Press & Announcements
Read the latest press coverage & announcements about Freeman's.
Read the latest press coverage & announcements about Freeman's.
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is pleased to announce a single-owner auction of property from the collection of Carol H. and Richard M. Levin. Led by the American and European Art department, the sale will be conducted on May 20 in the Chicago saleroom. Mr. Levin, a Kansas City native, began collecting in the second half of the 20th century. He collected with a connoisseur’s eye and put an emphasis on acquiring paintings that paid homage to American roots. This evening sale, comprised of 33 works of art, will feature prominent American artists including works from Ashcan School painters best known for portraying city and modern life of the early 20th century in rejection of the more genteel, polished movements of the time. These artists include members of “The Eight,” such as Robert Henri, William James Glackens, Everett Shinn, George Benjamin Luks, Arthur B. Davies, Ernest Lawson and John French Sloan. Other movements represented in the sale include, Social Realism, American Modernism and American Impressionism. American Regionalism is well represented by five works of art by Thomas Hart Benton. Highlights from the collection include Robert Henri’s Bridget Lavelle, 1926 ($400,000/600,000), Charles Burchfield’s Basswood Tree in Winter, 1948 ($80,000/120,000) and John Steuart Curry’s Self Portrait, ($40,000/60,000). Also in the sale are three studies, a lithograph and a painting by Thomas Hart Benton, including Discussion, 1967 ($200,000/400,000) and Study for Flood Disaster (Homecoming – Kaw Valley), c. 1951 ($120,000/180,000). With his knowledgeable and gifted eye, Richard Levin was able to uncover details of an artist’s style and oversee preparatory studies for important commissions. His advocacy for the arts extended into the public sector where he is remembered and respected for his tenure on the board of directors for multiple institutions, such as the Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City Art Institute, Kemper Museum and Truman Library. Mr. Levin enjoyed a career as founder and CEO of Jason Empire, Inc., an importer of optics that went public in 1969 and became a part of Bushnell. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is honored to be handling the property of a collector devoted to significant 20th century American paintings. This single-owner evening sale follows Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ American and European Art spring sale, which will take place during the day on May 20. Rounding out the Fine Art department spring schedule will be the Post War and Contemporary Art and Fine Print sales on May 21.
Written by: chicagoarchitecture.org The allegorical figure who, quite literally, stood head and shoulders above the rest of Chicago for 20 years is going on the auction block. The statue of the goddess Diana was a weathervane in the form of a naked woman holding a torch in one hand and a caduceus in the other. She was made by sculptor John Massey Rhind in 1898 to top the tower that used to rise above 6 North Michigan Avenue. At the time, the building was the Montgomery Ward Headquarters. In 1947 she was removed from the building and chopped into pieces, which were snatched up by Chicagoana collectors. Her breasts went one way, her arms another. After 67 years in private hands, Diana’s head is coming on the market. It will be auctioned off November 4th at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers (1338 West Lake Street). More information, check the press release after the photos. For some reason it refers to her as “Amazonian,” even though she was Greek (see Wikipedia link above). Chicago, Illinois – October 3, 2014 – This Amazonian beauty once towered over the Chicago skyline at 18 feet tall, making the Montgomery Ward headquarters the tallest building in the Windy City for over 20 years. In 1947, the Progress Lighting the Way For Commerce weathervane was dismantled and cut into 30 pieces. The remnants were claimed by astute souvenir- seeking Chicagoans. A Chicago Tribune article from July 20, 1947 reports that a prominent Chicagoan requested her bust! At that time, the David V. Nelson family acquired the head of “Progress” which will be offered at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers on November 4 in the 20th Century Decorative Arts auction. In 1898 Richard E. Schmidt was hired to add a tower to the existing Montgomery Ward building at 6 North Michigan Avenue. “Progress” was designed by Scottish-American sculptor John Massey Rhind and topped Schmidt’s pyramid form tower. In her original form, “Progress” was depicted as a nude, bearing a flaming torch in her right hand and a caduceus in her left balancing atop a globe. The metallic erosion at the top of her face reveals the wear of nearly half a century outside amongst the Chicago elements. John Massey Rhind was said to be influenced by Augustus Saint-Gaudens Diana which topped the Agriculture Building at the Chicago World’s Fair. For more information on the weathervane or the 20th Century Decorative Arts auction, please call Rebecca Williams at 312-280-1212. Preview for the sale will begin October 31 and continue until November 3.
