The Montici Society

Buying & Selling

We’ve identified 45 different art dealers/auction houses across the U.S. who’ve sold Blow/Montici art over the last 20 years.

The East Coast (particularly the New York metro area) has historically been the largest market for Blow/Montici art. This is partly because Richard Blow lived in New York City on and off, much of his life, and enjoyed a large circle of Manhattan art-buying friends. He had his Montici Gallery there, at 156 East 64th Street.  He also sold through a network of friends’ art galleries in suburban Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut (including my mother’s Farnam Hill Antiques, in Fairfield County, CT).  New York was the first stop on his return home trips from Italy; and the Big Apple was (still is) America’s media/arts capital.  His works were exhibited in NYC museums, including the Met and MOMA.

But you’ll find pieces popping up for sale coast to coast across the U.S.

Several art dealers/auction houses are notable for their track record of Blow/Montici sales. 

Wright Auction in Chicago hosted the blockbuster, October 2019 auction of the Adam Edelsberg Collection -- 87 pieces of Blow art, including wall plaques, furniture and desk objects. It stands as the largest single auction of Blow art in history, recording sales of a half-million dollars in one hour. Rago Arts in New Jersey is the East Coast leader in offering Blow/Montici art, while Los Angeles Modern Auction (LAMA) stands out on the West Coast. In June 2019, Rago and Wright negotiated a merger of their business operations, though both houses continue to operate under their individual names. In August 2021, Rago/Wright added Los Angeles Modern Auctions to their group, with LAMA also continuing to operate under its own name. More recently, in March 2022, the English auction house Bonhams acquired the Boston-based Skinner auction house. Bonhams and Skinner have both brought Montici artworks to market.

Every dealer/auction house on the following list offered one or more Blow/Montici art pieces for sale over the last 20 years. Company descriptions are excerpted from their websites. They are listed roughly in order of the number of Blow/Montici artworks they have brought to market, based on our search of public auction records. But all 45 are worth monitoring. You never know where the next great piece will appear. For example, Myers Fine Art in St. Petersburg, Florida offered no Blow/Montici pieces for sale between 2000-2018, per our data. Then in Feb. 2019, it brought a collection of 9 beautiful pieces to market; and in 2023 another 6 pieces

Click on the link to access the dealer website.

MONTICI DEALER LIST

(Rev.2/23)

Wright Auction Chicago, Illinois   www.wright20.com/contact/about

“We value creativity and focus on the quality of presentation and content. Our world-class specialists, award-winning catalogs, pioneering website and international marketing has captured the attention of distinguished collectors around the globe—buyers and sellers alike—making Wright a prominent resource for 20th century art and design.”

Rago Arts: Lambertwille, New Jersey https://www.ragoarts.com/

“Rago is a leading U.S. auction house with $33 million in annual sales. We serve thousands of sellers and buyers internationally with a singular blend of global reach and personal service. A world-class venue through which to buy and sell, we hold auctions and sell privately. We offer insurance valuations and appraisals for personal property; estate services from appraisal to auction and clean out; exhibitions and lectures in house and online. Rago is based in New Jersey, midway between Philadelphia and New York City. “

EBay Online. https://www.ebay.com/

 “An online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a wide variety of goods and services worldwide. The website is free to use for buyers, but sellers are charged fees for listing items after a limited number of free listings, and again when those items are sold.” Note: Many Blow/Montici sales on EBay are reported by Worthpoint. (www.worthpoint.com/). Sotheby’s has an online storefront on Ebay, allowing EBay users to bid online during Sotheby auctions. EBay also has affiliations with other online art market players.

 Los Angeles Modern Auction  Los Angeles, California  https://lamodern.com

“Founded in 1992 by Peter Loughrey, Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) is the first auction house to specialize in selling 20th century Modern Art & Design. LAMA holds three auctions a year, plus occasional exhibits that are open to the public. For the casual buyer to the most dedicated collector, LAMA auctions offer quality, vetted modern material in every price range, including paintings, prints, furniture, and decorative objects. With 25 years of experience, LAMA has carved a niche in the international market through milestone auctions featuring artists and designers such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, George Nakashima, Mike Kelley, Ettore Sottsass, Charles & Ray Eames, Paul László, and R.M. Schindler. LAMA has also conducted auctions for prominent California estates. LAMA is the premier auction house on the West Coast to buy and sell Modern Art & Design.”

