Editor’s letter, August 2009

Editorial Staff

We have grouped a promiscuous array of things in this issue under the broad umbrella of “folk art”: schoolgirl drawings, trench art, manufactured advertising signs, as well as objects more conventionally agreed upon as “folky,” such as carved walking sticks and weather vanes. While it is common to worry about the vagueness of the term folk art, I am inclined …

This Week’s Top Lots: July 20 – 24

Editorial Staff

*  The sale of Aboriginal art at Sotheby’s Melbourne on July 20 totaled over 2.5 million AUD. The top lot was Corroboree by William Barak that sold for 504,000 AUD (estimate 180,000-250,000 AUD). Other top sales—also painted works—included an untitled work by Shorty Lungkata Jungurrayi sold for 168,000 AUD (estimate 90,000-120,000 AUD), Awelye by Emily Kame Kngwarreye that sold for …

Editor’s letter, July 2009

Editorial Staff

While withholding its authentic treasures for serious seekers, New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, makes nostalgia bordering on kitsch easily available. Fortunately, when we embarked on our own West by Southwest migration in this issue we had the benefit of some clear-eyed guidance from Laura Beach, who comes from Santa Fe, and Frederick Turner, who has lived there for thirty …

Imperial’s 20th anniversary of books and bindings

Editorial Staff

Bibi Mohamed’s 35 years of experience in the field of fine and rare books make her a go-to dealer for discriminating book collectors and bibliophiles. At her Madison Avenue gallery, Imperial Fine Books, she strives to aid both experienced and novice collectors in building a library and tracking down volumes they may be missing from their collection.  Mohamed, who started …

This Week’s Top Lots: June 29 – July 3

Editorial Staff

*  The top lot of the June 27 sale of 20th century furniture and design at Skinner in Boston was a Tiffany Studios Peony lamp that sold for $118,500 (estimate $70,000-90,0000). Other top sales included a Tiffany Studios favrile glass table lamp that sold for $23,700 (estimate $3,000-5,000), and a Moorcroft vase with red flambé glaze that sold for $15,405 …

This Week’s Top Lots: June 22 – 26

Editorial Staff

*  On June 23 the pop culture sale at Christie’s New York totaled $650,863 with 193 of 268 lots sold. The top lot was an autographed Sgt. Pepper Beatles Fan Club of Great Britain poster that sold for  $52,500 (estimate $30,000-40,000). Another top sale was a bass guitar from Sears, model number 20180, used by Kurt Cobain for early demo …