Here Be Old Things

New York City auctions: October 1–7, 2007

Monday October 1

• Christie's 10 am and 2 pm: The House Sale

Tuesday October 2

• Christie's 10 am and 2 pm: The House Sale continues

Wednesday October 3

• Christie's 10 am: The House Sale continues
• Christie's 2 pm: Important American Furniture, Folk Art & Prints
• R.A. Siegel 10:30 am and 1:30 pm: The John F. Odeneal Collection of United States Stamps
• Sotheby's 10 am and 2 pm: Fine French & Continental Furniture Including  Furopean Works of Art and Tapestries Ceramics and Carpets

Thursday October 4

• Christie's 10 am: Old Master Paintings
• R.A. Siegel 10:30 am and 1:30 pm: United States Plate Blocks
• R.A. Siegel 6 pm: The Scarsdale Collection Part Five
• Sotheby's 10 am: Important Americana
• Swann Galleries 2 pm: The Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company African-American Art Collection
• Tepper Galleries 10 am: Estate Jewelry and Designer Clothing, Couture and Accessories

Friday October 5

• Christie's 10 am: Anatomy as Art: The Dean Edell Collection
• Sotheby's 2 pm: Magnificent Ornithology from The Collection of Brooks McCormick sold for The International Crane Foundation

Saturday October 6

• Tepper Galleries 10 am: Fine and Decorative Arts Estates Auction

Window display? Or crime scene?

Ask the Brimfield police. 
I took this photo last year of an East Village antiques and curiosties shop window. I won't say which store, because I don't want to get the owners thrown in the slammer. Up at the famous Brimfield Antique Show, a sprawling outdoor flea market held three times a year in Massachusets, Environmental and local police were searching for human remains after a New York state trooper spotted a human jawbone at one of the booths. The police seized two skulls, a human skeleton and another jawbone that that had been offered with World War II memorabilia. The bones were sent to the medical examiner's office where they will be tested to determine if any belong to crime victims. It is assumed that none of the dealers offering the bones for sale actually did the dirty deed themselves (which would take the notion of procuring goods to a new level) but Massachusets law prohibits the sale of human remains. Fines or even jail time await. So, if you like to decorate for Halloween in an especially authentic fashion, it might be a good idea to check into local ordinances, first.

Human Bone Sales Investigated  (Worcester Telegram & Gazette)
Vendors Try to Sell Human Remains at Flea Market (keyetv.com)

New York City auction previews: September 29–October 5, 2007

• Christie's, The House Sale
  • includes clothing from the late Nan Kempner's collection
  • Friday and Saturday 10 am–5 pm
  • Sunday 1 pm–5 pm

• Christie's, Anatomy as Art: The Dean Edell Collection
  • Saturday 10 am–5 pm
  • Sunday 1 pm–5 pm
  • Monday–Wednesday 10 am–5 pm
  • Thursday 10 am–2 pm

• Christie's, Important American Furniture Folk Art & Prints from the Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia
  • Saturday 10 am–5 pm
  • Sunday 1 pm–5 pm
  • Monday–Tuesday 10 am–5 pm
  • Wednesday 10 am–12 pm

An "only in New York" flea market

A celeb sighting always livens up a day at the flea market. "Gee, she shops for junk just like me!" For the best odds in town, though, go to the Broadway Flea Market tomorrow, September 23rd, in Shubert Alley and West 44th Street. Costumes, autographs, scripts and photographs will be for sale, and you can stop by the Celebrity Table to rub shoulders with Bebe Neuwirth, Sir Ian McEllen, Bernadette Peters, and more (download the list of artists and appearance times off their website). Check out the Grand Auction, too, where you can bid for tickets and walk-on roles. The Altar Boyz van is up for auction, and the Altarholics are going crazy. I noticed that VIP seats to a John Stewart taping were starting at $400. Pssssst–you can request free tickets or even take you chances by standing in line–I know, I've been there. But let's not talk about that. The proceeds go to a good cause, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.

Collection outgrowing your studio apartment?

Here’s an easy solution: build your own museum. Apparently, some people are bothered by the idea that any collection they bequest to a major institution, 90% of it will stay in storage. Donald and Shelley Rubin built the Rubin Museum of Art in Chelsea just to solve this quandry. Mr. Rubin says he did not have any idea what it would cost, but went ahead anyway. While the solution for most of us is to buy more shelving at Ikea, other weathy collectors have done the same.

Immortality, or a Museum of One’s Own (New York Times)