Oakridge Auction Gallery

05/07/2020

Vintage 14K Gold Ladies' Necklace

This #vintage 14 K Gold Ladies' Necklace was purchased in Rio de Janeiro in the #1960s, a decade when fashionable jewelry tended toward bold, visual impact and texture that teased the eye of the beholder.

The necklace balances simplicity of material with a deceptive complexity of design; texture is created by both the 5-strand plait and the individual mesh strands, made cohesive by the interlacing of the plait and the uniform tone of the metal. Light plays over the different textures and lends additional interest to this necklace, which is as suitable to an elegant event today as it was over 50 years ago.

05/06/2020

Nevers Faience Hot Air Balloon Plate, 18th Century

This polychrome plate was made in Nevers, France in the 18th century to commemorate the first manned hot air balloon flight at Versailles in 1783.
Among the witnesses for this historic flight were the French monarchs, Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI. Illustrated in the well of the plate are the Mongolfiere brothers, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Ettienne, standing in the basket of the hot air balloon. On either side of the balloon are the words 'a l'immortalite' or 'to immortality'. Above the balloon is a shining sun, possibly symbolic of the Sun King Louis XIV, and below the balloon is a pastoral landscape and the date 1789.

Continued interest in the 1783 landmark flight, which established France as a center of innovation, through the end of the 18th century led to the production of commemorative items like this faience plate. This type of decoration is a subsection of faience parlante, referred to as 'faience patriotique,' which includes patriotic themes and events that inspire national pride and promote the monarchy. The date inscribed on this plate, 1789, was also the first year of the French Revolution.

05/05/2020

Karl Griesbaum, Enamel Singing Bird Box Automaton

Another tinker of the turn of the century, Karl Griesbam (German, 1872-1941) founded his workshop for clock micro-mechanics in 1905, in the Black Forest city of Triberg. Like the firm of Blaise Bontems, to whom we attribute the 'Singing Bird' automaton clock in our upcoming auction, the firm survived past the mid-point of the 20th century in the hands of its second generation, eventually selling out to Siegfried Wendel of Siegfried's Mechanisches Musikkabinett in 1988.

The polished metal automaton boxes, from which a singing bird would spring up when the box was wound, were among the top tier products of the firm - this one from our May 16th Art, Antiques & Collectibles sale has polished brass fittings with colorful enamel work animating the exterior of the box. On the lid, a pastoral scene harkens back to the era of the Rococo, another period in which cleverly wrought, delicate items were greatly prized.

For more information on this and other automata in our upcoming May 16th sale, visit our website at www.oakridgeauctiongallery.com.

05/05/2020

'Singing Birds' Automaton, Attributed to Blaise Bontems (French, 1814-1893)

Automaton production flourished in the 19th century, which saw a perfection of clockwork mechanisms and a fascination with machinery and man-made wonders. Clocks such as this, with its many parts, including five different singing and moving birds, required the collaboration of different specialists, making them symbols of "social privilege and status" (SFO Museum, Automata: Wonders of the Nineteenth Century).

The French clockmaker Blaise Bontems or Bontemps was known in particular for his singing bird automata. He started his business in the 1840s, and at its height his firm produced around 400 automata with singing, moving stuffed birds on trees, in cages, and so forth each year. After Bontems' retirement in the 1880's, the firm survived in the hands of his son until the mid-20th century.

For more information on this and other automata in our upcoming May 16th Art, Antiques, and Collectibles sale, visit our website at https://oakridgeauctiongallery.com/details/14435

05/05/2020

Blaise Bontems (attrib.) 'Singing Birds' Automaton

Blaise Bontems (attrib.) 'Singing Birds' Automaton

05/04/2020

Mudras and their Meanings

Mudra, a symbolic gesture or a pose.

Hand gestures and poses are more than just visually appealing. The next time you look at a statue or #thangka, look at the hands and notice the figures are holding their hands, or are seated, in a very specific pose. These different poses are called #mudras, and are commonly seen in #Hindu and #Buddhist #art. The most common mudras that we see here at #Oakridge are the hand gestures for the dhyana #mudra and bhumisparsha; the vitarka mudra, and karana mudra are less common, but just as interesting. These mudras all have different meanings and history behind them...

