From Portraits To Outsider Art George Cole Sells Almost Anything

RED HOOK, N.Y.

:As marching bands and floats paraded down Main Street past the auction gallery of George Cole in the early evening hours of September 10, the revered local auctioneer was noticeably missing amongst the spectators lining the sidewalk. Instead, Cole and partner Elmer LeSaur were inside the auction gallery preparing for a sale that would take place shortly thereafter. The festive parade atmosphere and ensuing fireworks, however, proved only a momentary distraction for those going to Cole's and overall they enhanced the mood of the lively sale.

The auction consisted of a grand selection of merchandise culled from the contents of three homesteads, two from New York and one from Connecticut. Featured items included a collection of outsider art, early furniture, quality lamps and a nice selection of paintings.

The sale received quite a bit of attention with the collection of outsider art bringing in calls from around the country. All of the pieces had been compiled by a Millbrook collector that was moving South and "taking nothing with him." Cole reported good results for the pieces stating that "in general they were bringing more money here than they do at specialized Outsider auctions."

The sale got off to a quick start with the offering of nearly 20 lots of red wine that had come from the wine cellar of a local estate. Most were from the 1980s vintage with Cole commenting that they were "ready to be opened and at their prime right now." Several were in the crowd just for the wines and all of the wine lots were sold consecutively as the first items to be offered. The first lot consisted of nine bottles of 1983 Chateau Du Terre Bordeaux and it sold for $247. Three bottles of Chateau Leoville brought $121 and four bottles of Chateau Cheval realized $286.

With the wines quickly dispersed of, Cole moved right into the antiques with the offering of a hooked rug that sold for $357. A few lots later a Jameau fashion doll with bisque head and composition jointed body took off selling at $3,410.

Two paisley shawls went out reasonably for $66 each, as did three contemporary Nantucket baskets averaging $55 apiece. A nice selection of Oriental porcelains included a Rose Medallion covered tureen that fetched $880, a Rose Medallion platter brought $477 and a large pair of export chargers sold for $990.

Country furniture included a nice Eighteenth Century banister back armchair that was actively bid by several in the crowd to a selling price of $1,375, a Windsor armchair in old paint sold at $1,375 and a pair of Chippendale side chairs brought $1,100.

A Chippendale tall chest was a good buy at $1,210, a walnut and rosewood Murphy bed $660 and a Hepplewhite chest of drawers brought $847.

Numerous paintings attracted interest including a small oil on board landscape with barn that was signed Guy Wiggins. The painting opened at $500 and was methodically bid by a gentleman seated in the front row until it appeared he would claim it at $2,000. At the last possible moment a lady in the crowd advanced the bid and after some more prolonged action it once again appeared that the gentleman would claim it at $2,700. Once again, at the last possible moment, a new bidder jumped in and pushed the price to $3,800 where the patient gentleman in the front row once again appeared ready to have it hammered down his way. Another bid just before the hammer was countered by the exasperated front row bidder once again, this time, however, he finally claimed the lot at $4,400.

The top lot of the auction came as a large portrait of a woman, done in the style of John Singer Sargent, was offered. The life-size painting measured 6 by 3 feet and had attracted international attention. As the lot was offered, a buyer from a Boston firm was in the audience and two bidders from London were on the telephones. After a brief battle the lot sold to the buyer in the room at $6,600.

A carousel horse in the original paint did well selling at $4,400, and a Pairpoint lamp with reverse painted scenic shade brought $3,300. A large group of cast iron fencing did well with a cumulative price of $2,970 for several lots.

The assortment of Outsider art included a painting by Mary Proctor, "Love Makes The World Go Round" that sold for $945; an African Outsider scene of Adam and Eve by J. Ricardo $907; a cut-out animal with paint decoration by Howard Finster $835; a striped carved wooden tiger by Minnie Adkins that sold for $605; and an enamel on board depicting a cat realized $330. Nine Gary Yost stick figures were also sold for a total of $1,980.

Prices include the buyer's premium charged. George Cole Auctions will be running every other Saturday from October 8 until the first Saturday in December. Cole promises at least two estates in each sale.

For further information contact George Cole Auctions at 845-758-9114.