Jewelry from the Estate and Trust of Elise Reeder Olton, Boca Raton, Florida Chicago, Illinois – April 10, 2014 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ April 6-8 auctions of Fine Jewelry and Timepieces grossed over $6 million. The highly successful sales included highlights of signed pieces from firms such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., and Ruser among others. Reflecting the fervent demand for vintage Van Cleef & Arpels, the Olton Estate jewels met with tremendous success in the sale, exceeding all pre-sale expectations and achieving an impressive 100% sold for the collection. The strong interest and incredible results perfectly exhibit the potent combination of marquee names and private estate collections. As a frequent world traveler and consummate collector of fine art, the jewelry of Elise Reeder Olton exhibits a refined taste for design and quality. An exquisite 6.06 carat emerald cut diamond of rare Type IIa D color and potentially flawless clarity brought $464,500 against a pre-sale estimate of $250,000-300,000 amidst spirited bidding. The session was highlighted by several important examples of Van Cleef & Arpels earrings, such as the invisibly set ruby and diamond earclips ($60,000 realized) and an elegant pair of channel set turquoise and diamond earclips ($45,000 realized). Specially commissioned works by Van Cleef & Arpels also prominently featured a fine, unheated Burmese sapphire within a classic diamond surround ring setting which incited intense bidding, driving it to a final price $122,500 from the pre-sale estimate of $40,000-60,000. Though Van Cleef & Arpels figured strongly in her collection, Mrs. Olton’s eclectic selection also included many fine pieces from other top jewelers which resonated with collectors. A meticulously color-matched sapphire and diamond bracelet by Oscar Heyman Brothers for Ruser was a favorite, achieving $40,000 from an estimate of $15,000-20,000. An unusual star sapphire and diamond articulated ring by Tiffany brought $30,000 while an elegant pair of diamond spray earrings by Ruser hammered at $25,000. Jewelry from the Estate of Gerard L. Cafesjian, Naples, Florida The eclectic, colorful and whimsical collection of Gerard L. Cafesjian proved extremely popular amongst collectors during the single-owner session on April 8th. Mr. Cafesjian’s taste for bold color combinations and fanciful design spread across an incredible array of mediums including the glass works of Dale Chihuly and his important Fine Art collection to name just two. The joyful nature of his jewelry was met with an eager response. Featuring an incredibly diverse group of jewels ranging from antique to modern, conservative to avante garde, the sale exceeded all expectations and achieved 93% sell-through amidst an exciting auction day. Several notably rare and important pieces changed hands during the sale. A highly unusual gold, emerald and green beryl compact attributed to Suzanne Belperron sold for $55,000, well over double the previous auction result from 1998 and evidence of her ever-increasing importance amongst collectors. An exquisite and complex carved coral and gem bracelet by Lorenz Bäumer brought $35,000 while a bold fire opal and colored diamond necklace by Michael Youssoufian also achieved $35,000. Traditional classics such as a fancy deep yellow diamond and diamond necklace ($79,300 realized) were also offered to the eager audience. Leading a strong session notable for its large selection of Patek Philippe, the ref. 3448 for Tiffany well exceeded expectations by achieving a remarkable $182,500 against a pre-sale estimate of $70,000-90,000. The Patek timepiece, consigned by a collector in Florida, combines all of the elements inherent in a truly fine, collectible watch. Rounding out the auction was a fine single-owner collection highlighted by a number of contemporary commemorative Patek Philippe pieces. The group, offered in very fine condition and impeccably complete with all accompanying materials, was embraced with confidence by discerning collectors and proved highly successful.
