November 26, 2024Kelsie JankowskiPrinted & Manuscript Americana Records & Results: Printed & Manuscript Americana — November 21, 2024 Read more about Records & Results: Printed & Manuscript Americana — November 21, 2024 Swann’s Thursday, November 21 auction of Printed & Manuscript Americana brought $608,036, landing squarely in the pre-sale estimates, with 234 of the 320 lots offered finding buyers. Of the auction,…
Read more about Swann in Profile: Lisa Crescenzo November 13, 2024 Swann Swann in Profile: Lisa Crescenzo After 10 years with Swann and the reorganization of the house’s fine art offerings, Lisa Crescenzo is now the Managing Director of Fine Art. As she transitions into her new…
Read more about Artist Profile: Roberto Kazuya Sakai November 8, 2024 Modern & Post-War Art Artist Profile: Roberto Kazuya Sakai Picking a favorite work of art in our season’s auction lineup is kind of like picking a favorite puppy in a litter. I love them all in different ways, and…
Read more about Records & Results: African American Art — October 3, 2024 October 8, 2024 African American Art Records & Results: African American Art — October 3, 2024 African American Art Sets Six Artist Records The Thursday, October 3, 2024, sale of African American Art at Swann brought $3M and saw top prices for artists, with six records…
Read more about Collecting Aviation History June 18, 2024 Books & Manuscripts Collecting Aviation History As a specialized auction house, Swann has the unique ability to connect collectors with their specific interests. This is especially true for aviation collectors; the auctions from our books and…
Read more about Reintroducing Swann’s Fine Art Department June 12, 2024 Fine Art Reintroducing Swann’s Fine Art Department Swann Galleries announced on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, the reorganization of their fine art offerings under the leadership of Nigel Freeman. This change comes with the news of the retirement…
Read more about Records & Results: Fine Books — April 11, 2024 April 16, 2024 Uncategorized Records & Results: Fine Books — April 11, 2024 Swann Galleries’ spring offering of Fine Books on April 11, 2024, brought $974,793, with 84% of the lots finding buyers. The auction was the first of a combined format featuring…
Read more about Records & Results: African American Art — April 4, 2024 April 11, 2024 African American Art Records & Results: African American Art — April 4, 2024 Swann Galleries’ April 4, 2024 sale of African American Art brought crowds back to the sale room with a selection of standout modernist works alongside a contemporary selection sold to…
Read more about 8 Works to Collect For Spring April 2, 2024 African American Art 8 Works to Collect For Spring In celebration of the changing of the seasons we’re sharing a selection of works coming up for auction this month at Swann that are sure to inspire.
Read more about Records & Results: Printed & Manuscript African Americana — March 21, 2024 March 27, 2024 Printed & Manuscript African Americana Records & Results: Printed & Manuscript African Americana — March 21, 2024 Swann’s March 21, 2024 sale of Printed & Manuscript African Americana proved once again to be a success among institutions and collectors alike. The sale brought $967,061, closing well within…
Read more about 5 European Expressionist Artists to Know March 12, 2024 19th & 20th Century Prints & Drawings 5 European Expressionist Artists to Know The March 14 sale of 19th & 20th Century Art features a strong selection of original artworks, among them a run of those working in Eastern Europe in the first…
Read more about Records & Results: The Subculture Sale — February 8, 2024 February 14, 2024 Vintage Posters Records & Results: The Subculture Sale — February 8, 2024 “The Subculture Sale was an exciting foray into relatively new territory for Swann Galleries, not focusing on works from previous centuries, but, on the personally memorable. Among the scores of…
Read more about Records & Results: The Artists of the WPA — January 25, 2024 February 1, 2024 American Art Records & Results: The Artists of the WPA — January 25, 2024 Swann Galleries opened the winter 2024 season with the fourth iteration of The Artist of the WPA. The timed online auction closed Thursday, January 25, with an 89% sell-through rate…
Read more about 2023: Year in Review December 19, 2023 Swann 2023: Year in Review Swann Galleries continued to offer exceptional auctions of quality material in 2023. The year featured several collections, including a special selection of 100 works from the Stephen White collection in…
Read more about Original Disney Studios Animation Cels in the December 14 Illustration Art Auction December 5, 2023 Illustration Art Original Disney Studios Animation Cels in the December 14 Illustration Art Auction The December 14, 2023 auction of Illustration Art at Swann Galleries features a selection of original animation cels from Walt Disney Studios’ iconic films. Lot 15: Harry Reeves, Reflection in…
Read more about Swann in Profile: Skye Lacerte November 20, 2023 Illustration Art Swann in Profile: Skye Lacerte The start of the fall 2023 auction season at Swann brought Skye Lacerte as a new specialist for the Illustration Art department. Ahead of the December 14 sale, we sat…
Read more about Prints & Drawings’ Specialist Picks: What to Watch in the November 16, 2023, Contemporary Art Auction November 7, 2023 Contemporary Art Prints & Drawings’ Specialist Picks: What to Watch in the November 16, 2023, Contemporary Art Auction Our Prints & Drawings department shares their picks for the November 16, 2023, sale of Contemporary Art.
