Swann Galleries News -

July 1, 2019|Kelsie Jankowski|Swann

2019 Spring Season in Review

A season of firsts. The 2019 spring auction season at Swann Galleries delivered an impressive range of sales, rife with auction premiers and record prices. We started our season off…

July 1, 2019 | Swann

Swann Summer Reading List 2019

As an auction house that has specialized in rare and antiquarian books for nearly 80 years, it is unsurprising that our team loves reading. What better circumstance to do so…

June 27, 2019 | Pride

Records & Results: The Pride Sale

Historic Pride Sale at Swann Brings Market Premiers and Auction Records The Pride Sale on Thursday, June 20 offered a curated selection of LGBTQ+ art, photography, literature, autographs…

June 25, 2019 | American Art

Records & Results: American Art

Modernists Lead American Art at Swann We continued the spring 2019 season with a sale of American Art on June 13, which boasted three artist records. American Modernists…

June 20, 2019 | Maps & Atlases

Records & Results: Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books

Lewis Evans Reached $125k in Maps & Atlases Caleb Kiffer: “There was strong bidding across the board and it’s hard not to be pleased with the general outcome…

June 17, 2019 | Pride

Notes from the Catalogue: Hank O’Neal & Allen Ginsberg

The Gay Day Archive Today, at least a million spectators line the Pride parade route along Fifth Avenue each year. But in its earliest days, the celebration was a much smaller event…

June 12, 2019 | Pride

Notes from the Catalogue: Candy Darling

“Every woman who wants to be beautiful should be beautiful” Among the many items up for auction in our June 20 Pride Sale, is an archive of personal effects of Candy Darling an enduring trans icon, American actress…

June 12, 2019 | Illustration art

Records & Results: Illustration Art

Theater Portraits & Set Designs Lead Illustration Art Miriam Troop makes a stellar auction debut at $40k Our Illustration Art sale on June 4 saw a bustling auction room with…

June 10, 2019 | Auctions 101

Cataloguing History: Why we hold specialized auctions.

Auctions offer a moment where the sometimes-incalculable significance of an object is quantified. The price is reached through collaboration: specialists, consignors, the market, and finally, bidders convene in the room,…

June 7, 2019 | American Art

America the Beautiful: City & Landscape Scenes of America’s Terrain

Our June 13 sale of American Art features an impressive selection of city, landscape and coastal scenes. The offering puts on display how the breadth and diversity of America’s terrain,…

June 5, 2019 | Vintage Posters

Records & Results: Graphic Design

Charles Loupot Reaches New Heights in Swann Graphic Design Auction debuts for Tadanori Yokoo Our auction of Graphic Design on May 23 offered a selection of vintage posters by…

June 4, 2019 | Vintage Posters

Upcoming Highlights: Vintage Posters

At Auction August 7 Complete Catalogue For over 15 years our summer Vintage Posters auction has brought wonderful examples of beach and summer resort posters to market. The tradition continues…

June 3, 2019 | Contemporary Art

Records & Results: Contemporary Art

Print Record for Franz Kline in Swann Contemporary Our May 16 sale of Contemporary Art brought a record price for a Franz Kline print and saw an 81% sell-through…

May 29, 2019 | Pride

An Introduction to the Catalogue by Eric Marcus

The Pride Sale An Exploration & Celebration of the Art, Influence & History of the LGBTQ+ Community A few weeks ago we invited Eric Marcus, the founder and host of…

May 23, 2019 | Illustration art

Al Hirschfeld Theater Portraits

“The importance and legacy of Al Hirschfeld’s theater portraits lie in that Hirschfeld gave us nearly a century’s eyewitness record of a very elusive art form,” notes specialist, Christine von…

May 23, 2019 | Maps & Atlases

Notes from the Catalogue: Lewis Evans

Lewis Evans’ General Map of the Middle British Colonies in America was one of the most significant and influential maps published in Colonial America. On it, Evans described the land beyond the…

May 21, 2019 | 19th & 20th Century Literature

Records & Results: 19th & 20th Century Literature

Rare Bond Titles Lead Literature at Swann John Larson: “The enduring appeal of inscribed first editions, particularly those with significant associations, was on full display and resulted in a number of high prices, including…

May 17, 2019 | American Art

Upcoming Highlights: American Art

At Auction June 13 Complete Catalogue Exhibition Open June 8 – June 13 The exhibition is free to attend and open to the public. We welcome special and educational groups with…

