Arts & Entertainment

Nye and Companys Online Chic and Antique Estate Treasures Auction will be Held April 21st and 22nd

Bloomfield, NJ, USA, April 7, 2021 -- Nye & Company Auctioneers’ two-day, online Chic and Antique Estate Treasures auction, April 21st and 22nd, caters to its international audience, be they interested in contemporary design or more traditional collecting categories. Included is a large selection of modern furniture, rugs and lighting from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island, while simultaneously bringing a strong selection of noted, blue chip artists’ names to market.

Start times both days are 10 am Eastern time. Of the roughly 600 lots, included will be Part II of the refined collection of Cornelia and Simon Michael Bessie of Lyme, Conn. Both are well-known and respected in the literary publishing world. Mr. Bessie was one of the co-founders of Atheneum Books (N.Y.) in 1959. A year later, Cornelia joined the firm in an editorial capacity.

Cornelia was introduced to fine art as a child by her parents, Hanns and Kate Schaeffer, owners of the Schaeffer Gallery in New York City. Her passion was Old Master works on paper. The auction features works by artists such as Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Claude Joseph Vernet, Jacques Philippe De Loutherbourg, Jean-Louise-Andre-Theodore Gericault and Dominico Valeriani.

Further headlining the auction are works from the Steve and Stephanie Alpert collection. Steve Alpert has unbridled enthusiasm for all types of fine and decorative art. He and Stephanie are known in collecting circles, and their passion for collecting shines through in each object they collected. Also, their support and patronage of contemporary artists is nothing short of amazing.

From the Alpert holdings, one will find numerous examples of Leonard Baskin’s lithographic portraits of Native American Indian Chiefs. The Jack Beal pastel titled Chincoteague Refuge captures the ambiance of the beach, while Frank Stella’s abstract circular wool wall tapestry, titled Sinjerli Variations II, and a similarly abstract burst of color and geometry in Victor Vasarely’s aluminum Kroa sculpture, are just two examples of visual excitement up for bid.

International consignors contributed to the auction as well. A French collector consigned a fine ink drawing by Georges Braque of Diana the Huntress and Kees Van Dongen’s watercolor of a man, while a New York/Italian family is selling a wonderful collection of prints and multiples. Highlights include a Henry Moore lithograph from the Mother and Child series; a Jasper Johns lithograph of a face (Black State) from casts from untitled and a Mixografia on handmade paper by Helen Frankenthaler. These are just a few of the many fine artists represented in the group.

Also in the prints and multiples category is a superb pochoir in colors by Joan Miro titled Femme et Chien devant la Lune, 1936. It was a gift from Henri Matisse’s daughter-in-law to the United States Senator Claiborne Pell (Rhode Island), and his wife Nuala. The portrait depicts a woman and dog in front of the moon. The bold primary colors create a vivid, striking visual experience.

From local sources, several New Jersey private collectors are offering pieces that include a Louis Majorelle-attributed leaf-carved mahogany vitrine and drawings by Boris Lovet-Lorski, Raphael Soyer, Don Freeman and others. From another estate will be a maritime scene by Emile Gruppe, a winter view of Washington Square Park by Guy Wiggins and a village scene by David Burliuk.

Nye & Company continues to offer another round of fabulous objets d’art from a Short Hills, New Jersey and San Francisco, California collector. A Manhattan collector decided to part with a superb portrait of a gentleman by Jozef Israels. The darker, somber tones of this work and the piercing eyes of the sitter draw the viewer into his soul, creating a dynamic portrait experience.

A handful of pieces from the estate of William Hodgins will cross the block for the last time. The renowned and widely published Boston-based interior designer was an Architectural Digest, AD100 decorator. He was once described as “a beacon of American Classicism”.

A Philadelphia-area collector relocating to North Carolina will begin deaccessioning his vast holdings with Nye and Company. The first tranche includes a group of Black Forest-style carved violins of German origin. These exceptional fiddles have the tops of the necks carved with lions and a variety of other animals and faces, transforming them from merely an instrument to a fanciful work of folk art. Also represented in the collection is an Arts and Crafts smoking stand with an inset Isaac Broome ceramic tile and folio-desk.

Just as there is variety in the violin carvings, there is an exceptional group of 18th and 19th century lighting devices coming from a private New Jersey/New York collection. These pieces come in a variety of materials such as glass, tole, wood and iron examples. A particularly rare piece is the folding book-form traveling light, guaranteed to brighten any traditional Americana collection.

Both sessions will allow real time online and absentee bidding, which will be available on LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com, Bidsquare.com and the Nye & Company website: www.nyeandcompany.com. Telephone bidding is available on a limited basis.