Read more about Records & Results: African American Art — October 19, 2023 October 24, 2023 African American Art Records & Results: African American Art — October 19, 2023 Swann Galleries’ October 19 sale of African American Art proved consistent among new contemporary artists and auction house favorites. Regarding the auction, department director Nigel Freeman noted, “I’m very happy…
Read more about Auction Highlights: Fine Books & Autographs — October 26, 2023 October 4, 2023 Books & Manuscripts Auction Highlights: Fine Books & Autographs — October 26, 2023 Autographs The spirits of conflict and exploration are intertwined in the autographs on offer. Among the most respected explorers of the unknown are scientists, each of whom must contend with…
Read more about Records & Results: LGBTQ+ Art, Material Culture & History — August 17, 2023 August 22, 2023 LGBTQ+ Art, Material Culture & History Records & Results: LGBTQ+ Art, Material Culture & History — August 17, 2023 The August 17, 2023, LGBTQ+ Art, Material Culture & History auction was a testament to the growing interest in the newly defined area of collecting. In keeping with previous years,…
Read more about A Look Back At Swann’s Book & Manuscripts Sales July 6, 2023 Books & Manuscripts A Look Back At Swann’s Book & Manuscripts Sales Winter/Spring 2023 Brings a Record-Breaking Season for the Books & Manuscripts Department Books and manuscripts had a standout winter/spring season at Swann. “As a company whose origins are as a…
Read more about Illustration Art from the June 15, 2023 Auction June 13, 2023 Illustration Art Illustration Art from the June 15, 2023 Auction A standout offering of original illustration art features in the June 15 sale of Fine Books & Autographs. Below is a selection of highlights from the auction. Charles Schulz Charlie…
Read more about Records & Results: Focus on Women — June 1, 2023 June 6, 2023 Focus On Women Records & Results: Focus on Women — June 1, 2023 The house’s third iteration of Focus on Women on June 1, 2023, an auction dedicated to the contributions of women to art, life, and society, brought $361,090, a total more…
Read more about Swann’s Favorite Independent Bookstores of 2023 April 28, 2023 Swann Swann’s Favorite Independent Bookstores of 2023 Swann started as a specialized auction house for rare books in 1941 and we continue to hold auctions dedicated to the genre every year (as the saying goes: once a…
Read more about Specialist Picks: Fashion Photography from the April 27, 2023 Auction April 19, 2023 Photographs & Photobooks Specialist Picks: Fashion Photography from the April 27, 2023 Auction Beyond Fashion: Photography in a Category Overlooked in the Fine Art Lexicon Though ostensibly fashion photography is simply intended to sell a product or a lifestyle, the category also offers…
Read more about Records & Results: Spring 2023 Sale of Printed & Manuscript African Americana April 3, 2023 Printed & Manuscript African Americana Records & Results: Spring 2023 Sale of Printed & Manuscript African Americana The March 2023 sale of Printed & Manuscript African Americana brings $1.3M making it the highest-grossing sale for the category and the third-largest sale for Swann’s books and manuscripts department.
