Stories

04/19/2023     General

Paul Leucian Dessau

Lot 458 - Paul Lucien Dessau, Dummer Boy

 

         Paul Leucian Dessau (1909-1999) was a British artist, entrepreneur, and fireman. Dessau grew up in North London with his brother and mother after losing his father early in life. He was an artistically gifted child and worked an apprenticeship for a commercial studio after high school. After working a year, Dessau and his brother launched their own commercial studio. The venture gave them more creative freedom and placed Dessau's paintings in local London art galleries and shows.

          World War II impeded Dessau's career as an artist. Despite his growing popularity, Dessau failed to earn a commission from the Royal Family to document the war. One possibility is that the wartime art commissioner thought Dessau's expressionist style might obstruct the historicity within his documentation.

          To evade the Draft for the British Military, the Dessau brothers joined the London Auxiliary Fire Service right before the German Blitz of the United Kingdom from 1940-41. Dessau decided to document the war through his paintings. By 1941, realizing he was not the only artist to join the civil defense in response to the war, Dessau recruited fellow artists to document their wartime experiences through their renderings. He became a founding member of the Fireman Artist's Committee, working directly with the London Fire Brigade to provide materials and safe studio spaces for artists to document their wartime experiences.

Lot 464 - Paul Lucien Dessau, The Cyclist

 

          Paul Leucian Dessau created an opportunity where he was able to continue developing his artistic ability and aesthetic, while also documenting the many atrocities and grievances of war. Many of Dessau’s wartime depictions included demonic figures emerging from the flames and smoke from the Blitz, exaggerating the horrors of war. Historians attest that Dessau’s paintings are some of the most vivid images of these conflagrations that resulted from the German Blitz.

          After the war, Dessau moved to the countryside with his wife to continue his career as an artist. He experimented with new mediums, evoking a sense of intentionality. This emphasis is evident within the hands of the figure depicted in Lot 458, as many of his paintings suggest emotions through expressive gestures. Hayloft Auctions is pleased to offer three works by Paul Dessau in our April auction – lots 458, 459, and 464. Browse the catalog and place your bids before the sale closes on Sunday, April 23rd.

 

03/15/2023     General

Bronze Sculptures

Lot 126 -Bronze sculpture of a Male with a sword

This lot is available in Haylofts March sale, opening the 15th at 12pm and closing March 19th.

Bronze sculpture has a long history, and works in bronze have been admired and loved by collectors for centuries. The most celebrated pieces, including original works by Auguste Rodin and Edgar Degas, can be found in museums and fine private collections. These important works are valued for their groundbreaking design, superb craftsmanship, and rich history. Owing to their high value and, often, their sheer size, original bronzes are beyond the reach of many collectors. However, small, well-crafted reproductions of famous works can be had much more affordably.

Fine bronze reproductions are made using the same exacting techniques of casting and polishing that were used to create the originals. As a result, the best examples are remarkably accurate, scaled-down models of those pieces. Because of this close relationship, these reproductions evoke the same aesthetic feelings as the original works.

We offer you an opportunity to own a piece of art history with a reproduction of a classic bronze sculpture. Hayloft Auctions is pleased to offer Lots 125 and 126 in our upcoming sale. Either would be a perfect piece to complete an office or living space. Browse the catalog and place your bids before the sale closes on Sunday, March 19th. 

 

11/11/2022     General

Fun Facts: Chinese Hardstone Carvings

_{Chinese Carved Jade Pendant}

The carving of jade and other treasured hardstone materials such as soapstone, rock crystal and lapis lazuli is one of that China’s oldest art forms, dating back to the Neolithic Age. Over the course of millennia, the artistry and carving techniques perfected by Chinese lapidaries endured through numerous dynastic changes. Trade routes brought massive imports of precious stones to China’s capital cities where imperial and literati tastes had an enormous influence on the style and quality of Chinese hardstone carvings.

Scholar-Officials and aristocrats typically kept collections of jades and other hardstones in their residences to represent their status and good fortune. Many such carvings reference the blessing of prosperity and convey wishes of continued fortune. A nephrite jade pendant in Hayloft's November sale exemplifies this kind of symbolism. The pendant depicts a young boy surrounded by three dragons. The child symbolizes contentment and good fortune, while the three auspicious dragons signify strength and achievement.

