MOUNT MORRIS, N.Y. -- An unusually large pair of early
Nineteenth Century watercolor portraits, believed to have been
executed by the obscure artist Mr Wilson, had the folk art world on
edge this past Friday evening, June 27, as they were offered at
Cottone's two-day Fine Antiques, Art and Collectibles Auction.
The unsigned 20- by 25-inch watercolor portraits attracted the
attention of all of the major folk art dealers and collectors,
and according to auctioneer Sam Cottone "everyone was on the
phones" to compete for the lots. Cottone used 12 cellular and
land-line telephones to accommodate as many clients as possible
-- the rest were forced to bid absentee or make the trip to the
remote western New York State auction house.
"Normally portraits of this size were done in oils while
watercolor portraits are generally miniatures," stated Cottone
prior to the auction. A handful of the large watercolor portraits
in a similar hand have surfaced with one of them signed "Mr.
Wilson," thus the loose attribution and along with it the belief
that the sitters were from New Hampshire.
The watercolors had originally been discovered in a Lockport,
N.Y., home and had been in the collection of Charles Rand Penny
for quite a long period of time. Cottone opened the lot for
bidding at $40,000 with two phone bidders competing with New York
City toy and Americana dealer Steven Weiss who was amid the
standing room only crowd. Weiss battled to the end with a final
bid of $180,000, yet the lot ultimately hammered down to the
telephone at $209,000 including the ten percent buyers premium,
selling to Highland Park, Ill., and Sunapee, N.H., folk art
specialist Barbara Pollack.
Pollack commented after the auction, "Since being in business, I
have handled the good, better and best in regards to folk art
paintings; as far as watercolors are concerned, these are the
best of the best." Pollack was overjoyed with the watercolor
portraits and stated that they were purchased for stock. "I just
hope I get to keep them long enough to enjoy them for a while,"
she stated.
A complete review will appear in a future issue.