People can bid in absentia and online. An online preview is being held April 7th through April 22nd, at www.nyeandcompany.com, www.liveauctioneers.com, www.bidsquare.com and www.invaluable.com. Anyone looking for additional images, condition reports or info about an object is invited to visit the Nye & Company website, or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information about Nye & Company Auctioneers and the Chic and Antique Estate Treasures online only auction on Wednesday and Thursday, April 21st and 22nd, please visit www.nyeandcompany.com. The full color catalog can be viewed in its entirety now, at www.nyeandcompany.com, www.liveauctioneers.com, www.bidsquare.com and www.invaluable.com.

About Nye & Company Auctioneers:
John Nye had a long and fruitful career at Sotheby’s before he and his wife, Kathleen, acquired Dawson’s in 2003 and started Dawson & Nye. With the move to Bloomfield seven years later, they renamed the business to Nye & Company (Auctioneers, Appraisers, Antiques). The firm is nationwide, but the vast bulk of the business comes from trusts and estates in the tri-state area. For more information about Nye & Company Auctioneers please visit www.nyeandcompany.com.

New Sunrise for Solar Industry By Daniel Mello Guimaraes CEO and Co Founder at Boston Solar

Newly elected president Joe Biden recently signed a series of executive orders to follow through on his campaign pledge to combat our greatest existential threat – climate change.

In short, the bold action underscores that the future is bright for the solar industry.

For example, Biden "directs the federal agencies to procure carbon pollution-free electricity and clean, zero-emission vehicles to create good-paying jobs and stimulate clean energy industries."

This is seen as the first step to reorient federal energy purchases around clean power resources and spend $400 billion on federal procurement of green resources such as renewables, batteries and electric vehicles.

Biden is taking a proactive approach. He noted, "We can't wait any longer'' to address the climate crisis.”

On his first day in office, Biden signed orders to rejoin the international Paris Agreement and rescind federal permits for the Keystone XL pipeline project and other oil, coal and gas infrastructure projects.

The Biden-Harris administration also pledges to streamline wind and solar projects on federal lands.

The new administration has set an ambitious goal of eliminating pollution from fossil fuel in the power sector by 2035, speeding up what is already a market-driven growth of solar and wind energy, and lessening the country's dependence on coal, oil and gas.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2019, 61% of the nation's electric power came from natural gas and coal, 20% from nuclear and 17% from wind, solar and other renewable energy.

Given the culture and climate of the new administration, those numbers will be changing and the future of solar appears to be bright.

Neue Auctions Fine Estates Collection Auction April 10th Features Items from Interior Designers

Beachwood, Ohio, USA, March 31, 2021 -- An online-only Fine Estates Collection auction featuring 432 lots of merchandise from the homes of celebrated interior designers, to include personal collections of traditional furnishings and European antiques, is slated for Saturday, April 10th, at 10 am Eastern time by Neue Auctions, based in Beachwood, an upscale suburb located just outside Cleveland.

Two gorgeous oval paintings, both nicely framed, are expected to attract keen bidder interest. One is an 18th century French School oil on canvas portrait of a gentleman, relined, with a canvas size of 28 ½ inches by 23 inches (est. $4,000-$6,000). The other is a 19th century Hudson River School oil painting of a mountainous river landscape with a river, fishermen and a sailboat, in very good condition with some craquelure, 21 inches by 26 inches (canvas) (est. 3,000-$5,000).

A realistically modeled, life-size wood tack shop horse figure made in the early 20th century of wood and gesso, 82 inches tall, painted white, with natural horsehair tail, leather ears, glass eyes and a moveable mouth, has an estimate of $2,000-$4,000; while another equestrian-themed item, a late 19th century plaster sculpture Lady of the Belle Epoque on a Dappled Gray Horse by Henri (Comte) Geoffrey de Ruille (French, 1842-1922), 21 inches tall, should gavel for $1,500-$2,500.

Decorative accessories will feature a pair of American gray painted pine columnar capitals carved in the Corinthian style, originally made around 1900 for a building in the state of Maine, but never used, 21 inches tall each (est. $3,000-$5,000); and a 19th century Scottish mahogany fire screen, framed and carved with an ivy and berry pattern enclosing a petit-point needlework picture of a grandfather leading his granddaughter on a pony, plus two dogs (est. $400-$600).

Internet bidding will be facilitated by Liveauctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Bidsquare.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted. Neue Auctions is open for gallery previews, Monday thru Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm, at 23533 Mercantile Rd. (Ste. 119) in Beachwood. All COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place (social distancing etc.). Masks are required of all.