Hardstone carvings remain an important traditional artform in Chinese culture. Chinese collectors and others worldwide actively maintain a dynamic and healthy market for jade and other hardstone carvings – from Chinese prehistory through to the 21st century.

View Asian works of art and more in Hayloft’s November auction. Explore the catalog and place your bids before the sale closes on Sunday, November 13.

05/10/2022     General

Who is Bjorn Wiinblad?

Bjorn Wiinblad is a name that appears frequently in our sales, often associated with adorable ceramic figures and table articles. Wiinblad was a professionally trained artist not only in ceramics, but in drawing and painting, textiles, even set-design. He was a productive and enthusiastic artist, and was regarded as one of the wealthiest Danish artists of his time, at one point owning several houses across the country. Despite all his international success and fame, he still managed to find show his joie de vivre, or an enjoyment for life, throughout his extensive collection of work. Here is a timeline of the artist's life and career.

1918 — Born in Copenhagen, Denmark.

1935 — Age 17, begins apprenticeship in typography, but quickly discovered he wanted to train to become an artist.

1940 – He was accepted into The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts’ Graphic Programme.

1943 - Introduced to ceramics through a classmate. Learned the “cow horn technique,” in which a cow horn is filled with paint and is used to create very thin lines. Would use this technique on his ceramics.

1945 — Graduated from the Academy and made his artist debut, hosting an extensive show that showcased not just his ceramics, but drawings, posters, and other works.

1948 — Wiinblad is gaining popularity quickly, and is recruited to work in the Nymolle earthenware factory. This enables him to crank out much more of his iconic ceramic pieces, like bowls, cups, candlesticks, dishes and ashtrays. This was also when he began to gain international attention.

1949 — Completes several drawing projects for the U.N. in Paris, and designs costumes and sets for theatrical performances.

1950 — Ceramics were exhibited at Bonniers, a furniture store, in New York City.

1951 — Establishes his own workshop in a town north of Copenhagen.

1960 — Appointed as artistic director for Rosenthal porcelain, further developing his international career.

1969 — A lover of classical music, Wiinblad designed and created a dinner service for Rosenthal inspired by Mozart's opera, titled the Magic Flute. It ended up being so intricate and detailed that it took the factory several years to complete.

1971— Wiinblad was commissioned by the Shah of Iran’s wife to design a porcelain dinner service to celebrate the anniversary of the Persian empire. This was one of the most important and lavish events of the 20th century, filled with high-profile guests.

1988 — Made a poster for the Paralympic Games in Seoul, which ended up being his most successful poster. In his older age, he made mostly posters, which he made free of charge for charitable organizations.

1990 — Wiinblad was commissioned by an exclusive hotel in Denmark to refurbish and redoracte their entire dining room. This required many tiles, chandeliers, large porcelain figures, and some of Wiinblad’s old motifs, like florals and whimsical faces.

2006 — Passed away in Denmark.

You can find lot 21, and other Bjorn Wiinblad pieces, in Haylofts May sale. Opening Wednesday May 11th at noon and closing on Sunday May 15th at 7pm. All information provided from the Bjorn Wiinblad Foundation, https://www.bjornwiinblad-denmark.com/meet-bjoern-wiinblad.

_{Image from the Bjorn Wiinblad Foundation}

04/04/2022     General

Elegance at Hand: A Brief History of Cigarette Holders

A case of Zeus Cigarette Holders featured in Hayloft’s April sale will transport you back to a bygone era. As you open the case, you’ll find yourself wishing you were sitting outside a Parisian cafe with black satin evening gloves and an empty coffee cup artfully arranged on the white tablecloth in front of you.

If the image of Audrey Hepburn in an updo holding a cigarette holder immediately came to mind, you may be surprised to know that cigarette holders were initially used by men as it was considered inappropriate for American women to smoke in public. After the 19th amendment was passed, granting women the right to vote, cigarette smoking became more common among the younger generations and an elegant, often feminine accessory was born.

Cigarette holders were used throughout the 20s, 30s and 40s – before filtered cigarettes were invented – to keep the user from inhaling tobacco flakes. They also prevented ash from falling on clothes. As they began to be used widely, cigarette holders became as decorative as they were practical.

Cigarette holders came in different sizes, styles and designs for different occasions. Longer lengths were used for more formal events, while the shortest was used for a casual smoke at home. These accessories served as a form of self-expression in a society that valued stepping out and enjoying themselves. Many examples of cigarette holders can be found in films, fashion and images of everyday life.