 Myers Fine Art  St. Petersburg, Florida  http://myersfineart.com/

Myers was established by owner Michael Myers in 1970 and offers fresh-to-the-market fine art and antiques from estates throughout Florida, New England and New York. Myers has conducted Annual Benefit Auctions for the St. Petersburg Museum Of Fine Arts, as well as Gala Benefit Auctions for Saint Petersburg’s Morean Arts Center. In addition, Myers handled the private estates of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Douglas Moore and NY abstract expressionist painter David Porter. The gallery’s international clientele includes museums, businesses and individuals.

Leslie Hindman Chicago, Illinois   https://www.lesliehindman.com/

“Leslie Hindman Auctioneers has been providing exceptional service and achieving record prices since 1982. With more salerooms in the United States than any other auction house, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers conducts over 60 auctions annually in categories such as fine jewelry and timepieces, contemporary art, 20th century design, rare books, furniture, decorative arts and more. The firm has salerooms and business offices in Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, Milwaukee, Naples, Palm Beach and Saint Louis but serves a global client base through its position at the forefront of technology.”

 Doyle NY New York City  http://doyle.com/

“Founded in 1962, Doyle is one of the world's foremost auctioneers and appraisers of fine art, jewelry, furniture, decorations, Asian works of art, coins, stamps, rare books and a variety of specialty categories. Located in New York City, the global capital of the auction market, Doyle offers approximately forty sales each year that attract a broad base of buyers and consignors from around the world. Doyle has an established reputation for professionalism, integrity, expertise and service. Doyle oversees an ever-expanding network of offices and regional representatives throughout the United States, including offices in Beverly Hills serving our West Coast clients, and in Georgetown serving the Washington, DC / Mid-Atlantic area. Our regional representatives are located in Charlotte, North Carolina; Boston/New England; Connecticut; New Jersey and Florida. In addition, Doyle’s marketing strategy in Europe and Asia provides maximum exposure for property to international buyers. Through the years, Doyle has auctioned the estates of Hollywood legends James Cagney, Gloria Swanson, Bette Davis, Rock Hudson, Rex Harrison, Ruth Gordon, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Joan Crawford. From the world of music were the estates of the legendary New York City Opera soprano Beverly Sills and musicians Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, and actress and chanteuse Lena Horne.”

 First Dibs Online. https://www.1stdibs.com/

 “An international online marketplace for luxury antiques, furniture, jewelry, and fine art from thousands of dealers worldwide. Since the company's founding in 2001, it has expanded into 17 markets around the world, including the United States, several European countries, and Australia. 1st Dibs is also affiliated with the venerable Christie’s auction House, and features an exclusive collection of Christie’s furnishings and decorative objects from Christie’s inventory.”

 Auctions at Showplace  New York City   https//nyshowplace.com

“Showplace Antique + Design Center is the premier destination of New York City’s bustling Chelsea antiques district. Over 200 distinguished antiques dealers exhibit on Showplace’s four spacious floors to bring you the finest craftsmanship of the past, with treasures to fit every taste and budget. Visit Showplace on 3, our 10,000-square-foot antiques and design emporium located on the third floor. Designer room settings and display cases feature more than 80 dealers eclectic mix period furniture, lighting, decorative accessories, fine art, jewelry, and collectibles. Our ever-changing inventory represents the best design of the seventeenth through twentieth centuries and a diverse range of styles including Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Mid-Century Modern. Showplace also features a gourmet Espresso Bar/Cafe on the lower level, and comfortable seating areas throughout. Our bi-monthly Live Estate Auctions feature a wide range of fine- and decorative-art objects including vintage and modern furniture.

Blueberry Hill Galleries Amenia, New York  https://www.blueberryhillgalleries.com/

“Founded in 2006, after a 25-year career in antiques and design, Karen Olson’s Blueberry Hill Galleries in Dutchess County, N.Y., provides comprehensive services for conducting, auctions, estate sales, liquidations, removal of home contents and personal property appraisals.”

