CLEVELAND, OHIO - Featuring over a thousand pieces of fine and decorative art, furnishings, orientalia, antiquities, and more, Aspire Auction's first 2011 sale will run from Friday, January 21st to Saturday, January 29th. Though bidding is only done online, Aspire will throw an on-site preview party at their Cleveland, Ohio-based gallery on the 21st. This event will give clients a chance to experience Aspire’s myriad of art amidst a backdrop of champagne, wine, hors d’oeuvres, and good company. The content of this upcoming January auction, however, speaks for itself.

One of the highlighted pieces in this auction is a pristine screenprint by American Pop Art pioneer Tom Wesselmann.  Born in Cincinnati in 1931, Wesselmann attended New York’s’ Cooper Union School for the Arts while supplementing his income as a caricaturist and teacher. A year after his first exhibition at the Tanager Gallery in 1961, he received international acclaim after a show at the Sidney Janis Gallery entitled “New Realists”.  An emphasis upon stylized representations of feminine sexuality and colorful still lifes was a theme of Wesselmann’s until his death in 2004.   "Beautiful Bedroom Kate", an unframed work from 1998, is being sold in this auction. This piece is signed and numbered “”AP 1/10 in pencil in the lower right; it also contains a blind stamp that reads "Screened Images" at the lower left corner and the number 103 in pencil verso of the blind stamp. “Beautiful Bedroom Kate” measures approximately 35" x 53-1/2".   Price is $7000/10,000. Two other Wesselmann pieces are also available at the price points of $3,000/5,000 and $4000/$6,000.

This auction also features Venetian glass candlesticks attributed to Salviati and Co.  Founded in 1859, Salviati was a family-run glassmaker approximately until 1920. Noted for employing designers such as Dino Martens, Renzo Camerino, and Sergio Asti, the company’s name was sold to a French company in 1995. These tall candlesticks measure approximately 15” high, with their bases approximately 5 ¾” in diameter.   These come with a matching compote (long-stemmed dish) measuring 5 ¼”in diameter. The candlestick and compote -- both in very good condition - possess central filagree encompassed swans in lavender, with gold flecks throughout. 

Another piece of European decorative art featured in this auction is “The Fair Sex”, from 1894, published by William Heinemann. It has a Cosway-style binding with double portraits of Napoleon and Josephine accompanied by the initials “N” and “J” on front. Detailing the love affairs of Napoleon, it is translated from the French and illustrated with 40 extra plates, 10 of which are in color. “The Fair Sex” possesses full purple Morocco binding with gilt-embossed covers, and five raised bands on the spine with gilt tooled compartments. Its paper edges are also gilt. The interior is of purple satin board and fly, bearing the marking of Bayntun Binder Bath Eng., a currently existing English bindery dating back to 1829. This book’s spine has been repaired, with chips and losses to head and tail. It is approximately 8-1/4" tall. This piece estimates at $1,000 / 2,000.

On Saturday, January 15th, the entirety of this catalog will be posted on www.aspireauctions.com. Using Aspire’s online system makes bidding quick and easy; simply request an ID number, and bid away starting Friday, January 21st.   Consigners for Aspire’s next auction - starting March 25th - must consign no later than February 25th.  Interested parties are to call 216-231-5515 or email info [at] aspireauctions [dot] com for questions regarding either the January or March sales.  For auction pictures and information, or to sign up for Aspire Auctions’ email list, go to www.aspireauctions.com.