For obvious reasons, cigarette holders became less popular as technology and attitudes toward smoking shifted in the United State and elsewhere. Although their use has fallen out of fashion, cigarette holders still reveal a great deal about the time periods from which they originated. Form, function and style combined to create beautiful examples of craftsmanship and elegant design.

Hayloft’s upcoming sale will be open for bidding from April 6th through April 10th. Find Lot 17, the Zeus Cigarette Holders, and many others when the online catalogue opens.

03/11/2022     General

The Revival of Mid-Century Modern Design

If you’ve watched a television show or movie in the last year, chances are you’ve spotted some Mid-century modern set designs. With the resurgence of the Mid-century modern style in pop culture touchpoints like Mad Men, Loki and even The Incredibles, many collectors, decorators and new homebuyers are gravitating towards furniture pieces inspired by – or sourced directly from – the 1950s and 60s.

Mid-century modern style furniture pops up all over the place. These pieces are perennially popular and timeless due to their simplicity, form and functionality. Mid-century modern pieces are easy to integrate with furniture from other eras, which allows buyers to build a space they truly resonate with. Exposed or finished wood, leather, metal, and earth tones are all sought-after design traits abundant in the Mid-century modern era of design.

Hayloft offers plenty of Mid-century design inspiration, including an Aalvar Aalto bentwood chair that sold for $95.00 and a Mies Van der Rohe-esque leather bench that sold for $1,000.00 this past February.

Featured in our March 13th auction is a Mid-century modern style leather lounge chair (Lot 409). Reminiscent of furniture produced by Mid-century design icons Charles and Ray Eames, this lounge emphasizes luxury, relaxation, craft and elegance. Also offered in March is a flos arco floor lamp, complete with marble base (Lot 357). These items are sure to be sought after by new and experienced collectors!

Mid-century modern never goes out of style. Find mid-century and more interesting and unique pieces by perusing the March auction catalog – bidding closes Sunday, March 13th beginning at 7pm!

03/09/2022     Jewelry

The Estate of June Marston Dyson

Doyle is honored to auction jewelry from the Estate of June Marston Dyson, a pioneering woman in the legal profession and a generous donor to many of New York's cultural institutions.

01/22/2022     General

Chalkware: A Point of American Accessibility

Long before cheap plastics invaded our homes, there was Chalkware. Chalkware was made and sold in America as early as 1770, created from a formula of gypsum and plaster of Paris that could be molded into a variety of shapes and sizes. For many average families, porcelain and ceramics were still expensive, and some early chalkware designs from the 19th century were made to resemble the more expensive varieties of things like English Staffordshire. By the 1930s, chalkware became a perfect material to make whimsical carnival prizes, like dogs with funny hats, and cats, airbrushed in bright color with glitter! (lots 22-25) By the 1950s and 1960s a diverse array of figural lamps, wall plaques, and other types of decorative items became synonymous with the mid-century look. Ceramics were still expensive and somewhat limited in the post-war years, but the market for stylish, modern design was booming, and chalkware fit the mold as an available and affordable alternative. Chalkware’s earliest production can be traced to cities in Pennsylvania, so it is no surprise that a company like the Pittsburgh Statuary Company continued the tradition; their designs are among the most collected from the period. (lots 47-50) One problem with chalkware was its lack of durability, and its popularity faded by the 1960s, and once again ceramics reclaimed its place in the home. Manufactures like Hull, an Ohio based company, and McCoy (lot 1, lot 139, 141) were able to meet the demand for on trend styles. Even after a fire devastated the Hull factory, the Hull wares were so in demand, they were able to quickly rebuild and offer customers new designs like the Pine pattern and Continental line (lot 133, 137).

_{Lot 22 in Hayloft DC January Auction: Four Carnival Chalkware Figures}

_{Lot 48 in Hayloft DC January Auction: Pair PGH Statuary Co. Figural Chalkware Lamps}

_{Lot 1 in Hayloft DC January Auction: Vintage McCoy Cat's in the Basket Cookie Jar}

_{Lot 133 in Hayloft DC January Auction: Two Pieces of Hull Pottery}

These are all the lots for the Hayloft DC January Auction! Happy bidding!

05/21/2021     General

Pop-Up Bronx ft. CRASH!

