Frank Frazetta created this masterwork of illustration in 1967 for the Lancer paperback edition of Conan the Conqueror. One of the most electrifying and influential works of 20th-century illustration, the painting forever altered how audiences imagined Robert E. Howard’s iconic barbarian, ushering in a new era that reshaped the visual language of fantasy art. The work comes directly from Kirk Hammett, the lead guitarist of Metallica and one of the world’s foremost collectors of horror and fantasy art.

Frank Frazetta Conan the Berserker Cover Painting Original Art (Lancer/Ace, 1967)
Auction: December 9-10

This 14k gold medal is one of only five produced for crewmembers of 1970’s Apollo 13 mission. Due to a last-minute crew change and problems that prohibited Apollo 13 from accomplishing its mission, the original flown medallions were melted down. This is one of five newly designed gold medallions that were struck from the flown metal. The design features the mission insignia depicting the name of the mission, three of Apollo’s chariot horses flying toward the moon, and the slogan “Ex Luna, Scientia” (“From the Moon, Knowledge”).  

Apollo 13-Flown Gold Robbins Medallion Originally from the Personal Collection of Mission Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise
Auction: December 11-12

From the climactic final scenes of the groundbreaking Disney classic The Little Mermaid, this hand-painted production cel features Ariel with King Triton after Ursula turns him into another addition to her nefarious “garden.” The 1989 film launched the Disney Renaissance, a period of creative and commercial revival for the studio that continued through the 1990s. The Little Mermaid also marked a pivotal moment in animation history, as it was the last Disney feature film to use hand-painted cels in its animation process.

The Little Mermaid Ariel and Triton Production Cel (Walt Disney, 1989)
Auction: December 12-15