Around the Block
• Inaugural Auction of Works by African American Artists |
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Share this article! Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, one of the nation’s leading fine art auction houses, is pleased to announce its inaugural auction of Works by African American Artists on March 1, 2012. In addition to the March 1 auction, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will hold a separate selling exhibition featuring Works by African American Artists. These works will be listed for private sale and offered during the week leading up to the auction. Heading the sale are a variety of abstract contemporary works, including Alma Woodsey Thomas’s acrylic and gouache on paper Abstract Composition ($8/12,000), Sam Gilliam’s mixed media work White (Tre) ($2/4,000) and Paris, a mixed media work by Ed Clark ($3/5,000). Metal works by Richard Howard Hunt and a carved wood sculpture entitled African King by Lorenzo Pace will be included in the sale. Also featured are a number of works from the collection of Paul King and Associates, Chicago, Illinois. Rounding out the sale is a Hudson River School painting by Robert Scott Duncanson entitled The Apennines, Italy ($30/50,000). The selling exhibition will include Cheryl Warrick’s Voices of the Heart, Tree on the Lake by Samuel Akainyah, and Abstract Composition in Colors by Calvin Jones. Also featured are fine prints by Elizabeth Catlett, Survivor, and Romare Bearden, Dreams of Exile. Sculpture offered for sale comprises a series of doors by Alonzo Davis and a stoneware vase by William Ellsworth Artis. The auction preview and selling exhibition will be open on Saturday, February 25 from 10am to 3pm, as well as Monday March 27th through Friday March 2nd from 10am to 5pm. The auction will take place at 6:00pm on Thursday March 1st. For three decades, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers has been an industry leader combining recognition as one of the nation’s leading fine art auctioneers with a global base of buyers. Founded in 1982, sold to Sotheby’s in 1997 and reopened in 2003, Leslie Hindman has remained a constant force behind high profile auctions of everything from contemporary paintings and fine jewelry to French furniture and rare books and manuscripts, and always achieves the highest prices while maintaining the highest levels of integrity and customer service. 
Alma Woodsey Thomas, Abstract Composition Estimate: $8,000-$12,000 
Robert Scott Duncanson, The Apennines, Italy Estimate: $30,000-$50,000 
Hughie Lee-Smith, Acropolis II Estimate: $20,000-$30,000 |
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• The Art of the Deal |
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Share this article! http://www.modernluxury.com/cs/articles/the-art-of-the-deal Taking a quick-paced tour through her Lake Street offices, it’s easy to grow a little jealous of Leslie Hindman. “This is our main exhibition space,” says the iconic auction house owner, gesturing across an impossibly high-ceilinged showroom packed with 19th-century oil paintings, Venetian urns, gilded French clocks, Edwardian bureaus and every other kind of antique imaginable. Few people on earth, it’s clear, spend as much time surrounded with beautiful “stuff”—“it’s a technical term,” she jokes—as Hindman and her 60-plus staff. For Hindman, though, what’s long been a rewarding business has recently enjoyed a quantum leap of success: After 30 years of operating in Chicago, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers has, in the past two years, opened offices in Naples, Milwaukee and Palm Beach, and plans to open locations in New Orleans and Denver in the next three months. Business is booming. Her secret? Long the largest auction house in the Midwest, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is currently enjoying a substantial two-pronged push: An Internet-generated, off-the-rails global market for beautiful things, coupled with (thanks to the troubled economy) an increased need for cash from sellers as well as investors looking for dry ground. “When I started, people thought that if you had a major painting it needed to be sold in New York or London,” says Hindman. Now, she says, it’s easy for an auction house of her prominence to put such a work on the global market. On that point, the auction business has become so dominated by the Internet, one wonders why physical offices are even necessary. “People don’t take you seriously unless you have a physical presence,” says Hindman. So she’s choosing her locations with care, establishing herself in monied cities neglected by the big boys. “Naples is a very Midwestern-focused city and a good city, with a wonderful philharmonic and a sophisticated downtown,” she says. “We opened there and it was ridiculous how well it was going. Then we were getting so many calls from Palm Beach we thought we should open there, too.” Milwaukee also was a sleeping tiger—“an old city with a lot of money and sophisticated people and great institutions,” she says. It’s such a success story, in such a buzzy business, that one wonders if the reality TV cameras can be far behind. “The shows they’re doing now don’t interest me,” says Hindman, who previously had two shows on HGTV. “When I was on, I loved it. It wasn’t boring, but people really learned something.” For Hindman, there’s clearly no need to sensationalize an already fascinating biz: “It’s interesting and fun, and I love it,” she says. lesliehindman.com |
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• Property from the Estate of Cole Porter to be Sold on February 12 |
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Share this article! Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is pleased to announce that Property from the Estate of Cole Porter will be included in the February 12-14, 2012 Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts auction. The forty-one lots include Continental and Asian furniture, Chinese ceramics, English silver, Baccarat and Steuben stemware, and other fine table wares. A pair of Italian bergères come from Porter’s Manhattan library, which the decorator Billy Baldwin famously outfitted with brass étagères fabricated by P.E. Guerin. The property comes to the auction house from the living trust of Porter’s first cousin’s daughter, Louise Cole Schmitt. Cole Porter was born on June 9, 1891 in Peru, Indiana, the only child of a well-established family. Porter’s talent and affinity for music became evident at a young age and was central to his studies at Worcester Academy and Yale University. After his education at Yale, he moved to Paris where he kept a luxurious apartment. It was there that he met his wife Linda Lee Thomas and received his first commission for music. Cole Porter’s brilliance as a composer and songwriter, in particular for Broadway musicals, made an indelible impression in the history of American popular music. The sophistication evident in his musical compositions carries over to his masterfully cultivated collection of furnishings. Cole Porter passed away in 1964. He is buried with his wife in his hometown of Peru, Indiana and his property has withstood descent through the family for more than forty-five years. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is honored to conduct the sale of these objects in memory of one of twentieth century music’s greatest luminaries. Preview exhibition for the sale begins February 8. For more information please contact Corbin Horn at 312.280.1212. For three decades, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers has been an industry leader combining recognition as one of the nation’s foremost fine art auctioneers with a global base of buyers. Founded in 1982, sold to Sotheby’s in 1997 and reopened in 2003, Leslie Hindman has remained a constant force behind high profile auctions of everything from contemporary paintings and fine jewelry to French furniture and rare books and manuscripts, and always achieves the highest prices while maintaining the highest levels of integrity and customer service. Click here to view complete catalogue. 
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• O’Hara’s Gallery Auction at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers Achieves Over $1.5 Million |
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Share this article! For Immediate Release – January 25, 2012 Proving once again that global demand for the best and most unique property is as strong as ever, the sale of property from O’Hara’s Gallery realized $1,539,060 at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers on January 22-24. The extraordinary results of the sale were largely due to strong online activity, with an average of nearly 800 bidders each day. The highlight of the sale was a Chinese carved hardwood opium bed with inset marble panels that sold to a bidder in Hong Kong for $53,680 after much competitive bidding. Fine European furniture also realized exceptional prices. A suite of French giltwood parlor furniture decorated with Vernis Martin lacquer work sold for $23,180, and an impressive pair of Empire gilt bronze thirty-six-light chandeliers brought $21,960. Prices throughout the sale were outstanding for Sèvres-style porcelain and Continental champlevé items, many of which doubled and tripled their estimates. A pair of gilt bronze mounted cobalt urns brought $10,370 and a French champlevé and porcelain mounted mantel clock brought $9,300. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ next sale of Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts takes place February 12-14. That auction will include additional items consigned by O’Hara’s Gallery. For more information or to order a printed catalogue for the sale, please call 312-280-1212 or click here to browse the on-line catalogue. For three decades, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers has been an industry leader combining recognition as one of the nation’s foremost fine art auctioneers with a global base of buyers. Founded in 1982, sold to Sotheby’s in 1997 and reopened in 2003, Leslie Hindman has remained a constant force behind high profile auctions of everything from contemporary paintings and fine jewelry to French furniture and rare books and manuscripts, and always achieves the highest prices while maintaining the highest levels of integrity and customer service. PH 312.280.1212 WWW.LESLIEHINDMAN.COM 
A Chinese Hardwood Opium Bed sold for $53,680 
A Pair of Gilt Bronze Mounted Sevres Style Covered Urns for $10,370 
A Louis XV Style Giltwood and Vernis Martin Decorated Parlor Suite for $23,180 
An Empire Style Gilt and Patinated Bronze Center Table for $13,420 |
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• What the Pros Know: Buying Art and Antiques |
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Share this article! http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-2012/Leslie-Hindman-on-Buying-Art-and-Antiques/ What’s hot among auction buyers? Midcentury modern furniture is one thing that’s hot right now, which can mean that it’s overpriced. If people like English and French furniture, they should buy it now because it’s relatively cheap. But really, people shouldn’t buy something just because it’s hot. You need to discover what you really like—paintings, furniture, jewelry, whatever. Invest some time learning about these things and then buy what pleases you. The first rule of collecting: Only buy things you like, because you can never be guaranteed they will be a good investment.
So what’s fashionable shouldn’t trump what’s tasteful?
Why?
How does a know-nothing like me follow art prices?
Auctions seem so dramatic. Do regular people belong at one?
What do you buy?
