Two days after America celebrates Thanksgiving in traditional style, Palm Beach Modern Auctions (PBMA) will add to the holiday spirit with its own bounteous feast of modern and contemporary art at a Saturday, November 24 auction. In addition to offering guests rare and impeccably documented works by the most sought-after names in design, co-owners Rico Baca and Wade Terwilliger will host a catered buffet lunch, and there will be complimentary valet parking and many other perks.
As guests settle in, they will see “one of the most beautiful and carefully vetted ‘shows’ in the art and design world,” said Baca. Picasso, Miro, Koons, Wesselmann, Bertoia and Tagliapietra are just a few of the names gracing the 546-lot auction lineup.
Joan Miro (Spanish, 1893-1983), Personnage Au Nez Rouge, painted and glazed assembled ceramic, 17.5in. x 13in. Listed in artist’s catalog raisonne. Provenance (partial): Galerie Maeght, Paris; Pierre Matisse Gallery, Mr. & Mrs. Morton Neumann, Chicago; et al. Estimate: $300,000-$500,000
A premier art entry is a painted and glazed bas-relief ceramic work by Joan Miro (Spanish, 1893-1983), titled Personnage Au Nez Rouge. Highly important and listed in the artist’s catalog raisonne, its impressive trail of provenance includes, in part, Galerie Maeght, Paris; Pierre Matisse Gallery, Mr. & Mrs. Morton Neumann, Chicago; and Russeck Gallery of Palm Beach. Estimate: $300,000–$500,000
A mini menagerie of Jeff Koons metallic Limoges porcelain animal. From the Celebration series consists of Balloon Swan (Yellow), Balloon Rabbit (Red) and Balloon Monkey (Blue). Artist-signed, marked and from an edition of 999. The whimsical trio is entered with a $40,000–$60,000 estimate.
Palm Beach Modern Auctions is honored to be auctioning artworks from the estate of artist and fashion designer Michaele Vollbracht (American, 1947-2018). A key holding from Vollbracht’s personal collection, a 1956 Francis Newton Souza (Indian, 1924-2002) painting titled Blond Nude, is estimated at $40,000–$60,000.
A desirable Harry Bertoia (1915-1978) Willow stainless steel sculpture stands 68 inches high and comes with extensive provenance and a copy of a letter of authentication issued by Bertoia Studio in Bally, Pennsylvania. Its pre-sale estimate is $50,000–$80,000.
A wonderful selection of pottery comes from the 40-year collection of retired magazine art director Byron Fink of Philadelphia. Byron’s unerring eye for form and color led to his acquisition of many fine American and British pieces, including examples of George Ohr pottery and a prized Martin Brothers “grotesque” bird tobacco jar. Made in England in 1899, the 11-inch glazed stoneware bird, which has a removable head, is similar to a form depicted in the reference book The Martin Brothers Potters. Estimate: $15,000–$25,000
A special treat is in store for collectors of coveted Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) pottery. 20 superb pieces designed by the Spanish master and produced at the Madoura studio (France). A beautifully framed glazed ceramic plate. That would be a new discovery to most collectors is a color variant of Picasso’s Tete de Taureau (Bull’s Head). With provenance including Christie’s London (2003) and Russeck Gallery Palm Beach. This possibly unique design could achieve $40,000–$60,000.
Palm Beach Modern and Contemporary Art and Design Auctions, Nov. 24
Some of the finest art glass ever to pass through the doors of PBMA’s gallery will be auctioned on November 24. A monumental 7-piece set by Dale Chihuly (American, b. 1941-). Represents the earliest of the artist’s Persian series and was executed in a rich sunset orange/red. Artist-signed, the 1988 suite is entered with a $30,000–$50,000 estimate.
The auction also features a large collection of exceptionally high-quality Edward Wormley/Dunbar furniture designs. From a respected Chicago gallery. A rare recamier chaise/sofa depicted in Mid-Century Modern Complete by Dominic Bradbury is estimated at $3,000–$5,000.