An 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ref. 3448 Wristwatch, Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co., Circa 1970 Sold for $182,500 A Platinum Ref. 5500P Pagoda Wristwatch, Patek Philippe, Circa 1997 Sold for $32,500 An 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ref. 5500J Pagoda Wristwatch, Patek Philippe, Circa 1997 Sold for $21,250 A First Generation Stainless Steel Ref. 1655 Explorer II Wristwatch, Rolex, Circa 1969 Sold for $15,000 An 18 Karat Pink Gold Ref. 5500R Pagoda Wristwatch, Patek Philippe, Circa 1997 Sold for $27,500 An 18 Karat Pink Gold Chronograph Wristwatch, Vacheron & Constantin, Circa 1949 Sold for $18,750 Chicago, Illinois – April 8th, 2014 – Amidst an auction room crowded with enthusiastic bidders and an international group of collectors participating online and by phone, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers successfully held its Spring Fine Timepieces session, ultimately grossing over $600,000.By far the most sought after item of the evening, the 18 karat yellow gold Ref. 3448 Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. realized an impressive $182,500, surpassing the pre-sale estimate of $70,000-$90,000. Other significant highlights included the trio of ref. 5500 Patek Philippe Pagodas which were offered in very fine condition and impeccably complete with all documentation. The yellow gold Pagoda sold for $21,250, the pink gold Pagoda brought $27,500, and the unworn platinum Pagoda realized $32,500. Other popular pieces included a “First Generation” stainless steel Ref. 1655 explorer II Rolex wristwatch which sold for $15,000 and a Vacheron Constantin two register chronograph with a cal. V492 movement which brought $18,750. The results from this auction are indicative of the robust and growing market demand for highly noted firms such as Patek Philippe and Rolex, especially their vintage references. Timepieces accompanied by detailed provenance and original documentation enjoyed a significant boost in demand. View the full results of the sale here. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ next Fine Timepieces auction will be held on December 8th, 2014. We are welcoming consignments through October 8th. To learn more about the sale, please contact Ashley Chan at 312.334.4223 or by email atashleychan@lesliehindman.com.
Denver, Colorado – March 31, 2014 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is honored to offer this monumental work. The bronze sculpture entitled Prayer Song will be included in Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ Modern and Contemporary Art sale on May 15. The bronze will be a highlight of the sale which also includes works by Parviz Tanavoli, Claire Falkenstein and George Rickey among others. Prayer Song portrays a Northern Plains Sioux Indian carrying an eagle rattle and an eagle feather fan at morning prayer. This work is number two of three and belongs to a private collector in Aspen, Colorado. The ownership of the other two editions and an artist’s copy are on record at the Allan Houser Foundation. The bronze stands nearly seven feet tall in its current tranquil setting. The themes of personal reverence and spirituality are constant in Houser’s work. He was dedicated to depicting his subjects with respect and dignity. Born on June 30, 1914, Allan C. Haozous was to become known as Allan Houser. Mr. Houser went to art school in Santa Fe and by 1939 his work was exhibited in San Francisco, Washington D.C. and Chicago. In the same year he received a commission to paint a mural in the Department of Interior building in Washington, and its success led to a second mural commission there in 1940. Houser died in 1994 and the Allan Houser Foundation was established with a mission to preserve and present the lifetime work of the modern American master artist. 2014 will be the 100th anniversary of Allan Houser’s birth, and for this centenary event fourteen museums across the United States from Hanover, New Hampshire, to Phoenix, Arizona will be staging major exhibitions of Houser’s works. The growing intense demand for interesting works by Houser has been confirmed over the past few years as prices for his works continue to rise. An example of a recent sale at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers was in June 2013 in Denver where Houser’s, Water Carrier II, 1987, a table top bronze, sold for an unexpected $20,000. “Houser’s monumental bronzes rarely come up at auction. This is a unique opportunity for a private collector, a municipality, or institution to acquire something truly significant by the artist,” said Leslie Hindman, founder and CEO of the auction house. The preview for this bronze is by appointment only. To request additional images and further information, please contact Maron Hindman in our Denver office at 303.825.1855 ext. 352.
