Previews at Showplace Antiques + Design Center
May 6th through May 19th
On May 19th, Auctions at Showplace will present the second of two auctions featuring items from the collection of celebrated stage and screen actor, Ron Rifkin. A native New Yorker, Rifkin, has garnered acclaim for his work on and off Broadway including a 1998 Tony Award for his performance as Herr Schultz in the musical revival of Cabaret. His numerous movie credits include JFK, The Substance of Fire, and most recently the 2018 hit remake of A Star is Born. On TV, he is best known for his recurring role as Arvin Sloane opposite Jennifer Garner on the ABC series Alias, and as Saul Holden on the series Brothers and Sisters.
Off-screen, Rifkin has been recognized for his refined taste in art and design. He and his wife Iva were profiled by the New York Times Magazine in a 1997 article regarding their downtown loft. Described by the Times as “inveterate collectors” the Rifkins amassed an impressive collection of mid-century modern furniture, paintings, photographs, art pottery and glass, and other decorative arts.
Fine examples of mid-century modern design include a Maison Jansen vanity table and stool, three Alexandre Loge “Coronet” plaster sconces, a pair of Finn Juhl teak open armchairs, a George Nelson for Herman Miller three-piece bedroom suite, an Eames for Herman Miller ‘Time Life’ executive chair, a pair of T.H. Robsjohn for Widdicomb blonde end tables, six Harvey Probber hexagonal terrazzo top tables, and three pieces of Edward Wormley for Dunbar furniture including a walnut “Long John” bench, a upholstered club chair and upholstered bench. A Perret & Vibert Japonaiserie late 19th century two piece cabinet and a French Provincial manner cherry farmhouse dining table are two highlights of traditional furnishings.
Among artwork included in the auction are two charming still life oil on board paintings by American artist and renowned frame maker Robert Kulicke (1924-2007), a Salvador Dali “Tarot, Dante’s Inferno” lithograph, Bob Kane’s "Luncheon on the Balcony” oil on canvas, and four Erté serigraphs with his signature Art Deco aesthetic. Six black and white photographs by Sally Gall capture striking landscapes while a collection of Terry Owens Mathews bronze sculptures depict animals from the African continent.
Highlights in fine silver include a “Labors of Cupid” flatware service for 12 with a selection of serving pieces, along with a Whiting “Lily of the Valley” 90 piece flatware service. Illuminating the sale are handsome modern lighting fixtures including a Venetian Murano swirl glass egg form lamp, a pair of Koch & Lowy “Saucer” table lamps, a Noguchi Akari large paper globe shade, and a pair of Walter von Nessen swing arm floor lamps.
The Rifkins incorporated vivid colors into their interiors as seen in their affinity for vibrant art pottery and glass. This auction will feature pieces by Tiffany and Durand, large selections of Weller “Coppertone” and “Greora” vessels, Japanese Kyoto Awaji vases, Ruskin lusterware, and Southern folk art pottery including whimsical face jugs. Further decorative arts comprise an assortment of shagreen accessories including compacts, boxes, and spectacle cases and a collection of vintage French perfume bottles.
This unique opportunity to acquire items from the collection of Ron Rifkin will take place at 12:00pm on Sunday May 19th, an afternoon that promises to be filled with high energy and spirited bidding.
Showplace Antiques is located at 40 West 25th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. For more information, please visit www.nyshowplace.com, or call (212) 633-6063, ext. 808.
