“The Rose,” 34½ inches high, stretched to $7,740 and led the 450-lot sale. The bronze sculpture of young girl came from a Litchfield, Conn., estate and was by sculptor Michael Parkes, a magical realist painter, sculptor and stone lithographer.
Review by W.A. Demers; Photos Courtesy Schwenke Auctioneers
WOODBURY, CONN. — On October 31, Schwenke Auctioneers offered more than 450 lots for at least 30 estates and collections from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The top lot of the sale was a bronze sculpture of young girl “The Rose,” from a Litchfield, Conn., estate selling for $7,740 to an internet bidder. The sculptor was Michael Parkes (American, b 1944). The 34½-inch-high sculpture was purchased at Borsini-Burr Gallery, which represents the artist, and came with a certificate of authenticity indicating it was EA-4 (artist’s proof). Parkes is a magical realist painter, sculptor and stone lithographer. His works are collected by celebrities, private collectors and galleries.
There were modern and Midcentury Modern categories represented in the sale by items from a Litchfield County estate. Most notable of these and the second top lot in the sale was a work by American glass artist Dale Chihuly (b 1941). “Pomegranate Persian Pair,” 2015 edition, 7¼ inches high by 13 inches wide and 11 inches deep brought $7,095.
Americana collectors pursued a rare Connecticut Pilgrim Century carved blanket chest, which sold for a Connecticut educational institution, bringing $6,695 from an internet bidder. The carved oak, maple and pine geometric paneled chest featured two long drawers and measured 36¼ by 49½ by 20½ inches.
A Connecticut collector contributed this Meissen reticulated allegorical porcelain plate, 9¼ inches in diameter. Its decoration featured a Neoclassical allegory with cupid and one of the fates seated on an eagle, and it was won by an internet bidder for $5,507.
Property of a Connecticut collector, a Meissen reticulated allegorical porcelain plate, 9¼ inches in diameter, and decorated with a neoclassical allegory featuring cupid and one of the fates seated on an eagle, went to an internet bidder for $5,507.
It would surprise no one that Thomas Jefferson, third US president and principal author of the Declaration of Independence would have a portable writing desk. A replica of that travel desk, one of several known copies, sold for $5,160 to an internet bidder, against competition from the phone and absentee bidders. It was 3½ inches high, by 14½ inches wide by 10 inches deep.
A local Connecticut estate consigned several artworks of note, including Christopher Blossom’s (American, b 1956) oil on canvas portrait of a sailboat at sea, signed and dated 1987 lower right, which realized $4,192.
Fetching $3,225 were eight French oval back upholstered dining chairs comprising two arm and six side chairs by E.J. Victor for the Newport Historic Collection. Each chair had an oval wood framed upholstered back, above pomegranate design upholstered seats with exposed fluted rail and carved fluted legs.
A set of eight French oval back upholstered dining chairs went out at $3,225. There were two arm chairs and six side chairs by E.J. Victor for the Newport Historic Collection.
The sale ended with several lots of estate Oriental carpets, including Persian, Caucasian and Turkoman room and scatter sized rugs. Most notable was a Persian Heriz room-size, semi-antique rug from an East 68th Street, New York City estate, with generalized wear throughout, 10 feet 1 inch by 13 feet, leaving the gallery at $3,225.
Prices given include the buyer’s premium as stated by the auction house. Next sale is Tuesday, December 12, featuring the estate of Theodora Gibson Berg, New Canaan, Conn. For additional information, 203-266-0323 or www.woodburyauction.com.
