Group lot, or flock, of seven ornithological watercolors by an unknown, likely English colonial artist living in India, circa 1800, that multiplied its estimate to $35,000 ($500-$1,000).
Review by Z.G. Burnett, Photos Courtesy of Locati
PINEVILLE, PENN. – On October 16, Locati conducted its October 2022 sale, offering 535 lots with a 83 percent buy-through rate, totaling about $251,000. The category ratio was like many collective estate auctions, weighing heavily with fine art and decorative art and a handful of watch and jewelry lots, and the top sellers mirrored this distribution. However, the highest-achieving lots were mostly unusual selections, and each was either on the higher end of its estimate or surpassed It, some several times over.
Michael Locati co-owns the auction house with his wife, Melissa, who are seeing the favorable results of the recent business move from Montgomery County to Bucks County, Penn., including the opening of their showroom for in-person bidding that commenced in September 2021. Locati was part of the first generation of online-only auctioneers, hosting monthly sales consistently for 15 years. Since then, Locati has seen massive growth in prices and material with 25 percent of sales being local pickups, and even more consignors from the surrounding areas supplying stock. “It’s been a lesson that location makes a big difference,” he commented. Many of these consignors were originally buyers impressed with the quality and diversity of the lots presented by Locati, who is proud of the house’s eclectic offerings and “[tries] to build that pipeline every day.”
Selling objects that are authentic and unusual but not of interest to houses that historically deal with a single category of antiques or strive for record-breaking prices, Locati consistently proves that it can handle better pieces and hit estimated price points. This is partly due to how Locati sources its materials, the majority of which come from local estates or collections, often producing objects that are fresh to the market. These standards have attracted a growing number of younger participants, many from New York City and Brooklyn. “We wouldn’t have seen that 10 years ago,” he said. Locati also enjoys the small amount of dealer trade, preferring to leave room for collectors from expert-level to walk-ins. “We don’t specialize in anything, and we don’t follow trends,” Locati shared. “We just like quality stuff.”
The highest selling lot was a prime example of this ethos, a group lot of seven ornithological watercolors that flew past their $500-$1,000 estimate to $35,000. Dated circa 1800 due to the 1796 J. Whatman watermarks found on two of the paintings, Locati also speculated that the artist was an English colonist living in India because of Persian-style stamps found on the reverse of three. Each of the watercolors featured a different bird, with descriptive English inscriptions in pencil, and all loose sheets were in very good condition. Finely rendered with exceptionally detailed feathers and feet, the watercolors appear to be taken from life. Bidding jumped from the $500 starting price to a left bid of $1,600, then climbed in a lengthy battle between at least three online and in-house bidders on every platform from as far away as India. The lot ultimately went to a London collector.
“Symphony Bicyclette” by Salvador Dalí, numbered lithograph 26/200, played to $10,938.
Second was a lithograph definitively signed in pencil by Salvador Dalí (1904-1989), “Symphony Bicyclette,” numbered 26 out of a series of 200. The image is dedicated to Arthur “Harpo” Marx (born Adolph, 1888-1964) of the Marx Brothers, whose feature films often include a musical interlude. A comedian and self-taught harpist, Marx was also a friend of Dalí’s. Each of the four Marx Brothers are depicted in the image. Like the watercolors, the lithograph was loose and unframed, and in excellent condition. Coming from a Bucks County, Penn., collection, it sold to an internet bidder for $10,938.
Also in the top lots was another lithograph of pianist, composer and later Polish Prime Minister Ignacy Jan Padereweski (1860-1941) by Edward Coley Burne-Jones (English, 1833-1898) from a Bethlehem, Penn., collection that more than quadrupled its $100/500 estimate to $2,750. An inscription on the reverse of the frame reveals that the lithograph was “[given] to Margaret Kies in 1917 by Madame Paderewski when she visited his studio for tea at age 11.”
The third highest selling lot and the only oil on canvas was painted by a lesser-known American surrealist, Alton Pickens (1917-1991). Pickens grew up in Seattle during the Great Depression and the rise of the Axis Powers, moved to New York City after briefly attending the Portland Art Museum School on a scholarship, and later became an instructor at Indiana University and Vassar College. One of his larger works, this dark image of “Three Figures” is dated 1955 and sinister enough to inspire a lifelong fear of clowns. Even so, it’s far less surreal or disturbing than much of Pickens’ body of work. The painting was consigned from the garage of a Bucks County collector and Locati believes that it might never have been sold at auction. If so, its premiere market price was $4,625.
Although there were 22 lots of men’s watches sold during the auction, the majority of these were groups of two or three. A few of the single watch lots surpassed their peers, including a 14K gold man’s 1005 Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch that sold for $4,920. From 1969, the lot included its original leather and gold tone bands, box and papers. The watch’s 34mm case retained the former owner’s monogram; it was consigned from a local estate. An Omega Speedmaster from 1974 joined the Rolex in the top lots for $4,200.
George I/II chest on stand with later japanned decoration on case closed at $2,875.
The top furniture lots were as diverse in style and era as the fine art. Six cherry and hickory chairs signed by Doylestown, Penn., master craftsman Cesare Occhi (1928-2022) sold together with an unsigned cherry trestle table that was originally bought with the chairs, selling for $3,625. Next in price was a George I/II chest on stand with later japanned decoration, selling above its $500-$1,000 estimate for $2,875. Even more elaborate was a Neoclassical-style midcentury carved giltwood console table with a marble top, which achieved $2,250.
With sales like these and a growing number of young buyers, Locati is optimistic for a renaissance of interest in the secondary market. The auction house is also well-situated, in location and experience, for competition in quality categories but has no intention of becoming a huge corporation. “We like being a boutique company,” he said. “We’re just a handful of people doing good work and are interested in polishing what we have, making it the best it can be.”
Prices quoted with buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house. Locati’s next sale will be mid-November with a preceding weeklong preview; buyers are encouraged to view lots in person. For more information, www.locatillc.com or 215-619-2873.
