Emile A. Gruppe oil of nudes in a landscape, $36,960.
Massachusetts Chippendale tea table, $20,160.
ESSEX, MASS. – Three-hundred-forty lots crossed the block in three hours and 15 minutes at the June 18 Blackwood/March Fine Art and Antiques auction.
The top lot of the sale was a 30- by 36-inch Emile A. Gruppe oil painting of nudes in a landscape that sold to a private buyer for a world auction record of $36,960.
Other notable sales included a North Shore of Massachusetts Chippendale tea table that drew bids to $20,160, an E.T. Baker luminist marine painting with square rigged ship for $8,736, a Georgian mahogany secretary desk sold to the trade for $4,368, and an early English paneled three drawer chest was bid to $2,464.
An early Ming period Chinese blue and white baluster form ceramic vase reached $4,480, a Shaker number five rocker brought $521, and an early ball foot two-drawer blanket chest in old green paint sold for $1,232.
Many less noted Cape Ann artists were offered at the June Blackwood/March auction; an unusually large J.B. Foster harbor watercolor reached $666, a large Joseph Rimini oil painting of crashing surf saw $888, a pair of R.S. Bacon schooner oils did $354, and a collection of harbor paintings by Rockport artist Charles Stepule saw bids ranging from $100 to $600.
Diverse furniture and accessories included a Victorian upholstered walnut parlor suite including sofa, lady’s armchair and four side chairs hit $1,064, a pretty mahogany veneer center table sold for $1,026, and a pair of highly carved Continental armchairs with needlepoint seats drew $1,456.
