CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — At $50,400, a pair of contemporary paintings by Paul Thek led the way at Carl Nordblom’s CRN Auction event September 13, getting the sale off to a solid start. The paintings were the first lot across the block and were hotly contested with multiple phone lines in competition.

Thek’s mixed media composition on newsprint was framed by the artist in 1980 for the “Where Are We Going? Art of The 70s” show at the Venice Art Center in Venice, Italy. The final price of $50,400 got the crowd’s attention. The sale also featured a labeled Aaron Willard tall case clock, a Newbury, Mass., tall case clock, a Massachusetts sampler dated 1785 and a selection of Chinese Export items.

A complete review will appear in an upcoming edition.