Eames fans take not – on April 8, 2010, Chicago auction house Wright will host a sale celebrating the good and unique designs of Charles and Ray Eames. Included is the above DKW chair in enameled steel, leather, and walnut. There are also enough DCW chairs going to the block to satisfy a rather healthy rush of interest.

The sale features Eames Design Archive of John and Marilyn Neuhart. About the archive -

As official archivists of Eames Office output for more than 30 years, the Neuhart’s meticulously chronicled the work of Charles and Ray Eames and compiled thousands of images, original ephemera, films and documents. The Neuhart’s amassed nearly 100 binders containing photographs, copies, negatives and clippings of nearly all Eames Office production as well as thorough records of the 1976 exhibition Connections: the Work of the Office of Charles and Ray Eames, a scenic cloud backdrop from the Eames Office, a scale model of the Eames Office as it was at the time of Charles Eames death in 1978 and a copy of the complete inventory of Eames’ projects for the IBM Corporation including records from the Mathmatica exhibition. The Eames Design Archive of John and Marilyn Neuahrt is a comprehensive and scholarly collection that attests to the Eames’ iconic reputation as leaders in mid-twentieth century design.

Though not particularly engrossing, the online catalog is worth flipping though just to get a sense of the duo’s range with each of their iconic designs. Really nice to see things side by side, and their are a few oddities as well. The auction will begin at 12 noon on April 8, Wright is located at 1440 West Hubbard, Chicago, IL.

More Eames goodies after the jump.

On March 7, 2010, Phillips de Pury brings 287 lots of contemporary art to the block for “Now: Art of the 21st Century.” Work from art stars like Damien Hirst, Kehinde Wiley, Marilyn Minter and Ryan McGinnely are among the offerings. The catalog itself is intriguing, not just for the drawings, paintings, and photographs, but for the commercial product listed as well. For example, several of Supreme’s artist skate decks are up for sale. The inclusion of these objects makes the auction an interesting indicator of the scope of fine art in the 21st century and the range of artistic production – nothing new, especially if you recall the theme of the Pop Life exhibition, but still fascinating when realized at the auction block.

“Now: Art of the 21st Century” takes place at 450 West 14th Street, New York, beginning at 12pm.

Highlights include Chris Johnson’s “Romantic Landscape” (2002) shown above, which is lot #272. A few more picks of the litter after the jump.

Boston’s Skinner Auction House has made a fantastic push into social media. Through both twitter and Youtube they’ve managed to make their auctions more intriguing and opened up new methods of sharing future lots. On March 16, Skinner will host a fine jewelry auction. The above video highlights some of the gems going to the block.

June 21 – 22, 2010 finds a cache of Polaroid photographs up for grabs at Sotheby’s. 400 images by Ansel Adams are among the lots, which also includes snaps from David Hockney and Robert Mapplethorpe. The sale is the result of a bankruptcy court order, the sad part coming in the forcing of Polaroid to essentially dismantle a collection.

Carol Vogel writes about the collection and the sale in today’s New York Times.

Above – Ansel Adams. “Aspens, Northern New Mexico.” Mural-sized gelatin silver print.

The most exciting news in the Antiques business coming out of New York’s Americana Week is the official launch of Leigh Keno’s new auction house. Keno Auctions will hold its inaugural sale on May 10, 2010 in Stanford, CT. Leigh, famed for his appearances on Antiques Road Show and Found uses his TV honed skills with video introductions to some of the key objects lined up on his site. They are rough, but give great background to the pieces available.

Highlights include the diminutive Chippendale drop leaf table (above), built by Newport, RI’s John Goddard in 1765.

Check out the full preview in image and video at Keno Antiques.

Bonhams hosts the Marine Paintings and Decorative Arts auction on January 26, 2010. Include is the above set of scrimshawed teeth (lot 2049), a personal favorite, along with a solid selection of other sailor arts.

The sale begins at 1pm and is located at 580 Madison Ave, New York.

A few more examples from the auction after the jump. Hit the above link to view the full catalog.

Christie’s (New York) Important American Furniture and Folk Art Auction rolls through January 25, 2010. As one might expect, there is some important furniture on offer (notably lot #346, a Queen Anne maple stool from Philadelphia). Also in the mix are some handsome game boards and a molded statue of General Marquis de Lafayette. The small sculpture is of late 19th-century American origin.

A personal favorite from the preview is lot #109 (above). A sailor-made woolwork picture inscribed “New Bedford,” the piece is wonderfully detailed and dates to the 19th-century.

View some game boards and the handsome Mr. Lafayette after the jump. Enjoy the full catalog at this link.

Curated favorite Jeff Miller has been invited by Katherine Fleming (noted handbag designer) to participate in an effort to aid Bas Fisher Invitational. During this weeks Art Basel Miami, Miller’s Child’s Car will be one of the 17 new designs unveiled for an auction at months end in aid of the charity, which provides space for emerging artists in Miami. Each of the pieces going to auction takes inspiration from Fleming’s “Jane Clutch” and Miller has worked to switch the function of its lines and form a stylized car.

The Child’s Car is on display at Flemings pop-up space in Miami Design Districts Moore Building (4040 NE 2nd Ave) through the end of December. All the works can be viewed on ebay.

On November 14, 2009, Phillips de Pury hosts an auction of important 20th-century design at their New York location. Central to the sale are a number of lots drawn from the Venini Archive in New York. These pieces of Italian glass will go along side a number of wonderful pieces of furniture from throughout the century. Public viewing is open daily from 10am-6pm at 450 W. 15th Street, New York. Or, one can also review the full catalog here.

Above is lot no. 16, the Erosion Bench (2007) by Julia Lohmann and Gero Grundmann. More standout lots from Phillips de Pury’s Design Auction after the jump.

Juxtapoz is celebrating its 15th Anniversary with “The Big Payback.” An online charity art auction, “The Big Payback,” benefits Detroit’s Power House Project. The aim is to generate support for the purchase of five homes in Detroit, with needed work and repair offering jobs to local residents. Original work from over 100 artists is available in the auction, which runs through two sets – from now through November 20, and from November 24 to December 24, 2009. The auction is being run through CharityBuzz.com.

On November 14, 2009 Upper Playground is hosting a special showing of the auction lots at The Factory Place Arts Complex in Los Angeles. The event runs from 7 – 11pm at 1308 Factory Place, LA.

A selection of art from the auction follows.