: Cape Cod paintings were the strength of the Robert C. Eldred
Co.'s nearly 1,300-lot, $1.1 million summer sale beneath a tent
on July 31 and August 1 as five Ralph Cahoon paintings brought
top dollar from an absentee bidder from Hawaii.
"Hooper's Landing, Cotuit, 1866," with mermaids handling bushels
of oysters at the Cotuit Oyster Co. observed by sailors and a hot
air balloon, was the star of the day when it sold to a Hawaiian
buyer for $50,600.
The same bidder also bought Cahoon's framed view of two sailors
and a mermaid logging the speed of a ship for $25,300 and a 1983
sailor's valentine with shell work signed by Bernard A. Woodman
of Marstons Mills, Mass., framing Martha Cahoon's central
painting of a mermaid and sailor holding hands for $21,850.
Several Martha Cahoon crayon drawings, some of which were framed
as the upper panel of mirrors, fell within estimate.
It was Ralph Cahoon's framed "Canton Waterfront with the Steamer
Spark... After Tinqua" that inspired auctioneer Robert C. Eldred
to note that the 4 by 51/4-inch picture was "the most expensive
for its relative size that I've ever sold." The painting went for
$12,650 to a Massachusetts dealer.
Ralph Cahoon's painting of mermaids on a trampoline held by eight
sailors went to a Massachusetts collector for $32,200. A Rhode
Island collector was the successful bidder at $20,700 for another
sailor's valentine with shell work by Woodman surrounding a Ralph
Cahoon painting of two cupids afloat in a pink sky. Cahoon's
double painting in a faux panel of "Partridge Shooting" and "Duck
Shooting" went to a Connecticut buyer for $9,200. Martha Cahoon's
lively waterfront scene of mermaids, sailors and townsfolk,
possibly of New Bedford, elicited $13,800.
A rare Vermont bureau went back to Vermont for $21,850.
A Cahoonlike painting by Elizabeth Mumford of mermaids,
"Mermaids Just Want to Have Fun" in a Woodman shellwork frame did
$9,200, going to a Cape buyer. Mumford lives and works on the Cape.
Paintings by Charles Drew Cahoon, cousin to Ralph, have
appreciated markedly in recent years. His 1932 view of Wychmere
Harbor that would have brought a few thousand dollars a few years
ago was $11,500, and his view of Old Mill Point in West Harwich,
Mass., realized $11,500.
Other strong works included Thomas Hewes Hinckley's 1838 portrait
of a young boy from Milton, Mass., which came from a local home.
Despite needing cleaning, the picture rocketed past its estimated
$3/5,000 and went to a dealer for a gratifying $14,950.
An early Nineteenth Century American cherry four-drawer bureau
attributed to Vermont maker George Stedman of Norwich with a
reverse bombe front, fan inlay and slightly splayed French feet
was of interest for its unique form and detail. It sold to a
Vermont buyer for $21,850. An American Queen Anne cherry highboy
that is thought to have been made in Connecticut was $17,250 to a
Maryland dealer. A 42-inch Federal giltwood convex mirror with
entwined dolphins forming a pediment was $8,050.
A couple of pictures brought respectable but not outstanding
results: Guy Wiggins' fine harbor scene of boats at a dock
realized $19,550 and Caleb Slade's signed picture of a couple
harvesting went for $5,750.
Smalls were big, too. A telephone bidder hung on for a pair of
framed oval miniature paintings of Lucy and George Bourne of New
Bedford, Mass., by Nineteenth Century New Bedford painter Joseph
Hathaway. The bidder bought the pair for $4,313 against an
estimate of $800 to $1,200, as well as a pair of Battersea enamel
tiebacks depicting Commodore Matthew Perry that went for $4,255.
An interesting Tiffany wine ewer with silver mounts attracted
bids well above its $800 to $1,200 estimate and ended at $4,255.
The Chinese Export famille rose porcelain tureen in the form of
a bull fetched $1,494, and the Nineteenth Century famille rose
celadon porcelain covered sauce tureen sold for $891.
An unusual Civil War sketchbook drew huge interest and ended
at $5,405, which could have been more but may have been affected by
the sensitive nature of the material. It was drawn by a member of
the 44th Massachusetts Infantry signed only as "'George," an
African-American soldier.
Increasingly in the marketplace, dealers and collectors shake
their heads as style sells over substance. No sale is exempt
lately, and this one was not either. A set of ten
Hepplewhite-style mahogany shield back dining chairs with white
leatherette seats was estimated at $3/5,000 and fetched $7,188. A
few lots later, a nice looking custom made, Hepplewhite-style
two-part secretary desk made from old wood and old parts brought
$7,820 from a dealer.
Among a selection of musical instruments were a couple of
standouts: a circa 1926 double-bell euphonium by Conn in gold
plate over brass, just like the one in The Music Man, went
for $3,450. A Selmer brass B-flat tenor saxophone and case that
came from a former leader of the Philadelphia Orchestra and
friend of Eddie Fisher, sold for $5,750, against its estimated
$1,500 to $2,000.
Finally, miniature birds carved and signed by James Lapham of
Dennisport, Mass., continued the upward trend noted at Eldred's
sporting sale earlier in the month. A Canadian goose fetched
$604, a ruddy turnstone brought $575 and a mallard hen and a
ruby-throated hummingbird each went to $518.
Prices quoted above include a 15 percent buyer's premium.