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• Fine Jewelry and Timepieces Auction Realizes $4.4 Million |
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Share this article! December 5, 2011 – For Immediate Release The continued strength and international appeal of investment grade diamonds was evident in the fantastic prices realized for Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ December Fine Jewelry and Timepieces auction. An impressive 10.56 carat emerald cut diamond drew interest from a diverse group of important collectors and exceeded all expectations by realizing $632,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $300,000-350,000. Other large diamonds in the sale also outperformed their estimates including a 5.69 carat pear shape diamond which sold for $115,900 and a 6.93 carat marquise cut stone that brought $59,780. Combining fine Colombian emeralds and diamonds with exquisite Art Deco aesthetics, a platinum, emerald and diamond bracelet achieved an impressive $436,000. The bracelet attracted over 20 serious collectors, both foreign and domestic, in the most heavily contested lot of the sale. Vintage signed jewelry by important makers drew international interest. A selection from Cartier had stellar results including a rare pair of Tutti Frutti earclips that sold for $63,440 against an estimate of $15,000-20,000. An Art Deco platinum, diamond and rock crystal brooch, one of Cartier’s more iconic designs, brought $51,240, while a Cartier platinum charm bracelet realized $36,600. The sale offered the rare opportunity to acquire sought after works by artist Daniel Brush. The selections, from the Ralph Esmerian Collection, included an intricate mastodon ivory, ebony and gold necklace that realized $61,000 as well as a textured steel and gold sculpture that sold for $48,800. A strong timepiece session was highlighted by vintage complications and premier manufacturers. An antique 18 karat yellow gold minute repeating chronograph pocket watch brought $8,540 and an 18 karat yellow gold Cartier roadster watch realized $15,860. A pair of Patek Philippe references also met with eager bidding when a vintage yellow gold Ref. 2526 sold for $18,300 and a yellow gold Travel Time Calatrava realized $13,420. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ next Fine Jewelry and Timepieces auction will be held March 25-26, 2012. Consignments are invited for upcoming auctions. Contact Alexander Eblen at 312.334.4233 for more information. 
A Platinum and 10.56 Carat Emerald Cut Diamond Ring sold for $632,000 
An Art Deco Platinum, Emerald and Diamond Bracelet sold for $436,000 
A Platinum and 5.69 Carat Pear Shape Diamond Ring sold for $115,900 
A Pair of Platinum, Diamond and Multi Gemstone Tutti Frutti Earclips, Cartier, sold for $63,440 
A Platinum and 6.93 Carat Marquise Cut Diamond Ring sold for $59,780 |
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• New Palm Beach Location Will Serve Clients and Museums Throughout South |
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Share this article! (Palm Beach, Florida) December 2, 2011 – For Immediate Release Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, one of the nation’s most renowned fine art auction houses, announced the opening of a new office in Palm Beach, Florida, located at 324 Royal Palm Way. The new Palm Beach location will allow the company to better serve the Southern region. “Our auction house has experienced record sales this year. This is partly attributed to our opening in Florida two years ago. Our Naples location has continued to grow and we have received a substantial increase in auction and appraisal requests from the Palm Beach area,” said Leslie Hindman, President and CEO. “We have seen significant collections of fine jewelry, paintings, prints, drawings and sculpture, European and American decorative arts, and Asian works of art on the East Coast of Florida and this new office will allow us to better serve Trust and Estate professionals, private collectors and institutional clients.” Since opening in Florida several notable estates have been sold from the East Coast of Florida. The Estate of William Moore of Hobe Sound realized over a million dollars. Highlights included a white jade lidded vase, which sold for $230,800 and a jade scholar’s object depicting shells and sea animals, which sold for $122,000. In December of 2010, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers handled a single-owner sale for The Estate of William N. Roos of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a well known interior designer whose clients included Veronica Lake and Esther DuPont. In addition to these estates, an impressive jewelry collection from the Estate of Mary Porter of Fort Lauderdale realized over $400,000. “This is an exciting time for our company, as we are growing and opening in new areas” said Jim Sharp, Director of Regional Offices. “The Naples location has proved to us that Florida is an ideal market for seeking consignments and selling property. Our new Palm Beach location will enable us to assist a greater number of people seeking a full-service boutique auction company that has the ability to handle a wide selection of property.” Maura Ross, Julie Parker, and Larry Sirolli will work in the Palm Beach office. Maura Ross, a Washington, D.C. native, worked for the global public relations firm, Edelman, before moving to Florida two years ago to help open and run the Leslie Hindman Naples location. Julie Parker, a native of Palm Beach, spent several years working for an auction house in New York City. Larry Sirolli worked for twenty-three years with Sotheby’s in New York in varied expert departments and management roles as Director of the English Furniture Department and Director of Sotheby’s Arcade sales. Using his breadth of knowledge and expert advice, he will provide valuations for the Palm Beach office. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is a full-service auction house that specializes in Fine Art, Fine Books and Manuscripts, Fine Jewelry and Timepieces, Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts, Asian Art and Vintage Couture and Accessories. For more information on the Palm Beach office or to schedule a complimentary auction appraisal, please call 561-833-8053 or visit www.lesliehindman.com. About Leslie Hindman Auctioneers For three decades, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is one of the largest fine art auction houses in the nation. Founded in 1982, sold to Sotheby’s in 1997, and reopened in 2003, Leslie Hindman has remained a constant force behind high profile auctions. From contemporary paintings and fine jewelry to French furniture and rare books and manuscripts, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers maintains a practice of achieving the highest prices while maintaining the highest standard of integrity and customer service. In January 2010, Hindman opened an auction facility in Naples, Florida and this fall opened a second satellite location in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. |
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• Vignos Estate Auction Achieves Over $3 Million |
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Share this article! Jasper Francis Cropsey Sells For $660,000 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers auctioned the personal collection of accomplished Cleveland rheumatologist Dr. Paul J. Vignos Jr. to a packed room of bidders and thousands of others on the telephones and internet. The November 6-8, 2011 auction included American and European paintings and prints, English, French and American 18th and 19th century furniture, European and American silver, porcelain and glass, antiquities, sporting decoys and angling and fishing equipment. Competitive bidding resulted in a successful sale total of $3,018,378 and set numerous auction records. John Bunyan Bristol, Gate, St. Augustine, Florida, sold for $73,200, becoming the highest price ever paid for a work by Bristol. Jasper Francis Cropsey, Dawn of Morning, Lake George, sold for $660,000, setting an auction record as the fourth highest price ever paid for a work by the artist. Other highlights included William Trost Richards, Rocky Coast, sold for $170,800 more than doubling its estimate of $60/80,000. A Greek pottery skyphos, sold for $41,480 and a gilt and patinated bronze figural mantle clock sold for $34,160. “Dr. and Mrs. Vignos were consummate collectors,” said Leslie Hindman, President and CEO. “We are thrilled to have handled their extensive collection in a single-owner auction. The collection is reflective of their style: thoughtful, elegant and magnanimous.” 
Sold for $666,000 
Sold for $34,160 
Sold for $170,800 
Sold for $73,200 
Sold for $41,480 |
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• Leslie Hindman Auctioneers to Sell Rare Disney Cels and Babar Illustrations |
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Share this article! (Chicago) November 7, 2011. On Tuesday, November 15, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will auction an impressive collection of original illustration art belonging to Ralph Esmerian, including early Disney animation cels from the 1930’s and 1940’s and original story-board watercolors from the beloved French children’s series, Babar the Elephant. The collection is expected to bring over $50,000 at the sale next Tuesday. In the Golden Age of Animation, from 1928 to 1942, Walt Disney studios produced five of the most spectacular feature-length animated films of all time: Snow White and Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo and Bambi. Their influence remains today, as the studio continues to re-release them from “The Vault” for a new generation. Each scene was hand-crafted carefully with the combination of original production cels and original production watercolor backgrounds. Together, these “key master set-ups,” as they are termed, from Disney’s early animated features are exceedingly rare. Ralph Esmerian’s collection contained a number of these key master set-ups, including two from Snow White and Seven Dwarfs and four from Pinocchio. Scenes include Snow White kissing Dopey on the forehead, Dopey placing diamonds in his eyes, Gepetto creating Pinocchio, Pinocchio crawling across the floor of Gepetto’s workshop, Gepetto discovering Pinocchio’s donkey ears, and Pinocchio dancing for the evil puppet-master, Stromboli. “We believe this to be one of the most significant collections of original Disney animation art to have ever been offered at auction in recent years,” says Mary Williams, Director of Fine Books and Manuscripts at Leslie Hindman, “and we expect it to do extremely well.” The collection also contains original story-board watercolor drawings from the popular children’s book series Babar the Elephant, by Jean de Brunhoff and, later, his son Laurent de Brunhoff, each estimated to sell between $4,000-6,000. Babar the Elephant, dreamed up from the bedtime stories of Cecil de Brunhoff, is one of the most iconic, and, at times, controversial, children’s book characters of all time, with over 30,000 publications in 17 languages and an animated television series that broadcasts in over 150 countries. Esmerian’s collection includes original story-board illustrations by Jean de Brunhoff from Le Voyage de Babar (1932) and by Laurent de Brunhoff from Babar Comes to America(1965). Also included is an original watercolor of Babar and his family signed by Laurent de Brunhoff with a matching signed lithograph and a hand-painted lithograph signed by Jean de Brunhoff from Le Roi de Babar. Public previews for the sale will be held Saturday, November 12, 10am – 3pm, Sunday, November 13, 12pm – 5pm, and Monday, November 14, 10am – 5pm. A fully illustrated catalogue is available at http://www.lesliehindman.com. For questions regarding the upcoming auction, please contact Mary Williams at 312.334.4236 or . 