Read more about Records & Results: Fine Photographs Winter 2023 March 7, 2023 Photographs & Photobooks Records & Results: Fine Photographs Winter 2023 The February 2023 timed-app exclusive sale of Fine Photographs brought $996,156 with 220 of the 266 lots offered finding buyers, an 83% sell-through rate by lot. I am thrilled to…
Read more about 2022: Year in Review January 3, 2023 19th & 20th Century Literature 2022: Year in Review 2022 was a historic year for Swann in more ways than one. The house celebrated its 80th year of auctions, bringing with it the 70th anniversary of the first photography…
Read more about Records & Results: Modern & Post-War Art Featuring Alma Thomas & the Washington Scene — December 2022 December 13, 2022 Modern & Post-War Art Records & Results: Modern & Post-War Art Featuring Alma Thomas & the Washington Scene — December 2022 Swann Galleries kicked the final month of 2022 off with a sale of Modern & Post-War Art featuring Alma Thomas & the Washington Scene on December 1 to great fanfare.…
Read more about Holiday Illustrations Featured in the December 15 Sale December 12, 2022 Illustration Art Holiday Illustrations Featured in the December 15 Sale The December 15, 2022, sale of Illustration Art features a selection of vintage winter and holiday illustrations by iconic illustrators such as Edward Gorey, Ludwig Bemelmans, Saul Steinberg and more.…
Read more about Collecting 101: Antiquarian Maps December 6, 2022 Maps & Atlases Collecting 101: Antiquarian Maps We asked Swann maps specialist Caleb Kiffer a few questions about what to consider when purchasing an antique map. How important is the map maker when considering a map? There…
Read more about Latinx Art in the December 2022 Sale of Modern & Post-War Art November 28, 2022 Modern & Post-War Art Latinx Art in the December 2022 Sale of Modern & Post-War Art Rafael Tufiño Rafael Tufiño was born in Brooklyn, NY, and moved to Puerto Rico at age ten. He served in the US Army from 1943-1946 during the Second World War.…
Read more about Rare Vintage Print of Dorothea Lange’s ‘Migrant Mother’ Brings $305k in October 2022 Auction of Fine Photographs October 24, 2022 Photographs & Photobooks Rare Vintage Print of Dorothea Lange’s ‘Migrant Mother’ Brings $305k in October 2022 Auction of Fine Photographs The Thursday, October 20 sale of Fine Photographs at Swann Galleries brought $1.2M with a strong showing for American photography and portfolios. Romana Javitz & Dorothea Lange The top lot…
Read more about October 2022 Sale of Early Printed Books Brings the Highest-Grossing Auction for the Category at Swann October 18, 2022 Early Printed Books October 2022 Sale of Early Printed Books Brings the Highest-Grossing Auction for the Category at Swann The October 13, 2022 sale of Early Printed Books at Swann Galleries was the highest-gorssing auction of books in the auction house’s history at $1.1 million.
Read more about Records & Results: October 2022 African American Art Auction October 10, 2022 African American Art Records & Results: October 2022 African American Art Auction Swann Galleries’ October 6, 2022 sale of African American Art delivered $3.7M with auction debuts and records for artists in the top 15 lots of the auction.
Read more about Family Papers of Lincoln’s Secretary of the Navy Brings $281k in Fall 2022 Americana Auction at Swann October 5, 2022 Printed & Manuscript Americana Family Papers of Lincoln’s Secretary of the Navy Brings $281k in Fall 2022 Americana Auction at Swann Swann’s fall 2022 auction of Printed & Manuscript Americana held on September 29 earned $960k. Civil War-era material earned nearly $470,000 of that total. Collectors joined the sale through the…
Read more about African American Art—Works to Watch in the Fall 2022 Sale October 3, 2022 African American Art African American Art—Works to Watch in the Fall 2022 Sale Director Nigel Freeman shares his top eight lots to watch in the October 8, 2022 sale. Jacob Lawrence’s Westchester Graduation Ball, 1951 In June 1951, Westchester African American community leaders,…
Read more about Prints & Drawings Specialists’ Picks: American Art — September 22, 2022 September 19, 2022 American Art Prints & Drawings Specialists’ Picks: American Art — September 22, 2022 Our prints and drawings department shares their favorite lots from the September 22, 2022 sale of American Art.