Read more:
https://oakridgeauctiongallery.com/story/35

05/04/2020

A big thank you to everyone who is helping us to transition to #onlineauctions this month - here's a short how-to for anyone new to our online bidding platforms.

05/01/2020

Oakridge Gallery Gossip May 2020 - https://mailchi.mp/a7861c19b844/oakridge-gallery-gossip-march-1666281

04/29/2020

Wayne Gretzky-Signed Hockey Stick and Collectibles, 1992

In the waning months of 1992, "The Great One" had plenty of time to sign a few autographs. Sidelined with a back injury, the season would be the first in 13 years that Gretzky failed to score at least 100 points. While he would bounce back and play six more seasons, his career was arguably never the same. Luckily for the sports world, his legacy was already solidified as the greatest athlete to ever play the game, the top male athlete of the 1980s, and holder of 61 NHL records at the time of his retirement.

For those of you binge-playing NHL 20, following NBC Sports' Stanley Cup simulation, or wishing that the Gretzky/Ovechkin Covid-19 charity battle went to three games last week, this may be the perfect reminder of the unifying power of sports and a reminder that they will, someday, return.

Find this lot and many more signed sports memorabilia in our upcoming Art, Antiques, and Collectibles auction on May 16. Register to bid now through the link in bio!

#oakridgeauctiongallery #auction #auctions #auctionhouse #antiques #collectibles #bidding #consignment #ashburnva #loudouncounty #virginia #hockey #hockeylife #nhl #nhl20 #waynegretzky #autograph

04/28/2020

Swarovski Crystal Snowy Owl, 2013

While the snowy owl is most often associated with the Arctic region, retreating there to breed from May until June, this species spends much of its time far south of that harsh climate. It's not uncommon to see them throughout the Great Lakes coastline as far south as Cleveland, Ohio.

Though these raptors only grow to 2 ft long, their 5 ft wingspan and large talons solidify them (along with eagles) as the top bird of prey in their environment. In recent years, this once widespread symbol of winter has been designated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. With conservation efforts, this majestic species may remain a symbol of winter for many generations to come.

#oakridgeauctiongallery #auction #auctions #auctionhouse #antiques #collectibles #bidding #consignment #ashburnva #loudouncounty #virginia #owl #owls #birds #birdsofinstagram #birding #snowyowl #swarovski #swarovskicrystals

04/27/2020

Swarovski Crystal "Steamboat Willie" Mickey and Minnie, 2013

For those of you stuck at home and binge-watching @disneyplus like so many of us here, here's a throwback with you in mind to where it all began: Steamboat Willie. While not the first official Mickey Mouse short, it was the first with sound effects, courtesy of the Cinephone. From 7 minutes of Mickey on a steamboat to 12 Disney Worlds worldwide and over a month's worth of streamable film alone on Disney+, it's safe to say Walt and @disney had an impact on most all of our lives.

Find this lot and more @swarovski -immortalized Disney crystal figures in our upcoming Art, Antiques, and Collectibles sale, happening May 16. Register now through the link in bio!

#oakridgeauctiongallery #auction #auctions #auctionhouse #antiques #collectibles #bidding #consignment #ashburnva #loudouncounty #virginia #swarovski #swarovskicrystals #mickey #mickeymouse #minniemouse #disney #disneyplus

