Clearing House's Tom LeClair with the blockfront chest that
brought $46,200.
WETHERSFIELD, CONN. -- A Jesse Wilcox Smith watercolor
illustration entitled "Morning" and depicting a mother dressing her
young daughter became the top lot at an action-packed auction at
Clearing House this past weekend, November 14-15.
The watercolor, which retained a Scribner's label dated 1902 on
the verso, measured 23 by 151/4 inches and was one of two offered
in the sale. Several phone bidders were lined up and ready to go
as the watercolor crossed the block with it eventually hammering
down to one of them at $73,700. The other watercolor, entitled
"Rhymes" and depicting a seated boy, sold at $33,000.
Another interesting lot from the selection of artwork was a lot
of 60 sketch pads and working notebooks by John LaFarge. A host
of phones were also ready as this lot was offered, although it
sold in the room for $62,700. A Chippendale blockfront
four-drawer chest, probably of Boston origin, did well also,
selling to a buyer in the gallery at $46,200 despite heavy
competition from the telephones.
A complete review will appear in a future issue.
