Here Be Old Things

New York City Auctions: January 5–11, 2009

Lot 123 at Cherrystone: United States 1869 Pictorial Issue 

Toulouse-Lautrec sale and exhibition at the International Poster Center

Who doesn't love Toulouse-Lautrec? Now is your chance to view his rarest work at the International Poster Center in New York City through January 11, 2009. "Toulouse-Lautrec: 100 Prints and Posters" is the largest exhibition and sale of the artist ever assembled.

If you're one of those lucky people with change still rattling around in your pockets, ask them to gift wrap one of Lautrec's famous posters (seemingly ubiquitous, he created only thirty) and bring it home to hang above the tree. Or snag a rare piece of ephemera like this 1896 Christmas card, made for the performer Mary Belfort and one of only five known examples, two of which are in museums. Also on display are working proofs (including one torn in half by the artist and taped back together by his assistants), original drawings, oils, and a ceramic rendering of the star Yvette Guilbert.

The International Poster Center is at 601 W. 26th Street on the 13th Floor. Hours are Monday–Friday 9–5:00; Saturday and Sunday 11–6:00. Closed Christmas and New Year’s Day. 

The auction houses are taking a break from next week to early January. I've got some leads on some new flea market and auction stories, which I'll break after the holidays. Until then, I'm lapsing into a sugar coma, and I hope you are, too. In the words of Toulouse-Lautrec: "Joyeux Noel!"

Tepper Galleries gets all gussied up

Holy shit, they wear suits over at Tepper Galleries?! NO WAY! I've never seen those guys in more than a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, puffing on cigars (maybe I'm exaggerating the cigars, but you get the idea). But it looks like this auction house is trying to go up against the big boys, now. First, there was the new awning. I started getting really nervous when they stapled a color cover on the xeroxed lot list. Now they've taken the Tepper Galleries website upscale, too. Just look at these mugs on the "about us" page.  It pains me to see these steadfast auctioneers in ties, and worse, studio-lighting.

New York City Auctions: December 15–21, 2008

Contemplating the reductions in auction spending, no doubt (okay, cheap joke). At Christie's, lot 286 in sale 2062, A Portrait of a Seated Woman by Rene Gruau.

New York City Auctions: December 8–14, 2008

At Bloomsbury. Lot 291: SCUDDER, Samuel Hubbard, The Butterflies of the Eastern United States and Canada with special reference to New England.