WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — “If ever there were a reason to book a flight to south Florida, this is it,” said auctioneer Rico Baca, referencing the March 3rd auction being hosted by the company he co-owns, Palm Beach Modern Auctions (PBMA). The 565-lot auction features the finest selection of modern and contemporary art, furniture, decorative accessories and jewelry PBMA has ever offered. The sale also launches the firm’s new Urban Culture division with a sensational selection led by an iconic red jacket James Dean wore in the 1955 film Rebel Without A Cause.
The fun begins with an 11-piece Palm Beach private collection of Pablo Picasso ceramics. The coveted, quirky wares were designed by Picasso during the postwar years in France. “There are far more collectors of this pottery than there are sellers,” Baca noted.
A sophisticated Jean Royere Val D’or coffee table with provenance dating back to 1950 is expected to finish well in the money, as is a pair of Grand Oeuf (Egg) lounge chairs of Royere German fur and oak, with private and gallery provenance.
Prices continue to soar for American studio furniture and sculptures, especially the creations of mid-century design lions like Harry Bertoia, Paul Evans and George Nakashima. A superb lineup awaits bidders, with highlights that include a Nakashima Minguren II English oak burl and black walnut coffee/occasional table, a possibly unique Bertoia stainless-steel floor sculpture, and eight lots of coveted Evans designs.
There will be fine jewelry of exceptional quality by Cartier, David Webb, Rolex and Piaget; plus 18K gold and diamond designs by Van Cleef & Arpels – a necklace, earrings and a Fleurette bracelet incorporating 70 diamonds.
Sculptures are led a Lynn Chadwick (British, 1914-2003) bronze with provenance from Marlborough Gallery, and an original painted-wood sculpture by Louise Nevelson (Russian/American, 1899-1988). Original paintings and drawings include four by Clement Rosenthal and three by Jean Dufy, and there are lithographs and editions by Dubuffet, Picasso, Miro, Le Corbusier, Motherwell, Appel and more.
When Lot 203 is introduced, it will be time to hang loose, as PBMA showcases its new Urban Culture division featuring pop culture, celebrity and entertainment items. It will begin with five lots of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis signed notes and books given to Bill Hamilton, the fashion designer behind many of Mrs. Onassis’ favorite ensembles. Next up will be a large collection of photographs of legendary rock musicians, and an archive of property personally owned by actress Farrah Fawcett (American, 1947-2009). Among the items is a plaster arm cast Fawcett wore after sustaining an injury. It was signed and doodled on by Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.
Important original paintings by graffiti artists Crash (John Matos) and Mr. Brainwash (Thierry Guetta) are the perfect entrée to a pop-art selection that includes skateboard decks, concert and art posters, extremely rare 1980s London rock concert and radio station shirts, and a wonderful John Lennon and Yoko Ono grouping that contains an exceptionally rare “War Is Over If You Want It” t-shirt.
The jewel in PBMA’s Urban Culture crown is a red jacket memorably worn by James Dean in the 1955 film classic Rebel Without A Cause. Privately owned for 63 years, it is accompanied by a raft of supportive written provenance.
The Saturday, March 3, 2018 auction begins at 12 noon ET, at 417 Bunker Rd., West Palm Beach, FL 33405. Website: http://www.modernauctions.com Preview: 10AM-5PM March 1-2; or 9AM-noon on auction day. Bid absentee or live online at https://www.liveauctioneers.com. Info: 561-586-5500
