Three choice lots from upcoming Heritage auctions
Comic Art
Frank Frazetta’s art for Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars book series set a standard for other artists to follow. He helped to cement the characters and locales into the minds of a whole new generation of fans. This 1970 graphite piece, which appeared on Page 156 of the Doubleday hardcover edition of A Princess of Mars, features John Carter and Princess Dejah Thoris faced with a Barsoomian warrior. It is one of only three interior illustrations.
Frank Frazetta A Princess of Mars Interior Illustration Original Art Doubleday, 1970
Auction: September 14-17
Asian Art
In the late 16th to 17th centuries, snuff, a luxury import from the West, took the Chinese Qing dynasty elite by storm. Small and elaborate snuff bottles, carried in pockets and sleeves and often presented as gifts from the imperial court, were created in precious materials, with the designs growing more elaborate over the centuries. This late 19th-century yellow glass snuff bottle from the Tappan Family Private Collection features a detailed elephant wrapped around its body.
A Chinese Yellow Glass Elephant Snuff Bottle, late 19th century
Estimate: $1,000-$2,000
Auction: September 20
Fine Jewelry
Bvlgari, the prestigious Italian jewelry house founded by Greek silversmith Sotirio Bvlgari in 1884, has long been known for its striking use of colored stones, and this Ceylon purple sapphire and diamond ring is no exception. The ring’s centerpiece, a 10.67-carat cushion-shaped pinkish-purple sapphire, is surrounded by sparkling baguette-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 4.50 carats. The ring’s auction appearance comes at an opportune time for gift givers as sapphire is the birthstone for September.
Bvlgari Ceylon Purple Sapphire, Diamond and Gold Ring
Estimate: $90,000-$110,000
Auction: September 28