Robert Weber: The Motion Picture the World Has Been Waiting For

People fortunate enough to have their work featured as the subject of a New Yorker cartoon just might decide to purchase the original art for themselves. That's precisely what director Joseph L. Manciewicz did when a poster for his movie "Cleopatra," advertising it as "the motion picture the world has been waiting for," appeared in a 1963 cartoon by Rober Weber (1924-2016). Manciewicz passed away in 1993 and his estate held onto the drawing for nearly three more decades, selling the artwork only this past December.

Weber set his scene at a suburban commuter railway platform. Two well-dressed women on their way into the city regard the movie poster by Howard Terpning, which must have been ubiquitous in the summer of 1963. It depicts the stars Rex Harrison (Julius Caesar), Elizabeth Taylor (Cleopatra), and Richard Burton (Mark Antony). The production of "Cleopatra" experienced widely-publicized delays, but the film was to become the biggest box office draw of the year.

"What annoys me is that I know I'm going to see it."
Robert Weber
Original art
The New Yorker, July 20, 1963, page 21

Robert Weber
Bonhams, December 8, 2021

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26885/lot/142/

"Cleopatra" (1963) poster

Howard Terpning

http://www.dvdinfatuation.com/2017/07/2375-cleopatra-1963.html

"Cleopatra" (1963) trailer

 

"What annoys me is that I know I'm going to see it."
Robert Weber
Original art
The New Yorker, July 20, 1963, page 21

An anonymous spot drawing of a dragonfly over cattails and a cartoon by Robert Weber

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1963-07-20/flipbook/020/

Note:  Robert Weber published more than 1,400 cartoons in The New Yorker over the course of his career. Yet this is only the second original New Yorker cartoon art of his to appear on this blog. (There's also a New Yorker magazine ad original for Absolut vodka. But I digress.) Where then is all his original New Yorker art? Have I been subconsciously suppressing it? Or perhaps, dear collectors, have you been deliberately keeping it from me?

By the way, if you should ever pop into Bonhams in Los Angeles, you might let them know that Bruce Weber is a fashion photographer and Robert Weber was a New Yorker cartoonist. Thank you in advance for clearing that up.

I don't really believe the artist who created that spot with the dragonfly and cattails can be identified, but by all means write if you can prove me wrong.

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The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond

This auction of the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond supposedly will be what everyone's talking about this week. The famous diamond, which was purchased for the actress by husband Richard Burton, is set as a ring. This was formerly known as the Krupp diamond. It's purchase price was $305,000 in 1968. It is 33.19 carats and potentially internally flawless. The estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000 strikes me as a potentially low estimate range.

THE ELIZABETH TAYLOR DIAMOND

A DIAMOND RING

Set with a cut-cornered rectangular-cut diamond, weighing approximately 33.19 carats, flanked on either side by a tapered baguette-cut diamond, mounted in platinum
With report 1132411262 dated 9 May 2011 from the Gemological Institute of America stating that the diamond is D color, VS1 clarity; accompanied by a working diagram indicating that the clarity may be potentially internally flawless

Accompanied by a supplemental letter from the Gemological Institute of America stating that the diamond has been determined to be a Type IIa diamond. Type IIa diamonds are the most chemically pure type of diamond and often have exceptional optical transparency. Type IIa diamonds were first identified as originating from India (particularly from the Golconda region) but have since been recovered in all major diamond-producing regions of the world. Among famous gem diamonds, the 530.20 carat Cullinan I and the 105.60 carat Koh-i-noor are examples of Type IIa

Accompanied by a hardbound Monograph from the Gemological Institute of America, featuring additional photography, data collection charts and gemological research, attesting to the rarity and prestige of the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond 

Estimate 

$2,500,000 - $3,500,000

Price Realized December 13, 2011

$8,818,500
• Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.

Sale Information

Sale 2623 Lot 80

The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor: The Legendary Jewels, Evening Sale (I) 

13 December 2011 

New York, Rockefeller Plaza 

Special Notice

Please note that the copyright, and any and all associated intellectual property and other rights for this item are exclusively retained by the Trustees of the Estate of Elizabeth Taylor.

