As one person described Arthur Court's San Francisco shop, "it's a world of wonders - elegant and exotic". A new and innovative aluminum casting process led Arthur and Arthur Court Designs into a new era. His unique aluminum furniture and accessories featured cast antler chandeliers, chairs, tables and bookcases. Department stores across the United States brought his aluminum creations to loyal followers and collectors; reupholstered in brown cowhide.
each neoclassical open armchair with beaded framed oval back above a bowed tight seat over a beaded apron flanked by scrolled arms and uprights with acanthus carving; raised on reeded and fluted supports with acanthus collar and ending in a spheroid foot; wear and patina to refreshed painted surface; sturdy frame and good antique condition with new upholstery
purchased in Rome in the 1980's, the well-carved chubby winged putti in opposing stances and poised on one foot over a rock-work base; depicting the grape harvest also known as the allegory of autumn (see detail image of Jean-Jacques Lagrenée's 'Putti Harvesting Grapes'); interior image courtesy 'Edward Lobrano Interior Design', NYC; excellent antique condition with overall rubbing to refreshed gilding
each with short everted neck above a baluster-form body all ending in a splayed foot; with ebonized metal cap and wooden bases; all in a rich orange lustre glaze; undersides impressed RUSKIN / ENGLAND 1919; Ruskin Pottery was an English art pottery studio founded in 1898, and closing in 1935.
An unusual pair of hand-blown clear and gold aventurine Venetian candlesticks with large-scale dolphin connectors made by Salviati, circa 1920's featuring dramatic full-bodied upward-facing dolphins; raised on a splayed quilted foot with removable quilted bobeche; excellent condition with no chips or cracks;
of good scale and quality, circa 1930; each high back dining chair with beige leather upholstery and birdseye maple frame, for S.Hille & Co, London, consisting of two arm and six side chairs, having a vasiform splat above a tight seat; raised on graceful splayed supports; professionally refinished; minor wear and patina to later leather upholstery;
A large-scaled and elegantly designed French 1940s Klismos chair with deep incurved back with scrolled terminals; above a leather seat of criss-crossing straps all raised on dramatic splayed supports; purchased in Paris in 1993 (receipt attached); good vintage condition with sturdy frame and seat; some wear to painted surface; later leather strapwork
a true time capsule of 1961, the 3-dimensional plaster negative relief plaques depicting a golfer, bowler and tennis player all engaged in their sport and all from the perspective of being in front of the player; each inscribed '1961 RICHTER'; Hal Richer ( German-American 1888-1976) an artist and filmmaker known for his contribution to the Dada movement. Settling in the US after fleeing Nazi Germany, spending his later years in Connecticut; good vintage condition with some small chips to edges; some rubbing to surface
each painted with joyous spontaneity successfully mixing the dreamlike and the realistic featuring three beach scenes with dramatic skies and figures scurrying around beached boats; signed 'Ritter' lower left; excellent condition; professionally framed; Laszlo Ritter was a self taught impressionist painter. The Hungarian uprising in 1956 precipitated Ritter's bid for freedom and safety in England at age seventeen. Ritter spent his early years studying the Masters and learning their techniques.
incised signature to underside "Dave & Boni Deal 88"; of tall ovoid shape decorated overall with impressed leaves on a metallic, rainbow effect raku glaze; the western version of raku was developed in the 20th century by studio potters. typically fired at high temperatures, the wares are placed in an open-air container filled with combustible material, unlike the traditional Japanese method. the western process can give a great variety and depth of colors and surface effects as seen with this vase; good vintage condition with no chips or cracks
Six Provincetown photographs, each titled and signed in pencil on the matting; "One of Provincetown’s most colorful and creative artists was photographer John W. Gregory. Born in New York City, he grew up as the son of the city editor for the New York Tribune. After studying with John Sloane at the Art Students League in New York, he took up photography during World War II in Provincetown. His photographs were published by Time Magazine, the New York Times and the Associated Press. Seven of his photographs are included in the Smithsonian’s permanent collection.
Moya Aiken
the hinged circular top centering a beautifully inlaid checkboard on one side flipping to reveal an inlaid Parcheesi (Ludo) board on the reverse; raised in 4 dramatically incurved supports joined by a lower shelf fitted with a hidden compartment for game pieces; professionally refinished with minor warpage to top; Parcheesi is based on Pachisi, originated in India around the 4th century A.D. Its popularity headed west in the 1860s, first traveling to England, which had taken over rule of India from the British East India Company in 1858, and then further into Europe.
the hand-carved standing bear with forward gaze and glass eyes holding a barrel for matches in front of a larger barrel for cigar storage; all over an oval carved base fitted with a cup-shaped ash tray; most likely from the Black forest area in the Swiss city of Interlagen; originally used to hold cigars but could be used on a desk as a pen or trinket holder; good antique condition with rich patina and minor wear; with an old split to the base
the square game table with 'floating' top of radiating oak veneer; above an ebonized body fitted with two drawers with oak secondary wood; raised on tapering, stepped quadrangular supports; each barrel-back chair with incurved back and downward sloping arms flanking a tight seat; all raised on tapering legs; professionally refreshed surface; good vintage condition with sturdy frames; reupholstered
originally used as traveling tea tables for the British in India; the octagonal top with central eight-pointed star medallion surrounded by floral and foliate motifs within a foliate vine perimeter band; raised on a hinged base with arabesque spandrels; good antique condition with overall warm patina; small areas of replaced inlay; top now affixed to base
this rare find was originally used as a traveling table in British Colonial India where the hinged base would fold for easy travel and fitted with a removable top; the rectangular top with canted corners and ogee edge centering a brass inlaid foliate medallion within a meandering inlaid foliate vine perimeter band; raised on a hinged conforming base with reticulated apron and arabesque spandrels all joined by a reticulated lower stretcher; good antique condition; professionally refinished and cleaned; inlay all intact; top now affixed to base
this signed special edition art glass bowl is one of Blenko's yearly designer series offerings for 2001; the large handblown circular bowl with wide rim in a rich cerulean blue glass resting on a chamfered amber-colored foot; with acid etched signature to underside 'Richard Blenko 2001'; with maker's label 'Blenko Handcraft'; excellent condition with no chips or cracks
A stunning and rare ash credenza or sideboard designed by Paul László for Brown Saltman c.1950s ,USA as part of the "Basket Weave" collection; this classic California Modern design featuring two doors sheathed in convex square wooden tiles adhered in a basket weave pattern with alternating grain all flanked by three bookmatched drawers; raised on short tapering supports; Stamped - Brown Saltman Co - South Gate, California; good vintage condition with warm patina; professionally refinished
