Fine and decorative arts were in bloom at auction this past week, with landscape and floral art garnering particular attention. Vero Beach sold a “sofa size” Florida Highwaymen painting, and up the coast, Bert Gallery showcased a Hudson River School landscape. Furniture was represented from the early Nineteenth to the mid Twentieth Century, including a blanket chest that sparked a bidding war at Winter Associates to a Zig Zag chair that came in first from the Benefit Shop Foundation. Read on for more top buys.

Bidders Abuzz At Michaan’s Auctions

ALAMEDA, CALIF. — On March 17, Michaan’s March gallery auction featured more than 500 lots ranging from the Seventeenth to the Twentieth Century. The top lot was a Nineteenth Century watercolor from Paul de Longpré (French American, 1855-1911) titled “Matillija Poppies and Bees” that realized $9,225 ($1/2,000). Longpré was born in Lyon and entirely self-taught, specializing in flower paintings that brought him much acclaim, but later moved to New York City. In 1899 he moved to Los Angeles under the patronage of H.H. and Daeida Wilcox, founders of Hollywood, who exchanged three parcels of real estate for three of his paintings. Signed and dated, this watercolor appears to have been painted during the time of this move. For information, 510-740-0220 or www.michaans.com.

Vero Beach’s ‘Sofa Size’ Highwaymen Painting Exceeds Estimate

VERO BEACH, FLA. — Vero Beach’s Antiques, Fine Art & More Estate Auction on March 18 was just as advertised. Featuring a healthy offering of vintage Florida Highwaymen paintings, the most successful lot was also the largest: a 48-by-24-inch work by Alfred Hair (1941-1970) that sold for $14,160 ($6/10,000). The painting shows a vibrant poinciana tree that stood out against the cooler tones of hanging Spanish moss, a cloudy sky, green grass and a river in the background. Hair lived and worked in Fort Pierce, Fla., and was an influential artist in the Highwaymen movement whose life was cut short too early when he was shot in a barroom dispute at age 29. For information, 772-978-5955 or www.verobeachauction.com.

Polish Madonna Reigns At DuMouchelles

DETROIT, MICH. — DuMouchelles hosted two days of March auctions on March 17 and 18, with almost 1,000 lots of fine art, decorative arts, jewelry and more. The queen of both days’ sales was an oil on canvas, mounted to board painting of the Virgin Mary by Zofia Stryjenska (Polish, 1894-1976). In addition to painting, Stryjenska was a graphic designer, illustrator and stage designer who was part of the “Rytm” (rhythm) art group. She often used tempera for her work and is well-known for her series of Slavic idols and saints. This example was painted circa 1950 and sold for $25,800 to a bidder in Poland. For information, 313-963-6255 or www.dumoart.com.

Winter Associates’ Blanket Chest Gathers Bids

PLAINVILLE, CONN. — The Americana sale at Winter Associates on March 20 produced a surprising top lot that was won after two phone bidders and one in-house participant battled for an early Nineteenth Century one-drawer pine blanket chest. Its vibrant sponge paint decoration was original as were its blocks and hardware, with the possible exception of its hinges. The chest was secured on the phone by David Schorsch and Eileen Smiles, American Antiques, Woodbury, Conn., with the bidding war multiplying its $1/2,000 estimate to $32,400. For more information, 203-263-3131 or www.americanantiqueart.com.

Mysterious Hudson River Landscape Attracts Bert Gallery Bidders

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In its third studio sale, Bert Gallery expanded its format to include a Modernist section, but in its 60-lot sale on March 14, a very traditional Hudson River School landscape by an unknown artist was one of the top sellers. Estimated $800-$1,200, it sold to a private collector for $5,520. The painting attracted suggestions as to who the artist might have been, and Cathy Bert said she was hopeful that the new owner would be able to determine its authorship. For information, 401-751-2628 or www.bertgallerynow.com.

Chinese Export Bowl With Haitian Armorial Dominates At Bunch

CHADDS FORD, PENN. — Of all of the interesting items offered in William Bunch Auctions’ 628-lot Fine & Decorative Arts Quarterly sale on March 14, an early to mid-Nineteenth Century Chinese export 7-inch porcelain bowl was among the highlights. The shallow bowl featured the coat of arms of the Republic of Haiti and was sourced from the estate of a world traveler/collector. A European buyer, bidding online, took it from an estimate of $200/400 to $14,300. For more information, 610-558-1800 or www.bunchauctions.com.

Rietveld Chair Zig Zags To The Top At Benefit Shop

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. — The Benefit Shop Foundation’s Red Carpet Auction produced top rankings of Midcentury Modern goods on March 22, led by a Zig Zag cantilever wood chair designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (Dutch, 1888-1964). The form was first created by Rietveld in 1934 and later produced by Italian manufacturer Cassina, which still creates Zig Zag chairs using handcrafted dovetailing techniques. This example showed Cassina’s mark with a serial number, and sold for $3,225 ($100-$1,000). For information, 914-864-0707 or www.thebenefitshop.com.

Atlas Pattern China Cabinet Brings Hefty Sum For Woody

DOUGLASS, KAN. — In its second and final edition of selling the collection of Ron Blessing, Woody Auction presented nearly 300 lots of pickle castors, bride’s baskets, cut glass, art glass and furniture. One of the top sellers with a price of $22,000 was a quartersawn oak china cabinet in the Atlas pattern by R.J. Horner, which sold to an out-of-state buyer, bidding in the room. The design featured Neptune, women, Pegasus and lions’ heads and elaborate scroll work and stood 95 inches tall. For more information, 316-747-2694 or www.woodyauction.com.

Bidders Like Robert Natkin Work The Best At South Bay

EAST MORICHES, N.Y. — South Bay Auctions conducted a two-day sale on March 22-23, with the best lot sold on day one. It was an oil on canvas by Robert Natkin (American, 1930-2010), an untitled work from his “Apollo” series, circa 1970, signed lower right, 48½ by 95¾ inches. Previously sold at Bonhams in 2010, it surpassed its $6/8,000 estimate to finish at $27,500. Named for the Greek god of the sun and of poetry, the paintings of the “Apollo” series reflect Natkin’s preoccupation with light and with the interplay between light and color. For information, 631-878-2909 or www.southbayauctions.com.