_{A sneak peak of items available at Hayloft’s POP-UP BRONX sale on May 24 and May 25.}

Did someone say "POP-UP BRONX?" Join us on Monday, May 24 and Tuesday, May 25 from 10am-4pm and shop our 2-day Pop-Up Tag Sale! Find your next treasure and watch Graffiti artist and Bronx native CRASH paint his latest mural on the facade of our building. Have fun browsing the curated selection of stylish art, furniture and decor -- we even know a guy who can fix you up with a baconeggandcheese!

Hayloft Auctions Pop-Up Tag Sale!
Monday, May 24 / Tuesday, May 25 / 10am-4pm
719 East 134th Street
Bronx, NY 10454

We Buy Estates and Collections!

Hayloft Auctions is pleased to purchase estates and collections large and small. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary proposal!
New York Metro Area: Call 929-303-3266 or email info@HayloftAuctions.com
Washington, DC Metro Area: Call 301-348-5282 or email HayloftDC@HayloftAuctions.com

08/19/2020     General

Buy a Tote for a Tote-ally Good Cause.

At Hayloft, we believe now more than ever our students need a little bit extra. So, we're giving back!

A portion of our profits from each purchase of our Thank you For Bidding tote bags will be donated to the Bronx Charter School for the Arts. Support our students and show off your love for auctions!

Why give back?

We know there are other options out there, but you chose us. Our growth is due entirely to you, and we are very grateful. We want to pay it forward.

Since our warehouse is located in the Bronx and a majority of the Hayloft team are New York natives, with some calling the Bronx home, we consider Hayloft #broxstrong by proxy. We decided that the best way to pay it forward is within our community, specifically donating to Bronx Charter School for the Arts.

Who is Bronx Charter School for the Arts?

Founded in 2005, Bronx Charter School for the Arts is a public elementary school that focuses on immersing developing and learning minds in the Arts. Various subjects, such as music and visual arts, are integrated into the student’s curriculum, hoping to encourage creativity and create a well-rounded foundation for their future. Their mission was such a success that they expanded with a middle school in 2018. Who knows, maybe some of those students will be future furniture makers and Hayloft supporters! Read ABOUT THE SCHOOL Here

Why Tote Bags?

For those who are not NY residents or haven’t heard yet, the distribution of plastic single-use bags was prohibited in NY state on March 1, 2020. Although there will be exceptions, shoppers will have to begin carrying reusable bags, like tote bags, instead.

We are highly supportive of a better environment, and as visual people we can’t help but preserve some of the classic designs of these soon-to-be obsolete plastic bags. Inspired by the iconic ‘thank you’ shopping bags, these ‘Thank You for Bidding’ totes are perfect for carrying your groceries, or your latest auction winnings! It’s a friendly reminder that we’re always thankful for your support. Plus, a portion of the price of each bag will be donated to Bronx Charter School for the Arts, so you’ll be paying it forward too.

04/13/2020     General

Browsing Hayloft with Young Collector Michael Diaz-Griffith

“Auctions are one of the best ways for new and young collectors to buy. If you’re interested in honing your connoisseurship skills, an auction allows you to see a vast amount of material and begin distinguishing between ‘good, better, and best.’

04/02/2020     General

5 Tips for Buying Jewelry Online

In these trying times, some of us rely on online shopping to provide a bit of an escape.

Our colleague Katherine Van Dell shares 5 Tips for Buying Jewelry Online in Doyle Notebook this week, just in time to inspire your next auction find in our current Spring Jewels auction.

The fabulous thing about jewelry is that a few unique touches can transform your wardrobe from day to night and back again. Ask yourself what occasion you have in mind for the earrings or necklace you have your eye on. Do you need a statement piece for a cocktail party? Or a more demure look for a light lunch? Whatever the event, there’s a piece of jewelry appropriate for every moment.

05/10/2019     General

Why Shop at Hayloft?

Shopping Hayloft is a chance to pick up an object someone else has set down. It’s a way to discover furniture, art and decor that might not exist in any museum, but could become part of your own prized collection. While many of the paintings, sculptures and drawings you can bid on are by artists whose names you don’t yet know, a little research can bring their signatures to life.