Read more about This Season’s Successes: Winter-Spring 2022 Auctions in Review August 22, 2022 19th & 20th Century Literature This Season’s Successes: Winter-Spring 2022 Auctions in Review The winter-spring auction season at Swann is a masterclass in marathon training, and the 2022 iteration proved no different with 20 auctions held between late January and the middle of August.
Read more about Swann Summer Reading List 2022 July 14, 2022 Swann Swann Summer Reading List 2022 Summer is well underway which means our auction schedule has slowed and our specialists and staff have a bit more downtime to catch up on their favorite books. Enjoy this…
Read more about Early Printed Books: Part I of the Ken Rapoport Collection May 3, 2022 Early Printed Books Early Printed Books: Part I of the Ken Rapoport Collection The May 5, 2022 sale of Early Printed Books features the first part of the complete library of bibliophile Ken Rapoport. Below are some of the highlights from the selection.…
Read more about Records & Results: Spring 2022 Auction of African American Art April 5, 2022 African American Art Records & Results: Spring 2022 Auction of African American Art The spring 2022 offering of African American Art closed out the March auctions at Swann with an exceptional marathon sale bringing $3.6M and seeing an 89% sell-through rate with 214 of the 241 lots on offer finding buyers.
Read more about Collectors on Collecting: A Conversation with Bernard I. Lumpkin of “Young, Gifted and Black” April 4, 2022 African American Art Collectors on Collecting: A Conversation with Bernard I. Lumpkin of “Young, Gifted and Black” On Monday, March 28, ahead of our spring 2022 sale of African American Art, department director Nigel Freeman sat down with collector Bernard I. Lumpkin for a conversation on the growing legacy of his family collection.
Read more about Records & Results: 70 Years of Photographs at Swann February 14, 2022 Photographs & Photobooks Records & Results: 70 Years of Photographs at Swann On February 10, 2022, we held Fine Photographs: Celebrating 70 Years of Photographs at Swann, not only did the sale mark the 70th anniversary of photography auctions at the house…
Read more about Swann Opens 2022 with Whirlwind Auction Celebrating the Artists of the WPA February 1, 2022 The Artists of the WPA Swann Opens 2022 with Whirlwind Auction Celebrating the Artists of the WPA The house opened 2022 with The Artists of the WPA on Thursday, January 27. The follow-up to an inaugural 2021 sale proved the staying power of this special offering with…
Read more about 2021: Year in Review December 22, 2021 Swann 2021: Year in Review As we close out another successful year at Swann we look back at our record-filled sales.
Read more about Records & Results: November 2021 Sales at Swann December 9, 2021 Prints & Drawings Records & Results: November 2021 Sales at Swann November Sales at Swann Bring $6.7M November at Swann Galleries featured a marathon of fine art auctions including a two-day sale of Old Master Through Modern Prints and Master Drawings,…
Read more about Caleb Kiffer’s Specialist Picks: Two Rare Finds in the December 9, 2021 Sale of Maps & Atlases December 3, 2021 Maps & Atlases Caleb Kiffer’s Specialist Picks: Two Rare Finds in the December 9, 2021 Sale of Maps & Atlases Our Maps & Atlases Specialist, Caleb Kiffer, often has the pleasure of handling rare and unique items in his sales. For example, take a look at the Charles Currier lithographic…
Read more about Upcoming Highlights: Illustration Art—December 16, 2021 November 30, 2021 Illustration Art Upcoming Highlights: Illustration Art—December 16, 2021 Related Reading: Examining Edward Gorey’s Market Get Notifications for Auction Day