: A Romare Bearden painting set a mood of excitement and an auction
record when it achieved $104,500 at Ron Rhoads Auction event,
February 4, at the Kimberton Fairgrounds.
Customers were surrounded by gold gilded furniture, marquetry
tables, Oriental rugs, an Indian collection and fine Meissen but
the major event of the day was Bearden's life-size painting of
"Woman with Greens."
As the bidding commenced on the Bearden, the atmosphere was
filled with expectation and excitement. After careful research,
the auction house had expected the high estimate of $50,000 would
be met.
Starting at $20,000, the bidding steadily approached that figure
with the stilled standing-room-only crowd in amazement after it
passed $60,000.
The final exhilarating competition for the painting, done in the
early 1940s in New York City and accompanied by provenance, was
conducted on two phone lines between two eminent New York
galleries, with the final hammer falling at $104,500.
The throng burst into applause, especially when auctioneer Ron
Rhoads announced the record setting price.
Though small, this painting by Ben Austrian sold at a big
price, $17,600, a near record for its size.
The rest of the auction kept a similar pace. A diminutive Ben
Austrian painting of a single chick produced $17,600, a near record
for the size; a C. Ferranti courting scene, "Italian Lovers," in an
original gilded frame took $2,200; and a signed Chatrousse Paris
Joan of Arc bronze brought $3,300.
Furniture standouts included a gilded collector's cabinet at
$3,740, a Pennsylvania chest on frame for $7,150, a Montgomery
County grandfather clock in original paint for $10,000, an
Ansonia Fisher and Falconer double swinger clock at $3,430 and a
marquetry table for $3,430. Under the decorative arts heading, a
grouping of Meissen realized $3,850.
The next sale will be The Carolyn Sunstein miniature collection
April 8-9. All prices include the 12 percent buyer's premium. For
information, contact auction coordinator Eileen Rhoads at
610-385-4818.
