Swann Galleries News -

May 16, 2018|Ferry Foster|Contemporary Art

Contemporary in 3D

Our May 22 auction of Contemporary Art features a selection of recent sculpture and multiples by some of the world’s most famous living artists. Here are a few of our favorites.…

May 11, 2018 | Prints & Drawings

Records & Results: Old Master Through Modern Prints

With highlights spanning six centuries, our auction of Old Master Through Modern Prints on May 8 offered works by the greatest innovators in the field. The sale totaled more than…

May 10, 2018 | Books

The Sci-Fi Collection of Stanley Simon

Stanley Simon of New York City was a passionate life-long collector of sci-fi, thriller and fantasy first editions. His paramount collection of almost 100 first editions, nearly all of them signed,…

May 9, 2018 | Vintage Posters

Records & Results: Graphic Design

Our auction of Graphic Design on May 3 offered vintage posters that defined the styles of the twentieth century. In a highly-curated selection of just over 250 lots, the highlight…

May 8, 2018 | Contemporary Art

Specialist Selections from Contemporary Art

We asked the Contemporary Art department to pick their favorite work from their May 22 auction. For people who see dozens–if not hundreds–of works of art each day, it takes…

May 7, 2018 | Prints & Drawings

Ancient Then & Ancient Now: Piranesi’s Views of Rome

Giovanni Battista Piranesi spent eight years researching the ancient ruins of Rome before completing his magnum opus, Le Antichità Romane. A complete set of the 220 engravings in four volumes is a…

May 3, 2018 | Prints & Drawings

Rembrandt’s Self-Portraiture in Etchings

The self portraits of Rembrandt van Rijn have been the focus of art historical examination since their creation nearly 400 years ago. Scarce examples from our May 8 auction of…

April 30, 2018 | Books

Records & Results: Fine Illustrated Books & Graphics

Our auction of Fine Illustrated Books & Graphics on April 26 featured highlights by artists of the twentieth century and scarce volumes from fine presses. Leading the sale…

April 25, 2018 | Vintage Posters

How Car Posters Drove Graphic Design

In the dawn of the motor car, most automobile purveyors relied on a “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality, touting ever-evolving technology and styles to drive car sales. A selection…

April 24, 2018 | Books

Have You Met Breuer? An Architectural Archive

An archive of illuminating material from the office of the great modernist architect and designer Marcel Breuer leads the architecture section of our April 26 auction of Fine Illustrated Books &…

April 23, 2018 | Photographs & Photobooks

Records & Results: The Knowing Eye: Photographs & Photobooks

Our April 19 auction The Knowing Eye: Photographs & Photobooks was led by the only known extant print of River Rouge Plant, Detroit (with Ford signage on freight car), 1947,…

April 20, 2018 | Autographs

A Look Inside the Catalogue: The Collection of William Wheeler III

Revolutionary & Presidential Americana from the Collection of William Wheeler III At Auction June 21 Complete Catalogue Coming Soon William A. Wheeler III’s interest in history began in childhood,…

April 16, 2018 | Printed & Manuscript Americana

Records & Results: Printed & Manuscript Americana

Our auction of Printed & Manuscript Americana on April 12 was the department’s highest-grossing sale in four years, continuing an upward trajectory as each offering of Americana and African Americana…

April 13, 2018 | Photographs & Photobooks

A Walker Evans Print, The Only One of Its Kind

The cover lot of our April 19 auction, The Knowing Eye: Photographs & Photobooks is the only known extant print of Walker Evans’s graphic silver print, River Rouge Plant, Detroit, Michigan…

April 12, 2018 | Contemporary Art

A Look Inside the Catalogue: Contemporary Art

At Auction May 22 Our spring auction of Contemporary Art features a wide-ranging selection of sculpture, paintings and multiples from the last 75 years, with works by Banksy, Barbara Kruger, Yayoi…

April 10, 2018 | Books

A Look Inside the Catalogue: 19th & 20th Century Literature

At Auction May 15 Cornerstones of science fiction from the Estate of Stanley Simon form the backbone of our May 15 auction of 19th & 20th Century Literature; of special…

April 9, 2018 | African-American Fine Art

Records & Results: African-American Fine Art

We held our highest-grossing auction to date on April 5, totaling $4.5M—more than $1M over the high estimate of the sale. The 160 works that made up the highly curated…

