Diverse Art Stimulates Spirited Bidding

NEW YORK CITY

:A beautiful early fall day did not keep bidders away from the competition at Vallot Auctioneer's September 18 art auction. The auction featured a broad range of American and European artwork from estates and private collections. Many lots far exceeded their auction estimates and several auction records were set.

Bidding was particularly heavy over the phones throughout the day, with many phone bidders succeeding against stiff competition from bidders in the room. American highlights included Yasuo Kuniyoshi, "Circus Girl, Green," gouache, which, estimated at $6/8,000, was pushed up by intense bidding to $19,550. "We fielded phones and bids from Japan and Europe on the Kuniyoshi, but ultimately it went to a very art-savvy New York buyer," commented Michael Dym, Vallot's senior auctioneer.

Another highlight was Reginald Marsh's "Girl on a Carousel." The oil on panel ultimately was won by a phone bidder competing against phone and numerous room bidders for $16,100. "We had lots of American dealers chasing the Marsh, but they finally gave up and the work went to an out-of-town collector," remarked Dym.

John Sloan's "Coytesville, NJ; Hudson from the Palisades" was hammered down at $29,900. Adelaide Lawson Gaylor's "Ice Skating in the City," which started bidding far below the low estimate of $1,000, set a record for the artist's work at $7,475. An artist with strong ties to both American Social Realism and Russian modernism, Simkha Simkhovitch, was represented by "Girl in Red," which, not surprisingly, had Russian collectors phone bidding against New York collectors in the room. The lot exceeded its $3/5,000presale estimate, finally selling for $8,050.

A small 8-by-9-inch oil on panel by American Seymour Remenick shot passed its auction estimate of $400/600, going to a phone bidder after a long volley for $2,300, while a modernist piece by American Carl Holty exceeded its auction estimate, selling for $6,900 to a phone bidder.

European art fared equally well with many surprises. Two costume designs by Natacha Rambova, an artist-designer with no prior auction record, in need of restoration, saw intense interest. The $300/400 estimate for these estate works saw interest from a range of parties, including the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, and reached $1,400. Italian painter Herrman Corrodi's "Fortress on the Coast" sold for $4,000; Austrian illustrator Raphael Kirchner's drawing "Young Woman in Blu" reached $4,600, and French impressionist Emile Delobre's seascape of St Croix fetched $3,680.

Prices reported include buyer's premium.

Commenting after the sale, a very pleased looking Dym remarked, "The art market continues to remain very strong for quality works in all categories and periods."

Vallot is currently accepting consignments for its next fine art auction in December. For information, 212-925-5533 or www.VallotAuctioneers.com.