Snuff bottles up for auction March 26, 2014 (CHICAGO) (WLS) – Have you ever heard of snuff bottles? Well for hundreds of years in China they were used to carry snuff. Snuff, for sniffing. And now hundreds of them are going up for auction in Chicago. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers ( lesliehindman.com), located just west of the Loop, is in the midst of a very unusual event. Extremely valuable items from China are on the block, including furniture, textiles, porcelain and snuff bottles. For almost 400 years, snuff bottles were a status symbol in China. The most beautiful and most expensive were owned by the elite. "Snuff is basically pulverized tobacco. It's in powder form, tan colored," Phyllis Kao, director of Asian works of art, said. "They scoop it up and inhale it through their nose. . . It's a stimulant. A little pick me up." The bottles even come with tiny serving spoons that are perfect nostril size. Now, there is nothing illegal about this type of sniffing. It's not snorting. It's just sniffing snuff from tiny masterpieces. "They are works of art and functional mobile items. But they are works of art absolutely," Kao said. The snuff bottles are only available online at LeslieHindmanAuctioneers.com under the "catalogues" tab. The auction closes on Monday. What does a snuff bottle sell for? Some go for $100 bucks. Others, well, they're nothing to sneeze at. "That's right. There's one bottle in particular that people are speculating that might bring as much as $100,000," Kao said. Who would pay that for a snuff bottle? "A very serious snuff bottle collector." Or perhaps a snooty, snobby snuff sniffer.
Chicago, Illinois – March 18, 2014 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will hold an auction of Fine Timepieces on April 8, 2014. This sale includes an extensive collection of Patek Philippe timepieces, including several important references. The eighty-four lot auction will include examples from the Estate of Gerard L. Cafesjian from Naples, Florida and the Estate and Trust of Elise Reeder Olton from Boca Raton, Florida. Important highlights of the sale include a ref. 3448 Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co., a trio of ref. 5500 Patek Philippe Pagodas with boxes and full documentation, a ref. 5100 Patek Philippe, and a fine 1950’s Vacheron Constantin two register chronograph with a cal. V492 movement. In addition, there is a wide selection of vintage and contemporary timepieces from notable firms such as Audemars Piguet, Cartier, Girrard-Perregeaux, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Omega, Piaget and Rolex. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ auctions are free and open to the public. An exhibition will be held April 2 – April 7. The auction catalogue is available online at www.lesliehindman.com. An 18 Karat Pink Gold Ref. 5500R Pagoda Wristwatch, Patek Philippe, Circa 1997 Lot 3083 $18,000-22,000 An 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ref. 3448 Wristwatch, Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co., Circa 1970 Lot 3086 $70,000-90,000 An 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ref. 5100J Wristwatch, Patek Philippe, Circa 2000 Lot 3085 $30,000-50,000 Live Auction: Tuesday, April 8, 5:30 P.M. CST at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, 1338 West Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Palm Beach, Florida – February 23, 2014 – Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ West Palm Beach saleroom had standing room only on Saturday and was full of enthusiastic pink and green clad Lilly lovers. The auction’s low estimate was $132,310 and realized nearly $600,000 with a 100% sell through rate. Fans flew in from all over the country to own a one of a kind piece of Palm Beach history. “I think Lilly would have been thrilled. So many of her admirers were able to take home a memory of her wonderful life,” said Leslie Hindman, founder and CEO. Live bidding in the saleroom, internet and telephone resulted in most lots tripling and quadrupling their pre-sale estimate. Highlights included a printed canvas whimsical map of Palm Beach, estimated at $40-60, which realized $16,250; a Victorian bamboo and lacquer bedroom suite, estimated at $1,000-2,000 brought $22,500; and a whimsical Victorian painted conservatory birdcage from Lilly’s dining room realized $12,500. From left to right: Conservatory Birdcage, Porcelain Jardiniere, and Pair of Chinese Export Urns Chinese porcelain throughout the sale was in strong demand. Internet bidding drove a pair of Chinese export porcelain covered urns to $42,500 as well as a Chinese export porcelain jardiniere to $40,000. The sale proved just how much Lilly’s fans adored her worldwide, with property selling to collectors as far as China, Ireland, Texas and New York.
