vo (141 x 95mm.), 104 leaves. Estimate: 30,000 — 40,000  GBP (39.681 - 52.908 USD)For details, visit: https://www.sothebys.comClick on the slideshow for the highlights of the sale.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/Founder: Louise Blouin

Auction Preview: Instruments of Science and Technology at Bonhams, London, Sep 19

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What: Instruments of Science and TechnologyWhere: Bonhams, Montpelier St, Knightsbridge, London SW7 1HH, UKWhen: 19 September, 01.00 PM BSTPublic Viewing: 16 Sep 2018 11:00 - 15:00 BST; 17 Sep 2018 09:00 - 16:30 BST; 18 Sep 2018 09:00 - 16:30 BST; 19 Sep 2018 09:00 - 11:00 BSTTop lots of the sale:- A rare Heimsoeth und Rinke Enigma M4 enciphering machine, German, 1943. No. M5467, lacking rotors, lamp board display, QWERTY keyboard, in grey and black painted metal case, plug board in the front with set of leads, four spare patch leads in lid together with a coloured glare screen, spare bulbs and stencilled in black in the inner lid Kommando der Marinestation der Nordsee in oak case with and leather carrying handle, 13 1/2in x 11in x 6 1/2in (34.5cm x 28.5cm x 16cm). Estimate: £ 150,000 - 200,000 ($193,924 – 258,565)- A very original Heinsoeth und Rinke three rotor Enigma enciphering machine, German, 1941. No. 13498, rotors I, II, and IV, each rotor with serial number A13498, standard QWERTY keyboard of 26 keys and light panel, white on black backgrounds, battery switch, ebonite Steckerbrett [plugboard] with 11 stecker cables and 2 spares stored in the top lid of case), upper lid with 10 spare bulbs, in original oak case with metal lock, hinge and lid restraints and original leather carrying handle, 13 1/2in x 11in x 6in (34cm x 28cm x 15cm). Estimate: £ 100,000 - 150,000 ($129,282 - 193,924)- A pair of W & T M Bardin Terrestrial and Celestial Globes, English, circa 1830. 40in (102cm) high (2). Estimate: £ 20,000 - 30,000 ($25,856 – 38,785)- A rare Jean-Claude Dezauche 12-inch terrestrial table globe, French, circa 1800. The hand coloured and printed gores with cartouche printed Globe Terrestre Dresse sur les observations de L'Academie Royale des Sciences Par Guill de L'Isle en 1740 Augmente par Ph Bauche et par Dezauche en 1797, mounted in papier mache meridian and within and horizontal ring applied with coloured and printed calendar and zodiac scale, raised on six turned fruitwood columns on wheel base and feet, 18in (46cm) high. Estimate: £ 15,000 - 20,000 ($19,392 - 25,856)- A pair of J & W Cary 12-inch table globes on stands English, published 1816. Each globe mounted on mahogany tripod stand complete with stretchers and compasses in the base and horizon ring each applied with calendar and zodiac sign scales, 25in (64cm) high (2). Estimate: £ 10,000 - 15,000 ($12,928 - 19,392)- A complete trio Enigma machine rotor set, by Ertel-Werk, 1943. No. A 00454/43 E, the set comprising I, II and III, internal wiring in Royal, Flag and Wave respectively, all with the stamped Reichsadler and swastika above W6A900, locking alpha wheel with red groove marker, ebonite cores with Bakelite notch wheels, typical dot-grounded aluminium cartridges, complete with the original core rod, 3 3/4in (9.5cm) diameter (3). Estimate: £ 9,000 - 12,000 ($11,635 – 15,514)- A rare George & John Cary and William Muller's patent cosmosphere, English, circa 1825. 21in (53.5cm) high. Estimate: £ 8,000 - 12,000 ($10,343 - 15,514)For details, visit: https://www.bonhams.com/Click on the slideshow for the highlights of the sale.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/Founder: Louise Blouin

