Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Sendak's Hippie Family

This unsigned drawing sold on eBay certainly can pass for the work of Maurice Sendak, although the social criticism inherent in the subject matter does not appear to be typical of the renowned children's book illustrator. Al Goldstein's magazine Screw was first published in 1968, so the drawing most likely dates from the late '60's or the early '70's.





Maurice Sendak Sketch, eBay Winning Bid and Item Description

441

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Warren Miller's Oz

Cartoonist Warren Miller's corporate version of Oz appeared in The New Yorker on November 26, 1990. The framed original artwork was sold on eBay on July 4 for less than the cost of a frame today.

Warren Miller, The Straw Entrepreneur, the Tin Accountant, and the Cowardly Attorney
The New Yorker, 
November 26, 1990, p. 49

Warren Miller, The Straw Entrepreneur, the Tin Accountant, and the Cowardly Attorney
Original Artwork for The New Yorker, November 26, 1990, p. 49

Warren Miller, The Straw Entrepreneur, the Tin Accountant, and the Cowardly Attorney
Original Artwork for The New Yorker, November 26, 1990, p. 49

Warren Miller's Signature



Warren Miller's Oz, eBay Winning Bid

Warren Miller's Oz, eBay Item Description
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&hash=item1e6f9a62b9&item=130721407673&nma=true&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&rt=nc&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_2204wt_1422



Warren Miller, The Straw Entrepreneur, the Tin Accountant, and the Cowardly Attorney
The New Yorker, 
November 26, 1990, p. 49



Warren Miller, The Straw Entrepreneur, the Tin Accountant, and the Cowardly Attorney
The New Yorker,
November 26, 1990, p. 49

0440

Monday, August 27, 2012

Millet's Ditch Digger

Whenever this 1848 etching by Jean-François Millet comes up for sale, sellers are quick to remark on how scarce it is. Yet I've seen it offered at auction a number of times, and I wonder how many examples there can be out there. I suppose no one knows the precise number, but there should be twenty-five or fewer, I would think, for the term scarce to have any real meaning. Here's a 2004 sale from Swann Galleries in New York.

Sale 2020 Lot 350  Nov 04 2004 10:30 
JEAN-FRANÇOIS MILLET
Homme appuyé sur sa Beche.

Etching on thin cream laid paper, circa 1848. 85x67 mm; 33/8x23/4 inches, wide margins. A very good impression of this scarce, early print. Delteil 3; Melot 3.
Estimate $1,200-1,800

Sold for $1,955

439

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Claude's Last Chance Gas




Claude Smith, Last Chance Gas
The New Yorker, April 26, 1958, pp. 36-37

The original New Yorker artwork for Claude Smith's four-panel Last Chance Gas gag was sold recently on eBay for $125 with Buy It Now. The full details of the eBay listing are included below. Note how large each panel of the original artwork is compared to the size it was reproduced in the magazine. As I have lamented here before, the cost of framing such a large multipanel cartoon for optimal home display is likely far greater than the apparent market value of the artwork itself. Nevertheless, if you like a piece of original artwork enough to want to own it, it makes sense to be able to show it off in your home to its full advantage.








Claude Smith, Last Chance Gas, eBay Buy It Now Price


Claude Smith, Last Chance Gas, eBay Item Description
[End of eBay Listing}

Claude Smith, Last Chance Gas
The New Yorker, April 26, 1958, pp. 36-37

Claude Smith, Last Chance Gas
The New Yorker, April 26, 1958, pp. 36-37
438

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Steinberg Fish Mail

This fanciful piece by Saul Steinberg was offered on June 25, 2011 at Illustration House. It boasts an excellent provenance, having belonged to the prominent modern art curator William Lieberman, who passed away in 2005.

Saul Steinberg, Fish and Postage Stamps
Saul Steinberg, Fish and Postage Stamps, Illustration House Auction Listing
http://www.illustration-house.com/exhib/a43/a43pages/a43_056.html



November 10, 2012 Update:  Seven months prior to being offered at Illustration House, this drawing was one of two offered at Swann Galleries. Note that the selling price for the two drawings at Swann, while almost twice their high estimate, was still less than half the low estimate for the one drawing at Illustration House.

Does anyone happen to know the sale price at Illustration House?

Saul Steinberg, Abstract with Fish and Postage Stamps, Swann Galleries Auction Listing
Image added November 10, 2012 
http://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=2231+++++294+&refno=++638351&saletype=

Saul Steinberg, Abstract with Fish and Postage Stamps, Swann Galleries Sale Price
Image added November 10, 2012 
http://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=2231+++++294+&refno=++638351&saletype=

0437

Friday, August 24, 2012

Band Concert Mickey Bronze Figurine

Bill Toma's limited edition bronze figurine of Band Concert Mickey presents a head-on view of Mickey Mouse in one of his greatest roles. This is Mickey as he would like to be remembered, if I may so give him human attributes and emotions, seeing to the band's musical needs and for the moment untroubled by the distracting presence of Donald Duck.
Mickey Mouse, The Band Concert Bronze Figurine Signed by Bill Toma #13/25, 1993,
Ex-Collection Kerby Confer
Mickey Mouse, The Band Concert Bronze Figurine Signed by Bill Toma #13/25, 1993,
Ex-Collection Kerby Confer
Heritage Auctions,
Mickey Mouse, The Band Concert Bronze Figurine Signed by Bill Toma #13/25, 1993, Ex-Collection Kerby Confer

Mickey Mouse, The Band Concert Bronze Figurine Signed by Bill Toma #13/25, 1993,
Ex-Collection Kerby Confer

Mickey Mouse, The Band Concert Bronze Figurine Signed by Bill Toma #13/25, 1993,
Ex-Collection Kerby Confer
0436

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Peppermint Patty

I was at first a bit surprised at the high hammer price achieved by this evidently quick marker sketch of Peppermint Patty, but  Schulz sketches of this large size are a rarity. While I don't love the rapid rendering of the feet and especially of the hand, it would be pointless to deny the huge overall appeal of this piece.

Charles M. Schulz, Peppermint Patty
http://bid.profilesinhistory.com/Oversized-Charles-Schulz-original-drawing_i13227056

Charles M. Schulz, Peppermint Patty, Profiles in History Winning Bid
http://bid.profilesinhistory.com/Oversized-Charles-Schulz-original-drawing_i13227056
Charles M. Schulz, Peppermint Patty
http://bid.profilesinhistory.com/Oversized-Charles-Schulz-original-drawing_i13227056
435

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Zen Frogs

Zen Frogs, cast stone garden ornaments apparently by Frontgate, photographed in situ last week at Lemon Tree Pottery in Brewster, Massachusetts.






434