04/24/2020

Huangyang (Boxwood) Carving of Luxing, Late-19th Century⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
While many depictions of the Sanxing, or the Three Star brothers come through our doors, it's not often that we see middle brother, Lu, on his own. His name is taken from the word for the salary of a government official, and as such, he is the god of Status. Not to be confused with his brother, Fuxing, god of Wealth, Ming dynasty Chinese culture placed rank itself on the same tier as money and long life (via Shouxing, god of Longevity). Disfavor from any of these three brothers would result in a miserable life indeed.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
For those seeking imperial employment, Lu was the god to petition. As such, it was probably a bad idea to schedule a job interview on a day when Mizar, Lu's star and the brightest part of the Big Dipper, would not be visible. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#oakridgeauctiongallery #auction #auctions #auctionhouse #antiques #collectibles #bidding #consignment #ashburnva #loudouncounty #virginia #chineseart #asianart #asianantiques #constellation #constellations #astronomy #bigdipper #star #stars #jobsearching #jobgoals #status #carving #woodcarving #woodworking #boxwood #mythology #qingdynasty

04/23/2020

Meissen Porcelain Model S169

While Cupid may seem like a 20th century Hallmark figure to an American audience, this little deity has been out riding dolphins since ancient times. While the Greeks felt that Cupid, as the embodiment of love, was one of the very first beings in creation, the Romans most often interpreted him as the child of Venus and Mars (sometimes of Venus and Vulcan, sometimes of Venus and Mercury, sometimes of other gods altogether).

Due to the connection with Venus, who was born of the sea during an unfortunate altercation between Saturn and Uranus, Cupid also needed some sea imagery. The dolphin, already associated with kindness as it accompanied sailor's ships across the Mediterranean, served as a convenient, literal vehicle to express the Cupid-Venus connection. From Roman mosaics to Meissen porcelain, Cupid has journeyed quite a bit on the back of his seafaring friend.

Find this lot and much more from our May 16 Art, Antiques, and Collectibles auction through the link in bio. Bidder Registration is now open!

#oakridgeauctiongallery #auction #auctions #auctionhouse #antiques #collectibles #bidding #consignment #ashburnva #loudouncounty #virginia #porcelain #meissen #meissenporcelain #porcelainart #porcelainsculpture #antiqueporcelain #meißen #porzellan #germanart #germanartist #fineart #cupid #dolphins #mythology

04/22/2020

Meissen Porcelain Malabarian Musicians, Models 1569 & 1576

These two porcelain figures present a beautiful, cross-cultural conundrum—How did manufacturers in the middle of Europe come to appreciate a culture in southern India? How did citizens of the Kerala coast get so European looking? Was there an international hurdy-gurdy trade that brought this instrument to this woman?

Whether through ancient trade routes to Rome, Egypt, Greece, or the Middle East, or through later French, Portuguese, Dutch, or British colonialism and trade, the word got out about this region as a powerhouse of music and literature. For a time, it seems, the term "Malabarian" was similar to "Bohemian"—A people, but also an artistic ideal.

This couple is part of our upcoming Art, Antiques, and Collectibles auction on May 16. Find this lot and the rest of the auction by following the link in bio—and don’t forget to register to bid!

#oakridgeauctiongallery #auction #auctions #auctionhouse #antiques #collectibles #bidding #consignment #ashburnva #loudouncounty #virginia #porcelain #meissen #meissenporcelain #porcelainart #porcelainsculpture #antiqueporcelain #meißen #porzellan #germanart #germanartist #fineart #music #musicians

04/20/2020

Bid in Art, Antiques & Collectibles Auction on May 16, 2020 by Oakridge Auction Gallery in VA

Our May 16th Art, Antiques & Collectibles #auction is now available on Live Auctioneers!

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/166354_art-antiques-and-collectibles/

458 lots featured in Art, Antiques & Collectibles on Sat, May 16, 2020 by Oakridge Auction Gallery in VA, featuring Imero Gobbato, Deer Island Thorofare, Swarovski, Boxed Snowy Owl and more.

04/20/2020

Meissen Porcelain Tazza, Model F117

A star centrepiece from the Meissen factory porcelain collection found in our upcoming Arts, Antiques, and Collectibles auction on May 16 is this cupid-laden tazza. While the cupids and their possessions are clearly the focus of this piece, take a look at the brilliant expressions of the antiquated dolphin figures. The slight variation in the shading around the eyes conveys lots of emotion, and the coloration around the mouths give the illusion of subtle differences in movement.