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/the-elizabeth-taylor-diamond-a-diamond/5507955/lot/lot_details.aspx?from=salesummary&intObjectID=5507955&sid=483ad770-a2d0-4596-b3ba-c5dff3f18646

My memory is of Elizabeth's Taylor's other more famous diamond ring, featuring the Taylor-Burton Diamond, which was an astonishing 69 carats.   Burton purchased this one from Cartier, purportedly for $1.1 million. It was featured in the "Here's Lucy" episode of September 14, 1970 in which Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, playing themselves, memorably appeared on Lucille Ball's show. Perhaps predictably, the ring got stuck on Lucy's finger.

After the couple's divorce, this diamond was sold in 1978 for $5,000,000. It is not a part of the present sale.

TV Guide, September 5-11, 1970

http://www.dameelizabethtaylor.com/tv_70s.html

The Taylor-Burton Diamond, here reset as a necklace.

http://www.jointventurejewelry.com/blog/2011/03/the-many-jewels-of-elizabeth-taylor/

Note:  My previous jewelry post is here.

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Liz Taylor Loetz

From the estate of Elizabeth Taylor comes this beautifully-decorated Loetz vase to be sold on December 16 at Christie's. The decor is Phänomen Gre. 29. I've shown another example below for comparison.

I'm not sure what the form is. (Most readers would do well to skip the following truly atrocious sentence, but I wouldn't mind some feedback on it from Loetz experts.) The form of the vase resembles a Bakalowits design, Com. 85/3823 (dopp. Nr.) [Ref. 1], but there is no record of this particular form being decorated with Phänomen Gre. 29 [2]. OK, it's safe to resume reading now.

LOETZ 

An Iridescent Glass Vase, circa 1900

8 in. (20 cm.) high
with etched signature Loetz Austria

Estimate

$1,500 - $2,500

December 16, 2011 Price Realized $4,000

• Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.

Sale Information

Sale 2634 Lot 843
The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor: Fine and Decorative Art & Film Memorabilia, Including Costumes 
16 December 2011
New York, Rockefeller Plaza 

CONDITION
The overall condition is good. 

Special Notice

Please note that the copyright, and any and all associated intellectual property and other rights for this item are exclusively retained by the Trustees of the Estate of Elizabeth Taylor.

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?action=conditionreport&intObjectId=5503063

Another example of Loetz Phänomen Gre. 29

http://kralik-glass.com/loetzpg29array.html

References:  

1.  Ricke, Helmut, et al. Lötz: Böhmisches Glas 1880-1940 (München: Prestel-Verlag 1989), Band 2, p. 283.

2.  Ibid, p. 539.

Note:  My recent Loetz post is here.

You can see examples of Phänomen Gre 29 here and here.

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A Tiffany Hearts and Vines Favrile Vase from the Estate of Elizabeth Taylor

On December 16, Christie's New York will be auctioning off items from the estate of Elizabeth Taylor. One of my favorite is this Louis Comfort Tiffany blue favrile glass vase decorated in the hearts and vines pattern. My guess is that such a beautiful art nouveau vase will benefit from its association with the actress's estate and sell for a price way above the high estimate.

TIFFANY STUDIOS 

A Favrile Glass Vase, circa 1915 

9¼ in. (23.5 cm.) high

signed Louis Tiffany Furnaces Inc Favrile 6377 M 

Estimate

$4,000 - $6,000

December 16,2011 Price Realized $7,500

• Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.

Sale Information

Sale 2634 Lot 844
The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor: Fine and Decorative Art & Film Memorabilia, Including Costumes 
16 December 2011
New York, Rockefeller Plaza 
Special NoticePlease note that the copyright, and any and all associated intellectual property and other rights for this item are exclusively retained by the Trustees of the Estate of Elizabeth Taylor.http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5503064
 Note:  My recent post on a beautiful  Tiffany silver flask can be imbibed here.
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