Auction to be held February 22 in West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, FL – January 27, 2014 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is thrilled to announce the sale of the estate of iconic Palm Beach fashion designer, Lilly Pulitzer. The auction will be a single-owner sale of the legendary socialite and tastemaker’s furniture, art and decorative objects. The sale will take place on February 22nd at 11:00AM EST at Leslie Hindman’s new West Palm Beach auction facility, located at 1608 South Dixie Highway. The preview for the sale will be open February 14, 15 and 17-21. “Lilly Pulitzer was arguably Palm Beach’s most famous resident,” said Leslie Hindman, president and founder. “Her style and joie de vivre helped create a culture that exists nowhere else. Her legions of fans will agree, and we are honored to be handling her estate.” Lilly Pulitzer attended the Chapin School in New York City, and then graduated from Miss Porter’s School in Connecticut. Lilly married Peter Pulitzer and they settled in Palm Beach, Florida. Peter owned fruit groves and this inspired Lilly to open a juice stand using her husband’s produce on Via Mizner. Lilly found that making juice left stains on her clothing, so she decided to create shift dresses in fun, colorful patterns that would camouflage the stains. Quickly, her shift dresses outsold the juice, so she began designing and selling these “Lilly” dresses for her customers. Pulitzer’s bright, colorful clothes caught the attention of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Caroline Kennedy, and members of the Rockefeller, Vanderbilt and Whitney families. Lilly Pulitzer’s collection of almost three hundred lots of fine art, decorative arts and furniture will be sold throughout the day. Highlights include Italian painted furniture, garden ornaments, whimsical ceramics and paintings by American artists.
West Palm Beach, FL – December 2, 2013 – Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is pleased to announce the addition of a new auction facility in West Palm Beach, Florida. The new saleroom is located at 1608 South Dixie Highway and will hold regularly scheduled auctions. The new West Palm Beach location will work with Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ office on Royal Palm Way to accept consignments for upcoming auctions. “Since opening our office in Palm Beach two years ago, we have been very impressed with the quality of fine jewelry, works of art and marvelous consignments in South Florida,” said Leslie Hindman, president and founder. “Opening our new saleroom will allow us to better serve our clients by offering additional auction options, as well as providing buying opportunities for savvy Palm Beach and nearby collectors.” The first sale will be held on January 11th, 2014 and comprises of three large private Palm Beach collections. The auction will include fine art, antique and 20th century furniture, silver and decorative arts. Before moving to Palm Beach, one of the consignors lived for many years in Chicago and purchased at numerous auctions and antiques galleries around the country. A second consignor lived for many years in Philadelphia and purchased at auction in New York in addition to prominent art galleries in Palm Beach. The second auction being held in the new West Palm Beach location is a single-owner sale of property from the Estate of Lilly Pulitzer to be held on Saturday, February 22nd. Highlights from the collections being offered in January include a Tiffany Studios Bronze and Nautilus Shell Desk Lamp, with an estimate of $5,000-7,000; a Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica Partial Dinner Service, with an estimate of $25,000-35,000; an Italian Sterling Silver Six Piece Tea and Coffee Service, Buccellati, with an estimate of $5,000-7,000; and a Meissen Porcelain Fourteen-Piece Monkey Band, with an estimate of $6,000-8,000. Preview dates for the auction are: January 5, 10 am to 4pm; January 6, 10am to 5pm; January 7, 10am to 5pm; January 8, 10 am to 5pm; January 9, 10am to 5pm; and January 10, 10am to 3pm. The sale will accept live, phone, absentee and internet bids. “Our Palm Beach office is the most successful of all our regional offices. Southern Florida and Palm Beach have a long history of collecting, important institutions and wonderful art and antiques shows. We’re truly enjoying our expanded presence,” said director of regional offices Jim Sharp. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers has a long history of holding successful sales. In 1982, Leslie Hindman founded her eponymous auction house in Chicago, Illinois. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers has galleries in Chicago, Denver, Milwaukee, Naples and Palm Beach with an international audience of bidders participating in person, by phone, and online. As a result of the firm’s outstanding reputation, it was acquired by Sotheby’s in 1997. Since reopening in 2003, the auction house, currently conducting over 70 auctions a year, has expanded to four regional offices in addition to Palm Beach, including Denver, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Naples. For more information about the upcoming auctions, preview information or consignment details, please contact Leslie Hindman Auctioneers at 561-833-8053. About Leslie Hindman Auctioneers For over three decades, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers has been an industry leader combining recognition as the Midwest’s leading fine art auctioneer with a global reach of buyers. Founded in 1982, sold to Sotheby’s in 1997 and reopened in 2003, Leslie Hindman has remained a force behind high profile auctions of everything from contemporary paintings and fine jewelry to French furniture and rare books and manuscripts, and always achieving the strongest prices while maintaining high levels of integrity and customer service.