Neue Auctions invites everyone to be added to its email list to receive notifications and information regarding all current and future sales. For info, visit www.neueauctions.com. To learn more about Neue Auctions and the Fine Estates Collection auction planned for Saturday, April 10th at 10 am Eastern time, visit www.neueauctions.com. Updates are posted frequently.

The Frederic and Jocelyne Scheer Foundation Announce An Evening with Chopin

Filmed in Three Locations Around the World, Young Pianists Set to Showcase Artistry in Streamed Concert Available on Valhalla Media Live Starting April 10 at 2pm CDT.

Bozeman, Montana, Chicago, IL., United States., March 31, 2021 -- The Frederic & Jocelyne Scheer Foundation announced today that it would be sponsoring An Evening with Chopin, a concert dedicated to showcasing the talents of young pianists from around the world. The concert will be available for streaming on April 10 at 2pm CDT on Valhalla Media Live for one week from the time of release. According to the foundation, “the pandemic and following civil unrest has created a dire situation for the world of arts and especially for young promising artists, the Board of our Foundation has decided to redirect its efforts to support and strengthen local community in attributing grants to young artists in the United States and overseas.”

Filmed in Latvia, Azerbaijan, and Italy, three rising stars were chosen to participate in the Chopin-centric program hosted from Australia by Madeline Cross Parkin, the foundation’s Director of Grants (Brisbane, Australia). Audiences can expect to hear from Katrina Suroveca (Riga, Latvia), Murad Abasov (Baku, Azerbaijan), and Martina Consonni (Como, Italy) in the 60 minute concert stream. The repertoire will range from Chopin classics to rarely heard gems.

Valhalla Media Live and its team has been tasked with spearheading the filming logistics and post-production of the multi-country offering, aiming to fulfill their mission of bringing world class artistry to viewers around the world. The stream will be viewable on any smart device and remain available for 72 hours after initial purchase.

Tickets are $8.95/student suggested price & $14.95/adult suggested price and available for purchase at valhallamedia.live, however a pay option is enabled for this concert.

“The world of music is international and does not know borders. Music brings peace and joy around the world.” - The Frederic & Jocelyne Scheer Foundation

About Valhalla Media:
Re-energizing the world of classical music in a new digital realm, Valhalla Media is committed to providing online performing arts content that features fresh and creative programming, while helping artists and arts organizations re-imagine the ways in which they can broaden and connect with their audiences. Together, working directly with artists and producing organizations, Valhalla Media will elevate its colleagues and help them thrive on the stage of the 21st Century. Learn more at valhallamedia.live

About The Scheer Foundation:
The Scheer Foundation is a US Private Foundation (501-c 3) dedicated to fight malnutrition and children mortality in Africa in promoting local agricultural and industrial project to build up local and regional employment. The Foundation recently expanded its reach to Arts & Music in 2020 and is sponsoring young promising artists around the world. The Scheer Foundation is currently sponsoring close to 10 students around the world Learn more at www.scheerfoundation.org The artists are located in Italy, Latvia, Azerbaijan, The USA, Greece and Australia

Contact:
Shelby Homiston
The Scheer Foundation
9903 Santa Monica Blvd - Ste 627
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
3105259037
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.scheerfoundation.org

Miller and Millers Online Music Machines Clocks and Canadiana Auction March 20th Grosses CAD418065

New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada, March 26, 2021 -- Bidders literally had time on their hands (and minds) when they registered for Miller & Miller’s online-only Music Machines, Clocks & Canadiana auction, held March 20th. Four of the top five lots were clocks, and clocks made in Canada, the United States and across Europe all found new owners in an auction that grossed CA$418,065.

All prices quoted in this report are in Canadian dollars and are inclusive of the buyer’s premium. Internet bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com and the Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. website: www.MillerandMillerAuctions.com. Telephone and absentee bids were also accepted.

The 646-lot auction featured four outstanding collections: the Cathy and Gerry Koolen collection of Dutch clocks, tower clocks and music machines; the Robert Russell collection of Canadian Pequegnat clocks; the John Wine collection of fine Canadian furniture; and the Ben Lennox collection of rare, fresh-to-market items ranging from early historic trade signs to rare seltzers.

Top lot honors went to a French Paul O’Dobey wire tower clock made in 1899 and restored in 2007. The clock featured a three-train rack, snail strike mechanism and pinwheel remontoire. It originally came from a monastery and featured an “angelus strike”, striking twelve times on a small bell to signal the monks to prayer three times a day. The clock changed hands for $11,800.

