Press Release

Beachwood, OH -- Original artworks by Joseph B. O’Sickey (American, 1918-2013), Larry Bell (American, b. 1939) and Felix Ziem (French, 1821-1911) will headline Neue Auctions’ online-only Fine Estates & Collections auction planned for Saturday, December 2nd, starting at 10 am Eastern time. Any one of the sale’s 416 lots would make for wonderful holiday presents.

“The catalog for our December auction is filled with original art, bronzes, miniature paintings, European collections of antiques and antiquities, carpets and furniture, from fine local estates and collections,” said Cynthia Maciejewski of Neue Auctions. “You’re certain to find something for everyone on your holiday gift list and at an attractive price.”

The large oil on canvas painting by Joseph B. O’Sickey, titled Red Cloth, is signed lower right and housed in a frame measuring 51 inches by 61 inches. It carries an estimate of $6,000-$9,000. Another O’Sickey work, this one not at large at 25 ½ inches by 30 inches (canvas, less frame), is titled Garden with Potted Plants. It should bring $1,500-$2,500.

The vaporized metal pigments on paper by Larry Bell, titled Vapor Drawing (1979), is signed and dated in pencil lower right and framed in plexiglass. The 47 ½ inch by 38 ½ inch work is expected to hit $6,000-$8,000. The oil on cradled mahogany panel by Felix Ziem, titled Sultan’s Caique at Constantinople, is signed lower right and has a panel size of 20 inches by 32 ¼ inches, 25 ¾ inches by 38 ¼ inches as framed (est. $5,000-$8,000).

Ms. Maciejewski described the antiquities collection in the auction as “a major lifetime achievement,” adding that most of the cylinder seals were vetted by W. G. Lambert, a Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham (UK, 1970-1993). “We already have lots of interest in these antiquities,” she remarked. A few sample lots are as follows:

- A Roman carnelian intaglio ring of Jupiter-Ammon, 1st Century BCE, with god's head in profile facing left, luxuriant curled hair and beard and large curled ram's horns, in a later hallmarked 18k yellow gold ring, the shank with English hallmarks (est. $800-$1,500).

- An Assyrian amulet seal, circa 2000-1750 BCE, carved stone amulet with carved seal, possibly an image of Ebih-II, with long wavy beard, pronounced brow, carved from red stone, carved intaglio on bottom of a seated god with a beehive (est. $200-$400).

- An Achaemenid cylinder seal, circa 450-350 BCE, banded agate of a convex shape, approximately 48 mm by 14 mm, carved in the "cut style", depicting an Achaemenid king holding off a stag, as well as a winged lion with a human head (est. $500-$900).

The jewelry category will feature a 21k gold twisted rope bangle bracelet, terminating to engraved, flat triangles and stamped on verso “21k” (est. $1,800-$2,500); and a 19th century European Art Nouveau brooch by R. Koch, made from a mix of gold and silver and set with emeralds, rubies, sapphires and rose cut diamonds (est. $1,500-$2,500).

Furniture will include a circa 1974 Guido Faleschini “Teorama” molded foam sofa for Mariani, comprised of seven modular sections, upholstered in the original cotton velvet and massive at 156 inches long (est. $2,000-$4,000); and a three-panel room divider from the 1920s or ‘30s, the black ground decorated with colorful geometric shapes, and having a pattern of silver painted stripes, the tallest panel 60 ½ inches tall (est. $2,000-$4,000).

To learn more about Neue Auctions and the online-only Fine Estates & Collections auction planned for Saturday, December 2nd, starting promptly at 10 am Eastern time, please visit www.neueauctions.com.

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