Bonhams & Butterfields is to offer property from the Estate of José Iturbi and Marion Seabury, sold to benefit the José Iturbi Foundation, on June 2, 2008 in Los Angeles. The magnificent Beverly Hills estate brings together three fascinating histories — each providing a glimpse into the “Golden Era” of Hollywood and the grandeur of its culture, including the infamous Countess Dorothy di Frasso, the famed decorator and tastemaker to society Elsie de Wolfe, and the world famous pianist, conductor, composer and actor José Iturbi.

The proceeds from the June 2nd auction will benefit the José Iturbi Foundation. The organization pays tribute to Iturbi’s dream and lifelong ambition to make classical music accessible to all as part of our daily framework. Each year, the Foundation sponsors an international music competition hosting 48 of the world’s most gifted young classical pianists and singers, and offering the largest cash prizes of any competition to assist them in their career ambitions.

The Estate of José Iturbi and Marion Seabury will be offered at auction on June 2, 2008. Public previews open — Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31 (10am-5pm, each day), continuing on Sunday, June 1 (from Noon-5pm). The illustrated auction catalog will be available online at www.bonhams.com/us in the weeks preceding the sale and previews.

Kaminski Auctions has announced its May Fine Art & Estates Auction. This diverse auction offers fine furnishings, jewelry, antique oriental rugs, fine art, decorative glass, sculpture and more from estates in Beverly Farms, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Rockport. The auction takes place under the tent at Kaminski Auctions, 564 Cabot Street in Beverly, on May 31, 2008 with bidding commencing at 10am. Preview periods are scheduled May 27-30 from 10am-5pm each day on-site at Kaminski Auctions. Online bidding is available through eBay Live Auctions. For more information, please call 978-927-2228 or visit us online.

A portrait by Cuban artist Amelia Pelaez (Est. $50,000 - 80,000) graces the auction block. A prolific painter, sculptor, muralist and furniture designer, Pelaez is best known for her cubist paintings, usually depicting female subjects. The portrait, which measures X by X, originally belonged to the artist’s sister, and is signed and dated “42”.

Also featured is a grouping of four circa 1860 Chinese silk paintings (Est. $4,000 - 6,000). Each piece depicts a battle scene from the Taiping Revolution. An appraisal certificate from van Cline & Davenport accompanies these rare items.

Antique furniture highlights include an 18th Century New England tiger maple tall chest (Est. $1,500 - 2,500), complete with original brass hardware. Also offered is an 18th Century English George II mahogany chest (Est. $2,000 - 4,000). The mahogany chest boasts four graduating drawers with original gilt brass hardware.

A sterling silver wine cooler (Est. $4,000-7,000) designed by French silversmith Jean Puiforcat is also featured. A founder-member of the Union des Artists Modernes, Puiforcat’s work exemplifies the Art Deco aesthetic. The wine bucket stands 11” tall with a weight of 134.9 ozt.

Also representing the decorative arts category is a cameo glass vase (Est. $3,500 - 4,500) by renowned French Art Nouveau artist Emile Galle. This amber-colored vase bears Galle’s signature in cameo.

“We’ve collected quite an impressive array of consignments for our May auction,” comments Frank Kaminski, owner of Kaminski Auctions. “We are always looking for items to feature in upcoming auctions and can take consignments in any volume, from a single piece to an entire estate.”

Skinner auction house has announced the results of its recent Asian Works of Art sale, which grossed $3,722,862.00. The auction, which was held on April 26th in the Boston gallery, represents the most successful sale to date for that specialty area at Skinner and is the 5th most successful auction in the company’s history.

High prices were realized across the board, with the auction boasting an impressive sell rate of a 94%. Unlike previous sales, most of the buying came from bidders in the room, not from phones or the internet. A large amount of foreign buyers were present, including a considerable number of Europeans, in part the result of a finely-focused strategy of advertising in European antique publications.

According to James Callahan, director, Asian Works of Art, “The demand for Asian Art –especially contemporary works – continues to be strong, coming from collectors as far reaching as the pieces themselves.” Callahan continued, “And, we don’t seem the trend waning; it’s likely the next auction will generate even greater interest.”

The top selling lot was a pale celadon carved jade figure (lot 461) from 18th/19th century China, which sold for $358,000. Jade carvings were hotly contested, accounting for 9 of the top 10 lots sold. Other jade highlights included: a jade carving of a reclining cat (lot 479) – $213,300; a jade censer carved in the shape of a foo dog (lot 480) – $189,600; a rectangular jade screen (lot 455) – $130,350; a jade ewer with foo dogs (lot 477) – $112,575; a jade vase ornately carved with dragons, pearls, flowers, bats and small children (lot 454) – $106,650; and a jade disc in the Pi ritual shape (lot 458) – $106,650.

Also exceeding the $100K sale price was an exquisite pair of Chinese snuff bottles, Ch’ia Ch’ing four-character mark in red and of the period, featuring famille rose designs of the Immortals (lot 174), which brought in $100,725.00.

Skinner’s next auction of Asian Works of Art will be held on October 18, 2008 in Skinner’s Boston gallery.
www.skinnerinc.com

The Official Auction benefit will be held at the Gibson House Museum, 512 Gibson St., Woodland to benefit the Gibson House, home of the Yolo County Historical Museum.
The auction is set from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

There will be traditional barbecue by the Buckhorn, live music and a no host bar, silent and live auction of goods and services donated by Yolo County’s elected officials and an exhibit of the Hollingshead Collection of historic photos of former Yolo County electeds. Call 555-1045 or 666-8230 for more information.

The American Cancer Society is hosting an auction to benefit Relay For Life 2008 on Saturday. Doors open at noon at the American Legion Hall, 90 N. Ada St. and the auction will begin at 2 p.m. For more information or to make a donation, call Marcy at 423-7034 or Nichole at 426-2140.

Bloomsbury Auctions has announced the launch of the Visual Arts department in New York. The inaugural sale will showcase many iconic Pop images, including a pristine example of Roy Lichtenstein’s masterpiece graphic work Sweet Dreams Baby, a selection of images of John F. Kennedy from Warhol’s Flash series, a unique $ silkscreen, and a number of hand-colored lithographs from the 25 Cats Named Sam, and One Blue Pussy.

More info www.bloomsburyauctions.com

Bloomsbury Auctions New York is auctioning a collection of early 20th Century Russian Literature, autographs, photographs and associated illustration art from 1900 through to 1950, beginning with pieces from the ‘Silver Age’ through the Revolutionary and post Revolutionary periods through to the Stalin era.

Viewings will be held on Thursday, May 15th until Tuesday, May 20th from 9:00 am until 5:30 pm and on Wednesday, May 21st from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm. The auction will begin on Wednesday, May 21st at precisely 2:00 pm. Visit http://www.bloomsburyauctions.com/ to view the catalogue, auction calendar and sale results.