(BABAR) DE BRUNHOFF, JEAN, 7 1/2 x 9 1/4. Property from the Ralph Esmerian Collection, New York, New York 
(WALT DISNEY) SNOW WHITE. Snow White and Sneezy on the Doorstep, 1937. Property from the Ralph Esmerian Collection, New York, New York 
(WALT DISNEY) PINOCCHIO, Gepetto Creating Pinocchio, 1940. 11 1/2 x 12 inches. Property from the Ralph Esmerian Collection, New York, New York |
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• International Bidders Drive Asian Works of Art Auction Past Pre-Sale Estimate, Bringing Over $3 Mill |
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Share this article! “We are thrilled to be experiencing continued success in our Asian Works of Art sales. Our Asian sales prove just how global the auction market has become, as international bidders enthusiastically competed on the internet, telephone and in the room to secure the top lots,” said Leslie Hindman, CEO and President. The highlights of sale included a damaged 17th/18th century carved rhinoceros horn cup (lot 59) which sold for $292,000, a stained ivory and hardwood screen which brought $244,000 (lot 72), and a spinach jade brush washer which brought $97,600 (lot 96) and a pair of huanghuali armchairs at $122,000 (lot 64). Other highlights in the sale were drawn from the Chicago Estate of Dr. Joseph and Donna Lee Boggs, including a mark and period Qianlong vase which brought $272,400 (lot 63) and a carved cinnabar lacquer treasure box which went for $97,600 (lot 62). “We have seen that attractive estimates, traditional taste, high quality and fresh property are what the Chinese collectors seek and are willing to pay top dollar to obtain them,” commented Andrew Lick, director of Asian Works of Art. Traditional Chinese taste ruled the sale with ivory, jade and hardwood objects rising to the top. Included in this genre were a number of 18th century snuff bottles, including an enameled Qianlong mark bottle which brought $51,240 (lot 39). The Japanese session which included netsuke, ojime and inro, drawn mostly from two private collections, saw positive results as well, bringing over $180,000. Consignments are now being accepted for our May 2012 Asian Works of Art auction. For more information on consigning Asian works with Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, please contact Andrew Lick at or call 312.334.4222. Download PDF |
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• Frank Lloyd Wright Urn Sells for $772,000 |
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Share this article! Property from The Ralph Esmerian Collection boosts auction total to $3.17 million An important American copper urn designed by Frank Lloyd Wright from the Edward C. Waller house in River Forest, Illinois sold for $772,000 on Monday at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. The urn, estimated at $400,000-600,000, sold to a Florida private collector. It is not clear how many urns were produced or have survived, but only five others are known to exist in public collections. The urn came from the collection of Ralph Esmerian, bankrupt former owner of Fred Leighton jewelers and a collector of folk art, arts & crafts and art nouveau. Mr. Esmerian was sentenced in July to six years in prison for financial frauds totaling more than $210 million. A pair of ivory and silvered bronze lamps depicting Leda and Ganymeade, also from his collection, realized $158,600 at the auction against an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. A pair of Wharton Esherick oak side chairs and a pair of armchairs realized $43,920 and $67,100, respectively. Mr. Esmerian also owned two Frank Lloyd Wright maquettes on paper in crayon and pencil. Executed in 1927 as studies for the cover of Liberty Magazine, the drawings sold for $51,240 and $21,960. This November and December Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will offer additional Property from The Ralph Esmerian Collection including jewelry, fine books and paintings. In addition to Ralph Esmerian’s collection, the two-day Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts auction featured property from the Estate of Ruth Regenstein. The Regenstein family is well known in Chicago for their numerous philanthropic gifts. Ms. Regenstein’s collection of 17th and 18th century needlework and enameled etui cases drew attention from textile experts worldwide, who traveled to Chicago to see the material in person. Rarely are single objects seen that employ such a variety of techniques, worked in high relief with stumpwork, beadwork and crewel work. A 17th century table casket from Ms. Regenstein’s collection sold for $85,400 in the room after more than twelve phone bidders vied for it. The bead-worked lid of another dressing box sold for $31,720 to the same floor bidder. Ms. Regenstein’s estate also included fine Georgian and Edwardian furniture that achieved extraordinary prices. In total the October 2nd and 3rd sale brought $3.17 million against a pre-sale estimate of $2.07 million. Consignments are now invited for Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ next Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts auction, planned for February 12, 2012. Please call 312.280.1212 for more information.  Download PDF |
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• Prominent Cleveland Physician’s Estate to be sold by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers |
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Share this article! Chicago, Illinois – September 29, 2011 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, one of the nation’s leading fine art auction houses, is pleased to announce the single-owner auction of the Estate of Dr. Paul J. Vignos, Jr. on November 6-8, 2011. Dr. Vignos, who passed away in June 2010, was an accomplished rheumatologist at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio, as well as a generous philanthropist, avid sportsman and art lover. Over the course of their lives, he and his wife, Edith Ingalls Vignos, established a sophisticated and diverse collection including American and European paintings, silver, porcelain, Asian and ethnographic objects and other property. “Dr. and Mrs. Vignos were consummate collectors,” said Leslie Hindman, President and CEO. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to offer their extensive collection in a single-owner auction. The collection is reflective of their style: thoughtful, elegant and magnanimous.” Dr. Vignos’ zest for life is apparent by the zeal with which he pursued both his career and his interests. He was born in 1919 in Canton, Ohio. He attended the University of Notre Dame and Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Throughout the course of his medical career, he participated in breakthroughs in the field of rheumatology. Dr. Vignos discovered the gene behind Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and his research helped children afflicted with the disease retain their ability to walk far longer than had previously been possible. He published and lectured internationally, and he was known worldwide for his contributions to the treatment of muscle disease. He was also deeply involved in many philanthropic functions as Trustee, Vice-President and President of different councils and committees of the Cleveland Orchestra (life trustee), the Cleveland Museum of Art (life trustee), Cleveland Institute of Art, John Carroll University, Lake Erie College and The United Way of Greater Cleveland. In 1946, Dr. Vignos married Edith Ingalls, who came from a prominent Cleveland family. The couple shared a passion for art and antiques. In 2003, the Ingalls Foundation endowed the Paul J. and Edith Ingalls Vignos Curator of European Painting and Sculpture at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Along with the Snite Museum at the University of Notre Dame, the Cleveland Museum of Art will benefit from the sale of their collection. They also loved to hunt and fish, and they amassed an impressive collection of decoys and distinctive fishing reels and rods, which will be included in the sale. Highlights of the auction include important paintings by American artists Jasper Francis Cropsey, Martin Johnson Heade and William Bradford. Additional artists represented include William Trost Richards, John George Brown, Louis Comfort Tiffany, John Whorf, Adrien Thomasz Key, Giovanni Tiepolo and Jean Baptiste Mallet. Other items featured include French and American 18th and 19th century furniture, American and European porcelain and silver, a Tang Dynasty glazed horse, numerous bronzes and pre-Columbian works of art. Public preview for the sale will be held Wednesday and Thursday, November 2-3 from 10 a.m – 6 p.m., Friday, November 4, 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, November 5, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. For more information on the auction, preview days or to schedule an appointment for a complimentary auction appraisal, please contact Leslie Hindman at 312-280-1212. Images: 
Jasper Francis Cropsey (American, 1823-1900) Dawn of Morning, Lake George, 1868 oil on canvas signed J.F. Cropsey and dated (lower right) 20 x 32 inches. Provenance: James L. Brumley, 1868 Edward Brumley, by 1944 Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York, 1963 Acquired from the above, 1965 Exhibited: New York, New York, Macbeth Galleries, American Paintings of the Early 19th Century, 1944, no. 9 (as Dawn of Morning, Lake George) New York, Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Selections from the Collection of Hirschl & Adler Galleries, no. 9, (as Evening at Lake George) San Francisco, California, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, The American Scene, 1963 
Martin Johnson Heade (American, 1819-1904) Calm Sea at Sunset, Near a Lighthouse, ca. 1860-61 oil on artist's board signed M. J. Heade (lower right) 7 1/4 x 14 1/4 inches. Provenance: Victor D. Spark, New York Kennedy Galleries, New York Literature: Theodore E. Stebbins, The Life and Works of Martin Johnson Heade, New Haven, Connecticut, 1975, no. 39, p. 219 Theodore E. Stebbins, The Life and Works of Martin Johnson Heade, New Haven, Connecticut, 2000, no. 73, p. 216 
William Bradford (American, 1823-1892) The Steamer Panther Among Icebergs at Sunset, 1873 oil on canvas signed W. Bradford and dated (lower right) 20 x 30 inches. Provenance: Victor D. Spark 
William Trost Richards (American, 1833-1905) Rocky Coast, 1887 oil on canvas signed Wm. T. Richards and dated (lower left) 27 x 47 inches. |
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• Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ Fine Jewelry and Timepieces Auction Realizes Over $3 Million |
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Share this article! September 20, 2011 – An audience eager for antique jewels helped make the September Fine Jewelry and Timepieces auction a resounding success, realizing over $3 million. Fine jade jewelry, in particular, was in high demand from an international group of collectors. A pair of platinum, sapphire, diamond and carved jade pendant earrings sold for $10,980, quadrupling the pre-sale high estimate, while a fine “glassy” jade bead strand sold for $12,200. According to jewelry specialist Alexander Eblen, “Demand from the Asian market for fine quality was evident in the strong prices realized for jade jewelry.” Important diamonds were the high point of the sale, indicative of the current market’s desire for fine quality and large size. A vintage Van Cleef & Arpels platinum ring containing an excellent 7.00 carat emerald cut diamond and two triangular brilliant cut side diamonds outperformed its pre-sale estimate bringing $244,000. Similarly, a beautifully cut 7.52 carat emerald cut diamond ring realized $268,000. Fancy color diamonds also made an impression. A 5.33 carat radiant cut fancy yellow diamond ring realized $53,680 amidst substantial competition. Additionally, a rare fancy purplish pink pear shape diamond of 1.10 carats brought $43,920 while an elaborate necklace containing a fancy yellow diamond, an emerald and numerous white diamonds sold for $18,300. Signed works fared particularly well in a sale where collectors were ready to compete for fine examples. A contemporary yellow gold and lapis lazuli collar necklace by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany sold for $10,980 and a vintage Van Cleef & Arpels carved coral ring sold for $6,710. The rich tones of high karat gold jewelry resonated with the audience and were in high demand. A 22 karat gold, baroque pearl and rose cut diamond bib necklace brought $18,300 against an estimate of $3,000-5,000. Antique and vintage timepieces performed well including a rare Edwardian platinum and diamond pendant watch by Patek Philippe and wristwatches from the 1960s were also highly sought after. Important natural colored gemstones proved their collectible value in the current market by achieving excellent prices. A fine pair of certified Colombian emerald earrings sold for $17,080 while an exceptional certified natural Sri Lankan sapphire in an Edwardian bracelet brought $26,840. An intricate platinum, diamond and sugarloaf cabochon cut emerald vintage ring captured the attention of buyers and sold for $24,400. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ next Fine Jewelry and Timepieces auction will be held December 2, 2011. Consignments are invited for upcoming auctions; contact Alexander Eblen at 312.334.4233 for more information. |