Two clocks each posted prices of $7,080. One was a Nathan Hale Vermont banjo clock, made in America in 1840. The 8-day, time only clock had a movement similar to Willard, with tabs on the corners. The other was an English William Potts & Sons tower clock from 1899, with gravity escapement, original dial and elecrto-wind (no modification to movement, manual wind intact).

In addition to clocks, Canadiana and music machines, the catalog also boasted pottery and stoneware, folk art, advertising and trade signs, toys, breweriana, paintings, fine art and more. A collection of game pie dishes – 16 dishes in all, by makers that included Gerbing & Stephan, Wedgwood, Staffordshire and George Skey – brought a combined $12,744 for the collection.

“A game pie dish is just an old piece of pottery until someone knows that these unglazed dishes were intended to emulate pastry during the flour shortages of the early 19th century,” said Ethan Miller of Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. “The collection brought twice what we had expected.”

Miller said the American-made Birge & Fuller “Wagon Spring” clock from the 1840s was another object that told a story and brought high dollars as a result. “The maker wanted the benefits of a compact brass spring driven movement without those clunky weights,” he said. “Unlike in Europe, the brass springs were not available. A patented “wagon spring” fusée style movement was the compromise – American ingenuity at its finest. It ended up bringing $3,540.”

Miller remarked, however, that not all the news coming out of the sale was good. “Canadian furniture and wooden trade signs performed well, but we saw evidence that the market for clocks overall is down,” he said. “Though Koolen tower clocks exceeded all estimates, the Pequegnat clocks fell short in many cases. Advertising remained red-hot, while signs shattered estimates.”

A Wurlitzer Model 147 military band organ, made in America in 1916, very rare and including an assortment of Style 150 music rolls, finished at $5,605. “The Wurlitzer Band Organ sold well under estimate,” Mr. Miller observed. “This thundering crowd-pleaser has all of the bells and whistles. It might have performed better before outdoor gatherings for parades were cancelled.”

In the Canadian furniture category, a Drumbo (Ontario) painted pine sawbuck table from the 1830s, pictured in Howard Pain’s book, The Heritage of Upper Canadian Furniture, gaveled for $7,080; while an 1830s Quebec one-door commode, of full mortise and tenon construction and having paneled sides and door, diminutive at 38 ½ inches tall by 32 inches wide, brought $5,605.

A Wellesley (Ontario) painted pine ‘Schrank’ wardrobe made from painted pine in the 1850s, featuring a subtle fern motif in the door panels and impressive at 89 inches tall by 63 ½ inches wide, achieved $5,605. Also, a Canadian Niagara Falls Railway Suspension Bridge wood sign from the 1880s (“Travel over and back for 10 cents”), 50 ½ inches in width, went for $4,720.

Clocks from Canada included a Pequegnat “Barley Twist” variant hall clock from the 1920s housed in a quarter sawn oak case and featuring 8-day weight-driven time and strike movement ($4,720); and a 1930s Pepsi-Cola neon clock made exclusively for the French-Canadian market, with a hand-painted dial featuring Pepsi’s early “double-dot” logo and lighted dial ($4,425).

An early 20th century Seth Thomas No. 2 railway clock in a walnut case, reportedly from the Grand Trunk Railway station in Stratford, Ontario, Canada but made in the U.S., commanded $3,540. On to Dutch clocks, where a B. Eijsbouts tower clock made in 1905 for a church in Meliskerke, The Netherlands, cast steel with brass pinions, 40 inches tall, realized $4,720.

A Dutch Zaanske Klok wall clock, made between 1690-1725, in a walnut case with barley twist columns, rope drive time, strike and alarm, crown wheel escapement and heart-shaped spokes, rose to $3,835. Also, a Dutch animated tall case Klok clock made in Amsterdam in 1770, 110 inches tall, with plated movement, quarter striking, moon dial and date aperture, made $5,900.

Miller & Miller has three important auctions slated for the next three months. They are:

- April 17 – Canadiana & Folk Art, featuring the Marty Osler collection.

- May 15 – Petroliana & Advertising, featuring the McNevan collection.

- June 12 – Watches, Jewellery & Decorative Arts.

To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. and the firm’s calendar of upcoming auctions, please visit www.MillerandMillerAuctions.com. Updates are posted often.

About Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.:
Miller & Miller Auctions is Canada’s trusted seller of high-value collections and is always accepting quality consignments. The firm specializes in watches and jewelry, art, antiques and high-value collectibles. Its mission is to provide collectors with a trusted place to buy and sell. To consign a single piece, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (519) 573-3710; or, e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., please visit www.MillerandMillerAuctions.com.

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