Lights and Sound Will Dazzle the Senses at Selkirk
Light plus Sight plus Sound equal Action. Of that, Bryan Laughlin, executive director at Selkirk Auction is confident for the up-coming Aug. 15 gallery sale.
Two hundred and twenty-two lots will come through the auction block at the sale, titled Light/Sight/Sound,where this powerhouse Midwestern auction house is expected to dazzle all the human senses with brilliance.
Many lots have been consigned from the estate of Lou Phillips, own-er of Phillips Antiques, a longtime fixture on Broadway Street in St.Louis.“Selkirk has historically used their gallery auctions as a brand in itself,” Laughlin said. “We’re using the Light/Sight/Sound phonetics to better identify our market and make it easier for our customers to distinguish among the categories for sale.”
Laughlin said the company has enhanced its descriptions in online and printed catalogs, as an aid for bidders. “We lay out all the facts,”he said. “That makes it easier for the market to decide. It’s a little more time-consuming and laborious, but regardless of what I think, the market is the thing.”
The auction will be open for floor bidders at their gallery at 555 Washington Ave. and avail-able for live online bidding at Invaluable.com and on Selkirk’s online platform. Absentee and phone bidding is also available.
Within the “Light” category are many colorful early 20th century lamps and stained glass and reverse painted table lamps that came from Phillips Antiques. A fine selection of jewelry includes a 14K yellow gold wedding ring with a 2.19 emerald-cut diamond estimated to sell for $10,000-$14,000. In addition,a vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust chronometer with a quilted champagne face of gold Roman numerals and magnified date, made in Switzerland in March 1989, will be offered with its original green leather watch case, manual and Rolex box.
Among the many fine art pieces is a signed Henri Hecht Maik (French,1922-1993) oil on canvas painting titled Les Jeunes, dated 1980. On the reverse of the frame is a label bearing Wally Findlay Galleries. “Maik is becoming very popular in the current art market,” Laughlin said. Also coming from the private collection of Lou Phillips is a large (55-inch in height and 38 inches wide)canvas painting titled Sir Fallstaff Beer by Haddon (Sunny) Hubbard Sundblom (American, 1899-1976). In the painting, Sir Fallstaff, attired in Bavarian garb, is hoisting a mug of beer, as an advertising illustration for Lemp Brewery. Sundblom is a legendary illustrator and father of modern-day branding legends including Santa for Coca-Cola, The Quaker Oats man, and the recently retired Aunt Jemima character.
Another spectacular lot from Phillips is a late 19th century ceramic tile fireplace “in the manner of Her-man Carl Mueller.” The decorative encaustic tile fireplace is surround-ed by Neoclassical composition of attractive figures and birds among blossoming branches. “This is an extremely rare item,” Laughlin said.“Usually you see single tiles selling for good money. But to have the entire fireplace, that is rarely seen.”
Above: Sir Fallstaff Beer by Haddon (Sunny)Hubbard Sundblom (American, 1899-1976). Exuberantly hoists a mug of beer, as an advertising illustration for Lemp Brewery.