April 6, 2018 | Printed & Manuscript Americana

Dream vs. Reality in the Civil War

Personal correspondence and manuscript material are always a highlight in our auctions of Printed & Manuscript Americana. On April 12, we’ll be offering a selection letters from Thomas Belknap, a clerk…

April 2, 2018 | Printed & Manuscript African Americana

Records & Results: Printed & Manuscript African Americana

Institutional purchases dominated the buying field at our auction of Printed & Manuscript African Americana on March 29. The top lots of the auction were almost entirely manuscripts, archives, early…

April 1, 2018 | American Art

A Look Inside the Catalogue: American Art

At Auction June 14 This highly curated sale of American Art presents original works in a variety of media, including drawings, watercolors and sculpture. Offerings range from nineteenth-century paintings…

April 1, 2018 | Prints & Drawings

A Look Inside the Catalogue: Old Master Through Modern Prints

At Auction May 8 Old Master Through Modern Prints The highlight of this wide-ranging event from our Prints & Drawings department is Tête de femme, de profil, 1905, an…

March 30, 2018 | Prints & Drawings

#5WomenArtists: Lisa Crescenzo’s List

As part of Women’s History Month, we’re offering a week of #5WomenArtists, inspired by the National Museum of Women in the Arts. We asked some women of Swann to tell us…

March 30, 2018 | African-American Fine Art

William Johnson’s Jitterbugs

Two extremely scarce prints from William H. Johnson’s Jitterbugs series will make their auction debut with African-American Fine Art on April 5. The series was conceived and executed during Johnson’s tenure in New York…

March 30, 2018 | Contemporary Art

#5WomenArtists: Jessica Feldman’s List

As part of Women’s History Month, we’re offering a week of #5WomenArtists, inspired by the National Museum of Women in the Arts. We asked some women of Swann to tell us…

March 30, 2018 | Vintage Posters

A Look Inside the Catalogue: Graphic Design

At Auction May 3 Graphic Design This auction celebrates innovation in the field of graphic design, with a colorful offering of vintage posters, along with a coterie of fine…

March 29, 2018 | Books

A Look Inside the Catalogue: Fine Illustrated Books & Graphics

At Auction April 26 Fine Illustrated Books & Graphics is a multifaceted auction that spans media and disciplines. Early twentieth-century graphic design and the fine arts include a never-before-offered trade catalogue…

March 29, 2018 | Vintage Posters

#5WomenArtists – Lauren Goldberg’s List

As part of Women’s History Month, we’re offering a week of #5WomenArtists, inspired by the National Museum of Women in the Arts. We asked some women of Swann to tell us…

March 28, 2018 | Books

#5WomenArtists: Christine von der Linn’s List

As part of Women’s History Month, we’re offering a week of #5WomenArtists, inspired by the National Museum of Women in the Arts. We asked some women of Swann to tell us…

March 27, 2018 | African-American Fine Art

#5WomenArtists: Atina Sutton’s List

As part of Women’s History Month, we’re offering a week of #5WomenArtists, inspired by the National Museum of Women in the Arts. We asked some women of Swann to tell us…

March 26, 2018 | Photographs & Photobooks

#5WomenArtists: Deborah Rogal’s List

We’re jumping into Women’s History Month to offer a week of #5WomenArtists, inspired by the National Museum of Women in the Arts. We asked some women of Swann to tell…

March 26, 2018 | Autographs

Records & Results: Autographs

Our auction of Autographs on March 22 offered a selection of letters, photographs and works by some of history’s greatest game-changers, with communications by founding fathers, letters from artists and…

March 23, 2018 | Printed & Manuscript African Americana

Huey Newton’s Portraits & The Founding of the Black Panthers

New findings in our March 29 auction of Printed & Manuscript African-Americana clarify information behind iconic portraits of Black Panthers co-founder Huey P. Newton. Ensconced in a wicker…

March 19, 2018 | Autographs

Charles Dickens Reveals His Inspiration

A very formal letter by Charles Dickens to Lord Robert Grosvenor was a highlight of our March 22 auction of Autographs. The letter, dated July 9, 1838, was…

March 15, 2018 | Prints & Drawings

Records & Results: 19th & 20th Century Prints & Drawings

Our auction of 19th & 20th Century Prints & Drawings on March 13 offered an especially grand selection of original works by some of the greatest artists of the last…