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• Leslie Hindman Auctioneers Fine Art Auction Realizes 2.7 Million |
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Share this article! Leslie Hindman Auctioneer’s fall auction of Contemporary, Modern, American and European art achieved exceptional prices, realizing over $2.7 million. The highlight of the sale was Wassily Kandinsky’s Composition No. 26 from the estate of John and Valere Butterwick, which sold for $454,000 (est. $300-500,000). Russian buyers competed aggressively for works sold to benefit the acquisition fund of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, with Natalya Nesterova’s The Dragon Flies selling for $23,180 (est. $800-1200). Other contemporary highlights include Victor Vasarely ‘s Photon B which achieved $24,400 (est. $ 8-12,000) and Ibram Lassaw’s Apsaras which achieved $29,280 (est. $12-18,000). The American auction session was headlined by Reginald Marsh’s Spooks, from the collection of Majorie and Charles Benton, which realized $85,400. Bidders fought over two Hudson River School paintings from the estate of Chicago collector H.M. Barbour, with an Alexander Helwig Wyant selling for $31,720 (est. $3-5,00) and a Homer Dodge Martin luminist work achieving $21,180 (est. $8-12,000). European Impressionist paintings performed well, with Gustave Loiseau’s Champ de blé selling for $85,400 (est. $30-50,000) and Pierre Eugene Montezin’s Les Cygnes achieving $36,600 (est. $30-50,000). Jacques Martin-Ferrieres’ Old Pot of Marseilles with Notre Dame de la Garde realized $36,600, the second highest price for the artist at auction. The prints session saw steady bidding, with Francis Bacon’s Study for Bullfighter No. 1 selling for $54,900 (est. 35-45,000). Andy Warhol continues to be in demand with his Mao achieving $32,240 (est. $20-30,000), Flash Series achieving ($34,720) and Flowers $12,000 (est. $8-12,000). Other highlights include Joan Miro’s Le Matador which achieved $36,600 (est. $20-30,000) and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s Divan Japonais which achieved $20,740 (est. $10-15,000). Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ next auction of Modern and Contemporary Art, and American and European Art will be on December 11th, and Fine Prints, Photographs and Multiples on December 12th. Consignments are invited for upcoming auctions; contact us at 312.280.1212 for more information. Highlights: Wassily Kandinsky, Composition No. 26, Sold for $454,000 Reginald Marsh, Spooks, Sold for $85,400 Natalya Nesterova, The Dragon Flies, Sold for $23,180 Frances Bacon, Study for Bullfighter No. 1, Sold for $54,900 Gustave Loiseau, Champ de blé, Sold for $85,400
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• CURATED SELECTIONS from the EBONY FASHION FAIR Archives to be sold AT LESLIE HINDMAN AUCTIONEERS |
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Share this article! (Chicago, Illinois) August 26, 2011 - On October 22, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will hold an auction of select pieces of the historic couture and clothing collection from the Ebony Fashion Fair show. This collection was assembled over the course of fifty years by Eunice W. Johnson. Each item from the Ebony Fashion Fair Show, the world’s largest traveling fashion show, which raised more than $55 million for black charitable causes, was hand selected by Mrs. Johnson. Mrs. Johnson traveled to the world’s fashion capitals to find the most avant-garde designs to bring high fashion to black American women throughout the country. The 707 lot auction includes items from Chanel, Dior, Halston, Bill Blass, Givenchy, Valentino, Vivienne Westwood and countless others. A capsule collection from Eunice Johnson’s personal archive will also be offered for sale. A tag sale will be held online at http://www.lesliehindman.com, from September 30- October 14, and at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago which will give buyers the opportunity to own a piece of the historic collection in keeping with Mrs. Johnson’s vision that high style belonged in the everyday lives of all women. Ebony Fashion Fair attendees were introduced to creations by world-renowned American, Italian, French, British and Japanese designers. Through the show Mrs. Johnson showcased black designers including Stephen Burrows, James Daugherty, and B. Michael. It also launched the careers of many of America’s top black models and celebrities, among them Pat Cleveland, Dianne Carroll, and Richard Roundtree. “Using the show my mother was changing the way in which people from vastly diverse walks of life experienced fashion” said Linda Johnson Rice, Chairman of Johnson Publishing Company, LLC, which is the publisher of EBONY and JET magazines, and owner of Fashion Fair Cosmetics, a global prestige cosmetics brand for women of color. “At the same time she was inspiring black women to experiment with fashion, embrace their beauty, and challenge the conventions of what was considered chic. I am so pleased to make available to the public items from this collection so that those who were inspired by the show and who love fashion can own a piece of fashion history.” Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ auctions are free and open to the public. An exhibition will be held October 15th through October 21st; the auction will take place October 22nd at 10:00 am CST. For more information, please contact: Abigail Rutherford, 312-280-1212, Alex Rosenfield, 212-397-4562, |
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• Auctioneer Leslie Hindman expands to Milwaukee, Palm Beach, Fla. |
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Share this article! http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-07-24/business/ct-biz-0724-confidential-hindman-20110724_1_auction-houses-auction-market July 24, 2011|Melissa Harris' Chicago Confidential - By the end of the year, Chicago auctioneer Leslie Hindman will open two more auction houses, in Milwaukee and Palm Beach, Fla., as her eponymous firm expects to reap a second year of record sales. Multiple trends are working in Hindman's favor: Stubbornly high unemployment is driving people to sell their possessions; art is transforming into a valid investment class; and the Internet is providing Hindman easy access to a growing number of global art consumers, particularly in Asia. Last week, she hired her first Mandarin speaker in her Asian Works of Art department. "The Chinese have become very aggressive and passionate about buying back their heritage," Hindman said via phone from her office in Naples, Fla., where she hosted a party for about 100 bankers and estate lawyers Thursday night. "If we're auctioning a Chinese jade item, we'll probably sell it to someone in China." With macroeconomics seemingly on her side, now would be the time to break into Palm Beach, a market flush with New Yorkers as well as connections to New York auction houses. But Sotheby's has abandoned and Christie's receded from — not exited — the lower end of the market, where Hindman specializes. Prices at Hindman's May auction of American and European modern and contemporary art, for instance, ranged from $183 for a Frances Foy watercolor to $134,200 for a Roy Lichtenstein silkscreen. Hindman said she expects to do $25 million to $30 million in business this year. She has 50 employees. "It is the enigma of the current recession that no economist ever discusses," the International Herald Tribune wrote in fall 2009. "Every analyst worth his salt will tell you that people are holding back as much as possible on expenses. Yet, this is not happening at the bottom end of the auction market, which is precisely the area that one would expect to have been worst hit." Hindman said the market has held up because more people can afford a $50,000 work by late Chicago artist Ed Paschke than a $20 million Monet. And she's now capable of reaching Paschke fans around the globe quickly and cheaply via the Internet. "We really are a marketing firm; that's all we are," said Hindman, who founded her company in 1982, sold it to Sotheby's in 1997 and reopened in 2003. A former host of two HGTV shows, she is a regular on the charity and event circuit: Art history "degrees aren't as important as being around, and I've been around forever." To illustrate the importance of marketing, a 19th-century illustrated wood block book on falconry — in Japanese, no less — owned by the estate of avid falconer George Kotsiopoulos is set to be sold at an Aug. 9 auction of rare books. Kotsiopoulos died in 2003 and owned a crepe restaurant in Chicago and Evanston. His collection of books on falconry is among the world's "most extensive," Mary Williams, Hindman's director of books and manuscripts, said in an email. One would think few would be interested in such a book, valued at $6,000 to $8,000, but not so, Williams said. On the list of groups to alert about the sale: U.S. falconry associations; the Idaho-based Peregrine Fund, which holds the most comprehensive English-language falconry library in the world; the Japan Falconers Association; the National Conference for Japanese Falconry; wood block collectors; and then ornithology and general natural history book collectors, dealers and institutions. "So our market is quite large," Williams said. Hindman, who collects gavels, began expanding her firm last year with an auction house in Naples, describing the city as "the Midwest of Florida." A Milwaukee location follows that Midwest-centric logic; the office will be one block from the Pfister Hotel and open Sept. 1. A lease on a Palm Beach office has not been signed yet. She is opening an auction house there because one of the leaders of her Florida operations, Maura Ross, has moved to Palm Beach. She hopes customer service will set her apart. Since the financial crisis, Hindman said her company has lent about 20 consigners money against the sale of their property. Other firms, she said, "might not have done that for people who need $20,000." |
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• Frida Kahlo Never-Before-Seen Artist’s Book to Be Sold at Auction |
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Share this article! (Chicago, July 18, 2011) A beat-up copy of The Works of Edgar Allan Poe is expected to sell for over $20,000 at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers on August 9th. It is no ordinary used book – it belonged to the celebrated Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, who covered the book with doodles, inscriptions, paint and collaged leaves. To Frida, the book provided an outlet for her to engage in dialogue with the Poe’s mysterious and macabre poetry, and the result is one of the most intriguing artist’s books to appear on the market. The most interesting inscription appears at the beginning of the book, where Frida has the written following in crayon: Pues si, Frida Kahlo, Auxocromo Cromoforo, 1922, 1945, 23, 12, 35, always. A close reading, offered by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican Modernist expert, Luis-Martin Lozano, points directly to Frida’s relationship with her husband, Diego Rivera: Frida Kahlo met Diego Rivera in 1922; she wrote in the book in 1945; she met Diego when she was 12 (actually 15, but she claimed she was born in 1910 to appear younger) and he was 35; the 23 refers not only to the years between when Frida wrote in the book and when she met Diego (1922-1945), but also to their difference in age. These numbers and connections are coupled with the word always and the symbol for infinity. Auxocromo Cromoforo, a phrase repeated at the end of selected poems throughout, further alludes to Frida’s relationship with Rivera; the phrase first appeared in a poem Frida wrote in her diary, which translates: My Diego, Mirror of the Night ... You could be called Auxocromo - the one who takes color. I Cromoforo - the one who gives the color. You are all the combinations of the numbers. The book was previously in the collection of Teresa Proenza, Diego Rivera’s secretary until his death. “The inscriptions and collages form an extraordinary record of the artist’s creative process,” notes Director of Books and Manuscripts, Mary Williams. “Kahlo’s works are exceptionally rare. On the occasion one does appear at auction, prices quickly exceed $200,000, with the highest price ever fetched being $5.6 million in May 2006. “The present collaged work is without precedent at auction,” Williams adds. “We expect the artist’s book to exceed its pre-sale estimate of $20-30,000.” The book was previously in the collection of Teresa Proenza, Diego River’s secretary and close personal friend of Frida Kahlo. For more information, please contact Leslie Hindman Auctioneers at 312.334.4236 or . A fully illustrated catalogue is available at http://www.lesliehindman.com. |
