Earning the highest price of the sale — $25,600 — was this charcoal on paper study for a mural by Diego Rivera (Mexican, 1886-1957), circa 1928-30, 77¼ by 54¼ inches framed, which had extensive provenance ($30/50,000).
Review by Kiersten Busch
LARCHMONT, N.Y. — With the tag line, “Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring!” Clarke Auction Gallery conducted its Spring Spectacular Estates Auction on April 12, celebrating the onslaught of warmer weather with just shy of 600 lots of fine art, watches and clocks, rugs, art glass, lighting, furniture and jewelry. The auction earned a 91 percent sell-through rate, though the sale total was not disclosed.
Earning top-lot status at $25,600 was a study for a mural by Diego Rivera. Done circa 1928-30 in charcoal on paper, the 77¼-by-54¼-inch work was consigned from a Mamaroneck, N.Y., estate, but had additional provenance to Erhard Weyhe (New York City), a 1977 Sotheby’s auction, Sindin Galleries (New York City) and a private collection in Amityville, N.Y.
Several other drawings earned high prices in the sale, including “Soldiers with Prisoners on a Busy Road,” a pen and brown ink illustration with brown wash done by a member of the circle of David Vinckboons. Inscribed lower right and consigned from a Rye, N.Y., collection, the work sold for more than eight times its estimate at $8,320 ($1/1,500).
Other drawings that performed well included “Studies of Hands,” a black and white chalk piece on blue paper by a member of the circle of Sir Anthony van Dyck ($5,376) and “Self Portrait (Study for the Fogg Art Museum Poster)” by Ben Shahn, a circa 1956 ink on paper work with provenance to Kennedy Galleries (New York City) and a Mamaroneck, N.Y., collection ($4,608).
“Soldiers with Prisoners on a Busy Road,” pen and brown ink with brown wash, 17⅜ by 22½ inches framed, was done by an artist in the circle of David Vinckboons (1576-1633) and crossed the block for $8,320 ($1/1,500).
Paintings also excelled, led by Untitled (An Autumn River’s Edge) by Elaine de Kooning, which realized $11,520. The gouache work was signed lower right and was “said to have been acquired directly from the artist,” according to catalog notes. Following De Kooning’s work was “The Ornery Steer,” an oil on canvas by Robert Farrington Elwell, consigned from a Rye, N.Y., estate, which galloped past its $3/5,000 estimate to make $9,600.
A watercolor and ink surrealist landscape by Luis Chan sold far above estimate at $8,320. Depicting female nudes and a bird, the work was inscribed in Chinese on the upper right side and was stamped with the artist’s seals on its upper and lower right. It was followed close behind by “Old Jew with Cane” by Lazar Krestin, which was bid to $7,680. The oil on canvas had provenance to private collections in Lithuania and New York City, as well as to a Coatesville, Penn., estate. “Paysage Angevin,” a 1963 oil on canvas by Gabriel Godard with provenance to David B. Findlay Galleries (New York City), also surpassed estimates, earning a colorful $7,040.
Three-dimensional artwork was led by a marble bust of a young girl with braided hair and adorned with pansies. Consigned from a Long Island, N.Y., estate, the 19-inch-tall work sold far above its $1/1,500 estimate, carving out an $8,320 finish. A monumental porcelain figural grouping attributed to Meissen, also from the same estate, followed at $6,144. Contemporary Peruvian artist Víctor Delfín was represented by one work, a patinated steel owl measuring 29 inches in height and weighing 70 pounds, which flew far past its $1/1,500 estimate to perch at $4,096.
Selling for $8,320, this marble bust of a young girl with braided hair and adorned with pansies, 19 inches tall by 13 inches wide, came from a Long Island, N.Y., estate ($1/1,500).
An 18K white gold cocktail ring set with a central 11.5-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by alternating panels of round brilliant-cut diamonds and round faceted sapphires led the sale’s selection of jewelry, slipping onto its new owner’s finger for $24,320. It was accompanied by a May 1, 2023, GIA Sapphire Origin report, which confirmed that it was from Sri Lanka. Another ring, this example 14K white gold with a central faceted tanzanite surrounded by 12 round brilliant-cut diamonds and four straight diamond baguettes, was bid to $8,960.
Several sets of sterling silver flatware attracted bidders, most likely due to the current price of silver, which still remains high. Cataloged as a “massive hoard,” a group of assorted sterling, English silver and coin silver flatware and serving pieces sold for $7,040. Following at $6,400 was a 95-piece partial flatware service by Dominick & Haff, which weighed approximately 95.71 troy ounces and was consigned from a West 86th Street (New York City) estate. Other flatware services that sold above their estimates included a set by International in the Royal Danish pattern ($6,400) and a 65-piece service by S. Kirk & Son in the Quadrille pattern; both came from the same Mamaroneck, N.Y., estate ($6,144).
Silver did, however, take other forms, and a pair of Continental .812 (13-loth) silver three-light candelabras illuminated the block for $4,608, against a $1/1,500 estimate. Likely of German or Austrian origin, each candelabra featured scrolling arms in a serpent shape, stems in the traditional columnar form and acanthus leaf cast bases adorned with applied relief decoration depicting what the auction catalog noted as “playful putti.”
This 18K white gold cocktail ring displayed an 11.5-carat Sri Lankan Ceylon sapphire in its center and slipped onto its new owner’s finger for $24,320 ($22/24,000).
Furniture selections that performed well included a Finn Juhl Midcentury Modern lounge chair and ottoman with their original green fabric ($3,840), a T70 travertine dining table with a circular top over a flared conical base attributed to Angelo Mangiarotti ($3,328) and a three-part bronze and marble table from a Bay Shore, N.Y., estate designed after Maison Jansen ($2,816).
Clarke’s May Madness auction will be conducted on May 3. Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house. For information, www.clarkeny.com or 914-833-8336.