March 13, 2018 | Illustration art

A Look Inside the Catalogue: Illustration Art

At Auction June 5 A look inside the highly-anticipated catalogue for our upcoming Illustration Art auction. Complete Catalogue Comic Strips Comics that defined the twentieth century include Peanuts strips by…

March 12, 2018 | Books

Records & Results: Early Printed Books

Our March 8 auction of Early Printed, Medical, Scientific & Travel Books coincided with the opening of Rare Book Week in New York City. With 94% of offered lots sold, the…

March 9, 2018 | Vintage Posters

Records & Results: Vintage Posters Featuring Highlights from the Gail Chisholm Collection

Vintage Posters Featuring Highlights from the Gail Chisholm Collection offered premier examples of advertising and propaganda from around the world, and broke several auction records. Nicholas D. Lowry, President of…

March 8, 2018 | Prints & Drawings

Monet: The Master at 16

Before the term “Impressionism” and the overthrow of the established art world, Claude Monet was just a creative teenager. A rare example of Monet’s early experiments with en plein air…

March 1, 2018 | Photographs & Photobooks

A Look Inside the Catalogue: The Knowing Eye: Photographs & Photobooks

At Auction April 19 The Knowing Eye: Photographs & Photobooks features a rare vintage print of Alfred Eisenstaedt’s iconic Premier at La Scala, Milan, circa 1933, and Robert Frank’s quirky Portrait of art…

February 28, 2018 | Photographs & Photobooks

Records & Results: Icons & Images: Photographs & Photobooks

We opened the 2018 season with a $1.6M auction of Icons & Images: Photographs & Photobooks on February 15. Important rare and unique work, both fine art and vernacular, brought…

February 27, 2018 | Books

The Earliest French Erotica

A titillating section in our March 8 auction of Early Printed, Medical, Scientific & Travel Books contains two scarce early examples of French erotica. L’Escole des Filles, ou La Philosophie…

February 23, 2018 | Vintage Posters

Erik Nitsche’s Modernist Vision

One of many highlights in our March 1 sale of Vintage Posters is a run of posters designed by Erik Nitsche in a series of campaigns for General Dynamics. Nitsche’s…

February 16, 2018 | Vintage Posters

Gail Chisholm: A Life in Posters

Nearly a quarter of our March 1 auction of Vintage Posters was devoted to highlights from the collection of renowned poster dealer and aficionado Gail Chisholm. The sale opened with more…

February 12, 2018 | Photographs & Photobooks

Cataloguing History’s Darker Moments

In advance of our February 15 auction of Icons & Images: Photographs & Photobooks, we asked Associate Director Deborah Rogal to talk about the planning that goes into a successful…

February 3, 2018 | Maps & Atlases

A Look Inside the Catalogue: Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books

At Auction June 7 This auction of Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books encompasses a broad range of American and European cartography. Complete Catalogue Maps Highlights…

January 30, 2018 | Printed & Manuscript Americana

A Look Inside the Catalogue: Printed & Manuscript Americana

Our April 12 auction of Printed & Manuscript Americana illustrates the multifaceted tapestry of American history, featuring a cypress twig cut by General Lafayette at George Washington’s tomb, attractively framed in…

January 30, 2018 | African-American Fine Art

A Look Inside the Catalogue: African-American Fine Art

Two highlights of this sale on April 5 are significant, vibrant paintings by modernist New York artists. Beauford Delaney’s large Untitled (Village Street Scene), 1948, depicts a Greenwich Village corner in…

January 29, 2018 | Photographs & Photobooks

Lewis Hine’s Legacy

Scarce and important prints spanning the career of pioneering photojournalist Lewis W. Hine crown our February 15 auction of Icons & Images: Photographs & Photobooks. Here are some notes from the…

January 23, 2018 | Vintage Posters

Vintage Posters 101

So you’ve fallen in love with a vintage poster. What next? Here are some of the most important things to consider when talking about, looking for, and decorating with vintage…

January 19, 2018 | Maps & Atlases

What Sets A Chart Apart?

We asked specialist Caleb Kiffer to reminisce about some of the most interesting and important charts we’ve handled in the last few years. Why charts? We wanted to explore (pun…

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