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• Asian Buyers and Diversification—Seeking Investors Lift Fine Art Market to New Highs |
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Share this article! http://www.cnbc.com/id/43772003 This is a guest post from Zac Bissonnette, a contributing editor with Antique Trader, where he recently covered trends in the antiques market on display at Brimfield. He recently spoke with Marketplace about the financial benefits of furnishing your home with antiques and vintage finds. When Chicago-based Leslie Hindman Auctioneers held its Asian arts sale in May of this year, they expected sales of somewhere around a million dollars. The sale ended up racking up $4.2 million—with 80% of the buyers coming from China. Leslie Hindman, the founder of that auctioneer and the former host of HGTV’s At the Auction, told me that “Jade that we thought would bring $6,000 to $8,000 was bringing $50,000.” 2010 was Hindman’s most profitable year in three-decade career in the industry, and 2011 is looking even better. Following difficult results in 2008 and 2009, the art and antiques market appears to be positively booming. “The degree to which the art market lost value during the recent economic downturn was a fraction of the downturn in the securities markets,” says Jim Hedges, President of Montage Finance, an investment advisory firm specializing in fine art. “The recovery in the art market was quite quick because there are a large number of global investors who are putting more to work in art as an investment class.” The rebound in the fine art market has also benefited equity investors who were able to see it coming. Between October 2007 and February 2009, shares of Sotheby’s [BID 43.79 -1.11 (-2.47%) ] cratered from a high of $54.17 to $6.47, very nearly a multi-decade low. They have since recovered almost all of that value, and profits have rebounded too: from a loss of $6.5 million in 2009 to a net income of just over $160 million in 2010. That swing was driven by a revenue increase of 60% —the largest in the company’s history. Don Thompson, author of The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art, says that art market has been buoyed by the developing world. “There are five contemporary museums being built and stocked, two in Abu Dhabi, one in Quatar, two in China,” he said in an email. “Just the five are buying 450-550 museum-quality works a year, for probably a billion dollars. That is the market.” Political changes have also driven the rise of the developing world into art market savior. “Forty years ago, it was illegal to own a piece of art in China. These days, it’s the second-largest art market in the world,” MarketWatch reported last month. “A new wealthy class, along with a lack of investment options, has propelled China’s ascendancy in the global art trade, which last year was worth around $63 billion.” In the developed world too, according to Hedges, art is being taken seriously as an investment class in a way that perhaps it wasn’t in the past. “There are an increasing number of people recognizing that art is an investment class and part of wealth management,” he says. “Given inflationary fears, people view art as a diversification away from securities.” “I believe that you’re going to see more people utilizing art as an investment tool for diversification and superior, equity-like returns,“ Hedges added. “It is a global currency and people will use it as a substitute for liquidity in their own currency.” Hindman echoes that assessment. “Rich Americans are investing in tangible They're calling and saying ‘We've got a lot of cash, we don't want to put it in the market. We're thinking of buying some contemporary art.’ People who aren't even serious collectors are looking to buy tangible assets.” But just as the doom and gloom of three years ago marked an inflection point, with rising prices comes rising risk. Sotheby‘s results have leveled off a bit in recent months, reports Art Market Monitor, noting that “[auction price] estimates have caught up with the market”, and strong sales results are no longer a surprise, with perennially high expectations now raising the risk that anything less than near-record prices could spook the market. In the long run though, the financial benefits of fine art, however substantial they may be, don’t even represent the greatest part of the return. As Goethe wrote, “Collectors are happy people.” |
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• City Attracts Top Auction Gallery |
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Share this article! May 12, 2011 (NewsBuzz) - Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, one of the top such galleries in the country, plans to open a branch in Milwaukee on East Mason Street, adding to the artsy ambience of that area of town. Hindman is based in Chicago and also opened a branch in Naples, Fla. This will be the third location for the auction gallery. Milwaukee has been good to Hindman. In 1991, her auction gallery made worldwide headlines when she sold a previously unknown Van Gogh painting found in a Bayside farmhouse for $1.43 million. “It was a record for Chicago, or perhaps anywhere in the U.S. outside of Manhattan,” news reports said. Now Hindman is banking on Milwaukee as a good place for a satellite facility. She is negotiating a lease with developer Joel Lee for space at 414 E. Mason St. “We’ve always done a lot of business in Milwaukee,” Hindman says. “It is an old, old city, and there are other old, old cities in Wisconsin … It’s a wonderful city, I like going there. Especially with Schrager no longer in business, I thought it would be time, and I’m negotiating a lease now.” (Schrager Auction Galleries closed last May after more than a half century in business, leaving a void in the marketplace.) Hindman cites the breadth of Milwaukee’s collections and the thousands of once-invisible, ordinary folks with extraordinary possessions that have recently come to light thanks to cultural phenomena such as E-Bay, Antiques Roadshow and even her own television appearances. Her firm is the go-to choice when institutions like the Milwaukee Art Museum and Marquette University’s Haggerty Museum of Art choose to deaccession their holdings. “Do you know (Haggerty Director) Wally Mason?” Hindman asks. “I love him!” An upcoming sale at Hindman will feature many paintings and prints collected by the late Peg Bradley. “They are from the Garden,” Hindman says, referring to what is now the Lynden Sculpture Garden in River Hills (but the works are from the old house on the grounds). The sale will benefit the garden. Hindman got her start with Sotheby’s in the late ‘70s as an assistant earning $8,700 a year and started her own auction house in 1982. She found a niche with mid-level collectors and sellers, like the Van Gogh owners. Still anonymous, they are described only as an upper middle class, retired suburban couple who inherited a still life of flowers from a relative who had immigrated to Milwaukee from Switzerland in the ‘40s. (That probably narrows it down to thousands of couples in the metro area.) Hindman’s instincts for showmanship, including a sale held at Comiskey Park, helped bring her firm attention and business. It was the largest house in Chicago and fifth-largest in the nation when she sold it to Sotheby’s in 1997. Sotheby’s wanted to court the middle class market, but the effort did not succeed. So Hindman reopened the business under her name when the contract with Sotheby’s expired in 2003. But why the bricks-and-mortar approach in the era of electronic auctions? Hindman says her business model integrates the best of the old-school and the new. An increasing number of her auction sales result from electronic bids. But a physical presence, along with a professional staff that can better evaluate items and an appraisal service and physical showroom offer an inducement to collectors and sellers. Hindman seems eager to embrace the city’s downtown. Her space would be across the street from the Pfister and Metro hotels, and on the same block as the building that houses George Watts & Son and DeLind Fine Arts. “I love Watts and I love DeLind!,” she exclaims. “The synergy is wonderful – we’re by the Pfister – there are many synergies. We weren’t planning on announcing this until July. But now that you know, we hope to open in September with a big party.” Hindman’s arrival is good news to Bill DeLind. “I see this as a big plus for me and look forward to having them as neighbors,” he says. DeLind says Hindman visited his gallery and also met with Sam Watts. “She spoke of perhaps some sort of joint festive party … a ‘welcome to the neighborhood party,’” De Lind said. He added that Hindman’s move here “is prompted by the closing of Schrager and the large amount of business she gets from Milwaukee, both buying and selling.” |
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• Marathon Asian Auction Brings Over 4.5 Million |
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Share this article! May 3, 2011 - With a saleroom packed full of international buyers, the majority from mainland China, almost 600 bidders online and the auctioneers’ book full of absentee bids, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers sale which carried a pre-sale median estimate of approximately $1 million grossed over $4.5 million. Auctioneer Leslie Hindman said, “The auction market for Asian Works of Art is astounding. The prices realized today were as strong as prices realized at the spring sales in Hong Kong and New York. This market is truly global.” Asian Works of Art specialist Andrew Lick said, “Vigorous buying throughout the marathon eight-hour auction underscored the Chinese market’s strength and desire to buy traditional works of art.” The auction’s top lot, a pair of rare Chinese imperial bronze vases valued at $80,000 to $120,000, sold for $660,000 after spirited bidding by no fewer than ten bidders. An in-house Chinese buyer won the lot as a crowded, noisy saleroom cheered. Two carved rhinoceros horn cups sold for $394,000 each. A white jade lidded vase sold for $230,800 while another surprise came in the form of a jade scholar’s object depicting shells and sea animals. Connoisseurs relished the object’s careful use of natural inclusions to portray the crustaceans, and it sold for $122,000. Both jade prizes came from the Estate of William H. Moore in Hobe Sound, Florida. Consignments are now being accepted for our October 4 Asian Works of Art auction. For more information on consigning Asian items with Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, please contact Andrew Lick at or 312.334.4222. |
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• Fine Jewelry and Timepieces Auction Brings Phenomenal Prices at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers |
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Share this article! April 12, 2011 – A room crowded with auction attendees applauded when an exquisite 8.48 carat diamond ring sold for $292,800. The diamond, in a ring designed by Michael Beaudry, was a GIA certified cushion cut stone set within a handmade and hand engraved platinum setting. The sale of the ring to an anonymous private buyer capped off an exciting run of fine large diamonds to end the first day of the sale.