Chairish San Francisco, California. https://www.chairish.com/

“Chairish is the design world's indispensable marketplace for exceptional home furnishings and art. Interior designers and tastemakers come to Chairish for our vast assortment of extraordinary vintage, antique and contemporary pieces from best-in-class designer brands, dealers, galleries and artisans. Chairish is celebrated for our inspiring mix of expertly edited inventory and for our world-class customer experience that makes buying and selling delightful.”

Hill Auction Gallery Sunrise, Florida   https://hillauctiongallery.com/

“Hill Auction Gallery is a family owned and operated business and we are eager to introduce a fresh new approach to the auction industry. Hill Auction Gallery is the dream and life’s work of Michael Hill. Michael Hill has been an established estate buyer in south Florida for over 2 decades and has secured a distinguished reputation for honesty and professionalism. Hill Auction Gallery offers a number of services including Professional Auctioneer Services, Certified Appraisal Services along with buying, selling and consigning items.

Heritage Auctions, Dallas Texas. https://www.ha.com/

“Heritage Auctions is the largest collectibles auctioneer and third largest auction house in the world, as well as the largest auction house founded in the U.S. We are also the undisputed Internet leader in our field, with more than 1 million online bidder-members registered on HA.com.”

For each of the dealers listed below, we found less than two Montici pieces sold over the last 20 years.

 Ahlers & Ogletree Atlanta, Georgia   https://www.aandoauctions.com/

“Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery is part of The Ahlers Group, one of the largest antiques dealers in the Atlanta area with a collection of companies reaching across a network of sources for fine antiques and related offerings.

Artplode  Online  https://www.artplode.com

“Artplode is a website where artists, galleries, dealers AND the public all over the world can list artworks for sale with no commission charged . When you sell your artwork on Artplode YOU keep 100% of the price the artwork is sold for.”

Bonhams Skinner Boston Massachusetts https://skinner.bonhams.com/

Bonhams is a privately owned international auction house. Founded in 1793, it is one of the world's largest and most renowned auctioneers of fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. Bonhams has a heritage and reputation for connoisseurship and bespoke service known throughout the world. Founded in London in 1793, we are the sole remaining international auction house that is privately owned and in British hands. We hold more than 400 specialist sales a year in 60 different categories at our flagship salerooms in London, New York, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong.

Bonhams Los Angeles, California https://www.bonhams.com/locations/LA/

“Through the acquisition of Butterfields in 2002, Bonhams has now served the Los Angeles area for a total of 150 years, and we remain California's largest auction house and the only major international auction house to hold sales in Los Angeles and San Francisco.”

Brock & Co.  Concord, Massachusetts  http://www.brockandco.com/

“BROCK & CO. specializing in 19th and 20th century works of art. BROCK & CO. has helped build exceptional art collections for a number of private collectors and institutions in the United States and abroad. We have extensive knowledge of the American field and we are passionate about our work.

Brunk Auctions Ashville, North Carolina. https://brunkauctions.com/

“Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Brunk Auctions has grown from a small regional auction house to a national auction service with an international clientele.”

Bunte Auction Elgin, Illinois  https://www.bunteauction.com/

Estabished in 1999. “A premier Midwestern auction firm specializing in antiques, fine art, jewelry, silver, Oriental rugs, furniture, firearms, Native American, dolls, toys, and collectibles.”

 Burchard Galleries St. Petersburg, Florida  http://www.burchardgalleries.com/

“Estate and fine art”

 Charleton Hall Auctioneers  West Columbia,South Carolina http://www.charltonhallauctions.com/

“Charlton Hall is the Southeast’s leading auction house. With over eighty years of industry experience we offer our clients the personal service they expect from a regional auction house with results that match and often exceed those of larger firms. Our team of regional and European specialists evaluates over 30,000 objects each year to secure exceptional consignments and collections. Our auctions are aggressively advertised in the international marketplace with brochures and electronic newsletters reaching a clientele of more than 40,000 buyers from over 130 countries on 6 continents.”