Auction Preview: Exploration And Travel, Featuring Americana at Bonhams, New York, Sep 25

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What: Exploration And Travel, Featuring AmericanaWhere: Bonhams, 580 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022, USAWhen: 25 September 2018, 01.00 PM EDTPublic Viewing: 21 Sep 2018 10:00 - 17:00 EDT; 22 Sep 2018 12:00 - 17:00 EDT; 23 Sep 2018 12:00 - 17:00 EDT; 24 Sep 2018 10:00 - 17:00 EDTTop lots of the sale:- Ernest Shackleton (1874 – 1922): Aurora Australis. "Published at the winter quarters of the British Antarctic Expedition During the Winter Months of April, May, June, July, 1908 ... Printed at the sign of 'The Penguins'; by Joyce and Wild..." East Antarctica, 1908. 4to. 94 leaves. 11 lithograph illustrations by George Marston. Estimate: US$ 70,000 - 100,000- Samuel Purchas (c.1575 – 1626): Purchas his Pilgrimes. In five bookes.-Purchase his Pilgrimage. London: William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, 1625-1626. Together, 5 volumes. Folio (330 x 210 mm). Additional engraved title page, double-page engraved map of Virginia by John Smith, 7 double-page maps (map of China repeated), 81 engraved vignette maps in the text, 7 engraved vignettes in text, woodcut illustrations throughout. Modern brown morocco gilt. Virginia map cropped on 2 edges into plate-mark, 2 text leaves with short tears, 19th-century pencilled annotations to margins throughout. First Edition of Purchas his Pilgrimes... and fourth edition of the Pilgrimage..., issued simultaneously as a supplement. Estimate: US$ 70,000 - 100,000- Don Alonso From Arellano. Manuscript on paper, being the "Very singular and circumstantial relationship made by Don Alonso de Arellano, Captain of the Patax San Lucas of the Navy of General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, who left the Christmas Port for the discovery of the Western Isles in 19 November 1564 ..., " Estimate: US$ 50,000 - 80,000- Gerrit De Feer (c.1573 After 1598): Disorders or true description of three nautical navigation admirable ... to the north; over Norway, Moscow and Tartariam, towards Catthayt and China's sovereignty .... Amsterdam Cornelis Claesz, 1598. Estimate: US$ 50,000 - 80,000- Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910): The Writings of Mark Twain. Hartford, CT: The American Publishing Company, 1899-1907. 25 volumes. 8vo. With frontispiece, engravings, many signed by the artist, and additional Tiffany-engraved title to each volume; Extra-Illustrated with over 500 watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations, both full-page and vignette.Estimate: US$ 30,000 - 50,000- Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910): Autograph Letter Signed ("S.L. Clemens") to Bruce W. Munro, offering extensive hard-earned advice on writing to a young author, 5 pp, 246 x 143 mm, October 21, 1881, folds, small stain to verso of final leaf, but very clean overall; with original autograph transmittal envelope. Estimate: US$ 30,000 - 50,000- George Washington (1732-1799): Proceedings of a General Court Martial, Held at Brunswick, in the State of New-Jersey by order of His Excellency General Washington, Commander in Chief of the Army of the United States of America, for the Trial of Major General Lee. July 4th, 1778. Philadelphia: Printed by John Dunlap, in Market-street, 1778. Estimate: US$ 25,000 - 35,000For details, visit: https://www.bonhams.com/Click on the slideshow for the highlights of the sale.http://www.blouinartinfo.com/Founder: Louise Blouin