The Fine Jewelry & Timepieces sale capitalized on a revitalized market eager for certified diamonds, signed works and fine vintage jewelry. The auction, extending Sunday and Monday, grossed $2.60 million in sales and attracted eager bidding from local and international collectors.
Larger diamonds dominated the high prices realized in the sale. Two additional Michael Beaudry rings achieved notable success. A platinum and yellow gold ring containing a 6.21 carat radiant cut internally flawless fancy yellow diamond sold for $97,600. A platinum ring containing a 7.02 carat E color cushion cut diamond sold for $231,800. Signed works also resonated with collectors eager for all things unique. An Arts and Crafts Tiffany & Co. brooch far exceeded the auction estimate of $4,000-6,000 to sell for $36,600. A David Webb gold, turquoise and diamond flower brooch sold for $13,420 above an estimate of $5,000-7,000.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ next Fine Jewelry and Timepieces auction will be held September 18, 2011. Consignments are invited for upcoming auctions; contact Alexander Eblen at 312.334.4233 for more information. |
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• Gladys Knight gowns to hit auction block in Chicago |
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Share this article! March 15, 2011 - And speaking of the '80 (see previous post), a collection from Gladys Knight's sparkling wardrobe will be auctioned off next month in Chicago by Leslie Hindman's eponymous auction house. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/section/blogs?blogID=shia-kapos&plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&uid=32246edb-06fb-4784-9008-b3233e7480b9&plckPostId=Blog%3a32246edb-06fb-4784-9008-b3233e7480b9Post%3a9adeea1d-a731-47f3-a29a-ef998f9546b1&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest |
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• Rare Signed Photograph of Jesse James to Sell at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers |
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Share this article! The notorious outlaw Jesse James has been an American obsession for over a century. Most of his life, however, remains a mystery. What is more, he left few artifacts behind to help fill in the gaps, which has in return intensified the demand for all James-related historical memorabilia, especially photographs and signed documents. On April 5th Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will sell the only known signed photograph of Jesse Woodson James. The albumen print portrait, showing a bust of James as a young man with his hair slicked back and dressed in a suit and tie, is the most iconic image of the outlaw. James’ signature is exceedingly rare, with only one other signed item selling at auction, and the present signed photograph is expected to greatly exceed its $20,000-30,000 presale estimate. The provenance of the photograph is excellent. It was obtained by Andrew MacKellar, Captain of the Cunard Line of the RMS Queen Mary from 1954 to 1959, from Calvin Tilden Owns, husband of Ethel Rose James (the granddaughter of Jesse James), who confirmed the authenticity of the signed photograph, which was bequeathed to her by Jesse James’ widow, Zee, as part of an inheritance. The photograph has been in private hands since it was purchased from Captain MacKellar in 1958. The signed photograph will be a featured in the Americana session of the Fine Books and Manuscripts Auction to be held Tuesday, April 5th, at 1338 W Lake St. at 12:00pm. The items will be on public display Saturday, April 2nd, from 10:00am to 3:00pm, Sunday, April 3rd, from 12:00pm to 5:00pm, and Monday, April 4th, from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. For more information, please contact Mary Williams at 312.334.4236 or . |
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• Time to dig out the attic: Appraisal event coming to Oak Park |
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Share this article! History can come from the strangest places, so Oak Park residents will have a chance to have that old painting or sculpture checked out before they try to sell it at a yard sale for a few bucks.
The Oak Park Historical Society will be hosting an appraisal event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Nineteenth Century Club, 178 Forest Ave. The event is in the same vein as the television show “Antiques Roadshow” where people dig out items from their attics and basements to see what, if any, historical or monetary value they may have.
Read more at http://triblocal.com/oak-park-river-forest/2011/01/14/time-to-dig-out-the-attic-appraisal-event-coming-to-oak-park/ |
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• Record Collection of Jazz Icon Dick Buckley at Auction at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers |
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Share this article! (Chicago, Illinois) January 10, 2011 - Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is proud to announce the sale of the Jazz collection of beloved Chicago radio-host Dick Buckley on Thursday, February 17, 2011. Buckley, who passed away on July 22, 2010 at 85, was a radio deejay in Chicago for over 50 years, spreading his passion for Jazz to thousands of eager listeners. He is best remembered as the host of a weekend radio show on Chicago Public Radio (WBEZ). He was known for his encyclopedic knowledge of the subject, his soft voice, and his relaxed speaking style, with his signature phrase, “the good old good ones.” His last show aired July 27, 2008, after 31 years on-air.
The sale will consist of over 8,000 Jazz LPs, 45s, 78s, EPs, mixed tapes and CDs, including many home-made compilations, comprising Buckley’s personal archive. Also included in the sale are books and original reel-to-reel broadcasts of his radio programs. The extensive collection will be offered in 92 box lots of approximately 100 items each, grouped by style, artist, instrument and format.
Interested parties may peruse the items during one of the two days of previews held at the gallery on 1338 West Lake Street on February 15 and 16, from 10am to 5pm. The auction will take place live on Thursday, February 17, at 5pm. For more information on the auction, please contact Mary Williams at 312-334-4236. |
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• Leslie Hindman Auctioneers Partners with Historical Society for Appraisal Event |
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Share this article! January 4, 2011 - Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, the Midwest’s leading fine arts auction house, is partnering with the Historical Society of Oak Park & River Forest in a one-time opportunity for the public to have their family treasures and other valuables appraised by experts for a nominal fee.
Family Heirloom or Flea Market Find: What’s It Worth?will be held on Saturday, February 19 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Nineteenth Century Club, 178 Forest Avenue, Oak Park. Parking is available in a garage adjacent to the Club.
Specialists will be available to appraise jewelry, fine art (Modern and Contemporary Art, 19th and 20th Century Art, Fine Photographs, Prints and Works on Paper, etc.); furniture (large items can be appraised from photographs taken from various angles); decorative arts (porcelain, textiles, ceramic, wood, fine silver, etc.) and fine books and manuscripts.
Cost of an appraisal for one item is $10. Bring three items to be appraised for $25. Pre-registration is suggested. Register online at www.oprfhistory.org or call (708) 848-6755. Authorities in topics related to antiques will also be available for consultation the day of the event. Get expert advice on insuring your valuables, framing your art, decorating with antiques and refinishing and reupholstering your furniture.
All proceeds benefit the Historical Society, a not-for-profit community organization.
“We’re excited to be coming to Oak Park and working with the Historical Society to give people a better understanding of the provenance and current value of items they cherish,” said Leslie Hindman, an industry leader whose West Loop auction house has a global reach of clients.
“Certainly people would love to be told their treasures are rare and valuable finds. But having our expert appraisers fill in the blanks with information on the provenance, craftsmen or manufacturer and materials is just as important.” |
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• Antique Jewelry Market Winners |
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Share this article! The fall sales in Geneva, Switzerland—Christie's fine watches on November 15, 2010, and jewels on November 17 and Sotheby's jewels on November 16—produced some unfathomable prices realized for magnificently crafted pieces of jewelry that many of us have seen only in catalogs or in on-line searches. These elite sales, along with two auctions in the States—of fine jewelry on September 15 in Chicago at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers and "The Nature of Opals" on November 10 in San Francisco at Bonhams & Butterfields—give us a broad picture of some of what's happening in the jewelry market.
Read more at http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/stories/?id=2287. |
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• The Estate of Distinguished New York Interior Designer Achieves Top Dollar |
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Share this article! Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ sale of property from the Estate of William Nicholas Roos drew fervent bidding on Sunday, with only 30 lots going unsold out of nearly 400. A saleroom full of active bidders underscored the market’s enthusiasm for new property from prominent estates. The auction brought $660,142 in all.
“We were honored to handle such diverse objects from a person as interesting as Mr. Roos,” said President and Auctioneer Leslie Hindman. “It was doubly exciting to see so many aggressive bids coming from buyers in the room and on the phones, given the Internet’s role in our business today.”
Mr. Roos, an interior designer who lived in both New York City and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, traveled and acquired extensively from the 1960s until he passed away earlier this year. He counted Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Veronica Lake, Katharine Hepburn and Esther DuPont among his clients and friends. Mr. Roos’s collection included eighteenth and nineteenth century French furniture, fine silver, bronze sculpture, numerous antiquities and Asian works of art. Two Chinese famille rose bowls sold for $29,760 against an estimate of $1,000/1,500, and a Chinese famille verte brush pot with a carved jade finial sold for $14,640 against its estimate of $800/1,200. A Continental bust, carved of marble after an earlier antique, was expected to sell for $800/1,200 but brought $10,370. A pair of Louis XVI style sconces, cast after a model by Pierre-Philippe Thomire, sold for $8,540. “William Roos clearly cherished his collection, and we are thrilled to have achieved such strong results,” Hindman said. “It is an appropriate tribute to a sophisticated and fascinating man.” |
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• Experts reveal value of ‘treasures’ at art museum |
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Share this article! (Rockford, Illinois) October 17, 2010 - What is it? Second Appraisal Day at the Rockford Art Museum. Who was there? Rock River Valley residents curious about the history or value of their rare possessions had them appraised Saturday by experts from Leslie Hindman Auctioneers of Chicago.