 Christie’s Southamption  UK/ Affiliation with 1st Dibs    https://www.christies.com/

 Christie's is a British auction house founded in 1766. Its main premises are on King Street, St James's, in London and in the Rockefeller Center in New York City. Christie’s and Sotheby’s are considered premier global auction houses. Christie’s also sell selected pieces from its inventory online through 1st Dibs

Clars Auction Gallery Oakland, California  https://clars.com/

 “Clars Auction Gallery (Oakland)  has hosted Bay Area auctions of Fine Art, Decorative Objects, and Jewelry for almost fifty years and has built a strong reputation for knowledge and experience in handling quality fine art, antiques, jewelry, and decorative objects. The gallery works with buyers and sellers throughout the world. In mid-2004, the gallery began offering simultaneous internet bidding. Recently, the auction house added online-only, timed auctions. Clars Auction Gallery conducts monthly two-day auctions of roughly 2000 lots at its North Oakland location. The auctions and previews are attended by 2000-4000 people, and the online auction catalog is viewed by 50,000-100,000 dealers and collectors worldwide. In the last ten years, Clars Auction Gallery has sold over $150,000,000 of Fine Art, Furnishings, Jewelry, Vehicles.”

Crescent City Auction Gallery, New Orleans, Lousiana https://crescentcityauctiongallery.com/index.php?route=common/home

East Coast Fine Arts Port St. Lucie, Florida  https://www.eastcoastfinearts.com/

“Specializing in fine art paintings, prints and sculpture.

EBTH Ohio   www.ebth.com

“EVERYTHING BUT THE HOUSE grew out of the Cincinnati antiques market. Today, EBTH.com sells furniture, jewelry, art, coins, cars, collectibles and more, in regions throughout the country, with over 400 sales a month.”

Freemans Philadelphia, Pennsylvania   https://www.freemansauction.com/

Freeman’s is America’s oldest auction house. Established in 1805, Freeman’ has  access to a team of top experts in the auction business, and offices in New England, the Southeast, and on the West Coast, Headquartered on Chestnut Street in the heart of Philadelphia, Freeman’s offers over 30 live in-house auctions a year, in categories such as fine and modern art, furniture and decorative arts ranging from Pennsylvania Folk Art to Asian antiquities, jewelry, rare books and manuscripts, 20th century design, and more.

 Hudson Valley Auctioneers Beacon, New York  https://www.hudsonvalleyauctioneers.com/

“Hudson Valley Auctioneers, the premier auction house in the Hudson Valley. With over 25 years of experience Knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects including furniture; art glass; art pottery; fine art; silver; jewelry; carpets; bronzes; native Indian objects & artifacts; vintage toys; historical documents, books & ephemera and outdoor design ranging from the17th Century to the designs of the 20th. Century.’

 William Jenack Chester, New York (Closed 2019)

 James D. Julia Maine (Closed and sold 2017 to Morphy Auctions, Las Vegas, Nevada)

 Mark Lawson Antiques, Saratoga Springs,NY www.marklawsonantiques.com

“Since 1990, we’ve helped thousands of satisfied customers find new homes for their treasured antiques, gold, diamonds, estate jewelry, and rare collectibles. Experts in estate sale and dispersal. Caring for the contents of an estate can be an emotional and logistical challenge. We specialize in making executors’ and trustees’ estate settlement and liquidation tasks easier.”

Leland Little Hillsborough, North Carolina www.lelandlittle.com

 “As the premier auction house in the Southeastern United States, Leland Little Auctions has specialized in the sale of fine high end collectible objects for over 20 years, with sales achieving over $14 million per year and growing. We pride ourselves on providing collectors, estates, and institutions with world-class auction services.”

Michaan’s Auctions, Alameda, California. https://michaans.com/

“The West Coast's Largest Full-Service Auction House”

Millea Bros  Boonton, New Jersey   www.milleabros.com

“Millea Bros. is a boutique auction company with a focus on fresh-to-the-market Estate property from distinguished New York Metro Area Estates, institutions and private collections.”

