Hess Fine Auctions is back at it again with fresh February auction material consisting of rare pocket and wrist watches, flashy jewelry, flamboyant art, and fascinating antiques. For collectibles or gifts, Hess has the most fantastic finds. Don't miss the auction live or online on Saturday, February 11 and bid to win something phenomenal.
Here are a few very special highlights not to miss:
Initially named the Le Mans, then Cosmograph, this watch gained notoriety when Rolex changed the name to the famous speedway in Daytona Florida. This incredible watch is considered to be one of the most collectible of vintage Rolex watches, and whether you are raising your paddle for this one or not, it will certainly be a fierce free-for-all bidding war to witness.
Here is a signed Cartier platinum and diamond engagement ring from their Adele Collection. This ring boasts a breathtaking 3.19ct, radiant cut, D color, flawless diamond solitaire at the center. This fiery gem is the ultimate in perfection. Approximately 0.80ctw of additional, hi-quality accent stones add to the display of brilliance emitting from this elegant piece.
In this sale, Hess is introducing a tremendously rare, no heat Kashmir 2ct sapphire stone set in a genuine Art Deco era platinum ring complete with GIA report. This fabled gem is remarkable clean and haloed in 2ctw of white F-G color, clean VS/1 to SI/1 clarity old Euro cut diamonds. It is very well-made, with additional small accent diamonds completing the gorgeous Art Deco design. These don’t come to the marketplace often, so seize the moment and bid.
As February is Black History Month in the United States, Hess Fine Auctions would be amiss not to celebrate the art of the Florida Highwaymen, a collective of 26 Black artists that began in the 1950s. The Highwaymen painted the bucolic, tropical scenery of Florida in vivid palates and sold them along the busy tourist routes of the state. Featured here are two exemplary pieces by Harold Newton and Mary Ann Carroll.
With Carroll being the only woman of the group, her pieces have become highly sought after. These colorful landscapes can now reach six figure prices and with pre-bidding already reaching the thousands, it will be interesting to see at what price the hammer drops.
Nick Kaufmann was a world-famous artistic bicyclist who, in the late 1800s, was known as the trick-cycling world champion. Kaufmann is credited with inventing Wheelball, also known as Radball. According to Kaufmann, the idea for Radball came to him after a dog ran in front of his bike and he carefully pushed the dog out of the way with the front wheel. This gave him the idea to use a ball instead of a dog. The first Wheelball game (Nick Kaufmann versus John Featherley) took place on September 14, 1883, on penny-farthings in Rochester, New York. On offer is a promotional silver case that was dedicated to Nick and features three old-cut diamonds in the signature on the front, red glass on the push button, and a gold wash inside.
There is also a collection of 3 antique autograph books put together by Jessie Keller, who toured the world as a bicycle performer called Venus on Wheels. Ms. Keller was the sister of Nicholas Kaufmann and was a part of the traveling Kaufmann Troupe. Ms. Keller’s books contain autographs, poems, and well wishes from numerous touring vaudeville performers. They also contain original photographs, advertisements, decorative stamps, and pressed flowers. Among these keepsakes is a photo of her brother Nick Kaufmann as a child. These remembrances range from 1902 to 1908 and come in many languages. This is a fascinating peek into the life of an early 20th-century vaudeville entertainer.