Read more at http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x549833405/Experts-reveal-value-of-treasures-at-Rockford-Art-Museum. |
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• Phenomenal Diamond Prices Highlight Fine Jewelry Auction |
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Share this article! September 17, 2010 – Amid a crowded sale room with spirited telephone and online bidding, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ September 15 Fine Jewelry and Timepieces auction realized $1.56 million, with 92% of lots sold. Diamonds of important size and color led the sale, along with natural pearls and signed contemporary and vintage jewelry.
“We are experiencing an unprecedented period of growth in the history of our firm. As buyers around the world seek reliable material investments, we are capitalizing on the fine jewelry market to achieve extraordinary prices for our consignors,” said President and Auctioneer Leslie Hindman.
The highlight of the auction’s diamond selection, an octagonal step cut weighing approximately 15.20 carats set in platinum with baguettes, sold for $158,600 against an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000. A marquise cut weighing approximately 10.39 carats set in platinum sold for $109,800 against an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000. A yellow gold ring containing an oval brilliant cut diamond weighing approximately 3.62 carats with D color and VVS2 clarity brought $97,600. Prices for colored diamonds also exceeded expectations; irradiated green and yellow diamonds realized $56,120 and $43,920, respectively.
Other exceptional results included a pair of platinum and diamond “Snowflake” earclips by Van Cleef & Arpels, which sold for $36,600. A single strand graduated necklace containing mostly natural round and baroque pearls was offered at $800 to $1,200. Interest in large natural pearls drove the bidding to an astonishing $17,080.
“This auction saw record bidding on fine diamonds,” said Gemologist Alexander Eblen. “The sale’s most contested lots drew as many as 18 telephone bidders. We continually hear from high net worth clients that they are actively and deliberately putting money into jewelry as a tangible asset.”
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ next Fine Jewelry and Timepieces auction will be held December 15, 2010. Consignments are invited for upcoming auctions; contact Alexander Eblen at 312.334.4232 for more information. |
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• Lewis & Clark Among Top Lots at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ August 12 Auction |
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Share this article! (Chicago, Illinois) August 24, 2010 – A crowded sales-room, busy phone lines and aggressive internet bidding contributed to strong prices realized at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ highly successful Fine Books and Manuscripts auction in Chicago on August 12. In addition to fine private and institutional collections, maps and atlases, books with plates and travel books were featured among the many highlights. Director Mary Williams said, “We are delighted with the results, which show an impressive upswing in the market for cartographic works and books with ornithological or botanical plates.”
Private collections with property fresh to the market continued a trend of far exceeding pre-sale estimates. An impressive private collection of antiquarian maps and atlases included a first state of Henricus Hondius, Nova totius terrarum orbis, 1630, sold for $6,344 (estimate $4,000-6,000); and Nicholas Visscher, Orbis terrarum nova, c. 1658, sold for $3,904 (estimate $600-800). The highlight of the collection was a rare first English edition of Gerard Mercator’s Atlas, 1636, which sold for $35,380.
Fine examples of travel literature included the top lot of the sale, a first printing of Lewis and Clark, History of the Expedition … to the Sources of the Missouri, which sold for $46,360 against an estimate of $8,000-12,000. Other significant travel works include a German edition of Arnoldus Montanus, Die unbkejante Neue Welt , 1673, sold for $4,392; a hand-written and illustrated Royal Naval Academy manuscript, c. 1800, sold for $3,904; and a deluxe signed edition of Henry Stanley, In Darkest Africa, 1890, sold for $3,416.
The sale included a substantial group of 16th century military fortification treatises, each with detailed engravings of structures and plans. Highlights of the collection included Pietro Cataneo, I Quattro Primi Libri di Architettura, 1554, sold for $3,904; and Gabriello Busca, Della Espugnatione et Difesa delle Fortezze, Libre due, 1585, sold for $2,684. Reflecting a similar excitement for books with prints, two volumes from the octavo edition of John James Audubon, Birds of America, 1840, sold for $9,150 (estimate $3,000-5,000). |
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• Supply and Demand |
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Share this article! http://www.review.net/section/detail/supply-the-demand/ Read the Gulf Coast Business Review's profile of Leslie Hindman and the opening of our new Naples office. |
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• Impressive Timepieces, Signed Vintage Jewelry and Colored Gems Highlight December 6-7 Sale |
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Share this article! (Chicago, Illinois) November 30, 2009 – Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, the Midwest’s leading fine art auction house, will present to collectors and connoisseurs its annual winter sale of Fine Jewelry and Timepieces on December 6 and 7. More than 650 lots valued at nearly $1.5 million will be sold during the two day sale. A session of 82 wrist and pocketwatches, one of the finest selections ever offered by the house, leads the auction on December 6. Rolex collectors will appreciate a superb group highlighted by a platinum Presidential wristwatch with a platinum dial, replete with diamond bezel and numeral demarcations weighing approximately four carats total. The watch is expected to sell for $20,000 to $30,000.  An 18 karat yellow gold wristwatch, Breguet, $40,000 to $60,000. Also included are fine examples manufactured in the early 20th century through 21st century by A. Lange & Söhne, Ulysse Nardin, Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin, Daniel Roth, F.P. Journe, Audemars Piguet, and others. The session’s star lot, an 18 karat yellow gold tourbillon by Breguet, is expected to sell for $40,000 to $60,000. It features a matte guilloche dial, blued steel moon-style hands, and an exposed tourbillon with blued steel second indication. Staff Gemologist Alexander Eblen says, “Comprised of the most storied names in horology, this selection has been assembled from the private collections of several enthusiasts. A number of the world’s most sought after watches are in absolutely pristine condition, having belonged to a collector who preferred to admire rather than wear them regularly.” The watch session also represents a cross section of rarer features. “This grouping emcompasses several of the most captivating complications, from a tourbillon to an hour striker, that astute collectors are hungry for,” Eblen says. Property following the timepieces session, from numerous private collections and prominent estates, includes both signed and unsigned antique, period, and vintage jewelry, cultured and natural pearls and colored jewels. Three exceptional platinum, gemstone and diamond rings will be offered: one with a Burmese ruby weighing 3.07 carats ($10,000 to $15,000), one with a 6.01 carat cushion cut sapphire ($15,000 to $20,000) and one with a step-cut emerald weighing 3.71 carats ($10,000 to $15,000). Other highlights include a platinum and emerald cut ring with 5.24 total carats of diamonds ($20,000 to $30,000) and a platinum three stone ring with princess and triangular brilliant cut diamonds weighing 8.27 carats total ($40,000 to $60,000). A white gold and diamond necklace with 64.66 carats of cabochon emeralds is expected to sell for $30,000 to $50,000. The sale’s two most unusual lots, a David Webb cuff bracelet with diamonds and a 50 carat cushion cut amethyst ($30,000 to $50,000) and a circa-1968 Donald Claflin for Tiffany & Co. brooch depicting a large Chinese dragon figure and fashioned out of platinum, gold, diamonds and rubies ($10,000 to $15,000) are sure to attract admirers of uncommon jewels. An identical Claflin for Tiffany & Co. brooch is currently on display at Chicago’s Field Museum exhibition The Nature of Diamonds. The preview exhibition will be held December 2 through 4 at 1338 West Lake Street, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on December 5 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. |
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• Celebrated Joffrey Ballet Choreographer’s Personal Collection to be Sold at Auction |
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Share this article! (Chicago, Illinois) October 20, 2009 – Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will offer property from the estate of Gerald Arpino, who spent four decades leading the Joffrey Ballet to international renown, on November 1, 2009. Arpino spent the last years of his life in Chicago, and the sale of his personal belongings will reveal the complex influences behind his choreography.
Arpino served in the Coast Guard during World War II, when his military service brought him to Seattle. There he met Robert Joffrey through a family connection, and the two eventually moved to New York, where Arpino studied at the School of American Ballet. Arpino and Joffrey co-founded the Joffrey troupe in 1953, and in 1956 set out with five other dancers for the group’s debut tour.
The sale of Mr. Arpino’s estate, part of Leslie Hindman’s November 1 auction, will include more than 130 lots of personal belongings that bring to light Arpino’s approach to the arts. Ballerina Maia Wilkins told the Chicago Sun-Times in 2008 that “he believed art could make people look at the world in a fresh way.” Besides furniture, books, and paintings that reflect Arpino’s interest in the humanities, the auction will feature some rare photographs and memorabilia related to Robert Joffrey and the Joffrey Ballet. Public exhibition of property from Gerald Arpino’s estate begins October 29 though October 31 at 1338 West Lake street. The auction will take place November 1 at noon. For more information, please contact John Walcher at 312.280.1212.
