Auctions (拍卖) for fine art and decorative arts are everywhere, in New York and across the country. Here are just a few standouts and some of the areas they specialize in. All have brick-and-mortar sales rooms in addition to online buying.
DOYLE NEW YORKFounded: 1962
Best bets: paintings, jewelry, single-owner collections
Doyle is particularly proud of bringing in excellent estates that include many kinds of works. The house will offer items from the estates of Lili and Norman Israel, including a pair of Chinese porcelain Fu Lions on ormolu bases (estimated at $7,000 to $10,000).
SWANN AUCTION GALLERIESHeadquarters: New York, NY
Founded: 1941
Best bets: books, works on paper, African-American art
Swann was the first auction house to sell old and precious photographs in 1952. The house has also had a department of African-American art for 12 years, setting records like the $965,000 paid in 2015 for a painting by the Abstract Expressionist Norman Lewis.
STAIR GALLERIESHeadquarters: Hudson, NY
Founded: 2001
Best bets: English and Continental furniture and paintings
Stair on Hudson’s main drag, is frequented by dealers and bargain hunters, and it’s a place to find interesting decorative arts like a George I carved walnut wing armchair estimated at $1,200 to $1.800. Stair will sell a large private collection that includes Fulvio Bianconi’s “Con Macchie Vase” with an estimate of $90,000 to $120,000.
HERITAGE AUCTIONSHeadquarters: Dallas, TX
Founded: 1983
Best bets: coins, sports memorabilia, comics, movie posters
Heritage earned $438 million last year in online sales alone, and the firm now conducts live auctions across the globe and many categories. But their bread and butter are items that the company president, Greg Rohan, calls “the kinds of things that everyone has”, like comic books, baseball cards and classic film posters.
1. Which auction house is a good place for furniture collectors?
A.Stair Galleries. | B.Swann Auction Galleries. |
C.Doyle New York. | D.Heritage Auctions. |
2. What is the feature of Heritage Auctions?
A.It only conducts online sales. |
B.It sells items from ordinary life. |
C.It has valuable items from the world. |
D.It provides many kinds of bread and butter. |
3. Which of the following items has the highest price?
A.Chinese porcelain Fu Lions. |
B.A George I carved walnut wing armchair. |
C.Fulvio Bianconi’s “Con Macchie Vase”. |
D.An Abstract Expressionist painting by Norman Lewis. |