With the interlocking tails hoisting up the shell platter, it's certainly a grand way to display any of the cake and pastry creations you've mastered while maintaining stay-at-home orders!

#oakridgeauctiongallery #auction #auctions #auctionhouse #antiques #collectibles #bidding #consignment #ashburnva #loudouncounty #virginia #porcelain #meissen #meissenporcelain #porcelainart #porcelainsculpture #antiqueporcelain #meißen #porzellan #germanart #germanartist #fineart #tazza #centerpiece #centerpieces #cakestand #cakestands

04/17/2020

Things to do at home...

#12: Plan your next #trip.

These antique and vintage maps of the #WashingtonDC area offer a vicarious way to travel the region as well as #inspiration for things to do once the need to #stayathome abates.

#Maps have long been a collector's item - as Glen McLaughlin puts it in his 2012 article "Maps: What I Collect and Why," maps are "visually stunning, historically significant, while chronicling discoveries and portraying mystical places created in the mind of man." Often large and colorful, they make useful wall decorations and educational tools. More importantly, though, they excite the imagination.

Different eras have different ways of creating and using maps. #Medieval travelers consulted maps not only as topographical guides but also ways of navigating cultural and mystical spaces - for example, placing the Holy City of #Jerusalem at the center of the world or pointing out where be dragons.

Today's maps, with their technological enhancements, reveal some of our shifting cultural priorities, helping us to find the nearest coffee shop or gas station and keeping us, as the map user, always at the center.

Maps help to orient us in time, space, and community. At a time when our physical movements are curtailed, collecting and (or) reading maps can help us to go abroad while still looking out for the safety of our friends and families.

04/16/2020

Pair of Stone-Inlaid Panels, 19th Century

Wooden panels are kind of like the pop-up books of the Chinese antique wall art world. They can be every bit as intricate as the watercolor and ink scroll paintings with which they likely share wall space, but instead of a careful painted image of a tree, a tree will either be carved in relief on the panel, or it is separately carved and attached to the panel.

In these panels, we have amethyst inlays representing fruit and jade inlays representing mountains. To add to the opulent setting, the background scenery is gilt. For those wanting to impress guests with a third dimension on their walls, there is certainly no fancier way to do it!

These panels will be part of our Art, Antiques, and Collectibles auction on May 16 at 10 am.

#oakridgeauctiongallery #auction #auctions #auctionhouse #antiques #collectibles #bidding #consignment #ashburnva #loudouncounty #virginia #woodpanels #inlay #jade #jadestone #amethyst #amethyststone #gilt #giltwood #asianart #asianantiques #wallart #wallartdecor #walldecor #walldecoration #wallhanging #hangingart

04/16/2020

Things to do at home…

11. Quilting.

Defined as ‘joining together layers of fabric with lines of stitching,’ #quilting and creating quilted blankets has been part of American culture since colonial times. Its appeal, today and in the past, lies in its “international, diverse history, rooted in necessity (need for bed covers, and warmth), economy (reusing scraps and discarded fabric), and ultimately the need for human self expression,” according to the Textile Arts Center.

One quintessential quality to #American quilts beginning in the 19th century is the predominance of patching or piecing - joining scraps or carefully cut pieces of fabric together into patterns and plays of color and form. Patterns like the Double Wedding Ring, Friendship Star, and Jacob’s Ladder became both standardised and constantly improvised with variations in color, the number of pieces used in a block, and the overall arrangement of the pieced blocks.

Once the piecing of a block quilt is finished, the quilter - independently or with a #Sewing Bee style group - adds additional layers, like batting and a quilt back, before stitching through all layers. This ‘quilting’ not only adds warmth and weight to the final product, but also decorates the quilt with elaborate patterns in relief.

While the modern quilter has a wide array of machines to support both piecing and quilting, older quilts like this #Vintage Barn Quilt in our upcoming May Art, #Antiques & Collectibles #auction were often sewn entirely by hand. The investment in time and creativity elevates the quilt from a useful domestic product to a work of #art and #cultural #expression.