Additional images available upon request. # # #  |
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• CS Interiors: MOD Squad |
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Share this article! CS Interiors magazine profiles Leslie Hindman and the success of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers and the auction industry and highlights from several past auctions From their Summer 2009 issue
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• Elvis’s Hair, Other Memorabilia Up For Auction |
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Share this article! http://cbs2chicago.com/local/Elvis.hair.auction.2.1222237.html "More than The King's voice lives on. Elvis Presley's hair is still here. Really." |
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• Gun that killed Dillinger can be yours |
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Share this article! By Sandra Guy of the Sun-Times A Colt Army Special revolver used by East Chicago, Ind., police Capt. Timothy A. O'Neil to fatally shoot John Dillinger could be yours for what auctioneers say may be much more than their conservative $8,000 to $12,000 estimate. |
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• Hindman says Internet has ‘revolutionized’ auction industry |
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Share this article! Getting insight into the auction business and finding out just what that butterfly broach might be worth drew 50 seniors to the Women's Club luncheon at the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Senior Center April 16. Leslie Hindman, of the namesake Chicago auction house and a North Shore regular, was the guest speaker for the noon luncheon and talk.
By LINDA BLASER |
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• Abigail Rutherford dishes on the art and commerce of designer duds. |
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Share this article! Our Director of Vintage Couture and Accessories, Abigail Rutherford, is featured in the April 2nd edition of Time Out Chicago’s "Inside Job" column in which she explains the consignment process and how her position has lead her to see fashion as "an art form and less of a commodity." Artcle recopied below.
Time is on her side A testament to the power of having been in the “right place at the right time,” Abigail Rutherford landed the job as director of vintage couture and accessories at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in 2006 with nearly no formal education in fashion. The 27-year-old Kenilworth native studied art history as an undergrad at Lafayette College and worked as a wine purveyor after graduating while taking classes in fashion construction at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Chicago. While attending a preview event at Leslie Hindman, she “just happened to talk to [Leslie] about [her] knowledge of fashion,” says Rutherford. As luck would have it, the director of the fashion department was moving on at that time, and Rutherford was ripe for the job. The way it works Over the course of a three-month period, sellers from around the world approach Rutherford with garments and accessories, which she either accepts on a consignment basis (if the seller agrees with the projected profit) or rejects. After garnering an average of 500 lots—either single items or a collection, such as 20 clip-on earrings sold as a set—she photographs the items, produces a catalog, hosts a preview for potential buyers and, finally, produces a live auction. Shoppers from around the globe, including vintage-couture shop owners and budding enthusiasts with just a few hundred bucks to spend, show up in person, call in or visit via the Internet to place bids. Prices range from $100 for a snakeskin patchwork clutch from the 1980s to $20,000 to $30,000 for an Hermès crocodile-skin Birkin bag. Learning curve To identify and authenticate items, Rutherford turns to the Internet and books to supplement her hands-on daily experience. “You start to train your eye to look for certain things, like types of zippers,” she says. Still stuck? Experts schooled in particular designers such as Chanel help her nail down the history. “Everyone is willing to help and thinks this is such an important art form that’s been brushed off along the way. It’s really gaining momentum right now,” she says. “[For instance,] museums are finding that any fashion exhibitions are bringing new life.” Selling points “So much of my industry is driven by what’s current, so I really have to keep on top of what’s on the runway,” she says. “Whereas in early 2007, it was mostly ’60s, now it’s comprised mostly of ’80s.” And not just any designer label will do. “We won’t even take St. John or Escada. We want the cream-of-the-crop inspired fashion garments. For instance, [with] Yves Saint Laurent, we want ’60s and ’70s, or his small stint with Dior, whereas his ’80s and ’90s just doesn’t sell that well. We generally want the top ten designers that are synonymous with that decade and any sort of avant-garde fashion at that time.” Eye on design “I kind of stopped shopping at, for lack of better words, janky stores,” she says. “You really understand why you’re paying such a [high] price for something. I have a better grasp of the craftsmanship that goes into everything. I’m seeing it much more as an art form and less of a commodity.” In addition to shying away from inferior fabrics and shoddy construction, she bristles at knockoffs. “[Working here] really opens up your eyes to who is inspired. It always comes from the avant-garde. People like Alexander McQueen and Martin Margiela, you know you’ll be seeing them in 20 years, and their stuff will have withstood the test of time.” To wear or not to wear Buyers fall into one of two camps: museum and institution types who essentially leave their collections in glass cases, and those who shop for items to wear. “They butt heads, obviously, because they think two opposite schools of thought,” she says. As for her personal collection, she understands both sides, leaving the few collectibles she purchases for herself—mod pieces by Courrèges and Pierre Cardin—at home to appreciate in value, and actually wearing less valuable items like her gold-leopard Judith Leiber belt because “it’s simply ghetto-fabulous.”
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• Regional Auction Houses Find Opportunities in Market Downturn |
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Share this article! NEW YORK—Amid the economic crisis, Christie’s and Sotheby’s, the largest auction houses in the world, have recently announced layoffs and salary reductions, and have all but eliminated guarantees and loans extended to consignors and buyers. Meanwhile, several smaller, regional auction houses have been hit less hard by the market downturn, and have been finding ways to attract new buyers and consignors while retaining their current clients.
The Burchard Galleries auction house in St. Petersburg, Florida, which handles estate sales including lower-priced antiques and fine and deco-rative art, attempts to keep the proportion of lots with reserves to about 5 percent in any given sale as a way of encouraging buyers. “If people know an item is going to be sold [without reserve], they may be more enthusiastic in their bidding,” Todd Burchard, the house’s director of fine arts, said.
People are still buying, the houses say, but they may be unsure about how much to spend. According to president Nicholas Lowry, Swann Galleries, New York, has lowered estimates and reserves in its more recent sales, which sometimes leads to tension with prospective consignors. “We’re being much pickier with consignments and have to say no to some consignors. I don’t want anyone to lose money, but I want things I can sell,” he said.
New York auction house Doyle has sought to broaden the services it offers to consignors, and now offers the option of purchasing objects outright from estates rather than taking them on consignment. “We do this so that people don’t have to wait for months for an auction to get their money,” said Doyle spokesperson Louis Webre.
Leslie Hindman, an auctioneer in Chicago, said she has also been making contact with people who represent estates, letting them know that the house is very interested in items that are valued under $20,000. “The big auction houses are focusing on the high end,” she said. “It doesn’t make sense to ship something to New York that’s going to sell for a few thousand dollars.” Hindman is also opening a consignment gallery for furniture and decorative arts in the auction house’s new, larger space, as well as increasing its private treaty and Web sales.
Massachusetts auction house Skinner Inc. recently moved its main operations from the town of Bolton to a larger facility in Marlborough. Stephen Fletcher, executive vice president and one of three co-owners, said that because of the move, Skinner expects to increase its number of local buyers and has adjusted its marketing and advertising to achieve that goal.
In St. Louis, Ivey-Selkirk auction house has beefed up its local radio and television advertising, according to Mark Howald, the company’s executive vice president. Ivey-Selkirk has also stepped up postsale activity, which he said has cut its final buyin rate in half. “As soon as the auction is over, we get on the phone and on the computer to people who have shown interest,” he said. “We’ll tell them the reserve price and give them a period of time in which they can buy at the reserve.”
Part of auction houses’ process for repositioning themselves in a down market is focusing on the categories that have generated the best sales and on where their largest group of buyers lives. Ivey- Selkirk has been “doing more in the area of modern and contemporary art,” said Howald, which includes decorative art and design, while Leslie Hindman found that “the photography market looks pretty good, relative to other categories.”
Shannon’s auction house in Stamford, Connecticut has “been trying to target contemporary art, which we don’t usually sell. I’m trying to hybridize things,” auction house president Gene Shannon told ARTnewsletter.
All of the smaller auction houses surveyed reported a greater use of the World Wide Web, partly as a channel for taking bids—Litchfield County Auctions in Connecticut, for example, conducts all of its major auctions through iGavel.com—as well as a means of sending out downloadable flyers and brochures by e-mail to reduce their printing and mailing costs. —Daniel Grant
ARTnewsletter, February 17, 2009 |
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• February 1 and 2 Furniture and Decorative Arts Auction a Huge Success Despite Shaky Economy |
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Share this article! Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ Furniture and Decorative Arts auction on Sunday, February 1 and Monday, February 2 kicked the New Year off with a strong start despite the shaky economy. The sale total was $1,215,000, exceeding the high estimate of $1,113,540 for the 83% of the lots sold. The auction included English, American and Continental furniture and decorative arts; silver; 19th and 20th century glass and decorative arts; rugs and carpets; antiquities; and Asian works of art. Highlights included a Qinglong Pale Celadon Jade Vase that sold to a Hong Kong dealer for $96,400, far surpassing its pre-sale estimate of $15,000-20,000. Bidders competing for the vase included international phone bidders, collectors and dealers in the salesroom as well as internet bidders from all over the globe. Other highlights from the Asian Works of Art session included a Near White Jade Lidded Koro which sold for $31,200. The Furniture and Decorative Arts session was especially exciting with a French Porcelain Mounted Gilt Bronze Singing Bird Automaton Mantel Clock attracting nearly twenty bidders and selling for $27,600. Other notable lots included a Daum Cameo Glass Crocus Vase which brought $18,300 against its pre-sale estimate of $8,000-12,000; a Louis XVI Style Gilt Metal Mounted Vitrine which nearly doubled its estimate of $4,000-6,000 selling for $10,370 and a Continental Parquetry Commode, which sold for $9150 against its estimate of $2,000-4,000. English silver also fetched strong prices, with nearly every lot selling for over the pre-sale estimate. The next Furniture and Decorative Arts auction will take place May 5 and 6. Please contact us by email at or phone at 312.280.1212 for more information. |
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• Live Bidding on www.lesliehindman.com to Launch with January 18, 2009 Marketplace Auction |
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Share this article! Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is pleased to announce the launch of our live bidding platform this month, starting with our Sunday, January 18, 2009 Marketplace auction.
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• Why Auctions Thrive In A Bad Economy |
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Share this article! While the stock markets were tanking Wednesday, the opposite was happening at Christie’s New York auction house. There, a jewelry auction was taking place, and from the bidding and final take, one would never know the economy is struggling.
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