Nathan Auction and Real Estate Manchester, Vermont   http://www.nathanre.com/

Primarily a real estate broker, but also conducts estate sales

 Neal Auction New Orleans, Louisiana   http://www.nealauction.com/

“Neal Auction Company is New Orleans’ oldest and most respected auction house. Founded in 1984, it is widely considered the country’s foremost auctioneer of Southern regional material. Neal Auction schedules fully catalogued auctions every two months at their historic Magazine Street and Carondelet Street galleries.”

Schmidt’s Antiques Ypsilanti, Michigan http://www.schmidtsantiques.com/

“Schmidt’s Antiques Ypsilanti, Michigan is a 5th generation family-owned Auction Gallery and Antiques store. We first opened our doors in 1911. We specialize in auctions of 18th and 19th century Furniture, Paintings, Clocks and Watches, Porcelain, Silver, Fine Arts, Asian Art, Mid century and Accessories, gleaned primarily from local estates and private collections. Located near Ann Arbor, Michigan, just 30 minutes from Detroit and Toleo, and midway between Chicago and Cleveland.

Schwenke Auctioneers Woodberry, Connecticut  https://woodburyauction.com/

“Schwenke Auctioneers is located in historic Woodbury, Connecticut – nationally known as “The Antiques Capital of Connecticut” and the beginning of the “Connecticut Antiques Trail”. Woodbury is convenient to all major east coast cities, is home to several fine antique shops, and boasts several first class restaurants, inns and spas, all nestled in the scenic area known as the “Litchfield Hills”. Since inception in May of 2009, the firm has held over fifty major catalog auctions and sold many thousands of individual auction lots for a total gross selling price of several million dollars. We are considered a regional auction house and our results for important items are consistently on a par with major international auction houses due to the market acceptance of our carefully developed internet auction platform.”

Sotheby’s New York City    https://www.sothebys.com/en/about/locations/new-york

“Sotheby’s New York office is the headquarters for our global business but it is also a place that welcomes collectors and art lovers. More than 85 live auctions take place annually in our seventh-floor saleroom, where records are routinely broken and history is made. In May 2017, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled, sold to Japanese collector Yusaka Maezawa for $110.5 million – a new record for an American artist at auction.”

Soulis Auctions. Lone Jack, MO. http://dirksoulisauctions.com/.

“Kansas City's Oldest and Most Trusted Click-and-Mortar Auction Gallery”

Stair Galleries  Hudson, New York    https://www.stairgalleries.com/

“Since our humble beginnings in 2001, we have grown to be one of the leading regional auction houses in America. Primarily servicing the New York City metro area and tri-state region, we hold live auctions at our gallery in Hudson, NY, twice a month. As one of the first proponents of online auction technology, we’ve balanced the expectations of a modern marketplace with the charm of a traditional auction house. Our use of online bidding platforms allows us to reach over one million buyers worldwide.”

Treadway Cincinnati, Ohio   www. Treadwaygallery.com/

Focus is on 20th Century art and design

Toomey  Oak Park, Illinois www.toomeyco.com/

Toomey & Co. Auctioneers based in Chicago is considered one of the premiere specialty auction houses in the country and has been conducting auctions since 1987. We hold several carefully curated auctions each year. Our departments include: Fine Art, Early 20th Century Design, Modern Design, Fine Furniture & Decorative Arts, Silver & Objects of Vertu, and Fine Jewelry & Timepieces. Toomey & Co. Auctioneers is the second generation of our business. After 30 years of successful auctions, December 2017 marked our final sale as partners in Treadway Toomey Auctions, a pioneer in selling 20th-century art and design.

Trinity International Auctioneers   Connecticut   http://www.tiauctions.com/

“Trinity International Auctions and Appraisals, LLC, (TIA) established in 2006, is a leading auction house of American, European and international fine art.  Located in Connecticut's picturesque Farmington Valley, midway between Boston and New York City, TIA offers its local, national, and international clients an extensive and wide-ranging collection of art at our five onsite and online auctions it conducts yearly. TIA also provides a broad spectrum of appraisal services, including liquidation and insurance evaluations.”