Big names crossed the block this past week, including David of the French Revolution and the revolutionary DalÍ. Equally monumental in size, if not prestige, was a turn-of-the-century Persian rug, a bronze sculpture by Mathias Goeritz and a mixed media work by Emmi Whitehorse. Read on for more fantastic finds.
David’s ‘Mme. Herbert’ Holds Court At Carlsen Gallery
FREEHOLD, N.Y. – In an auction on February 26 that Carlsen Gallery advertised as long on variety and style, a lineup of unreserved items, including period, country and formal furniture, paintings and artwork, silver, Oriental carpets – even a like-new 2019 Subaru Forester Touring car with 22,000 miles – crossed the block. Coming in just behind the car, a pastel by Jacques Louis David (French, 1748-1825) titled “Mme. Herbert” and with provenance to Parke Bernet 1953 and a private collection sold for $18,750, three times its high estimate. For information, 518-634-2466 or www.carlsengallery.com.
Best Performance At State Line Auction Is By Steinway Piano
CANAAN, CONN. – Estates from Sharon, Conn., Millbrook, N.Y., and a New York City apartment emptied out their contents to a sale conducted by State Line Auctions and Estate Services on February 26. Featuring an ebonized Steinway piano, a Louis Vuitton suitcase, Oriental carpets, estate artwork and much more, the sale was led by the Steinway (Model L, Serial # 384804) at $11,788. For more information, 860-453-4370 or www.statelineauctionsandestateservices.com.
Mexican Sculptor’s Bronze Finds Lovers At Capsule Sale
NEW YORK CITY – Capsule’s February 28 sale featured objects from the collection of art historian Graciela Kartofel, such as work by Sebastián, Rodolfo Morales and other seminal Latin American contemporary artists. Top lot was Mathias Goeritz’s (Mexican, 1915-1990) “Los Amantes del Alma,” 1955, a bronze sculpture with a marble base and signature incised near the base, 20½ by 6 by 5 inches. Estimated $7/10,000, the sculpture did better, selling for $18,125 amid competitive bidding with 46 bids placed. Kartofel spent her decades-long career studying Latin American contemporary artists, a deep passion that shone through her personal collecting. For more information, 212-353-2277 or www.capsuleauctions.com.
Nadeau’s Bidders Take A Seat With George Smith Sofa
WINDSOR, CONN. – Of the 535 lots offered by Nadeau’s Auction Gallery in its February 25 sale of custom and contemporary furniture with decorative accessories, top-lot honors at $6,600 went to a custom upholstered sofa attributed to George Smith that measured 88 inches long. Discovered in a Greenwich, Conn., home, and estimated at $1/2,000, the piece sold to a buyer bidding on the phone. For more information, 860-246-2444 or www.nadeausauction.com.
Mansion-Sized Rug Leads For Material Culture
PHILADELPHIA – “Oriental Rugs from American Estates” was the title of Material Culture’s February 27 sale, when the firm unrolled more than 425 rugs. What was almost certainly one of the largest rugs in the sale brought the highest price of the day: $15,000 for a Bakthiari rug from Persia, circa 1900, with a wool pile and cotton warp and weft, which had been cataloged as “mansion size,” measuring 17 feet 6 inches by 26 feet. It had been estimated at $6/10,000. For information, www.materialculture.com or 215-438-4700.
Whitehorse’s ‘Fields Of Birds’ Flies To New Artist Record At Ahlers & Ogletree
ATLANTA, GA. – More than 250 lots were offered by Ahlers & Ogletree’s “Art of the American West + Native American Art & Objects” auction on February 24. Setting a new world auction record for artist Emmi Whitehorse (American, b 1956) was “Field of Birds,” a 1992 mixed media on canvas work that flew to $36,300 from its $10/20,000 estimate. The 51¼-by-78-inch canvas was accompanied by a receipt from Lew Allen Gallery in Santa Fe, N.M., as well as two artist’s pamphlets. For information 404-869-2478 or www.aandoauctions.com.
Vintage Dali ‘Christ On The Cross’ Pendant Necklace Is Tops At Kodner
DANIA BEACH, FLA. – Among the 332 lots of estate jewelry, art and collectibles in Kodner Galleries March 1 sale, a Salvador Dalí (Spanish, 1904-1989) rare 10-carat Burma ruby, 5-carat diamond and heavy 18K yellow gold “Cristo De San Juan De La Cruz” pendant necklace was notable. Signed and numbered A-1/1, it sold for $19,360. For information, www.kodner.com or 954-925-2550.
Uptown Auction Serves Estate Treasures
LEE, MASS. – The Uptown Store hosted the auction of a Salisbury, Conn., estate on March 1; the home had already been sold, and the previous owners were parting with almost 400 lots of antiques, art and collectibles. A pair of Chinese decorative plates were the surprise top seller, bid to $2,478. Painted with what may be a diplomatic visit, the description of the plates was scant. The unmarked plates measured 9¾ inches in diameter and were wired for wall mounting, one even had a chip on its rim, but this was not an issue for the buyer. For information, 413-358-0170 or www.theuptownstore.org.
Legare Auction Peaks With ‘Mount Washington’
PELHAM, N.H. – The March 2 antiques auction from Leo Legare Auction Services brought a large selection of artwork, rare books and coins to the block. Out of 170 lots, the highest price was achieved by an oil on canvas painting of nearby Mount Washington, which has the highest peak in the Northeastern United States. In the foreground is a homestead and small cow farm, with two figures walking down a central path. The landscape was attributed to Frank H. Shapleigh (American, 1842-1906), who is best known for his landscapes of New Hampshire’s White Mountains, and sold for $3,278. For information, 603-595-9625 or www.legare-auctions.com.