In Search of the Unicorn at the Cluny in Paris

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In some versions of the Bible, the beginning of Psalm 22:21 reads, “Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.” “Unicorns,” in these versions, had been translated from “re’em,” a Hebrew word mentioned eight times throughout the Old Testament, which is variously translated as unicorns and “wild ox.” Ctesias, the fifth-century B.C.E. Greek physician, wrote frequently of unicorns. So too did Pliny the Elder in the first-century C.E. Even through the 16th century, explorers were claiming they’d made unicorn sightings (they were mostly seeing rhinoceroses). The myth of the unicorn also dovetailed usefully with religious symbolism. Only virginal girls were said to be able to catch them. Images from the Medieval age have the Mother and Child seated next to a unicorn, as if the unicorn itself were a Christ-like figure, revered for its goodness and majesty.And yet, the unicorn’s exact symbolism is ambiguous. It is innocent, but it is also aggressive, even sometimes evil; associated with women but bearing an unmistakeable phallic symbol.  The unicorn thus creates complex questions around womanhood — at once innocent and sexualized, a healer from poisons that was also known to kill saints.On until February 25 next year, “Magical Unicorns” at the Museum of the Middle Ages-Cluny Museum in Paris uses both Medieval and contemporary etchings, lithographs, tapestries, paintings, sculptures, and texts to explore the myth of unicorns throughout the past half-millennium, exploring both their shifting mythos and societal importance.Curated by Beatrice de Chancel-Bardelot, the general curator of the museum, the exhibition is anchored by the museum’s most famous permanent piece, “The Lady and the Unicorn,” a six-part series of tapestries from the 16th-century. With the museum having been under renovation since 2011, this exhibition marks the museum’s partial reopening and draws new attention to the tapestry series.The works are housed in a circular room, each tapestry depicting a noble woman with a unicorn and a monkey while depicting one of the five senses — taste, hearing, sight, smell, and touch. For instance, in the one that represents touch, the woman touches the unicorn’s horn and her pendant. In the one that represents smell, she is making a wreath out of flowers while the monkey smells a stolen flower nearby. In the last and most enigmatic tapestry, which has the words “a mon seul desir” (translated variously as “to my only desire,” “according to my desire alone,” or “by my will alone”) written on a tent, the woman places her pendant into a chest while smiling. A common interpretation is that she is renouncing the passions of her senses, as depicted in the other tapestries, and is thus asserting her free will.Just as in Psalm 22:21, where the lion threatens to kill and the unicorn acts as a savior, the tapestries characterize the fundamentals of the human experience — all of the senses, humanity’s ultimate free will, and the final pull between evil (the lion) and goodness (the unicorn).Texts by George Sand, the French novelist, from 1847, and Rainer Maria Rilke, the German poet, from 1910, describe the tapestry and the myth of the unicorn. A costume made by Jean Cocteau for his 1959 Paris ballet evokes the Surrealist implications that the unicorn came to have in the 20th century. A contemporary sculpture made of plaster, shells, and “sea flower plants,” by Sophie Lecomte imagines what unicorn droppings might look like. A lithograph by Le Corbusier and a painting by Gustave Moreau respectively investigate the shape and the beauty of the unicorn. A poster of a nude woman trying to milk a unicorn by Tomi Ungerer is bizarre and funny. (The works come from the National Library of France, the Museum of Hunting and Nature, and the National Foundation for Contemporary Art — all in Greater Paris.)But in nearly all of the works, the unicorns create a feeling of nostalgia, of a world in which belief and possibility seemed infinite. In Claude Rutault’s 2018 series of tapestries playing off of “The Lady and the Unicorn,” the figures are all so blurred as to appear abstracted. In Miguel Branco’s 2005 Minimalist sculpture, he attempts to wrest back the unicorn from a myth to consume toward a myth that might be believed in. The unicorn is the ultimate vessel of symbolism. Good or evil; realistic or surrealistic; serious or funny; hyper-depicted or abstracted; innocent or manipulative. There are few, if any, myths that move so fluidly — that capture the meaning of their time, shifting through the millennia as humanity moves forward and back.“The Magical Unicorns” is on view at the Musee de Cluny – National Museum of the Middle Age in Paris through Feburary 25. More information: http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/    
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