May 14, 2019 | Vintage Posters

Dramatized Sales Methods: How to close a sale in 1930

The art of salesmanship has long been dissected in search of methods to effectively and efficiently hook customers and close a deal. Our upcoming Graphic Design auction on May 23…

May 10, 2019 | Contemporary Art

A Look at Roy Lichtenstein’s Early Works

Roy Lichtenstein is known for his commercial art-inspired works that provided parody through Pop Art and elevated the art of cartooning. Though all of his work maintains the semi-fantastical air…

May 9, 2019 | Old Master Through Modern Prints

Records & Results: Old Master Through Modern Prints

Zapata Sets Print Record for Diego Rivera at $45k With seven records and a standout selection of Latin American art, our sale of Old Master Through Modern Prints on Thursday, May 2 offered works by the greatest…

May 6, 2019 | African-American Fine Art

Swann in Profile: Atina Sutton

Following up on our recent sale of African-American Fine Art, we sat down with Atina Sutton to discuss all things Swann, art and what’s current. You’ve been at…

May 3, 2019 | Pride

The Pride Sale

An Exploration & Celebration of the Art, Influence & History of the LGBTQ+ Community Our first Pride Sale, being held in the same month as WorldPride and the 50th anniversary…

April 26, 2019 | 19th & 20th Century Literature

Ian Fleming First Editions: Books, Rare Books

On May 14 we are bringing a selection of 13 Ian Fleming first editions to auction. Fleming, a former intelligence officer and journalist, debuted the stylish James Bond in 1953…

April 24, 2019 | Old Master Through Modern Prints

Notes from the Catalogue: Latin American Art

Our largest offering of Latin American prints and originals to date comes across the block in our Old Master Through Modern Prints sale May 2. Compiled into a separate catalogue,…

April 23, 2019 | Photographs & Photobooks

Records & Results: Photographs & Photobooks

Martín Chambi & Images of South America Lead Classic & Contemporary Photographs at Swann Our sale of Classic & Contemporary Photographs on Thursday, April 18 saw active bidding across all categories with early-twentieth-century photography, Humanist portraits and sublime images of nature…

April 19, 2019 | Printed & Manuscript Americana

Records & Results: Printed & Manuscript Americana

Mexican Imprints Bring Significant Interest in Swann Americana Sale Our Printed & Manuscript Americana sale on Thursday, April 16 was the house’s third straight sale is the category to finish over $1,000,000, bringing several significant records.…

April 17, 2019 | Maps & Atlases

Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books

At Auction June 6 Complete Catalogue Exhibition Open June 1 – June 6 The exhibition is free to attend and open to the public. We welcome special and educational groups…

April 11, 2019 | Printed & Manuscript Americana

Manuscript Diaries Tell Tales of a Growing America

A West Point graduate blazes a trail from San Antonio to El Paso. A guard in one of the country’s most notorious prisons notes the silence of the inmates. A…

April 11, 2019 | Photographs & Photobooks

Notes from the Catalogue: Dorothea Lange

Our April 18 sale of Classic & Contemporary Photographs features several of Dorothea Lange‘s iconic photographs from her time documenting for the Farm Security Administration, as well as her travels…

April 9, 2019 | African-American Fine Art

Records & Results: African-American Fine Art

Artist Records for Amos, Leigh, Lovelace O’Neal, Pindell & More We saw strong results for African-American Fine Art on Thursday, April 4. Nigel Freeman, the house’s director of African-American Fine Art, noted, “I was happy to see…

April 2, 2019 | Printed & Manuscript African Americana

Records & Results: Printed & Manuscript African Americana

A Record for The Negro Travelers’ Green Book Among Printed & Manuscript African Americana at Swann Our Printed & Manuscript African Americana on Thursday, March 28 saw a sell-through rate of 90%, a record for the category. Enthusiastic bidding was seen across all…

March 29, 2019 | Illustration art

Illustration Art

At Auction June 4 Complete Catalogue Exhibition Opens May 30 – June 4 The exhibition is free to attend and open to the public. We welcome special and educational groups…

March 29, 2019 | 19th & 20th Century Literature

Upcoming Highlights: 19th & 20th Century Literature

At Auction May 14 Complete Catalogue This sale features significant material by the man behind everyone’s favorite MI6 agent, James Bond, including a first edition of Casino Royale, Ian Fleming’s…

March 28, 2019 | Autographs

Records & Results: Autographs

Auction Record for Mohawk Chief & Loyalist Joseph Brant at Swann Our Autographs sale on March 21 saw significant interest in Americana, scientists and popular figures. Of the sale Marco Tomaschett, the house’s autographs Specialist, noted: “Highest…

