Texas Auction Fever

World Records Hammered Down at Heritage Auctions

By Catherine D. Anspon // May 20, 2015

1/0

This striking Hermès Shiny Rouge H Porosus Crocodile, 30-cm. Birkin Bag (with solid 18K white gold and diamond hardware), set a world Birkin record — $203,150 — when it went on the block at Heritage, December 6, 2011, in Dallas.

Pioneering Post-War master David Hammons' mixed media, "Feed Folks," 1974, broke a record for the artist when it realized $1.2 million at Heritage's May 31, 2014, auction in Dallas. The work was originally traded by the artist to a collector for a VW beetle.

The pioneering Post-War master, David Hammons' mixed media, "Feed Folks," 1974, broke a record for the artist last summer, went it realized $1.2 million at Heritage's May 31, 2014, auction in Dallas. The work was originally traded by the artist to a collector for a VW beetle.

Movie memorabilia is always a fascinating category. Cue this frock worn by Vivien Leigh in four scenes during her Oscar-winning turn as Scarlett O'Hara from the 1939 cinematic epic, "Gone with the Wind." Just auctioned by Heritage, Beverly Hills, April 18, 2015, it went for $137,000 (despite being faded from its original blue hue).

Late American master Rockwell Kent's scene from his Greenland travels, "Polar Expedition," 1944, was originally a commission for Encyclopedia Britannica. It achieved a new record — $605,000, more than double its estimate — this May 2, 2015, in Dallas, sold as part of the Judson C. and Nancy Sue Ball Collection.

The first ever appearance of Wolverine yielded an incredible price and new world record — $657,250 — for original art from the final page of Marvel's 1974 "The Incredible Hulk #180." The comic drawn by Herb Trimpe went down May 16, 2014, in Dallas. Even better: the consignor donated most of the proceeds to the nonprofit Hero Initiative to assist comic-book creatives in need.

The late Texas artist Frank Reaugh's celebrated way with pastel brought $437,000 for his gem-like "Sheepherders Camp," 1893, measuring 20 by 40 inches. The new world record for Reaugh (1860-1945) was set May 16, 2015, at Heritage Auctions' Dallas HQ.

The late Texas artist Frank Reaugh's celebrated way with pastel brought $437,000 for his gem-like "Sheepherders Camp," 1893, measuring 20 x 40 inches. The new world record for Reaugh (1860-1945) was just set May 16, 2015, at Heritage Auctions' Dallas HQ.

J. C. Leyendecker's clever take on Turkey Day traditions, "Thanksgiving, 1628-1928: 300 Years (Pilgrim and Football Player)," was original art for The Saturday Evening Post's November 24, 1928, cover. It realized a whopping $365,000 May 2, 2015, in Heritage's American auction in Dallas.

Did you think Picasso‘s The Women of Algiers (Version ‘O’), painted Valentine’s Day 1955, which sold at Christie’s for $179 million in May, is the only #worldauctionrecord? Think again. Dallas-headquartered Heritage Auctions, now the world’s third largest auction house, has been setting some impressive records of its own for a variety of intriguing lots. Here’s a peek at recent sales records that earned Heritage its title as the world’s leading collectibles auction house.