THIS HAYLOFT AUCTION OFFERS FOUR EXCEPTIONALLY CHARMING PAINTINGS BY THE ARTIST MOURA CHABOR (1905-1995). THEY ARE AT ONCE BOLD, GRAPHIC AND SWEET: THREE LITTLE SCENES MAKES A PATTERN OF LAMPPOSTS SEPARATED BY LITTLE GROUPS OF FIGURES, CARRIAGES, BIRDS, AND LITTLE DOGS LIKE NOTES ON A STAFF. A FOURTH PICTURE SHOWS A LONG, NARROW VIEW TOWARDS THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE DOTTED WITH THE SAME TINY FIGURES. CHABOR, WHO LIVED AND WORKED IN BOTH PARIS AND NEW YORK CITY, WAS KNOWN FOR HER COLORFUL STREET SCENES, PRINTS, AND PUPPETS. SEE BELOW.

 

 

Francisco Sainz (1923-1998), who died age 75 in 1998, was part of the Abstract Expressionist scene in New York City and East Hampton. His distinct style balances rich, disparate influences: teenage experiences fighting with the underground in the Spanish Civil War (and subsequent imprisonment in Lisbon, Portugal), later friends and peers like Willem de Kooning and Alfred Leslie, folk art, portraiture. Vignettes from his life include a stint as a professional bullfighter, jumping off a speeding train to escape the Fascists, and Sainz’s eccentric personal style and harmonica playing. His obituary in The New York Times mentions his "making an excellent paella, sometimes for as many as 200 people, in a bathtub on the beach." As artist, Sainz was most known for his painted masks and portraits. Subjects of these portraits included saints as well as historical figures like Grandma Moses and General Franco. These portraits combine the rigidity of early photography spoken through dappled rectangles of color: here, yellow-gold swoops and navy dots highlight fuschia, lilac, and periwinkle-blue daubs.

_{Francisco Sainz, Santiago. Sold in the last May auction.}

 

Alba Stella Zaiser (1921-2000) was a local artist from Coronado, California. Besides being a wife and mother, she grew her own vegetables, made dresses and taught art. A little profile published May 1973 in the Coronado Eagle and Journal quotes, "As long as I can remember there was always something in me that said 'get a pencil and sketch.’” Zaiser’s paintings, drawings and prints of Coronado document the small glimpses of home we all share, while articles and obituaries of the artist describe her sunny, energetic sprit.

 

_{Alba Zaiser. Sold in last month’s auction}

 

 

 

04/04/2019     General

Why Collect? Presents Tableware

Refreshing your go-to set of dishes is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to add style to your home and have fun using old items in new ways. It's a little change you can appreciate over and over again in any room, since serveware isn't just for the kitchen.

I USE A CANDY-COLORED SAUCER AS A KEY TRAY, AND MY FAVORITE FLOWER VASE IS A GLASS PITCHER. SHALLOW BOWLS, PLATES, AND CUPS CAN DOUBLE AS SMALL STORAGE OR MODISH DECOR. AND AT THE TABLE, WHAT YOU’RE EATING OFF OF HAS TREMENDOUS POWER TO JAZZ UP YOUR CASUAL LUNCH OR NAIL THE LOOK FOR YOUR COCKTAIL PARTY.

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Delicate, iridescent mother-of-pearl accents make a place-setting feel fancy. This grouping was made for a consummate host: small plates, caviar forks and spoons, and more. Plus six silver-plated place card holders shaped like tiny frogs. 

Some mollusks produce mother-of-pearl, or nacre, inside their shells, and the outsides of pearls are nacre, too. Despite its fragile look, nacre is very durable: in addition to plates and knife handles, decorative nacre is used as inlay or adornment throughout architecture, fashion, and music. (Price realized: $55) 

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Both these lots pair a set of (infinitely useful) small plates with a few mismatched serveware.

Lizard green Spode plates with leafy rims pop next to a small English shell-edge serving dish painted with blue and orange flowers and a grass-blade rim. The same mustard-yellow, blue, and green flowers appear in a sunny Spanish charger and a quirky ceramic pitcher. (Price realized: $150)

A more whimsical grouping combines radicchio- and cabbage-form serving bowls with marzipan-colored covered dishes shaped like pears. A group of tiny, frilly, leaf-form dishes complete the lot. (Price realized: $70)

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This versatile set of plates, bowls, spoons, and stackable dumpling holders inspires mixing-and-matching and endless decorating ideas. I can already imagine organizing a treasure-chest of jewelry in spare dumpling holder. (And FYI, National Dumpling Day is September 26.) (Price realized: $90) 

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HERE ARE SOME GREAT TABLEWARE IN OUR UPCOMING APRIL AUCTION.

 

     

03/12/2019     General

Why Collect? Presents: Low Tables