COMPLIMENTARY COPY
Reading Public Museum Adds Newest Work Of Art Thanks To Members
AAN Current News
“The Bridge” By Ernest Fiene Becomes Newest Addition At Spring Purchase Party FRIDAY MAY 27, 2016 • VOL. 47, NO. 22
Harry Bertoia’s Studio Jewelry And Sound Sculpture Is Explored In Two Exhibitions The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) is presenting two exhibitions until Sunday, Sept. 25, that will focus on prolific artist, designer, and sculptor Harry Bertoia (1915-78) and highlight the distinct practices that bookended his career. “Atmosphere for Enjoyment: Harry Bertoia’s Environment for Sound” explores the sounding sculptures collectively referred to as Sonambient, their installation in Bertoia’s stone barn, and their legacy as sound art; while “Bent, Cast & Forged: The Jewelry of Harry Bertoia” introduces the lesserknown jewelry works that, in many ways, are the predecessors of his internationally acclaimed sculpture and furniture designs. “Harry Bertoia is a perfect subject for the Museum of Arts and Design,” said Shannon R. Stratton, MAD’s William and Mildred Lasdon Chief Curator. “His prolific practice has pushed the boundaries of art, design, and craft.” “Whether it was kinetics in jewelry, the monotype as drawing, or the creation of a sound environment as an artwork, Bertoia worked across disciplines and scales fluidly and with inventiveness,” Stratton said. “The impact of his work is tremendous, and transcends specific art and design fields to influence architects and sculptors as readily as sound designers and musicians.”
Fooled By Fakes Thimbles on page 10
Reading Public Museum members selected the newest work of art to add to the museum’s evergrowing permanent collection at its Spring Purchase Party. “This year our goal was to add a new piece of American Modernism,” shared museum curator Scott Schweigert. “And I am pleased to announce that ‘The Bridge’ by Ernest Fiene was the winner.” Ernest Fiene was a Germanborn American artist (1894-1965) who painted “The Bridge” circa 1960. It is an oil-on-canvas and was purchased from the Caldwell Gallery in Manlius, N.Y. This is the fourth year that the Reading Public Museum (RPM) has hosted a Purchase Party as a way to involve its membership in selecting works of art to fill gaps in its collection. During an evening event, Curator Schweigert, collections committee members and
curatorial staff presented five selections of oil paintings and museum members voted for their favorite with Mengel Dollars. The other works on display were “A Cool Drink” by Robert Gwathmey, “The Fortune (Solitaire)” by Kenneth Hayes Miller, “The White Pitcher” by Henry Lee McFee and “Sailboats” by Bror Julius Olsson Nordfeldt. This latest addition is currently on display in the museum’s Cohen Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art. The Reading Public Museum is supported in part by grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and is located at 500 Museum Road, Reading, Pa. The museum is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more or to become a member, visit www.reading publicmuseum.org.
Morphy Auctions’ April Fine Firearms Event Shoots Past $1.8 Million In Sales on page 12
Miniature And Other Lamps Light The Way on page 14
Most Expensive Gun Ever Auctioned Draws $1.265 Million Harry Bertoia is seen here manipulating the tops of rods shaped like cattails using individual fingers to move specific rods to create a complex sound in 1975, Bertoia Barn, Barto, Pa. Image courtesy of Beverly H. Twitchell.
Atmosphere for Enjoyment: Harry Bertoia’s Environment for Sound In the 1960s, Bertoia began exploring the potential relationship between sculpture and sound, and eventually created a significant oeuvre that would crown his life’s work. Upon discovering the range Continued on page 2
A Model 1886 Winchester rifle presented to Captain Henry W. Lawton is now the most expensive single firearm ever sold at auction after drawing $1.265 million at Rock Island Auction Company’s premiere auction. The sale took place April 29, 30, and May 1. Other guns have sold higher as a pair, but no other single firearm has sold for more through auction. The three-day sale grossed $17.5 million. “It is an honor to be entrusted with an American treasure,” said RIAC President Kevin Hogan. “Being serial number one and possessing such outstanding condition would alone be enough to
draw six figures at auction. When you add one of the most famous names in the history of the Old West you have a huge crossover appeal and set the stage for something special to happen.” “For decades firearms have provided an alternative form of investment and this is clear proof of that,” says RIAC CEO Patrick Hogan. With firearms sales spiking in the previous two presidential election years and the new world record price, the future appears extremely rosy for the gun collecting market. The rifle’s story begins with two
Results From Gateway’s Model Train, Toy, And Railroadiana Auction on page 17
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This historic Winchester Model 1886 rifle, serial number one, and pocket watch were presented to Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Captain Henry W. Lawton, noted captor, following the surrender of Chiricahua Apache leader Geronimo. The rifle and watch sold for $1.265 million at Rock Island Auction Company establishing a new world record for a single firearm at auction.
Etch It In Stone: The Granite State Book And Ephemera Show Will Rock New Hampshire on page 18
In This Issue
The Bertoia Barn in Barto, Pa., circa 2015. Image courtesy of John Brien.
This necklace, circa 1943, is forged and fabricated gold. It is courtesy of the collection of Kim and Al Eiber. Image courtesy of Tim Thayer and R. H. Hensleigh.
SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . . . . starting on page 3 SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . on page 5 EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR . on page 8 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . starting on page 8
FEATURED AUCTION: Mohawk Arms’ Auction - June 3 & 4 in Bouckville, New York - Page 7
AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . on page 11 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 19