March 26, 2019 | African-American Fine Art

Notes from the Catalogue: Howardena Pindell

Howardena Pindell is among the contemporary artists included in our April 4 sale of African-American Fine Art. Her work explores texture, color and structures often incorporating punched circles and grids,…

March 22, 2019 | African-American Fine Art

Market Debuts: Artists to Watch in our April 4 Auction

Our April 4 sale of African-American Fine Art features four market newcomers, artists whose work has never before appeared at auction. Their work comes in a variety of mediums and…

March 13, 2019 | Prints & Drawings

Upcoming Highlights:
Old Master Through Modern Prints

Featuring Latin American Art At Auction May 2 Complete Catalogue A selection of Old Master prints includes highlights from Rembrandt and Albrecht Dürer, as well as iconic engravings from the…

March 12, 2019 | Autographs

Diana, Princess of Wales

Our sale of Autographs on March 21 features an extraordinary run of material by Diana, Princess of Wales. The assortment includes a number of autograph letters signed to her friend,…

March 12, 2019 | Contemporary Art

Upcoming Highlights: Contemporary Art

At Auction May 16 Complete Catalogue David Hockney’s Red Celia, a portrait of designer Celia Birtwell, for which Hockney looked to Picasso and Matisse for inspiration, is among the highlights,…

March 11, 2019 | Books

Records & Results: Early Printed, Medical, Scientific & Travel Books

Illuminated Manuscripts Lead Early Printed Books at Swann Coinciding with Rare Book Week in New York City, our spring offering of Early Printed, Medical, Scientific & Travel Books…

March 8, 2019 | 19th & 20th Century Prints & Drawings

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

Ismar Littmann Family Collection Shines in Swann Galleries’ Prints & Drawings Sale Our sale of 19th & 20th Century Prints & Drawings on March 5 earned $2.7M, with property from the Ismar Littmann Family Collection of German Expressionism &…

March 5, 2019 | Photographs & Photobooks

Upcoming Highlights: Classic & Contemporary Photographs

At Auction April 18 Complete Catalogue Our diverse April auction bridges classical and contemporary visual idioms with important work, including Robert Mapplethorpe’s Lisa Lyon, Dorothea Lange’s emotive Korean Child,…

March 1, 2019 | Vintage Posters

Graphic Design

At Auction May 23 Complete Catalogue Graphic Design continues to be a favorite among our poster auctions, with work by important designers like A.M. Cassandre, Charles Loupot, Ludwig Hohlwein, Jean…

March 1, 2019 | Printed & Manuscript Americana

Upcoming Highlights: Printed & Manuscript Americana

At Auction April 16 Complete Catalogue This sale includes a dramatic Texan diary by William Farrar Smith, commanding an expedition to find the best trail from San Antonio to…

February 27, 2019 | Photographs & Photobooks

Records & Results: Photographs & Photobooks

A Record for Malick Sidibé in Swann Photo SaleVernacular albums of nineteenth-century India bring $30k Our sale of Photographs: Art & Visual Culture on February 21, a curated sale celebrating photographs as physical objects, saw success across the board with contemporary, twentieth-century and…

February 26, 2019 | Books

Swann Galleries’ Guide to Rare Book Week 2019 in NYC

Rare Book Week kicks off March 5 in NYC. We gathered a selection of our favorite events happening throughout the week, as well as several not-to-be-missed exhibitions. See you there!…

February 23, 2019 | Printed & Manuscript African Americana

Upcoming Highlights: Printed & Manuscript African Americana

At Auction March 28 Complete Catalogue A highlight is volume one, issue one of the Mirror of Liberty, July 1838–the first African-American periodical–edited by David Ruggles, and believed to be…

February 14, 2019 | 19th & 20th Century Prints & Drawings

The Story of the Ismar Littmann Family Collection

Our March 5 sale of 19th & 20th Century Prints & Drawings will feature Property from the Ismar Littmann Family Collection of German Expressionism and European Avant-Garde. Director of Prints…

February 13, 2019 | Vintage Posters

Records & Results: Vintage Posters

Alphonse Mucha & Art Nouveau Lead Vintage Posters at Swann Our February 7 sale of Vintage Posters saw numerous firsts and records. Nicholas D. Lowry, Swann President, noted: “Lively bidding for ski posters and Art Nouveau images set…

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